Craig Happenings Archives - Page 3 of 3

The Craig High School 11th grade traveled to the Lower East Side Tenement Museum (www.tenement.org) , where they viewed and learned about the lives of immigrants in the late 19th & early 20th Centuries. This is part of our curriculum, a unit on the Industrial Revolution of the late 1800’s, Immigration & Urbanization from 1870-1910 and the Progressive Era. Following the museum tour, lunch at one of the great landmarks of the Lower East Side - Katz Delicatessen, giving the kids a chance to have the best pastrami in New York!!

Craig Saturday Morning Basketball is a co-ed instructional fun league for all elementary/middle school grade levels. Brothers and sisters welcome to join. Players will be drafted on a team, receive team shirts, and play 3 to 4 games each week. It will run for four Saturday’s starting at the end of February. Here is what you need to know:

Where: Reeth-Furlong Gym, Mt. Lakes

Time: 9:00am to 11:00am

Saturday Dates:

February 22nd
February 29th
March 7^th
March 21^st

Cost: $30.00 per player

Download the registration form and bring registration fee to school.
Please make checks payable to The Craig School. If there are any questions please contact Mr. Furlong at NFurlong@craigschool.org or at

973-334-4375

Steven Rodriguez, CHS Class of 2017

Enrolled at Mitchell College, New London, CT

Current Major, Human Development

Mitchell College Cross Country Team

Inducted into the Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society (international honor society for students with disabilities)

Camille Incao, CHS Class of 2017

Graduated Christine Valmy International School of Esthetics and Cosmetology

Majored in Cosmetology

Attended CCM Major Fine Arts

Currently Apprenticing at Anthony Garubo Salon in Maplewood

Ryan Coates, CHS Class of 2017

Attending Mitchell College

Majoring in Communications

Secretary of the Mitchell Competitive Gaming Club (largest club on campus). Also, member of Mitchell Film Club

Member of the National Society of Leadership and Success

Cameron Maresca, CHS Class of 2017

Lesley University, Cambridge MA (Threshold Program)

Studying Business and Food Services

Internship at local restaurants which has turned into a paying job

Member of Circle of Friends Club

Mihir Jacinto, CHS Class of 2018

Attending Pace University, NYC

Majoring Information technology

Member of the Pace Computing Society (serves as club secretary)

Volunteers as a Pace U Mentor for college freshmen and helps them adjust to college life.

Completed a Summer Internship with JP Morgan and Chase

Mark Zarnick, CHS Class of 2019

Attending CCM (Community College of Morris)

Majoring in Psychology

Currently working part-time at the YMCA as a swim instructor

The Science Department hosted the second annual Gingerbread STEM Day for the students as they headed home for their holiday break.

Grades 2-5 had a STEM day revolving around Gingerbread Friends, by Jan Brett. Dr. Gross, parent of fifth grader Max Gross, read the story to the students, everyone planned and built their gingerbread house, and made a gingerbread Badger friend craft.

Grades 6-8 worked in teams of 2-3 students to plan and build a 2-story gingerbread house with a theme. Some of the highlights were The Colorful Seaside Castle by Leo Carbonell and Rebecca Tillman, The North Pole by Sabina Colangelo, Jack Hogan, and Peter Olinto, and Santa’s Ski Lodge by Emerson Arnold, Gabby Danzi, and Brynne Michaelson.

All students enjoyed hot cocoa and donuts provided by PACS. Thank you to our parent volunteers and to Mrs. Gross for planning the delicious treats!
Thank you to an amazing staff for guiding the students through the days’ activities!

How long were you at The Craig School?
Two years --for 7th (2007-08) and 8th grade (2008-09

Tell us in your words why your time spent at The Craig School was so beneficial to
You?

Prior to enrolling in The Craig School, I was a sixth grade student reading on a second grade level. Aside from myself, the only person that was disturbed by this was my mother. The educators and evaluators I had been exposed to felt less work was best in an attempt to reduce my frustration caused by not being able to independently complete my work assignments. Despite a medical diagnosis of dyslexia, my needs were not met and there was not a clear plan.

At The Craig School, there were not excuses made and modifications to assignments. I didn’t need to pretend to understand assignments nor did I need to overcompensate for my disability. The teachers understood my needs and were able to teach to my needs by being flexible with their curriculum.

It is important to understand, the teachers at The Craig school did not “fix” me. I am and will always be dyslexic. However, they were able to teach to my needs and show me how the appropriate compensations would become beneficial to my education.

Can you give us a brief history of your schooling after you left Craig?

After graduating 8th grade, I reentered the public school system as a high school student. I was classified as I had been since 2nd grade, however I was able to advocate for myself and I took an active role in developing an IEP that suited my needs. I knew what worked and what didn't work. Of greatest importance, I had confidence in myself and my abilities

Mountain Lakes High School class of 2013

Integrated back into public high school, successfully completing honors and AP courses and a graduating member of the national honor society.

Marist College class of 2017

Majored in education with a focus on special education, graduating with a Bachelor of Science Undergraduate Degree, CumLaude

Currently enrolled in the Educational Psychology Masters Program at Marist College and will finish and graduate May of 2018

Describe a skill that you learned at Craig?

Self advocacy

Assistive technology

Decoding skills

Self confidence

The realization I was as smart and in many cases smarter than the average student that was my peer.

What advice would you give our inquiring parents about why a school like Craig can help their student?

Seriously worth looking into. Small class size, well trained educators and customized curriculum

Offers an opportunity to educate to the specific needs of the child.

How do you feel about your current time at Craig now that you are working and helping students that were in your position?

I have a unique understanding because I had been there. I have walked in the shoes of the student that feels useless and frustrated. I have been the student that no one understood.

Now I am in a position to make a difference in that struggling student’s life.