The Glen Cove High School Model United Nations club delivered an impressive showing at the prestigious World Quest competition, recently held at Stuyvesant High School in New York City.  World Quest, an intensive high-school-level team competition run by the World Affairs Council of America in conjunction with the Foreign Policy Association, is designed to challenge students on their knowledge of international affairs, geography, culture and history.

As the only high school fielding two teams, GCHS competed against eight other schools at the competition. Both GCHS squads tied for fourth place and finished ahead of perennial contenders such as Herricks High School and the Bronx High School of Sciences.  

“It was a wonderful experience and the club is looking forward to bringing home first place next year!” said Model UN advisor Chris Contorno, whose Model UN students have been very successful in local competitions the last few years.
 
Congratulations to the Model UN teams comprised of students Shayan Awan, Christopher Christodoulou, Matthew Gallo, Nicolas Garcia, Ali Raza, Andrew Shuck, Brando Vizcarro and Blake-Lee Woods.

The Glen Cove High School Dance Club held a “Zumba Night” fundraiser for students and community members. Zumba instructors were former Glen Cove High School ESL students Mimi Ruiz, Katherine Flores, Erica Dobrovszky, and Marjorie Bell. The event raised $280 for the 20-member startup club.

“We would like to perform at school events and our members enjoy dancing for fun,” said Dance Club advisor Clare Germino. “We learn all different types of dances.”

The Glen Cove High Student Senate (pictured) recently kicked off a Relay for Life campaign to help spread the word and encourage others to participate in this worthwhile event that will be held at North Shore High School on Saturday, June 7 and Sunday, June 8.  

Relay for Life is an organized community fundraising walk comprised of teams who agree to camp out around a track overnight. Members of each team take turns walking around the track, usually at a local high school. Relay for Life events, which benefit the American Cancer Society, are designed to raise funds and awareness for cancer research and also allow participants to pay tribute to cancer survivors and loved ones who have lost their battle.

The GCHS Senate’s team, The Thunder Cats, is captained by senior Samantha DiPaola, who has been extremely active in spreading awareness and garnering participation for Relay for Life in previous years. As captain of the varsity girls lacrosse squad, Samantha has been influential in coordinating and promoting two Coaches vs. Cancer fundraisers (which also benefit the American Cancer Society); a Zumbathon fundraiser held on April 1 that raised more than $400; and the upcoming lacrosse and softball Coaches vs. Cancer games, scheduled for April 12 at GCHS at 10 a.m. (softball) and 12 p.m. (lacrosse).

In addition to the Thunder Cats, the GCHS Key Club and kickline also have teams registered, among other Glen Cove teams. The Senate hopes to encourage enough students, staff and members of the school community to join Samantha’s team or an existing team, or start a team of their own. In years past, as many as 10 teams have represented Glen Cove at the North Shore Relay for Life. Last year, more than 50 GCHS students participated in the event, including Samantha and her Student Senate team, which won the Relay’s “Heart and Sole” award for the most miles walked.

To register for the North Shore Relay for Life and sign up with a team, visit www.relayforlife.org. Students can contact Student Senate adviser Ellen Lynch at GCHS for more information.

Continuing a tradition of journalistic excellence, two Glen Cove High School student newspaper staffers were recently honored with Quill Awards at Adelphi University's Press Day 2014, an event designed to recognize the best among area high school journalists.

Junior Rebecca Rand was awarded the Quill for “Best Opinion Piece.” In her “Piece of My Mind” contribution, Rebecca shares her views on cultural diversity, racism and bullying. Her piece ran in the February 2014 edition.

Sophomore Gabby Morales won the award for “Best Photo Layout” for her photo collage from this year’s Homecoming game and festivities. Gabby’s engaging spread of game, pep rally and school spirit shots can be found in the Homecoming 2013 edition.

Both editions can be found on the Cove-er Times webpage at http://www.glencove.k12.ny.us/schools/cove-er_times

Last year the Cove-er Times took home Quill awards honors in four separate categories and has been a staple of excellence at local journalism expositions for many years. Congratulations to Rebecca, Gabby and Cove-er Times advisors Arlene Munson and Stephen Lombardo for again making Glen Cove High School proud!

Ms. Munson is seen here congratulating Rebecca (left) and Gabby.

The Glen Cove Teachers Association recently honored four winners of the Long Island Presidents Council's 2014 essay contest titled “My Teacher Made This Fun to Learn.” GCTA public relations chairperson president Monica Altamirano offered the organization’s congratulations and presented a check for $50 to each winner at the recent Board of Education meeting.

Winners were selected in four different age categories:

Grades K-2:  Zainab Raza (Gribbin School). Zainab wrote about her first-grade teacher Vanessa Broglia, who made reading fun to learn.) Zainab's second-grade ELA teacher this year is Amy Gallo, who entered her essay.
 
Grades 3-5: Maya Taylor (Landing School). Maya chose to write about her Academics Plus teacher Victoria DeLuise, who inspired her to learn architecture by designing her dream house. Maya's fourth-grade ELA teacher this year is Laura Ann Montuori, who entered her essay.
 
Grades 6-8: Solange Unger  (Finley Middle School). Solange wrote about her seventh-grade science teacher Natalie Camisa, who showed her how mixing different chemicals in test tubes is fun to learn. Solange's ELA teacher this year is Priscilla Incerto, who entered her essay.
 
Grades 9-12:  Matthew Grabowski (Glen Cove High School). Matthew wrote about his English teacher Matthew Rottino, who makes rhetoric fun to learn in class. Since Mr. Rottino is Matt’s English teacher, he entered the essay.

Congratulations to Matthew, Maya, Solange and Zainab for their award-winning essays and to their teachers, for making learning fun.