By Bob Harris
Members of the Jamaica NOW Leadership Council visited Thomas A. Edison High School accompanied by Queens Borough President Melinda Katz and City Councilman Barry Grodenchik (D-Oakland Gardens) to highlight the importance of the school for the community. The school has 12 career and technical education programs, which include three-year automotive repair, electrical installation and medial assisting. The principal, Moses Ojeda, is a graduate of the school. Two students recently were the winners in the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association Competition.
U.S. Rep. Grace Meng (D-Flushing) congratulated Principal Michael Athy on Bayside High School’s 80th anniversary. Several teachers and state Assemblyman Ed Braunstein (D-Bayside), who are graduates of the school, were present for the presentation of a proclamation. Braunstein, state Sen. Tony Avella (D-Bayside) and Councilman Paul Vallone (D-Bayside) also present proclamations. The school also received $1 million for auditorium and field house restoration.
Francis Lewis High School JROTC cadets again took home first-place trophies for Armed and Unarmed Drill teams at a citywide competition recently held at the school. The school has the largest JROTC program in the country, with more than 1,000 cadets, and has been dominating Drill League competitions for more than three consecutive years. The school fielded two teams for the competition.
The August Martin High School library is being transformed and updated, so a mobile library unit was sent to the school for the use of the students. All library services are being performed by this mobile unit, which is also open to the school staff and the community.
John Adams High School received a new free health center, funded and staffed by Cohen Children’s Medical Center and the North Shore-LIJ Health System now known as Norwell. The center will provide a full range of testing and treatment for all types of illness. Many large high schools have a similar system as a way to treat the illness of the students. It is open five days a week during regular school hours. Teachers created an afterschool study and recreation ESL program in honor of the late teacher Crissy Delakas.
The new Maspeth High School opened a new student courtroom. State Sen. Joseph Addabbo (D-Howard Beach), a former practicing attorney, praised the room’s lifelike setup which will allow students to feel first-hand what it would be like to be in a courtroom. The school’s law club will use the room and a system will be set up where students can challenge a punishment received from a teacher.
William Cullen Bryant High School held “Impact Day,” when 20 employees from the international accounting and consulting firm of Deloitte met with students at a series of career panels and work readiness activities. For 16 years, Deloitte has been taking part in similar “Impact Days.” City Councilman Costa Constantinides (D-Astoria) took part in the panel on community service.
Grover Cleveland High School students in the school’s Academy of Information technology received assistance from a computer technology company called Lenovo to start an app development workshop under teacher Andrew Woodbridge. They developed six mobile apps relating to Forest Park: Who’s buried near Forest Park, Forest Park Birding, Ricky’s Forest Park Adventure, A Tour of Forest Highland Park, Reservoir Racing, Sports Navigation and Forest Park Attractions. Schools Chancellor Farina and City Councilwoman Elizabeth Crowley (D-Ridgewood) took part in the event showing off the apps.
Anthony Mason, the late great Knicks forward, was honored when 147th Street at Rockaway Boulevard was re-named as “Anthony Mason Way.” Mason was a graduate of Springfield Gardens High School and helped lead the team to the 1983 PSAL Boys’ Basketball Title. He is remembered for returning to the neighborhood for youth outreach activities during and after his pro career and for his dedication to shooting hoops all the time to improve his skills.
