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Literacy rates improving in OBEN district mary of some of the components involved in reading,” Smith said, displaying a graphLiteracy took center stage in ic that highlighted what she Oyster Bay on Tuesday, as Oys- described as the dual focus of ter Bay-East Norwich Central literacy education: word recogSchool District principals led a nition and comprehension. presentation detailing where “Word recognition ensures stuthe district is proving strong in dents can decode and recognize reading and writing skills, and words quickly,” she said, “freeing them to focus on where students comprehension, need work. wh i c h i nvo l ve s Principals Devra vocabulary, backSmall, of Theodore ground knowledge Roosevelt Elemenand understanding tary School, and structure.” Anastasia Smith, of DEVRA SMALL The district’s litJames H. Ver non Principal, eracy improvement S ch o o l , o u t l i n e d initiative began last progress in literacy Theodore Roosevelt spring, with a come d u c a t i o n a n d Elementary School mittee of educators offered a glimpse from kindergarten into the sciencebacked approach guiding their through high school, including specialists in English as a New efforts. Over the past year, the dis- Language, special education trict has prioritized aligning its and reading intervention. They r e a d i n g c u r r i c u l u m a n d conducted a comprehensive instructional practices with the study of reading science, comlatest research on literacy, pared current practices with Small and Smith explained. research-based rubrics, and The effort involved an exten- identified the strengths and sive review of current pro- weaknesses of the district’s existing programs. grams and the development of The result was a decision to initiatives aimed at bolstering students’ reading and compre- retain and enhance current literacy programs while addresshension skills. “This visual is a brief sumCONTINUED ON PAGE 2
By WILL SHEELINE
wsheeline@liherald.com
Courtesy Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District
Portraying history’s heroes James H. Vernon School third-graders put on a dynamic Biography Wax Museum on Jan. 31, bringing historical figures like Amelia Earheart and Great Britain’s Princess Kate to life. Story, more photos, Page 6.
McEvoy elected chairman of Long Island Water Conference By WILL SHEELINE wsheeline@liherald.com
Robert McEvoy, a lifelong resident of Oyster Bay and a longtime public servant, has been elected chairman of the Long Island Water Conference, an organization dedicated to ensuring the safety and reliability of Long Island’s water supply. With over two decades of experience in the water industry, McEvoy’s leadership marks a pivotal moment for the LIWC, as it continues to address pressing challenges like water quality, conservation and sustainability. McEvoy, 67, began his career in public service
shortly after graduating from college, working in government finance for the Nassau County comptroller’s office and later the Town of Oyster Bay. In 2000 he was elected commissioner of the Oyster Bay Water District, where he has served since, balancing his knowledge of finance with a passion for community service. “I’ve been involved in government and the water industry for years, and it’s been kind of like a progression,” McEvoy said. “Being a water commissioner allows you to make decisions on a local level, protecting a resource as vital as water. It’s about making sure our residents have safe, reliable and affordable drinking CONTINUED ON PAGE 5
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ur work is paying off.