Bay Shore High School
Alumni Association, Inc.
BSHS News Archive
Selected Articles From The "Our Schools" Community Newsletter
Bay Shore Schools... The Future Begins Here
An Especially Meritorious Block
Alyssa Leonard: A Triple Threat
School Communication Leadership
The National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) recognized the Bay Shore Office of School-Community Services with four Golden Achievement Awards and one Distinguished Achievement/ Honorable Mention for successful public relations programs. Award judges sought outstanding achievement in the four steps of a public relations program: 1) analysis of the need; 2) planning to meet the need; 3) execution and communication of the program; and 4) formal evaluation. Bay Shore’s competition entries met all criteria.
Music Theory Students Set Record
Bay Shore High School Music Theory and Composition Program was honored with state recognition of eight music compositions that are of the highest caliber.
Music Theory III teacher Ted Scalzo consistently has students place each and every year. This year, eight student composers are being honored in two categories.
Student Electronic Music Composition Showcase Finalists are:
Sam Bryant, Casey Hawkins, James Rainis, and Ben Schuman.
Young Composer Honors Concert Honorable Mention are:
Sam Bryant, Martin Forero, Jon Michel, and Stephen Modula.
Congratulations to all of our students for their creative dedication to the craft of music making.
Marauder Alumni News
• Southpaw Quinnipiac pitcher Chris Gloor (Class of ’05) was picked up by the San Francisco Giants in the Major League Baseball Draft.
• Sacred Heart cross-country runner Olivia Civardi (Class of ’09) was named Road Runner Sports Northeast Conference Rookie of the Week for her excellent performance in her first collegiate 5K race.
• Assistant Security Director Corey Swinson (Class of ’88) is featured online @ www.newyork-sportsbeat.com, “Ex-NFL Lineman Watches Over Alma Mater.” Mr. Swinson had quite a circuitous route back to his high school. Starting with a basketball scholarship at the University of Hawaii and switching over to football later on, this multi-talented athlete was drafted by the Miami Dolphins and eventually played with the St. Louis Rams and did a brief stint with the San Francisco 49ers. “My family was proud but they knew there was more to me than just sports,” Corey says. Due to a construction accident injury, he left the world of pro sports for private security, and ultimately, his present position with the Bay Shore School District. Now, this former lineman has come full circle, “defending” and “protecting” his high school and school district in the community that he proudly calls home.
Bay Shore High School Launches
International Baccalaureate World School Program
Bay Shore High School, one of only five International Baccalaureate (IB) World Schools on Long Island, has launched its first IB diploma classes this fall. The school district is proud to announce that twenty-nine students have decided to accept the challenge of this rigorous two-year college preparatory curriculum and to seek the prestigious IB diploma. Last spring, the high school completed the final requirement in the two-year authorization process to become an IB World School.
The IB Diploma Program provides students in their junior year with the opportunity to undertake a challenging, well-rounded educational program, which is widely recognized by the most competitive colleges in the United States and around the world. Candidates for the program were required to submit an application and sit for an interview during their sophomore year.
Once accepted into the program, students selected from a list of specially-designed courses that emphasize critical thinking, interdisciplinary study, and the cultivation of empathy for other people and cultures. Students seeking an IB diploma must take five academic courses from required curriculum areas and one elective IB academic course as well.
In addition, IB diploma students must fulfill three other core requirements: 1) complete an interdisciplinary course, Theory of Knowledge, that makes connections between the various IB courses, 2) write an extended essay on an individually-selected research topic, and 3) perform 150 hours of community service.
We congratulate the following students on their decision and wish them much good luck and success: Eric Ambos, Jyotsna Bodapati, Nicole Chin, Ajon Crump, Janice Cummings, Brian Coomey, Jillian DeFina, Jessica Downs, Connor Duddy, Keaira Dupuy, Danielle Epifanio, Mauricio Espinal, Samantha Fagone, Olivia Fiore, Ashlee Garrett, Rachel Haberstroh, Brianna Harrison, Matthew Hartill, Stephen Henriquez, William Jockers, Alexander Johnson, Michael Leshen, Antonia Lombardi, Benjamin Pacella, Kelly Reilly, Katelyn Smith, Kevin Sullivan, Alexandra Valencia, and Cedric Wilson.
Click on the Guidance Department on the Bay Shore School District website for further information on the BSHS IB Program and the International Baccalaureate Organization with links to information about how colleges view the IB program and diploma.
