South High School Celebrates L.O.T.E. Week

Guest Blogger: Imani T. Johnson, 9th Grade - South High School

Valley Stream South High School kicked off its annual Foreign Language Week March 5th.  Foreign Language week is hosted by the L.O.T.E (Languages Other Than English) Department.    The teachers, students and staff feel that it’s a week to learn about other cultures and the importance of diversity and tolerance.  As a student at South High School, I feel the school is very culturally diverse; although we see different people from various cultures everyday, we never get to understand or learn about the cultures.

The week started off with a performance of Flamenco Dancing from Andalusia in southern Spain, noted for its energetic, staccato style.  The dancers came fully dressed in tribal attire and performed a traditional dance for students and staff.   In L.O.T.E classes the students took a series of international cultures trivia quizzes.  In addition, some classes got the opportunity to listen to foreign music from different cultures. 

The week ended with everyone’s’ favorite “Food Day” J.  The students were encouraged to bring in different types of food from their native culture for their class to try, this included desserts, drinks, and of course food.

Foreign Language Week was a wonderful experience and I can’t wait for future years.

Memorial Junior High School celebrates LOTE Week this week.

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Supermarket Bingo Anyone?

 

Outside of family game nights growing up, I've never been a huge fan of Bingo. I'm sure it's because I rarely won.  However, I'm learning that there's a new twist on it in the area.  This could be old news to some but for me, it's new.  Last year I participated unsuccessfuly in the Our Lady of Peace Bingo night and of course, didn't win a thing.  But your luck could be different this weekend.  Check out the upcoming Bingo games hosted by two area schools.  Good luck!

Supermarket Sweep Bingo
March 23th @ 7 p.m.
Willow Road School - Franklin Square
Adults Only (yes!)
Cost: $9.00
For tickets: Denise Fishman (516) 505-8556

Supermarket Sweeps
Valley Stream South High School - South Hall
Friday, March 23rd @ 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
(Door open at 6:45 p.m.)
Cost: $8.00 includes a board, jackpot game, and door prize ticket
For tickets: Diane Winter (516) 791-1738/Barbara Cestaro (516) 791-1092

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Star Potential Hosts Teen Talent Fundraiser - March 10th

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Rent is Due in Valley Stream This Weekend

A few years ago, hubby and I went to see "Rent" on Broadway.  It's a classic and we just had to see it.  I admit I knew nothing about the production.  Just that it was a classic and we just had to see it.  I do remember the signature song and after the show, we left singing, in various versions, "Five-hundred-twenty-five-thousand-six-hundred-minutes. How do you measure, a year in the life...." That was a cool song.  The theatre department at Central High School will present this very same musical about struggling friends and artists in New York's East Village.  The play covers poverty, AIDS, addiction, and love.

Rent: The Musical
Central High School
135 Fletcher Avenue
Valley Stream, NY
Friday, February 4th @ 7 p.m.
Saturday, February 5th @ 2 p.m. & 7 p.m.

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Tale As Old As Time - Beauty and the Beast

 

North High School invites you to be their guest this week as they present a Walt Disney classic tale, "Beauty and the Beast." 

Belle is a girl who is dissatisfied with life in a small provincial French town, constantly trying to fend off the misplaced "affections" of conceited Gaston. The Beast is a prince who was placed under a spell because he could not love. A wrong turn taken by Maurice, Belle's father, causes the two to meet. Read more


North High School
Thursday, November 17th
Time: 6 p.m.
Special Performance for Children 12 and under
Cost: $5.00

Friday, November 18th
Saturday, November 19th
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Cost: $10 adults, $7 students/senior citizens
Info: (516) 564-5500

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Central High School Presents "Miracle Worker"

I recall reading the story of Hellen Keller in grade school and thinking what an amazing little girl she was. For those of us who have all of our senses unlike Hellen, we should never say what we can't do. This classic story will be told by the students of Central High School's Theatre Department this weekend.  See details below. 

(Simon and Schuster) Based on the remarkable true story of Helen Keller and her teacher Annie Sullivan, this inspiring and unforgettable play has moved countless readers and become an American classic.

