Tuesday, October 2, 2012

What has changed... and what remains the same

Susan Barbash prepared a report on how the last 40 years have treated the Bay Shore School System, and she asked to have it included here:


REUNION REPORT FOR THE CLASS OF 1972

What has changed …What is the same.

 

Forty years is a long time.

It is not surprising that our alma mater has changed quite a bit since 1972. In many respects, Bay Shore is much like it always was….only more so.  Ours is still one of the most economically and racially diverse districts on Long Island….  You may be shocked to learn just how diverse Bay Shore is today:  the student population is 37% white, 36% Latino, 22% African American, 4% Asian, and 1% Multi-Cultural.

Because of this diversity, there are still a lot of people outside Bay Shore who assume that the district is troubled or struggling.  It is, in fact, thriving.  

 

Bricks and Mortar….Facilities rivaling a private college:

Every school has been renovated and expanded…the high school most dramatically.

Highlights: Field House, new rehearsal rooms, multi media lab, recording studio, renovated libraries for the 21st century in every building

 

Academics

Dual Language Class offered in elementary school

 18 AP courses offered in high school

17 International Baccalaureate (IB) courses offered in high school (this program is new)

Mandarin Chinese added to foreign language options this year!

 

Commitment to Cultural Arts:

District named “Grammy Signature School”

A great extracurricular theater program in both Middle School and High School

5 bands, 3 orchestras and 4 choirs in the Middle School

5 bands, 3 orchestras and 3 choirs in the High School

Voice lessons for choir members

Dance offered as a Phys. Ed. and Performing Arts elective

The Bay Shore Schools Arts Education (BSSAEF) –not for profit founded in 1997 by community members, dedicated to the belief that in Bay Shore the arts should be for everyone.  The BSSAEF funds a variety of cultural programs for grades k-12 including music, theater and dance residencies, and writing workshops.

 

Excellence in Athletics and Physical Education:

Wellness Center opens in Middle School - 1998, in High School - 2006

Girls’ Track Team ranked in top 5 on Long Island

Girls’ Soft Ball, NYS Record holder with over 600 wins and 7 NY State championship teams

Crew introduced as a Varsity sport in 1998, NYS Champs in 2012

Bay Shore pioneers “Farm to School” Program in 2012


 

Awards: Just some of many

Bay Shore high school students Sodasia Thompson  and Joe Pastore named Grand Prize Winner of VH1’s Battle of the Band Competition ($5000 cash prize goes to district)

Maroon Echo is named top paper by Long Island Press  in 2012 (You have to be in journalism class to have a leadership role on the Maroon Echo)

Writers Block Literary Magazine wins “Most Outstanding High School Literary-Art Magazine” by the American Scholastic Press Association

 

Distinguished Guests:

First Lady, Hillary Clinton

Author, Frank McCourt

Dancer, Savion Glover

Singers, John Legend and Roberta Flack

Actor, Mos Def

 

Bay Shore is a public school that works.  It is not a super-rich school district. It serves a very economically diverse community that has never failed to pass a school budget.

Alumni can be proud of their alma mater.  For more information visit www.bayshoreschools.org  or better yet Friend the Bay Shore School District www.facebook/bayshoreschools.com  It is a great way to stay connected.  

 

 
   Won’t you consider giving to your alma mater?
 
   Pick your priority
   ___student scholarship fund  ___cultural arts   ___athletics/wellness
 
   Circle an amount: $10    $25    $50    $100    $250    $500
 
   Make your check payable to the Bay Shore School District and mail to
   S. Barbash/Reunion Gift
   52 Lawrence Lane   Bay Shore NY 11706
   Questions?  Email me at sbarbash@optonline.net
 

 

 

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