Countrywood first graders in the Schwartz class community showed that Countrywood cares this holiday season! They inspired the entire school to collect pajamas for children in need. The pajamas have already been distributed to Long Island children through the nonprofit Pajama Program just in time for the holidays! Scholastic Book Club has formed “The Great Bedtime Story Pajama Drive.” Scholastic will match every pair of new pajamas with a book! Thank you to the Countrywood community for your caring heart!
↧
Warm PJ’s Just in Time
↧
Birchwood and Project Hope Get Together to Help the Community
In the spirit of giving, Birchwood students had the opportunity to participate in a community service activity just before our winter recess and help out the less fortunate in our community. Third-grade students decorated paper bags with positive and cheerful holiday messages and pictures. Fourth-grade students worked in the cafeteria to bake cookies. Using pre-made tubs of cookie dough, students sat at cafeteria tables and scooped the dough onto a tray in a variety of sizes, and then staff members baked them. The fifth-grade students made sandwiches. They worked in an assembly line to place cold cuts on pieces of bread and then wrapped the sandwiches. They also packed the sandwiches, with the freshly baked cookies from the fourth graders into the bags created by the third graders. This wonderful activity helped emphasize the importance of giving to the less fortunate during the holiday season.
In the heart all the student activity, the kitchens at Birchwood had a visit from Old Saint Nick himself. Santa and his staff (as repeated from last seasons verse below), managed to slip in an afternoon of their own good will. Seems that for years Santa and his elves have been annually preparing and baking a special dinner and dessert so that needy people in our community may have a better holiday season.
So with the children all nestled, snug in their bus,
Birchwood’s finest headed to the cafeteria, never making a fuss;
He was dressed in Ciccarelli, from his head to his toes,
And he’s always impeccable, every one of his clothes;
A bundle of pasta he had placed on the table,
Lasagna for all, he called to the able.
They sprang to their stations, these givers of cheer,
And away they all flew creating dinners before the New Year;
But I heard him exclaim, as I drove off to edit,
Not a word about me; it’s my elves who deserve all the credit!“Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”
↧
↧
Whitman Grad Performs a Tough Job
Slowing down the NFL’s leading defense is no easy task, but the San Diego Chargers almost pulled off an upset against the Denver Broncos on Sunday night, and, as their season comes to a close, so does the rookie season for the Chargers offensive tackle Tyreek Burwell. The 6-5, 305-pound tackle impressed throughout the preseason and training camp after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati on May 12. Tyreek, a 2010 Whitman graduate, had an impressive rookie season and we look forward to hearing more about him in the future.
Congratulations Tyreek Burwell on making your dream a reality.
↧
Touch-screen Voting Device Presentation
South Huntington community members are welcome to attend ourJanuary 13, 2016, Board of Education meeting for a presentation of the touch-screen voting devices under consideration for use at the May 17thannual budget vote/elections. The Board of Education meeting begins at7:30 p.m.at our Stimson Middle School in the Forum. It is anticipated that the touch-screen voting device presentation will take place at7:45 p.m., directly after the Stimson Jazz Band performance. We look forward to the community’s participation with this presentation.
↧
Assemblyman Lupinacci Visits Silas Wood
New York State Assemblyman and South Huntington resident Chad Lupinacci visited several Silas Wood classes over the course of two days in late December. He did a presentation about the structure and function of both the Federal and State governments. His presentation included facts about the various branches of government, the differences between state and federal structures, and the roles of each position. “My chief responsibility – and that of my colleagues – lies in drafting, analyzing and voting on proposals that affect all New Yorkers,” said the Assemblyman in his ‘How a Bill Becomes Law’ brochure. Assemblyman Lupinacci uses this easy to understand brochure to help students and constituents understand the process that begins with an idea and ends up as a new law.
The Assemblyman delved into his personal role and experiences as a current NYS Assemblyman. In addition, Mr. Lupinacci also shared some of his South Huntington memories and how his many positive school experiences became very important later in his life. The students responded with interest and eagerness as he encouraged and fielded many different student questions in each class. Afterwards, Mr. Lupinacci commented on what a great audience the Silas students were and he also expressed his thanks to the staff for welcoming him into their classes.
