News2@robsny.org. Announcements will be posted each month on this page. If you miss any previous month's announcements,
you can view them at the Archives page of this web site. You can also read more news in our Newsletters. In addition, if you have
your own web site, and would like to share it with other members, let us know and we can include the link on the ROBS site.
IMPORTANT DATES |
IN THE NEWS FEBRUARY 2015 | |||
NUSUT CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH
POSTED 2/1/15 Reprinted from NYSUT United, February 2015 NYSUT celebrates Black History Month in February with a poster highlighting the life and career of Maya Angelou (1928 – 2014), an author, poet, dancer, actress and singer. Angelou received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2010. She recited her poem "On the Pulse of Morning" in 1993 at President Bill Clinton's inauguration, the first poet in more than 30 years to have the honor. Born Marguerite Annie Johnson, Angelou published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry and was credited with plays, movies and television shows spanning more than 50 years. Angelou is best known for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the first of her seven autobiographies. The poster is free. You can download printable posters at www.nysut.org or order via email at orders@nysutmail.org. Reference Project No. 514C_15; include your name and mailing address. SAD SHARING POSTED 2/26/15 Mary Jo Gallo passed away this past week. The Mass was held at St. Matthew's in Dix Hills on Tuesday, Feb 24 at 10:45am. No further information is available at this time. |
SAD SHARING
POSTED 2/11/15 It is with great sadness that we share the passing of George Catandella former Coordinator of Music for Brentwood Schools (1965-1987) and father of Lisa Catandella, Coordinator of IMC. A celebration of life service will be held in Punta Gorda, Florida (date to be determined). A scholarship fund will be made in his name to benefit the music students of Brentwood (details below). Condolences can be sent to: SAD SHARING POSTED 2/26/15 It is with heartbreaking sadness that we inform you of the sudden passing of Dr. Joel Ratner, on February 23, 2015. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 26, at Temple Emanu-El, 123 Merrick Avenue, East Meadow, at 10:00 AM. Burial will follow at Mt. Golda Cemetery, 500 Old Country Road, South Huntington. Shiva will be observed at the home of Jody, Leslie and Eric Ratner, 460 Clearmeadow Drive, East Meadow on: Thursday, February 26, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with a minyan service at 8:00 PM; Friday, February 27, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM; Saturday, February 28, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM, with a minyan service at 8:00 PM; Sunday, March 1, 1:00 to 4:00 PM. If you are so moved, please send a donation in Joel’s memory to: Louis Armstrong House Museum, 34-56 107th Street, Corona, NY 11368 Or Dr. Joel Ratner Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Brentwood High School 2 Sixth Avenue, Brentwood, NY 11717 He was deeply loved and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. |
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SAD SHARING
POSTED 2/13/15 It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Thomas DeRosa, father of Vincent DeRosa (retired Special Education Teacher), father-in-law of Laura Alicastro (retired Hemlock Park Principal), and brother of Jerry DeRosa (retired English Teacher). Funeral Arrangements: Chapey Funeral Home 200 East Main Street East Islip, NY 11730 Saturday, February 21st from 7:00 - 9:30 and Sunday, February 22nd from 2:00 - 4:00 and 7:00 - 9:30. Funeral Mass: St. Mary's Catholic Church on Monday, February 23rd at 10:45 a.m. Main Street, East Islip, NY 11730 Condolences may be sent to the family at: 37 Canterbury Drive, Hauppauge, NY 11788 In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations in memory of Tom be made to: The Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, 355 Lexington Avenue 15th Floor, New York, NY 10017 |
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| MEMBERS'S CORNER |
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How are we doing? We'd like to hear from you. Please visit our Letters to the Editor Page where you can share your views and comments |
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IN MEMORIAM |
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 View the "In Memoriam" page with the list of our Brentwood colleagues who have passed away. This list will be updated on a yearly basis. |
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NYSUT NEWS |
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 MEMEBER ACTION CENTER * Demand Governor Cuomo & Chancellor Tisch Stop the Assault on Public Education TAKE ACTION * If he wants a fight, we'll give him a fight JOIN THE FIGHT Support VOTE-COPE with your voluntary contribution. Download the VOTE-COPE Contribution Card here. |
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| WHAT YOU DIDN'T KNOW | ||||
| Check out the Famous People and Events on that special day in February and see what else happened! Historical People and Events for February |
February 2015 Holidays, Bizarre, Unique, Special Days Bizarre and Unique Holidays |
All About February February in History |
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| ROBS HISTORY PROJECT - John M. Sherin | ||||
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Why did we do it? What was our purpose in taking on such an open ended “History Project”; for which we evolved a script of questions and got answers from over 150 subjects for two decades? We couldn’t answer the question in 1994 when people would ask “What are you going to do with the interviews?” All we could say was that for educational purposes we had to document our record now or lose the chance to preserve so many poignant accounts, funny stories and touching tales told by exemplary educators. We knew these dedicated public servants might shortly, for reasons yet unknown, be leaving Brentwood for good. So, we decided to let time sort out the details. We began scheduling appointments. We asked questions and listened saving for generations the essence of what it meant to have been an educator or employed, in this large public school system during the second half of the 20th century. Brentwood remains an exemplar to all others; a diverse microcosm of America reflecting 124 districts on Long Island while simultaneously resembling thousands across the U.S. We’ve accomplished something here to be proud of. Whether we were interviewed or not, ours is a claim of service that few professionals in the State of New York or elsewhere have positioned themselves to share in the way we have. INITIALLY the practice of sitting with a subject for an hour and giving them a hundred percent focused attention seemed somewhat daunting to a number of friends and colleagues. So much so in fact that many declined our repeated invitations to speak with us as they left careers or retired from full employment. Despite all assurances that we were not about investigative journalism or invading privacy, they deferred. Now, twenty years after we began, some are saying they may be ready. “Better late than never” we say. However, to all among you who were willing to share not only your classroom experiences and personal stories, but precious memories from your lives along with your fondest hopes for the future, we say “Thanks”. Thanks for allowing us to continue the process by paying it forward as we share these interviews with the Brentwood community and countless professionals and researchers near and far. Through an acceptance of ROBS offer of collaboration with Archivist Dr. Geri Solomon and The Long Island Studies Institute at Hofstra University our History Project lives on in academia as well as in the collection of the Brentwood Public Library, thanks to Director, Thomas A. Tarantowicz. Enjoy unlimited visits to www.robsny.org where you can watch and listen to segments from featured Interviews in the ROBS History Project Section on our Announcements Page each month. Return here to listen and learn again and again.
