During the district’s mid-November Board of Education meeting, the Three Village educational community came together to honor and celebrate many student-artists for their incredible talents. 

Elementary students from across the district who participated in this year’s Interdependence Hexagon Project were hailed for the recognitions they earned at this international art exhibit. Additionally, four Ward Melville High School students – Srdjan Bozin, Max Friedman, Ryan Manuud and Jamie Nagle – were honored for having their original films chosen to be screened at the All-American High School Film Festival.  

Keeping with the theme of the evening, members of the district’s art department then presented a thorough overview of the K-12 art program and the unique opportunities it has afforded students over the years. 
 

Nassakeag Elementary School kindergarten students used their creativity and writing skills to help create memorable keepsakes for the nation’s veterans this November. 

In honor of Veterans Day, the students wrote letters and drew colorful pictures. The completed pieces were sent to Operation Gratitude in partnership with Scholastic. Additionally, the students made heart flags to show how thankful they are for all who serve and have served the nation. 

In the spirit of Hispanic Heritage month, Ward Melville High School level three Spanish classes created posters to showcase all Spanish-speaking countries.  

The posters, which were placed on display for all to enjoy, included information about the culture, geography and idiomatic expressions unique to that particular area of the world. The classes visited the gallery of posters and participated in a scavenger hunt using the information included in each display. 

In honor of El Día de los Muertos, a holiday traditionally celebrated in Mexico, the classes explored cultural activities, such as face painting, decorating calaveras (sugar skulls) and creating papel picado (perforated paper shapes), and sampled traditional dishes. 

Ward Melville High School’s Iron Patriots robotics team recently attended the seventh annual Half Hollow Hills robotics invitational, competing against top teams from across the region. 

After a grueling day of battle against 16 Long Island teams, the Iron Patriots, in an alliance with Cold Spring Harbor, Smithtown and West Islip, surpassed all expectations and finished the day in first place.

“Needless to say, we are all very proud of our entire team,” said technology teacher John Williams, the team’s adviser. 

R.C. Murphy Junior High School ninth-grade students explored a multitude of career paths with the help of a team of volunteers during this year’s Career Awareness Day, held in the school’s gymnasium in early November.

During the event, students attended an interviewing seminar with Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Dr. Gary B. Dabrusky and Executive Director of Secondary Curriculum and Human Resources Dr. Alan Baum before touring a number of booths spotlighting different professions. Organized by family and consumer science teachers Virginia Ferraro and Emma Domino, the program featured careers in law enforcement, security, engineering, banking, construction, journalism and more. Students were able to ask volunteers about the educational requirements of their jobs, what a typical day looks like and any skills necessary to be successful in that particular business. 

In honor of the building winning this year’s Emma Cup – an award given by Emma S. Clark Library to the elementary school in the district with the highest percentage of participants in the summer reading challenge – Nassakeag Elementary School recently held a Milk and Cookie Night to celebrate all student participants. 

More than 130 students attended from all grades, and the Ward Melville High School National Honor Society volunteered in reading rooms. There was even a surprise reader in a couple of rooms, building Assistant Principal Nancy Pickford!

Colorful displays of words and thoughts blanketed the English department hallways at Ward Melville High School as students recently unleashed their creativity and took part in this year’s Day of Writing event.

Within their English classes, students and teachers discussed two powerful quotes – one by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a separate statement from Aristotle. The messages were timely and focused on civil movements of acceptance, tolerance and unity. The students then earnestly reflected on and thoughtfully responded to these quotes. When completed, more than 1,500 student reflections were hung up for others to read and respond to.

Costumed Setauket Elementary School students blanketed the front bus circle during the building’s Halloween parade. Some outfits drew inspiration from literary favorites and television characters, others were original and creative.

Students in grades K-2 marched in the event, while spectators proudly cheered and members of the fifth- and sixth-grade band performed a number of catchy selections. The event served as a great kickoff to the day’s fall-themed festivals and activities. 

W.S. Mount Elementary School relinquished its traditional school colors in late October and proudly wore blue and orange when New York Mets draft pick Anthony Kay returned to his alma mater. 