↧
↧
Colin O'Hara Becomes a Knight
Congratulations to Colin O'Hara. The Wildcats senior attackman signed his letter of intent to play lacrosse for the Fighting Knights of Lynn University in Boca Raton Florida. “Lynn University is a perfect fit for Colin, he has an opportunity to step on the field right away down there,” said Varsity Lacrosse Coach Robert Howell. Coach Howell spoke about the many different areas of the country that are becoming very active in promoting home-grown lacrosse programs both in inner-cities as well as throughout the state, including Florida where Colin should make a positive contribution. “He’s a big strong attackman playing the right side with a heck of a shot,” said Coach Howell of his senior standout. “Colin has tremendous lacrosse IQ and should be an impact player for us this year. He is one of our best right-handed attackmen we’ve had in years and his senior leadership will be key if we are going to make a playoff run this year.”
↧
A Message from the Superintendent of Schools
Dear South Huntington School District Community:
We would like to take a moment and apologize for the presentation of a Stimson Curriculum Fair project that has offended members of our community. The project was presented in a manner that did not communicate the absolute horrors of Adolf Hitler’s reign in Nazi Germany. While our investigation indicates that this was not the intent, the project should have had additional guidance and direction provided by the adults on our entire educational team. Please know that our district recognizes the horrific nature of the Holocaust and will continue to communicate that reality in our classrooms. Additionally, now that we have started this initial conversation, we are working in partnership with our community Rabbis and other clergy to further develop those curriculum areas and PTA programs that address the significance of the Holocaust upon global humanity.
Again, we deeply apologize and assure the community that we are addressing the issue and taking steps to prevent future incidents.
Sincerely,
David Bennardo
↧
The 2015 Frank Gugliotta Memorial Tournament
In round one of the 27th Annual Frank Gugliotta Memorial Tournament, Whitman maintained a commanding lead and fended off a second half drive by Jericho. The Wildcats took a 54-35 win to launch them into the championship round. High scorers for Whitman included Korey Lee with 18 points and Brandon Corbin with 13 points. Other team scoring in the Jericho game was as follows: Willie Petro-6 points; Avery McKenzie- 5 points; Spencer DeRosa- 4 points; Dylan McNally- 4 points; Matt Kleet- 3 points; and James Mattutat- 1 point.
Photo Gallery
In the tournament final, Whitman and Ward Melville opened to a blistering pace as each team traded goals; the Wildcats took the edge 18-15 at the end of the first period. In the second period Ward Melville exerted their speed and shoot prowess as they netted 11 points giving them a 26-24 lead as the teams took a break at the half. “They came out at the half playing a zone defense and our guys did a great job of picking it up and executing,” said Coach Tom 'Fitz' Fitzpatrick. “We went on a 17-3 run as the 3rd period closed and it provided great momentum.” The third period ended with Whitman bettering their opponent 22-7.
The Wildcats continued their strength in the beginning of the fourth period and then endured a scare as Ward Melville went on a 13-0 scoring run that closed the gap in the final two and a half minutes. “We need to correct those mistakes we made in the last two and a half minutes, make some adjustments and move forward,” said Coach Fitz. The 27th Annual Tournament ended with hosts Walt Whitman winning a close and exciting game 58-56. "I would like to thank all of the spectators who came out to support their teams and once again supported this great cause," added Coach Fitzpatrick.
Korey Lee was the tournament MVP, and Brandon Corbin and Willie Petro earned all-tournament team awards.
Team scoring in the Ward Melville game was as follows: Korey Lee- 22 points; Willie Petro-13 points; Dylan McNally- 9 points; Brandon Corbin- 8 points; Matt Stockfeder- 4 points; and Matt Kleet- 2 points.
Photo Gallery
↧
Smart Advice From Those Who Have Been There
Telling it like it is, Walt Whitman alumni gathered for an annual event that sheds light on what to expect when you head off to college. “Visit the school you really want to go to more than once, they look at that,” said one alumna. “Sure there are parties, but you need to learn quickly that you absolutely must do the work….first,” offered another. One of the consistent comments was the importance of scholarship money to help defray the cost. “There are scholarships out there for everybody and anybody, and they’re not hard to get, you just need to do it.” “Start early on applying for scholarships, I wish I didn’t wait so long.” “Take AP courses, I’m going to graduate early because of the AP courses I took.”
In separate assemblies, Whitman students were able to send written questions to the Guidance Department, where Ms. Leah Lugovinia, chairperson of Guidance and Student Services, consolidated and organized them by subject matter. The questions were read aloud, and alumni were able to respond directly. The answers were straightforward and honest. “We had 25 Whitman graduates representing a diverse group of schools and experiences eager to help advise our junior and senior students on how to transition well from high school to college,” said Ms. Lugovina. “Our students had the opportunity to hear about what they should be doing now to prepare for college, how to successfully navigate the complexities of college life and the rigors of college level work.
