Dr. Laura Seinfeld, the superintendent of schools for Oyster Bay-East Norwich (OBEN), has proven herself to be an intelligent, innovative, caring leader filled with positive energy.
In November 2013, she launched OBEN’s first school sponsored community book club by inviting the community to come together in a discussion of the inspiring book, Wonder, by R.J. Palacio, a New York Times bestseller. The selection for the second community book club in the spring of 2014 was Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin.
The third book club was held in the Oyster Bay High School (OBHS) library on Monday, Nov. 24. The book selection was A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park.
A New York Times bestseller,the book is based on the true story of Salva Dun, one of about 3,800 Sudanese “Lost Boys” airlifted to the United States beginning in the mid-1990s.
After reading A Long Walk to Water, Janna Ostroff, science and technology supervisor for the district, contacted the organization that Salva Dun created and received information about their work and fundraising.
Ostroff said, “When I suggested that we create a fundraiser for the organization, National Honor Society members were excited and took charge. NHS officers Nicole Hauser and Francis Ngoy are working with a committee to sell water bottles. People who would like to purchase water bottles can contact science teacher Brittany Badean (bbadean@obenschools.org), Nicole Hauser, Francis Ngoy, or [myself; (jostroff@obenschools.org)]. Once we raise enough money to purchase the bottles, we will be selling them throughout the school and at various events.”
As with the first book clubs, this session is 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 fifth year of the diploma program for students in grades nine 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 students become exemplary citizens of the 21st Century while further nurturing their individual passions.
The district has identified six areas of focus that students need to develop in order to be successful in the 21st Century: 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, they strive for students 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 the 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.
