Dr. Laura Seinfeld, in her first year as the new Superintendent of Schools for Oyster Bay-East Norwich, has proven herself to be an intelligent, innovative, caring leader filled with positive energy. In November, she launched OBEN’s first school sponsored Book Club by inviting the community to come together in a discussion of the inspiring book Wonder by R.J. Palacio, and is now planning a second book club for the spring.
The selection for the second community book club is Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. As this novel is appropriate for grades 3 and up, Dr. Seinfeld is hoping even more students decide to join in the shared reading experience than in the fall.
One reviewer summed up the new book with these words: “This is a beautifully written fable for people of all ages, not just those in grades 3-6. I just finished reading this story to my 5-year-old. I think I may have gotten more from it than she did, but she was enraptured as we read three chapters every night for the last few weeks.”
All members of the OBEN learning community are invited to join in the shared reading of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin. Two opportunities have been scheduled to join book discussions, which will be held on Monday, May 12 at 3:30 p.m. in the Vernon School library annex and on Monday, May 19 at 7 p.m. in the Oyster Bay High School library. Both book club dates are open to all — students, families, community members, and school district staff.
If anyone would like to join, please email Jean Tworkowski at jtworkowski@obenschools.org or call 516-624-6505 and please indicate on which date you plan to attend.
As with the first Book Club, these sessions are tied into the Oyster Bay High School 21st Century Diploma program. Students who have opted to pursue a 21st Century Diploma can get credit by joining the Book Club discussion.
The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Central School District is in its fourth year of this new program for students in grades 9 through 12. This voluntary program is designed to prepare students to meet the demanding challenges of the 21st Century. The ultimate goal of this program is to have the students become exemplary citizens of the 21st Century while further nurturing their individual passions.
Six areas of focus that students need to develop in order to be successful in the 21st Century have been identified: Life-Long Learner, Health & Fitness, Communication, Work Ethic, Information Technology and Global Awareness.
The objective is to give students credit for the activities that they currently do above and beyond the school day. In addition, all students are encouraged to try new activities.
Each school year, participants will be able to select from a list of activities, specifically designed to develop the above areas of focus. Students will be responsible for managing their own portfolios via the 21st Century Internet Portal. Numerical points will be earned upon the successful completion of an activity and the submission of an artifact into the individual student’s portfolio. Over the course of four years, students will need to earn 100 points in order to qualify for the 21st Century Diploma.
One of the activities that students participated in was a Global Awareness opportunity offered through an organization called Kiva. Kiva is a non-profit based company that provides business start-up loans to entrepreneurs in third world countries. Students were assigned the task of creating a fundraiser to be able to contribute funds through an online account. Students were responsible for choosing one specific entrepreneur whom they would lend their funds to. This opportunity allowed students to see the real world effect of helping others and how far help from one individual to another can go. This activity will be offered again this year as well as numerous other engaging opportunities.
The 21st Century Committee is currently working with local businesses and community leaders to add additional opportunities for students and welcomes additional support and ideas for activities.
The 21st Century Diploma program will also offer monetary scholarships. To contribute to the scholarship fund, donations can be made by check, payable to OBHS 21st Century Diploma.
For more information or if you would like to get involved with the program, email 21stCenturyCommittee@obenschools.org
