Valley Stream South High School

Valley Stream South High School
File:VSSHSFalcon.gif
Magnet School	No
School District	Valley Stream Central High School District
School Colors	Red and White
Coeducational	Yes
Year Opened	1955
Grade Levels	7-12
School type	Public
Principal	Maureen Henry
Assistant Principals	Lori Tintella, Kara Jacobson
Year-round schedule	No
Enrollment	~1,350
Sports Teams	The Falcons
Mascot	Falco the Falcon
Homepage	Valley Stream South High School

Valley Stream South High School (VSSHS) is a combined public junior and senior high school in the village of Valley Stream, New York, more specifically, the hamlet of South Valley Stream, New York in southwest Nassau County on Long Island. The school was established in 1955.

The high school is one of three high schools in the Valley Stream Central High School District as well as one of two combined junior-senior high schools which educate grades seventh through twelfth. Students who attend Valley Stream South High School are mainly graduates of the local South Valley Stream elementary schools, including William L. Buck Elementary School, Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School, Forest Road Elementary School, and Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School which is approximately 100 feet to the junior-senior high school complex. Valley Stream South High School is known to the local population simply as "South".

Valley Stream North High School was built at the same time as Valley Stream South High School. Both schools were originally quite similar in architecture and were arch rivals with regard to sporting events. During the 2007-2008 school year South's athletics division was changed to Division 3 due to the size of the student body. The school is composed of three floors and was originally designed in the shape of a cube with a landscaped courtyard in the center.

Approximately 1,350 students attend VSSHS. The school's official colors are red and white, and the school's mascot is the falcon. According to recent published statistics VSSHS is a top school that spends more on its students than any other high school in the nation.

School Ethnicity

South High School has significant ethnic and racial diversity:

• White/Non-Hispanic = 65% of Students
• Hispanic = 13% of Students
• Asian/Pacific Islander = 12% of Students
• Black/Non-Hispanic = 10% of Students
• American Indian = <1% of Students

Newsweek Rankings

South was ranked as one of the top high schools in the country according to Newsweek Magazine.

South was ranked:

• 33rd best high school in America in 2000
• 228th best high school in America in 2003
• 152nd best high school in America in 2005
• 264th best high school in America in 2006
• 294th best high school in America in 2007
• 345th best high school in America in 2008 (Damn we really do suck)

The Falcon Report

The Falcon Report began broadcasting on November 22, 2002 as a 7-10 minute student-made weekly TV news report shown school-wide on Fridays at 9:18 during homeroom period. All activity at South comes to a halt during the broadcast as all students and faculty watch the show. Full-footage news coverage is provided on 4-7 different issues that were prominent in the mainstream news that week. Other elements typically shown are a Character Action award winner segment, a student-made commercial, a weather report, and a sports segment. Topics frequently covered include school events, recent trips, innovative projects in various classes, and unique happenings at the school. Taping of the show is typically done on a Thursday after the completion of the school day and lasts late into that evening. The logo of the program is the symbol and mascot of Valley Stream South High School, a red falcon. The program is administered by Ross Lipsky, a math teacher at South High School, but the rest is usually done by the students, for the students. Many Falcon Report alumni have gone on to study in communications or other related fields in college.

Notable Alumni

Larry Miller, comedian/actor, went to Valley Stream South.

Educational Departments & Associated Faculty at VSSHS

Science Department

Department Chair: Mrs. Azzaretto
Faculty: Mr. Laquidara, Mr. Bottjer, Dr. Lombardo, Mr. Buonagurio, Mrs. Pica, Mrs. Garces, Mr. Gellender, Mrs. Suditu, Mr. Geremina, Mrs. Talukder, Mr. Hsi, Mr. Wolfstein, Ms. Katsaros

English Department

Department Chair: Ms. Reilly
Faculty: Ms. Affonso, Ms. Flood, Ms. Alvarez, Mrs. Gordon, Mrs. Baker, Mrs. Guzowski, Mrs. Butler, Ms. Hertel, Mrs. Calderaro, Mrs. Panvini, Mrs. DeStio, Ms. Passaretti, Mrs. Doherty, Mrs. Rudin

