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Programs and services for all ages and abilities
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Vol. 101 no. 50
dECEMBER 5 - 11, 2024
Se rving Th e Greate r Fiv e Town s fo r alm ost 45 ye ars!
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Remembering a local rabbi
Middle school to add a period Will start new schedule in 2025 board trustees met with Merenbloom again to revisit the idea. The proposed transition T h e H e w l e t t - W o o d m e r e from the current eight-period Board of Education has voted schedule was the focus of a to approve a nine-period school detailed presentation at the day at Woodmere Middle School board work meeting on Nov. 13, starting in Septemand unanimously ber 2025. approved at the Nov. “Building and 20 regular meeting. District administraAndruszkiewicz tion are currently and district leaders developing the new outlined the beneschedule,” middle fits and logistical school Principal considerations John Andruszkiebehind the initiawicz wrote in an tive, which aims to email on Monday. enhance instruc“This change will tional flexibility enhance learning, while meeting State foster student develEducation Departopment and support ment requirements, both academic he said. achievement and Currently, Woodpersonal growth for mere Middle School WMS students.” falls short of the In 2011, the mandated 990 Hewlett-Woodmere JoHn instructional hours school board met per year for grades w i t h s c h e d u l i n g AndRUSzKiEwiCz six through eight, consultant Elliot Y. Principal, Woodmere lacking 11 instrucM e r e n b l o o m , o f Middle School tional days for sixth Merenbloom Semigrade and 23 nars and Consulting, about instructional days for both sevimplementing a nine-period enth and eighth grades. day, but didn’t go forward with Andruszkiewicz said that a it because of the cost. On Oct. waiver the district received 10, Andruszkiewicz, district from the state, allowing nonSuperintendent Ralph Marino compliance from 2018 to 2022, Jr., other administrators and Continued on page 12
By PARKER SCHUG
pschug@liherald.com
T
Alice Moreno/Herald
A collaborative effort for a cleaner community Hewlett High School’s Roboboogie robotics team joined forces with the Valley Stream Beautification Committee to clean up Merrick Road on Nov. 23. Committee co-chairs Chris Kelly, left, and Katheryn Natoli took part. Story page 10.
Economic Opportunities Commission to expand services at former 5TCC By PARKER SCHUG pschug@liherald.com
At a meeting last month, leaders of the Economic Opportunities Commission of Nassau County urged local families to fill vacant slots in the Head Start program, which the EOC is now operating at the former Five Towns Community Center, on Lawrence Avenue in Lawrence. The commission, which was a product of the federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, is dedicated to supporting youth and low-income Nassau County residents with community programs and services, officials wrote on its website. Head Start, a program under the EOC
umbrella, promotes children’s success in school as well as their health and well-being. The informational meeting, on Nov. 21, took place at the Lawrence Avenue building, which, in addition to housing Five Towns Head Start, is the future home of Lawrence Head Start, according to EOC officials. Eric Poulson, the commission’s chief executive officer; Andre Clark, chief financial officer; MelRose Corley, deputy director of operations; LaVonne Erskine, human resources director; Sylvester Bush, community action program services director; Gina Marie Dimatos, program director of Head Start; and Anita Shiver-KenneContinued on page 11
his change will enhance learning, foster student development and support both academic achievement and personal growth for WMS students.