Support Staff

Art

The art program at Drexel is designed to ensure each child's enjoyment and success, while providing an avenue for self-expression, greater confidence and enhanced self-esteem.

Children are provided with opportunities to acquire and develop essential fine motor skills and basic art concepts through exposure to both two and three-dimensional activities in varied media. They learn that art is a universal language based on the vocabulary of line, color, shape, texture and form.

Sharing art through exhibition in our halls fosters appreciation of one's own and each other's efforts.


Computer Technology

At Drexel Elementary, students explore the wonderful world of computers in a safe and friendly environment! The class is taught by Mrs. Stack and covers many useful topics relating to technology. We also practice a variety of valuable computer skills.

We began the year by going over class rules and care of computers. We have begun learning proper keyboarding skills and will continue to practice throughout the year. We have also covered Internet safety and how to use our Netsmarts! All activities in the computer room are aligned with the curriculum topic being taught in the classroom.

Some other learning units that we will complete in computers for all students in grade 3, 4, and 5 include: Creating a Keynote Presentation, Garageband Music Creation, Digital Photography, Virtual Field Trips and Videoconferencing, Creating iMovies and utilizing iPhoto, and an iPhoto Digital Photo Story Activity. We also utilize various Web 2.o Tools such as: Wordle, Webspiration, Animoto, Voki, Voicethread, Wall Wisher, and much, much more! As you can see we will be very busy this year!

Please visit Mrs. Stack’s eBoard to see all the great things we are doing in the computer lab!


Library

The goals of the school library program are to:

1. Encourage an attitude of inquiry and investigation.
2. Develop skill in using information from a variety of media.
3. Stimulate, and guide reading, both for education and for recreation.
4. Foster the continuing enjoyment of life-long reading.


General Music and Chorus

Students in grades three to five develop musical ability and understanding through active participation in musical activities.

The chorus and instrumental programs are voluntary. Students may choose to study a musical instrument, such as the flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, percussion, violin, viola, cello or string bass. Instruction is given in small groups during which mental skills, aural skills, physical dexterity on an instrument and musical understanding are stressed. Advanced students are given the opportunity to participate in the school band or orchestra, the Spring Concert and community events. All are encouraged to take part in the NYSSMA Solo Festival and All-County.

Band

Drexel Avenue BAND: Ms. gagliardi

Westbury Schools provide free class instruction to all interested band students on flute, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, french horn, trombone, baritone, tuba, or percussion. Band lessons are held once a week during the school day on a rotating schedule and students also have the opportunity to participate in the Advanced Band during their second and third years of lessons.  Students can audition to participate in the Jazz Band as well.  The Advanced Band performs in concerts in the Winter and the Spring, as well as the NYSSMA Festival at Hofstra in certain years.  

     Participating in the performing music program is fun and rewarding for students. It is reported that music students have higher scores on standardized tests, higher graduation rates, greater self-discipline, and improved expressive skills. The band at Drexel performs several times during the school year and is an integral part of the school community. There are also other exciting opportunities for musician to participate in music district-wide, county-wide, and at NYSSMA solo festivals.  I am very happy to work with your child in the Drexel Avenue Band Program!  Thank you for your support of music in the Westbury Schools!

Orchestra

At Drexel our students are introduced to instrumental lessons in the 3rd grade. When they continue on that instrument the following year, they then become members of the Drexel Orchestra. Every year we have a Winter and Spring performance, which are wonderful demonstrations of how much the students improve throughout the year.

All 2nd and 3rd year students are encouraged to participate in NYSSMA as it is a great experience and creates opportunities to participate in regional orchestras with other school districts. Each year our students receive great scores showing how they are each developing into wonderful musicians!

Members of the Drexel Orchestra are highly motivated students who are always looking for opportunities to perform with each other and in the community. Each year we plan trips to perform as well as attend performances to expose and further motivate the Orchestra students to continue in their musical careers. The Drexel Music program has always been very proud of our orchestras and how much they accomplish!

Ms. Butcher has been involved in music since a very young age playing in school, student orchestras, community orchestras, and even traveling orchestras. She attended Ithaca College for her Bachelors in Music and SUNY Stonybrook for her Master of Liberal Arts. She teaches both string lessons and orchestra at Drexel Avenue Elementary School and loves to introduce to her students the wonderful gift of music.

For more information on the Drexel Orchestra program, please visit Ms. Leone's eBoard!


Physical Education

The physical education program provides vigorous activity and instruction in sequential activities drawn from team and individual sports, fitness, conditioning, lifetime and recreational activities, and cooperative games.

In addition, concepts such as safety, rules, strategies, techniques, fair play, sportsmanship, teamwork and cooperation are integral parts of the physical education program.

In order to participate, students are required to wear sneakers and may not wear jewelry of any kind to class.

Health Services

Attendance is taken daily. Please call the Health Office if your child is absent or send a note when your child returns to explain the absence. You will receive a phone call if we do not hear from you. Each student is measured for height and weight each year. Vision and hearing exams will be done in 3rd and 5th grade. If a defect is found, parents will be notified. Scoliosis exams are one on 5th grade students. Physical exams are required for all 4th grade students and yearly for Special Education students.

The health office is open every day for any health emergency or accident. All visits to the health office are recorded, and accident reports are sent to central administration periodically. The school has insurance coverage, which will pay a portion of doctor bills resulting from accidents occurring during school or after-school activities.

Medication will be administered during school hours only with an order from the doctor and a note from the parent giving permission. The medication must be sent in the original bottle from the pharmacy with the child's name, doctor's name and dosage instructions on the label. Medication is not to be brought to classrooms or carried on a child's person during the school hours.

The health office is open from 8:30 AM to 2:30 PM for phone calls. If parents have any questions or want to report an extended absence, or have any problems they wish to discuss with the nurse, they are requested to call during the these hours.