Riverhead school board honors retiring longtime employees

Befitting the Holiday Season, Tuesday night’s Board of Education meeting served as an evening of reflection on the many positive programs and events that have taken place in recent months within the school district. The evening featured presentations by students, community advocates, educators and administration as well as recognizing the nine employees who are scheduled to retire during the first half of the 2015-2016 school year in the last board meeting of the calendar year.

Retirees Recognized
Nine long-time employees were recognized at last night’s Board of Education meeting for their years of service to the district.

Andrzej Aleksandrowicz will retire on Jan. 4 after 30 years of employment. Aleksandrowicz, a school custodial supervisor in Riverhead High School, was recognized as a conscientious and knowledgeable employee who works with diligence, hard work and a cooperative attitude serving as a good example for his custodial workers.

Mary Mack a clerk typist at Aquebogue Elementary will retire on Jan. 29 after 28 years of service to the district. Mack was recognized for her pleasant, caring attitude who is professional and willing to take on new tasks. Mack is considered to be a team player who can be counted on to assist her coworkers and help get things done.

Anne Marcotrigiano was recognized for dedicated and exceptional service after 23 years of service to the district. Marcotrigiano is considered to be a nurturing, consistent and caring special education aide who put the needs of her student first. She is described as incredibly professional and communicates well with the classroom teacher, service providers and administration. Marcotrigiano will retire on Dec. 31.

Maryann Soika, will retire on Dec. 30 after 24 years of service to the district. Soika, a computer lab assistant at Riley Avenue School, is described an extremely dedicated employee who went above and beyond the call of duty with both students and staff. She was known for starting a morning program for fourth graders as well as creating schedules, flyers and programs for special events in the school.

John Weber, a school bus driver, will retire on Jan. 29 after 18 years of service to the school district. Weber was noted for transporting students in a highly professional manner with the safety of students being a primary concern. Weber is described as a respectful and dependable employee who has developed positive relationships with his coworkers.

Michele Bartalits, a senior clerk typist in the High School was recognized for her 30 years of service to the district. Bartalits was known for being an employee who has demonstrated outstanding performance, professionalism and producing work of exceptional quality. Described as efficient, extremely organized and answering the call of duty well beyond her job responsibilities. Bartalits will retire on Jan. 4 of next year.

Donna Widmann, a school bus monitor retired on November 30 after completing 19 years of service to the district. Widmann was considered to be a pleasure to work with who has shown a professional and caring manner. She was described as an employee who goes above and beyond to meet the needs of her students on a daily basis and has shown genuine care and concern for the safety of the children. The district stated that Widmann established positive, open relationships with coworkers, parents and students, continusouly demonstrating professionalism and respect throughout her career.

Suzanne Norbury, a special education aide who was known as a compassionate and caring person who put the needs of her students first, retired on August 11 after 13 years of service. Norbury was described as having demonstrated tremendous care and concern for her students, having developed an excellent rapport with students and being a team player who could be counted on to assist when needed. Norbury was considered to be diligent with her work, trustworthy and reliable.

Aleksandrowicz, Mack, Marcotrigiano, Soika and Weber were in attendance last night and were presented with plaques and thanked for their years of service by the district administration and the Board of Education.

Celebration of Learning
Students and administration from Phillips Avenue School district gave a presentation to the Board of Education at last night’s meeting on a school-wide celebration of learning. Students described sharing a love of learning and literature with fellow students across grade levels through research, reading, and book clubs. More information about the achievements of these students can be found on the school’s Twitter account.

Ride for Life
Chris Pendergast, founder of ALS Ride for Life, spoke at the board meeting last night with the help of a communication device controlled by movements of his eyes. Pendergast spoke about this year’s Ride for Life which took him through the Phillips Avenue School where fundraising efforts by the assistant principal, Alison Conroy “raised the incredible sum of $2,000, distinguishing themselves among the highest-performing schools in the entire metropolitan area,” Pendergast said.

“With deepest gratitude, it is my honor and privilege to present Phillips Avenue School with the silver banner, our second highest recognition. May it be proudly displayed for everyone to see and know you are accomplished.”

Too Good for Violence
Louise Wilkinson, on behalf of Alternatives Counseling Services, described a school-based violence prevention program which was shared with the students at Riley Avenue School. The program is designed to help students learn how to deal with frustrating and difficult situations without violence.

Wilkinson presented Riley Avenue principal David Enos with a plaque recognizing the school’s completion of the anti-violence program. Enos thanked Wilkinson and Alternative Counseling Services for the program, noting that there has been a “measurable change that has taken place.”

Watch meeting video here.