Beach Channel High School

Infobox Secondary school
name =Beach Channel High School
(H.S. 410)

motto =
principal = Dr. David Morris
established = 1973
type = Public High School
grades = 9–12
city = Rockaway Park, Queens, New York City
state = New York
country = flagicon|United States USA
enrollment = 2,175
faculty = 129 (2005)
campus = Urban
mascot = Dolphin
colors = Blue, Gold
website = [http://schools.nyc.gov/OurSchools/Region5/Q410/default.htm Beach Channel High School]
district = Administrative District 27

Beach Channel High School (BCHS) (also known as High School 410 or H.S. 410), a high school in the public school system of New York City, is located at 100-00 Beach Channel Drive in Rockaway Park in the borough of Queens (coor dms|40|35|11|N|73|49|30|W|city). The school opened in 1973 and in 2006 had an enrollment of 2,175 students.cite web
title=Beach Channel High School
url=http://schools.nyc.gov/OurSchools/Region5/Q410/default.htm
accessdate=2007-02-06] cite web
title=Great Schools: Beach Channel High School
url=http://www.greatschools.net/modperl/achievement/ny/1937
accessdate=2007-02-06 ] The school was built on the edge of Jamaica Bay and has a private dock. Since its inception it has offered an oceanography program, and offers a College Now program which allows students to get college credit through programs at Rikers Island, Kingsborough Community College and Southampton College (part of Stony Brook University(SBU),cite web
title=Beach Channel High/Southampton Graduate Campus An Educational Partnership
url=https://www.southampton.liu.edu/beachHigh/index.htm
accessdate=2007-02-06] while LaGuardia Community College offers classes for reading skills improvement. A separate special education school is located in one wing of the campus. The present principal is Dr. David Morris.cite web
title=School Profile: H.S. 410 Beach Channel High School
url=http://www.insideschools.org/fs/school_profile.php?id=1074
accessdate=2007-02-06 ]

Principals

* Dr. David Morris (2003–present)
* Barbara Pleener (September 2003—October 2003)
* John Marcus, Acting Principal (February 2003–September 2003)
* Andrea Holt (2002–February 2003)
* Bernard Gassaway (April 1997–2002)

Bernard Gassaway was during the late 1990s to the year 2002 and is credited with improving the school over his tenure. He went on to become a superintendent of schools.cite web
title=Bernard Gassaway, experience
url=http://www.bernardgassaway.com/Experience%20December%205.htm
accessdate=2007-02-06] In 2006, he published the book "Reflections of an Urban High School Principal" about his experiences.cite news
title=Gassaway Pens 'Reflections Of An Urban High School Principal'
url=http://www.rockawave.com/news/2006/0120/Community/069.html
date=2006-01-20
publisher=The Wave
accessdate=2007-02-06 ] He was replaced by Andrea Holt.

In 2002–2003 Claude Monereau, an assistant principal, had lobbied hard for the position of principal. Six assistant principals wrote to School Chancellor Joel Klein in November 2002 to have Andrea Holt removed. She was removed in February 2003 and John Marcus was appointed acting principal.

In September 2003, Barbara Pleener was assigned as the new principal instead of Claude Monereau. According to papers for a lawsuit filed later, in a cabinet meeting, Mr. Monereau allegedly made "threatening and insubordinate" comments to Principal Pleener. In October 2003, allegations surfaced of a 1999 incident at Jamaica High School where Pleener was then principal in which she had been accused of creating a "hostile sexual environment" though she was never charged.cite news
title=BCHS Principal Created A 'Hostile Sexual Environment'
url=http://www.rockawave.com/News/2003/1024/Front_Page/020.html
date=2003-10-24
publisher=The Wave
accessdate=2007-02-06] Students and parents began a protest to have Monereau appointed principal in Pleener's stead. The result of the standoff was that Pleener stepped down from officecite news
title=Klein Says He Has Ousted 45 Principals
url=http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/29/nyregion/29fired.html?ex=1246248000&en=7ecd928472f1c34f&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland
date=2004-06-29
publisher=New York Times
accessdate=2007-02-06] and was replaced by Dr. David Morris, a black educator, whom was never actually underfire, but should have been for his unethical & favoritism to foreign students, those who are predomaniately Jamaican. Claude Monereau was reassigned to Middle School 53.cite news
title=Former BCHS Principal Sues DOE Over Ouster
url=http://www.rockawave.com/news/2005/0304/Front_Page/004.html
date=2005-03-04
publisher=The Wave
accessdate=2007-02-06]