The Ward Melville High School Class of 2013 graduate spoke with the elementary students about his climb to decorated baseball player, how he deferred his original draft section to go to college and reflected upon his fond memories in the Three Village Central School District. The lefty pitcher advised the students to always follow their dreams – no matter what others may say. 

“When I was your age, people would tell me that I would never get to be a baseball player [for a job],” Mr. Kay said. “When I was drafted [to the MLB] it was a dream come true.”
 
Mr. Kay fielded questions from the audience and even presented several lucky raffle winners with signed baseballs and Ward Melville Patriot baseball hats. 

After a thorough and extensive application process, Ward Melville High School’s honors jazz band ensemble was chosen as one of only a select few performance groups from throughout the state to showcase their talents during the New York State School Boards Association annual conference and convention this October.

During the event, the 18 student-musicians performed in the New York Ballroom at the Sheraton Hotel under the leadership of teacher Jason Chapman.  In attendance were Board members and administrators from across the state, as well as New York State Commissioner for Education MaryEllen Elia. The students received praise and commendation from all after the performance of three challenging musical numbers. 

Positivity, self-awareness and respect permeated conversations in the halls and classrooms at Ward Melville High School as students and staff came together to celebrate this year’s Patriot PRIDE Day.

During the annual event, traditional classes were suspended and students were invited to participate in a series of events and workshops centered on creating a culture of kindness, compassion and acceptance. 

The program began with an assembly with keynote speaker Jeff Yalden, who encouraged the students to recognize the importance of mental health and to not let obstacles get in the way of living their best life. 

Throughout the remainder of the day, students attended workshops with outside presenters and staff focused on lifesaving skills, hands-on activities, and tips for overcoming anxiety and stress. With the help of Stony Brook University and the Setauket Fire District, students received training in CPR, performed in a drum circle with music teacher Jason Champman and practiced yoga with science teacher Marnie Kula. Additionally, one speaker – Kevin Alter – spoke about the trial and tribulations faced by addicts in a program called The Addict’s Diary. 

P.J. Gelinas Junior High School’s ninth-grade Chamber Choir had the opportunity to lend their voices to a large-scale community event this October when it performed the national anthem during Stony Brook University’s homecoming game. 

Under the direction of Bob DePersio, the student group let their voices ring out across the stadium during a pitch-perfect performance. Patriot and Seawolf fans of all ages commended the performance and gave a resounding ovation as the students exited the field. 

Due to a generous donation by local Girl Scout Troop 639, W.S. Mount Elementary School students now have a common place to expand their social circles and find new friends. 

A buddy bench, which is a place for students to sit during recess when looking for a friend to play with, was gifted to the school thanks to the talented troop members. The idea behind the bench is that it helps to eliminate loneliness and foster friendships on the playground. 

The local troop members not only built the structure, but sanded and painted it, making it picture perfect for their peers. Special thanks to the following students and troop leaders for their generous donation: 

Lauren Accardi
Gianna Alessio 
Samantha McGarrity
Julia McGee
Isabella Parente
Olivia Reyes
Kate Rodriguez
Samantha Shaw
Ashley Walters
Kate Woods
Leaders – Jennifer Alessio, Jaqueline Parente, Joann Waters 

Schools throughout the Three Village Central School District joined together to celebrate Unity Week with a series of activities aimed at promoting acceptance, tolerance and antibullying.

At Setauket Elementary School, teachers decorated classroom doors to visually display the building’s commitment to promoting unity, and students and staff were provided with Unity-themed T-shirts. In addition, all grade levels attended an assembly program called “Sweethearts and Heroes,” which focused on how bullying affects individuals and how to embrace empathy and leadership to be forces of change in school and society. Fifth- and sixth-grade student council members also worked with program presenters in a breakout session to build skills and strategies for stopping bullying. They then worked to teach those younger students during small group role-playing workshops. 

