Staten Island Technical High School

articleissues
cleanup=January 2008
copyedit=January 2008
expert=New York City
primarysources=January 2008
refimprove=January 2008
tooshort=January 2008
expand=November 2007Infobox School
name = Staten Island Technical High School


streetaddress = 485 Clawson Street
region = Region 7
city = Staten Island
state = New York
district = 31
county = Richmond
zipcode = 10306
country = USA
coordinates = coord|40|34|4.54|N|74|6|55.18|W|region:US|display=inline,title
schoolnumber = R605
schoolboard = New York City Department of Education
superintendent = Linda Waite
principal = Vincent Maniscalco
viceprincipal = Robert J. Andrews
Mark Erlenwein
Dennis N. Giurici
dean = James McCarthy
staff = 72
custodian = Michael Paul
ceeb = 335401
classrooms = 55
class = about 120
avg_class_size = 33
ratio = 1:19
type = Public high school, Specialized
budget = 12,442.59 USD
enrollment = 900
grades = 9-12
language = English
Hours_in_Day = 6.75
motto = Fear the Flock!
accreditation = University of the State of New York
team_name = MSIT Seagulls
nickname = "Tech"
school_colours = color box|gold Gold color box|black Black
yearbook = "Epoch"
newspaper = "The Tech Times
The Tech Horizon"
established = 1988
status = Open
picture =
homepage = [http://www.siths.org http://www.siths.org]

Staten Island Technical High School (also referred to as Staten Island Tech, S.I.T.H.S., or simply Tech), is one of the nine specialized public high schools in New York City. It is located in the New Dorp neighborhood of Staten Island. Recently, Newsweek published Staten Island Tech as the 22nd best school in the United States. The school is operated by the New York City Department of Education. It consistently ranks among the best schools in New York City in graduation rate, Regents test scores, and attendance. [cite web|url=http://schools.nyc.gov/daa/SchoolReports/05asr/531605.pdf|title=2004-2005 ANNUAL SCHOOL REPORT|accessdate=2007-02-04|format=pdf]

History

Staten Island Tech began in 1982 as an annex of [http://schools.nyc.gov/SchoolPortals/31/R600/default.htm Ralph R. McKee Vocational-Technical High School] , located in the New Dorp neighborhood of Staten Island, after New Dorp High School, which had occupied the building since it was built in the 1930s, moved to its current location on New Dorp Lane. The technical courses were taught in the annex, while the vocational courses stayed in St. George. Through the advocacy of parents, staff, and students, Staten Island Tech was made an independent high school by the New York City Board of Education in May 1988. Nicholas M. Bilotti, who had been serving as director of the annex, was appointed principal of the new high school.

The school admitted students based on their seventh-grade class grades and standardized-test scores until 2005, when it was added to the group of New York City's specialized high schools and therefore began using the New York City Specialized High Schools Admissions Test to screen prospective students. [cite web|url=http://siths.org/history.jsp?rn=9483920|title=History of Staten Island Technical High School|accessdate=2007-11-26|format=HTML|language=English] Thus, it became the first and only specialized high school on Staten Island.

Mission

Staten Island Technical High School's mission statement 2008-2009:

"Staten Island Technical High School’s mission is to preserve an atmosphere of academic excellence as evidenced by our school’s overall performance on N.Y.S. Regents and Advanced Placement Examinations.

"Our school provides a nurturing and challenging educational environment developing exemplary character, scholarship, service, leadership, and citizenship. Upon completion of SITHS’ rigorous program of study, students will be prepared to enter and succeed in post-secondary study in engineering, science, mathematics, foreign language, social science, liberal arts, health, physical education, and performing arts. The SITHS community fosters the development of well-rounded scholars through participation in athletics, student activities and community service.

"In support of our mission, it is our pledge to sustain close communication between home and school that ensures greater parent involvement continue our usage of state-of-the-art technology and writing across the curricula provide ongoing professional development, and encourage student involvement in local and global issues including lifelong fitness and health awareness." [cite web|url=http://siths.org/mission.jsp?rn=5489038|title=Mission of Staten Island Technical High School|accessdate=2008-09-04|format=HTML|language=English]

Curriculum

The curriculum is purely college preparatory, focusing on science and engineering.

Mandatory engineering classes include:
*AutoCAD
*C++
*electronics
*Robotics
*Cisco networking

In addition, thirteen Advanced Placement courses are offered for subjects including:
*AP Macroeconomics
*AP US Government and Politics
*AP US History
*AP World History
*AP Calculus BC
*AP Calculus AB
*AP Chemistry
*AP Biology
*AP Physics B
*AP Physics C
*AP English Language and Composition
*AP English Literature
*Russian

Russian is the only foreign language taught at the school. [cite web|url=http://siths.org/apps/classes/show_all_classes.jsp?termREC_ID=&rn=1390547|title=List of Staten Island Technical High School Classes|accessdate=2008-09-04|format=HTML|language=English]

In addition, the school operates College Now, a program run by Kingsborough Community College. College Now courses offered include:
*Business
*Statistics
*Sociology

Optional electives for Junior and Senior students include
*Creative Writing
*Forensics
*Biotechnology

Also, Tech freshman science fair winners are invited to join the school's Science Engineering Research Program, more commonly known as SERP. Students remain in this program until their senior year. Throughout their high school career, they participate in various competitions including:
*Intel
*NYCSEF: New York City Science and Engineering Fair
*ISEF: International Science and Engineering Fair
*QuOL: Quality of Life Competition

Athletics and extracurricular activities

Staten Island Technical High School's sports program operates in partnership with McKee High School, and their shared teams are known as the MSIT Seagulls. The MSIT teams play various sports including football, soccer, volleyball, wrestling, fencing, and track.Staten Island Tech's Boys Track team made back to back Cross-Country state appearances in the 06-07 and 07-08 XC seasons. Their Distance Medley Relay consisting of Vincent Improta, Joseph Carlin, Mikhail Kachalov and Joseph Brancale competed at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships and broke the schools record. The quartet also holds the schools 4x400m and 4x800m records. As far as other optional activities go, Staten Island Tech runs SING!, has a spring musical, and runs more than forty-five clubs. [cite web|url=http://siths.org/clubs.jsp?rn=840811|title=List of Staten Island Technical High School's Clubs|accessdate=2007-11-27|format=HTML|language=English]

Staten Island Technical High School's robotics team is one of the most well developed in the city. The team competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition as Team 375, or "The Robotic Plague", and is one of the number one teams in New York City, with their 2006 season being their most successful, where they were the Regional Winner and won the Chairman's award with their robot, the "Rambo". [cite web|url=http://www.okduo.com/robotics/history/2006.php|title=Team 375: The Robotic Plague - 2006 Season History|accessdate=2007-11-27|format=HTML|language=English] [cite news | url=http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/brooklyn/2008/01/25/2008-01-25_state_island_robotics_group_goes_for_leg.html | title=State Island 'Robotics' group goes for LEGO League Championship | work=New York Daily News | date=2008-01-25 | last=Richardson | first=Clem | accessdate=2008-01-25] They consistently win the Autodesk Inventor Animation Award at the New York City Regional, and has won the Chairman's award in New York City in 2006.

Notable alumni

*Jeff Berardelli '93, television meteorologist for WFOR-TV.
*Ingrid Michaelson '97, musician.

References

External links

* [http://www.siths.org/ www.siths.org] -- Home page of Staten Island Technical High School