2008 - 2009 News
Student Winners - Congratulations
Joe S. and Dan L. won the .News special award at the prestigious Thinkquest NYC Awards in June. Click here to see their award winning website, created independently about how the economy affects teens:
http://www.tqnyc.org/2009/00748/homefinal.html
Senior Trip- Class of 2009
Click Here for Senior Trip Updates
Councilmember Jessica Lappin sponsored the 3rd Annual East Side Children's Art Show on Wednesday December 10 at Sotheby's. A mural by students at The Child School was on display. It was the largest mural in the exhibition, measuring 4.5 x 6 feet. The mural paid homage to environmentalism and contained the quote "Treat the earth well. We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children," an old Native American proverb. Various students from all grade levels created the mural under the guidance of new art teacher Camille, pictured at left above.
Four students from Legacy High School won 3rd place at the World Quest NYC competition on December 4. The Foreign Policy Association (FPA) hosted the event which was held at Scholastic company's headquarters. We are particulary proud of our students, Jennie E., Kevin D., Belle R., & Joe S., for facing stiff competition from 6 teams including Stuvesant High School who won 1st place. World Quest is designed to challenge players on knowledge of international affairs, geography, culture and history.
One hundred multiple-choice questions were asked from 10 categories: Biotechnology and Genetics, Transnational Crime, Global Population, International Film, The New York Times, Global Business Technology, Lebanon, Current Events, Water, and Great Decisions (Iraq, Russia, Latin America, Chinese Economic Relations, Foreign Aid and Philanthropy). Students started studying in November. The majority of their preparation happened independently, not on school time, with parents helping each student to study. Vishu and Popie helped give lessons to the students on teamwork. This was one of the hardest aspects of the competition because all 4 students had to decide together which was the correct answer to a question and if they didn't know the team leader, Joe S. had to make an educated guess. Sandy described the wonderful moment when it was announced that Legacy High had won 3rd place by saying, "It would have been the most wonderful photograph ever." The Foreign Policy Association congratulated our students by saying they had clearly put considerable time into preparing. We also want to recognize the "sportsmanship" of Kevin D. who took the lead on congratulating the other teams by being the first to cross the room and extend a hand for a handshake!
As a follow-up, Vishu will be administering our own in-house version of World Quest for all Legacy High School students to participate in together. The top four winners will start preparing to represent LHS for World Quest 2010. www.fpa.org
Importance of Parent Involvement
There are numerous ways to be involved this year at The Child School/Legacy High School. According to the National Parent Teacher Association, decades of research show when parents are involved students have higher grades and higher graduation rates; better school attendance; increased motivation and better self-esteem. Family participation in education is twice as predictive of students’ academic success as family socioeconomic status (Walberg 1984).
Our PA meeting on October 16 was devoted to describing opportunities in the near future.
30 Ways to get involved
IN THE SCHOOL
- Thanksgiving - Coordinate the Luncheon or a Square Dancing class for students
- Uncommon Wednesdays need class helpers
- Website Volunteer
- Create a Booster Club to support sports, band, or fine arts
- Lunch Period Chaperone
- Hang up bulletin boards or assist with the Tiger Times Newspaper
- Gardening
- Annual Fund: Volunteers call 5-8 members of their child's class and ask them to contribute
- Library: Help with Book Fair
- Admissions/Recruitment: Welcome new parents or hosting an admissions event
- Start a school-wide Flickr Photo Site and collect images of students in class or at special events
- Dictation: Collect stories from students based on their creative and cognitive storytelling skills
- Write articles for the Parent Memo
- Phys. Ed. Dept.: Gym Equipment, Coaching, Parent Basketball Game or Awards Banquet
- Be a guest speaker to talk to students about your career
- Senior Year Events: Prom, Senior Trip, Graduation
- Attend a PA meeting or join the Steering Committee
AT HOME
- Read with your child
- Make sure they are well-rested
- Limit amount of electronic entertainment
FOR THE CLASSROOM
- Field Trip Planning: Research and arrange field trips
- Community Service: Assist the Community Service class for Seniors
- Cooking Coordinator: Take the lead on gathering ingredients
- Science Lab: Gather supplies
- Be a computer assistant
- Assist with an Art class
- Share your skills: poetry, reading, carpentry, photography, sewing
- Tutor a struggling student one hour per week
- Mentor a discouraged student one hour per week
- Mentor a gifted or very creative student one hour per week
call 212-223-5055 to find out more
Teacher Rehana is hoping to purchase additional interactive software for her Computer Lab. At the October 16th PA meeting she gave a Power Point presentation. Below is a sample budget:
Adobe Creative Suite 4 $599
Pixie 2 (Elem. Software Lab Package) $160
Frames Digital Storytelling $160
Microphones $130
Voice/Video Editor $65
5 Flash Drives $100
Digital Camera $200
1 additional set of speakers $80
Battery Charger & Batteries $20
Total $1,514
If you would like to support these classes for students, donations in any amount can be sent to The Child School.
As part of Legacy High School's comprehensive new health program, special guests, classes, and trips have been organized. Field trips have been planned to
Governor’s Island, Central Park, Newtown Creek Nature Walk, Youth Channel Workshop, Youth Theatre in Madison Square Park and Whole Foods in Union Square. Nutrition classes are being taught by Melvin Vazquez from Cornell University Cooperative Extension Services. Planned Parenthood is conducting separate workshops for boys and girls on Anatomy, HIV and STI Prevention.
