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Ward Melville High School

Address: 380 Old Town Road, East Setauket, NY 11733-3482
Main Office: (631) 730-4900
Principal: John Holownia 
Asst. Principals: Allison Herrschaft (Gr. 10), Stacey Zeidman (Gr. 11), Vincent Cereola (Gr. 12)
Deans of Students: Matt Fyfe (Gr. 10), Jay Negus (Gr. 11-12)
College Board School Code: 331-740

Exterior photo of school building

Important Phone Numbers

 

Code of Conduct

Ward Melville Graduation 2025 – Livestream

Ward Melville Prom 2025 - LiveStream

 

Important Dates

School Updates


All Things Senior

Course Placement Appeals

For those who wish to appeal course placements, ex: Regents to Honors, please send an email to the appropriate Department Head:

  • English: Joanna Cadolino
  • Math: Rocco Vetro
  • Science: Dr. Marnie Kula
  • Social Studies: Dr. Christina Cone
  • World Language: Kerri Golini


Hometown Wall of Honor

We are looking to honor any Ward Melville Alumni who have served in the Military on a Wall of Honor here at the High School. Click here for more information.




Current News

Ward Melville High School Commends the Class of 2025

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Ward Melville High School celebrated the Class of 2025 during a commencement ceremony that honored community, resilience and the importance of meaningful action.

Board of Education President Susan E. Megroz Rosenzweig addressed both students and families with a message grounded in perspective and encouragement. She urged parents not to get caught up in counting the “lasts,” and instead to appreciate the full journey. To graduates, she offered this advice: “Do the hard work, take the big swings, and savor the unexpected things that come up along the way.”

Principal John Holownia reflected on what transforms a building into a home, telling the Class of 2025 that it was their presence and spirit that brought Ward Melville to life. “Carry forward the lessons you have learned from one another,” he said. “You have set goals for yourself and surpassed what you thought was possible.” Holownia shared that this graduating class will always hold a special place in his heart, as they welcomed him “home” during his first year as principal.

Salutatorian Alexander Song credited his elementary teacher, Mr. Prinzo, for a simple but lasting piece of advice: “Be proactive.” He encouraged classmates to open their eyes to others, to embrace people for who they are and to lead with empathy.

Valedictorian Oliver Wu reflected on the challenges his class faced growing up during the pandemic and in the age of social media. He urged his peers to turn awareness into action: “Even as the world is happening to you, you are happening to the world.” He reminded them that the path forward requires purpose, courage – and a little fun.

Congratulations to the Ward Melville Class of 2025.

Date Added: 6/30/2025

Ward Melville Student Recognized for Heroic Life-Saving Actions

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At a recent Board of Education meeting, Ward Melville High School student Violet Fortner was recognized for her extraordinary bravery and quick thinking that helped save a life in the Three Village community.

On June 2, while driving home from school, Violet noticed two men on a front lawn, one of whom appeared to be in medical distress. Trusting her instincts, she turned her car around and immediately acted. The man in need was part of a father-son contracting team working in the neighborhood, and the son was unprepared to respond to the emergency.

Drawing on CPR and First-Aid training she received at both Ward Melville and Gelinas, Violet sprang into action. She called 911, relayed medical history to dispatchers, called on neighbors with medical backgrounds for help, and performed high-quality CPR until first responders arrived. EMTs and the Setauket Fire District later commended Violet for her calm leadership and the effectiveness of her compressions – something they noted is rarely seen outside of trained professionals.

Remarkably, Violet had spent that school day reviewing cardiac anatomy in her Honors Human Physiology class and had attended her very first EMT training class that same evening.

Violet’s quick response and selfless courage exemplify the power of preparedness, compassion and community spirit. The district is proud to honor her incredible actions and looks forward to all she will accomplish in the future.

Date Added: 6/25/2025

Ward Melville Music Department Closes Season With Pops Concert

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Despite rainy skies, the Ward Melville High School music department delivered an energetic and memorable performance during its annual Pops Concert on Monday, June 9.

Performing to a full house, students from across the department entertained the crowd with an array of pop hits, film scores and more. Several ensembles incorporated choreography into their sets, adding an extra element of flair to the show.

The evening concluded with a grand finale that brought together the entire music department, including band, orchestra, and chorus, for one final performance.

As the school year closes, the concert served as a send-off to graduating seniors and a welcome to the incoming ninth and 10th grade musicians who will join the department in the fall.

Date Added: 6/16/2025

Ward Melville Students Take Part in Sticker Shock Campaign to Combat Underage Drinking

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This spring, Ward Melville High School students stepped beyond the classroom and into the community to take a stand against underage drinking. As part of their health curriculum, students participated in the Sticker Shock Campaign, an annual initiative led by the Town of Brookhaven’s Drug Prevention Coalition.

The campaign challenges students to create impactful sticker slogans and designs reminding adults of the legal and ethical consequences of providing alcohol or vape products to minors. From the many creative submissions, the coalition selected three standout designs to be printed and used in the campaign.

Students then visited several local businesses, including 7-Eleven on Old Town Road, Setauket Beer & Beverage and Luigi’s Pizzeria, where they placed the stickers on cases of alcohol, vape products, pizza boxes and bags. The goal: to “shock” the community into awareness and spark conversations about prevention.

This youth-led effort empowers students to take an active role in promoting safer, healthier choices in their community and serves as a powerful reminder of the impact young voices can have in driving positive change.

Date Added: 6/11/2025

Ward Melville High School Celebrates Inaugural Green and Gold Award Winners

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Ward Melville High School held a heartfelt celebration recognizing 10 outstanding students and 10 influential staff members as the first-ever recipients of the Green and Gold Award.

The award was created to honor students who have made a meaningful impact at Ward Melville by fostering school spirit, uplifting others and contributing positively to the overall school environment. In turn, each senior selected for this honor invited one staff member who played a significant role in shaping their high school experience.

In a moving ceremony attended by family and friends, students and staff members took turns delivering brief speeches about one another, sharing personal stories and heartfelt gratitude. The evening was filled with laughter, smiles and touching moments of appreciation.

Congratulations to the 2025 Green and Gold Award recipients:

Student Honorees

* Isabella Caracci
* Christopher Christian
* Brandon Giambalvo
* Ella Ignacio
* Jake Kunzler
* Yu Xuan Liu
* Araju Patel
* Peyton Phillips
* Matthew Stein
* Jason Stiles

Staff Honorees

* Terri Etheridge
* Brianna Gobetz
* Vinny Oliver
* Walter Olsen
* Lisa Primerano
* Stacey Russo
* Cheryl Taborsky
* Kim Taliercio
* Vinny Tunkel
* Janine Verdi

This inaugural event set a new tradition at Ward Melville, celebrating the connections and community spirit that define the Patriot experience.

Date Added: 6/10/2025

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