Category Archives: Academics

Curriculum and Activities Fair Highlights Student Opportunities and Offerings!

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Filed under Academics, Presentation, Student Clubs, Students

As parents of our incoming 8th Graders (the Class of 2024) were learning more about their child’s first year at Wheatley, parents of current Wheatley students were learning more about the many offerings, programs and opportunities in grades 9-12 through our Curriculum and Activities Fair.

Over the course of the evening, parents were able to attend sessions on the following specific topics:

  • 10th Grade English Offerings (SWS/English 10/English 10H)
  • College-level Course Offerings (AP courses, Dual Enrollment courses, AP Capstone, alternative diploma pathways)
  • STEM Overview (including PLTW, Computer Science, Mathematics and Science offerings)

Parents also had an opportunity to learn about our co-curricular offerings, including our many clubs and activities. It was an evening of information and activity! A huge “Thank You” to the department supervisors, club advisors, and classroom teachers who helped make this night both informative and exciting!

You can download some of the information distributed through the following links:

9th grade parent presentation 2019.pptx

college-level course offerings

8th-9th curriculum night presentation 2019ew

 

 

Orientation for Parents of Incoming 8th Graders!

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Filed under Academics, Community, Curricula, Guidance, Parents, Presentation, Students

On Thursday evening, we welcomed parents of incoming 8th Graders (the Class of 2024) to Wheatley so they could learn more about our school, its many offerings and our ongoing support of all of our students. After providing parents with a varied overview of Wheatley, we turned the program over to a panel of wonderful students who answered questions from parents.

The 8th grade student panelists were:

  • Emma Azevedo
  • Mahdi Bhalloo
  • Sonia Patel
  • Evan Sheinman
  • Alex Wigginton

Thanks to our Director of Guidance, Mrs. Janna Varela, for moderating the student panel! Thank you as well to our leadership team for assisting with the evening:

  • Dr. Klapper (Assistant Principal)
  • Mrs. Anderson (World Language Chair)
  • Mr. Collier (English Chair)
  • Dr. Eckers (Social Studies Chair)
  • Mr. Kemnitzer (Director of Technology)
  • Mrs. Pace (Science Director)
  • Dr. Teseo (Mathematics and Business)
  • Mrs. Varela (Guidance Director)

Handouts from the evening included:

wheatley preview jan19 cover.001

Manan and Brandon Named 2019 Regeneron Scholars!

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Filed under Academics, Competition, Students

On 9 January, Wheatley Seniors Manan Shukla and Brandon Zhu were named scholars in the 2019 Regeneron Science Talent Search!

In 2017, Regeneron became only the third sponsor (after Westinghouse and Intel) of the Science Talent Search, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. As part of its 10-year, $100 million commitment, Regeneron nearly doubled the overall award distribution to $3.1 million annually to better reward the best and brightest young minds. Founded and led by two Science Talent Search alumni, Regeneron recognizes and prioritizes the need to inspire more young people to engage in science.

The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,964 applications, which were received from 601 high schools in 48 states, two U.S. territories and eligible students living in seven other countries. The scholars were selected based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists. This year, research projects cover topics from bioengineering to environmental science to physics.

Manan’s project, “Creating Affordable and Objective Healthcare Solutions Using IoT and Cloud Technology,” was created in response to a problem he identified in the current health care system: physicians cannot treat their patients effectively because they lack accurate patient information to make proper decisions. This manifests itself in particular with patients who do not accurately report their medication intake. As a result, Manan created a smart pill dispenser that uses IoT cloud connectivity to not only quantify patient behaviors and determine medication usage but can also send this information to their physician so that patient treatment is based on objective data rather than inaccurate reporting. Manan’s project was highlighted earlier this year in this blog. You can read about it through this link.

Brandon’s project, “Efficient Zero-Knowledge Using Garbled Circuits Under the Plain Model,” was designed in response to the reality that our online security is constantly at risk of data breaches. To tackle this, Brandon created a secure encryption protocol based on cutting-edge techniques, such as commitment schemes and zero knowledge, that maintains security regardless of an attacker’s computational power. This enhanced protocol preserves full security without detrimental assumptions such as non-malleability and has even been tested to run more efficiently than less-perfect protocols.

On January 23, 40 of the 300 scholars will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists.

You can read Newsday’s coverage of Long Island’s scholars through this link: Regeneron Scholars Newsday 9Jan19

You can view all of the 300 Regeneron Scholars here: STS 2019 Scholar Book

Congratulations Manan and Brandon!

 

Congratulations to Grant Peterson, our Geography Bee Winner!

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Filed under Academics, Competition, Student Performances, Students

On Friday afternoon, sixteen of our 8th Grade students competed in the final school round of the National Geography Bee in order to determine who would represent Wheatley in the next round of the competition.

