Port Jefferson School District - News Feed https://portjeffschools.org Copyright 2024 Syntax Communications Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Excels at Science Olympiad State Competition The spirit of scientific inquiry and academic excellence shone brightly as Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Science Olympiad team participated in the Science Olympiad State Competition at Le Moyne College. Led by dedicated coaches Amanda Perovich and Melissa Garcia, along with additional chaperones Gregory Gorniok and Dannie Holland, the team showcased their exceptional talents and passion for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Comprising 17 students on the A team, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad team demonstrated outstanding teamwork, determination, and mastery of scientific concepts throughout the competition. Facing stiff competition from 60 teams representing schools from across New York State, the team rose to the challenge and secured an impressive 18th place overall. The Science Olympiad State Competition featured 23 events covering a wide range of STEM and science-related topics, providing students with a platform to test their knowledge, problem-solving skills, and creativity. The high school students distinguished themselves by earning two state medals in Ecology and Optics, showcasing their expertise and dedication in these disciplines. The high school team narrowly missed out on two additional medals in Geological Mapping and Disease Detectives, highlighting their remarkable performance and competitive spirit. Principal John Ruggero expressed his pride in the students’ achievements, stating, “The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad Team’s success at the state competition is a testament to their hard work, commitment, and passion for science. I commend our students for their outstanding performance and extend my gratitude to our coaches and chaperones for their support and guidance.” In addition to celebrating their own accomplishments, the students of Earl L. Vandermeuelen High School extend their congratulations to their fellow competitors from Long Island, Syosset High School and Ward Melville High School, on their success at the state competition. They wish them the best of luck as they prepare for the national competition, representing New York State with pride. Medal winners: 10th place Ecology: Alice Snyder and Nicholas Smirnov 9th place Optics: Emily Snyder and Devon Welsch Date Added: 3/28/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175756 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175756 Athletic Summer Camps Information and Registration Click here for Registration Information. Date Added: 3/26/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175677 Tue, 26 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175677 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Student Selected to Become Delegates of the Congress of Future Medical Leaders Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is proud to announce that Lia Donohue has been selected to be a part of the prestigious Congress of Future Medical Leaders, a verified honors-only program for high school students dedicated to serving humanity through medicine. The Congress of Future Medical Leaders provides a unique opportunity for students, such as Lia to be guided by some of the greatest minds in medicine. Congress mentor speakers include Nobel Prize winners, award-winning young inventors and scientists, leaders in medicine, medical futurists, and prominent medical school deans. During the congress, Lia will have the incredible opportunity to watch a live surgery broadcast and engage in real-time discussions with the surgeon and moderator. This hands-on experience will undoubtedly inspire and motivate Lia as she pursues her passion for medicine. Delegates of the Congress of Future Medical Leaders are carefully selected by teachers and other educational avenues. The application process includes GPA verification, ensuring that academically superior high school students are recognized for their dedication, talent, and leadership potential in the field of medicine. In addition to the invaluable experience gained at the congress, Lia will also have the opportunity to earn three college credits upon the completion of additional coursework. This recognition highlights Lia's commitment to academic excellence and her promising future in the medical field. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School congratulates Lia Donohue on this outstanding achievement and looks forward to witnessing her continued success in the world of medicine. Date Added: 3/25/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175631 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:01:00 GMT false175631 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School Host St. Baldrick’s Assembly, Raise Over $6,500 to Combat Childhood Cancer Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School came together for a memorable St. Baldrick’s assembly, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to the fight against childhood cancer. With the collective efforts of students, teachers, and community members, the event raised over $6,500 in donations. The assembly was a heartwarming display of solidarity and compassion, made particularly poignant with the presence of one Port Jefferson’s student who is a courageous cancer survivor. Their inspiring story served as a beacon of hope, reinforcing the importance of supporting research and initiatives to conquer pediatric cancer. In a show of unity and support, Long Island Beauty School students volunteered their skills to adorn participants with vibrant green hair extensions, adding a colorful flair to the event. Additionally, selected students and staff members demonstrated their solidarity by shaving their heads, symbolizing their dedication to the cause. The funds raised during the assembly will be directed toward the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a leading organization dedicated to funding childhood cancer research. Among the “shavees was Jonathan Maletta, AP science teacher and STEM advisor, who played a pivotal role in raising funds to support research efforts aimed at combating children’s cancer. Mr. Maletta’s dedication extended beyond fundraising, as he also managed a series of advanced education programs, enabling students to participate in STEM/STEAM enrichment programs at Stony Brook University. One such program, titled Cancer Biology-Exploring if Phytochemicals Can Inhibit Cancer Cell Viability and Growth, provided Port Jefferson school students with a unique opportunity to work with isolated lung cancer tissue under the guidance of Dr. Daniel Moloney, Ph.D. This hands-on experience allowed students to delve into the complexities of cancer research and contribute to ongoing efforts to find effective treatments. Date Added: 3/25/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175652 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175652 Board of Education Meeting Notice The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, at 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 30, 2024, at 7:00 PM at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR for the presentation of the final draft of the 2024-2025 school budget. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Public Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, Time TBD, to vote on the 2024-2025 Eastern Suffolk BOCES Administrative Budget and Board Election. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175639 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175639 Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Hosts 10th Annual Scraggy Talent Show The stage was set, the lights were bright, and the talented students of Edna Louise Spear Elementary School stole the show at their 10th Annual Scraggy Talent Show, hosted by the school’s dedicated Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). The event was a dazzling display of creativity, skill, and passion, as students from kindergarten through fifth grade showcased their talents via captivating performances. 17 acts, featuring individual and group performances, mesmerized the audience. The students left a lasting impression with their remarkable talents, including vibrant dance routines, musical instrumental pieces, and vocal performances. The diverse range of acts highlighted each performer's unique skills and personalities, creating a truly unforgettable experience for all in attendance. “Our students never fail to amaze us with their talent and dedication; this year’s Scraggy Talent Show was no exception,” said Amy Laverty, Principal of Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. “It was a show to witness the creativity and passion of our students as they took the stage and shared their gifts with the school community. Special thanks to our dedicated PTA for hosting another successful talent show.” The talent show provided a platform for students to express themselves, build confidence, and showcase their artistic abilities in a supportive and encouraging environment. The enthusiastic support from families, teachers, and peers created a sense of unity and pride within the school, reinforcing the importance of fostering creativity and talent in young minds. Date Added: 3/22/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175615 Fri, 22 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175615 Port Jefferson Celebrates Student Artists during National Youth Art Month The vibrant creativity and talent of Port Jefferson’s young artists took center stage at the Port Jefferson Village Center as part of the National Youth Art Month celebration. A special event was held to honor the exceptional achievements of Port Jefferson School District student artists, showcasing their diverse artworks and celebrating their contributions to the local arts community. Dr. Michael Caravello, Port Jefferson School District’s Director of Music and Fine Arts, reflected on the significance of National Youth Art Month. “Art education plays a vital role in nurturing the creative potential of our students and fostering a lifelong appreciation for the arts,” he said. “We are incredibly proud of our student artists for their exceptional talent and dedication, and we are grateful to the Port Jefferson community for their support!” Throughout March, the Port Jefferson Village Center has been abuzz with colorful displays and captivating artworks created by students from various grade levels. From stunning paintings and intricate drawings to innovative sculptures and multimedia installations, the exhibition provided a glimpse into Port Jefferson's budding talents' boundless imagination and artistic prowess. During the event, attendees engaged with the young artists to learn more about their creative process and inspiration. Among the event's highlights was the presentation of awards to outstanding student artists, recognizing their exemplary talent and commitment to artistic excellence. These awards are a testament to our students’ artistic achievements and a source of encouragement and inspiration for aspiring artists within the community. Elementary School Student Artists: Amelia Alba Mulia Ayah Ansari Ryker Cerar Jovanna Diaz Emma Erhardt Abby Gedzberg Gwendolyn Harrison Aarav Hemanth Seowon Hwang Eva Jamros Josie Jamros Ellie Jeong Emerald (Margad) Kasten Anna Kotov Sophie Luk Alice Malguarnera Timothy McNulty Ava Murdocco Vienna Panasci Emma Peters Lily Peters Keilanny Polanco Brody Sheprow Jake Sullivan Charley True Michelle Wardhana Anna Zakharova Middle School Student Artists Eliana Argyros Hayden Chesler Alice Eriksson Owen Lee Nora Licausi Dylan Littman Veronica Shterengas Lucas Smirnov Brielle Wonderland High School Student Artists Gavin Argyros Jonathan August Greg Boswell Nina Brock Brendan Callender Kiwi Cavanaugh Jenna Chiaramonte Olivia Duckworth Joshua Garcia Aoife Hogan Lilli Kircher Magdalena Layne-Stasik Gianna Marsala Jax Moore Khadija Qureshi Ava Reilly Brianna Russo Hannah Shikora https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175613 Fri, 22 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175613 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s International Club Students Implement GiveBack Impact Project The students of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s International Club recently demonstrated their commitment to community service by implementing a Giveback Impact Project through their Child-Fil-A Leadership Program. Students engaged in various therapeutic activities, including art therapy, music therapy, painting, and coloring, with the residents at The Bristol Assisted Living Facilities in Lake Grove. The Chick-fil-A Leadership Program, organized by the International Club, empowers students to make a positive impact in their community through acts of service and leadership. This year, students chose to collaborate with The Bristol Assisted Living Facilities as part of their Giveback Impact Project to bring joy and companionship to the residents through creative and interactive activities. We are proud of our students for their dedication to serving others and making a difference in the lives of the residents at The Bristol Assisted Living Facilities, said John Ruggero, Principal of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal. The art therapy, music therapy, and other activities provided by our students not only brightened the residents' day but also fostered meaningful connections and shared experiences. The students' involvement in this Giveback Impact Project exemplifies their compassion, empathy, and leadership skills as they actively contribute to the well-being and happiness of the community members. The positive impact of their efforts extends beyond the walls of the school and reinforces the importance of giving back to those in need. Date Added: 3/21/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175570 Thu, 21 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175570 Share Your Royal Spirit! Date Added: 3/21/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174111 Thu, 21 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false174111 Summer Arts Camp Registration Form Click here to view the flyer Date Added: 3/20/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175532 Wed, 20 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175532 Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Come Together to Celebrate Read Across America Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School joined forces to commemorate Read Across America, a nationwide celebration of reading and literacy. At Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, students participated in the week-long Read Across America event, which focused on celebrating diversity and inclusion. The theme for this year’s event aimed to highlight the importance of embracing differences and fostering a sense of unity through literature. Students participated in a variety of activities, including reading books that promote inclusivity, and joining a virtual read-aloud session led by Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Amy Laverty and Assistant Principal Brianne Antenucci. The students were also able to come to school in their pajamas for a cozy Drop Everything and Read day. As the week ended, the high school students from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School embarked on a short special trip to Edna Louise Spear Elementary School to spread the joy of reading. The high school students had the opportunity to read to prekindergarten through fifth-grade classes, sharing their love for literature and inspiring younger students to engage in the world of books. The collaboration between the elementary and high school exemplifies the importance of fostering a culture of reading and unity within the school community. By engaging students of all ages in literacy activities, the schools are nurturing a love for reading and promoting understanding and acceptance among students. Date Added: 3/19/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175479 Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175479 Port Jefferson Music Students Selected for SCMEA All-County Festival PORT JEFFERSON, NEW YORK (MARCH 2024)—The Port Jefferson School District is proud to announce that several of its talented music students have been selected to participate in this year’s Suffolk County Music Educators Association (SCMEA) All-County Festival. This prestigious event showcases the top musical talent from schools across Suffolk County. Students selected to participate in this festival have demonstrated exceptional skill and dedication to their musical craft. “We are incredibly proud of our students for being selected to participate in the SCMEA All-County Festival,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, Director of Music and Fine Arts at Port Jefferson School District. “Their hard work and dedication to music have truly paid off, and we look forward to seeing the shine on stage at the event.” The Port Jefferson music students selected for the SCMEA All-County Festival have worked tirelessly to hone their musical abilities and have earned this incredible opportunity to perform alongside some of the best student musicians in the county. Port Jefferson Musical Students Selected for SCMEA All-County Festival Division I, grades 5-6: Alexis Amtmann Timothy Amadio Jacob Bernstein Makaylyn Bourjolly Mary Caitlin Browne Seyanna Cerar Isla Clements Reese Fallon, Sophie Franck Aiden Frangis Parker Hutchinson Tatum Lastra Margad Kasten Alissa Kotov Caden Litman, Gloria Monaghan Sude Ozgur Ethan Park Michelina Passamenti Gabriel Pestieau Lukas Peterson Vincent Pryor Jessica Shikora Alice Turner Madison Villagracia Blake Welischar Division II, grades 7-8: Robert D'Amato Aiden Fratticci-Rodriguez Kai Gronenthal, Patrick Hutchinson Klea Mehmeti Jenny Cheung Clara Pearce Leilani Von Oiste Elizabeth Yin Division III, grades 9-10: Allie Blumenthal Jonah Boerboom Avery Eisaman Mari Fukuto Kevin Hong Evan Keesler-Whitehouse Joshua Kwon Ava Sexton Madison Testa Dasha Zakharova https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175397 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175397 Seussical the Musical - March 22, 23 and 24th Date Added: 3/14/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175380 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175380 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Students Recognized with Prestigious Suffolk Zone Leadership Award Preston Biedenkapp and Michelle Wu, high school seniors from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, have been honored with the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance Suffolk Zone Leadership Award. The ceremony for this prestigious award took place at Villa Lombardis, at which two outstanding students from each high school in Suffolk County were recognized for their exceptional achievements. To qualify for this award, students must maintain an outstanding academic record, an A average in health and physical education classes, and a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale by the end of their junior year. Additionally, recipients must demonstrate exemplary personal and social skills, such as responsibility, empathy, cultural awareness, confidence, character, civility, and collaboration. Recipients of the Suffolk Zone Leadership Award also exhibit leadership qualities within health and physical education classes, take on responsibilities for class tasks, maintain a positive attitude toward instructional activities, and actively engage in leadership roles within and outside of the school community. This includes serving as officers in healthy and physical educational clubs, organizing events, participating in school community groups, volunteering in support groups, and other such pursuits. Preston and Michelle exemplify these qualities and have proven themselves to be exceptional leaders in their schools and communities. Their dedication to academic excellence, leadership, and community service makes them deserving of the Suffolk Zone Leadership Award. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175298 Tue, 12 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175298 PJMS Science Olympiad Team Takes Third Place at Suffolk County Regional Division B Competition PORT JEFFERSON, NEW YORK (MARCH 2024)—The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad Team showcased their exceptional talent at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad Competition, which was held at Murphy Junior High School in Stony Brook. The team, comprising students from grades 6 to 9, competed against 32 total teams in a series of challenging events that tested their study skills in various scientific disciplines, including earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering, and scientific problem-solving. “We are all so incredibly proud of the Science Olympiad team," said Brian Walker, Principal of Port Jefferson Middle School. “A huge thank you to our science teacher, Adam Bouchard who coached the team, and to our teachers Melissa Garcia, Greg Gorniok, Jonathan Maletta, Amanda Perovich, Nicole Sklar, and Danielle Weaver for assisting the team. Good luck at the upcoming state competition!” Despite the fierce competition, the Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad Team excelled and secured an impressive third-place finish. The students demonstrated outstanding performance, earning a total of 27 medals across the A, B, and C teams. Their hard work, teamwork, and passion for science were evident throughout the competition. The success at the regional level has qualified the Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad Team to advance to the state competition. They will be representing their school and community on Friday, April 5, and Saturday, April 6, at the state competition hosted at East Syracuse Minoa High School in Syracuse. The team is determined to showcase their skills and knowledge on a larger platform and compete against other top teams. Medal Winners: 1st Place Crime Busters - Avery Eisaman 1st Place Write It Do It - Sam Perez-Flesler, Oliver Rhame 2nd Place Forestry - Jonah Boerboom, Sara Puopolo 2nd Place Fossils - Jonah Boerboom, Olivia Andriani 2nd Place Optics - Klea Mehmeti, Isaac Rubenstein 3rd Place Road Scholar - Avery Eisaman, Sean Grossman 3rd Place Meteorology - Josh Kwon, Lucas Smirnov 3rd Place Tower - Brian Hyrycz, Dasha Zakharova 4th Place Ecology - Deia Colosi, Lucas Smirnov 4th Place Flight - Hayden Chesler, Isaac Rubenstein 5th Place Code Busters - Josh Kwon, Oliver Rhame, Dasha Zakharova 5th Place Disease Detectives - Olivia Andriani, Joshua Kwon 5th Place Reach for the Stars - Sam Perez-Flesler, Lucas Thomsen 6th Place Dynamic Planet - Avery Eisaman, Sean Grossman 6th Place Microbe Mission - Mahati Sistla, and Medini Sistla 6th Place Reach for the Stars - Mahati Sistla, and Medini Sistla 6th Place Road Scholar - Brian Hyrycz, Lucas Smirnov 7th Place Optics - Avery Eisaman 8th Place Air Trajectory - Luke Brock, Dean Zaltsman 8th Place Reach for the Stars - Luke Brock, Phoenix Coleman 9th Crime Busters - Mahati Sistla, Medini Sistla 9th Place Dynamic Planet - Joshua Kwon, Sara Puopolo 9th Place Ecology - Bridget Grossman, Alice Turner 10th Place Ecology - Austin Nam, Dean Zaltsman 10th Place Fast Facts - Ben Batter, Veronica Shterengas 10th Place Meteorology - Sean Grossman 10th Place Microbe Mission - Deia Colosi, Dasha Zakharova Also on the team competing were Shaan Bajaj, Aiden Chambers, Samuel Fabian, Milo Gugliucci, Kai Groenthal, Violet Perez-Flesler, and Nathan Rubenstein. For more information regarding the Port Jefferson School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website: https://www.portjeffschools.org and follow our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PortJeffSchools. Date Added: 3/11/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175272 Mon, 11 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175272 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Student Recognized for Academic Excellence at Town of Brookhaven’s 33rd Annual Black History Night Port Jefferson’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student Avery Jean-Baptiste was honored for his outstanding academic achievements at the Town of Brookhaven’s 33rd Annual Black History Night. The event showcased Avery’s academic excellence, and the talent of the entire class of 2024, particularly his impressive 92.7 grade point average. “Congratulations to Avery on this well-deserved recognition,” said John Ruggero, Principal of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. “We look forward to witnessing Avery’s continued success in his academic journey and beyond.” The evening was filled with cultural festivities, including food tasting, performances, and art exhibits, all in celebration of Black History Month. Avery’s dedication to academic excellence and his remarkable achievements serve as an inspiration to his peers and his school community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175176 Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175176 Matthew Sefick from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School to Receive 2024 Distinguished Teacher Award from Harvard Club of Long Island Matthew Sefick, an English teacher at Port Jefferson’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, was recently honored by the Harvard Club of Long Island with the prestigious Distinguished Teacher Award. The award will be presented at the Harvard Club LI University Relations Brunch on March 9, where Mr. Sefick will be one of only ten teachers from across Long Island who will be recognized for their outstanding contributions to education. “The Harvard Club of Long Island’s recognition of Matthew Sefick’s exemplary teaching career is a testament to his commitment to excellence and his positive impact on students' lives,” said Jessica Schmettan, Superintendent of Port Jefferson School District. “His passion for education and unwavering dedication make him a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.” Mr. Sefick has 20 years of teaching under his belt and spent 18 of those years teaching in the Port Jefferson School District. In addition, he also serves as the coach of the Port Jefferson Academic Team, guiding students to success in academic competitions. A graduate of Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Mr. Sefick furthered his education by earning a Master of Arts from Framingham State University. His dedication to his students and passion for teaching has made him a highly respected educator in his school community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175178 Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175178 Tahlia, a Fifth Grader at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School is ‘Principal’ for the Day Tahlia Ferrara, a fifth grader in Port Jefferson’s Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, recently had a unique opportunity to step into the role of school principal for the day. The event was part of a fundraiser organized by the fifth-grade committee. Principal Amy Laverty commended Tahlia for her exemplary performance and dedication throughout the day. The event not only provided Tahlia with an interactive and educational experience but also showcased the strong sense of community and support within Edna Louise Elementary School. Throughout the day, Tahlia took on various responsibilities and tasks typically handled by the school’s principal. This included reading to the prekindergarten class, delivering presentations at assemblies, monitoring the hallways, responding to emails, and supervising bus duty. She also had her photo taken for her very own badge. Tahlia embraced her role with enthusiasm and professionalism. The opportunity for Tahlia to be principal for the day was made possible through a raffle, which Tahlia won. The raffle ultimately raised $1,000, funds that will be used for end-of-year activities for the fifth-grade students. Date Added: 3/5/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175114 Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175114 Port Jefferson’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Students Visit Power Station, Gain Valuable Insight into Industry Port Jefferson’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students recently embarked on a fascinating field trip to National Grid Venture’s power generation station, located in Port Jefferson. The purpose of the trip was to provide students with a firsthand look at the skills, jobs, and facilities involved in supplying electricity to homes and businesses in the area. “The field trip was a valuable opportunity for our students, as it allowed them to gain practical knowledge and insights into critical infrastructure that powers our community,” said John Ruggero, Principal of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. “By interacting with industry professionals and learning about the diverse career opportunities available, our students become better equipped to make informed decisions about their future career paths. Thank you to National Grid Ventures for hosting this awesome field trip for our students.” During the field trip, students had the opportunity to engage with recruiting representatives from the power generation company. They learned about the job application process and explored various positions that align with their skill sets, offering potential career pathways. More than 40 students from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School participated in the power station tour in Port Jefferson as part of Engineers Week. This experience exposed the students to the inner workings of power generation and allowed them to envision themselves pursuing rewarding careers in the industry. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175044 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175044 Board of Education Meeting Notice The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2024, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education Is anticipated for Tuesday, March 26, 2024 @ 6:00 PM in the Library at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. There will be no public session. Public Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=175033 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175033 Port Jefferson School District Student-Athletes Qualify for NYSPHSAA Championship The Port Jefferson School District is proud to announce that several students have qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championship. These talented student-athletes have demonstrated exceptional skill, dedication, and perseverance in their respective sports, earning them a spot in this prestigious competition. “We are beyond thrilled to see our student-athletes represent our school and community at the NYSPHSAA Championship,” said Adam Sherrard, Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics, and Nursing. “Their dedication and passion for sports serve as an inspiration for their peers and the entire Port Jefferson community.” The district extends its congratulations to everyone who qualified for the NYSPHSAA Championship and wishes them the best of luck. Wrestling: February 23-24, MVP Arena, Albany Preston Biedenkapp (County Champion), 12th grade, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Chris Lotten (County Champion), 11th grade Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Chase Davis (County Champion), 10th grade, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Frank D'Elia, 12th grade, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Nick Rodriguez, 9th grade, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Swimming: March 1-2, Ithaca College Colin Veit, 11th grade, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Ryan Sommerstad, 11th grade, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Track: March 2 Ocean Breeze, Staten Island Alexa Jacobs (County Champion in 55m and 300m), 10th grade, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Evan Monaghan (Small School champion in 55m hurdles), 11th grade, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/27/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174938 Tue, 27 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174938 Test Story This is a test. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174861 Fri, 23 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174861 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School Observes P.S. I Love You Day PORT JEFFERSON, NEW YORK (FEBRUARY 2024)—Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School recently came together to participate in a meaningful event to promote mental health awareness. The schools joined forces to observe P.S. I Love You Day created by a non-profit organization in New York State dedicated to eradicating the stigma surrounding mental health. P.S. I Love You Day’s mission is to instill hope in those affected by mental illness and foster a supportive environment. This year’s theme, Love is Meant to be Given resonated with students in the Port Jefferson School District who wholeheartedly embraced the cause. Students arrived at school clad in vibrant purple clothing, symbolizing unity and support for mental health. Throughout the day, various classroom lessons and activities were organized. One of the highlights of the day was the activity where students wrote inspirational messages on purple hearts. This exercise not only allowed students to express themselves but also served as a reminder of the power of love and unity. The Port Jefferson School District is committed to supporting its students’ mental well-being and providing them with a safe and nurturing environment. By actively participating in initiatives like P.S. I Love You Day, the district aims to create a community that promotes mental health, social-emotional well-being and encourages open conversations, and offers support to those in need. Date Added: 2/20/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174803 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174803 Share Your Royal Spirit! Date Added: 2/15/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174110 Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174110 Board of Education Meeting Notice The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174663 Wed, 14 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174663 Information regarding Nominating Petitions for 2024-2025 School Year-Board of Education To elect three (3) members of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2024, and expiring on June 30, 2027 to succeed TRACY ZAMEK, RENE TIDWELL and, RYAN WALKER whose terms expire on June 30, 2024. Deadline for filing petitions: Monday, April 22, 2024 Please see the District Clerk starting March 1, 2024 to pick up a BOE packet. Petitions are to be filed in the District Clerk's office in the Administration Building, 550 Scraggy Hill, Port Jefferson, NY 11777. Contact the District Clerk for more information: Sharleen Quartararo District Clerk/Secretary to the Superintendent of Schools Port Jefferson Union Free School District 550 Scraggy Hill Road Port Jefferson, NY 11777 (631) 791-4221 squartar@portjeffschools.org https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174661 Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174661 Important Information re: State Aid Advocacy Please see below for information regarding a call to advocacy for the full restoration of NYS Foundation Aid. State_Aid.pdf https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174342 Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174342 Band Students Participate in Mid-Island Band Festival Earl L. Vandermeulen High School band students Meara Kelly (grade 11), Nathaniel Lawler (grade 11), Kay Moran (grade 10), Fiona Reichers (grade 12), Madison Testa (grade 10), Isabela Thomsen (grade 10), and Charlotte Tishim (grade 10), recently participated in the 64th Annual Mid-Island Band Festival at Sayville High School. Accompanied by high school band teacher Mrs. Christine Creighton, the festival concluded with a performance conducted by Mr. Michael Sarling, a music teacher from the Bayport-Blue Point School District. Congratulations to all participating students! Date Added: 1/31/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174309 Wed, 31 Jan 2024 09:00:00 GMT false174309 Parent Workshop Series https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174244 Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174244 Science Olympiad Success! Congratulations to the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad A team for making it to states! Teams across the region competed in the Eastern Long Island Regional Competition on Jan. 27 at Hauppauge High School. Port Jefferson’s A team placed third out of 60 teams. Port Jefferson also had a B and C team compete. There were 22 STEM events and the top 10 teams in each event earned a medal. Congratulations to our medal winners (listed in event order): Anatomy: 9th (A) Gavin Onghai and Michelle Wu Astronomy: 4th (A) Nicholas Smirnov and Emily Snyder Chemistry Lab: 4th (A) Devon Welsch and Eric Chen Codebusters: 10th (A) Max Joyner, Max Paulus and Emily Snyder Disease Detectives: 2nd (A) Eric Chen and Michelle Wu, 10th (B) Narin Karakurum and Chris Nam Ecology: 3rd (A) Nicholas Smirnov and Alice Snyder, 6th (B) Colin Veit and Liam Thomsen Experimental Design: 8th (A) Kieran Casey, Kevin Hong and Yosef Mimarbasi Fermi: 9th (B) Liam Thomsen and Thales Cheng Flight: 9th (A) Kieran Casey and Kevin Hong Forensics: 10th (B) Marlo Pepe and Jax Moore Forestry: 6th (A) Tucker Stanton and Alice Snyder Fossils: 9th (C) Molly Becherer and Iris He Geo Mapping: 2nd (A) Ryan Gameng and Nicholas Smirnov Microbe Mission: 1st (A) Michelle Wu and Alice Snyder Optics: 3rd (A) Devon Welsch and Emily Snyder, 6th (B) Kristina Shterengas and Thales Cheng Robot: 4th (A) Kieran Casey and Carman Stanton, 5th (B) Talin Bajaj and Rowan Casey Scrambler: 2nd (A) Kieran Casey and Kevin Hong Tower: 3rd (A) Max Joyner and Tucker Stanton, 5th (B) Mari Fukuto and Andrew Schretzmayer Wind Power: 7th (A) Carman Stanton and Gavin Onghai Write It, Do It: 6th (C) Alexa Wonderland and Cessarina Buehler The States Competition will be held from March 15-17 at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. Eight teams will represent Eastern Long Island at the state competition. Besides Port Jefferson, the other high school teams are Bayport-Bluepoint, Half Hollow Hills East, Hauppauge, Smithtown East, The Stony Brook School, Ward Melville and West Babylon. Coaches were High School science teachers Amanda Perovich and Melissa Garcia. “I am utterly impressed with all three of the teams this year!” Coach Perovich said. “All the teams were almost in the top half of the region and that says a lot about this group of students.” “This group of students has worked so hard all year preparing for this competition, and we are so proud of their success,” Coach Garcia added. “We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this team.” Science teachers Mr. Bouchard, Mr. Gorniok, Mr. Maletta, Ms. Sklar and Ms. Weaver accompanied the group along with teaching assistant Mr. Holland. Additional participants were Paige Braile, Sara Freitas, Aoife Hogan, Andi Kelly, Rumaan Khan, Petra Kundic, Evan Monaghan, Ronan Moore, Julia Perrotta, Marco Puopolo and Samantha Reichers. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/29/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174249 Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174249 Board of Education Meeting Notice The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on February 13, 2024, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174231 Mon, 29 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174231 MS Drama Production - Disney's The Little Mermaid Jr. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174211 Fri, 26 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174211 2024-2025 Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Registration Information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174175 Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174175 Share Your Royal Spirit! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173804 Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173804 Message from the Superintendent State Aid Letter to Community January 2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174164 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 20:00:00 GMT false174164 Scraggy’s Stupendous Student Musicians! Congratulations to our Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Music Students of the Month for January: Leah Hart (PreK), Jonah Stuart-Rest (Kindergarten), Caden McCaffrey (Grade 1), Gionna Trotto (Grade 2), Connor Murdocco (Grade 3), Scarlett Langevin (Grade 4), Harrison Zauzich (Mr. Orlowski's class) and James Maldonado Guiterrez (Mrs. Sisler's class). Keep up your great work! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/23/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174125 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174125 Artistic Achievements for Scraggy Visionaries! Congratulations to our Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Art Students of the Month for January: Seoeun Hwang (PreK), Molly Craig (Kindergarten), Chadric Baingan (Grade 1), Gionna Trotto (Grade 2), Lincoln Cruz (Grade 3), Shelby Olive (Grade 4), Keilanny Polanco (Grade 5) and Saleh Rushdan (Ms. Prevete’s class). Continue your creativity! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/24/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174122 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174122 Honored for Excellence Port Jefferson School District physical education teacher Dinarae Camarda, who teaches at the High School and Middle School, received the Exercise Science and Sport Recognition Award at the Suffolk Zone New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Professional Awards Dinner on Jan. 18 at the Mansion at West Sayville. Mrs. Camarda received the award for her outstanding work in her Wellfit course teaching mindfulness, wellness and fitness to her students. Date Added: 1/23/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174123 Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174123 Students Attend Intermediate Long Island String Festival Port Jefferson School District elementary and middle school student-musicians Seyanna Cerar (grade 6), Jenny Cheung (grade 8), Emilia Clements (grade 8), Gloria Monaghan (grade 6), Ethan Park (grade 5), Alice Turner (grade 6), and Leilani Von Oiste (grade 7) were selected to perform in the Intermediate Long Island String Festival on Jan. 21 at Commack Middle School. Students were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Congratulations to all selected string students! Date Added: 1/22/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174073 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174073 Students S.A.I.L. Together Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth graders Lily Bowman, Jessica Curley, Chloe Kelly, Aiza Khan and Madison Villagracia are champions when it comes to sharing character traits. The students were selected to receive a S.A.I.L. (Safe, Accepting, Independent Learners) award last week and had an opportunity to choose an activity to participate in. They selected reading to five students in Melissa Martin’s kindergarten class. As the younger students were walking in the hallway with their classmates, the older students asked if they would like to join them in guidance counselor Mrs. Petersen’s classroom. They read the story “Stand in My Shoes” by Bob Sornson, a story book that shares how easy it is to develop empathy toward those around us. Empathy is the school’s character education trait of the month. Date Added: 1/22/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174084 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174084 A LITERACY CELEBRATION! Second graders at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School are not only improving their English language arts skills, they are building their social and public-speaking skills. On Jan. 17, they shared their advancing ELA skills with a writing celebration to highlight their nonfiction writing curriculum. The students in Mrs. Carleen Parmegiani and Mrs. Christina Carlson’s, Mrs. Darlene Wells’ and Ms. Maureen Zajac’s classes wrote and illustrated their own fact-based booklets, choosing a topic based on their knowledge of basketball, cooking, fish, friends, holidays, karate, occupations, pets, sports and winter fun, among others. When a visitor entered the elementary school large-group room, they were met with a wall-based table of contents that highlighted the students’ work. Schoolmates including fifth grade buddies – administrators, parents and others – visited each student to listen to the information shared in their books, see the illustrations, ask questions of the writers and leave a note on paper hearts to share special comments. The students also created slides to integrate technology with Mr. Butera which was presented as a grade level slideshow on a large screen for all to see. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/18/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=174016 Thu, 18 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174016 Meara Kelly Participates in SCMEA Day of Horn Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student-musician Meara Kelly, a junior, participated in the SCMEA Day of Horn Festival at Northport High School on Jan. 12. During this remarkable evening, Meara joined students from across Suffolk County to gather on one stage to perform alongside professional musicians including renowned horn guest artist Dr. James Hampson. Date Added: 1/17/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173976 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173976 Section XI Wrestling Dual Championships Semifinals Today! Port Jefferson vs John Glenn Wednesday, January 17th at 6:00pm Port Jefferson High School Purchase tickets on GoFan Date Added: 1/17/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173972 Wed, 17 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173972 2 Hour Delayed Opening, Wednesday January 17, 2024 Due to potential hazardous road conditions, we will be implementing a two-hour delayed opening on Wednesday, January 17, 2024 in all of our Port Jefferson schools. Students should report to their bus stops two hours later than usual. The High School and Middle School bell schedule can be foundhere. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173962 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 23:00:00 GMT false173962 College Commit! Congratulations to student Joe Vitrano! Joe has committed to play basketball at Hudson Valley Community College. Date Added: 1/16/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173925 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173925 Port Jefferson School District/One River School Exhibit Student artwork from the Port Jefferson School District's Fine Arts Department was recently exhibited at the One River School for Art and Design's Port Jefferson Station location. As a collaborative effort, student artwork across grades K-12 was showcased along with a closing reception welcoming students and families to celebrate their outstanding artistic achievement. A special thanks to art teachers Riley Mulligan, Nancy Randazzo, Stacey Schuman, Amanda Signorelli, Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello and One River School's Assistant Director of Education Ellen Jones for organizing this special community event. Date Added: 1/16/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173934 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173934 Port Jefferson students know that reading is fun! In coordination with New York State Libraries Summer Reading Program, Assemblyman Edward Flood sponsored the 2023 Summer Reading Challenge. The theme, “All Together Now,” celebrated kindness and friendship and Port Jefferson celebrates four Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students who exceeded the challenge! Students Nora Boecherer, Connor McNulty, Timothy McNulty and Annika Schenke were honored for exceeding the challenge of reading 40 days or more over the summer. They received their certificates lauding their dedication and hard work from Assemblyman Flood’s office this past week. Their efforts and were applauded by school principal Mrs. Amy Laverty. Thank you, Royal students, for inspiring us all to read more! Date Added: 1/16/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173936 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173936 Second Annual Computer Science Carnival Success The vibrant scenes of a carnival greeted the numerous students and families who entered the Port Jefferson School District’s second annual Computer Science Carnival held on Jan. 11. The event, organized by Earl L. Vandermeulen High School teacher Winifred Kuemmel and school librarian Eva Grasso, was an engaging way to encourage and create awareness of what the high school offers to rising Port Jefferson students. Visitors signed in at the welcome table and received a map of the 15 booths organized around the middle school/high school library. Once they stopped at a booth they were issued a stamp and those who visited all the booths received a prize. The younger students learned about some of the skills they will need in the ever-expanding STEM fields from the older students. High school student volunteers and science and math teachers operated the carnival booths. They included binary bracelets, binary magic, games, labeling hardware, Lego chess, robot cups, stomp rockets and sixth grade computer science highlights with teacher Megan Roth-Ueno and student helpers Bridget Grossman, Grace Kirk, Gloria Monaghan and Mason Sherrard, a tinker table and more. Teacher Linda Moran set up a storm drain challenge, where students were tasked with creating a device from discarded junk to retrieve items that fell into a storm drain. Teacher Brian Chalmers and students set up a special area for drones, robot cars and an aerospace flight simulator that could leave from any airport and immerse users in the cockpit as they navigated through detailed landscapes and skies. The colorful and creative event also had a snack stand offering popcorn, water bottles and cookies baked by students in Family and Consumer Science classes. A representative from the Port Jefferson Free Library’s Teen Center was also on hand to share in the services offered there. “We thank all those who came out to learn of the amazing work being done in our innovative middle school and high school computer science and technology courses,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Robert Neidig said. “Our students and teachers were excited to share their passion and talents in regard to these essential components of our educational program. I am so proud of the energy and enthusiasm demonstrated by both our secondary students and elementary students as they worked together to learn and grow at the event.” Thank you to all our high school students who helped out at this event. They are seniors: Greg Boswell, Jacob Fite, Ryan Gameng, Andrew Harris, Gavin Onghai, Andrew Schretzmayer, Nicholas Smirnov, Liam Thomsen and Michelle Wu; juniors: Leo Marsala, Yosef Mimarbasi, Yushan Pan, Alice Snyder, Emily Snyder, Julien Weeks and Sean Wilson; sophomores: Kieran Casey, Kevin Hong, Kay Moran, Chris Nam, Ryan Perry, Tucker Stanton and freshmen: Joshua Kwon and Ronan Moore. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/12/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173901 Fri, 12 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173901 Most Motivated Students! Congratulations to Port Jefferson Middle School sixth grade students Frank Lunati and Angelina Marsala for each being selected as a Rotary Club of Port Jefferson Most Motivated Student. Great job students! Date Added: 1/11/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173856 Thu, 11 Jan 2024 07:00:00 GMT false173856 Congratulations Ryan Filippi! Congratulations to junior Ryan Filippi for receiving All State 2nd Team as an All-Purpose offensive player by the New York State Sports Writers Association. Ryan had 1,654 total yards and 20 touchdowns as quarterback for the Royals this season. Ryan also had 44 tackles, five interceptions, eight pass breakups and a blocked kick on the defensive side of the ball. Date Added: 1/11/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173853 Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173853 High School Students attend Secondary Long Island String Festival High School Students attend Secondary Long Island String Festival Nine Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student-musicians recently performed in the Secondary Long Island String Festival at Hauppauge High School. Freshmen Jonah Boerboom, Joshua Kwon and Ava Sexton; sophomores Mari Fukuto, Kevin Hong and Marco Puopolo; junior Evan Monaghan and seniors Iris He and Nicholas Smirnov were among the students selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Congratulations to all selected string students! In Photo (L-R): Kevin Hong, Ava Sexton, Jonah Boerboom, Mari Fukuto, Joshua Kwon, Nicholas Smirnov, Iris He, Evan Monaghan, and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello. Date Added: 1/11/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173855 Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173855 2024-25 Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten Registration The Port Jefferson Union Free School District will open registration for the 2024-2025 Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten programs on Thursday, Feb. 1. The Elementary School Registration Packet can be found under the Central Registration tab, under District, on the district website, www.portjeffschools.org. Registration packets can be dropped off during school hours, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., to Edna Louise Spear Elementary School or to the District Office. Only packets that are complete will be accepted. Registration packets must be received by 3 p.m. on Friday, March 1. The Pre-Kindergarten Program will be a full-day program located in the Elementary School. A lottery will be implemented if necessary for the Pre-Kindergarten Program. Notification of acceptance will be via email. Please be aware that transportation is not provided for Pre-Kindergarten students. To be eligible for pre-kindergarten and kindergarten, children must be four and five years old, respectively, on or before Dec. 1, 2024, and a resident within the boundaries of the Port Jefferson School District. Please call 631-791-4323 for more information or to request a registration packet for pickup. Date Added: 1/11/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173852 Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173852 Coding in the Classroom! Click here to View Video Date Added: 1/10/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173832 Wed, 10 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173832 Congratulations Emma Batter! Emma Batter has committed to play women’s lacrosse at Mercy University. Date Added: 1/8/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173754 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173754 Sharing Insight into College Life Members of the Class of 2023 were welcomed back to the high school on Dec. 22 to share some insight into the freshman year of college with the current senior class. Hosted by social studies teacher Brian Snow, the informal panel discussion was an opportunity to share perspectives on the first few months of college life including dorm living, academics athletics and club activities. Date Added: 1/8/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173757 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173757 Set for Coding + Collaboration Competition! Students from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s newly inaugurated Computer Science Honor Society shared their skills recently with Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fourth graders in Ms. Anne Marie Spina’s class. High School students Kieran Casey, Kay Moran, Gavin Onghai, Ryan Perry, Andrew Schretzmayer, Nicholas Smirnov, Emily Snyder, Tucker Stanton, Liam Thomsen and Michelle Wu, along with teacher and Honor Society adviser Winifred Kuemmel, created their own hackathon from a scratch.mit.edu competition. During STEM class with Dr. Kathryn Zvokel, the younger students viewed high school student Tucker Stanton highlight the stories, games and animations as they programmed their own Scratch game or story with guidance from the other high school students. The event was an opportunity to learn to develop new or different approaches to solving problems, developing solutions and completing projects that may require collaboration. The younger students needed to meet the criteria of their online scene playing for between 10-60 seconds, using two sprites (two-dimensional bitmaps that are integrated into a larger scene), one movable sprite and one sprite that used a “say” or “think” block or plays a sound – all in a minimum of two scenes. The winners of the competition will be announced at the High School’s Coding Carnival on Thursday, Jan. 11. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/5/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173730 Fri, 05 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173730 Royal Athletes of the Month! Congratulations to our December Athletes of the Month, Frank D’Elia and Evan Monaghan. Frank is 19-0, has 3 tournament wins and received Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at the Huntington tournament. Evan recorded his PR in the 55- hurdles with a time of 8.01 (fastest time for Port Jeff since 1990) and triple jump with a distance of 40’4 (longest triple jump at Port Jeff since 2014). Date Added: 1/4/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173696 Thu, 04 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173696 Pre-K Information Meeting https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173707 Thu, 04 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173707 High School Leo Club: Decades of Faithful Community Service Members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Leo Club completed their annual “Blizzard Bags” event for the Three Village Meals on Wheels program. The Leo Club, under the advisement of Mr. Brian Chalmers and Miss Ann MacIntyre, conduct several events to raise money and then purchase and assemble the items in December. The Three Village Meals on Wheels program then delivers the Blizzard Bags to local senior citizens who receive its services. Each Blizzard Bag contains four boxed, canned, non-perishable, shelf-stable meals for seniors to have in their home to use when their daily Meals on Wheels delivery is canceled due to poor winter weather. This year, they received a letter from the Meals on Wheels coordinator, thanking the high school for four decades of supporting the much-appreciated program that helps homebound neighbors. “The Leo Club members recognize the real need for this program, delivering food to the Three Village Meals on Wheels’ clients is a true community outreach event,” Mr. Chalmers said. Date Added: 1/2/2024 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173631 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173631 Computer Science Carnival https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173625 Tue, 02 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173625 Computer Science Honor Society Induction Ceremony Fourteen Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students were inducted into the school’s inaugural chapter of the National Computer Science Honor Society on Dec. 20. The Computer Science Honor Society works to cultivate a thriving environment for success in computer science in the Port Jefferson community by encouraging students’ enthusiasm, honoring academic excellence and promoting service. Adviser Winifred Kuemmel honored each student – Jacob Fite, Ryan Gameng, Kevin Hong, Kay Moran, Christopher Nam, Gavin Onghai, Max Paulus, Andrew Schretzmayer, Nicholas Smirnov, Emily Snyder, Carman Stanton, Tucker Stanton, Liam Thomsen and Michelle Wu – for meeting the standards of the organization The Port Jefferson School District’s Computer Science Honor Society holds three values at its core. They are equity – the realization that any student has the potential to enroll, to grow and to excel in computing; service – which empowers members to become ambassadors of the computer science discipline, helping underscore its importance as a mainstay in the school and community; and excellence – the commitment to promoting outstanding scholarship in computer science coursework. Date Added: 12/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173579 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173579 Accolades for our December Artists! Great job to our Scraggy students: Savanna Makarius, Parker Kremens, Gwendolyn Harris, Caden McCaffrey, Genesis Umana Canales, Mallory Rickard, Brier Fox and Ryan Medina Gonzales! Date Added: 12/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173601 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173601 Scraggy’s Magical Musicians! Congratulations to the elementary school student musicians for December: Antonio Gafary, Noelle Gibbons, Theo Berges, Summer Hannabass, Alexa Fallon, Maya Von Oiste, Chloe Kelly and Stanislav Vanin! Date Added: 12/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173602 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173602 Art & Ho, Ho, Hot Cocoa! Thanks to art teacher Amanda Signorelli and her student-artists for creating some beautiful ceramic mugs – worthy of holiday gift giving! As a special treat, students enjoyed some seasonal hot cocoa! “The students were so excited to drink cocoa out of the mugs they made,” she said. “It was a lot of fun.” Date Added: 12/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173603 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173603 Student Leaders Attend Conference Seven Earl L. Vandermeulen students and four coaches attended the second annual Section XI Student Leadership Conference at Center Moriches High School on Dec. 21. The focus of the conference was to learn about strategies for handling the stress, anxiety, pressure and commitment that comes with leadership as well as the impact of social media. Port Jefferson students in attendance were Talin Bajaj, Ben Connelly, Gwen Connelly, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Ottilie Philbrick, McKayla Pollard and Ava Reilly. Coaches CJ Hafner, Logan Hoffmann, Taylor Forstell, Jesse Rosen, and Athletic Director Adam Sherrard also attended. Date Added: 12/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173599 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173599 Joy Delivered, Port Jeff Style! Thank you to the Port Jefferson School District community for once again creating a joyful holiday season for local community members. For more than two decades, school social worker Ms. Kristin Britt has organized and run the Holiday Helpers program for both Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. This year, along with the fourth annual Stuff a Locker Program, 17 families in the community were the recipients of gifts, gift cards and food items. “It was once again heartwarming to see the outpouring of love in our school community,” Ms. Britt said. “With help from our middle and high school clubs, faculty, staff and the Port Jefferson community, we have seen success with the program.” Date Added: 12/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173540 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173540 Winter Volleyball Tournament Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Physical Education department hosted its annual Winter Volleyball Tournament this week. The three-day tournament consisted of 12 teams and 106 students. The championship came down to Team Andrea vs. The Flying Zebras in a best of three match up. The Flying Zebras lost the first set and then won the next two, taking home the Physical Education Winter Volleyball Tournament Championship! Congratulations to The Flying Zebras: Emma Batter, Sophia Bonura, Daniel Kubek, Emily Longo, Anna Matvya, McKayla Pollard, Daniel Rose and Lilliana Swift and coaches Nina Mercante and Alexa Wonderland! