YEAR IN REVIEW 2008-2009:

1. Gym upgrade

• Lighting upgrade added
• Securing fiber-glass backboards
• Adding an electronic scoreboard

2. Moving the front entrance to its original egress

3. Secured a donation of furniture from Kensington Publishing Company
   which was used to:
• Updated the front lobby/reception area
• Updated the teacher’s lounge area
• Updated the main office area
• Updated classrooms with new bookcases, desks, chairs, etc.

4. Created a new principal’s conference room to facilitate Professional
   Development and additional meeting space.

5. Replaced and install a new automated phone system with voicemail
   capabilities.

6. Started a mural project to update the look of the hallways on the
   1st, 2nd, and 3rd floors.

7. Implemented the first annual open house for our political
   representatives to showcase our performing arts department.

8. Purchased and implemented the LED Display units for the exterior
   and interior of the school to improve communication with all
   stakeholders and to eliminate constant interruptions during the
   course of the school day.

9. Secured a partnership with New Pathways d.b.a. Interborough
   Mental Health Facilities to offer our SBST and Guidance Counselors
   additional in-house support in meeting the needs of our students.

10. Secured additional funds from our political representatives:

• Borough President Marty Markowitz – 100,000 Capital Improvement funds
• Councilman Kendall Stewart – 400,000 Capital Improvement funds
• Assemblywoman Helene Weinstein – 50,000 Performing Arts funds
• Assemblyman Nick Perry – 9,500 – Performing Arts funds

11. Awarded capital improvement projects to commence 2009-2010:

• Video Surveillance Camera system with a custom designed
  center console unit.
• Boiler and climate control upgrades
• Auditorium upgrade which will include new seats, lighting, and
  media components
• Upgrade of the support services in the cafeteria by the installation
  of a new POS system with kiosk capabilities for all students.

12. Restructured the school to address the recommendations from
    the Quality Review 2008-2009:

• Created 3 small learning communities
• Implemented an advisory model
• Implemented the D.A.R.E. program (sustained silent reading model)
• Transitioned to a multi-session school schedule
• Implemented daily common planning time for teachers
• Increased the instructional day to 6 hours and 50 minutes to
  maximize instructional time for students
• Created breakout classes to increase the amount of elective courses
  to offer our students
• Initiated a new dress code for each small learning community
• Created and implemented a new centralized support system to
  alleviate the Assistant Principals from all administrative duties, therefore
  increasing their time for professional development and instructional
  supervision by over 50%.

13.   Met and exceeded academic goals and expectations

• Increased the overall score from last year by 9.1 points. (54.5 to 63.6)
• Improved in 4 of the 5 categories on the progress report.
• Eliminated ELA level 1 students school wide.
• Reduced Math level 1 students school wide to 4%.
• Achieved the greatest increase on the ELA standardized exam. (11%)
• Achieved a significant increase on the Math standardized exam. (7%)

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