james madison high school brooklyn, ny volume i, issue 3 ... · classes resume thursday, april 24...

The Nexus Newsletter – James Madison High School – Brooklyn, NY Volume I, Issue 3

The Nexus Published by Lawrence R. Melamed

April 11, 2014

P

A bi-monthly

newsletter for James

Madison High School

staff members, and a

showcase for why we

shine.

Upcoming Events:

Monday, April 14 – Tuesday, April 22

Spring Vacation (Happy Holidays!)

Wednesday, April 23

Classes Resume

Thursday, April 24

1st Annual Talent Showcase, in the

Auditorium at 6:00 PM

Sunday, April 27

Alumni Association “Wall of

Distinction” Ceremony, refreshments

in the lobby at 1:00 PM, ceremony in

the auditorium at 2:00 PM

Friday, May 2

End of Marking Period II

In this issue…

Read the story of an alum who now leads

our alumni association. Find out how the

college office helps make dreams come true.

Learn about how else our deans take good

care of us. Discover why your next workout

should be in our very own gymnasium.

Madison is active on social networks:

“Like” us on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.

com/jmadisonhs

Follow us on Twitter:

@JMadisonHSBklyn

They Can Do the Math

The South Brooklyn Invitational Mathematics

Competition is an annual event that brings

together the best math students from South

Brooklyn high schools for a friendly battle of

numerical wizardry. Because James Madison

High School boasts many a student math whiz, we

sent two teams to compete this year. Sara

Spiegel, coordinator of the Academy of IT, and

Mary Juliano, coordinator of the Math Academy,

both advise and coach the students—dedication

that has produced wonderful results. One of

Madison’s teams placed 2nd in this year’s

competition, continuing a three year streak of

earning high honors. In the last two annual

competitions, Madison placed 1st.

…Continued on p 7

Our students get down to work at the Mathematics

Competition at FDR High School, 3/29/14.

In remembrance of our friend and colleague,

Irene Lipkin, former aide and photocopy

empress, who passed away last weekend.

https://www.facebook.com/jmadisonhs

https://www.facebook.com/jmadisonhs


Madison’s Gym Wing Gets a Spruce Up

Physical Education is about way more than just learning to throw a ball around. It’s about

experiencing the rush that only comes from intense physical activity and friendly competition,

the modeling of collaboration and promotion of team spirit, and the instillation of an

understanding of and appreciation for fitness, which Assistant Principal Rick Papandrea says

is one of the major goals of the Physical Education department’s instructional program. Mr.

Papandrea explained “it’s why we offer a large catalogue of courses. We want to meet the

varied interests of all our students.” Support for these endeavors has come in the form of a

grant from the School Construction Authority, which recently renovated Gym 1. If you have

not seen it, please stop by. What you will see will render you breathless.

“The students were in awe,” Mr. Papandrea said, admitting that his own expectations were far

exceeded upon seeing the finished work. The gym was in much need of repair. The floors are

original (almost 100 years old), and through constant wear and tear and application of layer

after layer of polyurethane, the floors began to buckle and break in some places, posing what

Mr. Papandrea says was “a potential hazard.” With the newly sanded and repaired floors, and

freshly painted walls and ceiling—which took about 10 weeks to complete—students can now

take pride in their gym.

Mr. Papandrea commended Principal Jodie Cohen for being insistent with and speaking to the

right people to get the job done. As more money comes in, the gymnasiums will continue to

undergo refurbishment. This includes the construction of a brand new swimming pool, a new

dance studio, and the remodeling of the weight room.


What the Legacy of Madison

Means to One Alum

Words from Alumni Association President,

Martha (“Marty”) Weinstein Alpert

I came into Madison as a sophomore because I went

to Jr. High and was soon sorry I missed that

freshman year. I was excited and happy and

actually ran from class to class and from activity to

activity. Every minute I could spend away from

studies I was doing happy things - Boosters,

Sorority, Sing, clubs, sporting events, SGO - and so

when I became Commissioner of Social Affairs - a

cabinet post - a friend said, "who better?" Happy

kid.

When I learned about the Alumni Association I

could not wait to jump in, just as I felt when I

started high school. I met the board, got involved in

organizing, and attended the Wall of Distinction.

