Parents Association Meeting
Wed (5/7)
8:45 a.m.
Middle School Atrium

ACIS Boys Tennis Championships
Sat (5/10)

Summer Adventures Open House
Sat (5/17)

Blue/White Day
Fri (5/23)
2:30 PM dismissal

School Closed Memorial Day
Mon (5/26)

Graduation
Fri (6/13)

Normandy Performance for Peace
Mon (6/19)
Friends Academy

Last Day of School
Thurs (6/12)
noon dismissal

Summer Programs Begin
Mon (6/23)

UPPER SCHOOL
SAT & SSAT Test Date
Sat (5/3)

Young Alumni Brunch
Wed (5/14)
Stoddard House

Sports Awards BBQ
Mon (6/9)
Wellington Gym

Senior Project Presentations

Tues (6/10)

8 AM - 3 PM

Bahnik Hall

 

Upper School Awards Assembly

Wed (6/11)

9 AM - Noon

 

Senior Prom

Wed (6/11)

 

Graduation
Fri (6/13)
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Concert & Art Exhibition
Wed (5/14) 7-9 PM
Bahnik Hall

 

Last Day Spring Sports

Thurs (5/22)

 

Shakespeare in Spring Town Meeting

Thurs (5/29)

 

Sports Awards 

Wed (6/4)

 

6th Grade Language Plays

Thurs (6/5)

3:45 PM 

Bahnik Hall

 

Middle School BBQ/Dance

Fri (6/6)

 

Middle School Closed

Wed (6/11)

 

End of Year Assembly

Thurs (6/5)

 

LOWER SCHOOL
Early Childhood Potluck Dinner
Thurs (5/1)

5th Grade Dinner Party Art Installation
Thurs (5/8)

Book Fair 
Wed - Fri
(5/7 - 5/9)

Lower School Plant Sale
Thurs (5/8) 
8 AM - 3 PM
Fri (5/9)
8 AM - 11:45 AM

Special Persons Day
Fri (5/9) 
noon dismissal

Fifth Grade Trip to Philadelphia
Thurs (5/22)

Lower School Family Night
Thurs (6/5)
7 PM

Fifth Grade to Broadway
Tues (6/10)
1:45 - 3:30 PM

Lower School Picnic
Wed (6/11)

Moving Up Day
Thurs (6/12)
PORTLEDGE SCHOOL 2013-2014 Academic Calendar
Portledge School 
 PANTHER DEN



Drop into the Panther Den for your spring/summer spirit wear!


Spring Hours:
 
Mon - Thu 
11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Friday 
2:30-4 p.m.

TEAM
PARTICIPATION
FAST FACTS
In Upper School approximately 85% of Portledge students participate on at least one team; round 65% participate on an interscholastic team for at least two seasons; and approximately 40% play on a team during all three seasons. 
ARTS
PARTICIPATION
FAST FACTS
40% of this year's Upper School student body participate in a performance ensemble.

There are 15 Upper School students enrolled in the Visual Arts Scholar program.



Order Your 


Blue-White Day 
T-shirts

and support the Senior class

$20

At a recent Open House event, Head of School 
Simon Owen-Williams said the most desirable applicant is the one with a WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE
This month our community demonstrates what it means to step up and PARTICIPATE...
PORTLEDGE PARTICIPATES IN 
EARTH DAY
 We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, 
we borrow it from our children.
                                    - Native American proverb

"The point of Earth Day is to not only teach people about how to reduce and recycle and help the earth overall, but to get people
 outside. 
 
 
"I wanted people to get outside and enjoy the outdoors and everything it has to offer. 
"Hopefully, if they realize how amazing Mother Nature is, they'll think twice about trashing it."
 - Alisa Shvartsbart '14 
   President, Portledge Green Team
 
Many thanks to Alisa Schvartsbart '14, the Green Team and faculty advisor Shane Cappuccio who organized the Portledge observance of Earth Day. There were information booths to visit, recycling and tie dye activities, games, nature walks, science project presentations, veggie burgers and plenty of sunshine! 
 

