Riverhead High School - Blue Peconic Yearbook (Riverhead, NY)

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A Far Cry From the ORDINARY Q: Can you briefly describe your history, such as where you were born, where you went to school, etc.? A: Presently I live in Greenport with my wife and five children. I was horn and raised in Greenport and graduated from Greenport High School. Q Where did you complete your education following high school? A: I received a B.S. in Secondary Education (Cum Laude) and an W.5 in Biology (Magna Cum Laude) from SUNY at Geneseo. Q. Briefly explain your teaching career to this point in time. A: taught math and science from the junior high to the college level. My last thirteen years have been spent here at RHS. Q. Please explain your willingness to be involved with students in after-school activities, as well as academically. A: Eleven years ago I set up the RHS Ski Club. We started with seventeen students; and since then, we have had a total of slightly over 1,800 students involved. I had several reasons for setting up this type of club. I hoped that it would involve the students in a sport that they could be involved in the rest of their lives. I wanted it to be a club that the members could be proud of primarily because it is then club. They make the arrangements, make and enforce the rules, and are responsible for the success and good name of the club. I think it is important that each member realize that when they go with us, they represent themselves, their family, the community, and our entire school. Q What do you think of education and the school system in Riverhead? A: realize the sacrifices that have and are being made by our community to offer each student the finest possible education. I cannot say enough about the majority of our students. We have a system everyone can be proud of. Q. The standard of education in the nation has become an issue in the news lately. How do you feel about education in the United States? A: In our school and in the nation's schools, there are many opportunities of which students do not take ad- vantage. This is so sad and such a waste; not simply because I am a teacher, but because I firmly believe it. I say, ”A student, a home, a town, a state, or a nation that invests time, money, and effort in education has made the wisest possible investment. It is one that will pay dividends many times Q. Please relate your feelings upon receiving The Teacher of the Year” award. A: It is truly a great honor to be given such an award, especially when you consider the caliber of the system that presents the award. I feel that many of my colleagues deserve it more than myself, but I also realize that it is not simply an award to one but rather to an entire system. Our system builds on the effort of its entire teaching, administrative, and support staff. In a system the size of ours, a single person can- not do an outstanding job unless there are many other oust anding people (both in school and at home) working for a common goal. Lastly, and probably most importantly, in order to do an outstanding teaching job, one must be working with outstanding young people; and we certainly have a good number of them at RHS. Q: Would you like to make any additional comments in closing? A: Excellence in every endeavor should be the goal of all. You’ve asked me a number of questions more or less related to the past. Thomas Jefferson once said, '7 like to dream of the future more than study the history of the past. Our students have to look to the future with hope and optimism. They must realize that the future is where they will spend the rest of their lives. If they’re truly going to be excellent at what they choose to do, they must strive for excellence every step of the way. What better way than to start today? 10 Trachrttrfihr Ym

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ait a minute! Hold every- thing! I was out of school for three days, and I have no idea what is going on. How could I miss so much in just three short days.-' Whatever the reason, a day missed means work missed. It seems as though you miss one day of school, and it takes you three more just to make it up. This happens when only a couple of days are missed. Imagine what would happen if you came to school only when you really felt like it. If you want to learn anything and get ahead in life, you have to BE THERE. As students in our school, we tend to take some of the academic opportunities for granted. We have one of the finest ! oreign Language departments on Long Island. How many schools do you know that still offer Latin.'' ROTC is another academic opportunity not found everywhere. We have up-to- date lab and computer equipment where some schools have very little. In order to take advantage of these opportunities, however, you have to BE THERE. You have to make the decision. Opportunities are not given away; however, they are there, and we have to take it upon ourselves to grab them and use them in our own best interest. On the following pages are some highlights of the academic year at our school. The opportunities were there. Were you? Far left: Preparing for a celebration of academic achievement, the Graduation of the Class of 84, are Mr. DeGrasse and Ms. Cot ten. Top: Finding the library to be just as good a place to be as any are Richard Nathaniel, Andy Baldelli and Danny Martin. Above: Though not probable, it is possible that Doreen Cracco's look of interest is directed toward the blackboard. AcadrtnM l » h»c» «

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In recognition of his excellence and devotion, Mr. Jester was voted Teacher of the Year.