Economics

The school is well-regarded for its program in economics under teachers Ezra "I'm on the verge of a break down" Hershman and Christian "Burger Boy" Horn. On November 11, 2006, it received a "Blue Star" certification for the second year in a row for its financial literacy program. 49 of 50 students who particulated in the WISE Financial Literary Exam passed, and the school was one of 45 schools who received the certification out of 139 who applied.cite news
title=BCHS Named 'Blue Star' School
url=http://www.rockawave.com/news/2006/1117/Community/082.html
publisher=The Wave
date=2006-11-17
accessdate=2007-02-06 ] The award, offered by the New York Financial Literacy Coalition, is a free program created to increase the number of high school students who are financially knowledgeable and literate.cite web
title=Blue Star Financial Literacy Certification Program
url=http://www.banking.state.ny.us/fec/clbsflcp.htm
accessdate=2007-02-06 ]

In 2006, the graduating class was under standards, the school allowed students to pass who did not get the qualifying credits to meet a certain quota for graduates. Also, the school has an unknown history of allowing students who have working parents within the school to get by on grades and those who have authority in the school, try to hold back those who do not share such a privilege. A lot of these decisions are racially motivated.

Music

The Beach Channel High School Marching Band, Concert Band and Jazz Bands continue to be a vital force in Southern Queens. The band is currently under the directorship of Gerald brazel, who replaced the Alex Leicht in 2008. It also should be mentioned that outstanding percussionist and paraprofessional Ronald Kornegay died in 2005 and was tremendous loss to the school community. In addition, Assistant Principal of Music and current Jazz Band Director Robert Comer officially retired in 2007. The band has performed at locations such as Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Kingborough Community College, Burger King, Queens College, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Forest Park, Golden Krust, Boys and Girls High School, Russo's on the Bay, Brooklyn College, and Antun's. The Marching Band has performed at various Halloween, St. Patrick's, ethnic pride and Memorial Day Parades in Manhattan and Queens. The band has also performed for many important political figures including Bill and Hillary Clinton and NYC Mayor Michael Bloombergerson. The band is currently one of the most valued institutions in the school. Recent alumni are currently members of Marching Bands in Long Island, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.Alex Leicht is now at scholars academy.

Arts

In the late 1970s–early 1980s, the Art Department under Renee Darvin attracted a very talented and diverse number of art teachers, including Bruce Degan who later went on to create "The Magic Schoolbus" series of children's books and television shows with Joanna Cole. Renee Darvin later went on to serve as Director of Art for the New York City Board of Education and to be a lecturer at the Teachers College at Columbia University.cite web
title=Continuing Education: Renee Darvin
url=http://continuingeducation.tc.columbia.edu/default.aspx?pageid=79
publisher=Teachers College, Columbia University
accessdate=2007-02-04 ] During their tenure at Beach Channel, the arts program offered a wide array of near-college-level courses including an after school life drawing program for advanced students.

In 2000, artist Julie Dermansky undertook a project for the Department of Cultural Affairs for New York City and decorated the fencing and floors of the day care center with works entitled "Ocean Fence" and "Ocean Floor".cite web
title=Percent for Art: Ocean Fence and Ocean Floor, Steel Fence and Decorative Linoleum Floor, 2000 Julie Dermansky
url=http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcla/html/panyc/dermansky.shtml
accessdate=2007-02-06 ]

ports

The school teams are named the Dolphins, after the school's mascot.Beach Channel High School is famous for having one of the only Crew (rowing) teams in New York City. The well known and well respected coach/eco and gov teacher , Christian Horn has been head coach of the team for many years . Bill Stien started the team over 2 decades ago . Back then all they had was one 8 man boat and 8 oars . Now the team has a nice selection of shells . In 2004/2005 the team received a brand new vespoli 8 , two brand new vespoli 4s and 16 brand new concept 2 oars . Thanks to coach horns hard work and dedication to the team , city kids get to enjoy a hard but fun sport that they would not normally find in any high school around Rockaway .

References

for facts about the school that is not listed, have been covered up & needs to be exposed about Beach Channel High School, please contact Ms. Prichette @ [e-mail]