English ‘Bullet’in

Department Highlights and Happenings

• The 2005-06 academic year was filled with accomplishments and growth for Roslyn High School’s ninth grade English students. Our newly revised curriculum was successfully initiated. The Secret Life of Bees and The Color of Water are two contemporary novels that were introduced and welcomed into the curriculum. Likewise, the grammar component of our curriculum was revised to ensure adequate preparation for all standardized exams and preparation for college writing. In the spring, a number of our students enthusiastically participated in our annual Shakespeare Festival. Several students performed scenes from Macbeth and Romeo & Juliet, and the entire 9^th grade attended the event. Governor George E. Pataki hosted New York State's Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Awards where he presented one of our students with this prestigious honor. We look forward to a successful 2006-2007 school year.

• Tenth grade World Literature teachers are developing a new curriculum that seeks to incorporate a wider range of multicultural authors in order to broaden the students’ reading experience. In class, students will be asked to read, write, analyze, and critique all works in an open academic forum which allows them to develop original work that explores their individual cultural backgrounds. This enables students to learn about previously unfamiliar ethnic practices, beliefs, and history while developing skills in critical thinking and analytical writing.

• Last May, eleventh grade English students traveled in the footsteps of 20^th century immigrants to New York City. The Big Onion Tour Group led the students through the same neighborhoods as featured in E.L Doctorow’s Ragtime a novel studied in American Literature Honors classes. Students enjoyed a walking tour through the many layers of the multi-ethnic Lower East Side. Stops included: The "Tweed" Courthouse, Five Points, the African Burial Ground, and sites associated with Dr. Sun Yat Sen, Jacob Riis, Abraham Cahan, Pierre Toussaint, Emma Goldman, and many others. This year we hope to guide all 11^th grade students through the Gold Coast of Long Island as part of their study of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Students will begin their tour right in Roslyn with an examination of what once was Harbor Hill. Sands Point, Westbury Gardens, Coe Hall, The Frick Estate, and Oheka Castle are other anticipated destinations.

• The twelfth grade teachers had continued success with programs such as “Writers on Writing” sessions, Philosophy Fridays, and the year-end Honors Thesis project. Among the new works to be added to the curriculum this year are Enemy of the People (Regents), The Liar’s Club (Analysis) and Fences (AP). The Seminar in Issues and Literature (PigLit) expanded to two full sections, and its success has led to the implementation of the interdisciplinary/seminar style approach in the American Civilization class for juniors. AP Masterpieces has also expanded from three to four sections this year.

• Three Roslyn English students were recognized at the North Shore Young Authors Conference for their outstanding pieces in the Poetry, Short Story and Journalism categories.

• On May 18, 2006, the English department sponsored the annual Shakespeare Festival. Roslyn High School students traveled back to the Elizabethan era to celebrate William Shakespeare’s birthday and experience life in the 17^th century. The courtyard was decorated with period inspired art and sculpture provided by the Art department. Students were treated to Elizabethan dancing and the orchestra’s performances of Elizabethan music. They also watched fencing demonstrations, played popular 17^th century games, had their fortunes read, and learned about the inner workings of The Globe Theater. The highlights of the day were the Shakespearean scenes that were staged by students and members of the English faculty. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful afternoon and delicious snacks provided by the Life Skills program.

• Student Prints, the literary magazine of Roslyn High School, has had a busy spring and is now gearing up for an equally busy autumn. The 32-page book consists of the very best poetry, prose, and artwork that our students have to offer. New members are welcome.

• Lyric ‘N’ Latte, a biannual coffeehouse event, features poetry readings and musical performances by students and English faculty members. What began as an informal get together of Student Prints club members on a pair of Friday evenings has blossomed into a hotly anticipated, standing-room-only event that highlights the creative power and abilities of our students. The next Lyric ‘N’ Latte is scheduled for Friday, December 15 in the English Study Center.

• Creative Writing students had a very productive year with more than half of the students having pieces accepted for publication by TeenInk.com, Creative Communications, and Student Prints.

• The Film program has grown to include six classes with almost 150 students for the coming academic year. In addition, Lecture Hall A has been reclaimed as a media center for the program. The Roslyn Film Society will be holding its first student film festival open to parents and the community in the fall of 2006. One of our students won first prize at the Locust Valley Student Film Festival for the short documentary film Katehomena (Homeland).

• English Independent Study & Writing program encourages students to pursue their own academic interests in the humanities and provides them with a forum for their investigative expository essays and creative writing. Last year our students were published in The Concord Review, Teen Ink, Creative Communication, and Merlyn’s Pen. This year promises to be just as successful with students currently working on such topics as Christian Fundamentalism in America, The Warsaw Ghetto, Islam & War on Terror, A Critical Analysis of Hawthorne’s Short Stories, Bipolar Disorder and the Artist, The Philosophy of Plato and Nietzsche, and The Requiems of Verdi and Mozart, just to name a few. An original student screen play and novel are also in the works.

• Three English teachers coached the high school forensics team through a highly successful year. The forensics congress team took first place in the State Championships held in Albany and sent two students to the National Tournament in Chicago. Four speech students qualified for the state tournament and six speech students made it to the final round of the National Qualifying Tournament.

As you can see, the English department has worked hard to enrich the lives of Roslyn’s students.

We are looking forward to an even more successful 2006-2007 school year!!!