Great Neck educators recognized by Harvard club
Two educators in the Great Neck Public Schools have been recognized through the Harvard Club of Long Island (HCLI) Distinguished Teacher program. Dr. Theresa Walter, English teacher/department chair at South High School, is one of 12 recipients of the HCLI Distinguished Teacher Award for 2023. Additionally, Joseph Bonvicino, mathematics teacher at North High School, was a nominee in this year’s program.
Distinguished Teacher Award honorees are nominated by current Harvard undergraduates and then selected by Harvard Club of Long Island board members. This is the second consecutive year that both Dr. Walter and Mr. Bonvicino have been nominated for the lasting impression that they’ve had on students’ lives.
Award recipient Dr. Walter has been an English teacher in the Great Neck Public Schools for the past 24 years, including 14 years at North Middle, four years at North High, and six years at South High. She is a National Board Certified Teacher, a recipient of the 2019 Christa Fulton Memorial Teacher Award, and a recipient of the 2019 Educator of Excellence Award from the New York State English Council. She also serves on the Promising Young Writer’s Advisory Committee for the National Council of Teachers of English.
Nominee Mr. Bonvicino is a 21-year veteran teacher in the District. Over the past 19 years, he has taught all grade levels at North High through a wide range of math courses, most recently Algebra 2, Pre-Calculus, and Calculus. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, Mr. Bonvicino has coached the North High Girls Cross Country Team, Winter Track & Field Team, and Spring Track & Field Team for two decades. Over the span of his time at North High, he has served as a class advisor, run the Battle of the Classes, and served as a faculty advisor for the Help the Homeless Club.
“This award honors teachers who transform lives,” explained Dr. Judith Esterquest, Chair of the Distinguished Teacher Selection Committee. “Devoted teachers honored by these awards offer Long Island students their deep expertise, extraordinary talents, and countless hours of attention. By capturing the minds and imaginations of our children and preparing them for challenges that were unknown even a few decades ago, these teachers shape the future of our country.”
Dr. Walter will join 11 other Distinguished Teacher Award winners from across Long Island at an HCLI awards ceremony on March 18. At the ceremony, the Harvard Club will announce one winner to receive a scholarship for a “Harvard experience” at the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, MA.
North High artworks selected for exhibit at The Atelier
Works created by North High School artists Gloria Hsia and Ashley Liu have been selected for exhibit in the second annual Middle and High School Student Artists Juried Show, hosted by The Atelier at Flowerfield.
Gloria Hsia’s artwork, “Window to the World,” is a black ink sketch on paper. Ashley Liu’s work, “A Little House,” is a landscape in the digital medium. Gloria and Ashley are members of the North High Art Club and are currently enrolled in classes taught by art faculty Emily Man and Joseph Giacalone, lead teacher.
The Middle and High School Student Artists Juried Show is on display through March 30 at The Altelier’s 2,000 square foot gallery, located at 2 Flowerfield, Suite 6 & 9, in St. James. The gallery is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., and the exhibit is free to attend.
South High team wins Regional Science Olympiad; advances to state tournament
A Science Olympiad team from South High School is headed to the state tournament following their first-place win at a regional tournament in February. The team will compete in the New York State Science Olympiad from March 17–18 at Le Moyne College in Syracuse.
A total of three teams from South High participated in the Nassau West Regional Science Olympiad on Feb. 4. Team A won medals in 22 out of 23 events, earning first place in the regional tournament and a ticket to the New York State Science Olympiad. Teams B and C finished in third place and seventh place, respectively.
Team A, which will advance to the State Tournament, is comprised of Luke Huang, Colin, Hu, Brandon Kim, Caden Li, Kira Nguyen, Keon Woo (Richard) Oh, Yida (Aiden) Pan, Amit Saha, Lauren Siong Sin, Emily Tsui, Erin Wong, Rachel Woo, Maggie Wu, Laura Zhang, and Richard Zhuang. The South High Science Olympiad co-advisors are science teachers Nicole Spinelli and Dr. James Truglio.
Board commends North Middle students
On March 8, the Great Neck Board of Education recognized 104 North Middle School students for contributing to the quality of life at their school.
