On Monday, April 15, Borough President James Oddo and the NYC Department of Education welcomed fourteen Staten Island schools participating in the Billion Oyster Project to a Maritime Forum at the Michael J. Petrides School in the Borough President’s Hall of Science. Approximately 60 students made one-on-one presentations regarding their field work with the Billion Oyster Project to Borough President Oddo and Deputy Borough President Ed Burke.

The schools in attendance at the forum were: Curtis High School, Gaynor McCown Expeditionary Learning School, Michael J. Petrides School High School, New Dorp High School, Susan Wagner High School, Michael J. Petrides School Middle School, I.S. 7 - Elias Bernstein, I.S. 24 - Myrna S. Barnes School, I.S. 51 - Edwin Markham School, I.S. 75 - Frank D. Paulo School, P.S. 21 - Margaret P. Emery / Elm Park, P.S. 45 - John Tyler School, and P.S. 59 - Harborview Elementary School, St. Clare’s School.

Education and business leaders were present, along with faculty and students from the Governor’s Island-based Urban Assembly New York Harbor School, the Billion Oyster Project, the Governor’s Office of Storm Recovery (Living Breakwaters), and the Staten Island Zoo. Members of the US Coast Guard Sector New York were also present along with other community members.

“This event was a great opportunity for marine-focused individuals from many different outlets on Staten Island to get together and share the important research they have completed,” said Borough President Oddo. “I was very impressed by the students and look forward to seeing the change they will create in partnership with the Billion Oyster Project.”

Representatives from Shop Rite donated healthy snacks for those attending, including carrots and hummus, fresh fruit, and popcorn.

This is the first time all Staten Island schools and students participating in the Billion Oyster Project were gathered together in a single event. Those in attendance had the opportunity to participate in a passport program where they collected a sticker from each table stopped at.

The Billion Oyster Project has a mission to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives. With a commitment to project-based and real-world learning, their school programming puts students at the center of the movement to restore oysters to NYC waters. Oysters have a remarkable ability to filter nitrogen pollution from water as they eat and can help to protect NYC from storm damage—softening the blow of large waves, reducing flooding, and preventing erosion. Read more about the Billion Oyster Project on their website.

Over 175 people attended the event. 

​On Friday, February 8th, BP Oddo kicked off this year's "Readers Are Leaders" 4th grade reading challenge at a ceremony at P.S. 35. The Readers Are Leaders Program challenges 4th grade classes in Staten Island's schools to read a minimum of six books at or above grade level during the five-week period of February 18th through March 25th. One "exceptional" reader will be chosen from each school to be recognized at a ceremony in May. Since its inception in 1996, 4th graders have read more than 690,000 books for the annual challenge.
 
In addition, we have added a new component to the challenge this year. As a partner program and expansion of the successful Readers Are Leaders, Borough President Oddo also kicked off a new “Readers Are Leaders Jr.” program, challenging 1st graders to read “Mikey and the Dragons” by NYT bestselling author and former Navy SEAL Jocko Willink, along with one book of their choice. This program will run concurrent to the fourth grade program.
 
At the kickoff, students from P.S. 35 got to see a magic show performed by our friend Magician Mike Lane. As an added bonus to the challenge, any student who reads Mike's book series, "The Magic Shop," and writes a book report about one of the books will be considered for a special prize.
 
Students who participate in the 1st grade “Readers Are Leaders Jr.” challenge will be required to read " Mikey and the Dragons " by Jocko Willink. The Borough President's office distributed over 1,500 copies to participating schools throughout the borough.
 
“While you guys are all reading your 6 books, I am going to do my part and read a little for me. I am blessed to work with people at Borough Hall who also love to read. We got together to think about how we could make this program even better. So we decided to expand ‘Readers Are Leaders’ to the 1st grade with a ‘Readers Are Leaders Jr.’,” said Borough President Oddo. 

On Sunday, January 27, Borough President James S. Oddo hosted his first annual “BP Assist Live” at Susan E. Wagner High School.  This was adapted from the previous “Direct Connect Sunday,” a tradition he began when he took office.
 
“When I first got elected borough president in 2014, the notion of having a really stuffy swearing-in inauguration didn’t quite fit my style,” said Borough President Oddo. “I wanted to get to work. I tried to figuratively and literally open the door to Borough Hall and host Staten Islanders I have never seen, and it was really a positive event.”
 
Borough President Oddo began the afternoon with a Q&A with students from Staten Island’s high schools. Topics addressed included the opioid epidemic, street conditions and how to portray Staten Island in a positive light. Borough President Oddo also spoke of the importance of sleep, healthy eating and managing stress for teenagers.
 
On the drug epidemic, he said the crisis knows “no demographic.”
 
The schools represented included Susan E. Wagner High School, Curtis High School, Monsignor Farrell High School, New Dorp High School, Michael J. Petrides High School, Staten Island Technical High School, McKee Technical High School, Concord High School and the College of Staten Island High School for International Studies.
 
Another aspect of the day included a resource fair where Staten islanders were able to meet with representatives from 48 city agencies, cultural organizations and community groups to learn about their services and ask questions.

​We welcomed over 200 people at the event. 

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