Both R.C. Murphy Junior High School and P.J. Gelinas Junior High School welcomed a keynote speaker from the Free Hugs Project, who spoke about breaking down barriers and accepting others for their individuality. Students and staff at both buildings were also provided with commemorative Unity Day shirts, which they wore on Oct. 24, a day deemed Unity Day by the National Bullying Prevention Month program. As a visual display of their commitment to the topic, Murphy students also helped to create a Unity Patch, using 40 pumpkins that each student and staff member signed and decorated.   

Donning lab coats and armed with science notebooks, Arrowhead Elementary School kindergarten students have been exploring a number of complex science topics during recent visits to the building’s science lab.

The initiative is part of the district’s implementation of New York State’s K-12 Next Generation Science Standards, which emphasizes a three-dimensional approach to instruction. 

“The goal is to design experiences in our labs and classrooms that help build a better understanding of science over time,” explained kindergarten teacher Janice Connolly. “The kindergarten students will be introduced to weather and climate, forces and interactions, matter and its interactions, and interdependent relationships in ecosystems.”

Throughout the year, the students will be visiting the lab every other week to explore these and other concepts. During their first introductory lesson, they learned what a scientist does and explored various objects with the tools that scientists use before documenting their investigations in their science notebooks.

Minnesauke Elementary School kindergarten through second-grade students learned important safety lessons during a recent fire prevention program provided by the dedicated members of the Setauket Fire Department.

Throughout the program, volunteers reinforced the importance of having a predetermined family meeting place, the need to regularly replace smoke detector batteries and having a number to call in case of an emergency. 

Outside the building, students were able to tour two working fire apparatuses and take an up-close look at the firefighters’ lifesaving equipment as well as an ambulance and rescue boat. Each student was then provided with a keepsake informational goody bag, which included materials to reinforce the messages that were discussed.

In recognition of the countless hours that the district’s seven-member Board of Education dedicates to the schools and community, the Three Village Central School District celebrated School Board Recognition Week during its Oct. 17 meeting.

Throughout the evening, student representatives from each district school took to the podium to give thanks to their building’s Board liaison, as well as the district clerk and student representative. The presenters each wove witty facts about the honored guests into their speeches, as they highlighted the individual’s personal accomplishments and professional backgrounds. As a token of appreciation, each Board member was presented with a commemorative plaque and all honored were gifted baskets filled with school spirit wear.

The Ward Melville High School Linguistics class took a look into current research on endangered languages in the indigenous areas of South America during a recent guest lecture presentation by Dr. Elias-Ulloa, an associate professor of linguistics at Stony Brook University.

Linguistics is a new class at Ward Melville High School and is taught by Cynthia Porter. During the guest workshop, students learned about Arabela, a language with only four remaining speakers left in the world, as well as the languages and cultures of the Konibo and the Shipibo. The Konibo (“Deer People”) and Shipibo (“Snake People”) live along the Ucayali River in the Amazon rainforest in Peru. The Shipibo people are talented artists who produce beautifully intricate and vibrant works of art that honor their natural surroundings. 

Dr. Elias-Ulloa shared a Shipibo myth about animals cooperating and working together to escape the belly of an anaconda. 

As a result of their students’ overwhelming participation in the Emma S. Clark Library’s Summer Reading program, Nassakeag Elementary School has been awarded the 2018 Emma Cup trophy.

 Each year the library challenges Three Village Central School District students to embrace a lifelong love for reading by staying active readers throughout the summer vacation. As an added incentive, students are encouraged to sign up for a summer reading challenge and log their participation. The winners of the friendly competition are awarded the coveted Emma Cup trophy each fall when the school year resumes. 

This year, Three Village students read close to 21,000 books as part of the competition, and Nassakeag had the highest percentage of students sign up for and complete the challenge, at 44 percent.

Twenty-two Ward Melville High School students have earned the distinct honor of being named Commended Students in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. 

These students are among the approximately 50,000 highest scorers on the PSAT/NMSQT. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied selection index score that may vary from year to year. Although they will not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of those honored will become candidates for special scholarships offered by corporations and businesses.