PARENT PARTICIPATION
 AT PORTLEDGE
 
CONGRATULATIONS 
to the Nursery and Kindergarten classes 
who reached 100% parent participation in the Annual Fund!
Nursery has won a pizza party and 
Kindergarten will receive a visit from Gamin Ride 
on Thursday, May 22nd  

Which class will receive an ice cream party in 
 Middle and Upper School?
 
Check out the stats below:

ALL PARENTS

As you can see, we're counting on that last 29% to participate...
We understand that our school's financial needs seem more remote as children hit the upper grades and become more self-sufficient. But he fact is, the Middle and Upper School programs are just as costly and just as vital as the elementary programs.
We need your support. 
Participate today.

And a heartfelt thank you to those who have given already!
PARTICIPATING IN THE PEACE PROCESS WITH FRIENDS

 

Students from Friends Academy and Portledge School customarily eye each other from opposite sides of the athletic field.

 

But this spring the rivalry will be put aside in favor of an international appeal for peace. Students from Portledge and Friends will travel to Normandy, France for the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, where they will perform alongside French and German students, in front of thousands of spectators and Heads of State, in an international performance for peace.

 

It is a big moment not just for the student participants, their schools and their families, but also for Operation Democracy, the Locust Valley organization which has helped rekindle the ties between Locust Valley and its sister city in Normandy, Sainte-M�re-�glise - the first town to be liberated during WWII. Operation Democracy was originally founded by Locust Valley residents in 1947 with a mission to help rebuild Sainte-M�re-�glise, to reciprocate the kindness of the Mayor's wife, Madame Renaud, who tirelessly tended the graves of Allied soldiers who died there during D-Day. The sister city connection has persisted to this day, due in large part to the efforts of Operation Democracy under the leadership of Kaye Wenninger and Cathy Soref.  Most recently, Portledge students delivered hand-made gifts to officials in Sainte-M�re-�glise while on an exchange trip to France in April, in anticipation of their return visit this June.

 

The students who will participate in the D-Day Commemoration in Normandy - Friends Academy seniors Ryan Dobrin, Carina Goebelbecker, Parker Huseby, Tolu Ojo and Cissy Shi; juniors Alex Nagel, Julia Newitt and Morgan Rielly; and sophomores Peter Bahr, Owen Collier, Olivia Fine and Will Schneider; and Portledge junior Koorosh Leibowitz, sophomore Patrice Narasimhan and freshmen Caroline Kriegstein and Megan Page - have been rehearsing since mid October to finalize the english language portion of a peace play entitled "Et si on batissait la paix ensemble..." (And if we built peace together...") conceived and written for the occasion by French director Laurence Bohec. They will then work with French and German students for four days when they reach Normandy to pull together the play into one tri-lingual collaborative piece.

 

Clearly the process has resonated with the student participants.Though they may know the horrors of war only through social studies classes or news reports, the significance of this collaboration for peace against the backdrop of the reconciliation of warring nations is not lost on them. The experience has already inspired the Friends Academy seniors to produce a "making of" video about their experience.

 

Friends and Portledge will celebrate the students and the project for peace on May 19th at Friends Academy with a performance and reception for the two schools, faculty, veterans, members of Operation Democracy, and Laurence Bohec. Details to follow. "Putting aside differences is at the heart of reconciliation," Says Portledge World Languages & Cultures Department Head Dr. Elizabeth Atkins, "and these young people represent not just Locust Valley and America but the youth who will inherit the conflicts of this world." 

The Portledge Business Club has had another successful year under the leadership of club officers Brendan D'Loren '14, Peter Jordan '16, Jake Levy '14, David Lustberg'15 and Alec Sheeline '16. 

Members have traveled to the Freedom Tower in NYC, heard from County Executive Ed Mangano, and overseen the growth of their Investment Fund.  Club activities culminated last night with the Annual Business Club Dinner. 
Guest speaker Lawrence Reed emphasized on good character as the basis for any successful and free economy.
The club honoree this year was our own Connie Sullivan, Business Manager at Portledge, pictured below with Business Club Founder Spencer Schneider '13.

 
 

SHALL WE DANCE?

