Island Dispatch, 2004-01-16

              Island DISPATCH  Kelly Wins Finals Page 14 The Farmer's Almanac predicts: Cold, Occasional Snow A iii.?V ' ( net A tl.t 'i > iithci ..•:;'!,' J Founded 1944 • Complete Community Coverage 58 Years As the Voice of Grand Island Award Winning Newspapers The Official Newspaper of the Town of Grand Island and the Grand Island School District GI Night at the Sabres Page 5 Ph0ne:(716)773-7676 • Fax: (716) 773-7190 • E-Mail: NFPNews@clmail.com Vol. 59 No. 45 Januan 16.2004 24 Pages SI.OO GI School Board discusses 'No Child Left Behind Act,' new reading programs by Amanda Glowish Festive Spanish songs, a reading intervention program and recognition of special middle school students were all apart of Monday's Grand Island Board of Education Meeting. The meeting began with the sweet melody of Mrs. Hitcho's kindergarten class singing holiday songs in Spanish. They were led by Mrs. Ramsperger, one of Hitcho's room moms, who is also a Spanish teacher on leave from the Sweet Home School District. The students began learning Spanish in early December. "She (Ramsperger) taught them how much fun it. is to learn a foreign language," Hitcho said. It was a wonderful turnout, with 16 students performing to a packed audience of parents, grandparents and siblings. Frank Cannata, Sidway school principal, not only accompanied the singers on the piano, but he also provided a party afterwards. Reading Intervention Program The progress of the new reading intervention program was presented to the board by Randy Seiwell, a district reading teacher. Seiwell's impressive resume and "years of teaching experience make her an asset to this program. "Mrs. Seiwell is to our reading program as Elvis Presley was to rock 'n' roll. She really has formed and shaped the reading program in Grand Island, over the many years she has given us," Cannata said. The idea behind the program is to build students' self-esteem as readers by writing, talking and sharing what they read everyday. A student is recommended for reading intervention by their teacher but they can only participate in the program if they have full support from their parents. Seiwell noted the 15 first-graders in the program found the only competition was themselves. The students read at a level that is suitable for their needs and only advance when they are ready. Most of the students are reading four books a week which proves the program's success. "I am so pleased to say and it almost brings tears to my eyes when students come to me and say I read the whole book, that is the first time I have seen it and I read the whole book.' They are doing it and they are doing it consistently," Seiwell said. Math 4 Assessment Tests In other news, the unexpected low scores of the Math 4 New York state assessment tests for 2002-03 have Dr. Karmazin and Mr. Grosso looking at ways to increase future scores. They studied every angle, including subgroup analysis, complete item analysis and education type analysis. Many students with disabilities had difficulties with questions that involved a multi-step solution, called for reading, and lacked a diagram. It was also discovered that literacy issues affected achievement for students in problem solving areas. A grade level math vocabulary list is being created to insure math Fuccillo donates to local police, Neighbors Foundation cucc'il!o Gioup donated Sf?00 dollars each tc tic Grand ■..land Po-icu Department and tne Neighbors foundation. The- police a.iCJ the E>!_ 'Jourty Snonlf's Department then turned their entire portion over to !i",o Neighbors F:ouiidation. Confjscd yet"' Shown m pnoto above (from lefts, Deputy Depp's Loien_o R. Hond/iroki from the Grand Island Police Department. M.vy Dunbar DaluiS'O <rom Fuc-i'lo, Hipfc K..rnmeror and CoL,nc:lman Gary Roesch f'om tne Neumbors Foundation sr-nnng the geno'ous oonation (photo by Lisa Angar.ello) Residents, town officials bring 'Safe Homes' to the Island by Lisa Ariganello Town officials, concerned residents, law enforcement officials and representatives from local organizations gathered last Tuesday evening at the Grand Island Memorial Library to discuss implementation of a "Safe Homes" program on the Island. What is Safe Homes? The Safe Homes program offers an opportunity for parents to join together to help provide an alcohol and drug-free environment for their children. The program encourages parents to communicate with their children about the risks of alcohol and drug abuse, and to provide a safe place for children and their friends to hang out. Each parent that offers to be a "Safe Home" must sign a pledge that agrees to the following: •I will provide adult supervision for all children visiting my home. •I will provide a secure storage place for all forms of alcohol, firearms, and other potentially hazardous items. . «I will not allow parties or gatherings in my home when I am not there. •I will not serve nor will I allow youth under the legal drinking age to consume alcohol in my home. •I wish for communication with any parent who personally observes my child using alcohol or other drugs. •I will communicate with any Reg Schopp (above left) led a discussion on the new "Safe Homes" program currently being Implemented on the Island. Town officials, concerned residents, county police, and representatives from local organizations were in attendance to discuss alcohol and drug abuse in adolescents, (photo by Lisa Ariganello) continued onpage'23j3£M continued on vase 19 "^ At a Glance Saturday Buffalo Launch Club Wine Dinner 503 East River Road 7:15 p.m. Wednesday All-You-Can-Eat Soup to Benefit Hospice Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus Charity Committee 1841 Whitehaven Road 4:30 to 7 p.m. For more information call 773-5541 For a complete listing of area events, visit NFP's Web site at ___.___^..,^S,Siy££££Si£f?m^ 1 Gh&elkl&*9*Ofir i ;wv^r,*<• «'?--■■»¥• jf'»v.- w> v!■* ■ ■ '*:-■ ~ii\ lies ■..; -.•:.•?•: s' v- •»"/■■' ■■« pers.com iiiimihimmmiimTJSLimiiiimm.7 Him ■iimi»ii«iimwi»iin«iil nmiimrinlili ■iiiilin,lil»liluiijiliuilii-uiiiiiiiii.iiih|iMiiiiii| ■11l II lirilllMllßirHllllll'i'ftfflWM'lMl.WWWWWW HES¥MUHItiIT | mmMmM%tm^mm«mMmm E£%£§ CHI §E Available to Qualified Buyer-Could Be Great Sports Bar rifn SS»«ILIS 5.3 Acres Seats 290 Patrons, Parking for 120 Cars (includes real estate) 7300 Sq. Ft. of Space $245,000.