12/18/12 Byram Has Got Heart: New Lebanon School Sends Sandy Aid To Queens Chiildren

PHOTO: New Lebanon School Principal Barbara Rucci listens as second-grader Lucas Del Pezo, 7, speaks Tuesday, Dec. 18, 2012, at the school about Hurricane Sandy and how it motivated the school to help a hard-hit school in Rockaway, Queens, N.Y. New Lebanon School welcomed the principal and some staff from PS 104 in Rockaway Queens, N.Y., to whom they gave gifts, gift cards, school items like T-shirts for students and staff.

Students and staff at a Far Rockaway, Queens, N.Y., school still struggling with the effects of Superstorm Sandy received a boost from Byram Students.

In a 2 p.m. ceremony in the New Lebanon School gym, two staff members from Public School 104 were given gifts, books and gift cards donated by the Byram school's students, parents and staff.

Deirdre McShane, P.S. 104's assistant principal, and Mary Bermudez, a teacher at the Queens school, were thankful. "It's been an overwhelming response that people want to help," Bermudez said. "We have been adopted by six schools from around the country, and New Lebanon was the first one."

The link between the schools is through a New Lebanon parent, Clare Kilgallen, whose cousin is Katie Grady, P.S. 104's principal.

New Lebanon PTA President Michael Bocchino said the school decided to concentrate on items such as gift cards that the P.S. 104 families and staff could use to purchase what they need. The school also donated $500 worth of books, along with gifts and items for three hard-hit families.

The school wasn't flooded as other were, but did have an outdoor play area was damaged by a downed tree. It was without power for two weeks, however, and about 75 of its 650 students had to move to other schools because their homes were too badly damaged, McShane said.

McShane and Bermudez toured New Lebanon School before the assembly.

Bermudez said everyone at the school survived, but some students and their families had to swim out of their homes when the storm hit.

Bermudez and McShane promised they would return to update New Lebanon School on their progress.

Greenwich Board Of Education Board Member Peter Sherot Not Sure Theme School Would Address Racial Imbalance In Byram Schools

QUOTE: Peter Sherr Says: "This whole subject tore open the board before, badly, It tore open the community before. I was so disappointed because I was interested in the comment that it helps kids perform better. I got this long report that was like a sales job on IB again."

The district needs to take a closer look at its current magnet programs before launching another themed school as a way to address racial imbalance, the Board of Education has concluded.

The school board recently decided to explore creating a science, technology, engineering and math program to help racially balance Hamilton Avenue School and New Lebanon school.

During an evening work session, the board discussed the district's magnet programs and how the success of the International Baccalaureate program at the International School at Dundee could be replicated to affect the racial imbalances.

During the discussion, Superintendent of Schools William McKersie presented an overview of the IB magnet programs at the International School at Dundee, New Lebanon School and Western Middle School, as well as student achievement data for ISD.

Board member Peter Sherr took issue with McKersie's presentation of data about ISD students, which included high scores on standardized tests. Sherr noted that ISD students still don't perform as well on tests as students at Old Greenwich, Riverside and North Mianus schools, and said the data doesn't show that the IB method helps students more than teaching methods at the town's other high-performing schools.

"This whole subject tore open the board before, badly," Sherr said, referring to last year's debate about expanding IB to Western Middle School. "It tore open the community before. I was so disappointed because I was interested in the comment that (IB) helps kids perform better. I got this long report that was like a sales job on IB again."

02/23/12 Spaghetti Dinner At New Lebanon School In Byram

The New Lebanon School PTA will host its annual Spaghetti Dinner tomorrow, March 24, from 5 to 8 p.m., at New Lebanon School, 25 Mead Ave.

The evening will include a Pick-a-Prize drawing, two silent auctions and food from Burning Tree Country Club Chef and New Lebanon parent Michael Aguilar.

Cost is $12 adults, $5 children (ages 4-12) and seniors.

Limited seating.

First come, first served.

06/10/10 The Raw Byram News Feed:

The Latest News About Byram

Local elementary schoolers graduate from program Greenwich Time Michelle Garay, 9, a 4th grader at New Lebanon School, Byram, smiles as she receives her medal for ...

Byram In The Blogosphere:

Rye Police Blotter: Ditched Date Robbed and More | Sound Shore By Leslie Korngold Old Rye Beach Avenue: A Connecticut man on his first date with a 19-year-old Byram, Conn., woman, pushed her and took her cell phone and wallet and left her on Old Rye Beach Avenue at 12:48 a.m. Saturday after they had left a party in ... Sound Shore - http://soundshore.lohudblogs.com/

---

Please send your comments, news tips and press releases to ByramRoundup@gmail.com