The Rocky Point School District has started the 2023-24 school year with its Strategic Plan firmly in place. As part of its student-centered learning initiative, American Sign Language courses have been added as new electives for Rocky Point Middle School seventh graders and Rocky Point High School freshmen through seniors.

At the Middle School, Mrs. Eileen Fioto stood silently taking attendance of the 20 students in her class, finger spelling their names with silent replies from each student. It was an impressive display of excellence and student ownership of learning, especially since it was only the seventh day of class. She continued the class by assisting the students in mastering their sign language skills.

Mrs. Fioto and Mrs. Debbie Elcik, who teaches the class at the High School, use similar lessons to engage the students. The seventh grade introductory course covers the first half of the High School’s ASL curriculum. The goal of the course is for students to achieve functional communication in the context of the Deaf culture. They are learning the development of receptive, expressive and interactive skills as a foundation for effective communication in ASL. Deaf culture will be explored and students will interact using ASL. Students will move on to American Sign Language I in eighth grade to complete the second half of the level I curriculum.

The seventh graders also reviewed the rules and tips of finger spelling, number one being to relax and not to panic, being patient, stabilizing their elbow, maintaining a constant rhythm and avoiding mouthing the letters. They also practiced with a partner, finger spelling a three-letter name and helping to be sure their partner understood each letter by pausing between letters.

“We are pleased with the start of this program and foresee its success, as students have both a voice and a choice in their learning as well as a sense of ownership over their individual achievements and experiences,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Scott O’Brien said.

These creative learning environments will also highly motivate students, make space for all learning styles and promote development of mastery skills, individualization, interaction and integration.

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Date Added: 9/15/2023

This summer Rocky Point High School students furthered their STEM learning and experience through participation in three amazing programs. Senior Elyse Nadeau applied and was accepted as an intern at the Long Island Aquarium in its education department. The mission of the internship program is to allow the student to experience various aspects of marine science through the perspective of the marine educator. As an intern, Elyse was teamed up with education department staff members who served as mentors throughout the internship experience. During her 120-hour internship experience Elyse was trained to and provided educational sessions to visitors.

Three juniors, Isabella Kelly, Ella Rau and Delany Schwartz, applied and were accepted to the Western Suffolk BOCES Marine Studies Enrichment Program. The students were immersed in a five-day, four-night residential marine environment summer camp. The students learned about physical and chemical oceanography, marine ecology, invertebrate zoology and more through hands-on investigations in both lab and field settings. Some of their on-site investigations took place at Sunken Meadow State Park.

Finally, five students, seniors Juliana Danisi, Evan Donovan, Jacob Donovan, Rhiannon Donovan, and junior Zen Pinkenburg, participated in the Brookhaven National Laboratory High School Research Program. The High School Research Program is a highly competitive, six-week educational program. The students collaborated with Brookhaven National Laboratory’s scientific, engineering and technical staff on hands-on projects that support Brookhaven National Laboratory’s and the Department of Energy’s missions. At the end of the six-week program, the students shared their experiences as part of a poster session and/or oral presentation.

Date Added: 9/12/2023

Rocky Point High School junior Maya Alexander was selected to participate in the 2023 New York State School Music Association’s All-State Mixed Chorus. Additionally, Rocky Point seniors Elyse Nadeau and Renee Ortiz were selected as alternates for this prestigious performing ensemble. Maya was selected for the Soprano 2 section, and Elyse and Rene are both alternates for the Alto 1 section. Maya is a soprano in the Rocky Point High School Chorus, and she will perform with the NYSSMA All-State Mixed Chorus under the direction of renowned choral director Dr. Gary Packwood. This four-day festival will take place during the New York State School Music Association Winter Conference from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4 in Rochester, New York. After three days of intense rehearsals with high school juniors and seniors from throughout New York, this festival will culminate with a performance at the historic Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre in Rochester. Thousands of students auditioned for this honor last spring at the NYSSMA All-State Solo Evaluation Festivals throughout the state.

“I am so incredibly proud of Maya, Elyse and Renee,” high school chorus teacher Ms. Jessica Spitz said. “All three of them have worked very hard to prepare their NYSSMA solos, not only last spring, but also in years past. Additionally, they are outstanding leaders in chorus and their other performing groups. They are such a joy to work with every day. This is such a well-deserved honor for them!” Ms. Spitz will also be traveling to the NYSSMA Winter Conference to attend the various professional development workshops offered, and to observe the rehearsals and attend the All-State Mixed Choir concert.

A congratulatory message from Rocky Point Music Department chairpersons Mr. Craig Knapp and Ms. Amy Schecher read, “We applaud Maya, Elyse and Renee on their accomplishments. Being named to a NYSSMA All-State ensemble and being selected as an alternate is an achievement bestowed upon only a small percentage of music students throughout the state. Maya is now a part of an elite group of high school student musicians from New York. We are certain that she will represent the Rocky Point Music Department with the utmost level of pride and dedication. She is an intelligent, kind, mature, responsible and talented student, and we are sure she will have a positive experience at the NYSSMA All-State Festival. We are also very proud of our high school chorus director, Ms. Jessica Spitz. It takes a lot of hard work to prepare students for festivals of this magnitude, and we are thankful for Ms. Spitz’s continued dedication toward her students and the Rocky Point Music Department.”

Date Added: 9/8/2023