4th and 5th graders completed their ballroom dance study with a recital for parents.  A portion of the program included students telling the crowd about the benefits of dance in their own words.

 

They learned learned about cooperation, composure, social connections and other cultures. The boys who initially admitted some reluctance, ultimately enjoyed the classes and were glad to have the opportunity to participate.

 

Ballroom Dancing backstage photos

Ballroom Dancing video 

 

 
MAKE A FRIEND FROM HALFWAY ACROSS THE WORLD...
Delilah Leibowitz '15 and Danyang (Vicky) Han
Hosting Opportunies at Portledge: 
Portledge School is in search of host families for the 2014-15 school year. 
 
This can be a unique opportunity for your family to:
* gain a valued cultural experience
* learn from these wonderful students
* make life long connections with people from another part of the world 
 
You will be giving an exceptional young person from another country the opportunity of a
lifetime, to live with your family and experience the language, customs and culture of our country. 
The school is offering a stipend to off-set the cost of room and board. 
Anyone who is interested in finding out more information, please contact Kim Baratoff at 
[email protected] or by phone (516) 750-3119.
Reed Barcellos '21 gets cooking lesson from French exchange student Emma Offroy
From July 12th to 26th, Portledge School will be hosting ten Italian students, ages 16-17 years old. We are in need of 8 host families for the students. 
This is a wonderful opportunity for your family to experience another culture or make a new friend.
 
During the visit with your family, the students will need to be dropped each weekday at Portledge School by 9 a.m. for their ESL classes.  In the afternoons, the students will engage in field trip activities with their chaperone and ESL teacher and then will return to campus at various pickup times throughout the week. 
The weekends and most evenings will be time spent with the host family.   
If you would like to host a student from Italy for two weeks, please contact me at 750-3104 or email Melissa Worth

 

NEWS BY DIVISION
(Submit Portledge School news or photos to: [email protected])
Thanks to: Sonna Allen, Nancy Aranda, Kit Barcellos,
Michael Coope, Jerry Krause, Julia Manners and Helen Oehrlein, 
 
LOWER SCHOOL:
ENRICHMENT CLUSTERS MOVE OUTSIDE
Portledge students in the Lower School set off across campus with Mrs. Aranda and Mrs. Stein in their Friday "Funtography" cluster in search of interesting subjects to photograph. The "tablet" has made photography an immediate and interactive experience. Because the students are not limited by a viewfinder, they are able to photograph their world from different perspectives, which is often how they approach problem solving in Lower School.  What a perfect way to jump into spring!

  

HEAD FOR THE DAY
Mr. Levyy with 1st grade students Bea and Josie Rioux.
Vitaly Levyy '21 took time out of a very busy schedule serving as Lower School Division Head for the Day last week to answer a few questions. Overall, he said he feels that Portledge is going in the right direction under Mr. Owen-Williams, and cited the new math program in lower school (which has replaced everyday math), as well as the implementation of three fifth grade teachers covering different subjects in depth to prepare students for the challenges that await them in Middle School. Mr. Levvy, although he is  a committed hockey player who plans to play on the Portledge team next winter and the NHL down the road, still manages to find time to enjoy math and social studies.  When asked if he had any advice for Alan Cohen he stated simply, "Keep everybody together in rising to the challenge, and continue to make learning fun."

MIDDLE SCHOOL:

THE SCIENCE OF EARTH DAY

For Middle Schoolers Earth Day was the perfect opportunity to present their science research on climate change.

Eighth grade addressed the impact of global warming with reports on biodiversity, human health and changing sea levels.

  

Seventh Grade opened the origin and history of Earth Day, and then focused on the chemistry-related effects of climate change to habitats. Topics included acid rain, storm damage from hurricanes, and excessive road salt during the winter season. Students experimented with plants to witness these visible affects.

  

Sixth grade, having just finished their unit on plantlife, researched the food chain which exists within Long Island ecosystems like ponds, beachfronts, and backyards. With a renewed appreciation for our fragile habitats, the sixth grade also planted seeds in the Portledge garden located at Upper School, insuring the health of OUR ecosystem! 
  