Mathematics Department

Department Chair: Ms. McKenna
Faculty: Ms. Aylmer, Mrs. Greenman, Ms. Calzetta, Ms. Jamieson, Ms. Cooney, Mr. Lipsky, Ms. Dubon, Ms. Ferranti, Ms. Venezia, Ms. Fletcher, Mrs. Walker, Ms. Grant, Mr. Mulhearn

Social Studies Department

Department Chair: Ms. Douglas
Faculty: Mr. Mastrota, Mrs. Campbell-Dowe, Mr. Powers, Mr. Case, Mr. Richman, Mr. Farrell, Ms. Spica, Ms. Hinkelman, Ms. Star, Ms. Keany, Mr. Visone

Languages Other Than English Department

Department Chair: Mrs. Higginson
Faculty: Mrs. Franco, Ms. Pokorny, Mrs. Fung, Ms. Pineda, Mrs. Hughes, Ms. Schultz, Ms. McCaffery, Ms. Spinelli, Ms. Miller, Mrs. Tuohy

Fine and Performing Arts Department

Department Chair: Dr. Zatorski
Art Faculty: Mr. Lee, Mrs. Lowe, Ms. Valletti
Music Faculty: Mr. Hayden, Dr. Zatorski, Ms. Bedell, Mr. Holly, Mr. Creegan, Ms. Pichicharo

Health and Physical Education Department

Department Chair: Mr. Stueber
Faculty: Mr. Dodson, Mr. Baker, Mr. Drumm, Ms. Marcus, Ms. Nevitt, Mr. Gustafeste, Mrs. Kreiger

Special Education Department

Department Chair: Mrs. Landman
Faculty: Mr. Adrahtas, Mrs. Fiorentino, Ms. Bertrami, Mrs. Bonacasa, Ms. Greene, Mrs. Bresnan, Mrs. Lupo, Mr. Boyd, Mrs. Byrne, Ms. Pappas, Mr. Di Thomas, Mrs. Polletta, Mrs. Escobar, Mrs. Stack

Career and Technical Education Department

Department Chair: Mr. Mahler
Business Education Faculty: Mr. Mahler, Ms. Perry
Construction & Remodeling Faculty: Mr. Viggiano
Family & Consumer Sciences Faculty: Ms. Ali, Mrs. Daniels
Technology Faculty: Mr. Fare, Mr. Viggiano

School Staff

Library Services: Mrs. Ouwendijk
School Psychological Services: Dr. Perlman, Mrs. Visone
Nurses: Ms. Riggio, Mrs. Sirignano
Director of Student Activities: Mrs.

Athletics

South High School is widely known for its athletics program.

Note: If you know the years for entries listed as unknown, please provide that information by editing this section.

Football

• Conference championships: 1982
• County championships: None
• State championships: None

Baseball

• Conference championships: Unknown
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: Unknown

Men's Basketball

• Conference championships: Unknown
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: Unknown

Women's Basketball

• Conference championships: Unknown
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: Unknown

Softball

• Conference championships: 2005, 2007
• County championships: 2003, 2004
• State championships: Unknown

Wrestling

• Conference championships: Unknown
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: Unknown

Rifle (Valley Stream Central High School District Team)

• Conference championships: Unknown
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: 1995, 2007, 2008

Men's Soccer

• Conference championships: 2006
• County championships: 2006
• State championships: Unknown

Women's Soccer

• Conference championships: Unknown
• County championships: 2002
• State championships: Unknown

Men's Volleyball

• Conference championships: 2008
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: Unknown

Womens's Volleyball

• Conference championships: 2006
• County championships: 2006
• State championships: Unknown

Bowling

• Conference championships: Unknown
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: Unknown

Tennis

• Conference championships: 1970
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: Unknown

Badminton

• Conference championships: Unknown
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: Unknown

Track

• Conference championships: Spring 2004
• County championships: Unknown
• State championships: Unknown

External links

• VSSHS Official Website
• History of the Valley Stream Central High School District & Valley Stream South High School