Students and staff at James H. Boyd Intermediate School in the Elwood Union Free School District celebrated International Dot Day on Sept. 16. Classes filled the school auditorium to mark the occasion which takes place globally each year. The day is based on Peter Reynolds’ book “The Dot” which encourages others to make their mark on the world and see where it takes them. 

Noting that it is her favorite day of the year, Principal Dr. Denise Toscano spoke with students about the meaning of International Dot Day. The day also served as a pep rally for the start of the school year where the school’s three R’s were reinforced — Respect, Responsibility and Relationships. 

“Dot Day has a very important message and is the foundation of what we believe at Boyd,” she said. “It is a day where we celebrate creativity, courage and collaboration.” 

Dr. Toscano played a video of the “Dot Day” story as students watched intently. After discussing the book, she reminded students how much everyone at the school believes in them, fitting with the school’s motto of “Boyd Believes in Me.” 

The students were asked to turn to a partner and discuss a time when someone encouraged them. They also spoke about how they could encourage another person and then shared their answers with the student body. 

“Your simple words can make a difference,” Dr. Toscano reminded them. 

Together, students and staff sang “The Dot Song” by Emily Dale and Peter Reynolds to close out the assembly and worked on Dot Day activities and lessons throughout the school day.

During the summer, freshmen in John H. Glenn High School’s Mock Trial Team had a unique and exciting opportunity to work with professional lawyers, federal judges and FBI agents as part of a program designed to teach them about the U.S. legal system.

The “EDNY Justice Institute: Crime, the Constitution and the Courts,” is a week-long program, run by the federal court in conjunction with the Touro Law Center and the Eastern District of New York Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. 

The district’s four students, Abby Rothleder, Isabella Marino, Jack Rersnick and Max Slesinski, who all recently returned to high school as sophomores, observed real court proceedings and worked alongside prosecutors, defense lawyers and deputy U.S. Marshals to develop basic advocacy skills, which they used in a mock trial competition against high school teams from East Meadow and Great Neck South. 

The students won both competition rounds working as attorneys, according to the club’s adviser, Megan Gieser.

The Elwood Board of Education welcomed its newest member and vice president, Michael LaMena, at its meeting on Sept 5. 

Mr. LaMena was sworn in by District Clerk Mary Lou Janelli first as a member of the board, and following a nomination by board member James Tomeo, he assumed the role of vice president as well. 

Mr. LaMena, who previously served multiple terms as a board member, including serving as the board president for the 2016-17 school year, was appointed to the board back in August to fill a vacancy left by former Board President Julia Fried. 

“It definitely felt like getting back on a familiar bicycle,” he said. “Being in the meeting last night, I think there’s great things going on in Elwood and any way I can help accelerate that I’m excited about.”

Recently appointed Board President and former Vice President Becky Marcus, welcomed Mr. LaMena’s “wealth of knowledge,” noting that it will be an asset to the board. 

Mr. LaMena was equally welcomed by the remaining board members as well as Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert.