Our staff meetings will take place this month on the following dates:
•  Monday, April 14, 2008 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room 102 – Mr. William Mann’s room.
•  Monday, April 28, 2008, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Room T2 – Mr. Matthew Holland’s room.
On April 14, 2008, the PTA is going to serve lunch which will be provided from Yolanda’s Restaurant. The purpose of the lunch is Teacher Appreciation. On that same day, teachers will be asked to take the Learning Environment Survey. The only piece of the agenda that day will be the third session of the seven series workshop on Adolescent Behavior & Development by Ms. Jennifer Elliott, LCSW.
On April 28, 2008, we will do the observation and debriefing of Mr. Holland’s room followed by a mini lesson by Mr. Daddario and the fourth session of the seven series workshop by Ms. Elliott.

If you are not aware, Ms. Paula Pryce-Bremmer took four of our junior girls to Smith College in Massachusetts on Tuesday, March 25, 2008. The four young ladies were Alixon Delgado, Stephanie Martinez, Shakira Morris and Crystal Rodriguez. All four girls had an opportunity to tour the campus, speak with admission counselors and view the dormitories. I would like to thank both Ms. Pryce-Bremmer and Prof. Sam Intrator for making this trip possible. The entire trip was funded by Smith College.

On Wednesday, March 26th through Friday, March 28th, Shakira Morris, one of our 11th grade students, attended the Building Bridges Conference in Chicago, Illinois. Shakira was selected by our community based partner, Urban Assembly, to talk on behalf of what our school has done for her and the after-school programs that we offer.

Jessica Bouret was selected by College Summit to be the student representative at their luncheon for potential supporters in Washington, DC. Jessica and her mother traveled to DC from Wednesday, March 26th through Thursday, March 27th. Jessica spoke about the impact that our high school and the College Summit program has had upon her college application process and dreams for the future. She also addressed several Congressmen on behalf of College Summit. Congratulations, Jessica!

On Friday, March 28, 2008, 46 of our seniors as well as the following staff members: Sharon Aiuvalasit, William Mann, Eli Rosario, Lisa Vargas, Chris White and Beatrice Rodriguez (Vice President of our PTA and mother of 12th grade student, Gary Diaz) chaperoned the Senior Trip to Pine Grove Ranch in Kerhonkson, NY. It was a great success.

I want to personally thank Mr. Gil Callan, 12th grade Anatomy and Kinesiology Teacher, for taking responsibility for organizing this trip.

I want to once again personally thank Ms. Denise Valdez for all the time and effort that went into the planning and execution of the first ever 10th grade Career Day that took place on Friday, March 14, 2008. I had the pleasure to spend time in each of the 10th grade classrooms to listen to the dialogue that took place between the presenters and the students. The students got an opportunity to listen to presenters who in many cases struggled at their age but yet were still able to overcome. The message was clear, “As 10th graders, you are living in the moment now, you have everything right in front of you and there is no reason not to take advantage of it”.

All 11th graders are three-quarters of the way through the program. At this point in time, they have sat for three diagnostic exams. The final exam is scheduled for Tuesday, April 8, 2008.

The program comes to a close on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. Over 80% of our juniors have already registered for the SAT’s on May 3rd. I would like to thank Melissa Morales, Matthew Holland, Sharon Aiuvalasit and Joseph Flucus for proctoring the exams and for their continued service and dedication to our students.

This year has been more successful than any other year and I would like to thank Ms. Sharon Aiuvalasit for her support in the classrooms on Monday and Wednesday while the Kaplan Instructor is there and her support to making sure students’ complete homework for the Kaplan class on Tuesdays and Fridays.

I want to thank Mr. Robert Rosario for his unyielding dedication to the entire high school application process. As you may recall, 100 students were ranked and we have been given the names and address of the students that will be entering our school next year. Some of the demographics are as follows:

•92 Males
•8 Females
•9 ELL Students
•11 Self-contained/CTT
•3 SETTS

Four 10th graders have been admitted into our school.

On another note, the following eight freshmen have elected to transfer for the upcoming school year:
Emile Anderson – Harry S. Truman H.S.
William Archibald – Banana Kelly H.S.
Patrick Johnson – Bronx School for Law, Gov’t. & Justice
Wilfred Laboy – The Bronx Guild High School Jesus Medina – Banana Kelly H.S.
Felix J. Ortiz – Bronx Academy of Health
Antonio R. Sosa – Astor Collegiate
Tequila Tolliver – H.S. for Contemporary Arts

The following seniors have been accepted to the following schools:

Vonetta Stevenson
-Niagara University
-SUNY Delhi
-Alfred State University
-Borough of Manhattan C.C. –LaGuardia Community College
-Lehman College

Robby Ramirez
-SUNY Canton

Jamal Hayes
-UTI

Jonathan Brown
-SUNY Delhi
-Alfred State University

Daniel Brito
-Berkeley College
-SUNY Delhi

Alexsandra Carrion
-Shephard University

Jordan Figueroa
-UTI

Dwight Hall
-Albertus Magnus College
-University of Bridgeport
-Widener University

