HIGH SCHOOL OF AMERICAN STUDIES



HIGH SCHOOL of AMERICAN STUDIES

at LEHMAN COLLEGE

August 22, 2016

Dear Students and Parents:

I hope you have had a wonderful vacation! Although summer is not yet over (thank goodness), I am writing to provide you with important information regarding the start of school.

Students will report at 8:00 AM on Thursday, September 8. We will have a full day of classes, ending at 2:50 PM. As usual, during the first few days of school, each student will receive his or her program, a locker assignment along with a school combination lock, an academic planner in order to record important assignments and dates, a transportation pass and lunch tickets (if eligible), and textbooks for each course. Juniors and seniors who will be taking a course at Lehman College have received a phone call about when and where to report. Please note that most college classes begin on Thursday, August 25, or Monday, August 29. Our College Now class, Psychology 166, begins on September 8.

Enclosed with this letter is our tentative calendar for 2016-2017. Please check our website frequently for updates, as dates may change throughout the year. Our first event for parents will take place on the evening of Tuesday, September 20. Starting at 5:00 PM, we will once again have Curriculum Night. The purpose of this event is to provide you with general curricular information about the courses your child is taking. You will be able to follow an abbreviated version of your child’s program and hear from each teacher about his or her academic expectations. Following Curriculum Night, at 7:00 PM, the PTA will have its first meeting of the year. We will e-mail you details about both events as the date approaches.

In most ways, things will remain the same in our hallowed hallway this coming year. There are, however, a few changes in personnel about which I wish to inform you.

Ms. Emily Gorman has taken a job at a private school. We thank her for her years of service at HSAS. I am happy to announce that Mr. Xiaowu (Curtis) Xia will join our faculty this year as a mathematics teacher. Mr. Xia is a graduate of Polytechnic University, and he earned his master’s degree at New York University. Since 2006, he has taught at the Manhattan Center for Science and Mathematics. Mr. Xia was interviewed and selected by a panel of teachers, parents, and students. It is a pleasure to welcome him to our school.

I would like to take a moment to thank one of our school’s unsung heroes, Ms. Tani Cope, who retired in June. Ms. Cope, who worked in our main office, improved life at our school in both small and big ways. For example, she directed your calls on the phone, supervised our office aides, managed our payroll, and designed the invitations to our annual prom. Though we will miss Ms. Cope dearly, I am happy that we have found a highly qualified replacement, Ms. Sandra Magneri, an experienced school secretary from the Westchester Square Academy. Once the year begins, please feel free to stop by the office to say hello.

Two of our teachers will be on maternity leave. Ms. Rajani Kumaraswamy gave birth to a son over the summer. She will rejoin our faculty after Thanksgiving, and we are currently seeking a substitute teacher to fill in for her. Ms. Rosanmi Campbell’s baby is due in late September; Ms. Campbell will start the year with us and will then be on leave until June. Ms. Elva Brandt, who has taught Spanish and Italian at Lehman High School since 1996, will temporarily join our Spanish Department as a replacement. I feel certain that Ms. Kumaraswamy’s son and Ms. Campbell’s daughter will be future members of the HSAS Class of 2034.

Apart from this, life in our little shed will go on as usual. Mr. Mansdorf remains devoted to Churchill, Ms. Taylor still loves her iPad, and Mr. Elinson will once again teach freshmen how to take notes. Ms. Harris and Ms. Raimo will keep us centered, Mr. Olivieri will wear his lederhosen during Foreign Language Week, and I will be at the door to greet you each morning.

Until September 8, try not to miss us too much! Feel free to call us with any questions you might have, but please note that Ms. Fiore, Ms. Harris, Ms. Raimo, and all of our teachers and staff will be on vacation until the start of school. I will return to work on August 29, but poor Mr. Olivieri is already back.

I look forward to seeing each of you soon!

With kindest regards,

Alessandro Weiss

Principal

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2925 Goulden Avenue

Bronx, New York 10468

Alessandro Weiss Tel.: (718) 329-2144

Principal Fax: (718) 329-0792

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