The Wall. What a brilliant idea to honor our

outstanding alumni and highlight just what kind of

foundation Madison builds for extraordinary

achievement - and, for those of us not

so extraordinary, well, we are always able to fall

back on lessons learned in that building. And smile

when we remember.

Our teachers were, for the most part, stern, no-

nonsense, dedicated, and "seasoned". No cool

youngsters in jeans, but plain old-fashioned

academics. I always said I walked out of Madison

with a serious, well-rounded education because of

my teachers' persistence and support.

Being an alum and working for my school has been

nothing but rewarding. I've met wonderful people-

alumni, faculty, students. Many of my friends are

Returning to New York in 2005 after 18 years away, one of the first things I did was drive down Bedford

Avenue. I made a cursory pass at Brooklyn College but I parked and walked into Madison, just

wanting to soak up the atmosphere for a couple of minutes. I've been back many times since and always,

always get that "feeling" when I enter.

When I learned about the Alumni Association I could not wait to jump in, just as I felt when I started

high school. I met the board, got involved in organizing, and attended the Wall of Distinction. The Wall.

What a brilliant idea to honor our outstanding alumni and highlight just what kind of foundation

Madison builds for extraordinary achievement - and, for those of us not so extraordinary, well, we are

always able to fall back on lessons learned in that building. And smile when we remember.

Our teachers were, for the most part, stern, no-nonsense, dedicated, and "seasoned". No cool youngsters

in jeans, but plain old-fashioned academics. I always said I walked out of Madison with a serious, well-

rounded education because of my teachers' persistence and support.

Being an alum and working for my school has been nothing but rewarding. I've met wonderful people-

alumni, faculty, students. Many of my friends are the same ones I had back in the day and we all agree

that we had the best. I spent some of the best years of my life in Madison and I am giving

something back so the students of today can say the same tomorrow.

Congratulations

To mock trial students, Alexandra Ali and

Elizabeth Kletsel, who received paid

internships this coming summer at

Madison’s mentor law firm, Cadwalader,

Wickersham and Taft. Marla Rutter is

their advisor and coach.

To Avi Dachs and the entire student staff of

The Madison Moment, for having launched

the online edition of the school newspaper.

Check it out: www.mmoment.edublogs.org

To Nyamekye “Red” Barton, on the birth

of his son.

To student Eldar Gilmanov, and his art

teacher and mentor David Mahl, for the

inclusion of his artwork, a piece entitled

Ishinomaki, in the P.S. Art 2014 exhibition

at The Metropolitan Museum of Art!

Visit the alumni association at

www.jamesmadisonalumni.org and

help build our legacy!

http://www.mmoment.edublogs.org/

https://mail.nycboe.net/owa/redir.aspx?C=qrDSsmSDU0m01qxFzu_afcY5c7G0JNEIGC0eLnA9VN4ZXYL-EbGNsdkf9oGmNg1LwUFMBmkP4IM.&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.jamesmadisonalumni.org%2f


More than a Wall

The James Madison High School Alumni

Association will be hosting its 8th Induction

Ceremony for accomplished alumni who will be

recognized on Madison’s Wall of Distinction. The

event will take place in the Madison auditorium on

Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 2 pm, and will be

preceded by refreshments in the lobby at 1. It is an

event as much for staff members and current

students as it is for alumni, because the

recognition of our former graduates is a testament

to the legacy of good teaching, motivation, and

community service that has always embodied and

continues to reflect those associated with our

school. It is for that reason that everyone—alumni,

staff members, current students and their

parents—are urged to attend. During the

ceremony, distinguished alumni are recognized for

their great achievements, and a permanent

photograph of them that will hang eternally in our

lobby is unveiled. Some alumni have been honored

posthumously, but many welcome the opportunity

to return to their beloved alma mater.

Madison boasts an inordinate number of graduates

who have contributed in large ways to our society.

