Writing about a year in review for Roslyn schools is always easy. Continued excellence remains the standard.
In the spring, Roslyn High School freshman swept the New York State awards in the 20th Annual eCYBERMISSION competition sponsored by the U.S. Army Educational Outreach Program (AEOP). The eCYBERMISSION competition is open to students in grades six through nine, challenging participants to identify a problem in their community to explore using scientific practices or solve with engineering design.
The winning teams and their projects are: First Place in NYS, Rebecca Fabricant, Ava Ramsey, and Sarah Zwerling for The Effect of Font on the Perception of a Charitable Appeal; Second Place in NYS: Esha Chandra, Danielle Chen, and Anika Tolat for How “Physical” is Physical Education? Honorable Mention in NYS: Ethan Berkowitz, Sophie Glass, and Justin Margulies for Unmasking Masks.
At the June graduation ceremony for the Roslyn High School Class of 2022, Salutatorian Lindsay Fabricant and Valedictorian Daniel Liu also gave speeches, remembering their time at the high school.
When Fabricant was selected Salutatorian, her guidance counseler, Elizabeth Brown, sang her praises as a student possessing “an enthusiasm for learning and intellectual ability that truly sets her apart. She embodies intellectual curiosity and truly loves to learn for the sake of knowledge.” “We are so proud of Daniel and Lindsay for their momentous achievements in Roslyn’s very competitive scholastic environment,” said Roslyn High School Principal Dr. Scott Andrews. “We wish them well in their future academic endeavors.”
Meanwhile, Liu’s counseler, Melissa Messina, praised his “fierce persistence and an inherent curiosity,” adding that he “is in a class all his own. Daniel finds joy in collaboration, naturally gravitating toward activities which require close work with others. He is humble, patient, and kind. When Daniel participates he gives his all, raising the bar for those all around him.”
In budgetary news, the Roslyn School Board delivered a budget, one easily approved by district voters. The budget called for a proposed property tax levy increase of 2.48 percent, well below the tax cap limit of 3.70 percent, with a budget increase of 2.93 percent. Some districts wave the tax levy cap and spend on. This is not the case in Roslyn. The 2021-2022 budget represented the thirteenth consecutive year that the District’s budget has been below the tax levy limit imposed by New York State.
Voters also approved a Proposition 3 authorizing financing for new school buses and vans, continuing the district’s ongoing program of replacing the oldest vehicles in the district’s bus fleet, plus a Proposition 4, which authorized expenditures from two existing Construction Capital Reserve Funds established for the purpose of performing various projects.
Board of Education Trustees Robert Koonin, Alison Gilbert, and Bruce Valauri all faced no opposition in the May election.
In personnel news, the Herricks Board of Education appointed Dr. Tony Sinanis as the district’s next superintendent of schools, effective July 1. Dr. Sinanis replaces Dr. Fino Celano, who is retiring at the end of the school year after serving as superintendent for seven years.
Finally, Dr. Chris Rosa has taken over the helm of the nationally recognized Viscardi Center. Rosa was selected after longtime Viscardi chairman John Kemp relocated to a foundation in Birmingham, AL.
Rosa has been on the Viscardi board for the past three years. Now he is president and CEO of the center and president of the Henry Viscardi School.
“I want to continue John Kemp’s legacy,” Rosa told The Roslyn News. “We want to stay true to the mission of empowering people with disabilities.
The center, Rosa added, with continue with educating students for employment readiness.
“We want to continue meeting people where they are,” he added. “We are working with businesses to make sure that their assets are accessible for our students.”
