HS Guidance Dept. Needs...Well, Guidance

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HS Guidance Dept. Needs...Well, Guidance

Written by Pete Sheehan, oysterbay@antonnews.com Friday, 18 January 2013 00:00

The Oyster Bay-East Norwich school district’s guidance department needs closer supervision or coordination of the different services that its four counselors and one assistant offer to studentds at Oyster Bay High School, said a consultant at a Jan. 8 board meeting.

“You have so many great things that are going on,” said Nicholas Amato, the guidance consultant for the district. But, he said, closer supervision of the services is needed.

“Nothing happens in the school that doesn’t go through guidance,” said Amato, who had served in the Mount Sinai and Half Hallow Hills schools, both as a guidance counselor and as an administrator, and for the past decade, has operated a consulting business.

Amato, who is completing his year-and-half tenure as a consultant for the district, spoke to the board’s meeting at the Oyster Bay High School library. Among his recommendations that were implemented was adding one counselor and shifting two counselors to the middle school program. The counseling center was also made more of an instructional center with a college and career aide, he explained.

Guidance is concerned with the transition from the middle school to the high school, scheduling, the diverse educational needs of the students, as well as the social environment, Amato said. So the guidance department needs one person to oversee the various roles of the four counselors and working in consort with others.

To an extent, Amato, in his role of consultant, has been helping to provide some of the coordinating unofficially. Some of it has also fallen to Dr. Dennis O’Hara, principal of Oyster Bay High School, and assistant principals.

A supervisor could take any one of several different forms. Board members seemed open to considering the possibility but had questions. Several board members inquired about the cost and whether the district could afford another position due to budgetary constraints.

“The money is available,” said Dr. Phyllis Harrington, superintendent of schools, should the board choose to establish such a position within this year’s operating budget. For next year, additional consideration would be necessary.

“What we are lacking is a job description,” said Maryann Santos, a school board member. Harrington said that a more precise description could be presented now that the board’s interest in such a position has been established.

In addition, the board heard a presentation by Mike de’Venau, a computer technician, about a news system of correspondence between the district and board members. Under the new system, board members would no longer have as much district-related material sent by mail.

Rather de’Venau explained, board members would receive an e-mail notifying them of information for them to read in preparation for meetings, with a link to the necessary information. The new system would reduce the amount of the paper that members receive.

“You are saving trees,” said Ann Marie Longo, board president.

News

Taste Of The Town

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

The streets of Oyster Bay were full with enthusiastic supporters of the Oyster Bay High School PTSA, coming out in force to enjoy a Taste of the Town. This was the first annual Taste of the Town — Restaurant Stroll, and, judging by the crowds and the happy smiles in evidence all evening, it will be the first of many successful events.

This event, previously known as the Taste of the Gold Coast, had been held in catering facilities. This year, the committee felt strongly that they wanted to support the local restaurants and businesses that were impacted by Hurricane Sandy. The local restaurants and businesses are very generous to the community, whether to the PTSA, sports clubs or local nonprofits. The Chamber of Commerce enthusiastically supported the idea, and a wonderful concept came to life.

Heart Of The Harbor

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

No Dolan Fireworks This Year

“There won’t be any fireworks on July 4,” said Caroline DuBois. She said letters have gone out to residents of Cove Neck from the Dolans telling everyone the news. Charles and Helen Dolan have celebrated their wedding anniversary with fireworks on the Fourth of July for many years. Having attended one of them was a great boon. It was a massive production and needed the cooperation of their neighbors, who were all invited to the party. We parked in an area along the road and with our invitation to show, we were picked up by a van and driven to the estate.

The entire beachfront was filled with tables and chairs. Food stations dotted the area. There was a carousel in the section where you first arrived. The food was served on china with real silverware: no paper plates and plastic forks. We sat with a basketball pro and his lovely family. When the party ended there were teddy bears for the children and stationery for the ladies. You knew you had been to a great party.

Sports

Golf Tournament Benefits Boys & Girls Club

Thursday, 23 May 2013 00:00

Glen Cove Boys & Girls Club held their Annual Golf Tournament, named for the late World Golf Hall of Famer Joseph C. Dey Jr., on Monday, May 6, at Meadow Brook Club in Jericho. Hugh R. O’Kane, President of Hugh O’Kane Electric Company, chaired this year’s event.

“This year’s outing was an overwhelming success due to the tremendous support from both our corporate and personal friends. We attracted a sold-out crowd across a broad spectrum from both the Long Island and New York City communities,” said O’Kane. “We are thankful to all those that both attended and supported our outing this year.”

Nick Carbone Helps Fight Alzheimer’s

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

According to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, more than five million Americans are suffering with Alzheimer’s disease, the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.

Troubled by these statistics and personally affected, Long Islander and NBA draftee Gordon Thomas founded the Alzheimer’s All-Star Basketball Classic Committee, a group of professionals dedicated to raising awareness of Alzheimer’s and dementia.