

EAST ISLIP
TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION
Nancy Close
President
Terri Drossos
Secondary VP
Bob Machida
Elementary VP
Wendy Rauh
Secretary
Jeanie Flood
Treasurer


News & Announcements
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EITA Scholarship for a Senior
At a recent gathering of the members of the Long Island President’s Council at Gurney’s in Montauk, scholarships were awarded to presidents of various locals. EITA President Nancy Close was the lucky recipient of one of these scholarships. Nancy Close suggested and the Executive Board unanimously agreed that this $500 scholarship will be awarded to a 2008 graduating East Islip High School senior who is the son or daughter of an East Islip Teachers’ Association member. The member can be from any unit of the EITA. The selected senior will be an individual attending college or vocational school in the fall. Qualifying seniors should submit their names to the EITA office by March 26, 2008 and the winning name will be picked out of a hat on a date and place to be announced.
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Hooray EITA!
The East Islip Teachers’ Association is celebrating! At this year’s Representative Assembly in New York City, we will receive two prestigious awards from NYSUT (New York State United Teachers). The first award is called the NYSUT Local Community Service Award, given to locals who generously give back to their communities. We have won this award several times in the past for our participation in our annual Needy Family Fund, our generous scholarships we award to graduating seniors, participating in and contributing to the Breast Cancer Walk/Fundraiser, our relationship with Concerned Parents, the EIABC and other pro-education groups, and our creation of the Public Relations Committee.
The second award we will receive in April is a journalism award. We entered Carene Mahoney’s FOCUS article entitled “This Thing Called Austerity” in this year’s competition. Carene is a High School English teacher. This creative article, from the October 16, 2006 FOCUS, reflected the sentiments of all during that difficult time. Well done, Carene! A representative from New York Teacher, the official publication of NYSUT, will present the Award of Merit in the Best Editorial or Column Category in Class IV to Nancy at a special reception on April 10, 2008. The judges’ panel noted a trend toward more entries this year, which makes this award even more meritorious.
The EITA would like to extend its gratitude and congratulations to you – the membership – whose participation makes such kudos possible.
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East Islip Teachers Come to the Aid of Needy Families
Once again, the East Islip Teachers’ Association’s Annual Needy Family Fund Drive was an overwhelming success. The EITA collected over $12,000 that was distributed to neighborhood families in need during the holiday season.
This wonderful tradition has been going on since 1989. Since 1995, the EITA has collected nearly $10,000 or more per year. In the past seventeen years, the EITA has collected $172,814 and has helped 767 community families.
Some comments from recipients are as follows: “I had just arrived home from the hospital when your gift arrived...thanks to the generosity of the EITA, we had a feast on Christmas...thank you, words cannot express my gratitude….we are forever grateful...the spirit of Christmas lives on in the East Islip School District...Dear Nancy Close and Staff, I just wanted to thank you for the very generous gift. It will really help my family this season...your thoughtfulness is much appreciated!”
The kindness and generosity of EITA members, teachers, nurses, secretaries, paraprofessionals, security guards, and retirees, allow the EITA to distribute food vouchers to brighten family holidays and offer assistance all year long to members of our community who are met with difficulties in the face of adversity. All of the funds collected lend a helping hand to these families. What a wonderful connection and support for our neighbors in need!
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Tracy Hushin Memorial Scholarship
The new Year brought the anniversary of Tracy's death. We would like to remind everyone that we are continually collecting for the scholarship. Each year, an East Islip Senior will receive a $1000 award to be used towards their education. Donations can be sent to: The Tracy Hushin Memorial Fund, East Islip Middle School, 2 Redmen Street, Islip Terrace, NY 11752
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NYSUT members can save money by buying books, music and video on-line.
Find them all at up to 40% off at the NYSUT Member Benefits Trust-endorsed Barnes & Noble.com
customized Online Bookstore. NYSUT members receive an
additional 5 % discount on top of the already discounted prices.
· NYSUT members receive an additional 5% discount by going through the Member Benefits web-site.
· This offer is not available in Barnes & Noble retail stores
· Go to www.memberbenefits.nysut.org and click on the Discounts tab.
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Thank you to all who donated to the EITA needy family fund this year!
We were able to raise over $13,000 for families of the East Islip School District!
Your generosity is much appreciated!
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ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS (ELA) SCORES — GREAT NEWS!
The East Islip School District scores in the English Language Arts have been announced. Grades 3, 4, 5 & 6 have
scored the highest in the Town of Islip. Grades 7 & 8 are also above average. Congratulations to our staff who
helped our children achieve excellence.