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173553 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173553 #PortJeffProud https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173434 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173434 There will be no community swim on Friday, 12/22 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173515 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173515 Top Wrestler! Congratulations to Chase Davis who was named to Newsday's Top 100 wrestlers for the 2023-24 season! Date Added: 12/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173476 Wed, 20 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173476 Hot Season Start for PJ Nation! Port Jefferson Wrestling, AKA PJ Nation, is off to a hot start this winter. The Royals took home the team championships in the Huntington and Irvington tournaments to start the season. In the first dual meet action of the season last Friday, Port Jefferson defeated Babylon 44-24. PJ Nation continued their winning ways the next day at the Armstrong Cup, taking home yet another team tournament championship. The Royals look forward to keeping the wins coming today at home at 4:45 p.m. vs. Center Moriches. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173477 Wed, 20 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173477 Trio Excel at Social Studies Research Project Port Jefferson Middle School students in Mr. Philip Giannusa’s seventh grade social studies classes conducted research projects based on the 13 colonies. Each student was tasked with researching and creating a poster to showcase their research and artistic skills. They included the history, economy, society and government of their selected colony. The students worked hard on the projects in the classroom with Mr. Giannusa and teacher Ms. Veronica Colon, at home and in the school library with assistance from librarian Ms. Eva Grasso. Mr. Giannusa chose three of the projects to highlight in the school’s hallway bulletin board. Josie Amtmann conducted her research on the Colony of New York, Gideon Cesare highlighted Georgia and Madison Menninger focused on South Carolina. Great job student-researchers! Date Added: 12/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173513 Wed, 20 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173513 From Port Jeff With Love! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students, families, teachers and staff along with District Office staff and Port Jefferson Library patrons donated coats, clothing, toys and gift cards to help fulfill the wish lists of Port Jefferson children in need. “We were able to help support 24 students as well as six younger siblings,” school guidance counselor Jessica Peterson said. Date Added: 12/19/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173433 Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173433 The Community Fitness Center will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 21 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173435 Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173435 They Did it Again. The Port Jefferson School District’s boys cross-country team members were honored at the Dec. 12 Board of Education meeting for their 7th consecutive year as Suffolk County Class C champions and finishing fourth in the NYSPHSAA Championships. Congratulations to Chris Biehl, Thales Cheng, Jayden DiGregorio, Sean Grossman, Christian Jensen, Max Joyner, Joshua Kwon, Christopher Nam, Andrew Schretzmayer, Nicholas Smirnov, Ryan Sproul, Carmen Stanton, Lucas Sweeney and Colin Veit. Coach Andrew Cosci and Assistant Coach Rod Cawley were also commended for leading the team. Date Added: 12/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173373 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173373 Two in A Row! The Port Jefferson School District’s girls volleyball team was named the Suffolk County and Long Island champions for the second consecutive year. Team members were honored at the Dec. 12 Board of Education meeting. Congratulations to team members Emma Batter, Anna Brown, Lina DeLeo, Julia Gomes, Erin Henry, Thea Mangels, Bianca Nakagawa, Angelina Orofino, Hannah Pflaster, McKayla Pollard, Sara Puopolo, Ava Reilly, Chloe Sherman, Olivia Sherman, Lillianna Swift, Lexi Verruto and Marley York. Head coach CJ Hafner spoke of the team’s highlights of the season and also thanked assistant coach Matt Dolan for his leadership efforts with the team. Date Added: 12/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173374 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173374 Wrapped with Kindness Port Jefferson Rotary Club visited Earl L. Vandermeulen High School for its annual gift-wrapping event with the school’s Interact Club. Each year, Rotarians purchase hundreds of gifts for local families and Interact Club members assist in wrapping those gifts for the recipients. Thirty-four Interact Club members joined forces with dozens of Rotarians to complete the job. “The event was a huge success and it was wonderful seeing our students work hand-in-hand with community members to give back to our neighbors,” adviser Deirdre Filippi said. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173395 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173395 The best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear! The well-known “Elf” quote was referenced by District Director of Music and Arts Dr. Michael Caravello when he introduced the 14 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School chamber choir students at the Dec. 12 Board of Education meeting. Led by music teacher Mrs. Christine Tamer, the students sang some seasonal songs for the Board members and meeting attendees. They were each presented with a certificate for their joyful sharing of music in the school and the community. Thank you to Deia Colosi, Alexa Eichinger, Jarek Furjanic, Narin Karakurum, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Marlo Pepe, Albert Peterson, Maya Shan, Mahati Sistla, Medini Sistla, Victoria Snaden, Drew Sora, Isabela Thomsen and Gianna Viviano. Date Added: 12/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173397 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173397 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 23, 2024 at 7:00 PM at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR, for the presentation on the first draft of the 2024-2025 School Budget. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a legal matter. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173361 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 19:00:00 GMT false173361 Bravo, Royal! Congratulations to junior Colin Veit on receiving honorable mention All-State honors for Boys Cross-Country! Date Added: 12/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173314 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173314 Winter Sports Fair! The Port Jefferson School District continues to build connections among high school students and elementary students and the recent Winter Sports Fair was a great indicator of that. Fifth grade students visited the High School and attended athletic stations for track, basketball and wrestling. The fifth graders participated in the high jump, long jump, shot put, hurdles and sprints with boys and girls varsity track student-athletes and coaches. The students then moved over to the wrestling station where they learned basic wrestling holds under the guidance of the varsity wrestlers and coaches. They then participated in lay-up and shooting drills and contests with the varsity boys and girls basketball team. Thanks to all the student helpers for sharing in the positive experiences of being a Port Jefferson Royal! Girls Basketball: Emma Batter, Mia Cormier, Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Julia Lima de Oliveira Gomez, Anna Matvya, Maddy Matvya, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Mikaela Weinisch and Alexa Wonderland; Boys Basketball: Ben Amadio, Talin Bajaj, Alexander Layne-Stasik, Danny Rose, Ryan Sommerstad and Derek Wonderland; Boys Track: Malachi Bourjolly, Ryan Gameng, Max Joyner, Evan Monaghan, Andrew Schretzmayer and Carman Stanton; Girls Track: Gwen Connelly, Mari Fakuto, Aiofe Hogan, Alexa Jacobs and Sadie Salzman; Wrestling: David Argyros, Preston Biedenkapp, John Bonura, Nick Comito, Frank D’Elia, Cade Delgado, James Dowd and Harrison Volpi. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173326 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173326 Royal Leaders, Royal Readers Members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School International Club, led by Ms. Kristin Britt and Ms. Jennifer Walling, along with students from Ms. Gina Fedler's class visited the elementary school to read to the students and work with them to complete a story related craft. The Leadership Club is partnering with the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy in a program that empowers high school students to put leadership principles into practice through student-led community service projects that culminate in a year-end impact project. The high school students took turns reading stories about kindness, strength, sharing and more and engaged the younger students with follow-up questions. The younger students – kindergartners, first graders and second graders, were thoughtful and eager with their responses. The students worked together on a holiday ornament that was added to a paper kindness tree at the school. Each elementary student was then gifted with a packet that included an inspirational message and a book, part of the service project—the 1 Million Book Giveaway, in which 500 books were distributed to students at the elementary school. They also each received a pendant with the words “Never, Never Give Up.” “It was wonderful to see our high school students work in a mentor capacity with our younger students,” Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill said. “Great job!” Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173338 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173338 Royal Honors! Congratulations to student-athletes Colin Veit and Olivia Sherman for receiving November Athlete of the Month honors. In November, Colin was the individual Class C champion for boys cross-country and finished 15th overall in Class C at the NYSPHSAA Championships. The cross- country team was the class C County champion and finished 4th overall in the NYSPHSAA Championships. Olivia had 17 of the varsity girls volleyball teams’ 34 kills in the Long Island Championship along with six digs and one assist. In the Regional Championship contest, she had 10 of the teams’ 20 kills along with five digs and two aces. Olivia helped lead the Royals to a second consecutive Long Island Championship in girls volleyball. Date Added: 12/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173285 Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173285 College Commitment! Congratulations to Port Jeff Royal Ruairi Rago on his commitment to play on the baseball team at Fitchburg State University. Date Added: 12/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173290 Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173290 Varsity Club’s Wreaths Across America Date Added: 12/7/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173188 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173188 BRAVO, ROYAL! SENIOR TYLER COBB WAS NAMED TO NEWSDAY'S TOP 100 BOYS BASKETBALL PLAYERS ON LONG ISLAND FOR THE 23-24 SEASON! CONGRATULATIONS TYLER! Date Added: 12/7/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173129 Thu, 07 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173129 Sharing Musical Talents in the Community Members of the Port Jefferson School District music department entertained audiences with seasonal music during several performances at the Charles Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson Village this past weekend. Along with Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello, music teachers Edward Pisano, Dr. Vanessa Salzman, Christine Tamer and Laurel Zimlinghaus and musical ensembles from all three schools performed holiday favorites at various venues at the festival. The unique event was another opportunity for teachers and students to share their talents in a public setting. Date Added: 12/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173078 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173078 Village Festival Fun! High School students Mari Fukoto, Will Harris, Rose Meliker-Hammock and Marlo Pepe participated in the Port Jefferson Village Dickens Festival on Dec. 2 and 3. The students worked as elves in Santa Central at the First United Methodist Church. The elves greeted visitors as they entered the workshop, handed out paper for the kids to write last minute letters to Santa and helped Santa take photos. “Children of all ages were so happy to see Santa and the elves,” Drama Club adviser Mr. Butera said. “After the children had their picture taken with Santa, they each received an “I Met Santa” sticker! Thanks to the Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council for this opportunity.” Date Added: 12/5/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173048 Tue, 05 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173048 Student-Athletes Honored! Congratulations to October Athletes of the Month Ben Connelly and Ryan Filippi. Ben went 3-0 in October with an average score of 41. He made it to the County Championship Tournament. In five games in October, Ryan had 702 total yards of offense and seven touchdowns. On defense he had 29 tackles, two tackles for a loss, one interception, one pass break up and one blocked extra point. Date Added: 12/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173011 Mon, 04 Dec 2023 06:00:00 GMT false173011 For the Love of Music! Congratulations to our Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students who were named Musicians of the Month for November: Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173018 Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173018 Keep Creating! Congratulations to our Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students who were named Artists of the Month for November: Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173019 Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173019 High School Duo Selected for NYSSMA All-State Conference Earl L. Vandermeulen High School juniors Thales Cheng and Devon Welsch were selected to participate in the New York State School Music Association All-State Winter Conference in Rochester, NY. Both Thales and Devon performed on clarinet with the All-State symphonic band, sitting alongside the finest musicians across New York State. “Congratulations to Thales and Devon for representing their school music program with pride,” Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. Date Added: 12/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173006 Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173006 Freshman Selected for NYSSMA All-State Piano Showcase Earl L. Vandermeulen High School freshman Iris Park recently performed at the highly selective New York State School Music Association All-State Winter Conference's Piano Showcase in Rochester, NY. Out of almost 125 applicants from across New York State, only 11 students were chosen for this prestigious honor. Congratulations to Iris on her outstanding musical achievement! Date Added: 12/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=173007 Mon, 04 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173007 Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE Port Jeff LiveStream Account TUESDAY DECEMBER 5TH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADE 5 CONCERT 7:00 P.M. ES GYM THURSDAY DECEMBER 7TH HIGH SCHOOL CONCERT 7:00 P.M. HS AUDITORIUM MONDAY DECEMBER 11TH MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 7 & 8 CONCERT 7:00 P.M. HS AUDITORIUM THURSDAY DECEMBER 14th MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADE 6 CONCERT 7:00 P.M. HS AUDITORIUM https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150862 Fri, 01 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false150862 Student-Athletes Give Back to Community In collaboration with Port Jefferson Village and Deputy Mayor Rebecca Kassay, members of the Royals varsity boys and girls basketball teams and the junior varsity girls basketball team took a trip to the Community Garden on Beach Street in Port Jefferson to help prepare the raised garden beds for future planting by spreading wood chips on Nov. 29. The Community Garden is a place for residents to plant fruits, vegetables and herbs in a secure location away from the deer population. “Our group of student-athletes wanted to give back to the community to help maintain a great community resource,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. Date Added: 11/30/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172930 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172930 Congratulations, Royals! Congratulations to Royals September Athletes of the Month, Elizabeth Campo and Rose Meliker-Hammock. Elizabeth played the No. 1 position for varsity girls tennis and was undefeated in league play in September while demonstrating great leadership and character for her team. Rose amassed 89 saves as the girls varsity soccer goalkeeper in September with an average over 11 saves per game. She was named top three in Suffolk County in saves and saves per game for the month of September. Date Added: 11/29/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172898 Wed, 29 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172898 Royals Wrestling Clinic Date Added: 11/30/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172925 Wed, 29 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172925 Music Students Attend Concert at Lincoln Center Port Jefferson elementary, middle and high school music students and their families attended an evening performance of the New York Philharmonic at the newly renovated David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center on Nov. 22. Attendees enjoyed the orchestra's concert program featuring “The Planets” by Gustav Holst while also catching a glimpse of Thanksgiving parade preparations along 5th Avenue. Date Added: 11/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172866 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172866 Students Selected for NYSCAME All-County Festival Four Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students were selected to participate in the New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education All-County Music Festival held at Connetquot High School and Northport High School. Juniors Thales Cheng, Albert Peterson, Samantha Reichers and Devin Welsch were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Congratulations! Date Added: 11/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172867 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172867 Sherlock Holmes On Stage! Sherlock Holmes is on the case in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Drama Club’s production of Ken Ludwig’s “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.” After weeks of rehearsal, the students will take the stage with three weekend performances of this transformation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic “The Hound of the Baskervilles” into a murderously funny adventure. “When this play originated on Broadway it consisted of five actors: one to play Sherlock, one to play Watson and three others to play over 40 different parts,” Director Tony Butera said. “This version is a variation on that. We have a cast of 10 to play all the parts (including animals and babies), one changeable set and many hysterical accents flying around!” Performance times are Friday, Nov. 17, and Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. Donation is $5 per person and the show runs approximately two hours. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172868 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172868 PEAK Performance! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fourth grade student-musicians Emma DeMaria, Shelby Olive and Scarlette Russo participated in the annual Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association PEAK (Parents, Educators and Kids) Festival on Oct. 28. Elementary music teacher Ms. Laurel Zimlinghaus joined the musical students and their parents at the event with workshops, musical activities, games and improvisation as highlights. The PEAK Festival is a unique celebration of elementary classroom music where students from across Suffolk County performed alongside their parents and music teachers. Date Added: 11/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172872 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172872 Scraggy Musicians of the Month! Congratulations to our students! Pre-K: Stevie Cascino Kindergarten: Molly Craig 1st Grade: Ava Romero 2ns Grade: Paisley Raia 3rd Grade: Annika Schenke 4th Grade: Benito Alba-Mulia 5th Grade: Olivia Miele Mrs. Prevete's class: Dylan Romero Moran Date Added: 11/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172873 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172873 Scraggy Artists of the Month! Congratulations to our students! PreK: Noorain Mustafa Kindergarten: Emma Peters 1st grade: Landry Alderson 2nd grade: Rory Townsend 3rd grade: Michelle Wardhana 4th grade: Ayaan Karim 5th grade: Calianna Hogan Mrs. Prevete's class: Iker Aguilar Aparicio Date Added: 11/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172875 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172875 Art Students Visit LongHouse Reserve Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students recently visited the LongHouse Reserve, a 16-acre reserve and sculpture garden in East Hampton, featuring works by Buckminster Fuller, Dale Chihuly, Yoko Ono and William de Kooning. Coordinated by high school art teacher Nancy Randazzo, the student-artists explored their creativity on the spectacular grounds across the site. Date Added: 11/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172876 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172876 Great Expectations From Port Jeff Senior Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student Fiona Reichers has been named a co-honoree of The Port Jefferson Village Charles Dickens Festival. Fiona, a senior, is a long-standing volunteer in the annual event, this year celebrating 27 years. She has been a part of the festivities since she was in sixth grade, participating as a street character and portraying an individual from the early Victorian era in London, and acting in adaptations of famed Dickens stories into small skits. “This is a wonderful achievement for Fiona, in not only participating in a local event but sharing in a fun and festive way – to be involved in the greater community,” Principal John Ruggero said. Check out the fun and festive villagewide music, skits, stories and more this weekend, Dec. 2 and 3. See if you can spot Fiona about town! Date Added: 11/29/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172891 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172891 Community Day! What do a college professor, a doctor, a detective, a scientist, a businessman and an ASL interpreter have in common? They are all parents of first graders in the Port Jefferson School District! Allison Giannusa’s, Miegan Rowett’s and Laura Kelly and Paige Lohmann’s classes invited parent volunteers to host centers to share their careers and how they contribute to the community. The students were very engaged and asked thoughtful questions, viewed instruments, graphs and more that the parents provided. This event complemented the first grade social studies curriculum, to encourage students to gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the different components of a working community. Thank you to community members Dr. Ansari (philosophy professor), Dr. Berges (physician), Mr. Leavey (detective), Dr. Luk (scientist/professor), Mr. Peters (tech start-up company) and Mr. Sheprow (ASL interpreter) for sharing your talents and professionalism with our students! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172817 Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172817 Students Selected for NYSCAME All-County Festival Four Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students were selected to participate in the New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education All-County Music Festival held at Connetquot High School and Northport High School. Juniors Thales Cheng, Albert Peterson, Samantha Reichers and Devin Welsch were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Congratulations! Date Added: 11/27/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172835 Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172835 Class C All-State! Congratulations to three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students for being named to All-State Class C Volleyball. Seniors Erin Henry and Olivia Sherman made third team and freshman Ava Reilly made sixth team. Congratulations! Date Added: 11/27/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172838 Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172838 Middle School STEM Ms. Consalvo and Ms. Hein's students in Port Jefferson Middle School joined for a STEM activity. The students worked in groups creating castles and towers using only index cards. The first task was to design a tower of three stories and then to create another, this time with a different base than the first. They were not permitted to cut the cards, use scissors or tape. They could create bases on any shape as well as fold the cards into any shape. Lastly, they timed each other to see who created a three story tower the fastest. “The students had to work with each other to brainstorm how to create a tower that would stay standing while they kept adding to it,” Ms. Consalvo said. Thanks Ms. Consalvo, Ms. Hein and Mr. Rolfe for leading the students in this STEM lesson! Date Added: 11/27/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172844 Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172844 Scraggy Helps Local Families Students, staff and families helped to make the annual food drive at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School another successful endeavor. Under the leadership of elementary guidance counselor Jessica Peterson, the school community once again showed its generosity in aiding others with over 40 shopping bags filled with nonperishables that will benefit local families. Thanks to fifth graders Lukas Peterson, Jared Hernandez, Kolton Kozikowski and Trip Nenninger for helping to prepare the groceries for delivery! Date Added: 11/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172814 Wed, 22 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172814 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on December 12, 2023, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172828 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:00:00 GMT false172828 A Thanksgiving Celebration! In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, the second-grade classrooms of Carleen Parmegiani and Darlene Wells at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School were filled with gratitude as students participated in a festive autumn-inspired event with parents, grandparents and younger siblings. The students created and shared a slideshow and song and completed a gratitude journal and an activity on how they are thankful for each other. Family members also helped them create a unique holiday craft in which they wrote on strips of orange paper what they are thankful for, attached them together to form a pumpkin shape, added leaves and vines in green paper for a finished product of a table centerpiece for their home’s celebration of Thanksgiving. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172760 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 08:00:00 GMT false172760 The Power of Gratitude Edna Louise Spear Elementary School librarian Mrs. Meg Hoon tapped into her creative energies to share a timely lesson on gratitude. Recently, she read Peter Reynolds’ “Our Table” to a fourth grade class. The story focuses on a family’s connection at the dinner table before life, distractions and technology pulled them all away from one another. After reading the story Mrs. Hoon gave groups of students a gratitude game board that she created with questions about a person, place, thing, food or friend that each student was grateful for. The students rolled a die and whatever color they landed on they shared answers to that question. “We are all so busy in our lives, it was a great way for students to connect with each other over the game,” Mrs. Hoon said. The lesson was part of a larger Culture of Care initiative where teachers are proactive and students are motivated by the positive effects of monthly themes, which in addition to gratitude include courage, empathy, friendship, inclusivity, kindness, reflection, respect and wellness. It is a broad and holistic approach to the concepts of the story they read: to gather at a table, with connections and respect, to make memories, share their thoughts and ideas, and revel in time spent together. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172759 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT false172759 A Cold Endeavor Warms Hearts The Port Jefferson School District’s Varsity Club attended the Town of Brookhaven’s annual Polar Plunge to benefit the Special Olympics on Nov. 18. Club members raised over $5,000, enough to sponsor 14 Olympians for the year. “The day was a tremendous success thanks to our student athletes.” Mrs. Deirdre Filippi said. (She and Mr. Jesse Rosen are co-advisers of the Varsity Club). “Their dedication and commitment to doing great things in our community is rewarding to see.” Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172748 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172748 Students Give Peace A Chance Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Buddies are at it again! With the iconic Cat Stevens’ “Peace Train” song playing in the background, the fifth graders in Christine Wicks class and kindergarten students in Melissa Martin’s class worked together to create posters and peace pins to raise funds to help families with children affected by the war in the Middle East. The project is another positive focus in the District’s culture of belonging and togetherness. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172734 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT false172734 Students Plant Tulips in Village Students in Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s AP Environmental Science class and the Environmental Club took a trip to Rocketship Park in Port Jefferson on Nov. 16 as part of a collaborative beautification project between Port Jefferson School District and the Port Jefferson Village Parks Department. District Athletic Director Adam Sherrard and Superintendent of Parks Dave Melious had discussed how the Port Jefferson students could give back to the community and promote Port Jeff pride within the village. The duo came up with a plan to plant 200 purple and white tulips in front of the basketball courts at Rocketship Park. They were joined by science teacher Jonathan Maletta. “Once the plan was in place the first person I thought to get involved was Mr. Maletta,” Sherrard said. “His students always do a remarkable job taking care of the environment and giving back to the community. The students all did an amazing job at Rocketship Park. I am looking forward to seeing all of the purple and white blooming this spring.” The School District looks forward to collaborating on more projects with the Parks Department in the future. A thank you to Site One Landscape Supply for donating the tulips. Students in attendance were Olivia Bianco, Anneliese Byrne, Katie Chambers, Eric Chen, Thalia Dorsett, Kyle Erickson, Savannah Florio, Jadie Hernandez, Michael Lipskiy, Madeline Matvya, Noah Mimarbasi, Myeda Nawaz, Gavin Onghai, Alyssa Passarella, Ottilie Philbrick, Brielle Procaccini, Cooper Reale, Mia Savino, Nicholas Smirnov, Carman Stanton, Charlotte Tishim and Julia Weinstein. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172684 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172684 Smiles and High-Fives at SEPTA Bowling Event Fostering friendship and teamwork was the name of the game when Port Jefferson School District’s SEPTA hosted a bowling event at Port Jeff Bowl on Nov. 18. “Students and their families had tons of fun,” Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill said. “This is one of many family friendly events SEPTA has planned throughout the year.” Date Added: 11/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172720 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172720 Honored by the Board of Education Earl. L Vandermeulen High School seniors Iris He and Liam Thompson were honored by the Port Jefferson School District’s Board of Education on Nov. 14. The two student-scholars are among the four who were named Commended Students in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. High School Principal Mr. John Ruggero introduced the duo and also congratulated seniors Gavin Onghai and Katherine Ranjbar, who were not at the meeting. The four students were each recognized for their outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Date Added: 11/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172727 Mon, 20 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172727 Sherlock Holmes On Stage! Sherlock Holmes is on the case in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Drama Club’s production of Ken Ludwig’s “Baskerville: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery.” After weeks of rehearsal, the students will take the stage with three weekend performances of this transformation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic “The Hound of the Baskervilles” into a murderously funny adventure. “When this play originated on Broadway it consisted of five actors: one to play Sherlock, one to play Watson and three others to play over 40 different parts,” Director Tony Butera said. “This version is a variation on that. We have a cast of 10 to play all the parts (including animals and babies), one changeable set and many hysterical accents flying around!” Performance times are Friday, Nov. 17, and Saturday, Nov. 18 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. Donation is $5 per person and the show runs approximately two hours. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172664 Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172664 A Visit to Safety Town As part of the high school health unit of decision-making, 10th grade students at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School visited Safety Town in Holtsville to learn the consequences of driving while distracted and driving while impaired as well as safety and awareness of traveling alone. The group was accompanied by Ms. Britt, Mr. Chalmers, Mr. Maletta, Ms. Malizia, Mr. Ruggero, Mr. Topper and Mrs. Wendel, as well as Mr. Adam Sherrard, athletic director of Port Jefferson School District. The program involved a presentation where the students heard from police and emergency responders about young drivers who lost their lives due to distracted or impaired driving. After the presentation, students drove electric mini cars through an obstacle course while fully attentive, while texting and while wearing fatal vision goggles that altered their vision to simulate driving while impaired. “Thank you to Tom Indence and Al Ferrari for hosting us at Safety Town” said Mr. Sherrard. “They did a remarkable job helping our students to understand the real-life consequences of driving without a seatbelt, driving at high rates of speed, driving while distracted and driving while impaired.” Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172666 Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172666 All Things French! Port Jefferson French language teacher Heather Marshak and her students had many reasons to celebrate when they took part in National French Week recently. The francophones and francophiles decorated the halls with French culture, played French Scattegories, watched a French movie, read French ghost stories in the dark with the light from their phones as flashlights and participated in a national French trivia contest. And that isn’t even the food (and best) part. The cafeteria staff made ham and Swiss cheese croissant sandwiches, while the French language students worked with the life skills program in the well-stocked kitchen classroom. The French class students shared their kindness by assisting a life skills student in the skills they were learning. And then they made crêpes. At the same time, a Suffolk County Sherriff Department officer entered the life skills classroom for a cup of coffee. He was a guest speaker in Mr. Michael Maletta’s health classes right next door. The officer noticed that the students were struggling with something so he walked over to show them how to do it. “There is something very beautiful about kindness born of inspiration,” Ms. Marshak said. “His job was to come in and speak to kids regarding certain topics. He was under no obligation to do anything beyond that, but he did. He was inspired to connect with them, so he found an opening to make a difference and to be of service and to just treat them as humans first. There is so much good in this world if we look for it.” Date Added: 11/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172626 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172626 Share Your Royal Spirit! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172246 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172246 College Commit! Congratulations to Kyle Erickson on his commitment to play baseball at Notre Dame of Maryland University. Date Added: 11/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172602 Wed, 15 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172602 Cross-Country Team Fourth in States The boys cross-country team finished fourth in the NYSPHSAA Championships this weekend. The group was led by Colin Veit who finished 15th overall and qualified for the Federation Championships next week. For the girls, Gwen Connelly finished in the top 50 and took 15 seconds off her time from last year. Great job runners! Date Added: 11/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172543 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172543 A Visitor Sparks Curiosity Among Students Students in Ms. Michelle Landetta’s class were intrigued when they noticed special visitors from the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office visiting a health class at the high school. “Mrs. Gray and I thought it would be a great idea for the students to each come up with one question to ask,” Ms. Landetta said. “Sheriff Jason took some time to meet with the boys and answered their questions. This was a perfect opportunity for the students to engage in conversations that sparked their curiosity.” Date Added: 11/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172551 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172551 National Letters of Intent for Port Jeff Trio Three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors signed their National Letter of Intent to play Division I collegiate athletics. Preston Biedenkapp committed to Fairfield University for men’s rowing, Katie Chambers committed to Boston University for women’s rowing and Lilli Kircher committed to Stonehill College for women’s lacrosse. Family and friends celebrated this accomplishment at the school on Nov. 9. The ceremony began with Athletic Director Adam Sherrard sharing his pride of the three student-athletes and how impressive their accomplishments are. Port Jeff Rowing Club coach James Finke and Port Jefferson varsity girls lacrosse coach Logan Hoffmann then shared stories and examples of the tremendous work ethic and character the student-athletes exhibit at practice and competitions. After each signing their Letter of Intent, the students took photos with their coaches and family. Congratulations to Preston, Katie and Lilli! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172552 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172552 Coach of the Year! ongratulations to boys cross-country Coach Andrew Cosci for receiving League 8 and Section XI Class C Coach of the Year honors! Date Added: 11/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172553 Tue, 14 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172553 Community Fitness Center Opens Tuesday, 11.14 Date Added: 11/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172508 Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172508 Back to Back Long Island Champions! The varsity girls volleyball team won the Long Island Championship for the second year in a row defeating East Rockaway three sets to zero on Nov. 9 at SUNY Old Westbury. The team advanced to the Regional Championship on Nov. 11 at home, when they took on the Millbrook Blazers. Great Job Royals! Date Added: 11/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172531 Mon, 13 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172531 A Proud Port Jeff Veteran When Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students walked into their Fossils and Findings class, instead of learning about fossil formations, their time periods and how their various adaptations made them suitable for their environments, they were treated to a Veterans Day presentation. Teacher Joseph Iuliucci, dressed in his military uniform, gave a historic account of his more than 22-year military timeline, from serving in the U.S. Army from 1987-1991, joining the Army National Guard for the next two years, followed by three years in the Air National Guard before a break in service to be with his family. He returned to the Air National Guard in 2000 and served in the Air Force and Air National Guard until his retirement in 2022. His slideshow presentation featured photo highlights of his career. The students asked him questions about his military service medal and travels, which included Belgium, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Italy, Netherlands and Iceland. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172487 Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172487 Educational Experiences at Frost Valley! Port Jefferson Middle School eighth graders participated in nature hikes, outdoor living skills, science exploration and teambuilding during this year’s trip to Frost Valley. The two days of adventures included ziplining, a glider activity, the leap of faith, apple cider making, teambuilding activities and archery. The students also sang karaoke, participated in square dancing, roasted marshmallows, created smores, watched a bird show and played board games. “The students enjoyed themselves and created lasting memories,” Principal Brian Walker said. Date Added: 11/7/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172397 Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172397 County Champs! The Port Jefferson varsity girls volleyball team won back-to-back Suffolk County Class C championships. The Royals were the only Class C team in Suffolk County to qualify for playoffs. The team will take on East Rockaway on Thursday, Nov. 9, at 7 p.m. at SUNY Old Westbury for the Long Island championship. If the team wins on Thursday, they will advance to the regional championships on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 2 p.m. at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The Royals are looking to get back to the NYSPHSAA championships after finishing as the state runner-up in 2022. Anyone planning to attend the postseason contests can purchase tickets on GoFan. Date Added: 11/7/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172411 Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172411 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting will be held on Monday, November 13, 2023 at District Office Conference Room. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering into executive session to discuss personnel matters. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on November 14, 2023, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172367 Mon, 06 Nov 2023 17:00:00 GMT false172367 Class C Champs! The varsity boys cross-country team won the Class C county championships on Nov. 3 at Sunken Meadow State Park. This is the seventh consecutive year the team has won the county championship. In addition to the team county championship, Colin Veit also was the individual county champion for all Class C runners. The team of Sean Grossman (9), Max Joyner (11), Chris Nam (10), Andrew Schretzmayer (12), Carman Stanton (12), Lucas Sweeney (10) and Colin Veit (11) will compete in the NYSPHSAA Cross Country championships this weekend at Vernon Verona Sherrill High School in Verona, New York. The team finished third overall in Class D at the NYSPHSAA championships last year. The boys will be joined by Gwen Connelly who finished fourth overall for all female Class C runners to earn herself a trip to the state championship. Gwen qualified for the NYSPHSAA Cross Country championships for the second year in a row. Best of luck to our runners this weekend! Date Added: 11/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172377 Mon, 06 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172377 College Fair Success! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s guidance office hosted a College Fair on Nov. 1 which was a great opportunity for the students to check out some options for after graduation. There are so many exciting possibilities for high school students. Guidance counselors Ms. Kathi Galvin and Mrs. Kerri Neligon organized the event and coordinated the 86 colleges in attendance from all over the northeast. High School sophomores and juniors had the opportunity to talk to the college representatives and ask questions about the admission process and gain other important information about the colleges. Date Added: 11/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172353 Mon, 06 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172353 Tracking a Mystery in Grade 3! Students in Miss Erickson and Miss Gandolfo’s third grade class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School have started their mystery unit. The students received a letter, but the author’s name was missing. The note read, “Sorry, my dog took a bite.” The students used the clues to narrow down the author to Principal Mrs. Amy Laverty and Assistant Principal Miss Brianne Antenucci. “It came down to a writing sample and a pink pen for them to figure out that it was me,” Mrs. Laverty said. “What a fun way to practice their learning about clues, motives and suspects.” Date Added: 11/3/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172327 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172327 Youth Summit Empowers Students Members of the Port Jefferson School District Unified Bowling and Unified Basketball teams attended the Special Olympics Section XI Unified Special Olympics Youth Summit in Sayville on Nov. 3. The Youth Summit’s goal is to empower students to be leaders of change and facilitate inclusion of all students regardless of their abilities. At the event, students from various schools participated in icebreaker activities and planned ideas on how to help promote and increase inclusivity in their schools. The Port Jefferson group of 15 students – Brendan Baez, Mariangely Beltran, Cade Delgado, Thalia Dorsett, Kayden Jeudy, Keyth Jeudy, Jayden Katsaros, Dan Kubek, Maria Oliva, Keanny Polanco, Tomas Qepuri, Hannah Shikora, Jake Siganoc, Brandon Verruto and Andrea Viejo – was accompanied by Unified Basketball and Bowling coaches Josh Shields and Mike Maletta, as well as special education teacher Gina Fedler, paraprofessional Karin Mall and Athletic Director Adam Sherrard. The students returned to Port Jefferson with great ideas about inclusivity to share with students and staff. Date Added: 11/3/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172337 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172337 Post Season Athletic Contests https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172267 Wed, 01 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172267 Grade 8 Trip: Follow us to Frost Valley! Come along for the trip as our Port Jefferson Middle School eighth graders trek to Frost Valley for educational experiences, nature hikes, science exploration, outdoor living skills, trust-building activities, teamwork and more! Follow Principal Mr. Brian Walker on Instagram: @PJMSPrincipal Date Added: 11/1/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172239 Wed, 01 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172239 Dr. Robert Neidig: Power of One Award Recipient The Royal Educational Foundation Power of One Family Fun Run was part of the Port Jefferson School District’s homecoming weekend festivities and a time to celebrate one of our own administrators! Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Robert Neidig was honored at the seventh annual event and was joined by approximately 200 walkers and runners of all ages on the two-mile course that started at the Village Center and wound up at the High School Bowl. “It was wonderful to witness an event that not only honored Dr. Neidig for his commitment to our students’ education but also united us all as a community,” Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan said. The focus of the yearly event is to encourage physical activity and to celebrate its positive influence within the Port Jefferson schools and community. The proceeds of the fundraiser will be used to enhance the quality of education in the Port Jefferson School District. Date Added: 10/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172223 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172223 They Did the Monster Mash! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s annual Halloween parade was a day of fun and festivities for students, staff and family members who came by to watch the young students saunter by to eerie music. Dressed to the nines were princesses, astronauts, doctors, sports figures, pirates and more! Happy Halloween! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172231 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172231 Scraggy Musicians of the Month! Congratulations to our students! Pre-K: Stevie Cascino Kindergarten: Molly Craig 1st Grade: Ava Romero 2ns Grade: Paisley Raia 3rd Grade: Annika Schenke 4th Grade: Benito Alba-Mulia 5th Grade: Olivia Miele Mrs. Prevete's class: Dylan Romero Moran Date Added: 10/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172182 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172182 Scraggy Artists of the Month! Congratulations to our students! PreK: Noorain Mustafa Kindergarten: Emma Peters 1st grade: Landry Alderson 2nd grade: Rory Townsend 3rd grade: Michelle Wardhana 4th grade: Ayaan Karim 5th grade: Calianna Hogan Mrs. Prevete's class: Iker Aguilar Aparicio Date Added: 10/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172183 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172183 PEAK Performance! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fourth grade student-musicians Emma DeMaria, Shelby Olive and Scarlette Russo participated in the annual Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association PEAK (Parents, Educators and Kids) Festival on Oct. 28. Elementary music teacher Ms. Laurel Zimlinghaus joined the musical students and their parents at the event with workshops, musical activities, games and improvisation as highlights. The PEAK Festival is a unique celebration of elementary classroom music where students from across Suffolk County performed alongside their parents and music teachers. Date Added: 10/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172218 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172218 Grom of the Year: Jameson Roeber Earl L. Vandermeulen High School freshman Jameson Roeber was lauded for his ambassadorship, involvement, performance and support of stand-up paddle boarding and was named the SUP Connect Grom of the Year award recipient. Jameson’s passion for the water and his sport started as a child when he stepped onto his mother’s paddle board and took to the waters of Port Jefferson. He won his first Grom a year later and has continued with races nationally, including winning or placing at The Carolina Cup, The Gorge Paddle Challenge, The NY APP, The Pacific Paddle Games and many other races. “It is an honor to recognize Jameson, not only for his dedication to paddleboarding, but his enthusiasm and eagerness to help people and animals through his sport,” Principal Mr. John Ruggero said. Date Added: 10/30/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172154 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172154 Port Jefferson BOE Notice - November 14, 2023 The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on November 14, 2023, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172165 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172165 National Honors! Four Earl. L Vandermeulen High School seniors have been named Commended Students in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Gavin Onghai, Iris He, Katherine Ranjbar and Liam Thompson have each been recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated on their outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. They each received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program. The four students are very involved in all aspects of their high school careers and recognize that this achievement is vital to the advancement of educational excellence. The District congratulates these high achievers for demonstrating outstanding potential for academic success. Date Added: 10/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172082 Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172082 Teddy Bear Clinic Teaches Safety Education and Health Care What do you do if your teddy bear gets hurt? Edna Louise Spear Elementary School kindergarten students brought their favorite stuffed animals to school to find out. Each kindergarten class took part in a unique workshop to learn about safety education and health care in a fun and interactive way. Several nursing students along with one of their supervisors from the Trauma Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital visited on Oct. 24 for special clinics with the kindergartners. They shared with students how to keep themselves safe when riding in a car or riding a bicycle or scooter. The importance of wearing seatbelts, sitting in the back of the car and wearing helmets were all emphasized. The nursing students also provided hands-on activities for the kindergarten students to learn how to handle and care for their own stuffed animals. The students learned the importance of wearing masks, gloves and caps as well. They then dressed up as doctors and nurses and learned how to conduct an exam as well as how to bandage minor injuries. “It was a great learning opportunity where our students reviewed safety rules and then were made to feel very comfortable with both health care procedures and the medical staff who are there to help them,” kindergarten teacher Mrs. Marissa Shannon said. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/27/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172115 Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172115 Students Learn That Actions Make an Impact Port Jefferson School District’s International Club is partnering with the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy and hosted a kickoff on Oct. 24. The student leaders work together in the program that empowers high school students to put leadership principles into practice through student-led community service projects that culminate in a year-end impact project. Along with advisors Kristen Britt and Jennifer Walling, the students will participate in seven Leader Labs designed to help them better understand core leadership principles and apply them to their daily lives. “The purpose of Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is to equip the students with life-changing leadership skills, so they can leave an Impact Through Action on our local community,” Ms. Walling said. The kickoff focused on the students’ participation in the first service project—the 1 Million Book Giveaway, in which they will distribute 500 books to students at the elementary school. The students packed the books, created a gift bag and wrote inspirational quotes for the students to receive in December when the young leaders will visit the elementary school and read to the youth. “Students were happily rewarded with a delicious meal from Chick-Fil-A. It was a great experience for the students to be learning their actions do make an impact,” Ms. Walling said. Date Added: 10/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172079 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172079 Academic Achievement Honors Four Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors are among dozens of students from school districts throughout Brookhaven township who were lauded for achieving a grade point average of 95 or higher. Hipolita Oliva, Maria Oliva, Kiersten Parmegiani and Grayson Ramonez have earned academic excellence awards as part of the Town of Brookhaven’s 10th annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. They were recognized by Brookhaven’s Hispanic Advisory Board members, Supervisor Edward Romaine and Town Council members. The School District congratulates these students on this outstanding academic achievement! Date Added: 10/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172081 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172081 Share Your Royal Spirit! Date Added: 10/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171935 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171935 Candyland and More at Varsity Club Trick or Treat Drive Thru The Port Jefferson School District’s Varsity Club hosted a Trick or Treat Drive Thru Event on Oct. 22 for younger students in the District at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Coordinated with Varisty Club advisers Deirdre Filippi and Jess Rosen, it was noted as a rewarding day seeing so many smiling faces from both the high school students and the elementary school youngsters and their families! “Our kids did a great job decorating themed tables and coming through with thousands upon thousands of pieces of candy, Mrs. Filippi said. “We were certainly PJ Proud after this one!” Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/25/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172050 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172050 Center for Culinary Excellence The Port Jefferson School District received a Center for Culinary Excellence honor from Whitson’s Culinary Group. Head chef Robin Hoolahan and kitchen staff at the High School were applauded by Principal John Ruggero. The prestigious designation recognizes locations that have achieved the highest form of quality assurance by attaining a score of 95% or above on their quality assurance audits and have passed all the requirements in meeting their safety, financial and training goals. “They go above and beyond for the students of Port Jefferson,” Mr. Ruggero said. In addition to Ms. Hoolahan, thank you to our kitchen staff for caring for our students: Barbara Aloia, Krysta Minatta, Ann Marie Mazuryan, Diane Van Middelem and Karen Wuttke. Date Added: 10/25/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172064 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172064 Coastline Cleanup Members of Port Jefferson School District’s Environmental Club and Leo Club joined together to clean up Centennial Park in Port Jefferson Village recently. They were accompanied by Environmental Club advisor Mr. Jonathan Maletta and Leo Club advisors Mr. Brian Chalmers and Ms. Annie MacIntyre. The community service event was hosted by the Coastal Steward of Long Island and sponsored by Port Jefferson Village. Despite the rain, nine motivated club members showed up to rid the beach of various garbage, debris and harmful microplastics. “Not only did the students show great leadership and responsibility in their services, but also left more knowledgeable about local environmental issues,” Ms. MacIntyre said. Date Added: 10/25/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=172066 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172066 2023 Wall of Fame Honoree Offers a Master Class in Life The Port Jefferson School District welcomed renowned ecologist Dr. Lindsey E. Rustad as its 2023 Wall of Fame inductee at a ceremony in the high school library on Oct. 16. A graduate of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 1976, Dr. Rustad offered a master class in life, reflecting on her four decades in her profession, philosophy, the environment, the integration of art and science, diversity, an individuals’ character traits, behavioral health and more. She touted the Port Jefferson schools for offering her an education that was the foundation of her career. Dr. Rustad is the director of the USDA Northeast Climate Hub and research ecologist for the USDA Forest Service Center for Research on Ecosystem Change. She is an internationally recognized authority on the disturbances and effects of pollution on forest ecosystems. Dr. Rustad toured her alma mater before being introduced to an audience that included district administrators, students, teachers and staff. High school chamber orchestra members Caitlin Dickhuth, Andi Kelly, Joshua Kwon, Evan Monaghan, Sophia Padin, Iris Park, Nicholas Smirnov and Christopher Smith, directed by Dr. Michael Caravello, performed to welcome her to the library. She enjoyed lunch with the students after an unveiling of the plaque securely placed on the school’s Wall of Fame. Dr. Rustad received a B.A. in philosophy at Cornell University in 1980, an M.S. in forest science at the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Sciences in 1983, and a Ph.D. in plant science in 1988 at the University of Maine. Throughout her career, she has received numerous awards, including the USDA Forest Service Gifford Pinchot Award for Excellence in Interpretation and Conservation Education. She is highly regarded as a role model and mentor for women in science. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/23/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171959 Mon, 23 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171959 Bus Safety at All Levels Students may have done a double take when they saw Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan driving a bus through the elementary school circle. It was National School Bus Safety Week (Oct. 16-20), and she was doing her own safety check to be assured that all Port Jefferson students are safe while on school buses. The event sponsored by Suffolk Transportation highlights Bus Safety week and the many checks both drivers and the company go through to ensure our children’s safety. “I was able to get familiar with the bus, its complicated equipment and meet with the company’s top officials,” Mrs. Schmettan said. Date Added: 10/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171952 Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171952 Soccer Clinic Success! The varsity boys and girls soccer teams hosted a five-day soccer clinic for students of Edna Louise Spear Elementary on Oct. 10, 13, 18, 19 and 20. Led by varsity soccer coaches Stacy Buehler, Chris Dructor, Taylor Forstell and Logan Hoffmann, the 53 students in the clinic learned the fundamentals of dribbling, passing and goalkeeping while having fun alongside the varsity soccer players. It was a great way to build connections between the younger students, varsity student-athletes and coaches as well as helping to inspire the love of soccer for Port Jefferson’s elementary students. Date Added: 10/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171901 Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171901 HS Named to Advanced Placement School Honor Roll Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has earned a place on the College Board Advanced Placement School Honor Roll for the 2022-23 school year. The school has earned the Silver distinction. The AP School Honor Roll recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening access. Schools can earn this recognition annually based on criteria that reflect a commitment to increasing college-going culture, providing opportunities for students to earn college credit, and maximizing college readiness. “This recognition is a great opportunity for our students to stand out to colleges, earn college credit and placement, and potentially boost their GPAs,” Principal Mr. John Ruggero said We are excited to continue to expand access to these college-level courses and drive high performance.” Date Added: 10/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171933 Fri, 20 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171933 President’s Volunteer Service Award Recipients On Oct. 10, the Port Jefferson Board of Education presented 48 students with President’s Volunteer Service Award certificates. To earn the recognition, the students each volunteered between 50 and 100 hours of their time to the Port Jefferson community. The students were named by Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Robert Neidig and congratulated by Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan. Dr. Neidig also thanked the PTSA for their help in coordinating the efforts of the students. Congratulations to Bronze Award winners Benjamin Amadio, Timothy Amadio, Olivia Bianco, Lauren Calendrille, Caitlyn Cobb, Tyler Cobb, Conor Daily, Jack Donarummo, Ryan Filippi, Jarek Furjanic, Chloe Kelly, Lucy Kwon, Madeline Matvya, Gavin Onghai, Kiersten Parmegiani, Ottilie Philbrick, Sadie Salzman and Derek Wonderland. Silver Award winners are Elizabeth Campo, Savannah Florio, Sean Grossman, Fiona Reichers, Hanna Simunek and Lexi Verruto. Gold Award winners are Luke Buonomo, Luca Caltagirone, Thales Cheng, JayTee Driscoll-Stremich, Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Bennet Furjanic, Kai Gronenthal, Iris He, Kevin Hong, Brian Hyrycz, Narin Karakurum, Myla Kelly, Max Kronberg, Joshua Kwon, Ariana Leung, Isador Moran, Christopher Nam, Vivian O’Brien, Samantha Reichers, Nicholas Rodriguez, Sadie Tafuro, Gianna Viviano, Matthew Wengatz and Sviatoslav Zalizniak. Date Added: 10/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171871 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171871 Senior Attends International Conference Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Katherine Ranjbar attended the 25th International Symposium on Spin Physics recently held at the Durham Convention Center in Durham, North Carolina. Katherine presented her research poster, “Impact of Imperfection Spin Resonance Strength on Depolarization in RHIC,” to physicists, experts and conference participants from around the world. RHIC (Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider) is used to study the fundamental properties of matter and is the only machine that can collide beams of polarized protons to investigate the “missing” spin of the proton. Katherine attended the conference with her father, Dr. Vahid Ranjbar, a physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Date Added: 10/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171872 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171872 Heading to Golf County Championships! The Port Jefferson Royals golf team competed in the golf conference championships on Oct. 17 and freshman Ben Connelly (third from right) tied for first place shooting a 72. Ben will compete at the county championships on Oct. 23 at Spring Lake Golf Course in Middle Island. Date Added: 10/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171848 Wed, 18 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171848 Integrity, Dedication & Compassion: Thank You, PJ BOE The seven members of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education are among those leaders statewide who are being recognized during New York State School Boards Association School Board Recognition Week. Board of Education President Ellen Boehm, Vice President Tracy Zamek and trustees Randi DeWitt, Shannon Handley, David Keegan, Rene Tidwell and Ryan Walker were lauded at the Oct. 10 meeting for their tireless commitment to the students of Port Jefferson. Introduced by Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan, they listened to the kind words of Dr. Michael Caravello, president of the Administrators Association; Mr. Anthony Butera, president of the Teachers Association; Mrs. Mary Kay Butera, president of the Paraprofessionals and Ms. Deb Abbatiello, vice president of the Office Staff Association. School Board Recognition Week helps to promote awareness and understanding of the important work performed by local school boards. Date Added: 10/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171868 Wed, 18 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171868 ‘The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.’ The well-known quote by Mahatma Gandhi was the backdrop of a presentation by Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Brian Walker at the Oct. 10 Board of Education meeting. Mr. Walker presented an overview of happenings at the school largely focused on service, including the ALS Ride for Life, the Senior Citizen Thanksgiving luncheon, veteran card writing events, GSA candle sales to help the Neighborhood House of Long Island and, most recently, the thoughtful messages of hope and kindness from students in Heather Marshak’s high school French classes to French-speaking students in the Farmingdale School District to honor them in their time of grief. Mr. Walker was also pleased to honor eighth grader Max Gordon for his altruistic endeavor. Max has been collecting gently used sports equipment for the nonprofit organization Game Changers, who collect and distribute these items to kids in need both locally and globally. Date Added: 10/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171869 Wed, 18 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171869 Boogie Woogie Time at Scraggy We all know the basics in helping ourselves to live germ free – wash our hands, cover sneezes and coughs, keep our hands off our face, eat nutritious foods and get a good night’s sleep. With allergy and flu season here, first graders in Mrs. Kelly and Mrs. Lohmann’s class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School are learning how to respect each other by staying germ free as much as possible. Together they read Julia Cook’s award-winning “I Am a Booger, Treat Me with Respect,” a story that teaches about health and hygiene. “We also showed a how-to video about the proper way to blow a nose,” Mrs. Lohmann said. “We then practiced the three steps all together. It was definitely a teaching moment for everyone. We had a ‘boogie woogie’ time doing it!” Date Added: 10/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171870 Wed, 18 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171870 Students Learn How Nutrition Affects Athletic Performance In preparation for the start of the winter athletic season, Port Jefferson student-athletes in grades 7-12 welcomed registered dietitian Alyssa Morando and Community Outreach Manager John Perkins from St. Charles Hospital to learn how the food and drink they put into their bodies prior to and after athletic practices and competitions can have an overall impact on their athletic performance. The comprehensive presentation featured a PowerPoint that highlighted other aspects of staying healthy, including vitamins and minerals, and how what they eat directly affects the structure and function of their brain and, ultimately, their moods. The students took away from the presentation that an interest in nutrition and the way they fuel their bodies will have positive results in the classroom and on the field. Date Added: 10/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171819 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171819 Drive Thru Trick or Treat Event Sunday, 10/22 11-12PM Date Added: 10/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171794 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171794 Upcoming Field Work Update Please know that in the coming weeks, the District will begin much needed maintenance on the Middle and High School fields. Drainage and severe wear & tear on both the lower bowl area and the upper football field will be addressed. This work is funded through our year end budget carryover from the 2022-2023 school year. As part of the renovation, both fields will be leveled; the football field will be sodded; and the bowl field will have sod installed in previously identified worn areas. Work on the lower bowl will begin on Oct. 17 with an expected completion date of Oct. 31, and work on the football field will begin on Oct. 31 with an expected completion date of Nov. 14. Of course, this timeline is fluid and contingent on the weather. In order to promote growth in the newly sodded areas, we ask that all students, staff and community members refrain from going onto the fields until April 1, 2024. In addition, during the football field maintenance (Oct. 31-Nov. 14) access to the high school track will be prohibited. The tennis courts will remain open during the entire construction phase with a normal winter closing on November 20. We are hopeful that with everyone’s cooperation our fields will be in excellent shape and ready for the spring season. Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Facilities office at 631-791-4261. Date Added: 10/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171756 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171756 Royals Light Up the Night! The stars were aligned for the annual Royals Light Up the Night on Oct. 13. The Royal spirit lit up Port Jefferson when the 2023 homecoming festivities brought students, faculty, administrators, Board of Education members and community residents to the parade down Main Street on Friday night. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students decorated cars and trucks with Port Jefferson purple lights and balloons. Port Jefferson Middle School student-musicians shared their talents, and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students joined in the beautiful nighttime walk through the village. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171760 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171760 A Royal Pep Rally! The festivities continued for homecoming weekend when the Royals shook the Middle School/High School gymnasium with games, cheers, music and more! Thanks to students Rose Melicker-Hammock and Maya Shand for singing the National Anthem, Molly Becherer for being the enthusiastic DJ and Olivia Bianco, Erin Henry, Seamus McKeown, Cooper Reale and Olivia Sherman for serving as MCs. The senior class won the tug of war and bravo to Principal Ruggero for being declared the pie eating contest winner! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171771 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171771 Go Royals! #PortJeffProud https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171774 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171774 Alumni Softball Game! Thanks to our Port Jefferson Royals Alumni who came out to support our athletic program. It was an exciting softball game for all on Oct. 14! Date Added: 10/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171776 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171776 Rain, Rain Go Away! Royal Pride is here to stay! The homecoming festivities were in full swing when Port Jeff took on Center Moriches on Oct. 14. Thank you for your Royal support! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171783 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171783 Royal Spirit Knows No Boundaries! At Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, a week of Port Jefferson school spirit included a fun pajama day, grade-level color wars, skier vs. surfer and wearing the Royal colors of purple and white – but what do students do when several busloads of high school student-athletes visit the school? Wave those purple pompoms and join in the fun and cheers! All fall Royal high school athletic teams were eager for hugs with younger siblings, smiles for former teachers and lots of high-fives on a visit to the elementary school to promote the upcoming homecoming weekend festivities. Those include tonight’s Light Up The Night parade and tomorrow’s Royal Ed Fun Run, alumni softball game and varsity football game against Center Moriches. Girls soccer coach Mr. Taylor Forstell may have been the Royal winner in getting dozens of high-fives from the elementary students. It was a great visit, with lots of cheers and excitement. The wonderful weather and the Port Jeff Royal spirit are excellent additions to this weekend’s activities. Go Royals! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171732 Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171732 Students Learn Why Character Matters Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students were visited by Mr. Mark Leinweaver from Perfect Playcement on Oct. 4. The topics included Why Character Matters and Being Your Own Agent in choosing the right college. Mr. Leinweaver is a Major League Baseball agent who delivers messages to professional and college athletes on the importance of character. He discussed social media awareness on what people post, follow, like, dislike and comment on. He gave specific examples of students who had full scholarships for college and then had their scholarship revoked due to social media posts the individual had made several years earlier. Other topics included sticking up for others, helping others so they are not alone, and giving back to the school and community. In the last part of the presentation, Mr. Leinweaver offered some tips on how students could narrow down their college search by size, location, majors, campus activities and more. He then gave examples of email and phone messages they could leave for college department chairs, coaches and others to express their interest in attending. He also reviewed questions to be prepared to answer at a college visit as well as what questions to ask the university officials. According to Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard, the presentation had a great impact on students. Students stayed after school at the conclusion of the presentation to ask Mr. Leinweaver questions about character, perseverance and marketing themselves for college. The following day, students asked for copies of the presentation and were heard discussing the powerful message of Why Character Matters. Date Added: 10/11/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171635 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171635 Art Students Visit LongHouse Reserve Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students recently visited the LongHouse Reserve, a 16-acre reserve and sculpture garden in East Hampton, featuring works by Buckminster Fuller, Dale Chihuly, Yoko Ono and William de Kooning. Coordinated by high school art teacher Nancy Randazzo, the student-artists explored their creativity on the spectacular grounds across the site. Date Added: 10/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171604 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171604 Kicks for Cancer The Port Jefferson varsity girls soccer team hosted Sayville for their annual Kicks for Cancer game on Oct. 5. Students and staff were encouraged to wear pink to school on that day and help support the cause with a small donation. The team raised over $700 for their Kicks for Cancer event with 100% of the proceeds being donated to cancer research and support for local families. Date Added: 10/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171605 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171605 Buddies! The Port Jefferson School District continues its focus on promoting a culture of positivity, belonging and togetherness, and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s Buddy Program takes that to another level! The cross-grade-level initiative involving fifth graders in Christine Wicks class and kindergarten students in Melissa Martin’s class, worked together on a fall craft activity. They cut and pasted shapes to create paper pumpkins – a quick and fun project that encouraged teamwork and communication. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171606 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171606 What’s on Your Reading List? Thank you to the Port Jefferson School District PTSA for the great selection of books for our Middle School students! The students had the opportunity to browse and buy at the Book Fair on Oct. 5 and 6. Happy reading! Date Added: 10/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171516 Fri, 06 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171516 Spirit Week Schedule PJ Apparel Store Date Added: 10/5/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171520 Thu, 05 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171520 District Hosts Fall Family Gathering The Port Jefferson School District ENL Department hosted its annual Fall Family Gathering on Oct. 3. “This gathering brings our ENL families together and celebrates the various cultures,” teacher Christina Marino said. The event welcomed representatives from the Port Jefferson Public Library who offered their numerous resources in many different languages as well paramedics from the Brentwood EMS Department who provided CPR training for district families. “The families enjoyed food and dessert and ended the night making a scarecrow,” Mrs. Marino said. Date Added: 10/5/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171515 Thu, 05 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171515 Kindergarten Kicks Off Writing Workshop! Port Jefferson kindergarten students learned that everyone can be a writer by using pictures and words. With teachers Meagan Bellantuono and Allison Coppi, they also learned that Writing Workshop is one place in their day where they can get to know their friends better and tell the world more about who they are. Not only did students write about something near and dear to their heart, they also shared their writing with their classmates. “We were so impressed at how brave the children were and how ready they were to try something challenging and new,” Ms. Bellantuono said. Each child was awarded a certificate for their bravery and accepted into the Brave Writers Club. “It was an exciting day for us and we can’t wait to meet again,” Ms. Coppi said. Date Added: 10/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171472 Wed, 04 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171472 Sincères Condoléances Students in Heather Marshak’s high school French classes are learning the language through listening, speaking, reading and writing activities. The writing activities have taken on real-world meaning with a classroom campaign that turned to a call of action throughout the district. The students are writing letters of condolence in French to French-speaking students in the Farmingdale School District. They are also planning to send small gifts of comfort. The students and Ms. Marshak decided they can share thoughtful messages in this collective time of grief for many families in the Long Island community. “We talked about empathy, what it is and how it presents itself in our life; how, if we pay attention, we can find openings which then become hidden opportunities to show compassion,” Ms. Marshak said. “We tried to think of the things that would mean a lot to us if we were in their shoes.” “It is a heartfelt endeavor and one these students will certainly learn from and remember for a long time,” said Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal John Ruggero. Date Added: 10/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171476 Wed, 04 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171476 Eighth Grader Ready to Change the World Port Jefferson Middle School student Max Gordon is gearing up to give back to the world. An eighth grader, Max plays basketball, lacrosse and soccer. One day, Max saw an item on social media that caught his eye and he wanted to get involved in its mission. He took it upon himself to find out more about a nonprofit organization, Game Changers, that collects and distributes gently used sports equipment to kids in need both locally and globally. He took his idea to Port Jefferson School District Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard and another Game Changer was born. Max is collecting gently used items to donate to Game Changers and is seeking the school community’s help. Donations can be dropped off at the gym lobby at Port Jefferson High School/Middle School and Edna Louise Spear Elementary. He even decorated a box in aptly named A Royal Donation.” Will he go further with his altruistic ways? “I have nothing planned yet, but I would like to do more events like this,” Max said. Date Added: 9/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171316 Thu, 28 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171316 Join us in sharing your Royal Pride! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170985 Thu, 28 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170985 Freshman in National Paddleboard Competition As a freshman at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Jameson Roeber has a busy academic schedule in addition to playing baritone in the school band and being on the wrestling team. It’s his outside-of-school activities that help keep him grounded and connected to others. Jameson, who paddleboards near his home in Port Jefferson, was the youngest New York resident to win a SUP Connect GROM of the Year award for his paddleboard skills and ability to help others. He is back in the running (or paddling) for the 2023 GROM of the Year, which is given based on criteria such as ambassadorship, involvement, performance and support. Jameson most recently won first place in his division in a six-mile race in Fairfield, Connecticut, and a 2.5-mile race in Riverhead. Good luck, Jameson! Date Added: 9/25/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171261 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171261 Health Is an Important Topic Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in Mr. Michael Maletta’s health class are learning crucial life skills and developing their understanding of their roles in society. In a recent class, students shared their fears of tangible things such as bugs and broken glass and had a more open discussion on anxieties associated with getting bad grades, fear of the future and understanding expectations of themselves and their teachers to forge successful academic relationships. Mr. Maletta encouraged the students to expand their communication skills with others as a first step to alleviating some of the trepidation they may feel. “Sometimes we don’t have to be afraid,” Mr. Maletta said, stressing the importance of communication in those critical moments. Other topics covered during the school year are nutrition, relationships, dating/dating violence, body changes/puberty, HIV/AIDS, alcohol use, and signs of suicide and its prevention. Date Added: 9/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171290 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171290 Duo Honored for Character Port Jefferson Middle School students continue to learn and practice exceptional character traits and share their kindness and goodwill toward others. The Character Coupons program honors exceptional behavior, honesty, respect, integrity, self-control, responsibility and excellence. Principal Mr. Brian Walker honored the two sixth graders, Kayra Top and Cole Nelson, for being exemplary role models for others. They were each presented with a purple rubber wristband and a congratulations honoring their excellence. Date Added: 9/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171220 Mon, 25 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171220 Junior Embraces the Power of Civic Engagement Words and actions are two of the items that motivate Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student Drew Sora. A junior, Drew was selected by Principal John Ruggero to serve as the school’s student representative to the Port Jefferson Civic Association. In his new and historic role, Drew will share the happenings and successes of the high school at the Association’s monthly meetings. His first meeting in September highlighted the district’s summer programs, and his next meeting in October will be a time to celebrate some of the school’s community involvement. This includes the Royal Educational Foundation’s Family Fun Run – which this year honors Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Robert Neidig as the winner of the Jill Nees-Russell Power of One Award – and the pep rally, spirit days, homecoming parade and games. “Drew’s involvement will certainly foster interest from his peers, younger students, teachers and others on the valuable connection between school and community,” Mr. Ruggero said. Drew’s public-speaking expertise has inspired him to run for the school’s Student Organization and to help others understand that they too can become involved in causes bigger than themselves. He looks forward to working in tandem with the Port Jefferson Village deputy mayor to invigorate interest in the village’s Youth Council. Date Added: 9/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171223 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171223 Start With Hello Week! Working to promote a culture of inclusion and connectedness, students and staff throughout the Port Jefferson School District participated in Sandy Hook Promise’s Start With Hello Week (Sept. 18–22). At the elementary school events included Meet and Greet Monday, Thank Someone Tuesday, Wear Green Wednesday as a symbol of solidarity with Sandy Hook Promise, Trusted Adult Thursday, and Moving Forward Fri-Yay, which promoted keeping the Start With Hello spirit throughout the school year. The middle school and high school encouraged students to say hello to someone in school that they did not yet know, random acts of kindness, sharing appreciation, wearing Royal colors to support one another, and increasing their inclusivity and empathy with their classmates to show that there is always hope and change for the future. The Port Jefferson School District takes pride in the pledges to keep the spirit going throughout the year. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171213 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171213 Start With Hello Week! Working to promote a culture of inclusion and connectedness, students and staff throughout the Port Jefferson School District participated in Sandy Hook Promise’s Start With Hello Week (Sept. 18–22). At the elementary school events included Meet and Greet Monday, Thank Someone Tuesday, Wear Green Wednesday as a symbol of solidarity with Sandy Hook Promise, Trusted Adult Thursday, and Moving Forward Fri-Yay, which promoted keeping the Start With Hello spirit throughout the school year. The middle school and high school encouraged students to say hello to someone in school that they did not yet know, random acts of kindness, sharing appreciation, wearing Royal colors to support one another, and increasing their inclusivity and empathy with their classmates to show that there is always hope and change for the future. The Port Jefferson School District takes pride in the pledges to keep the spirit going throughout the year. