Archives for 2011

Please be sure to read this essay by Dr. Mowl, Superintendent of Rochester School for the Deaf about special needs students’ right to a quality education.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011112170308

From Islanders Visit Viscardi

Yesterday, December 7^th, the New York Islanders visited Viscardi. This marks the 35^th year that the Islanders have visited our school. The Islanders took time to answer questions from our students, played an action packed game of hockey and signed yearbooks for our students. The Islanders that visited and participated in the hockey match were: MIKE MOTTAU, PA PARENTEAU, and DAVID ULLSTROM. Team Viscardi was victorious in the hockey match winning 10-2.

Our students were very excited to interact with the New York Islanders and enjoyed their visit tremendously. Thanks Islanders for taking the time to visit with us! We look forward to their returning in the future so we can honor them for their years of service as well as to take on our students once again in another hockey match.

Pictured L-R: (Rear) State Senator Carl Marcellino, State Senator Jack Martins and State Senator Dean Skelos (Front) Viscardi Student Christian Calamuci

The Henry Viscardi School is delighted to announce that one of our middle school students, Christian Calamuci has been named as the winner of a Thanksgiving Essay Contest sponsored by Senator Jack Martins. Our school is proud to recognize this wonderful achievement.

Click Here to read Christian’s award winning essay.

 

From Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment PolicyKathleen Martinez

Assistant Secretary of Labor for Disability Employment Policy Kathleen Martinez visited Viscardi today to speak with students about her life and experiences as a person with disabilities. She discussed with students career opportunities for people with disabilities, internship opportunities and services that ODEP provides for people with disabilities. In addition, Viscardi students presented Secretary Martinez with tokens of their appreciation to thank her for visiting.

Media Coverage:

• Newsday
• Photo Gallery: ODEP’s Kathy Martinez Addresses Henry Viscardi School Students(November 14, 2011 from ODEP)
• Click Here to view video of Kathleen Martinez’s visit from Channel 10/TV55.

We are always proud of our staff accomplishments.  We would like to share an article with you that was recently published and features our head nurse Gail Nolan.  Her contribution and commentary to the article on nursing care for students with disabilities is just another example of the quality of service we offer at Viscardi.  Congratulations Gail for all your great work.

Article: From books to IVs: School nurses teach medical management to students with developmental disabilities

From Viscardi Ambassadors Visit Plainview JFK

On October 18, the Viscardi Ambassadors spoke at Plainview/Old Bethpage JFK High School.  This is our first trip of the school year and our first visit to Plainview JFK.  Viscardi Ambassadors is a club of students that visit area schools and talk about their lives as disabled people, their likes and dislikes, and what it means to be a student at the Henry Viscardi School.  Viscardi Ambassadors was created in 2008 as a community based club that gives these educational opportunities to students outside Viscardi walls.  This year the Viscardi Executive Board and a tenth grader attended.

From Viscardi Teachers Visit Williamsburg Collegiate Charter School

On Thursday, October 6th, our middle school teachers and two administrators had the opportunity to visit a Charter School in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.  This school uses the Teach Like a Championmodel that teachers here at Viscardi have been analyzing.  We were anxious to see the techniques they had implemented to create high standards and quality instruction for students in grades 5 – 8.  We were welcomed into many classrooms and observed a variety of subject areas. The school follows a strict academic and behavioral model; all teachers and students honor the guidelines established.  Students are fully engaged in lessons through a variety of strategies and techniques.

Our staff will be integrating some of the techniques presented during this visit.  We are always striving to incorporate new ideas in our ongoing efforts to provide quality and diverse instruction at the Henry Viscardi School

From 9th Graders Tour Adelphi University 10-3-11

On October 3, the 9^th grade class went to Adelphi University for an information session and college tour.  The information session focused on the different majors offered by Adelphi, services available to students with disabilities, clubs, admission requirements, and financial aid programs.  The students and parents were able to address their questions and concerns about college.  After the information session, the students took a tour of the Adelphi campus, including a wheelchair accessible dormitory room, classrooms, library, recreation center, and food court.  Following the tour, our 9^th graders enjoyed mingling with college students in the food court while they ate their lunch.  The students found it to be an extremely valuable experience.

From Viscardi Students Visit Hofstra

 

As part of the transition program at Henry Viscardi School, ninth grade students and several parents visited Hofstra University to see what college is all about. Andrea Nadler, the Associate Dean of Admissions spoke about the variety of programs and majors that Hofstra has to offer.  Julie Yindra, the Director of Services for Students with Disabilities and members of her department emphasized the importance of good grades, self-advocacy and goal setting. She told the students about Dr. Viscardi’s friendship with one of the dean’s at Hofstra. In 1963, as the school was transitioning from a commuter school to a residential campus. Dr. Viscardi emphasized the importance of building an entirely accessible campus and thus Hofstra became the first wheelchair accessible campus on Long Island.

 

After a tour of the campus, and running into a 2011 Viscardi graduate on his way to class at Hofstra, the students enjoyed socializing and navigating the food court at the Student Center.

Elena Cucharo, a music teacher at Viscardi has been asked to present at the New York State School Music Association Conference (NYSSMA). Elena L. Cucharo graduated from C.W. Post University in 2008, with a B.M. in Music Education.  She began teaching at the Henry Viscardi School in July of 2008 and in September was officially appointed the school’s music teacher. It was this new position, coupled with the extraordinary students of Viscardi that inspired Elena to begin research into providing better and more adaptive techniques for teaching music education to students with physical disabilities.

This research afforded Elena the opportunity to further her own education and in September of 2010, she earned her M.A in Music History from C.W. Post. Her thesis, entitled “Everyone Plays Together: Adaptive Strategies and Instruments to Raise the Level of Musical Participation in Students with Physical Disabilities” has inspired teachers, of able and disabled students alike, to introduce new and innovative techniques that help facilitate inclusion and participation in the music classroom.

In recognition of Elena’s passion and hard work, she has been asked to present her thesis, and the work surrounding it, at the upcoming 2011 NYSSMA Conference to be held on December 3rd in Rochester, NY. Currently, Elena continues her work at Viscardi and plans to begin her Doctoral program in 2012.