Student honorees, in alphabetical order, are: Allison Abreu, Lucas Adams, Asher Ahdoot, Harrison Albin, Emily Aminian, Dana Amirian, Gabriel Anavim, Ethan Anavim, Kendall Aufenanger, Daniel Avakook, Noa Bakhshi, Zahara Bendelstein, Abigail Bernstein, Kylee Bijari, Brielle Biniamin, Tyler Braun, Blake Chaman, Lucas Chang, Orion Chaston, Adrian Cheah, Chen Chen, Megan Chen, Zhaoxi Chen, Kenneth Cho, Regina Cho, Jinu Choi, Kyle Chu, Eric Chu, Michael Cohen, Adam Crispin, Bianca Darvish, Anna Enayatian, Esther Faylayev, Zackary Feder, Tory Flood, Analia Flores Balam, Leticia Fuentes Molina Marisol, Heydi Fuentes Reyes Marili, Guy Gardner, Gabriel Ghassabian, Aaron Ghaytanchi, Daniel Ghodsi, Ella Ginsberg, Ben Ginsberg, Yulie Glucklich, Erica Guadalupe Grande, Emet Greenblatt, Isaac Gutierrez Diaz, Baron Hakimi, Miley Hakimian, Deagan Hakimian, Yuxuan Han, Elan Harel, Warren Harilal, Zachary Harounian, Erin He, Ruth Herrera Paola, Lindsay Hirschbein, Keshin Huang, Liel Kafaierad, Elliott Kane, Letizia Kaya, Marisa Levine, Mia Li, Stella Lin, Emily Livian, Aiden Loh, Yael Lyakhov, Jayden Maloul, Atharv Malpani, Cindy Martinez, Kiara Martinez, Jacob Mashieh David, Megan McCarthy, Angel Menendez Segovia Gabriel, Jolie Moalemi, Cristian Moreno Hernandez, Ravid Nafisi, Lauren Nassimi, Chloe Nazar, Sivan Nisim, Brandon Noghrei, Jordan Moshe Omid, Lauren Peykarian, Liam Pilip, Chloe Pineda, Abigail Podwall, Michelle Polanco, Sophia Rastegar, Eden Rosenberg, Juliet Sabi, Aliza Sadykov, Adrien Sarfati, Joshua Sebugulu, Ellie Segal, Rocki Shalit, Tori Sobiecki, Bo-chou Tsai, Juhie Yoon, Eylon Yudalevich, Mai Rachel Zaken, Adina Zargari, Luke Zhong, and Nathan Zhong.
Honorees are photographed with Board of Education President Rebecca Sassouni, Vice President Jeffrey Shi, and Trustees Barbara Berkowitz, Donna Peirez, and Grant Toch; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Teresa Prendergast and Assistant Superintendents Dr. Joseph Hickey and Dr. Stephen C. Lando; North Middle School Principal Dr. Gerald Cozine, and Assistant Principals Jennifer Andersen and Nancy Gunning.
GNPS/TV March Programs
Programs currently airing on Great Neck Public Schools Television (GNPS/TV) are South Middle Cultural Heritage Celebration, North Middle Gr. 7-8 Winter Concert, Village School Exhibition, and South High Winter Concert II.
GNPS/TV programs are available on demand, 24/7, on the school district website, www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/tv. Programs can also be viewed in the incorporated villages of Great Neck on Optimum Channel 75 and on Verizon Fios Channel 32. Airing times in program descriptions below are for Optimum and Verizon viewing.
South Middle Cultural Heritage Celebration
South Middle School’s annual Cultural Heritage Celebration showcases the cultural mosaic of the South Middle community through dances, songs, and presentations. Tune in to GNPS/TV to enjoy student performances of the Chinese YoYo, Lion Dance, Ribbon Dance, Korean Fan Dance, Hispanic Dance, Indian Dance, K-POP, Korean Drum Dance, and more. South Middle Cultural Heritage Celebration airs at 7 a.m., and 12:30 and 6 p.m.
North Middle Gr. 7-8 Winter Concert
North Middle School hosted its Gr. 7-8 Winter Concert on Dec. 15, featuring performances by the seventh and eighth-grade chorus, band, and orchestra. Instrumental groups were directed by Matthew Trinkwald, music department chair, and assisted by Anthony Virgilio and Andrew DeNise. The chorus was directed by Arielle Murdocco. North Middle Winter Concert airs at 8:30 a.m., and 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Village School Exhibition
Village School’s annual Exhibition is a celebration of student work at the culmination of the fall semester. It is an evening event wherein students are given the opportunity to share a semester’s worth of work — moving it from the confines of the classroom into a space where it can be exhibited for others to ponder, question, and enjoy. Village School Exhibition airs at 9:30 a.m., and 3 and 8:30 p.m.
South High Winter Concert II
The South High School Winter Concert II on Dec. 15 featured performances by the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mark Boschen, instrumental music teacher; Chamber Singers and Mixed Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Janine Robinson, vocal music teacher; and Chamber String Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Michael Schwartz, instrumental music teacher/performing arts department head. South High Winter Concert II airs at 10:30 a.m., and 4 and 9:30 p.m.
GNPS/TV Programming
GNPS/TV programming reflects the offerings of the Great Neck Public Schools and the achievements of its students and staff. Programs are student-produced. For more information, contact Robert Zahn, director of educational television and broadcast media, at [email protected].
Great Neck Kindergarten & UPK registration remain open
All students who will attend kindergarten in a public or private school must register with the District
Enrollment for the Great Neck Public Schools Kindergarten and Universal Pre-Kindergarten (UPK) programs remain open for the 2023–24 school year.
All students who will attend kindergarten in a public or private school for the 2023–24 school year must register with the District. To register for kindergarten, children must be 5 years old on or before Dec. 1, 2023.
The District offers a UPK program for children who will be 4 years old on or before Dec. 1, 2023. UPK is a half-day program offered to residents at no cost; a supplemental half-day, tuition-based enrichment program called “Fun For Fours” is also available with limited enrollment.
The deadline to register for non-public school transportation for the 2023–24 school year is April 1, as determined by State Education Law. A student must be registered with the District before a non-public school transportation request can be processed.
Online registration applications for kindergarten and UPK are available on the district website at www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/registration. For more information about registering your child, please contact the Registration Office by e-mail at [email protected], or call (516) 441-4080 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on school days.
