FROM THE DESK OF DR. EDWARD MELNICK, NORTH SHORE SCHOOL DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT

Received on October 6, 2014

Dear Parents, Residents, and Colleagues,

As I reflect upon the last few weeks, (actually the last decade), I feel a need to offer my thanks and gratitude for all of your hard work and efforts on behalf of our students and the entire North Shore Schools community.

Having four of our five schools designated as New York State Reward Schools, our High School ranked near the top in the Nation by the Daily Beast, fourteen of our students recognized by the National Merit Corporation, and most recently Glenwood Landing being recognized by the US Department of Education as a Blue Ribbon School, reinforces and validates the message I have been sharing about our schools being among the best in the Nation. However, these outside accolades, although nice, do not nearly paint the picture of the amazing things occurring here at North Shore.

Our commitment to engaging our students in the intellectual and cultural diversity of today’s world as we inspire them to envision, shape and create the world of their future is evident in so many ways that go beyond the recognition we have received. 

Although certainly not an exhaustive list, some of the example of ways we encourage students to develop into creative, entrepreneurial and critical thinkers include:

• The completion of the Victorian Communications Center to serve as our media/broadcasting center.
• Our implementation of the International Baccalaureate Program, and the impact this process is having on all courses for all students in the High School.
• The design and construction of our 9/11 memorial.
• Our Independent projects in Art/Music program.
• Supporting and deepening learning for all students through the ongoing implementation of our 1:1 iPad Program.
• The completion and use of outdoor classrooms in many of our buildings.
• Implementation of the TC Workshop Model in grades K-8.
• Comprehensive involvement in developing a K-12 articulated body of performance-based assessments.
• Commitment to the development of interdisciplinary units of study
• The implementation of Mandarin and Spanish study at the elementary level.
• Strong and comprehensive academic, arts, athletics and extra-curricular activities.
• An environment which supports knowing students well and truly caring about each individual as a full and complete human beings.

None of the outside recognition or wonderful opportunities we are providing would be possible without the dedication, commitment, intelligence and hard work of an incredibly dedicated faculty and staff. I am so proud of each and every one of you!

One could easily ask, “Where do we go from here, after all we have accomplished?” “Why can’t we just maintain what we have?” The answer is one that is easily ascertained by exploring the culture of the North Shore Schools. We cannot simply maintain what we have, because at our very core, we are and have been about continuous growth and improvement in order to provide our students with the very best.

Let’s take some time to celebrate our accomplishments, as we move ahead with our efforts to focus on the shared-valued outcomes that we have articulated. None of what we have accomplished has occurred overnight. Our excellence is the result of a decade or more of our collaborative thinking, our hard work and our belief that each and every student can learn.

With my sincere gratitude, appreciation and pride,

Sincerely,

Edward K. Melnick
Superintendent of Schools


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