Thank you to the following Walt Whitman alumni who returned to their alma mater for this important and worthy exchange of information and ideas: Jack Schatten- Boston University, Zarmeen Mussa- Columbia University, Marina Kopf- Fordham University, Mara Keen- George Mason University, Abigail Daniels- George Washington University, Rini Halder- Harvard University, Cassidy Batkin- Marist College, Maggie Nostrand- Penn State University, Jonathan O’Toole- Purdue University, April Fallon- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Oliva Banting- Stony Brook University, Emily Biederman- SUNY Albany, Sean Delle- SUNY Farmingdale, Jon Sparling- SUNY Geneseo, Paige Gladstone SUNY New Paltz, Patrick Cammer SUNY Oneonta, Kristen Cardascia University of Connecticut, Nicole Peluso University of Delaware, Megan Lo and Bridget McHale- University of New Haven, Alexis Darrow- University of Texas @ Austin, Isabel Sakarin- Vassar College, Alexa Arthur and Nicholas Oberle- Virginia Tech, and Kalif Jones- Westminster College of the Arts.
Photo Gallery
↧
↧
All-Aboard at Countrywood!
On Wednesday, December 23, first-grade classes celebrated Polar Express Day. The day was filled with fun activities. Upon entering their classrooms with their golden ticket, the children boarded the Polar Express. This special day in the classroom included watching the Polar Express movie and reading the book. What a magical experience for the first grade students!
↧
French Students Hold Their Own Breakfast of Champions
After the traditional Bûche de Noël Contest, held in late December, our French Language students got together for a traditional French breakfast: croissants, Madeleines, baguettes and Brie cheese were on the menu and our students applauded as the contest winners were given gifts and recognition by their peers. It is a tradition that allows all French language students the opportunity to meet each other socially and create bonds from freshmen to seniors. It gives the students a sense of belonging where they can easily share and appreciate their love for the French culture.
Félicitations et Bonne Année!
↧
Walt Whitman DECA Succeeds Once Again at Regional Competition
Recently, 60 of Walt Whitman’s DECA students competed against 1,600 Suffolk County DECA students at the annual Regional Competition at Suffolk Community College. After much preparation and practice, WWHS students came home with awards in the following categories:
First year DECA student Tiffany Chuen won a second place trophy in Principles of Hospitality and Tourism. Jason Girard won a 3rd place trophy in Automotive Services Marketing; while Kaitlyn Riha and Katie Clark won trophies in Principles of Business Management and Administration; Clifford Sweezey won in Principles of Finance.
Other seasoned DECA members also were recognized. Sophomore, Tyler Kurban won a trophy in Business Finance; Tyler Malone won for Hotel & Lodging management; Brenda Mendez won for Human Resources Management. Ricky Hauser was awarded for Decision Making-Human Resources. Sophomore, Aamash Mussa was awarded a trophy in Personal Financial Literacy.
Team award winners include: David Grey and Chris Davila grabbing first place in Business Law and Ethics; Jefferson Hector and Colin Sherland, took first place in Buying and Merchandising; Sarah Tabibzada and Jordan Roiland won first place in Hospitality Services; Catherine Aiello and Misha Patel won for Marketing Communications; Epi Ramirez and Ilana Desmond won in Marketing Communications; Freshmen, Jaden Speter and Andrew Harrigan won in Sports and Entertainment Marketing.
Award winners will attend New York DECA’s Annual State Career Conference in Rochester this March.
Whitman DECA was in top form; the students were professional, polite, and dressed for success! Many thanks to Mr. Baierlein, Ms. Meyer, Ms. Schubert, and Ms. Stueber for chaperoning this annual event.
↧
2016 Geographic Bee Off and Running
On January 8, 2016, Maplewood Intermediate School held its annual Geographic Bee, which is sponsored by the National Geographic Society and Maplewood’s Student Council. Nineteen fourth- and fifth-grade students competed in this year’s Geographic Bee.
Students first competed at the classroom level and the winners then moved on to the school-wide Geographic Bee. Congratulations to Maplewood’s school champion Marcus Zagorski, a fifth-grader who has won this event for the second straight year, and our runner-up, fourth-grader Griffin MacPherson.
Marcus will now have to take a forty-two question written test comprised of both multiple choice and short response questions, in order to qualify to compete at the state level. Should Marcus score high enough and move on to the state level, he may then possibly advance to national level.