Desean Briggs
-SUNY Morrisville
-Cheyney University
-York College
-Borough of Manhattan C.C.
–Medgar Evers College
-Norfolk State University
-Kingsborough C.C.
–Virginia Union University
-Lincoln University
-Daemen College (wait listed)

Karina Soto
-West Virginia University
-Lehman College

Bryant Bonilla
-Joliet Junior College

Tiffany Thompson
-Virgnia Union University
-Morrisville University
-Lincoln University
-Bloomfield University
-Delaware State University
-Medgar Evers College
-Cheyney University
-Norfolk State University

Catherine Thompson
-Briarcliffe College

Jonathan Alvarez
-John Jay College
-Utica College
-Iona College

Donevor Appleton
-Cheyney University
-Norfolk University
-Hudson Valley
-SUNY Morrisville

Flora Parra
-City College (CCNY)
-NYC College of Technology (CUNY)

Cairon Charles
-SUNY Maritime

Jeffrey Valentin
-Lehman College (CUNY)
-Post University

Pedro Gonzalez
-Monroe Community College (SUNY)
-City Tech (CUNY)
-Borough of Manhattan C.C. –Utica College
-College of Staten Island

Daijuan Francis
-Sullivan County Community College (SUNY)

Todd McDaniels
-St. John’s University
-University of Tampa

Juan Santana
-Brooklyn College
-City College

Dustin Oregon
-Lehman College (CUNY)
-Hunter College (CUNY)

Manny Morales
-West Virginia

Jamal Haynes
-SUNY Canton

Thomas McCabe
-Sullivan County Community College
-Herkimer Community College

Carlos Soto
-Sullivan County Community College

Gary Diaz
-Penn State

Ramon Santos
-Forseyth Technology

Jose Rivera
-University of Buffalo
-SUNY Stony Brook

Daniel Moreno
-College of St. Joseph

Jeffrey Fontana
-SUNY Old Westbury

Christian Ramos
-Borough of Manhattan C.C.

Petrica Ryan
-York College CUNY

Yahaira Pelaez
-Bronx Community College

Christoper Urena
-Utica College

Jasmine Brown
-Herkimer County C.C.
-Bronx Community College
-Borough of Manhattan C.C.
-Kingsborough C.C.

Jessica Bouret
-Daeman College
-Lehman College

Elizear Torres
-Hudson Valley C.C.

Manuel Daniel
-Queensborough C.C.
-Cheyney University
-John Jay College (CUNY)

Joseph Medina
-U. S. Navy

Adriel Ponce
-U. S. Navy

On Thursday, April 3, 2008, Evening Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On Friday, April 4, 2008, Afternoon Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held from 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

On Friday, April 18, 2005, our Fourth Annual Heritage Day will take place. All students will go to their Advisory for attendance. Then, at approximately 8:45 a.m. all students and staff will report to the auditorium to view a movie “to be determined”. At approximately 10:30 a.m., we will report to the cafeteria where we will celebrate Heritage Day with a luncheon. The school has purchased $1,250.00 worth of Spanish, Italian, Mexican, Irish, Haitian, Soul and Kosher food for your enjoyment. Students are encouraged to bring cakes and pastries that reflect their culture. Lunch will end at its normal time which is 11:40 a.m.

After lunch, all students and staff are to report to the auditorium for the performances.

I want to give special thanks to Jasmine Lewis, Shalise Ray and Catherine Thompson for organizing this year’s Heritage Day.

I want to congratulate Coach Porter and the Boys’ Varsity Basketball Team for making it to the third round in the Boys A Division playoffs. The boys were upended by East Transit Tech (67-58).

I am happy to announce that student, Matthew Storms, has been selected by the New York Yankees to join the Bat Boy Rotation.

On Friday, April 4, 2008, Noel Diaz, Todd Reid & Matthew Storms will be interviewing to join the Bat Boy Rotation. It is amazing that by the end of this process, two out of three members of the Yankees Bat Boy Rotation will be students that graduated (Michael Perez) or currently still attend our school.

Our March event, teaching 5 year olds about the dangers of talking to strangers was a huge success. We will next participate in New York Cares Hands on New York Day on Saturday, April 12, 2008. All students, 9-12, are invited to participate.

I want to thank Mr. Johanny Garcia, Ms. Melissa Morales and the following students, Fernando Carmona, Marcus Webster and Ismael Guadalupe for taking the time on Monday, March 24, 2008 to visit one of our juniors, Stephen Rivera, who is currently in a Rehabilitation Facility. If you are not aware, some time in early February, Stephen was diagnosed with Bacterial Meningitis. Emergency surgery was performed. At first, the diagnosis was that he would be paralyzed on the left side of his body but miraculously a week later Stephen was able to perform functions using the left side of his body. He is in great spirits and will be released next week. He will probably be returning back to school in May.

I also want to thank Mr. Garcia for taking the time on Monday to visit our 10th grade student, Victor Barbosa, at Jacobi Hospital. I had an opportunity to speak to Victor on Tuesday and he is recovering very well. As a matter of fact, he has just been released from the hospital. He will be receiving home schooling and at some point a decision will be made by the family whether he will be returning to our school or will be attending another school.

Attendance: March attendance reached 87.1% for the entire month.
Suspensions: February 2008

• 7 Principal's Suspensions
• 0 Superintendent Suspensions