The Three Village Central School District congratulates the following Commended Students: 

Madeleine Avni
Jack Bertini
Lucia Buscemi
Jeffrey Casey
Benjamin Catalfo
Samuel Catalfo
David Cutting
Yiwen Fu
Steven Holmquist
Victor Jiao
Noah Mond
Priya Mukhi
Boris Nekrasov
Maya Pena-Lobel
Ryan Qin
Robert Rau
Daniel Schwartz
Megan Specht
Albert Tian
Cliffton Woo
Chih Yu Yang
Jason Zou

As a result of their talents, 38 Ward Melville High School student-musicians have been chosen to participate in this year’s Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County Music Festival. Selection into this prestigious festival is based on a student’s score at last spring’s New York State School Music Association solo and ensemble festival as well as teacher recommendation. 

The Three Village Central School District is proud to congratulate this year’s Ward Melville High School All-County Musicians: 

Kian Abbott – Orchestra
Jordan Amato – Treble Chorus
Hayden Aron – Mixed Chorus
Matthew Broadbent – Band
Renee Clairvoyant – Mixed Chorus
Ryan Comerford – Orchestra
Campbell DeMaio – Treble Chorus
Nicolette Filiberto – Treble Chorus
Ben Fogarty – Mixed Chorus
Hannah Forcone – Orchestra
Corrine Gallagher – Mixed Chorus
Jennifer Greek – Mixed Chorus
Katie Greek – Treble Chorus
Max Haegele – Band
Steven Holmquist – Orchestra
Jonathan Huang – Orchestra
Victor Jiao – Orchestra
Varun Jindal – Orchestra
Preeti Kota – Orchestra
Ryan Krug – Orchestra
Denise Lai – Orchestra
Marielle Leiboff – Mixed Chorus
Haley Linden – Treble Chorus
Daniel Ma – Orchestra
Anna Macedonio – Mixed Chorus
Molly Marino – Orchestra
Halle Marte – Treble Chorus
Jack McCoy – Orchestra
Noah Monde – Mixed Chorus
Stephanie Ochei – Treble Chorus
Arianna O’Connell – Treble Chorus
Raquel Paredes – Orchestra
Anushka Rajagopalan – Orchestra
Clara Sullivan – Band
Connor Tweedy – Mixed Chorus
Darren Tung – Band
Meghan Woods – Treble Chorus
Alexandra Woroniecka – Orchestra

Ward Melville High School senior Danielle Wenzler has been accepted into the Miss Teen New York program and is one of the finalists to compete in the pageant for the chance to represent her home state in the Miss Teen USA pageant. 

“[Earning a] spot to compete in the Miss Teen New York pageant is best opportunity I have had in my entire life,” Danielle said. “I want to not only be the representation of Ward Melville but all of Long Island and to be able to inspire others so that they can make their dreams become a reality. Through hard work and dedication, anyone can accomplish [their goals] and prove to others that their capabilities define who they are. Inspiring people of all ages to accomplish their goals will make a difference in this world, and this is what I want to achieve in the pageant. As a finalist, I would like to say that no matter what it takes, I will do my very best to show how far I’ve come through life and in this competition.”

She will now compete in the event, which will be held at the Performing Arts Center at Purchase College from Jan. 18-20, 2019. 

Ward Melville High School students Elyas Masrour, Maya Pena-Lobel and Ethan Winter were invited to participate in Avalon Park and Preserve’s W.E.Y.E.S. (Western Exploration for Young Environmental Stewards) program this fall. 

As a result of their exemplary participation in the park’s youth programs, the students were granted a scholarship opportunity to explore Yellowstone National Park’s flora, fauna, geology and ecology for a week in late September. Hiking through Yellowstone’s backcountry, Elyas, Ethan and Maya observed wolves, bears, bison, elk, eagles and countless other species. In what participants described as a life-changing week, the young travelers were able to work with world-class guides, biologists, wildlife photographers and other experts in their fields. 

They were accompanied on the trip by Gelinas teacher Doug Elliot, who is also co-founder of the Avalon Outdoor Leadership program, a program that aims to get youngsters into the outdoors and connected to the environment in which they live. 