Young Helen Keller, blind, deaf, and mute since infancy, is in danger of being sent to an institution because her inability to communicate has left her frustrated and violent. In desperation, her parents seek help from the Perkins Institute, which sends them a "half-blind Yankee schoolgirl" named Annie Sullivan to tutor their daughter. Despite the Kellers' resistance and the belief that Helen "is like a little safe, locked, that no one can open," Annie suspects that within Helen lies the potential for more, if only she can reach her. Through persistence, love, and sheer stubbornness, Annie breaks through Helen's walls of silence and darkness and teaches her to communicate, bringing her into the world at last.

Central High School
Keller Auditorium
Friday, November 18th @ 7 p.m.
Saturday, November 19th @ 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Cost: $5.00

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Central High Students Tidy Up

Courtesy of Long Island Herald

Congratulations to Central High School for keeping the areas around their school clean.  It's also a great way to foster community pride into children at such a young age.  Keep up the good work!

Central Students Clean Up Fletcher Avenue

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Pep Rally!

Every time I hear the word pep rally, I immediately think about my life as a cheerleader from grades 6, 8 - 12.  I loved the shoes, super huge pom poms, bobby socks, and short skirts.  If you ask, I can still sing and perform my high school fight song as if I were still a teenager.  Can I do the splits still?  Now that's a different story. 

It's Homecoming season and North and Central High School are sharing the honors this weekend with dances and pep rallies.  Well actually I learned that Central doesn't have a homecoming dance.  Now what's that all about?  To me, that means I have about 11 years to change that if my children are going to attend Central, lol. 

North High School
Homecoming Pep Rally tonight @ 7 p.m.
Parade time: (website kept freezing, so I have no idea)

Central High School
Pasta Dinner, October 14th @ 6 p.m. (Cafe)
Pep Rally Friday, October 14th @ 7 p.m. (Gym)
Homecoming Parade, October 15th @ 2 p.m. (Fireman's Field)
Homecoming Game October 15th @ 3 p.m.

Giveaway Winner: Cathy Grunin!

One of the most important times in a high school girls life is Homecoming.  I asked a fellow Valley Stream Mom who has done my makeup and eyelashes countless times to gift one lucky young lady a free makeup application just for Homecoming.  Her work is phenomenal and comparable to the makeup of celebrities.  She applies the makeup using an airbrush which actually tickles but the look is flawless!

To win this giveaway, you must be the parent of a teen girl or a ticket holder attending either North or Central High School's Homecoming dance this weekend.  South, you will get your chance next week.  Leave a comment in the box below to be eligible.  Anonymous entries are ineligible.  To receive an additional bonus entry, "Like" us on Facebook and/or  be a new follower on Twitter.  One lucky girl will be selected using  www.random.org.  Contest ends Tuesday, October 11th.

Good luck!

Kindergarten/School Registration

If you're anything like me, I had no idea that I had to contact the public elementary school we are sending our daughter to to let them know that she will attend the school in the fall. We assumed we would get something in the mail informing us about registration but never did. I contacted the school only to find out that they had a schedule of ongoing events beginning back in November through June that the incoming Kindergarten students needed to attend to get used to the school. Not a bad idea, but it would have been nice if the school reached out to us. How about sending a friendly postcard or letter to all of the tax payers in Valley Stream. I'm sure they get those checks from us so it would be nice if they sent a thank you note and registration dates for incoming students. Pre-K here on the island is not free, however there is an area in Valley Stream that is part of the Hewlett school district and has free Pre-K. Wish I had know that...

Here is a link to all of the public school districts. VS School District 13 posts their registration packet online. I wasn't able to find the links to the other districts. Be prepared to give your first born while filling out the packet. They ask for alot of information so don't wait until the last minute.

Public Elementary Schools
Valley Stream District 13 (registration packet available on the website)
Valley Stream District 24 (website is super slow)
Valley Stream District 30

Public Middle/High Schools
Valley Stream Central High School District

Schools include:
Memorial Jr. High
South Junior High
North Junior High
Central High School
North High School
South High School

Parochial Schools
Valley Stream Christian Academy (K-8)
Holy Name of Mary (includes Pre-K)
Holy Trinity Nursery School (includes 2, 3, and 4 year old programs)
Grace United Methodist Nursery School (Nursery & Pre-K only)