Francis Lewis High School

Infobox School2
name = Francis Lewis High School
type = Public
city = Fresh Meadows
established = 1960s
state = New York
country = USA
head_name = Principal
head= Ali Shama
students = approx. 4500 students
athletics = 30 sports

Francis Lewis High School (FLHS) is a public high school located in Fresh Meadows, Queens. It is known for its racial and ethnic diversity; 50% of the school is Asian, 45% Caucasian, 2% Hispanic, and 3% African American. Its large student body allows it to have 50 athletic teams. The school is the largest in Queens. The school's own sports field and new track are teeming with students.Francis Lewis High School also offers a number of special programs upon admission: Jacob K. Javits Law Institute (for law studies), the University Scholars Program (a highly selective program which gives its students an acceleratered humanities program with a requirement of two foreign languages), and a Math and Science Research Program (advanced studies of math, science and statistics). The latter program has caused a large amount of interest in the Intel Science Talent Search, with some student-created research projects including "Synthesis of Two New Alpha-Lactams" and "Suppression of Graft Versus Host Disease by Inhibition of Donor T-Cell Proliferation."

The school offers an "English as a Second Language" program, with bilingual Chinese and Korean classes.

The school sends students to Ivy League schools, private schools and CUNY / SUNY schools every year. The school has approximately a 91% attendance rate and 80.5% graduation rate.

Return to Success program

For those students who are unable to keep up with the average pace of the school, there is a "Return to Success" program, which doubles up sessions of core subjects and requires that classes stick together as groups. The school also offers a number of specialized education programs, which fall under the category of IEPs (Individualized Education Programs). These programs can either be classes where there are two teachers, classes with "only" those in need of specialized education, and a life-skills instruction class designed for the severely mentally handicapped or brain damaged.

Language studies

In keeping with the school's diversity, Francis Lewis offers a plethora of foreign languages: Hebrew, Chinese, French, AP French, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Latin, Modern Greek, Ancient Greek, Spanish, AP Spanish, AP Spanish literature, and AP Chinese.

Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps

The JROTC Program at Francis Lewis High School is known nationwide for its accomplishments. In the last six months alone the Patriot Battalion has earned three 1st place national titles: Academics (for the second year in a row), Drill (First in Armed and 3rd in Unarmed) and the Raiders' first national title. The Battalion's Drum Corps performs at numerous parades during the year keeping the Battalion in step and the Honor Guard performs at such events as basketball and hockey games at Madison Square Garden. The Battalion Choir performs in school events such as the singing of the National Anthem at Pep Rallies. The Battalion’s P.T. Teams participate at the League Commander's Cup and defends their first place title. The Battalion participates in numerous community service events such as park clean ups, fun runs, parades, food drives, clothing drives, military mail bag and Operation Christmas Child.

The Cabinet

*Principal: Mr. Ali Shama
*AP Security: Mr. Erik McCarthy
*AP Guidance: Ms. Annette Palomino
*AP Organization: Ms. Rita Grynberg
*AP Social Studies: Mr. Royden Lobel
*AP English: Ms. April Volponi
*AP Foreign Language: Mrs. Prowell
*AP Math: Mr. Joseph Chou
*AP Science: Dr. David Marmor
*AP Foreign Languge: Ms. Khadija Sembene
*COSA: Mrs. Parker (Ali)
*Senior Advisor: Ms. Piltawer
*Immediate Past Principal: Jeffrey Scherr

Trivia

*FLHS has a history of accidents around its streets. In February 2006, a Senior was hit by a car and lost his right leg in the accident. [http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16508355] The child is now homeschooled.

* Francis Lewis's drama program has performed Grease, Guys & Dolls, and Footloose for the last three years, and currently working on Little Shop of Horrors under the guidance of Ms. Marci Finkelstein, who is also the advisor for the school newspaper, "The Patriot".

*In 2003, New York City artist Marshall Weber [http://www.booklyn.org/artists/Marshall%20Weber,%20N.Y.,%20NY.php] created a well known unique artists book by hand tearing a 1969 yearbook from Francis Lewis High School and collaging it into a vintage stamp album. Titled Souvenir the book was so popular that the Booklyn Artists Alliance [http://www.booklyn.org/artists/Marshall%20Weber.php] published a limited edition version in 2004.

*In April 2007, NYC Schools Chancellor Joel Klein visited Francis Lewis to view the new science labs installed in 2005. He was greeted by the Boy's Step Team (Nu Gamma Psi) as well as Honors Orchestra.

*In an episode of Seinfeld The Muffin Tops, George's replacement for his job at the Yankees was an intern from Francis Lewis named Keith. [http://www.stanthecaddy.com/keith.html]

* During the 2007-2008 school year, three students were named Siemens Westinghouse Math, Science and Technology Regional Finalists. Two students were named Intel Science Talent Search (STS) Semi-finalists.

*In February 2008, a student was reportedly arrested for breaking the IDENTITY THEFT AND ASSUMPTION DETERRENCE ACT, which was a result of him trying to use another person's id card and renaming it "Elmer Peterson"

Notable alumni

* James Van Thach - [http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/7/prweb408426.htm The first Vietnamese-American to serve as a Military Advisor to the New Iraqi Army]

* Margaret (Marge) Lynn Currie, nee Hartenbaum - One of Francis Lewis's earliest graduates. Author of famed children's book, "My Best Friend," and currently administrator in Los Angeles Unified School District.

* Deborah Holdstein - Dean of the School of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Columbia College Chicago and Editor of the journal, "College Composition and Communication" (CCC) .

External links

* http://www.nypost.com/seven/03102008/news/regionalnews/so_why_is_this_principal_smiling__101273.htm
* [http://www.insideschools.org/fs/school_profile.php?id=1078 School profile: H.S. 430 Francis Lewis High School — Insideschools.org]
* [http://www.francislewishs.org Francis Lewis High School]
* [http://flhsathletics.olinesports.com/ Francis Lewis Athletic Website]
* [http://www.patriotbattalion.com JROTC Patriot Battalion Website]