Some of the more famous alumni to have walked

these halls include: United States Supreme Court

Justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg (’50); NY State

Senator, Charles Schumer (’67); Professional

Baseball Players, Cal Abrams (’42) and Frank Torre

(’50); Singer and Songwriter, Carole (Klein) King

(’58); Film and Television Director, Joel Zwick (’58);

Radio Personality, Bruce “Cousin Brucie” Morrow

(’53); Test Prep Pioneer, Stanley Kaplan (’35); and

America’s favorite adjudicator, Judge Judy (Judith

Blum) Sheindlin (’60)… not to mention two other

graduates who continue to bring us pride: Our

own Parent-Coordinator, Laraine (LoPinto) Izzo

graduates who continue to bring us pride: Our own

Parent-Coordinator, Laraine (LoPinto) Izzo (66’) and

Principal, Jodie (Green) Cohen (’89).

I spoke with Richard (Dick) Kossoff (’53), who is on

the Alumni Association Executive Board and is the

association’s former president. He said that the

“Wall” came about years ago while reminiscing with

three of his classmates. They agreed that Madison

had graduated a staggering number of alumni who

had accomplished so much, and they believed that if

these accomplishments weren’t “captured” in some

way, they would “get lost in time.” Mr. Kossoff said

that what determines eligibility is not wealth or fame,

but renown for having contributed positively to our

society. The event brings the honorees and their

families to Madison for a celebratory luncheon,

followed by an induction ceremony during which

each honoree speaks for 5-10 minutes about what

James Madison High School means to them. He said

they sometimes speak about their friends and

classmates, and sometimes the neighborhood, but

most often—they speak about their teachers. Mr.

Kossoff credits the teachers he had with making his

experience at Madison as wonderful as it was. He

recalls their dedication, relaying to me the story of

one teacher who drove a student to Harvard because

the student’s parents did not own a car.

Continued on page 7…

Dick Kossoff (’53), Former Alumni Association Pres.


The Dream Makers of Room 126

Besides the addition of more computers for student use and the redesign of the college office space, which Ms.

Rosado feels makes the room more “open and inviting to the students,” a number of events have been added to the

college office calendar. These include an on-site interview week, “College Wednesdays” (mini college fairs) in the

autumn, and a spring college fair (held just last night)! While Ms. Tolas meets with all students to discuss grades,

the building of academic profiles, available scholarships and graduation requirements, Ms. Rosado helps students

pull everything together so that applications are both strong and complete. This means making sure that our

students meet deadlines, send in their SAT and ACT scores, attain teacher recommendations, and submit fee

waivers. Mr. Barton is on hand to advise student athletes about NCAA requirements.

Have you been to the college office lately? If

you haven’t, you may not recognize it, given all

of the changes that have taken place over the

last year or two. With the roll-out of the

school-wide use of the Naviance “Student and

Family College and Career Planning Portal” and

the retirement of long-time college counselor

Hazel Shaw, the office has undergone lots of

reorganization. Enter guidance counselor

Barbara Tolas and Librarian and Coach

Nyamekye “Red” Barton, who joined college

office secretary Helen Rosado last September

to form an incredible support staff to help our

upperclassmen navigate as they embark upon

the college search and application process.

Spotlight! On Senior,

Jordan Green

Macaulay Honors is the prestigious honors program offered by CUNY in eight of

its senior colleges. Students who are accepted (1,300 in total) are awarded full

scholarships to cover their tuition costs. It signifies that we are doing the best

by our students, considering the difficulty of earning these coveted spots, that

seven of them have been accepted into the program. Senior Jordan Green just

learned two weekends ago that she was accepted into the Macaulay Honors

Program at Brooklyn College. For her, it means the relief that college is paid

for, and the expectation of rigor, something she has never shied away from; she

is this year’s graduating class salutatorian! She credits the college office with

helping to ensure that her application was solid and reflective of her

qualifications.

Jordan says she’ll miss Madison, which has become a second home for her.

Though she was part of the Law program, she’s not so sure that a career in law

is what’s in store for her. She dreams of being on the radio, and is considering

majoring in broadcast journalism. She invites the promise of uncertainty that

lay ahead. In fact, the personal statement that helped her score her placement

in the esteemed program was about our tenuous economy and the increasing

difficulties young people will face as they search for their places in the job

market. Undaunted, she anticipates the changes and challenges this coming

summer will bring with a levity that is a testament to her youth. One of

Jordan’s favorite films is “Napolean Dynamite,” and when it comes to

food, she wholeheartedly believes that chicken nuggets can’t be beat!

difficulties young people will face as they search for their places in the job market. Undaunted, she anticipates the

changes and challenges this coming summer will bring with a levity that is a testament to her youth. One of

Jordan’s favorite films is “Napolean Dynamite,” and when it comes to food, she wholeheartedly believes that

chicken nuggets can’t be beat!

