Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Andrew Patterson has qualified as a semifinalist in the 67th National Merit Scholarship Program.

A three-season athlete – captain of the soccer team and member of the winter and spring track team – Andrew now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, he must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. Over 90% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and more than half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title.

Andrew is also a member of the school’s Latin Club, National Honor Society and Science Olympiad team. Outside of school, he is a member of the Port Jefferson Fire Department. He is among approximately 16,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the semifinalist distinction and who represent the top 1% with the highest scores on the qualifying Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Finalists will be named in February and the National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in spring 2022.
Congratulations Andrew!

A two-pronged lesson combined literacy and chemistry for students in Ms. Alyssa Bosco’s class in Edna Louise Spear Elementary School.

The students read renowned children’s author Julia Cook’s “My Mouth Is a Volcano” and followed up by discussing feelings and ways they could learn how to respectfully prevent their own mouths from “erupting” when they may want to talk out of turn. The students then created volcanoes from water bottles, water, vinegar, dish soap, food coloring and baking soda. They watched their volcanoes erupt as a culmination to the lesson, helping to connect the idea of managing their thoughts and words.

Thank you to music teacher Mr. Christian Neubert and students Kasumi Layne-Stasik and Andrew Patterson for taking part in the Port Jefferson Fire Department 9/11 ceremony. Both students are members of the fire department. They performed the national anthem and God Bless America.

The Port Jefferson School District welcomed students back for the 2021-22 academic year on Sept. 2. Greeted by teachers and administrators throughout the district, students met teachers and classmates while quickly adapting to their new routines as they move forward in an engaging and productive year.