IMPORTANT DATES

FOURTH OF JULY EXHIBIT AT STATE CAPITOL
POSTED 7/3/12

From the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo:
Dear Fellow New Yorker,
     Today, Governor Cuomo unveiled a special Fourth of July exhibition at the State Capitol to highlight New York’s role in the American Revolution. For the first time, the exhibition brings together Revolutionary War era artifacts from a variety of state historical associations, sites, and museums to help commemorate our state’s essential role in our nation’s founding. Read more and explore the Online Exhibit.

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WHAT AFFORDABLE CARE ACT MEANS FOR YOUR HEALTH CARE
POSTED 7/3/12

The following link may clarify the law to help understand what the Supreme Court's ruling means to your health care:
Health Reform Benefits

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SAD SHARING
POSTED 7/28/12
     It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Vinnie Latella's father (WMS Guidance Counselor). Our prayers and heartfelt sympathies are extended to him and his family during this difficult time.

Service Information:
Claude R. Boyd/Caratozzolo Funeral Home
1785 Deer Park Ave, Deer Park, NY 631-667-8614
Visitation:
Saturday, July 28 and Sunday, July 29
4:00pm - 8:00pm
Funeral Service:
Monday, July 30, 2012
10:30am - 11:30am
Island Christian Church
400 Elwood Rd, East Northport, NY
Committal Service:
Monday, July 30, 2012
12:30pm - 1:30pm
Calverton National Cemetery
Route 25A, Calverton, NY

     This is one parent who believes Brentwood kids got a good education
and was willing to put it in writing for the Writers Group in 2003.

   I was chatting with some of the kids on my block one day and we were kicking around the subject of school. Most said they were doing pretty well but they had some gripes too.
     One girl, about 16 years old, was complaining about tests. She asked me if I went to high school. I smiled and said that I had. She asked if I had ever had substitute teachers. . . back then. Back then, I thought. Yes, it was a long time ago but although 55 years had passed since high school, I remembered it like it was yesterday. “Yes,” I answered, “we had substitute teachers ‘back then’ but,” I added, “not very often.” I asked what her problem was and she was more than happy to tell me.

     “Everyone has probably had the same experience,” she said. “You have a test one day, but when you get to class, no teacher. Free period, right? No, wrong, test! The substitutes will usually give the test. Nothing is wrong with that; legally, they are allowed. However, sometimes, when there is a test and the teacher isn’t there, you might have a question; what do you do? In most cases the substitutes are familiar with the subject --science, for example, that they are substituting for. There are times, however, when the substitutes have no idea about the subject matter and cannot help. This is very trying for students who sometimes need clarification and cannot get it. I find it really frustrating and it must be the same for many other students. IT is unjust and I believe that, if a teacher gives an exam, he or she should be required to actually be there. Sometimes, their presence could just make students feel a little more confident while they are working.”

Hmmm, I thought, here’s a bright young woman telling me exactly what she thinks, without lashing out at the school, her teachers or her substitute teachers. She is suggesting a change in the system without rancor and is articulating a position clearly and concisely.
     I looked around at the other kids, all about the same age. They nodded their heads in agreement. I applauded her reasoning and expressed surprise that she had given the problem so much thought. She smiled and said that she had received some positive reinforcement from her regular teachers and her parents and a few of her friends. I asked her what she was going to do about her ideas. She told me that she was going to speak to her student advisor and go on from there.
     They got on the school bus and off they went. This, I thought, was the payoff resulting from a good education.

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.

Ron Pace
High School Music Teacher
   We interviewed Ron on April 29th 2010 as he still contemplated retirement.  He began teaching at West Middle for his first five years moving to East Middle for the next twenty and to the 7th Grade Center for one year. North and South Middle Schools were his assignments up until eleven years ago when he came to the High School. There he created a Guitar Program and introduced Women’s Choir. Among his many contributions to the district were a Scholarship Program, Faculty Music Program and Student Composers Night. Ron served as Co-Chair of the Curriculum Committee for almost twenty years. His wife Susan continued to teach at South Middle School after he retired.
Part 1


Click on the image below to read Ron Pace's Bio.

You can also view any of these past interviews by visiting History Project Interview Archives :

SAD SHARING
POSTED 7/3/12

     Marilyn - I'm saddened to let you know about the passing of Beverly O'Neill Carpenter, a former Special Education Teacher from Twin Pines. She passed away Friday, June 29th after suffering a stroke on Tuesday, June 26th. As of yet, not memorial service has been planned. Condolences may be sent to her step-daughter: Sheila Carpenter
516 Hawkins Ave.
Ronkonkoma, N.Y. 11779
     I thank you for spreading the word.
     June Cardenas

SAD SHARING
POSTED 7/7/12  
     Millie Fagan, former kindergarten teacher at SE, Laurel Park and East Kdg Center and mother of Maureen Russo, teacher at East Middle School, died.
     She will be waked on :
Monday 2 - 4:30 and 7 - 9:30
Raynor and D'Andrea Funeral Home
245 Main St., West Sayville
     Funeral will be held at 10 am at
St. Lawrence Catholic Church
Main St., Sayville
     In lieu of flowers the family has requested contributions be sent to:
St Lawrence Parish Outreach
27 Handsome Avenue
Sayville, 11782

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SAD SHARING
POSTED 7/21/12
     It is with sadness that we tell you of the passing of retired Brentwood clerical, Eileen Kelly, mother-in-law of Board of Education Trustee George Talley, grandmother to South Middle School Teacher Eileen Ortenzi, Athletic Warehouse Driver/Messenger Ryan Talley, Pine Park Teacher Dawn Talley and North Middle School Clerical Brianne Talley.
Funeral arrangements are as follows:
Michael J. Grant Funeral Home
571 Suffolk Avenue, Brentwood, NY
Sunday, July 22 and Monday, July 23
2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
7:00 – 9:30 p.m.
Funeral Mass: St. Anne’s Church
Second Avenue, Brentwood
Tuesday, July 24 at 9:45 a.m