Semi-Finalist Students in 2010
National Merit Scholarship Program
Bay Shore High School Principal Robert Pashkin congratulates Arun Bodapati, David Espina, and James Rainis. These scholastically talented high school seniors now have an opportunity to continue in the National Merit Scholarship competition for some 8,200 National Merit Scholarship awards worth $36 million that will be offered next spring.
An Especially Meritorious Block
Congratulations to advisor Matt Pasca and the talented staff of The Writers’ Block. Once again the
magazine has garnered the “First Place with Special Merit” award, the highest award granted by the American Scholastic Press Association. This honor is on the heels of three consecutive “First Place” finishes. Editors Jenna Young (Class of ‘08), Heather Stefanescu, Samantha Sigelakis-Minski, Samantha Caiola and all contributing writers are to be highly commended for their successful efforts.
The Cultural Arts Committee of the award-winning Bay Shore-Brightwaters Summit Council is pleased to announce the 11th Annual Community Photography Contest. The exhibit will coincide with the 15th Annual Community SUMMIT on Thursday, April 16, 2009. Winning photographs will be on display throughout the community following the SUMMIT. Selected photographs may be used in future district and community brochures, publications and exhibitions. All work will be archived for possible future use. Proper photo credit will be given.
Call the Bay Shore Schools’ Office of School-Community Services at 968-1252 for an application or download from district website at: www.bayshoreschool.org. Deadline is March 6, 2009.
Bay Shore resident and former Bay Shore Middle School Social Studies Teacher and Department Chairperson Phil Carpenter was recently featured in the Oneonta Alumni Profile. Mr. Carpenter has established four endowed scholarships in The College of Oneonta Foundation so that there will always be a student from Bay Shore attending the college at each class level. “Education is an important key for success, and my aiding my adopted hometown students is one way of returning the kindness and opportunities Oneonta provided me almost half a century ago.” says the generous and affable retired school district administrator. The Bay Shore School District and students are grateful for his generosity that reinforces what a special community Bay Shore indeed is.
Congratulations to Bay Shore High School graduates (Class of ’08) Janelle Bonilla and Jaclyn Zangre. These Troop 1414 members recently received the Gold Award, Girl Scouting’s highest achievement. Janelle’s project involved researching the 300-year history of Bay Shore. She gathered photos and historical information in power point format and presented it to the younger girl scouts informing them about Bay Shore’s past. Planning and orchestrating the 2007 Brightwaters Centennial picnic’s children’s activities was Jaclyn Zangre’s project. In addition to her creative games, Jaclyn produced a special activity book to be included in the village’s time capsule.
Meeting all the rigorous requirements through the many years of scouting dedication and hard work, in addition to completing their specific award projects, is quite an accomplishment for these two focused young women.
15th Annual Community Summit
Thursday, April 16, 2009 • 7:00 PM
Bay Shore High School • 155 Third Avenue • Bay Shore, NY 11706
This year’s celebration is…
THE BAY SHORE-BRIGHTWATERS SUMMIT COUNCIL
Connecting the School and Community
Health, Physical Education and Athletic Director Claude Kasman and Assistant Director Judy Cummings are proud to announce that the following teams have received the NYSPHSAA (New York State Public High School Athletic Association) Team Scholar Award: Varsity Girls’ Cross Country (Coach Steve Borbet); Varsity Boys’ Cross Country (Coach Kurt Langer); Varsity Girls’ Swimming (Coach Mariusz Borkowski); Varsity Field Hockey (Coaches Mary Drago, Bonnie Rabin, and Kimberly Sabiston); and Varsity Girls’ Volleyball (Coach Anastasia DeBonis.)
A 90 GPA (Grade Point Average) and above is the standard for this special recognition. Congratulations to our talented scholar-athletes who were recognized at a recent Bay Shore School District Board of Education meeting. As previously reported, the Girls’ Cross Country team is the Suffolk County Champion and the Varsity Field Hockey team is the Suffolk County Big 6 Champion.
Section XI Team Sportsmanship Awards were garnered by eleven Marauder teams: Varsity Boys’ Cross Country, Varsity Girls’ Cross Country, Varsity Field Hockey, Varsity Boys’ Golf, JV Field Hockey, Middle School Boys’/Girls’ Cross Country, Middle School Boys’/Girls’ Soccer (7th & 8th Grade), and Middle School Girls’ Tennis. Congratulations to the coaches and the athletes that demonstrated the character and integrity of good sportsmanship.