Ms. Tolas boasted about this year’s strong applicant pool. She said that in addition to the “many scholarships

(given) on the spot (during) our on-site (interview) days” from a number of colleges including St. John’s, St.

Francis, LIU and Mercy, we also have a number of POSSE and Macaulay Honors recipients in this year’s

graduating class. Student Theo Kranidas, for example, earned a full ride to Johns Hopkins, and student Amanda

Yu was awarded a $70,000 scholarship to Albright.


Motley Crew Does the Trick

The deans’ office provides a unique perspective for

teachers who otherwise spend a great deal of their

careers in front of classrooms. As a dean, you don’t only

intervene on behalf of students who are at-risk or in

crisis, but you do so with a broader sense of their

problems and a more global opportunity to address

them, all while working alongside a team of colleagues

from every department in the building. The advantages

these opportunities provide didn’t escape the deans, who

formed their own teacher team earlier this year.

By taking an inter-disciplinary and multi-access point

approach to intervention, the deans’ office teacher team

has already met with a great deal of success. A number

of students in the team’s cohort are already benefitting

from the attention and guided intervention. Building the

team was easy, once a cohort of students was identified,

and goals were set. The team meets regularly and during

SBO-scheduled professional developments to confer with

one another, problem-shoot, discuss success stories,

build data profiles, perform assessment, and plan for the

future.

Larry Melamed, a member of the team, feels that its

greatest asset is its diversity. He said: “we are a motley

crew. Some of us teach English. Others physical

education… or social studies, foreign language,

mathematics and more. Then there are the

administrators, guidance counselors, crisis counselors,

paraprofessionals, non-deaning teachers, and many

others we work with. The list goes on. But somehow,

having those multiple resources and perspectives does

the trick.” In fact, it’s almost certainly the essential

component of the team’s success. By having ten to

twenty educators work in tandem to help one student

get on track, success becomes so much more possible.

twenty educators work in tandem to help one

student get on track, success becomes so much

more possible. There are currently 120

students in the cohort, cared for by a team of

over a dozen staff members, including:

Teachers Larry Melamed, Jennifer Schips,

Lucia Lengua, Larry Carbonaro, Anthony

Pecora, Charlie Burruano, RoseAnn Salatino,

Danielle Stefandel, Guy Angrand, Linda

Kelly, Mike Gobin, Tara Luhrs, Ned

Campbell, and guidance counselors Jean

Brutus and Pamela Padula. Nothing would go

smoothly without the efforts of deans’ office

secretary, Liz Allgeier, who makes sure that

the team’s records and data profiles are

regularly updated.

John Puglionisi, Assistant Principal of

Security, had this to say about the team: “The

remarkable work being conducted by the deans’

office teacher team is an extension of the

philosophy that has been pervasive in our

office, that deans are educators first. Acting as

roving guidance counselors, deans must be

aware of the individual needs of our students,

especially those who are considered at risk, if

discipline can truly be not a punishment but

rather a learning experience. The educator

Haim Ginott wrote, ‘In all situations, it is my

response that decides whether a crisis will be

escalated or deescalated, and a child

humanized or dehumanized.’ The deans’ office

teacher team lives up to this ideal.”

If you would like some guidance in constructing

an inter-disciplinary team, please contact Mr.

Melamed.


…Continued from page 1

The student participants on team A

were: Daniel He, Jiayi Lao, Dongyang

Li, Weichao Zhao, Jiawei Zhou, Meijie

Zhao, and Xitang Zhao; members of

team B included Paata Ugrekhelidze,

Runhong Qiu, Jing Huang, Mariya

Lelikova, Tsz Chuen Lam and Song

Ren Zhao.

Team A captain Xitang Zhao said that

what he loves most about competing in

the mathematics competition is the

“team spirit and strengthening of

bonds” between team members. He

added that competing is a great way to

keep in touch with everything that’s

going on in the world of mathematics.

He is proud of Madison’s teams, and

believes that we will reclaim the crown

in next year’s competition.

