PUTTING FINISHING TOUCHES ON THE NORTH SHORE SCHOOLS VICTORIAN TV & RECORDING STUDIO 

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by Shelly Newman, North Shore Schools Public Relations Director

August 11, 2014 – This summer, dedicated North Shore students and alumni participating in the LI Studies (LIS) Program under the direction of Technology teacher Bruce Fichtman worked very hard to put the finishing touches on the TV and Recording Studio. This beautiful Victorian structure located at the front entrance of the North Shore High School campus will provide an exciting interdisciplinary experience in multimedia for students now and in the future.    

Mr. Fichtman said, “In class, we studied characteristics of Carpenter Gothic style Victorians, which have been passionately captured and replicated throughout the building by student builders over the last few years.” He added, “With a looming deadline of a September opening of the Victorian Studio, my students worked diligently this summer putting in eight hour work days, five days a week. They took great pride in their work and their craftsmanship is quite evident in all the fine detail work that adorns the studio inside and out.”

The students who worked on the Victorian Studio this summer included Eric Borchert, A.J. Cavaliere, Joe Dromm, Kevin Henneberger, John Hickey, Andrew Poddoubnyi, and Emmanuel Varveris. Along with Mr. Fichtman and local members of the community, they successfully completed the following tasks:
  • Installation of all wainscoting with continuous wrap around sill and crown moldings
  • Installation of all fluted window moldings and decorative rosette
  • Installation of all baseboard molding and wall
  • Construction of exterior staircase leading to the front door
  • Installation of all final electrical receptacles, switches and light fixtures
  • Installation of bathroom fixtures, mop sink and water cooler
  • Installation of maple hardwood flooring, floor tile
  • Installation of alarm system sensors and control panel
  • Construction of plastic laminate countertops

The tremendous undertaking of building the Victorian TV and Recording Studio began in 2008. It is a collaboration among volunteer community members and the students in the LI Studies (LIS) Program, just one of five interdisciplinary humanities courses offered to seniors at North Shore High School. This summer local electrician, John Wierzbicki, of JRW Electric assisted the students with the installation of all final electrical fixtures. Glenn Bunce and his sons John and Brian (North Shore graduates and former Long Island Studies Students) assisted with the installation of all plumbing fixtures. Additionally, Gaspare Saracino of Saracino Construction donated the cement walkways leading to the exterior entrances of the Victorian Studio. Mr. Fichtman stated, “My students and I were so lucky and thankful to have the opportunity to work alongside local community members who are masters of their trade. They acted as both mentors and teachers and provided each of my students with unique learning experiences that cannot be found in any standard textbook.

The Victorian Studio is the first building at the North Shore School District that will be heated and cooled using geothermal energy. In addition, several other school districts have visited North Shore to observe our senior programs which have been recognized as Programs of Excellence by the New York State Council of Teachers of English.

Mr. Fichtman concluded by saying, “I cannot thank the members of the Viking Foundation enough for providing the vision, funding, and opportunity for North Shore students over the past seven years to construct the Victorian Communications Studio.  All aspects of this project ranging from the initial design and planning to the installation of the final piece of molding have provided hundreds of students with a valuable learning experience that will stay with them for the rest of their lives."

On September 18, 2014, the Viking Foundation along with the Board of Education, administrators, faculty, students, and community members of the North Shore Schools will celebrate the opening of the Victorian TV and Recording Studio from 6.30 PM – 8:30 PM.