  

  

  

  

  

  

 
 

UPPER SCHOOL:
CREATIVE MATH 
The students in Helen Oehrlein's Algebra 2 A classes were given the opportunity to explore any math-related topic of their choice, and present it in a paper, Powerpoint, movie, poster board or work of art. Electra Roll made a tessallation out of brownies and blondies, which was disappeared so fast we didn't get a photo of it!  Some of the other projects pictured below:
Andrew Palacios '16 explains card counting
Ariana Pergola '16 explains how she created her string art. 
Ethan Axelowitz '16 presented his research into tessellations

Here's what  Maddy Prince '16 had to say about the about the assignment:

"I thought that this project was a newer and more exciting way to learn about math.  I thought that the leniency with our topic choice made it just that much better because we had the ability to research something we found interesting and we weren't stuck researching something that wasn't as interesting.  I do think it'd be a good idea to continue this project for following years because it will give 10th graders, or just future math students in general, another look at the many topics of math and how much it impacts our life." 

And there you have it: if you are engaged you will learn more and better.
WHAT'S IN A SENIOR PROJECT?
Explore - Create - Excel 
That's What.
"It is a long standing tradition at Portledge for seniors to focus on a substantive, well-developed and productive project at the end of the academic year.  During this time, students have worked in schools, hospitals and businesses; they have joined in environmental causes, assisted local veterinarians, and accompanied law enforcement officers on their rounds; they have pursued passions in writing, music, fine art and drama.  Senior projects are a culminating experience in which the students challenge themselves, explore, learn in new ways and do something they might not otherwise have an opportunity to do." 
- Elisabeth Mooney

First and foremost the senior project is an
entrepreneurial venture.

21st century entrepreneur is "a person who organizes and manages any enterprise...usually with with considerable initiative and risk."

COME UP WITH AN IDEA:To select a senior project subject requires curiosity, creativity, planning and occasionally guts. Some students intern in a field they are passionate about; others try something they have never tried before to expand their experience. In either case the end result is self-knowledge. 
 
GET A BACKER:each student must convince a faculty advisor to agree to mentor his project. 
 
MAKE IT HAPPEN: Students must manage their own project from conception and proposal, through the two to three week activity, up to the final presentation for classmates on June 10th.
 
SO WORTH IT!
Says Susan Simon about her daughter, Taryn '03

"Taryn hiked and took photos of various nature preserves on Long Island and framed and presented them, telling about the places photographed.  Who knew what that might lead to.  I certainly didn't!  I thought it meant she was going to be an environmentalist."  

Today Taryn Simon is a professional artist whose thought-provoking work with photography, text and graphic design has been exhibited throughout the world.

ARTS: 

UPPER SCHOOL CONCERT AND ART SHOW

In the final Upper School Art Show and Concert of the year Portledge bid a fond farewell to the graduating seniors who participated: Julia Auriemma, Andrew DeAngelis, Patrick Cavanaugh, Devin Cooper-Vastola, Porter Collett, Ryan Farahmandpour, Eric Ghaly, Helen Karabatos, Alexander Meshel, Alexander Snow and Carley Tsiames.  They left the best for last, with inspiring artwork and wonderful performances. 

 

Upper School Spring Art Exhibition

 

Concerto in b-minor for four violins by Antonio Vivaldi

 

For more from the visual arts department,be sure to check out @portledgeschoolart on instagram!

SUPPLEMENTAL
PROGRAMS:
SUMMER ADVENTURES

Have you thought about a summer program for your child?  This summer why not join us at Portledge Summer Adventures? 

 
This week's program highlight is
SPORTS! 

We are offering lots of exciting sports opportunities for all ages like Athletic Adventures - Join JV Basketball coach Anthony Cavazzullo for a week or up to 4 weeks of all kinds of sports, including basketball, lacrosse, flag football and kickball.
This program is offered weeks of July 7, 14, 21 and 28.  To enroll please visit our webpage.

Other sports classes this summer include: 
Lacrosse, Golf, Basketball, Soccer, Baseball, YANKEES team baseball, Gymnastics, Tennis, and Fencing.  