Sara Spiegel with some of her mathematics whizzes on

the morning of the competition at FDR High School. They

smile because they know they’re tough to beat!

Principal’s C R N E R: A Message from

Jodie Cohen

Third period, team teaching with Kate Maciaszek and

Coach Barton is such an exciting part of my day.

One morning, we decided to take the class on a school

visit to the “new” gymnasium and the facial

expressions on the children’s faces overtook me.

Thanks to a generous RESO-A grant from Councilman

Fiedler, we will also be receiving padding to complete

the “new” gymnasium. After the visit, we taught the

students about ownership and how you have to utilize

resources to improve whatever you are working on.

Through the efforts of many staff members, we are

going to be seeing lots of changes in our school. We

are receiving funding to: install wipeboards in all

remaining classrooms, install Smartboards in all

remaining classrooms, bring electricity into

classrooms to provide for air conditioning in the future

and additionally, we are working with the alumni

association to beautify classrooms.

I look forward to updating this building with all of

your support.

…Continued from page 4

Mr. Kossoff does a great deal of the

research to find alumni who merit

candidacy. Roughly eight candidates are

chosen for each installation ceremony,

which takes place every two years. Mr.

Lou Sheinbaum (’53) oversees the

photographing of each honoree for the

wall.

This year’s honorees include: Dr. Herbert

Abrams (’37), developer of coronary

angiography; Ellen Reiss Hoyt (’51), artist

and environmentalist; Ira Silverman (’53),

former NBC News chief investigative

producer; Dr. Stanley Goldsmith (’54),

physician, researcher, educator and

author; Stephen Verona (’58), artist,

filmmaker, music video pioneer; Eli Segal

(’60), Presidential advisor, father of

Americorps; Maury Chaykin (67’), film and

television actor; and Dr. Larry Weinstein

(’71), plastic surgeon and humanitarian

physician.

Please dress in your best and join us on

Sunday the 27th of April for a ceremony

that is about more than just a wall.


Standing Ovations for Student Performers at Spring Musical

Student Performers Julian Perez, Stephanie Chorazy, and Sabiha Arif. Head shots by Georges Vilson.

Attendance at both of last weekend’s performances of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” allowed me to

see how practiced our students were. The shows were almost identical, showcasing spot-on

delivery of lines, a fluid collaboration with the pit orchestra, and seamless movements across the

stage, all combined in a way that kept the nightly audience of around 250 mesmerized. Musical

Director of the show, Rebecca Ellis, agrees. She said: “I am thrilled with how well the students

performed in Legally Blonde. The cast and crew worked incredibly hard to put this show together,

and I think the outcome was a fine example of musical theatre. These students truly made the

show their own, and I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Student Sabiha Arif, who played the character Margot, had a strong dancing role in the musical.

When I complimented her on her performance, she responded modestly, not immediately

recognizing the admirable skill with which she danced. She said that if she looked at ease, the

credit was owed to Ms. Ellis, whom she called “a great motivator.” Student Julian Perez, who

played the character Emmett, agreed. He said that taking the musical theater class was such an

important part of his high school career. He said that Ms. Ellis “is great at showing people what

they can really do.” Both students feel like they’re part of a big family here at Madison, and they

were particularly pleased with the wonderful reception they received from the audiences both

nights. “Their reactions were perfect; they laughed and they clapped at exactly the right

moments,” the two remarked.

Student Stephanie Chorazy was the star of the show, performing in the central role as Elle Woods.

No stranger to musical theater, Stephanie had taken vocal lessons in elementary school. Upon

entering high school, however, she no longer possessed the confidence of her earlier years. It was

at the insistence of Ms. Ellis that Stephanie participate in the school production of “Guys and

Dolls,” when she was finally able to feel confident again in front of large audiences. Since then,

she has auditioned for every spring musical willingly and enthusiastically. What made Elle easy

for her to play is that Stephanie found the character relatable. Like her alter ego, Stephanie is

sociable and bubbly. What she learned from Elle, however, is that she should never doubt herself.

She’ll carry Elle with her when she attends Adelphi University next year, where she is considering

a minor in acting.

james madison high school brooklyn, ny volume i, issue 3 ... · classes resume thursday, april 24...

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