The final National Geographic Bee takes place in Washington, DC in May 2016, with the first place winner receiving a $50,000 college scholarship, lifetime membership in the National Geographic Society and an expedition for two to the Galápagos Islands aboard the Lindblad ship National Geographic Endeavour.
Congratulations to the following amazing Maplewood class champions who pushed the level of competition to a new high. Olivia Beck, Ilan Gavrielow, Zachary Gerson, Abby Brosnan, Marcus Zagorski, Griffin MacPherson, Noelle Decker, Ryan Saslaw, Aurelia Turano, Hannah O’Neill, Morgan Fulcher, Nathalie Alvarez, James Lavarra, Marissa Karcher, Diamyne Corchado, Rijaa Zaidi, Jose Argueta, Kate Pratt, and Matthew Hoffman.
Photo Gallery
↧
↧
Great Talent Can’t Hide
If you happened to catch 60 Minutes on CBS last Sunday, January 3, you couldn't miss the episode titled ‘Little Jazzman’ about 12 year old Joey Alexander. But if you looked a little closer at the episode, there, playing with the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra and Wynton Marsalis, was Whitman's own Eric Miller.
In Eric’s senior year at Whitman he was chosen to play in the GRAMMY Jazz Ensemble—for the second year in a row. In a story you can find on our website from 2012, we asked if Eric Miller is Jazz's next great trombone player. Eric, a graduate from the Whitman class of 2008, has been busy playing with some of jazz's most famous musicians. “In addition to my private teacher and the Nassau/Suffolk Jazz Ensemble, I want to thank all the teachers in this district," said Miller in the January 2008 issue of Spotlight News. “They have helped me tremendously.”
Keep up the great work Eric, South Huntington and Walt Whitman are proud of your accomplishments.
http://www.shufsd.org/News/Story.aspx?id=7939
http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/little-jazz-man/
↧
ALA Girls State Selects Two @ Whitman
We are incredibly proud of Walt Whitman students Shelbi Wuss and Samantha Ruotolo who have been selected for the American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Girls State program that recognizes emerging young leaders throughout the nation. These talented young women will serve as the face and voice of our school district at the Girls State Conference to be held in the summer of 2016.
Mr. Ed O’Shea and Mr. Charlie Armstrong from the American Legion Greenlawn Post 1244 presented Shelbi Wuss with her ‘Citizen’ participation award, and Samantha Ruotolo as an alternate in the event that Shelbi is unable to participate in this summers’ weeklong program. Selection criteria include above-average scholastic achievement, strong leadership abilities, and high moral character.
American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) Girls State is among the most respected educational programs of government instruction for high school students. Each participant becomes a part of the operation of his local, county and state government. At ALA Girls State, participants are exposed to the rights and privileges, the duties and the responsibilities of a franchised ‘citizen’. The training is objective and practical with city, county and state governments operated by the students elected to the various offices. Activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, chorus and recreational programs.
Congratulations Shelbi Wuss and Samantha Ruotolo for this incredible opportunity and honor.
↧
Congratulations!
The GRAMMY Foundation announced that 119 schools nationwide have been selected as GRAMMY Signature Schools semifinalists for 2016. Walt Whitman High School is one of 23 in New York State that has been awarded this distinction. Created in 1998, the GRAMMY Signature Schools program recognizes top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education during an academic school year.
The selection process for GRAMMY Signature Schools begins each year in August when the GRAMMY Foundation mails notifications to more than 20,000 public high schools from districts large and small, urban, suburban and rural, requesting information about each school's music program. In mid-March 2016, the GRAMMY Foundation will announce the finalists for the GRAMMY Signature Schools program. These schools will receive a custom award and a monetary grant ranging from $1,000 up to $6,000 to benefit their music program.
Congratulations to all of the district’s talented music teachers and supportive families who are responsible for this distinction.
↧
Making Good Decisions Highlight Tea & Ties
On Friday, January 8th, our Project Excel team hosted their annual “Tea and Ties” program at Silas Wood Sixth-Grade Center. This very special tradition, initiated by Deputy Superintendent Jacci Harris and Mr. David Perkins, treats our students to an evening of mentoring from dedicated graduates and adults from the local communities.
