Island Trees High School juniors and seniors will once again have the opportunity to work with various local businesses to gain real working experiences through the School to Business Partnership.

Students have the choice of working with various businesses, including local politicians, community colleges, hospitals and pharmacies.

"The Island Trees School to Business Partnership members' involvement is as varied as their businesses," said Carol Siegel, career coordinator at the high school.

Some choose to hire students or take on interns. Others host field trips to their place of work or volunteer as a guest speaker. The Island Trees Public Library is one of the participants in the program. Library Director Frank McKenna said that he is the sponsor of the school's robotics team and offers encouragement to the students.

"I want to work as closely with the schools as possible," said McKenna. He added that the library provides information on colleges and trade schools as well as financial aid applications.

Louise Cassano, owner of LuCas Communications, said that, "I've been involved with School to Business Partnership since 1988, when, as

editor of a community newspaper, I had a partnership with the Amityville School District newspaper club."

When Levittown developed its own school to business program Cassano said she "immediately got on board" since she "believes strongly in the concept."

Legislator Dennis Dunne, Sr., who also participates in the School to Business Partnership program, accepts interns and volunteers.

"I'm excited about this program. It gives them a head start to see what's out there and what they want to do. I wish they had this when I was a kid," said Dunne, who attended the Levittown Schools himself.

Juniors and seniors who enroll in the elective course, Career Advantage, are eligible to participate in the program.

"This course gives them direction in choosing a major in college at a college that is right for them," said Siegel.

Siegel developed the program eight years ago when she said she "realized that school should be more than grades and passing tests."

"I wanted students to not only do well academically but also in the world after high school," she added.

The district then applied for and received a $7,000 grant from New York State.

The next meeting of the School to Business Partnership will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 24 from 7:45 to 10 a.m. in the Island Trees High School cafeteria. The program will also meet on Tuesday, Nov 28, Tuesday, March 20, 2007 and Tuesday, May 22, 2007. All meetings are held in the cafeteria at the Island Trees High School from 7:45 to 10 a.m. For more information contact Carol Siegel at 520-2186, csiegel@islandtrees.org or visit http://www.geocities.com/islandtrees2003/SchoolToBusiness.html.