Staten Island, NY –Borough President Vito Fossella joined Staten Island RISE Academy this past Thursday afternoon for a Field Day celebration of community, highlighting not only the students’ place in Travis and on Staten Island, but also the ways in which RISE Academy prepares its students to be independent and involved citizens.
Staten Island RISE Academy (P089R) is a brand-new District 75 school which opened in the Travis section last fall, serving primarily students diagnosed with autism and other developmental disabilities. The school features a 12-month program rooted in a holistic, all-angles approach to preparing its students with special needs not only for academic success, but also for independence and the responsibilities of young adulthood.
The school’s academic curricula are augmented by several practical life skills programs, including its Activities for Daily Living program operated out of a simulated apartment, the Bluebird Garden teaching students about gardening and growing their own food, a student-run beverage stand and financial literacy programs.
This past Thursday, RISE Academy invited BP Fossella to its End of Summer Bash to witness students present their special projects from the past year, which focused on students’ place within the Travis community. The Borough President was welcomed by students with a hand-drawn portrait.
Students presented BP Fossella with poster boards of their findings on a research project that required them to explore and highlight certain key locations that residents would consider important – including the FDNY Squad 8 Firehouse, Schmul Park, the World War I Memorial, Showplace Bowling, and Parma Pizzeria, among others. Altogether, the students painted a picture of Travis as a community rich in history and culture – one they appreciate being part of.
Then, the students enjoyed fresh “Bruschetta with Fossella”, with tomatoes handpicked from their very own Bluebird Garden.
“We were honored and grateful to join the kids of RISE Academy on their End of Summer Bash, and we are very impressed with their knowledge and appreciation for the Travis community, where the school is located,” Borough President Fossella said. “We thank Principal D’Anna, her staff and the entire student body, who have embarked on what is, part and parcel, a very promising, very fulfilling educational story taking place right here in Travis.”
“RISE Academy was created with a very clear vision: to prepare our students not only for academic success, but for meaningful, independent lives as valued members of their communities. Our Field Day celebration with Borough President Fossella demonstrated that vision in action. Our students researched their community, shared their voices, showcased their talents, and took pride in the place they call home. That is what RISE is all about—creating opportunities for every student to discover their strengths, find their voice, and understand that they have an important place in the world,” said Dr. Denise D’Anna, Founding Principal of Staten Island RISE Academy.
RISE Academy visit. Image Credit – BP Fossella
RISE Academy visit. Image Credit – BP Fossella
RISE Academy visit. Image Credit – BP Fossella
RISE Academy visit. Image Credit – BP Fossella
RISE Academy visit. Image Credit – BP Fossella
Banner Image: BP Fossella artwork. Image Credit – RISE Academy students
The Office of the Borough President has a responsibility to advocate for the entire Borough of Staten Island and all its residents, and represents the Borough's interests within City government.
The Borough President communicates directly with the Mayor and the City Council to emphasize Staten Island’s budget priorities.
In addition, the Borough President is responsible for reviewing major land use decisions and proposing sites for city facilities within the Borough.
As the chair of the Borough Board, the Borough President leads Staten Island’s City Council delegation and Community Board chairs in the process of reviewing and approving the transfer of public properties to private use. The Borough President’s Office houses the Borough's Topographical Bureau, which maintains the borough’s official maps and assigns street addresses.
The Borough President monitors the delivery of city services on Staten Island, and acts as a liaison between residents and city agencies when problems arise to devise solutions. The Borough President is also responsible for appointing one member to the Panel for Educational Policy and one member to the City Planning Commission, as well as some 150 members to Staten Island’s three community boards.
