[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5863]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                       APRIL SCHOOL OF THE MONTH

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                         HON. CAROLYN McCARTHY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 13, 2000

  Mrs. McCARTHY of New York. Mr. Speaker, I have named North Side 
Elementary School in East Williston as the School of the Month in the 
Fourth Congressional District for April 2000. Dr. James F. Newman is 
the Principal of North Side, and Dr. Carolyn S. Harris is the 
Superintendent of Schools in the East Williston School District. The 
school teaches children in grades Kindergarten through 4.
  North Side Elementary stood out in my mind as an outstanding example 
of how early education is most successful when parents are involved. 
The school's programs teach our children the true value of education 
because it encourages community participation.
  The North Side Elementary School Community is a close-knit body of 
parents, teachers, students, and administrators. Their goal is to 
ensure each child a stable early education through an enriched 
curriculum that keeps the children excited, and unique programs that 
appeal to a wide variety of younger children.
  North Side combines parental involvement with exceptional 
programming. The children benefit when the community engages them in 
activities that extend beyond the traditional classroom setting.
  One of the more popular programs among students is Books Alive, where 
staff and parents act out a selection of children's literature in a 
theater presentation. The Parent-Teacher Organization also holds an 
annual fundraising dinner with all proceeds going towards grants to 
supplement North Side teaching materials and special projects. Last 
year the school established the Deidre Hannafin Writing and Publishing 
Center as a tribute to Hannafin, a dedicated teacher who died of cancer 
at the young age of 32. At the Center, students work side by side with 
their parents and teachers to publish a newspaper, classroom writing 
projects, and this year, a literary magazine.
  While stressing the value of traditional subjects, students are 
encouraged to look into their creative sides through art, music and 
nature programs. The Enriched Integrated Studies Program is one more 
way that North Side attempts to reach each child's strengths. Students 
attend enrichment activities once a week in order to bring the 
classroom to life. Class topics have included Ancient Egypt and Greece, 
while the entire school participated in activities such as Science Day.
  Long Island students receive a better education thanks to the faculty 
and teachers of North Side Elementary School and I am proud to name 
them school of the month for April in the Fourth Congressional District 
of New York.

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