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VSTA e-Newsletter
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VSTA Social a Huge Success!
VSTA President
Patrick Naglieri
VP June Innella
VP Richard Adams
VP Joe Mangini
Secretary - Treasurer
Ron Rini
INSIDE
ISSUE:
THIS
Editorial
2
Book review
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Social photos 4
Retirees
5
NYSUT
6
On October 17th, VSTA members from each elementary and high
school building came together on Kasey’s Rooftop 32 in Rockville
Centre to share an unseasonably warm Friday afternoon. The VSTA
Social’s new venue lured over 250 members, many of which stayed
beyond the 4-7 timeframe to keep the celebration going! Not only
was the setting refreshing and new, but this year there was the added
bonus of the raffle of a flat screen TV. Members gathered around
with their raffle tickets hoping to being the recipient of such a great
prize, but only one could win. Dolly Ging of District 30 was the lucky
winner! Congratulations to Dolly!
Alongside passed hors d’oeuvres the members were also treated to
a live musical performance. Ginger Calderaro, South High School
English teacher, co-unit leader, and VSTA e-Newsletter editor’s cover
band, T Minus Ten, kept the crowd singing and dancing throughout
the party to a mix of oldies and Top 40 hits. President, Pat Naglieri,
was very happy with the overall success of the social and thrilled to
see so many old and new faces in the crowd. If you didn’t make it
down to the social, be sure to make the next VSTA event as a great
time was truly had by all!
See page 4 for more VSTA Social photos
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Valley Stream Teachers’ Association
Valley Stream, New York - Local 1633
www.vsteachers.org
Patrick Naglieri
President
June Innella
Richard Adams
Vice President - Communication
Vice President - Membership
Joseph Mangini
Vice President—Operations
Ronald Rini
Secretary/Treasurer
Ginger Calderaro
E-Newsletter Editor
Welcome to Cuomo’s New, New York
By Guest Editorialist Dan Creegan of South HS
I mourn for New York as a state, as many of us have fought, but lost, a great battle this past election day. Behold, Gov. Cuomo’s “New, New York”: a state of distress. A state in which government corruption is not only rampant, but funded by
its governor. A state in which taxes have risen and will continue to rise due to
unfunded mandates placed on public schools and a governor who uses tax monies
for personal gain. A state in which college graduates can’t find a job and can’t no
longer afford to stay. A state in which retired individuals are forced to leave the
homes they spent their entire lives building, because they too, can’t afford to stay.
A state in which public schools are considered a “monopoly”. A state in which
children are treated a lab rats and are only taught to take tests. A state in which
children are held to unreasonable standards developed by people who know very
little about teaching and learning. A state in which teachers are punished for
those same students not meeting those standards. A state in which public schools
may soon be replaced by charter schools run by multi-million dollar corporations
such as Google, Microsoft, and Pearson who merely see children as dollar signs. A
state where your freedom, views, and beliefs are safe, so long as they are in line
with Andrew Cuomo’s Welcome to Gov. Cuomo’s “New, New York”.
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Review:
When Apples aren’t Enough
Tania Mouscardy-Johnson’s 2014 book, When Apples aren’t Enough, fights
back against the many changes implemented in education over the past two decades. Shrouded as a children’s book, Mouscardy-Johnson tells the story of Miss
McCarthy, a teacher who is about to retire from her long journey as an educator
as a result of the closing of her school. While she could possibly continue working
as a sub in another building, Miss McCarthy sees the “writing on the wall” and
believes that although she loves and had been enriched by her career, it is the time
to step out of her role as teacher. Through the clever farewell visit from a former
student, Chris, Miss McCarthy is able to “school” him about the hits education
has taken from policies like No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top. Naturally,
Chris is outraged and shocked, admitting that he never realized the impact these
policies and other mandates were having on education.
As a past NYSUT local representative, educational consultant for NYSED
and the NYS Regents’ Common Core Review Initiative, Ms. Mouscardy-Johnson
sees the importance of the role of unions and solidarity in this very anti-teacher
climate in America. Tania Mouscardy-Johnson’s book is powerful in its message
to teachers and students everywhere. Luckily, the author remains positive in her
hopes that American public education will continue to “meet the needs of America’s children”.
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E-NEWSLETTER
Photos courtesy of Karen Wallace
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Retiree Notes
Signed sealed and
delivered with a little
personal message to
TIME magazine
publishers:
How insulting to the majority—those dedicated,
compassionate instructors who devote their
lives to the education of
America’s children. Many
of our students come to
school from dysfunctional families, poverty,
and terrible economic
situations. The responsibility of raising and nurturing these children has
become the work of
school districts throughout our nation. To post a
cover that criticizes a
minority of teachers
puts such a negative
shadow over the entire
profession...a depressing,
misleading message for
all of society to see.
Teaching for 40 years in
a public school has been
the most rewarding experience of my life...I do
not appreciate such a
slap in the face by TIME
magazine.
-Mr. Pasquale Alessi
(retired science
teacher—40 years experience)
(Nassau Community College—Adjunct Professor)
“Hi All—Hope everyone
has a good year and will
have happy holidays.”
“We wish our fellow
educators a successful
happy school year.”
-Dr. Robert & Ruth
Riemer District 24
“Hi all—Enjoyed a 90th
birthday party. Regards to
all.”
- Allen Stillman
“Everything good here—
just returned from a river
cruise down the Rhine.
Best Regards!”
-Mary Lou Hart
VSCHSD
“Hello to all!”
“I am loving retirement. I
volunteer at a public
school during the spring
semester listening to first
graders read.”
-Toni Rea VSCHSD
-Mary Blackwell
-Anne Bond MJHS
District 13
“Hi—Congrats on the
contract. Wishing you the
best always.”
-Nancy & Vic
“Wishing everyone a successful school year and an
easy winter.”
Rumore VSCHSD
Esther Levine NHS
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VSTA
E-NEWSLETTER