Great NYS Read Aloud at
Monhagen brings students, staff and community together to
share love for reading
APRIL
2007—Monhagen
Middle School celebrated the Great New York State Read Aloud
at the school on Wednesday, April 18, 2007. Students, staff and
several community members in Middletown participated in the
all-day event by reading excerpts from their favorite book.
Some participants on hand were:
Carl Bonitz Jr.,; Steve
Israel and Beth Quinn, from the Times Herald Record; Orange
County Sheriff Carl DuBois; Tracey Baxter, from Cable 6; Elizabeth Potts, from Kiwanis; Monhagen
Principal Tracey Sorrentino; and Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Kenneth Eastwood.
Students honored for making
honor roll with breakfast
MARCH 2007—Monhagen Middle School students were honored by the PTO and
school administrators for making the honor roll with breakfast held
at the school during March. Students in grades 6, 7,
& 8, had bagels, and other breakfast treats, and received certificates
and words of encouragement from both Ms. Sorrentino and Mr. Radoqna!
Ball in the House
performs at school
FEB.2007—Monhagen
Middle School students had the chance to see
Ball in the
House
perform live at the school on Feb. 22, 2007, as part of
Arts in Education programming. Students in the choral group
at the school also performed one song with the group in
front of their peers, and met with the band prior to the
assembly to practice and have some one-on-one time to ask
questions.
Ball in the House
is a five-man soul-pop/R&B vocal
a cappella
group from Boston.
They have opened and performed with various pop artists as
well such as: Gladys Knight; Blondie; The Temptations; Smokie
Robinson; and numerous others. They can be heard on national
TV and radio as the voices behind the Cool Whip commercials.
Noted
poet & professor visits MMS for lecture series
FEB.2007—In
honor of Black History Month, Monhagen Library/Media Center hosted a
series of lectures by award-winning poet Quraysh Ali
Lansana, author of
They Shall Run: Harriet Tubman
Poems ,and the poetry collection,
Southside Rain.
Telling the students to call him "Q," Mr. Lansana "read
excerpts from his Harriet Tubman book, discussed the Harlem
Renaissance, and conducted poetry writing workshops," said
Bette Bonitz, the school's librarian.
During his visit on Feb. 5 & 6, 2007, to the school, Bonitz
said that "students and staff were truly inspired by this
program made possible by the Arts In Education funding."
Drug sweep sending positive message to deter drugs
DEC.2006—Monhagen
Middle School was the site of a drug sweep on Dec. 13, 2006. The
sweep turned up nothing,
and was conducted randomly and not in response to a tip or
any suspicions but
instead in
an ongoing effort to help keep buildings and students,
staff safe.
The building
was searched by K-9 police units from
the City of Middletown, City of Newburgh, New
Windsor and Saugerties while on
lock-down/lock-out mode
for about 45 minutes.
"The use of police K-9 units to conduct drug
sweeps sends a positive message to both the students
and the community that the district is working
diligently to deter drugs from coming into our
schools,"
Ken Haverlan,
Director of Security, Health and Safety.
Dogs were alerted only
once
during the sweep—one locker at the
school was opened due to suspicion, but turned up nothing.
School
administration along with Haverlan, as well as a School
Resource Officer, were on hand for
the search which was conducted in accordance
with the City of Middletown Police Department, and
Lt. Paul Rickard.
Showcase of
Arts in Education programs a success
NOV.2006—MMS hosted an
Arts in Education
Showcase on Nov. 9, 2006. The showcase gave our community the opportunity
to see various artists present previews of their performances for
possible Arts In Education programming here in the district.
Performing artists showcased abbreviated versions of their
performances, and an exhibition area to meet artists and agents was
also featured.
Potter Cliff Mendelson gives students a lesson in clay
OCT.2006—Cliff Mendelson, an artist &
sculptor and teacher at the Westchester Arts Workshop in White
Plains, NY, was back at Monhagen this fall as part of the district's
Arts in Education programming during the week of Oct. 30, 2006. Students
learned about Native American clay art work as part of Mendelson's "A
day of clay" workshop, and got to try their hand at making their own
clay masterpieces in class.
 Pictured left: Cliff Mendelson works with MMS students to
create works of art from clay.
Arts in Education program brings African culture to MMS
SEPT.2006—Students
at Monhagen Middle School were visited by
Biboti Ouikahilo,
founder of
Wacheva
Cultural Arts,
choreographer, artistic director and African dance teacher
and drummer in September. Through the
Artsin Education programming at the school, students
learned the all about African dance, drum techniques, and
African culture.
The multicultural experience
gave students the opportunity to learn about African culture
first hand. Students learned actual African dances, drum
patterns and songs, and received some cultural history from
Ouikahilo.
Ouikahilo is a native of the
Ivory Coast. |
