Issue 158 A.J. Berger, Director April 2009
Enrollment
8:1:1 182
12:1:1 59
12:1:3 15
Total 256
Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education CenterCenterCenterCenter
News from the Wellness Team
The month of March was a busy one for promoting wellness to our students and staff.
A 2 hour Self Defense Class for Women was held on March 16, 2009 in the RPEC Gym
for approx. 15 staff members and their family members. The class was presented by
Kathy Poppo and her husband, Joe (both Black Belts) and Joe’s two assistants. It was
very informative and fun, with easy to learn techniques to protect yourself from would be
assailants. It is hopeful that this class will be repeated again soon.
Issue 158 A.J. Berger, Director April 2009
Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education CenterCenterCenterCenter (cont.) (cont.) (cont.) (cont.)
On March 19th, the Wellness Fair was held on the RPEC Campus. Students from Career
& Tech, Youngsville and the Special Ed. Middle & High School students were invited to
participate. There were 19 different booths that students could visit and experience an
activity related to their personal health & wellness.
Examples of the topics included: Nutrition, Recycling, Composting, Smoking Hazards,
GASP (Games Adolescents Shouldn’t Play), Drug Recognition, Healthy snacks, CPR
demonstration, Hand Washing Importance, Yoga and Physical Activity at Home.
One of the highlights of the day was the presence of “RC”, the K9 dog from the Sheriff’s
Unit. “RC” and his handler, Deputy Brierhof, assisted by Deputy Peter Ramos (BOCES
SRO), demonstrated his skills, which impressed the crowd.
Pat Doogan continues to offer free yoga to staff. Most days 6 – 10 staff members join her
on Thursdays for this stretching, but relaxing class. The staff have really benefited and
enjoyed this in kind service she provides to us.
The Wellness Team also sponsored a door decorating contest to coincide with the
Wellness Fair. The theme was “Think Green”. Classes from Special Ed., Career & Tech,
Alternative Ed and White Sulphur Springs participated. There were 30 different
variations, all of them unique, informative and definitely increasing the awareness of the
many different ways we can “think green”.
Shown on the next page are four samples of the many designs made by the classes.
Issue 158 A.J. Berger, Director April 2009
Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education CenterCenterCenterCenter (cont. (cont. (cont. (cont.))))
Students in Mrs. DeGraw’s class created volcanoes using flour, salt, oil, vinegar, food
coloring and dish soap. The students used the volcanoes to demonstrate volcanism – the
movement of magma on or inside the earth.
Issue 158 A.J. Berger, Director April 2009
Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education Rubin Pollack Education CenterCenterCenterCenter (cont.) (cont.) (cont.) (cont.)
This Bio Brief is brought to you by…This Bio Brief is brought to you by…This Bio Brief is brought to you by…This Bio Brief is brought to you by…
…Mrs. Baker’s 10…Mrs. Baker’s 10…Mrs. Baker’s 10…Mrs. Baker’s 10thththth grade Biology students grade Biology students grade Biology students grade Biology students
The students in Mrs. Baker’s 10
th
grade Biology classes sharpened their
“surfing” skills as they searched the
Internet for up-to-the-minute information
relating to current topics in Biology. In
conjunction with the Wellness Team’s
“Go Green!” theme, the students
participated in the door decorating contest,
electing to write an Acrostic poem about
the ENVIRONMENT. The students also
researched such topics as global warming
and its impact on the environment, the rise
in communicable diseases such as
tuberculosis, MRSA, and West Nile virus,
as well as the world’s growing list of
endangered species. The articles produced
by their research were then posted on the
‘BIO BRIEFS’ bulletin board in the high
school hallway.
The students worked hard on
both their classroom door and the bulletin
board in hopes of promoting increased
awareness of the benefits of ‘thinking
green’. Our thanks go to the Wellness
Team for helping us to see that the positive
healthy choices we make in our lives in
order to be more green, will ultimately be
beneficial not only to ourselves, but to the
world in which we live.
Issue 158 A.J. Berger, Director April 2009
White Sulphur Springs SchoolWhite Sulphur Springs SchoolWhite Sulphur Springs SchoolWhite Sulphur Springs School
Mrs. Raymond’s class is doing something exciting; her class is writing to her son in
Japan and asking questions about how the children and adults act there. Joe Failla filmed
their introduction CD “All about Me” and each student asked a question. So far they
have received their answers about everything from food to robots. The children love this
"real" experience.
Mrs. Raymond’s son is married to a Japanese woman, and living in Gifu, the center of
Japan near Nagano, where the Olympics were held.
He is working as a teacher of English and studying Japanese, so he can become fluent in
both reading and writing. By the way, his first experience with Japan was as a 14 year
old when he visited Japan on the Sullivan County BOCES Exchange Program, when he
was in 8th grade. He later became an American Field Service Exchange Student for a
year, but it all started at BOCES. The young man has come full circle helping our
students here be more familiar with the world.
Attached is a video clip of the students, filmed by Mr. Joe Failla.
raymondemail.WMV (�double click on it)
Mr. Failla’s class did a special science project on dinosaur bones. Attached is the video
clip of it.
dinos 09.WMV (�double click on it)
Issue 158 A.J. Berger, Director April 2009
White Sulphur Springs School (cont.)White Sulphur Springs School (cont.)White Sulphur Springs School (cont.)White Sulphur Springs School (cont.)
On Friday, March 27, 2009 the K-3rd grade students participated in a child appropriate
Gymnastics Show put together by Ms. Ashlea Prouty.
On Thursday, April 2, 2009 – White Sulphur Springs School held their Healthy Heart
Fair. See pictures below.
April 2, 2009 – Healthy Heart Fair
Issue 158 A.J. Berger, Director April 2009
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Mr. England hosted a St. Patrick's Day/Irish Cultural luncheon for the students and
faculty of the CAP program on March 17th. Everyone was treated to a luncheon
consisting of corn beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots and of course Irish Soda Bread. Fun
was has had by all. Students also viewed a documentary film on the Potato Famine of the
1840's & 50's in Ireland and the resulting mass immigration of Irish people to the United
States. Discussion followed the film and a direct correlation was made by the students of
the plight of the Irish immigrants to the U. S. in the 1800's to the difficulties encountered
by immigrants today in this country.
Mr. McCarthy's class is reading the Stephen Crane novel, "The Red Badge of Courage".
Nearly half of the students in the class have admitted to never having read a novel prior
to this. They also have admitted to liking the novel. Upon completion of the novel
students are going to watch the film "Red Badge of Courage' starring the late Audie
Murphy. The class will also take a field trip to Stephen Crane's residence in Forestburgh.
With the approach of spring students are looking forward to once again getting involved
in their litter pluck activities in Liberty and Monticello. The CAP program participates in
the town of Liberty "Adopt the Road" program, as they are responsible for M.T. Morris
and Corrigan streets and they also are involved in several litter pluck activities in the
village of Monticello.