Welcome to the Wantagh 6-12 English Department!
{Door to Future}
Please join us as we strive to prepare your child
for the demands of 21st century literacy.
ELA Review Academy begins on March 14, 2012.
Check your Middle School teacher's webpage for review schedules.
On March 5th, Wantagh High School Juniors enjoyed the Hofstra University players version of Hamlet: a Bare Bodkin, a one hour adaptation of Shakespeare's Hamlet.
The plot of Hamlet revolves around the Danish Prince Hamlet, who battles his inner demons (including possible insanity) and the characters around him to avenge his father's murder. Arguably Shakespeare's best known and most celebrated work, Hamlet has inspired many debates among scholars as well as many different interpretations.
-Courtesy of Hofstra University
{Cast and WHS Students}
{Hamlet}
{Hamlet and Gertrude}
2012 Mini-Courses Begin on January 31st!!!
Are you ready to learn something truly extraordinary?
{super teacher}
{SAT}
WHS Teachers, Alisa Santamaria and Heather Romano, Honored
{Ms. Santamaria & Ms. Romano}
Ms. Santamaria has been selected to present a workshop at the National Council of Teachers of English conference on November 20, 2011. Her session, "Taking Back the Classroom: Returning Student Voice to Students through Transformation of Our Teaching," will discuss valuing student writers' voices in the midst of the current high-stakes testing culture. Ms. Santamaria has taught at Wantagh for four years. An active member of the Wantagh school community, she also serves as a year moderator and computer mentor.
Ms. Romano has been selected as a New York State English Council Teacher of Excellence. She will accept her award at the annual conference this October in Albany. Ms. Romano has taught at Wantagh High School for seven years and is currently studying for her second master's degree. A former Fulbright Memorial Fund scholar, Ms. Romano is the director of the high school theatre program. In February, she and her theatre students were invited to perform at Walt Disney World before producing Beauty and the Beast on the Wantagh stage. While rehearsing for their latest production, Little Shop of Horrors, Ms. Romano's students were given the opportunity to workshop with internationally known puppeteer and the original Audrey II in the Broadway production, Marty Robinson.
"We're extraordinarily proud of our scholar-practitioners," said Mrs. Rebecca Chowske, Wantagh's English Language Arts Director. "Alisa and Heather work very hard at their teaching because they care so deeply about their students. They are never satisfied with their performance and are always working to become even better at their craft."
New!
See our updated Summer Reading lists!
(Links at left.)
{summer reading}
New Comprehensive English Regents Format (2011)
Mission Statement
The mission of the English Department is to instill in students the love and practice of clear, concise, and creative communication of experience.
Student Outcomes
The students in our English classes will...
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Comprehend both fictional and non-fictional writing and will link this writing to their lives.
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Be familiar with both contemporary and classical writers.
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Recognize and analyze elements and characteristics of drama in the development of meaning.
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Analyze prosody, form, and meaning in poetry.
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Attain the power to speak logically and forcefully in favor of their ideas.
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Develop the capacity to listen in order to understand and synthesize the ideas of others.
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Master vocabulary through a variety of strategies.
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Demonstrate the ability to use acceptable and grammatical sentence structure to communicate effectively and cogently.
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Formulate ideas logically and write clearly.
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Write non-expository prose competently.
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Demonstrate the ability to write a clear thesis statement, develop cogent supports, and conclude logically and relevantly.
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Apply expository writing skills to multiple types of writing, including persuasion, cause and effect, contrast and comparison, and analysis.
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Use the higher order thinking skills of analysis, synthesis, and judgment in their writing.
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Demonstrate the ability to use and apply research tools to investigate controversial issues, literary topics, and other matters or themes.
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Demonstrate the knowledge and skills necessary to compete to the level of their ability on state-mandated and national exams.
Rebecca Chowske, ELA Director
(516) 679-6469