Through the partnership with the Malik Fraternity Inc., our young men listened to inspirational stories of character, wise-decision making, and personal initiative. This year’s keynote speaker was Mr. Martine McDonald. The activities for the gentlemen also included a lesson in professional dress, which involved an important tutorial on the appropriate method for tying a tie, which was greatly appreciated by our young men, "I liked it a lot... now I don't have to wear a clip on tie," offered Maplewood Excel student Amarr Hendrickson at the conclusion of the program.
The young ladies enjoyed an equally impressive program. Keynote speaker Renee Daniel Flagler, from Girls Inc. spoke about obtaining your dreams and having a positive self-image, and Ms. Harris led a discussion about the value of education. This special evening of activities included a discussion about cell phone etiquette, appropriate attire for the occasion, and table manners. A special thanks to Ms. Ruth Jeudy from the Macy's Chanel Department who presented a make-up demonstration. The evening concluded with a self-esteem activity and pledge.
We would like to commend our Project Excel Coordinators on helping to ensure the evening was such a success: Maria Colon, Jennifer DeNoble, Roberto Torres, Shaka Williams, Ian Denson and Richard Garcia. We want to especially thank our social work interns for all their hard work as well: Fernando Beltran, Jennifer Henningsen, Caitlin DeStefano, Georgia Koutouzis, Michele Lee, Judy Fischer, Brian Coyle, Patrice Shultz, Stacey Dorce and Lusaida Mercado Rosa
Thank you to the following sponsors whose support is greatly appreciated: the Malik Foundation, East Northport Fireside Deli and Caterers, and Monaco's Pizzeria.
Photo Gallery
↧
↧
Cinderella @ SH Public Library
The South Huntington Education Foundation (SHEF) is proud to partner with the South Huntington Public Library in honor of "Take Your Child to the Library Day." To this end,we will be presenting the children’s classic, Cinderella, in conjunction with Plaza Theatrical on Saturday, February 6th at 7 PM. South Huntington cardholders can get free tickets beginning January 2nd and you can print them online, or get them in person at the Circulation Desk. Tickets are valid until6:50 PM, when non-ticket holders will be seated, if space is available. Use the link below to register online:
https://www.shpl.info/local/details.asp?progID=9887
↧
Collaboration an Important Reminder
Our collaborative work with Heckscher Museum and Ms. Hickey and Ms. Cryer's art classes is flourishing, and the results of this latest partnership are on grand display at Silas Wood.“The students learned about circles and spirals and used their Chromebooks online to explore samples found in nature and the man-made world,” said Heckscher Museum’s Kristina Schaaf, Associate Director of Education. “We also studied color theory and every student received a color palette and created their symmetrical rotating circle collages displayed here.”
Feel free to stop by Silas Wood and see the fantastic work on display. Of course, the bulletin boards, hallways, and classrooms are absolutely inspiring in every school, and the artwork serves as a visual reminder of well-balanced, productivity learning.
↧
Congratulations!
We wish to congratulate our December Students of the Month from Walt Whitman High School. These talented individuals have distinguished themselves in academic classes, earning the praise of the teachers and administrators alike. Our Students of the Month have successfully demonstrated the ability to juggle demands of increased academic standards, while simultaneously participating in numerous co-curricular endeavors. We congratulate all of our winners, as well as the teachers and dedicated parents who have contributed to their success.
DECEMBER STUDENTS OF THE MONTH:
ART: Leslie Hidalgo, Jacob Levinsky, Danielle Mattila, Daniel Moreira
SCIENCE: Taylor Epstein, Hailey Khatchatourian, Amanda Moletz, Sebastian Murphy
BUSINESS/HOME & CAREERS: John Haffner, Barbara Kahl, Nicholas Pasquini, Robert Seebach
PHYSICAL EDUCATION: Chloe Blumberg, Luis Chinchilla Cantaderio, Thomas Costa, Kimberlyn Moreno
ENGLISH: Andrea Adames, Odette Lazala, Melissa Manie, Erlin Mejia Guevara
SOCIAL STUDIES: Keeyse Aparicio Morales, Gianna Della Vedova, Olivia Pulvirenti, Elmer Vilorio
MATHEMATICS: Jordan Chen, Yenifer Cordova Palma, Angela Frazzitta, Kristian Perka
WORLD LANGUAGES: Erica Bell, Antoinette Butts Miller, Elena Davis, Claudia Rodriguez
MUSIC: Noelle Bryggman, Yenifer Cordova Palma, Elena Davis, Jeanine McNulty
ATHLETES OF THE MONTH: Terron Robinson: Wrestling andAlexandra Greaves: Girls Track.
↧