The year 2008 saw many athletes receiving scholarships to play sports at various colleges and universities. In excess of $250,00 in scholarship money was awarded to our talented Bay Shore High School Marauders: Sarah McCurdy (Stanford University); Nikki Massoni (University of Rhode Island); Jasmyne Spencer (University of Maryland); John Soldinger (Manhattan College); Joseph Eliopoulos (Adelphi University); Shayne Lewis (Dowling College); Alexa deLyra (Northwestern University); and Gabrielle Wiegand (University of Richmond.) In addition, partial scholarships were given to lacrosse players Chelsea Donaldson (C.W. Post); Alicia Fuchs (Sacred Heart University); Katlyn Keagins (University of New Hampshire); Breana Leonard (Manhattan College); and Colleen Taggart (University of Oregon.)
Alyssa Leonard: A Triple Threat
Being featured on 1010 WINS radio, “Profiles of Tomorrow’s Newsmakers,” an MSG-NY television spot, and the New York Post sports page is an unusual feat for a high school sophomore. Alyssa Leonard has already distinguished herself as an exceptional athlete in not one, not two, but three varsity sports. That is quite an accomplishment for an underclassman. Her natural talent is only exceeded by her unbridled enthusiasm for the sports in which she excels and the commitment and determination she demonstrates on a daily basis.
Alyssa was running around with a bat and baseball glove at a very young age. All of her early efforts paid off dividends. As a lady Marauder softball shortstop she already owns a state championship and three Suffolk Class AA titles. Last year she batted .453 with four home runs, 27 RBI’s, 32 runs, and 12 steals. In addition to an impressive offense, she has been called “a great defense player.” Freshman year Alyssa received co-MVP status and was named a tri-captain for the 2007-08 season.
For 2007 she was named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-Region Teams’ Second Team as a shortstop. She received an additional All-Star recognition from the New York State Sportswriter’s Association.
Alyssa plays pointguard on the Girls’ Varsity Basketball Team. As a freshman guard she scored a career high 21 points leading Bay Shore to a 55-40 win over Sachem North and she also contributed on the defensive side as well with five steals.
In Girls’ Varsity Volleyball this talented athlete uniformly records “kills” and “digs” usually in the 20’s according to the Coaches Corner. The 2007-08 season was great for with Alyssa’s “excellent spiking techniques” and “never say die” attitude. That hard working team made it to the final four in the county. That season, Newsday selected Ms. Leonard as an All-Long Island Player as well as receiving All-County Honors.
This young student athlete acknowledges that education is the key to her future and works equally hard at her academic program maintaining honor roll grades. She is very modest about her skills and comments that her teammates “make her a better person.” The Bay Shore School District is very proud of this scholar-athlete.
Music Makers
Congratulations to two of the finest student musicians in New York State. Two Bay Shore High School students participated in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Music Festival in Rochester.
11th grader Brittney Sanders was selected to perform with the All State Symphonic Band being awarded 6th chair in the first clarinet section.
12th grader Michael Rodriguez won the Electronic Music Composition Competition with his original piece entitled “Unspoken.” He and nine other student composers participated in a composition symposium and an awards ceremony/concert in which his piece was played.
11th grader Jason Lombardo won an Honorable Mention in that same category and 12th grader Michael McClure was selected to be an alternate for the All-State Orchestra as a string bass player.
We are all very proud of these extremely talented students. Thank you for supporting the Bay Shore music program. This has been a banner year in the music department as it saw the largest participation in the instrumental music program to date. The number of students registered for beginning music lesson was extraordinary. It is here that the seeds of NYSSMA and music appreciation are planted.
“V” for Volleyball Victory
The Girls’ Varsity Volleyball Team had an amazing season. They possessed talent, heart, passion and a competitiveness that cannot be compared to any other team. The girls made it to the Final Four in Suffolk County where they lost to #1 seed Connetquot in a packed gym, playing a 5-game grueling match that lasted almost 3 hours. They left their season proud and extremely optimistic about the future.
Standouts for the 2007 season include: Alyssa Leonard - SO - All-County, All-County Tournament Team; Courtney Falconer - SR - All-County; Chelsea Callahan - SR - All-Conference, All-County Tournament Team; Nicole Weissert - JR - All-Conference, Coach’s Award; Jill Onderdonk - SR - All-League, All-County Tournament Team; and Sarah Stein – SO - Most Improved.
In the Zone
Congratulations to Courtney Cox and Frank Marzillo who were recognized by New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance as Suffolk Zone Award winners. These outstanding athletes met the following award criteria: Physical Education Achievement and Leadership, Outstanding Character, Scholastically Sound, School-wide Activities Leadership and Role Model.