We hope to see you there!
ATHLETICS:
VARSITY GIRLS LACROSSE TURNS THINGS AROUND 
After a slow start characterized by postponed or cancelled games, and three losses to some very difficult teams, the Varsity Girls Lacrosse team seems to be finding its stride. Powered by the midfield group of Olivia Piluso '15, Lindsay Miller '15 and Bizzer Gahagan '15 the squad has demonstrated cohesive offensive play and an improving defense in reeling off three consecutive victories. Another reason for the recent success has been the fine play of team's new goaltender, Lizzie James '16, and the emergence of Allaire Gahagan '16 as a force at the  attack position. The girls next game is at home on Friday, May 2nd against Trinity (4:30pm).

PORTLEDGE SUMMER INSTITUTES: 
Meet the Professionals 

 

Portledge Summer Institutes provides students in 7th - 12th grades exposure to real-world experiences - studies at Winthrop - University Hospital, The New York Institute of Technology, or lessons from working professionals and artisans like Evelyn Chin. 

 

Chin is the Founder and CEO of her own New York-based eponymous Interior Design Firm which is known for utilizing signature works of art in decorating residences, restaurants and hotels as far away as Aspen. 

She expresses concern about what she sees in the education of young people today, concerns which are echoed in recent debates about the future of public education.

 

"When I was a child, we were able to move at our own pace to explore, question, and use our imagination to develop our sense of self. It is important to inspire these qualities in our children. The success of future generations will demand creativity, imagination, and an individual approach to problem-solving. Nowadays, there is a lack of individuality." 

 

Today Chin is focusing on fostering creativity in young people through a project-oriented Art and Design Workshop she has developed for 9th through 11th grade students which will be offered through the Portledge School Summer Institutes Program.

 

The six week program will give young people the opportunity to express their individuality and imagination through design as they learn to develop a concept, create drawings, and supervise the construction details and decorative finishes with professional colleagues who work with Chin. The course will culminate with an installation of student's work.

 

Chin says the goal of the program is to promote independent thinking, project management abilities, teamwork, and communication skills.  It's a good fit for the Portledge Summer Institutes, which provides students in grades 7-12 with professional opportunities that teach 21st century skills like critical thinking, initiative and effective communications.

 

Ms. Chin will be available to speak to students and parents at the Summer Adventures Open House at Portledge School on May 17th.

 

Evelyn Chin Design  

Portledge Summer Institute   

COMMUNITY:
BOYS VARSITY LACROSSE STEPS UP
Despite steady rain and a punishing defeat against Saint Dominic's on Saturday, our Varsity Boys Lacrosse team came out winners.  They brought the best of themselves to the Adelphi Field in order to participate in an unscheduled game in support of Thomas Napoli, a young boy fighting a rare brain tumor.  Jason Frezza '16 was game MVP with 14 saves in the net, the whole team played with heart, sporting emblems in support of Thomas on their helmets. 

Says Coach Larry O'Leary, "We did our best for a great cause." 

FACULTY:
CARBONARO PARTICIPATES IN MARATHON
Middle School math teacher Catherine Carbonaro and her boyfriend completed the 26.2 mile St. Jude Nashville Marathon in 4 hrs.50 min. and lived to tell about it! The very hilly course was a challenge for Mrs. Carbonaro but won't be for the rescue boxer puppy she is adopting...
 
Meet "Skittles!"
Skittles will be arriving home May 5th
Mrs. Carbonaro is a great example of positive participation!


ALUMNI:
A SHOUT OUT TO DEVIN!
Devin Blaine '00 went to Gettysburg College, followed by graduate school at Touro College. He is now a school psychologist in the Bronx and is studying acupuncture at N.Y. College of Health Professions. He married his wife, Valentina, in 2010 and has a 2 year old son, Daniel. And yes, for those of you who remember, Devin now plays the bagpipes professionally (he played at his Portledge Graduation).

Don't be a stranger, Devin!





 

 

 

 
2014 Daniels Memorial Tennis Tournament  
Dedicated to the loving memory of Annetta Daniels
to benefit Portledge School

will be held on 
Sunday, June 22nd

At the Portledge School tennis courts
Lunch will be served 
 
 


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