UN Haiku Contest
Students Shaina F. and Sofia C., 12A received 1st and 2nd place at the official Awards Assembly held at the United Nations on June 10th. Their work will be on exhibition at the United Nations.
Anne Frank Center 2008 Self-Portrait Winners
Nicholas C. Prep 4, Jamil F. Form 8, Luye M. Prep 4, and Stella M.B. Form 8 submitted self-portraits accompanied by personal reflections about who they are. Their work will be exhibited at the Anne Frank Center USA Gallery at 38 Crosby Street, Manhattan from June 16th to August 29th. Family and Friends are welcome at the opening on June 21 from 2-4pm.
Congratulations to students Danny B., Joe S., and Dan L. (9A) whose website entitled "Poverty in New York" has been chosen as one of seven finalists in Division 3 (Grades 9-12) in the 2008 Thinkquest NYC Competition. These students have been invited to the ThinkQuest NYC Awards and Recognition Event on June 11, 2008 at Columbia University where they will be honored. To see the students' website, please click here.
Ten of our High School students - made up of three teams - have entered the Thinkquest NYC competition. Thinkquest NYC challenges students in grades 3-12 to “develop interesting Web sites that add meaningful content to the Internet.” Each of the three teams that entered researched a topic of their choice and designed and created an informative website about their subject of choice. See Team 1’s website on poverty in NY (http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC085874/), Team 2’s website on the technology revolution (http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC085873/), and Team 3’s website on the civil war in Sudan (http://www.tqnyc.org/NYC085875/). Personally, we think all the students are winners: Sadari H., Steve F., Sammy M., Jose A., Dan L., Dan B., Joe S., Kevin D. and Patricia C. All participating students were volunteers.
These students worked under the guidance of Teacher Rehana, who is our fantastic computer teacher. Months ago she sent a memo home to High School families encouraging participation. Any student who gained parent permission was allowed to participate and students decided who their team members would be. Rehana worked with them in one of our computer labs twice a week during Period 9 in March and April. Going above and beyond, student Joe S. chose to go to the free workshop offered by ThinkQuest. There he was inspired to conduct interviews. The team called the Bowery Mission and coordinated all the logistics for a visit to learn firsthand about Poverty in NY.
Parents of Middle School students know what a treasure Rehana is because of her constant creativity. In April, Rehana organized another Technothon- our special technology quiz, which was held this year in a bigger venue- our gym. In the audience, Elementary and Middle School students cheered on their favorite contestants with hand made pompoms. Representing Prep 1 was Mekka G. and Amanda S.; Prep 2 Alex H. and Lucas V.; Prep 3 Joshua R. and Paul P.; and Prep 4 Scott B. and Ashley S. All the students were asked some tough questions. A variety of technology topics were discussed: hardware, software, internet ethics, and computer components.
Winners Scott B. and Ashley S. were excited to be TCS Technothon champions.
Student art work was on view last May.
527 Main Street
New York, NY 10044
(212) 308 - 6630 or send emails to info@rivaa.com
Gallery Hours:
Wednesdays and Fridays 6 - 9 pm
Saturdays and Sundays 11 - 5 pm
Middle School student Isabella Ramos’ video describing her personal struggle with Dyslexia was highlighted for some time on the “All Kinds of Minds” website. The video entitled “My Little Dyslexic World” was made by Isabella herself and gives one a first hand look at what it was like for her growing up with Dyslexia. The video can be seen here. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ7HSxb-Ln0)
Parents of students in 9A took us by surprise in December when they approached us about putting on a party for their children their own way. This is the second time this year that parents have planned an event for students from start to finish. This group of parents --taking into account how overburdened our staff has become in wanting to give the best to our students--decided to plan and create a beautiful ceremonial luncheon for 9th and 10th grade students, doing the shopping, decoration, cooking, set up and clean up all by themselves. Students were treated to their favorite foods. The school is thrilled that parents are becoming more involved. Thanks to all parents in 9A.
Meanwhile, the Parent Association was brewing their own plans for staff. Before we all left for the holidays, staff were treated to a monetary gift possible through the generous donations of parents to the Parent Association’s Holiday Fund. It means so much to be recognized by you. Parents, thank you very much for your gift. The real bonus is working with your children who inspire us everyday.
Physical education teacher Victor has teamed up with one of our occupational therapists Shazma to create a class that offers those students that need it, an extra opportunity to work on Sensory Integration. M.S. and H.S. have been following the World Series and have incorporated valuable muscle motor planning techniques into their own wiffle ball version of the Rockies vs. the Red Sox game.
Joe’s Robotics M.S. class is working with Lego educational tools to first learn the physics of movement. They are creating pulleys and levers to understand how simple machines work. For their first assignment, the students will make aluminum foil fish and then catch them using a fishing rod they must make using the techniques they learned.
One of our most popular classes in M.S. is Cooking, taught by parent Lizzette Fredricks. This week the students have made their own butter, cranberry scones, fresh cream and homemade granola. Word seems to be spreading fast about the goodies students are making: Supervisor Tina has gotten a large stack of letters from students requesting that they be allowed to transfer from another class to cooking!
Our Middle School and two High School classes attended a local Community Meeting on Roosevelt Island concerning the Roosevelt Island Tidal Energy (RITE) Project which will supplement the energy need of NYC with cleaner, alternative energy. 390 turbines will be placed in the East River to harness the energy from the tide and distribute 10MW of energy to local residents and businesses on Roosevelt Island. The panel faced some stiff questioning from our students!
