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78 The Queens Courier• BUZZ • november 3, 2016 FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com Great Neck Plaza BID Announces Great Neck Plaza’s Fall 2016 Restaurant Week Sunday, November 6 to Sunday, November 13 HOPPING HOPPING LOCAL SMART Is $27.95 Prix Fixe Village of Restaurant Week ShopGreatNeck.com for restaurants and Restaurant Week menus. ST. FRANCIS PREP RECEIVES SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR MUSIC, ART, AND GUIDANCE DEPARTMENTS One of the many things that makes St. Francis Prep a unique school is its highly regarded Fine Arts programs. Students are exposed to countless courses and special opportunities that meet both their needs and their interests, whether they are serious about Music or Art and intend to major in them, or merely wish to grow culturally. Prep also has an outstanding Guidance department that in addition to traditional course counseling, addresses both college and emotional counseling. Last year alone, graduating Prep seniors earned over $150 million in college scholarships. Students from the class of 2016 went to colleges in forty states, and many foreign counties, including Canada, Greece, and Australia. The Ivy League schools were well represented with students heading off to the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University, and Brown University. There is also a diversity of schools, whether it be the City University of New York’s Macauly Honors College (including one student going to CUNY School of Medicine), or the five students going to Carnegie Mellon University, who only accepted six percent of their applicant pool. These three departments – Music, Art, and Guidance – have all been recognized by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools by earning their coveted “Program of Distinction.” According to Middle States’ website, “Since the turn of the 20th century, accreditation has had a major impact on American education, with Middle States Association among the pioneers in the field.” Based in Philadelphia, the Middle States Association is a worldwide leader in accreditation and school improvement. For over 125 years, Middle States has been helping school leaders establish and reach their goals, develop strategic plans, promote staff development and advance student achievement. With more than 2,700 accredited schools and school systems in 34 states and nearly 100 countries, MSA-CESS is proud of its continuing legacy and its ongoing innovations to meet the challenges of improving education in the 21st century. Recognizing that many schools have programs beyond traditional academic offerings, Middle States developed a series of protocols called Programs of Distinction. “Middle States Programs of Distinction provide external validation of a school’s accomplishments in specific areas of expertise, enhancing a school’s prestige and promoting its reputation as a top-tier institution. Middle States Programs of Distinction serve as models for schools throughout the world.” When first approached about undertaking the process for Prep’s Music department, Dr. Robert Corbino, the longtime chairperson, thought it was a “great idea,” but initially met resistance given the work that would need to go into the application. As the process progressed, he realized that this was a “measure of his life’s work and a referendum on his career.” The most difficult part of the process was understanding the unique language and terminology Middle States favors. Ultimately, Prep became the first school ever to earn what was then called the Music Credential in 2011. Corbino feels this was the “highest point” of his career, and remembers sitting in the Principal’s office, being officially advised of this honor. He sees the primary benefit as being that the “word is out” about the superior program Prep has, and that parents will want to send their students to Prep for all the Music department has to offer. This year, Prep’s Music department will begin its self-study process, and is primed to become the first school to renew the Music Program of Distinction. Last year, Prep’s Art and Guidance departments earned their respective honors with Middle States. Prep’s Art department chairperson, Jeanne Buccino, was “intimidated” by the process. She had many questions, and was “unsure” about this undertaking. Throughout the process, she learned a great deal about the history of the department. She also came to see how positively parents and students viewed the department through interviews and surveys. When she found out her department was being awarded the honor, she was relieved, and very proud. Buccino went on to say that the visiting educators who endorsed Prep’s application, gave “insight and validation.” She felt that the department is in a good place for growth, and that the process gave them new ideas relative to furthering this already stand-out program. Robyn Armon is the chairperson of Prep’s Guidance department. When asked to undertake the process, she was “frightened to death.” There is no down time for counselors in the school, given they undertake not only course counseling, but college counseling, and emotional counseling with their students. For her, the process validated that they are “visionaries.” She went on to say that even though Prep is a large school, the counselors have an excpetional grasp on their students. She feels that Prep’s counselors really act in loco parentis and are “true advocates for their students.” In the future, she is looking forward to the Guidance department “staying strong,” and being able to continue to integrate social and emotional counseling with academic counseling. In short, she and her department strive to “treat every student as if they were their own.” Prep’s President, Brother Leonard Conway is thoroughly immersed in the school’s accreditation, and is a member of Middle States’ Commission on the secondary level, as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the Middle States Commission. He also chairs the Membership and Accreditation Committee for the secondary level of the Commission. For him, it is a great recognition of “our outstanding programs by the Middle States Association. We are one of only two schools in their entire system to receive three Program of Distinction awards.” Prep’s Principal, Patrick McLaughlin, himself a former Internal Coordinator for the school’s accreditation, said that “Recognition from the Middle States Association is an honor and is a validation of the work we do here at Saint Francis Preparatory School to educate the whole person. We strive to provide a learning environment that enables all students to develop and broaden their spiritual, intellectual, creative, emotional, social, and physical abilities.” For more information, please contact: • Br. Leonard Conway, O.S.F., President, (718) 423-8810, x232 • Patrick McLaughlin, Principal, (718) 423-8810, x327 • Jeanne Buccino, Art Department Chaiperson, (718) 423- 8810, x218 • Robyn Armon, Chairperson of Guidance and Director of College Counseling, (718) 423-8810, x245 • Dr. Robert Corbino, Chairperson of Music, (718) 423-8810, x255 Or visit www.msa-cess.org Great Neck Plaza November 6-13 Fall Restaurant Week Plaza’s Bi-Annual Event Offers De licious Prix Fixe Dinners at $27.95 The Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District (BID) and the Village of Great Neck Plaza announce that Restaurant Week – Fall 2016 Edition, will take place from Sunday November 6, to Sunday, November 13, 2016. This fall season’s Restaurant Week will feature over 11 of the village’s finest restaurants including ERA Asian Cusine, Colbeh, Elaine’s Asian Bistro, Bareburger, LOLA, Mykonos Greek Cuisine, Village Sushi, Great Neck Diner, Laverne’s of Great Neck, Brasserie Americana, La Rotonda and Daruma of Tokyo. All participating restaurants will offer a variety of Prix Fixe dinners for $27.95, making for an affordable and expansive culinary week of dining out for Long Islanders. “Restaurant Week is a great opportunity to experience the wonderful food we have available in the Plaza at affordable prices,” said Ron Edelson, Executive Director of the BID. “Guests can choose from a variety of restaurants, and try a different kind of cuisine each night of the week including Asian, Italian, American, Greek and Mediterranean.” The friendly atmosphere of Great Neck Plaza is the perfect setting to enjoy the best of North Shore dining. All restaurants participating in Restaurant Week are within walking distance of the LIRR’s Great Neck train station, and parking is available on-street, in municipal parking fields and in garages. For more information on Great Neck Plaza’s Fall 2016 Restaurant Week, including participating restaurants and menus, visit www. shopgreatneck.com. The Great Neck Plaza Business Improvement District’s (BID) mission is to foster and promote a positive and vital business community through various initiatives including consumer awareness programs, media/advertising campaigns and sponsorship of many events. Log onto www. shopgreatneck.com, www.facebook. com/greatneckplaza, or call 516.829.1301 to learn more about the Great Neck Plaza BID. ADVERTORIAL


QC11032016
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