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THIS MONTH'S FEATURED HISTORY PROJECT
INTERVIEW: Thomas Frederick O'Conner Mr. O’Conner’s early years were spent in North Amityville where he attended elementary school. He graduated Hempstead High School and matriculated to Adelphi University in Garden City where he attended at night while working days. After high school he worked for Household Finance and Beneficial Finance Corp. He remembers the Kennedy assassination, Nixon’s resignation and his first day of teaching in Brentwood in 1969. He was introduced to the District by a sister who lived in Brentwood and due to its large size suggested he might try for employment there. In January 1968 he was hired as a substitute when G Guy. DiPietro had to replace a teacher who left in mid-year. When that position opened up, the Superintendent recommended Tom for the job in the Sonderling building that he held till retiring in 1992. During his tenure he taught World History, American History, Problems of American Democracy, Consumer Economics, Sociology, Criminal Justice and Mock Trial. In 1985 Brentwood won the Suffolk County Championship in Albany, coming in 2nd in State competitions. Tom was active with the Government Club, Moot Trial Club, and attending Town of Islip Board Meetings where his students got up to speak calling attention to their presence and bringing Tom’s controversial activities in Consumer Economicsinto question. He received a call from the Principal of Brentwood High School and was obliged to explain his assignment and justify his actions. Tom referenced the importance of NYS Tenure Laws for teachers. He believed without them he could have lost his teaching position. He assisted Cal Fornwald for one year when they Co-Advised the Brentwood Yearbook. He recalled the impact that Milton K. Siler Jr, G. Guy DiPietro, and Barbara Britt had on his career. He loved reading about History and Sports, Philosophy and Literature. Coming late to Education after a career in business he took only four Education Courses as electives prior to teaching in Brentwood and had no student teaching experience. His mission throughout his career was “to encourage kids to think and to become independent thinkers.” This interview occurred on October 18, 1999.
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You can also view any of these past interviews by visiting History Project Interview Archives : Baker Bernhardt, Ruth Baker Bazata, Eleanor Balinski, Wally Brooks, Ronda Carey, Dick Carpenter, Beverly Cerullo, Peter Corkery, Florence Cuneen, Ray Curio, Rich DeBellis, Claudia DeBellis, Helen DeBellis, Michael DePlaza, Marilyn Desoto, Edward DiMento, Peter Edwards, Richard Efron, Martin Fasullo, Mike Felicio, Anthony Filosa, Edith Fiore, Marcy Hannan, Edward Helman, Harriet Hodges, Shirley Kirschner, Marge Koehler, Florence Lane, William Lange, Joan Laub, Dr. Herb Martz, David Mascaro, Barbara McNicholas, Barbara Monsen, Pattie Moss, Ken Mundy, Rick Murray, Alma Nanos, Jim O'Conner, Thomas Pace, Ron Purcell, Joseph Rosenthal, Ivy Rosenthal, Ruth Salerno, Hank Scharf, Karen Sekac, Evelyn Sheele, Raymond Sopp, Lorraine Spencer, Franklin Stuhler, Patricia Sustrin, Letty and Sheila Vannoy, Evelyn Veech, Chris Walker Lloyd, Shirley Wolfe, Jeffrey Zuckerman, Dorothy Zuckerman, Jack |
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| RC21 EVENTS | ||||
| Feb 3 Executive Board Meeting (No meeting in January) March 24 General Membership Meeting (No Meetings in Jan. or Feb.) RC 21 Website: http://rc21.ny.aft.org/ |
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| MEMBER WEBSITES | ||||
John M. Sherin Complete Team Building Kits
Teaching Cooperation/ Collaboration Emotional Intelligence (EQ) www.brokensquares.com Rick Mundy
Watercolor Prints of L.I., Adirondacks, NYC...
www.RickMundy.Com Gloria Hannemann Hardwood Flooring and Home Improvement www.Servi-all.com Elmon Kazandjian NYC Art Gallery www.woodwardgallery.net Mr. Graziano's Science Class Academic Enrichment and Remedial Website |
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| PAID ADVERTISING | ||||
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Classified Section |
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| THE TOWN CRIER - MarilynDePlaza@aol.com | ||||
 Marilyn De Plaza |
The Town Crier" was set up a number of years ago so that the retirees of the Brentwood School District could have an email center to stay in touch. Since I began to send out all sorts of information, retirees from all over the country have sent me their email addresses. Some have asked, "Do you have any idea where so and so is?" Others have sent proud news of their accomplishments, their family news, photos,etc. and sadly, we often get bad news. Many retirees whom I have never met write me to thank me for keeping this connection going, as everyone remembers the Brentwood years with warm feelings.
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