The event was the first round in the annual National Geographic GeoBee, a geography competition designed to inspire and reward middle-level students’ curiosity about the world.  Questions cover not only geography, but also cultures, physical features, history, and earth science.   The contestants answered increasingly difficult questions about five themes of geography in seven rounds that included favorites such as “Weird… But True!” and “Odd One Out” before several students advanced to the final rounds.

After in-class preliminary rounds (held in Social Studies 8 classes), the following sixteen students qualified for the Wheatley Final Round:

  • Amir Agarwal (GT)
  • Rachel Aquino-Okeke
  • Skye Blau
  • Grant Callahan
  • William Caroddo
  • Daniel Dayter
  • Michael Emouna
  • Neha George
  • Tobey Hirsch
  • Sonia Patel
  • Grant Peterson
  • Andrew Pinto
  • Tyler Richman
  • Zachary Samuel
  • Lauren Tavolacci
  • James Tercynski

Congratulations to Grant Peterson, this year’s Geography Bee champion! Grant outlasted Daniel Dayter and Sonia Patel in a nerve-wracking final round. Grant will now have the opportunity to take a qualifying test for the State GeoBee, which will be held in Albany this coming March.

Thank you to Dr. Scott Eckers, our Social Studies Chair, for hosting the final round. Thank you as well to all of the 8th Grade teachers (Mr. Michael Haig, Ms. Courtney Clarake and Mrs. Gina Topping) for supporting this competition in their classrooms.

8th Grade Heads to Manhattan for Some Real-World Learning!

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Yesterday, on a beautiful December day, students in grade eight enjoyed interactive educational experiences in Lower Manhattan.  Half of our students went to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum and half of our students went to the World Trade Center and the Brooklyn Bridge.  Students were able to explore the urban environment they are studying in social studies.

At the Tenement Museum, students saw first-hand the crowded living spaces they are studying in their Immigration and Progressive Age units.  The docents and teachers worked with our students to understand the daily living, learning, and working routines of millions of New Yorkers and the struggles they faced to “make it” in America.  Through the museum visit and a walking tour of the neighborhood, students learned about immigrant life at the turn of the twentieth century on the Lower East Side of Manhattan.

At the World Trade Center, students visited the September 11, 2001 memorial before boarding giant interactive elevators to the top of One World Observatory.  At the top, teachers helped students identify historic sites and major buildings in and around New York City.  The clear weather provided spectacular views of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Trinity Church, Wall Street, the Chrysler Building, the Empire State Building, Central Park, and major bridges connecting Manhattan with New Jersey, Brooklyn, and Queens.  Students then walked to and across the Brooklyn Bridge, where they learned about its construction and importance in New York City history.

Thank you to all our chaperones:  Mr. Clarke (who expertly led a walking tour!), Ms. Clarke, Mr. Ardito, Ms. Topping, Mr. Michael Haig, Mr. Schwalm, Mr. Chisholm, Mr. Gadamowitz, Mr. Rivero, Mr. Crotty, Mr. Yallowitz, Dr. Dourigan, and special guest Mr. Shanahan.  In January, students will have the opportunity to visit the other sites.  We are looking forward to the next excursion!

[Thank you to Dr. Eckers for the write-up and to Dr. Eckers and Mr. Gadamowitz for the photos.]

Sofia Greenfield and Matthew Kreitzer Named Outstanding Physical Education Students!

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Filed under Academics, Athletics, Students

Last night, seniors Sofia Greenfield and Matthew Kreitzer were honored by the Nassau Zone NYSAHPERD for being selected by their Physical Education Teachers as the Outstanding Physical Education Students for the East Williston UFSD.

The criteria for the award includes exhibiting a physically active lifestyle both during and outside of school, demonstrating responsible personal and social behavior, demonstrating leadership and being a positive influence on their peers, demonstrating and valuing a healthy lifestyle and lifelong learning and having exceptional achievement in Physical Education class.

Congratulations to Sofia and Matt on a wonderful honor! Thank you to Mrs. Tsabasis and Mr. Scaturro for attending the recognition dinner with these fine students!

[Thank you to Mr. Scaturro for the write-up and some of the photos!]

Italian Club Students Discover “Little Italy” in the Bronx!

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Filed under Academics, Community, Culture, Student Clubs, Students

When most people think of Little Italy, they often picture Lower Manhattan. On Friday afternoon, however, members of Wheatley’s Italian Club discovered that Arthur Avenue (in the Bronx) is the real Little Italy—filled with authentic edible Italian treasures!

Accompanied by Mrs. Susan Vasselman and Mr. Robert Gadamowitz, 29 Wheatley Students had the opportunity to meet various vendors, varying in novelty shops, delis, pastas shops, bread and pastry shops and an indoor food market and experience their specialties.  The students were warmly greeted by the owner of Mike’s Deli in the Arthur Avenue Retail Market. He gave us a demo on the different cheeses he makes at his store and a lesson how they how they should be served.

A further appreciation for the Italian culture was had by all.  Many students cannot wait to go back with their families and show them what a great corner of the Bronx this place truly is.

[Thanks to Mrs. Vasselman for the photos and the write-up!]