P.J. Gelinas Junior High School Theatre Company took to the stage this October to perform the building’s 16th annual adolescent-issue play, “Me, My Selfie and I.”

In what was the New York premiere of the play written by Jonathan Dorf, the cast of 30 ninth-grade students performed a series of scenes and monologues spotlighting a group of teens who are struggling to find the balance between documenting their lives and living them. This thought-provoking, one-act “dramedy” explored the world of social media that we live in. The show left all attendees with the question, “We seem to be recording our every experience, but are we making memories or missing out on them?” 

Gelinas students were treated to a free performance during the school day, and the cast hosted an evening show for the broader community. 

The pride of the Three Village School District was on full display on Oct. 6 as the community came together to celebrate homecoming at Ward Melville High School.

The afternoon began with a carnival for all ages that featured games and various activities for the crowd to enjoy. Among the stations was a hair dying tent for fans to add specks of green and yellow to their locks, along with a dunk tank, bounce houses, face painting and many other tables to help support high school clubs.

The high school cheerleading teams also hosted a pregame clinic for the youth of the community on the football field. Dozens of youth cheerleaders took instruction from high school coaches and varsity captains while being split into groups for activities. The clinic ended with a group cheer and picture.

In addition to the football game, both the junior varsity and varsity field hockey teams hosted games on the turf adjacent to the stadium field. Each team hosted Garden City as fans bounced back and forth between both fields to cheer on the hometown Patriots.

Following the entrance of the marching band and the parading of banners by each elementary school in honor of the event, the football team took the field in matchup against Walt Whitman. Nassakeag Elementary School was named the winner of this year's banner contest and the Patriots went on to a 32-10 victory. Senior Trey Berry passed for 108 yards with three touchdowns while classmate Nick Troy ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Members of the football team also supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink in conjunction with their uniform. Each endzone on the field also had a pink ribbon in the corner to demonstrate support.

R.C. Murphy Junior High School students and staff celebrated the importance of the written word during Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating the freedom to read. 

The week brings together the entire book community – librarians, publishers, teachers and readers – in shared support of the freedom to seek and express ideas, even those some consider unorthodox or unpopular. The list is generated by the American Library Association and spotlights current and historical attempts to censor books in libraries and schools. 

“Banning books silences stories and discussions,” said Murphy library media specialist Betsy Knox. “Censorship succeeds when no one talks about it.”

Minnesauke Elementary School students, staff and community members came together this fall to take part in a fun-filled Color Mile run on the school grounds.

More than 360 individuals took part in the event, which aimed to raise funds to support school initiatives geared toward promoting activity and wellness at the school. These include such things as a new basketball hoop to make a full court.  

Three Village Central School District students showed their creative talents and artistic capabilities during this year’s International Interdependence Hexagon Project, a visual arts opportunity for students worldwide.

The event encourages students to create art within the infinitely interlinking shape of a hexagon, a metaphor for interconnectedness. Within the shape, students made connections to the world around them through shapes, words and other artistic representation. The 2018 theme was “Transforming Conflicts,” and was a call to promote global citizenship. 

Congratulations to the following Three Village winners:  

Most Effective All-Over Interpretation: (Minnesauke Elementary School)
Khizer Hasson
Devon Larsen
Isabella Rowett

Most Creative Expression: (Minnesauke Elementary School)
Hazel Cohas
William Goode
Althea Grubb-Aubrecht

Honorable Mention: (Minnesauke Elementary School)
Josslyn Appel
Emily Mills
CeJae Reynolds

The Living Book Project: (A collaborative project between art teachers Maria Maritato and Christine Sacco)
Minnesauke Elementary School: Nicole Dimech and Soraya Masrour
Setauket Elementary School: Francis Kelly and Olivia Surette
Mount Elementary School: Christian Tyler and Kyle Reye
Arrowhead Elementary School: Sabrina Zheng
Nassakeag Elementary School: Mallika Singh, Alexander Song, Vivian Wang and Aimee Yang