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171214 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171214 Start With Hello Week! Working to promote a culture of inclusion and connectedness, students and staff throughout the Port Jefferson School District participated in Sandy Hook Promise’s Start With Hello Week (Sept. 18–22). At the elementary school events included Meet and Greet Monday, Thank Someone Tuesday, Wear Green Wednesday as a symbol of solidarity with Sandy Hook Promise, Trusted Adult Thursday, and Moving Forward Fri-Yay, which promoted keeping the Start With Hello spirit throughout the school year. The middle school and high school encouraged students to say hello to someone in school that they did not yet know, random acts of kindness, sharing appreciation, wearing Royal colors to support one another, and increasing their inclusivity and empathy with their classmates to show that there is always hope and change for the future. The Port Jefferson School District takes pride in the pledges to keep the spirit going throughout the year. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171215 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171215 Start With Hello Week! Working to promote a culture of inclusion and connectedness, students and staff throughout the Port Jefferson School District participated in Sandy Hook Promise’s Start With Hello Week (Sept. 18–22). At the elementary school events included Meet and Greet Monday, Thank Someone Tuesday, Wear Green Wednesday as a symbol of solidarity with Sandy Hook Promise, Trusted Adult Thursday, and Moving Forward Fri-Yay, which promoted keeping the Start With Hello spirit throughout the school year. The middle school and high school encouraged students to say hello to someone in school that they did not yet know, random acts of kindness, sharing appreciation, wearing Royal colors to support one another, and increasing their inclusivity and empathy with their classmates to show that there is always hope and change for the future. The Port Jefferson School District takes pride in the pledges to keep the spirit going throughout the year. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171216 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171216 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 10, 2023, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 24, 2023, 7:00 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR for the purpose of discussing capital projects. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171197 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171197 Michelle Wu Named National Merit Semifinalist Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Michelle Wu has been named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Michelle is among the more than 16,000 semifinalists in the 69th annual program and will continue in the competition for approximately 7,140 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be offered next spring. Michelle is a standout student in Port Jefferson. She is an accomplished trumpet player in the high school band and a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She also plays on the varsity tennis team and is a member of the school’s award-winning Science Olympiad team. Congratulations, Michelle! Date Added: 9/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171167 Thu, 21 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171167 Success Is the Name of the Royal Game! A beautiful afternoon was the backdrop at the Port Jefferson School District athletic stadium when fifth graders visited for a Fall Sports Festival on Sept. 19. Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard welcomed the students, waving the school’s Royal flag. Mr. Sherrard led the students to the athletic stadium where the high school student-athletes and coaches from the varsity fall sports teams introduced them to fall sports with drills and activities so that younger students could experience all of the sports that are offered in the Port Jefferson School District. The fifth graders rotated to various areas to spend time practicing cheerleading, cross-country, field hockey, football, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball. The Port Jefferson School District thanks the following student-athletes and coaches for sharing in school pride and helping to promote the district’s athletic program. Cheer: Annie Byrne, Caitlyn Cobb, Meghan Laffey, Emily Longo, Nina Mercante, Ottilie Philbrick and Coach Gatz; boys cross-country: Jayden DiGregorio, Andrew Schretzmayer, Nick Smirnov, Carman Stanton and Coach Cosci; girls cross-country: Gwen Connelly, Mari Fukuto, Alexa Jacobs, Cayden Veit and Coach Brian Snow; football: James Dowd, Ryan Filippi, Jaden Katsaros, Brandon Verruto and Coach White; golf: Talin Bajaj, Ben Connelly and Seamus McKeown; boys soccer: Kyle Erickson, Kevin Johnston, Michael Lipiskiy, Tomas Qepuri, Cooper Reale, Sviatoslav Zalizniak and Coach Hoffmann; girls soccer: Olivia Bianco, Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Lilli Kircher, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Hipolita Oliva, Maria Oliva and Coach Forstell; girls tennis: Elizabeth Campo, Petra Kundic, Julia Perrotta and Coach Dunleavy; and volleyball: Erin Henry, Bianca Nakagawa, McKayla Pollard, Olivia Sherman and Coach Hafner. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171186 Thu, 21 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171186 Duo Recognized by College Board Commitment and dedication to schoolwork are tops for two Port Jefferson students who were recognized by the College Board. Junior Sofia Freitas and junior Sara Freitas were among approximately 5,000 students across the nation named to the National Hispanic Recognition Program from among the more than 400,000 juniors who take the PSAT. As with the National Merit Scholarship Program, NHRP uses the junior year PSAT/NMSQT as the qualifying test. These two academically well-prepared students are very involved in Port Jefferson’s academic and extracurricular offerings. Sara is a member of the award-winning Science Olympiad team and plays on the Royals soccer team. The sisters are both members of the high school’s Environmental Club, Interact Club and Investment Club. Encouraged by high school science teacher and STEM adviser Jonathan Maletta, they both also attended Stony Brook University’s I-STEM programs for Cancer Biology and The Marine Science and Sustainability Workshop Series. Date Added: 9/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171168 Wed, 20 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171168 Senior Serves as Ex-Officio Student Board Member With so many academic opportunities, extracurricular activities and events going on at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, a leadership role is available each year to a senior to represent their peers at the District’s Board of Education meetings. This year, senior Kiersten Parmegiani is serving as the student representative to the school board members for the 2023-24 school year. Kiersten, an active member of the high school’s Student Organization since ninth grade, is also a member of the Environmental Club, the Interact Club, the Peer Leadership Club and the Varsity Club. She plays on the Royals’ varsity soccer and varsity golf teams. She shared her first report on Sept. 12, highlighting the successful start to school as well as several upcoming events. Asked about her new role as the student representative, Kiersten replied “I really like it.” Thank you, Kiersten, for caring about your high school education and for sharing your positivity with your school community. Date Added: 9/19/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171126 Tue, 19 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171126 Top 50 List for Two Royals Royals Erin Henry and Olivia Sherman made the Newsday Top 50 High School volleyball players list! Erin had 227 kills and 190 digs for the Long Island Class C champions last season. Olivia was noted as a hard hitter who forms a strong duo on the outside with Erin. Date Added: 9/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171081 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171081 Honored for 25 Years of Service! At the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education meeting on Sept. 12, an elite group of employees were honored for the milestone of working in the district for 25 years. Dr. Robert Neidig, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, interspersed lyrics about still going strong from Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One” to the six who have dedicated their careers for the betterment of Port Jefferson students and the school district mission and vision. On behalf of the Port Jefferson school community, congratulations to elementary music teacher Mark Abbonizio, middle school special education teacher Monica Consalvo, maintenance mechanic Willians Corona, elementary teaching assistant Vicky Jobst, and elementary teachers Rachel Erickson and Laura Kelly. Dr. Neidig and Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan presented each honoree with a 25-year pin, a certificate of appreciation and a gift of chocolates as a token of celebrating their passion for their professional craft. Date Added: 9/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171025 Thu, 14 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171025 Freshman Thanked for Technical Efforts Earl L. Vandermeulen High School freshman Benjamin Batter was thanked for his efforts at the Sept. 12 Board of Education meeting for his experience and expertise at the inaugural 2023 Port Jefferson Summer Drone Camp. Dr. Robert Neidig and Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan presented Benjamin with a certificate of recognition for his contributions. Benjamin thanked the Board of Education, Dr. Neidig and teacher Mr. Robert Farenga for providing students with the drone camp. He also thanked The Royal Educational Foundation of Port Jefferson for providing the funds for the camp. “I believe the skills we’ve learned from it will assist us as the world becomes more digitized,” Benjamin said. Date Added: 9/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171026 Thu, 14 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171026 First Grader’s Talent Recognized The colorful paintings of impressionist Claude Monet were introduced to kindergarten students last year by Edna Louise Spear Elementary School art teacher Meghan McCarthy. When she shared one of those pieces with Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello, he knew it was the top pick to feature on the District’s 2023-24 school calendar and directory cover. Now in first grade, Cooper Nelson was honored for his Monet-inspired tempura pond painting by Dr. Caravello, the Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan at the Sept. 12 Board of Education meeting. They presented him with a framed copy of his exceptional work. Dr. Caravello encouraged Cooper’s talents and asked that he keep working hard in art so he can continue to inspire those around him with his beautiful artwork. Date Added: 9/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=171031 Thu, 14 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171031 Mark Your Calendars! The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to present “Royal Days” this year. We encourage all of our staff members and students to wear purple on the last Friday of each month. Join us in sharing your Royal Pride! Save the dates: Sept. 29 Oct. 27 Nov. 17 Dec. 22 Jan. 26 Feb. 16 March 22 April 12 May 31 June 7 Date Added: 9/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170970 Tue, 12 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170970 Port Jefferson School District Welcomes Two New APs The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to welcome Brianne Antenucci and Kim Braha, our two new assistant principals to our schools. Ms. Antenucci will be working at our Elementary School alongside principal Mrs. Amy Laverty. Ms. Antenucci earned a Master of Arts in elementary education from Quinnipiac University and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology. She holds an educational leadership advanced graduate certificate as part of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association Honors Cohort from Stony Brook University. She was most recently employed as an administrative intern in the William Floyd School District where she worked with the leadership team, vertically aligned English language arts and math curriculum across elementary buildings, provided summer school teachers with curriculum, and developed and implemented a schoolwide reading incentive program. Ms. Antenucci was also an assistant program director and a classroom teacher at William Floyd School District. Ms. Braha will be working at our Middle School and High School alongside principals Mr. Brian Walker and Mr. John Ruggero. Ms. Braha earned a Master of Arts in English literature at the University of Westminster and a Masters of Arts in English Language Arts from Dowling College. She earned her undergraduate degree in English literature from SUNY New Paltz. She also received her certification in educational leadership from Stony Brook University at both the school district level as well as the school building level. She served as an assistant principal at BOCES regional summer school in 2022, has been an English Language Arts teacher in Northport High School where she also served as a building chairperson for seven years. Ms. Braha brings a wealth of skills to the District such as professional development, conflict resolution, communication, mental health education and student empowerment opportunities. “We are pleased to have Ms. Antenucci and Ms. Braha as part of our administrative team,” Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan said. “The enthusiasm and proactive strategies in engaging students that they bring to Port Jefferson will serve our school community well. We look forward to their commitment to our students and wish them much success in their new roles.” Date Added: 9/11/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170956 Mon, 11 Sep 2023 05:00:00 GMT false170956 Port Jeff Will Never Forget Members of the high school music department paid tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 by giving a moving performance during the Port Jefferson Fire Department’s annual 9/11 memorial service. The students, led by Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Taps” and “God Bless America.” In photo, L-R: Christopher Smith, Ava Romonoyske, Joshua Kwon, Evan Monaghan, Andi Kelly, Mari Fukuto, Marco Puopolo, Kay Moran and Dr. Michael Caravello. Date Added: 9/11/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170947 Mon, 11 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170947 Homecoming 2023! Date Added: 9/8/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170891 Fri, 08 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170891 Set for a Successful School Year! Students, teachers, administrators and support staff throughout the Port Jefferson School District were off to a bright start for the first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 7. At Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students were greeted by Principal Amy Laverty and Assistant Principal Brianne Antenucci, teachers and building staff members. Students at Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School were welcomed back by Middle School Principal Mr. Brian Walker, High School Principal Mr. John Ruggero and Assistant Principal Ms. Kim Braha. Students were also greeted by faculty and staff, and got acquainted with new teachers, classmates, routines and expectations. From pre-kindergarten students meeting new friends, first graders learning and navigating Google classroom with technology teacher Mr. Butera, fifth graders selecting books to read, Middle School students playing getting to know you Jenga games, and French language students learning the basics with teacher Heather Marshak, it was a great start to the new school year. With school community pride, Port Jefferson’s student-leaders are ready to embark on a successful academic year. Together, teachers and students will discover, explore, make new friends and create joyful memories. Date Added: 9/8/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170894 Fri, 08 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170894 Port Jeff Listed on U.S. News & World Report School Rankings U.S. News & World Report recently released its rankings of the top schools throughout the United States. The Best High School rankings are based on the following six criteria: College Readiness, College Curriculum Breadth, State Assessment Proficiency, State Assessment Performance, Underserved Student Performance, and Graduation Rate. According to this report, 17,680 schools were ranked nationally. Port Jefferson came in at 903 in the United States, 99thin New York State and seventh in Suffolk County. These high marks illustrate the amazing work that is being done by our students and staff on a daily basis. Date Added: 8/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170767 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170767 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on September 12, 2023, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170752 Thu, 31 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170752 Up, Up and Away: Summer Drone Camp Launches Rising ninth grader Benjamin Batter had some experience with drones in the past – he would use them in his backyard as a way to entertain his dog. Joining the Port Jefferson School District inaugural summer drone camp gave him an opportunity to advance his skills on more sophisticated drones. Along with teacher Mr. Robert Farenga, students enrolled in the weeklong course have a hands-on experience learning about a little wireless technology and a whole lot of physics. The students learned about the mechanics and navigation systems that allowed them to check out the Middle School/High School campus from the sky using the drones’ remote controls to direct their flight from the ground. They used the drone-mounted cameras to take photos and video high above the trees from the football stadium to the front of the building’s tennis courts. They then edited the photos and videos in the High School’s state-of-the-art technology lab. The intricate engineering of the drones was an advantage in the entertaining and challenging relay races the students conducted on the football field. The collaboration and camaraderie among the sixth to 12th grade students have helped shape their interests in the ever-evolving uses of the versatile technology. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 8/29/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170692 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170692 Port Jeff Makes Top High Schools List in Nation! Date Added: 8/29/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170710 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170710 Success for Summer Camps! The Port Jefferson School District athletic department recently concluded its summer athletic camps. The camp program doubled from 11 camps in its first year of implementation last summer to 22 camps this year, offered from May through August, with 454 enrollments. The camps were run by varsity coaches and assisted by the varsity student-athletes. The camps allow students to be active, develop their love of athletics and athletic ability while making connections with our high school athletes. The athletic department looks forward to creating more opportunities for our students to engage in healthy activities in the future. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 8/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170596 Thu, 17 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170596 ‘Fun Friday’ in Port Jeff’s Summer School Students in the Port Jefferson School District summer school recently headed to Port Jeff Bowl for some camaraderie and friendly competition as part of the school’s “Fun Friday” events. “Each Friday throughout the summer we have something special planned for the students,” Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill said. “This outing provided opportunities from math skills, hand-eye coordination to team building and just enjoying a positive, fun environment.” Date Added: 8/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170574 Tue, 15 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170574 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 29, 2023, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. A public hearing on the District’s Safety Plan will be held at 7:00 PM, prior to the regular business meeting. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170529 Thu, 10 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170529 Coding Camp Encourages Critical Thinking The Port Jefferson School District hosted an inaugural summer coding camp for Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students. The five-day camp, which took place at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, was taught by Mr. Robert Farenga. Students were encouraged to hone their skills in educational tools such as Scratch, the block-based visual programming language, to more advanced 2D and 3D cross-platforms such as GDevelop to learn to create animation, PC and mobile games on the open-source game engine. Mr. Farenga was excited to engage the students in the stimulating environment while advancing their critical-thinking skills. As he oversaw two students working together on a basic drop coding project in Scratch, he was brainstorming lessons in writing code to advance the fundamentals in their coding skills and ready them for high school computer science courses. Date Added: 8/7/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170520 Mon, 07 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170520 Honing Creative Skills at the Summer Music Camp Dozens of district students joined in the annual Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson to continue to develop their musical talents in a relaxed and encouraging setting at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. For beginning and intermediate band and string students, the camp provided an enjoyable and positive way to begin learning an instrument or continuing their studies. The camp encouraged collaboration while meeting new friends and offered several levels of musical training classes, including beginning band and string. More advanced classes for current elementary and middle school band and string instrumentalists were also available, and this year beginner instrumental classes were offered for students in grades 2 and 3. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 8/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170502 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170502 2023-2024 School Calendar Now Available! Date Added: 8/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170506 Fri, 04 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170506 Scholarship Honors for Port Jeff’s Michael Brown Port Jefferson School District student Michael Brown was presented with the Student of the Year Scholarship Award by the Long Island Association of Special Education Administrators. Michael was honored at the organization’s Scholarship Luncheon held in June at the Crest Hollow Country Club. He was nominated by his teachers based upon his accomplishments in classroom and extracurricular activities as well as his character, attitude and citizenship. Michael attended the luncheon with his parents and District Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill, special education teacher Gina Fedler and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School psychologist Kristen Wendel. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170462 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170462 National Anthem Performance Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomore Gianna Viviano recently performed the national anthem at Bethpage Ballpark to kick off a Long Island Ducks game. Congratulations to Gianna on her outstanding musical achievement! Date Added: 8/1/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170464 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170464 Tick Treatment Notification The Port Jefferson School District has scheduled an application of organic cedar oil on Saturday July 22nd 2023 at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The rain date will be Sunday July 23rd 2023. Posted signage will be present onsite for 24 hours following completion of application. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170346 Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170346 Summer 2023 Newsletter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170355 Tue, 18 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170355 BOE Reorganizes for 2023-24 School Year At the Port Jefferson School District July 11 Board of Education reorganization meeting, Ellen Boehm was reelected president and Tracy Zamek was reelected as vice president. New Board member Shannon Handley and David Keegan took the oath of office. Each were sworn in for three-year terms. Date Added: 7/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170333 Fri, 14 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170333 Athletic Summer Camps Date Added: 7/7/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170254 Fri, 07 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170254 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOE MEETING NOTICE The reorganization meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, July 11, 2023 at 7:00 PM, in the Edna Louise Spear Elementary LGR with the regular business meeting at 7:30 PM. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170136 Tue, 27 Jun 2023 12:00:00 GMT false170136 Port Jefferson Academic Enrichment Camps Date Added: 6/27/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170138 Tue, 27 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170138 Scholar Athlete Recognition Class of 2023 student Matthew Buonomo received Scholar Athlete recognition from the National Football Federation. Matt was one of seven Division Four football players to receive the award. Matt maintained a 100.01 weighted GPA throughout his senior year of high school. The National Football Federation hosted an awards banquet to recognize the wonderful accomplishments of the student-athletes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170149 Tue, 27 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170149 Congratulations, Class of 2023! The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2023 received their diplomas during the 129th commencement exercises on June 23. The senior class was welcomed into the auditorium by the high school string orchestra with Dr. Michael Caravello conducting “Pomp and Circumstance.” The festive evening continued with the traditional Color Guard presented by members of the Port Jefferson Fire Department while parents, siblings, friends, teachers, administrators and Board of Education members applauded the most recent alumni of the school district. Principal John Ruggero welcomed those in attendance and Student Organization President Lola Idir led the Pledge of Allegiance. They were followed by the national anthem performed by the string orchestra and congratulatory words from Student Organization President Amy Whitman. Parent Dr. Frank Andriani (father to Frank Andriani) gave a heartfelt parent address and praised the district for providing so many opportunities for students to be ready to take on the world once they graduate. Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan then addressed the Class of 2023 and shared her pride in their accomplishments while encouraging them each to pursue a successful future. Class President Alexa Ayotte presented the traditional class gift, the planting of a tree to memorialize several students who have died in the past few years and sharing the tree’s growth as a symbol of their legacy in Port Jefferson. Valedictorian Olivia Schlegel shared kind words with her fellow graduates and referred to her long-time idol Taylor Swift as inspiration for greeting each day with renewed enthusiasm no matter the circumstances. Olivia shared memories with her fellow classmates of classroom successes, field trip fun, and the camaraderie and friendships formed by those who started kindergarten in Port Jefferson and those who joined the district later in their primary education years. Mr. Ruggero then presented the Class of 2023 to Superintendent Schmettan and Board of Education president Ellen Boehm. Each student walked to the podium for their diploma while Mr. Ruggero highlighted their personal achievements and postgraduation plans. The students then stood and tossed their caps in the air in celebration of becoming the newest graduates of the high school. From the entire Port Jefferson School District and community, congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2023. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170112 Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170112 All the Best to our Retirees! The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education recently honored several retiring employees of the school district. Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Amy Laverty spoke highly of school nurse Joan Tucci for her 35 years of bringing smiles to the faces of the students and staff in her daily routine. Mrs. Laverty lauded her sense of humor and for being a profound part of the school community. Mrs. Laverty also honored Teaching Assistant Mary O'Sullivan for her 22 years of service, leadership qualities and taking care of her colleagues like family. Deputy Superintendent of Schools Sean Leister thanked Director of Facilities Frederick Koelbel for his more than 16 years of service. Mr. Leister thanked him for his tireless efforts, overseeing building projects and concern for student safety. The Port Jefferson school community applauds these retirees for their dedication and years of service and wishes them well in their new endeavors. Date Added: 6/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170024 Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170024 School of Distinction All 22 varsity athletic teams for the Port Jefferson School District received Scholar Athlete Team recognition. As a result of 100% of varsity teams being Scholar Athlete Teams, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School received the New York State Public High School Athletic Association School of Distinction Award! According to NYSPHSAA, the purpose of the School of Distinction Award is to unite varsity coaches in challenging their teams to achieve a statewide academic honor. Date Added: 6/23/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170068 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170068 Moving Up to High School! The academic achievements of Port Jefferson Middle School eighth graders were recognized on June 21 at an outdoor moving-up ceremony. The students were welcomed with the “Pomp and Circumstance” processional headed by Grades 7/8 Orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman. Principal Mr. Brian Walker welcomed the Class of 2027 followed by an inspirational speech by 8th Grade Class Vice President Michael Castro and a reflective speech by Class President Gianna Marsala. During the event, the students received special classroom recognitions from teachers, President’s Awards for Academic Excellence and certificates to signify their move to high school. Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan gave congratulatory remarks on the successful completion of their middle school careers. She shared her confidence that the students have the necessary skills to move up to the high school. She thanked Mr. Walker, the educators and friends and families in reaching this important milestone. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170040 Thu, 22 Jun 2023 06:00:00 GMT false170040 Experiential and Hands-On Learning for Fifth Graders An obstacle course complete with towers and large and small hoops was set up in the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School gymnasium recently, a welcome and fun construction for fifth grade enrichment students and technology teacher Mr. Anthony Butera. Using it, they launched a two-team drone competition with practices, maneuvers, technical challenges and manipulations, coupled with teamwork and camaraderie to complete the tasks. While one student would navigate the controller through a laptop, team members would guide the pilot and drone through the course, learning along the way the aerodynamics of the drone, the layout of the room and the navigation of completing the timed challenges. If they ran into a problem, they sorted out the details among themselves, looked for guidance from Mr. Butera and had further backup with District System Network Specialist Shane Babb, who was in attendance to be sure things were running smoothly. According to Mr. Butera, the students are becoming well versed in the aerial technology that is being used to shape the future in commercial, medical and space applications and other problem-solving issues. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170026 Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170026 Royal Ruby Ray Competes in Track Nationals Royals Ruby Ray competed in the Adidas Outdoor Nationals in North Carolina and was the champion in the 3000m Race Walk this past weekend. Ruby's time of 17:33 broke the Adidas track record and is the 7th fastest time in the Nation. Ruby also holds the 4th fastest time of 15:36 which she set back in April. Date Added: 6/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169987 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169987 PJ Lacrosse Alumni Game The Port Jefferson School District hosted the first PJ Lacrosse Alumni game on June 17. The participants ranged from alumni who graduated last year to those who graduated nine years ago. The evenly matched teams played with energy and enthusiasm in a fun filled competition ending in a 12-10 victory by the purple squad. “It was a great overall event thanks to the planning and organization by the alumni, booster club and lacrosse coaches,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “The new tradition will pave the way for events like this in the future.” Date Added: 6/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169988 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169988 Royals Compete in Track Nationals Royals Alexa Jacobs, Jenna Jacobs, Maggie Johnston and Mia O'Connell competed in the 4x400 relay at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Philadelphia this past weekend and ran a time of 4:11.14. Earlier this season the group ran a time of 4:02.72 which set the school record and is good enough for the 4th overall time in NYS Division II. Date Added: 6/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169997 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169997 Third Place for Junior Katie Chambers High School junior Katie Chambers recently finished third place in both the women’s double and women’s quad at the NYS High School Rowing Championships. In the US Youth Nationals D final, Katie finished 2nd in women's doubles. Overall, she is ranked 26th in the nation. Date Added: 6/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=170013 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170013 Tenure for District Educators A celebratory mood was in the air when the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education granted tenure to three educators in the district at the June 12 BOE meeting. Elementary music teacher Megan McCarthy and high school teachers of World Language Ann MacIntyre (Spanish) and Valeria O’Brien (Italian) were honored with this milestone achievement. They were lauded by Executive Director of Human Resources Isha Morgenstern. Teaching assistant Gregory Cantwell was also honored for receiving tenure earlier in the school year. The school district thanks and congratulates these educators for their efforts in advancing the goals and mission of the district. Date Added: 6/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169926 Tue, 20 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169926 Moving Up and Graduation Ceremonies Broadcast Live Moving Up and Graduation Ceremonies BroadcastLIVE Port Jeff LiveStream https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141631 Mon, 19 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false141631 Senior Alexa Ayotte Honored By BOE Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Alexa Ayotte was recognized for her service during the 2022-23 school year as the student representative to the Board of Education. Alexa was introduced by Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan at the June 12 Board of Education meeting. Mrs. Schmettan thanked Alexa for serving as the voice of her fellow high schoolers to the seven-member Board of Education. Throughout her tenure, Alexa shared information on high school student activities and events. She was applauded by all Board trustees for her commitment to her important role in representing her peers. Alexa looks forward to joining the freshman class at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte where she will play lacrosse. Date Added: 6/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169877 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 06:00:00 GMT false169877 Field Days Equal Fun at Scraggy Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students had plenty of friendly competition at the grade-level field days the past few days. Physical education teachers Mr. Bajus, Mr. Rowett and Mrs. Schachner organized challenges for the students, including running, class tug of war and relay races. Parents and grandparents attended the events that marked another successful school year in Port Jefferson. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169876 Fri, 16 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169876 A Glowing Culmination for Pre-K-2 Students’ Language Skills Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students continue to enhance their language skills through programs such as speech therapist Amy McClelland’s pilot program this year, for which she received glowing reviews. The federal education grant that the district received provides a push-in speech and language enrichment program for prekindergarten to grade 2 students. As part of this program Mrs. McClelland provided weekly classroom lessons to target expressive, receptive and pragmatic language skills, culminating in a Glow Party with each class. “As part of my lessons I have been focusing on increasing basic language skills,” Mrs. McClelland said. “My goals are to increase phonemic awareness, pragmatic skills, and expressive and receptive vocabulary.” Mrs. McClelland welcomed the students by reading the Dr. Seuss story, “What Was I Scared Of?” in which the narrator repeatedly meets up with an empty pair of pants, and engaged them with questions about the narrator’s fears and thoughts. Then the students worked in learning centers that focused on various skills that were taught throughout the year. The centers were colorfully designed to help develop the use of language with word meanings, comparisons, associations and categorization. They also helped to expand vocabulary by identifying synonyms, attributes and functions, using analogies to develop word relationships, cause and effect, and identifying the relevant details, key words, main ideas, characters and problems in literature and nonfiction. Mrs. McClelland added that the students learned to increase the use of tense markers, pronouns, plurals, possessives, articles, negatives and questions, and the pragmatic language skills of whole-body listening, eye contact, and verbal and nonverbal communication. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169856 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169856 Royal Volleyball Team Sneaker Fundraiser Date Added: 6/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169832 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169832 PJ Celebrates Three Music Scholars! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates three Port Jefferson Middle School students for receiving music study grants. Sixth grader Sebastian Salzman, seventh grader Jenny Cheung and eighth grader Iris Park each applied for and won a $400 Private Summer Study Grant from the Long Island String Festival Association to continue their music studies throughout the summer months. The three students each perform on cello. They work under the tutelage of orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman. Date Added: 6/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169688 Mon, 12 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169688 State Champion! Freshman Alexa Jacobs took home the NYSPHSAA championship title in the 100m dash with a time of 12.36 on June 10 at Middletown High School. The day before, Alexa ran a 12.38 in the semis which moved her along with seven other competitors to the final heat. “That is how Alexa has been running all year,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “The bigger the moment the faster she runs. The school and community couldn’t be prouder of her accomplishment.” Date Added: 6/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169696 Mon, 12 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169696 US Rowing Youth Nationals! Congratulations to junior Preston Biedenkapp for placing first in the Doubles C Final at the US Rowing Youth Nationals in Sarasota. Preston and his rowing partner are currently ranked 17th in the nation. Date Added: 6/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169712 Mon, 12 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169712 Alumni Lacrosse Game! Date Added: 6/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169687 Mon, 12 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169687 Natural Connections for Fiona Reichers Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student Fiona Reichers has embarked on a local initiative that not only benefits her but the local community as well. Fiona, a junior, is part of the Stony Brook-based Avalon Nature Initiative, a volunteer-based program that focuses on the environment. Since October, she has been part of a program – The Whaleboat 1776 Project – that helps to build a replica of a 1776 whaleboat at the Bayles Boat shop located in Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson. Fiona and the other students in the group worked on the oars. It is expected that the full project will take about two years to complete in hopes of a launching day celebration in the autumn of 2024. “Fiona’s interest and skills will certainly go a long way in helping to raise awareness in protecting our natural environment,” Principal John Ruggero said. “Her work on this project is inspirational and worthy of sharing.” Date Added: 6/9/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169635 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169635 Three more college commits! Three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors were honored at a College Signing Day on June 7 for students who committed to participate in collegiate athletics. Introduced by Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard, the three student-athletes were applauded by fellow students, staff, parents and administrators. Giancarlo Caltagirone will run track and field for Manhattan College. He was honored by coach Andrew Cosci. Brendan Capodanno will join the Cross Country and Track and Field team at Hofstra University, he was also honored by Coach Cosci. Amy Whitman will join the women's lacrosse team at SUNY New Paltz. She was honored by coach Logan Hoffmann. Overall, the Royals have six graduating seniors who will participate in collegiate athletics next year. Earlier in the year, Alexa Ayotte, Jenna Jacobs and Olivia Schlegel were also recognized for signing their National Letter of Intent to play collegiate athletics. "Our coaches, teachers, teachers, administrators and students could not be prouder of Giancarlo, Brendan and Amy on reaching this milestone in their lives,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said.” We all know the commitment and hard work they put in to get themselves to this level academically and athletically. We are going to miss their ferocious competitiveness that helped lead our teams to success throughout their time in the High School." Date Added: 6/9/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169639 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169639 Field Day Fun! Port Jefferson Middle School eighth graders enjoyed field day thanks to the PTSA and physical education staff on June 1. Students participated in activities such as kickball, potato sack races, three-legged races, track events, noodle tag and tug-of-war. Throughout the day the four teams earned bonus points for their exceptional sportsmanship while also competing for bragging rights. A close competition throughout the afternoon ended with the green team winning by one point. “It was such a great event with the PTSA providing food, drinks and the ice cream truck, our eighth grade teachers encouraging their students and our physical education teachers promoting competition and sportsmanship,” Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard said. “It was a fun-filled day for both the students and the adults.” Date Added: 6/9/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169655 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169655 Port Jefferson School District Offers Summer Music Camp The Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson is now open for registration. This exceptional program provides an enjoyable and positive opportunity for beginning and advanced students to enhance their musical studies while meeting new friends and playing music together and offers several levels of musical training classes, including beginning band and string. There are also more advanced classes for current elementary and middle school band and string instrumentalists. The camp will take place from July 31-August 10 at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School with times varying depending on experience levels. Offered by the Port Jefferson School District Music and Fine Arts Department, this year the camp offers Beginner instrumental classes for current grade 2 and grade 3 students. There are also a number of scholarships available. For more information on the camp and scholarship information, please contact Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello at (631) 791-4450 for more details. Date Added: 6/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169503 Tue, 06 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169503 Valedictorian Olivia Schlegel Honored Earl L Vandermeulen High School valedictorian Olivia Schlegel was among the top students honored at The Suffolk County School Superintendents Association 29th annual Valedictorians Luncheon at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook on June 1. The SCSSA tradition honored the enviable accomplishments of the county’s highest-achieving graduates from the Class of 2023 and was attended by school district superintendents, high school principals, valedictorians and their parents. After a welcome by SCSSA Vice President Dr. Harold Dean, SCSSA President James Polansky noted that the expectations of the valedictorians moving forward will be different and more challenging. Guest speaker Angelique Johnson-Dingle, the New York State Education Department deputy commissioner of P-12 Instructional Support, encouraged them to pay it forward, not letting a fall prevent them from succeeding and to remember their home. Ms. Johnson-Dingle also advised the graduates to “be kind to yourselves.” “You are the future,” she said. “We need you to go out into the world and shape it into a world you want it to be.” The valedictorians were then called up onto the stage, Olivia was accompanied by Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan and High School Principal Mr. John Ruggero, to receive a commemorative plaque. During closing remarks, SCSSA President-Elect Dr. Timothy Hearney acknowledged that the parents were integral to the graduate’s achievement and should also be congratulated. To the valedictorians, Dr. Hearney said, “We are confident you will create new trails. You represent the best of education.” Date Added: 6/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169533 Tue, 06 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169533 State Bound! Five members of the Port Jefferson Track and Field team will compete in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Championships on June 9 and 10. Seniors Brendan Capodanno, Maggie Johnston, Mia O'Connell, Jenna Jacobs and freshman Alexa Jacobs will depart from Port Jefferson on June 8 for the championship site at Middletown High School. The five track stars will compete on both days looking to finish within the top six and bring home a medal. Brendan will compete in the 3200, Alexa in the 100m, Jenna in the 200m, and Mia, Alexa, Jenna and Maggie in the 4x400 relay. The time of events can be found on the NYSPHSAA website. The competition will be streamed on the NFHS Network. Date Added: 6/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169608 Tue, 06 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169608 Students Share Talents at Village Chamber Music Festival The Port Jefferson Middle School string orchestra hosted a chamber music festival under the leadership of Dr. Vanessa Salzman at Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson Village on May 31. Students performed selections from Bach, Bartók, Brahms, Haydn, Pleyel and others at the musically festive event. Students had the opportunity to continue to perfect their musical techniques and interpersonal skills while performing for a public audience. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/5/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169455 Mon, 05 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169455 Second Graders Visit Long Island Museum What better way to connect with social studies lessons than to step back in time? That is what Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students did when students visited the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. The second grade students attended class in the Nassakeag School, a one-room schoolhouse built in 1877 and had about 30 students per year ranging from 5 to 15 years old. They also learned about chores on the farm such as churning butter, turning hay and threshing wheat. They played old-fashioned games such as hoop rolling and a flying circles game. “It was a wonderful day for students to experience a whole different way of learning,” Principal Amy Laverty said. “From practicing writing and math on slate boards to learning about taking care of horses and turning wheat into flour, there were many hands-on experiences for the students to experience life on the farm.” Date Added: 6/2/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169423 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169423 Kindergarten Fun! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students have been hard at work in their persuasive writing unit. With teachers Meagan Bellantuono and Allison Coppi, they spent time generating ideas of who they could write persuasive letters to and what they could ask for or persuade them to do. Some students decided to write a letter to their parents persuading them to let them have a puppy. Other children wrote letters to the school cafeteria staff persuading them to allow ice cream for lunch. “As a class, we decided to write a persuasive letter to [principal] Mrs. Laverty,” Ms. Bellantuono said. “The children wanted to persuade her to allow us to have nap time in kindergarten! The children did an amazing job providing multiple reasons why we should have a nap time to be more convincing. They shared that it is really important for kids to have time to rest. They continued by saying that having more time to rest at school would help their brains grow so they could learn more. They also shared how all of their hard work at school makes them very tired. They even suggested a time frame and decided that a half hour would be best. They kindly asked Mrs. Laverty to consider letting them take a brief afternoon snooze at school. We sent our letter down to Mrs. Laverty and she responded back to us. The great news is that she said YES!” The students hosted a Nap Time Writing Celebration on June 2. They brought in a small stuffed animal and blanket to nap on their yoga mats to recharge and refresh for the rest of the day. Mrs. Laverty even joined in! “Giving the students an opportunity to have a nap time showed them just how powerful their words can be,” Ms. Bellantuono said. Date Added: 6/2/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169436 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169436 Regional Championship Game! Port Jefferson Baseball vs. Tuckahoe Saturday, June 3 11 a.m. at John Jay High School, Cross River, NY All spectators can purchase tickets on GoFan Date Added: 6/2/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169414 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169414 Confidence Building Field Trip! Port Jefferson Middle School students attended The Adventure Park at Long Island in Wheatley Heights recently. The trip offered the seventh graders the chance to get outside, use problem solving skills, build self-esteem and improve their confidence, all while engaging in various ropes course challenges. The trip was orchestrated by seventh grade teachers Veronica Colon, Deirdre Filippi, Phil Giannusa, Jamie Veraldi and Danielle Weaver. “The students really enjoyed themselves,” Mrs. Filippi said. “It was truly rewarding to see them learning and growing in an environment outside of the classroom. It was so much fun, the kids really enjoyed it.” Date Added: 5/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169330 Wed, 31 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169330 A Way With Clay! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fourth graders participated in a clay workshop with visiting artist Cliff Mendelson on May 25. The students learned about Native American pottery making and created their own works of art under his tutelage. Mr. Mendelson, a clinician who specializes in historical pottery-building techniques, shared the fundamentals of hand building by sharing some pieces he created and what they were used for. The students, along with art teachers Skylar Benatar and Meghan McCarthy, got right to work creating their Native American-inspired pieces, using a variety of tools to imprint their works of art. During one class, as the students accessed and refined their artistic skills, teacher Anne Marie Spina got in on the creative process! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/30/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169308 Tue, 30 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169308 A Step Back in Time Fourth grade students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School took a field trip to Blydenburgh County Park on May 23 to supplement classroom lessons of the colonial period. They took part in hands-on learning opportunities in colonial living and craftsmanship, experiencing the technologies of the early colonists. Date Added: 5/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169271 Fri, 26 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169271 Port Jefferson Lacrosse Alumni Game - June 17, 2023 Date Added: 5/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169272 Fri, 26 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169272 Track and Field Champions! Congratulations to Royals Alexa Jacobs, Jenna Jacobs, Evan Monaghan and Ruby Ray for being crowned track and field Suffolk County champions! At the Section XI County Championship meet on May 22, members of the boys and girls track and field team gave their all with the goal to make it to the state qualifier meet. The teams’ overall performances were quite impressive. The boys were led by Evan Monaghan who took first place in the 110-meter hurdles. Other top performances for the boys were Giancarlo Caltagirone placing third in the 200 meter, Jack Keegan finishing fifth in the 400 meter, Colin Veit finishing fourth in the 1600 meter, Brendan Capodanno finishing third in the 1600- and 3200-meter races, Max Joyner finishing fifth in the 3200-meter, Malachi Bourjolly finishing second in the high jump, Jack Keegan finishing third in the long jump, the 4x400 relay team of Giancarlo Caltagirone, Brendan Capodanno, Jack Keegan and Colin Veit finishing second and the 4x800 relay composed of Sean Grossman, Lucas Sweeney, Blake Weaver and Sviatoslav Zalizniak finishing fourth. On the girls side, the Royals were led by Ruby Ray who took home first in the 1500-meter race walk, Alexa Jacobs who broke the school record and finished first in the 100 meter, and Jenna Jacobs who took home first place in the 400 meter, set the school record and finished first in the 200 meter. Other top performances for the girls were Maggie Johnston finishing second in the 800 meter, Emily Snyder finishing third in the triple jump and sixth in the long jump, Alexa Jacobs taking third place in the 200 meter and fourth in the long jump, Gwen Connelly finishing sixth in the 1500 meter, Sophie Peterson finishing fifth in the 1500-meter race walk, Amy Whitman finishing fifth in the shot put and the 4x400 team of Alexa Jacobs, Jenna Jacobs, Maggie Johnston and Mia O’Connell finishing second. The top competitors advance to the state qualifiers on June 1-2 at Comsewogue High School. The Royals are hoping to have several competitors competing in the state championships on June 9-10 in Middletown, New York. Date Added: 5/25/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169234 Thu, 25 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false169234 Student-Athlete of the Month The Port Jefferson athletic department recently began an Athlete of the Month campaign to recognize one high school and one middle school student for their outstanding performance, athletics and great citizenship. The Athletes of the Month for the month of April are junior Carman Stanton and eighth grader Mikaela Weinisch. Carman is a member of both the varsity boys track team and varsity boys tennis team. In April, Carman went 6-0 against the top tennis player from each team. On the track Carman ran a 2:07.43 in the 800 meter at the Suffolk Coaches Boys Spring Invitational, which is one of the top times in the county this season. For both teams Carman is a true leader who brings his best effort each day. In her two softball games in April, eighth grader Mikaela Weinisch pitched a one hitter, had six stolen bases, three runs scored, batted around .800 and an RBI. Mikaela has shown outstanding teamwork, sportsmanship and commitment, often taking batting practice before school. Date Added: 5/25/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169235 Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169235 Port Jeff Alumnus Teaches Masterclass Port Jefferson Middle School students participated in a unique musical experience with masterclasses on May 22. Port Jeff alumnus Tomoko Fujita (Class of 1998) shared her professional expertise in a chamber music workshop arranged by orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman. Dr. Fujita taught eighth grade student musicians Allie Blumenthal, Jonah Boerboom, Kenshin Sugimoto and Iris Park (each performing on cello); Nicholas Hogan and Ava Sexton (each performing on violin;) and Joshua Kwon, (performing on viola) several rehearsal techniques and their application within the chamber ensemble while coaching them on their works by Bartók, Bach and Brahms in preparation for their upcoming performances at the Grades 7/8 String Chamber Music Festival. Date Added: 5/25/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169220 Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169220 Honored for Excellence! Three Port Jefferson School District staff members were recognized by SCOPE Education Services as leaders in their fields and were presented with 2023 SCOPE Awards of Excellence. The awardees were among a group of educators, support staff and volunteers throughout Suffolk County who were honored at SCOPE’s Educational Excellence Awards ceremony, held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook on May 22. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Mrs. Cathy Hoffman and Mr. Walter Mruz who were each presented with a support staff service award; and Ms. Joan Tucci who was recognized with a teacher service award. Congratulations! Date Added: 5/23/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169118 Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169118 Student Leaders Share a Magical Day With Senior Citizens The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School International Club and Leadership Club took a field trip to the Bristal Assisted Living at Lake Grove to implement the clubs’ GiveBack impact project through the Chick-fil-A leadership program. Along with advisers Ms. Kristin Britt, Ms. Jennifer Walling and Ms. Melissa Zinger, the students helped enrich the lives of the residents with some art therapy by painting with them and plant therapy by planting with them. They also provided music therapy as three student musicians played the piano, guitar and sang. “They enjoyed playing games together and, most of all, the residents enjoyed spending time talking with these young, amazing students we have,” Ms. Britt said. “It was a very heartfelt day for both the residents as well as for our young leaders. We are so very proud of our students. What a better time to do this in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month.” Date Added: 5/23/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169148 Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169148 Fit Club Competition Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students competed against 33 other Suffolk County schools in the Suffolk Zone Fit Club Competition on May 17. The goal of the program is to give students an opportunity to develop both physical and mental strength to help them to reach their full potential. The competition involved two events – an As Many Rounds as Possible, in which each student performs 30 situps, 30 shoulder taps, 15 lateral ski jumps over a 12-inch hurdle and a 25-foot bear crawl as many times as possible within 15 minutes. The second event involved each student performing 15 box jump overs, a 75 farmers carry, 30 jump ropes and a 25-foot crab walk as many times as possible within 15 minutes. Each time a student completes one of the exercises their team receives a point. The team, fourth graders August Anderson, Lily Bowman, Jessica Curley, Graham Fincher, Aidan Frangiz, Parker Hutchinson, Chloe Kelly, Olivia Miele, Keilanny Polanco, Vincent Pryor, Declan Sheprow, Madison Villagracia, Andrew Weinisch and Madeline Zoudov and fifth graders Tim Amadio, Lexi Amtmann, Jacob Bernstein, Isla Clements, Sophie Franck, Bridget Grossman, Autumn Jarrett, Max Krause, Nora Licausi, Caden Litman, Patrick Rickard, Robbie Roscoe, Jessica Shikora and Lucas Wilches practiced after school for over a month for the competition. Their hard work paid off as the team finished 12th overall out of 34 total schools. “This was just the second year our school participated in the competition and the first year competing with both fourth and fifth graders,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “[Physical education teachers] Mr. Bajus and Mr. Rowett did a fantastic job preparing the students for the competition. To see all of the students pushing their bodies to their limit and encouraging their teammates was an amazing thing to watch. I am looking forward to seeing the team continue to work hard and improve on their performance next year.” Date Added: 5/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169072 Mon, 22 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT false169072 Scraggy Walk/Run 2023! Students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School participated in the annual Scraggy Walk/Run on May 19. All students from prekindergarten through grade 5 ran 1.25 miles during the event and wore colorful T-Shirts to signify their class level. They started at the back of the elementary school, went around the playground, around the Scraggy fields, through the cross-country trail in the woods and finished up back at Scraggy fields. The students had been training for the event for the last several weeks during physical education class with Mr. Bajus, Mr. Rowett and Mrs. Schachner. The goal of the event is for students to push themselves through the physical and mental challenge of the run and reap the benefits of exercise. St. Charles Hospital assisted with the event and had a sign which read: “Exercise builds strength, character and confidence.” All students who tried their best were winners, however the students with the fastest times were: Grade 1 - Grant Welischar and Gionna Trotto Grade 2 - Connor Frangis and Maeve Licausi Grade 3 - James Schmettan Jr. and Vienna Panasci Grade 4 - D'Angelo Lebron and Chloe Kelly Grade 5 - Patrick Rickard and Nora Licausi. Date Added: 5/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169089 Mon, 22 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false169089 Back-to-Back Champions! The Port Jefferson varsity baseball team secured the Suffolk County and Long Island Class C Championship on May 19. The Royals defeated Pierson two games to one in a best of three championship series. The two victories were led by strong pitching with Rauiri Rago and Kyle Erickson each pitching complete games in games two and three of the series to take home the Suffolk crown. Section VIII, Nassau County, does not have a Class C school for baseball this year so the victory over Pierson also gave the Royals the Long Island Championship. The team will play Class D champion and potentially the Class B champion in the Conference V championships. Regardless of the outcome, the Royals will play the winner of Section I vs. section IX on June 3 in the NYSPHSAA Championships Regional Game. Date Added: 5/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169066 Mon, 22 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169066 We All Scream for Ice Cream! Port Jefferson Middle School sixth graders enjoyed soft serve ice cream from Roxy’s Ice Cream Truck following their successful, in-class food truck projects. Students worked hard for the past month and a half to design a food truck that would appeal to a wide variety of customers. “This wouldn’t be possible without our generous Royal PTSA members who provided the funds for the event,” Family and Consumer Science teacher Alyssa Rivera said. Date Added: 5/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169068 Mon, 22 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169068 The Science of Skating Port Jefferson Middle School sixth graders took a field trip to the United Skates of America in Seaford on May 19 for a unique educational experience. They completed a lesson on Newton’s laws of motion before burning off some energy roller skating and roller blading. “They had an amazing time,” teacher Megan Ryan said. In addition to Ms. Ryan, thanks to chaperone-teachers Melissa Corey, Jeanette Garofola, Chuck Ruoff, Megan Roth-Ueno, Vanessa Salzman and Principal Brian Walker for encouraging education and fun all rolled into one! Date Added: 5/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169070 Mon, 22 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169070 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE *** REVISED DATE*** The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has been rescheduled to Monday, June 12, 2023, 7:30 p.m., at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School auditorium. Call to order will be 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has been scheduled for Friday, June 16, 2023, 6:30 PM in the District Office Conference Room for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=169012 Fri, 19 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169012 Students Tackle Cyber Scholarship Competition Earl L. Vandermeulen High School junior Nicholas Smirnov enjoys looking for challenging opportunities online to advance his skills and knowledge. When he came across the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation website, he was intrigued enough to share it with computer science teacher Winne Kuemmel and his peers. Nicholas Smirnov, sophomore Emily Snyder, junior Carman Stanton and freshman Tucker Stanton were four of just 206 students to qualify for the competition from a pool of over 40,000 nationwide. They participated through an online cybersecurity training program to score points while solving a wide range of cybersecurity challenges. They each have been named a Scholar from the National Cyber Scholarship Competition. The National Cyber Scholarship Foundation’s mission is to identify, nurture and empower the next generation of cybersecurity experts and eliminate the cybersecurity skills gap in the United States. Top scorers in the program earned an invitation to participate in the Cyber Foundations Academy – a multiweek, online program based on the nationally recognized SANS Foundations training course and certification. “We’re so proud of the achievements of these students and for representing Earl L. Vandermeulen High School,” Principal John Ruggero said. “Taking a challenging initiative and sharing it with others not only shows ambition but opens up many more learning opportunities for them.” Date Added: 5/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168979 Thu, 18 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168979 Students Recognize Police Week Port Jefferson Middle School students took a special trip to the Yaphank Police Headquarters during Police Week. Students viewed a number of emergency vehicle and equipment demonstrations, K9 unit teams, marine bureau and crime scenes and toured the museum where they learned more about the history of the Suffolk County Police Department. Date Added: 5/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168943 Wed, 17 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168943 Budget Results / Resultados del Presupuestro Yes 849 No 537 Proposition 2 Bond Yes 674 No 708 Board Election Shannon Handley 1041 David Keegan 1020 Date Added: 5/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168919 Wed, 17 May 2023 00:00:00 GMT false168919 Track & Field Success! The boys and girls track and field teams both finished the spring season as league champions. On the girls’ end, the 4x400-meter relay team of Alexa Jacobs, Jenna Jacobs, Maggie Johnston and Mia O’Connell set the school record with a time of 4:02.72. That time is third in all of New York State for Division 2 teams. Ruby Ray is ranked No. 1 in the race walk in New York State. Jenna Jacobs has the fourth-best overall time in New York State Division 2 in the 200 meter and Alexa Jacobs has the second-best overall time in New York State Division 2 in the 100 meter. For the boys, Brendan Capodanno’s time of 9:44.47 in the 3200-meter run is the top time in all Suffolk County small schools. The 4x800-meter team of Sean Grossman, Lucas Sweeney, Blake Weaver and Sviatoslav Zalizniak recently finished first at the St. Anthony’s Invitational with a time of 8:52.99. Date Added: 5/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168848 Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168848 Fifth Grade Masters of Math! Five Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students participated in the Suffolk County Math Tournament on May 11. The students, who work with STEM teacher Dr. Kathryn Zvokel, scored the highest on the Math Olympiad competitions held earlier in the school year. Great job to Timothy Amadio, Bridget Grossman, Alissa Kotov, Patrick Rickard and Alice Turner for participating in the virtual event. “They all worked hard and I’m proud of them,” Dr. Zvokel said. Date Added: 5/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168783 Fri, 12 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168783 Race-Walking All-American! Port Jefferson senior Ruby Ray has been setting the pace for race walkers nationwide. Ruby had never tried to race walk. After watching an instructional video and getting encouragement from her coach Brian Snow, Ruby started to race walk only a little over year ago. She qualified for the Junior Olympics in Sacramento, California, in the summer of 2022 where she medaled and received the All-American Athlete title. She was named 2022 Athlete of the Year for Race Walkers Under the Age of 20 by USA Track & Field. In January 2023 Ruby was recruited for the Olympic training camp in California. She was the Long Island champion in the 1,500-meter race walk at The Elite Meet in February. Ruby finished first place in the nation in the 1,600-meter race walk at The Adidas Indoor Nationals in March and received the All-American Athlete title once again. She finished first in the Joe Brandi Relays in the 1,500-meter race walk in April. She finished fourth place in the Penn Relays in the 5,000-meter race walk in April, and is now ranked by Athletic Net as No. 4 in the nation in the 5,000-meter race walk. Ruby finished first in the 1,500-meter race walk at the St. Anthony’s Invitational last weekend. Ruby has already qualified for the Toyota USATF Outdoor Championship Final 10,000-meter in Eugene, Oregon, on July 23, and presently holds No. 1 ranking in the 1,500-meter race walk in New York State. Ruby also regularly scores points for Port Jefferson in discus and in the 3,000-meter run. She competes for a total distance of 4,500 meters per school meet! “In addition to training as hard as possible during practice with the track team each day after school,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said, “Ruby also works with a race-walking coach outside of school. She puts time and effort into her craft and it is surely paying off. I am looking forward to watching her compete at the county and national championships this spring.” Date Added: 5/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168795 Fri, 12 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168795 National Merit Scholar! Congratulations to senior Benjamin Perez-Flesler who has been selected as a winner of a National Merit $2500 scholarship. Ben is one of 2,500 Merit Scholar designees to be selected from more than 15,000 finalists in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. The competition is one of the most competitive merit-based scholarships. Ben is among this group of students judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college courses. Scholarship winners were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors and were judged based on their academic record, including the difficulty level of subjects studied and grades earned; a recommendation from an official at their school; an essay; scores from qualifying tests and contributions and leadership in school and community activities. Great job Ben! The Port Jefferson School District is proud of you! Date Added: 5/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168696 Wed, 10 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168696 With Gratitude! Thank you to Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student Carman Stanton for thinking of others. Carman created “Teds for Tots” a school fundraiser to collect stuffed animals for children in the family court system. Carman noted that the cuddly toys were a welcome way to keep the children calm and help them to feel protected. His efforts resulted in dozens of stuffed animals to send to the courthouse. Date Added: 5/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168719 Wed, 10 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168719 Teacher Appreciation Week! Date Added: 5/9/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168651 Tue, 09 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168651 Bravo, William! Port Jefferson School District student William Reustle competed in three events in the Long Island Special Olympics Spring Games North this weekend hosted by the Farmingdale School District. William placed in all three competitions. He won a Silver medal for swimming the freestyle event; a Bronze medal for swimming the backstroke event and a Silver medal in the relay event. Congratulations to William and all the athletes! Date Added: 5/8/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168608 Mon, 08 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168608 Alum Returns to Share His Career Earl L. Vandermeulen High School math teacher Dennis Christofor introduced his students to Ryan Burke (Class of 2015) who spoke to the Advanced Placement AB and BC Calculus classes about how he uses calculus as a professional options trader. Ryan spoke about his path as a student at Port Jefferson to becoming an applied math major at Brown University and finding a job to match his interests and skill set. He used slides to highlight reasons people trade options and the calculations used for pricing options. He also offered advice to students looking to prepare for the challenges of college more broadly. Date Added: 5/5/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168562 Fri, 05 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168562 Senior Lauded by State Teachers Association Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Riley Perrotta has been selected as the outstanding senior science student by the school’s science educators. Riley, along with other outstanding senior science students from Suffolk County high schools, will be honored by The Executive Committee of the Suffolk Section of the Science Teachers Association of New York State at a dinner ceremony on May 24 at Villa Lombardi’s. Riley will be recognized for high level achievements in all science related endeavors. Riley, a member of the school’s Science Olympiad team who also takes Advanced Placement courses in chemistry, biology and physics, is excited by the honor. He looks forward to attending Stony Brook University to major in biochemistry in the fall. Date Added: 5/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168496 Thu, 04 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168496 Prekindergartners Learn About Puffer Fish! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School prekindergarten students in Sue Giglio’s and Gina Santini’s classes got to explore the underwater town of Luna Bay with a puffer fish and his sea creature friends. The colorful picture book, “The Curious Puffer,” was a highlight of the day when it was read to them by visiting Long Island authors and mother/son duo Claire Kennedy and Ian Hunter. The story offered some of the North Fork’s well-known local landmarks and a mystery of missing cookies. “The kids loved it,” Ms. Santini said. Date Added: 5/3/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168451 Wed, 03 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168451 Penn Relays The Penn Relays, one of the biggest sprint track and field events in the country, hosts high school, college and post-collegiate, elite-level athletes who meet the difficult qualifying times. Port Jefferson is fortunate enough to have sent 11 track athletes to the competition. Competing on April 27 in the 4x400 relay, student-athletes Giancarlo Caltagirone, Brendan Capodanno, Jack Keegan and Colin Veit finished with a time of 3:36.36. Caltagirone and Keegan also ran in the 4x100 relay with Malachi Bourjolly and Kendry Rodriguez. The 4x100 finished with a time of 46.16, which was good enough for 49 out of 133 teams. On April 28 and 29 student-athletes Alexa Jacobs, Jenna Jacobs, Maggie Johnston and Mia O’Connell competed in both the 4x100 and 4x400 relays. The team finished with a time of 52.52 which placed the Royals 44th out of 117 teams. The 4x400 ran a season-best time of 4:07.09. Student-athlete Ruby Ray competed in the 5K race walk, where she finished in fourth place with a time of 26:22.65. Date Added: 5/2/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168384 Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168384 Top of the Class of 2023 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is proud to congratulate Olivia Schlegel as its Class of 2023 valedictorian and Kathleen Zhou as its salutatorian. Olivia Schlegel is excited and happy to be valedictorian, seeing it as her greatest high school accomplishment. In her high school career, she has taken 12 Advanced Placement courses, five honors courses, is a National Merit Finalist, an AP Scholar with Distinction and received summa cum laude on the National Latin Exam. She is the class treasurer of the school’s Student Organization, editor on the school newspaper The Current, and a member of the Latin Club, National Honor Society and Varsity Club. She also performs with the school orchestra. She is an All-County and All-State varsity swimmer, gives swimming lessons, works as a lifeguard, babysits in the community, and her community service projects include beach cleanups and gift wrapping for holiday collections. She is also a recipient of the Presidential Community Service Award. Olivia looks forward to attending Colgate University in the fall. Olivia’s words of wisdom for her classmates are to “always work hard and stay dedicated.” The best is yet to come, according to salutatorian Kathleen Zhou. Kathleen is a well-rounded student who has taken advantage of many of the high school’s offerings, including 13 Advanced Placement courses and six honors classes. She is also a member of the school’s Interact Club, National Honor Society, Science Olympiad team and varsity tennis team. Outside of her school day, Kathleen is a cellist with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and has donated 120 hours of her time in volunteer service to the Port Jefferson Library. She also created a prototype of a visual aid app targeting people with visual impairment in the global high school entrepreneurial competition Diamond Challenge. She has been named an AP Scholar with Distinction. Kathleen will join the freshman class at Emory University where she will double major in biology and chemistry. The district congratulates Olivia and Kathleen for achieving the top academic honors of the Class of 2023 and wishes them the best in their future endeavors. Date Added: 5/2/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168385 Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168385 Unified Hero The Port Jefferson School District’s Unified Basketball team traveled to William Floyd for the first game of the season on April 27. The Royals had possession and a one-point lead with two seconds remaining in the game. Understanding the true meaning and impact of Unified Sports, Port Jefferson senior Willy Rodriguez gave the ball to a member of the William Floyd team and encouraged him to shoot the game-winning shot. The crowd erupted as William Floyd won at the buzzer. After the game the crowd clapped, cheered and came to shake hands with the game MVP, Willy Rodriguez. The student-athletes, coaches and parents of the William Floyd team were enamored with Willy’s selflessness. “Willy helped to create a moment that another student would never forget,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “He gave someone else the opportunity to be the star. Willy truly is a Unified Champion. I could not be more proud to have him represent the Royals.” Date Added: 5/2/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168386 Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168386 PJ Alum Is NFL Bound! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School alumnus Jacky Chen was recently signed by the Minnesota Vikings. Chen graduated in 2018 from Port Jefferson and played football at Pace University. “We are very proud of Jacky and all his hard work to get to this point in his life,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “I am confident he will continue to grind and put the work in to have a successful career.” Date Added: 5/2/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168408 Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168408 Video: 2023-2024 Budget Information Date Added: 5/1/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168363 Mon, 01 May 2023 05:00:00 GMT false168363 Careers in the Classroom Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in Mrs. Linda Moran’s Career and Finance class welcomed several visitors via Zoom to talk about careers in therapy. Michelle Galante-Adams (Physical Therapy), Karen Gallagher, (Occupational Therapy), and Carrie Pacale (Speech Therapy) all spoke of their work and the paths to their careers. Music therapist Lee Morris visited in-person with the students and shared her insight and work with music interventions. All four professionals work with St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson. “I think it is an incredible opportunity to have the students learn about different careers from the people who work them in our community,” Mrs. Moran said. “The students enjoyed the visits and I loved that each person explained what they originally went to school for and how they ended up in the career they have now.” Date Added: 5/1/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168375 Mon, 01 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168375 College Decision Day! Congratulations to our seniors on this momentous day! Date Added: 5/1/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168376 Mon, 01 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168376 2023-2024 Budget Newsletter Available Date Added: 5/1/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168360 Mon, 01 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168360 Video: 2023-2024 Bond Information Date Added: 5/1/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168362 Mon, 01 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168362 Gone Fishin’ in Chef’s Choice Class! Students in Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Chef's Choice class recently participated in a fun and multifaceted food lab. Port Jefferson Middle School guidance counselor Mr. Keith Buehler, an avid fisher, caught three striped bass for students to filet and enjoy. Students Christian Jensen and Sam Warm filleted the fish and the Chef's Choice students prepared a striped bass recipe with a lemon butter sauce and cucumber salad. “It was amazing to see how students and teachers worked together to supply fresh nutritious meals,” said Family and Consumer Science teacher Ms. Alyssa Rivera. Date Added: 4/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168244 Fri, 28 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168244 All-State! Congratulations to senior Lola Idir for being named to the Newsday All-Long Island Girls Basketball Team and third-team All-State by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Previously, Lola was named the Suffolk County Player of the Year. Click here to read the New York Sports Writers Association Information Click here to read the Newsday Article Date Added: 4/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168230 Wed, 26 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168230 Suffolk Zone Teacher of the Year Honors Port Jefferson School District physical education teacher Dinarae Camarda was recently awarded the Exercise Sport and Science High School Teacher of the Year Award by the Suffolk Zone. The Suffolk Zone is the Suffolk County chapter of the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Mrs. Camarda, who teaches at both Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, is constantly looking for programs and initiatives to help promote mental, physical and emotional health and well-being. A prime example of this is the creation of the high school physical education Wellfit class. Mrs. Camarda used her experience as a fitness instructor and knowledge of mindfulness to create the Wellfit course. Mrs. Camarda took the lead on presenting this to the Board of Education, creating the curriculum, designing the teaching space and ordering the supplies. Wellfit focuses on physical, mental and social-emotional lifelong health and happiness. Each year more and more students sign up for the course. Throughout the school day, staff members pop into Wellfit to help get themselves recentered as well. The creation of the Wellfit class has also sparked the after-school yoga club, which Mrs. Camarda runs. “As an educator, Mrs. Camarda is motivated to push herself, her peers and her students to be their very best,” Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard said. “She is known for her incredible work ethic and tireless dedication to ensure that her students are taught the skills and resources needed to lead physically and emotionally fit lives. Mrs. Camarda has demonstrated all the skills necessary to be a successful leader of young minds. She thrives when given leadership roles and demonstrates the ability to problem-solve difficult situations. Mrs. Camarda works tirelessly to promote social-emotional learning to our students in middle school health and physical education classes as well as the high school Wellfit and physical education classes. Her character and actions demonstrate the vital responsibility quality educators play in the educational system.” Date Added: 4/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168238 Wed, 26 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168238 Spring Sports Fair: Encouraging Academics and Athletics The Port Jefferson School District Athletic Department recently held its seasonal sports fair for elementary students. The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School varsity student-athletes visited Edna Louise Spear Elementary to visit all the pre-K to fourth grade classrooms to read books to the students. Each team read a book about their sport which taught lessons of teamwork and persistence. After reading to the classes, the student-athletes met with the fifth graders outdoors at recess. The day ended with the fifth grade students participating in stations of lacrosse, track and field, golf, tennis and baseball. Each station was led by varsity coaches and student-athletes. “The purpose of the Sports Fair is to provide leadership opportunities for our varsity student-athletes, build camaraderie between our younger and older students, boost school spirit and to promote the benefits of participating in athletics,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. A special thanks to all the varsity student-athletes and coaches Charles Hafner, Drew Dunleavy, Taylor Hoffmann, Brian Snow, Andrew Cosci, Taylor Forstell and Jesse Rosen for helping to highlight the district’s athletic program. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 4/25/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168210 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168210 Port Jefferson Named to National Best Community for Music Education List The Port Jefferson School District has again been ranked among the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education in America. The honor acknowledges schools and districts across the country for their dedication to and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. This is the 17th consecutive year that Port Jefferson has received the prestigious national recognition. The school district boasts numerous vocal, band and orchestral performing groups, and students have numerous opportunities to perform within the community. The award program recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education in Port Jefferson. The district was designated for its demonstration of an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education. Date Added: 4/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168092 Fri, 21 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168092 PJSD’s Partnership with Local Lions Club Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Leo Club members learned about some of the many wonderful opportunities available through the partnership with the Port Jefferson Lions Club. The presentation was facilitated by school librarian Eva Grasso and technology teacher Brian Chalmers who are co-advisers to the Leo Club. The students welcomed the Lions Club’s liaison, Lori Anne De Iulio Casdia. She shared the background of the local, national and international affiliate of the high school’s Leo Club, which offers student members many unique opportunities. Beyond engaging in community service, the Lions Club also bridges the school to local business and industry leaders, helping to pay it forward and model the ethos of gratitude that the Lions Club espouses. As stated by the Lions Club organization: “Together, Leos and Lions form a powerful partnership – one of mutual respect where Lions learn from the innovative insights of Leos, and where Leos gain access to the proven strategies of those who’ve successfully served the world for decades.” The high school Leo Club couldn’t agree more. “Our Leo Club was thankful for Ms. De Iulio Casdia’s insight and energy, and the Lions Club’s continued partnership,” Ms. Grasso said. Date Added: 4/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168114 Fri, 21 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168114 Students Experience the Judicial Process Students in Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Criminal Justice class got a firsthand look at the Suffolk County District Court in Central Islip. The students witnessed the county’s drug prevention program and listened as a judge spoke directly to individuals seeking help. The judge also provided the students with life advice. From there, they experienced the holding cell and sheriff’s lock-up process. Lastly, they witnessed the arraignment process as crimes were read aloud for individual offenders. The trip was organized by Mr. Bryan Vaccaro and accompanied by Mrs. Melissa Zinger. Date Added: 4/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168063 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168063 Long Island Quiz Bowl Honors! Answer: Who are the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Quiz Bowl team members. Question: Which high school team took second place in the Long Island Quiz Bowl competition? Congratulations to our varsity Quiz Bowl members Teppei Fukuto, Ryan Gameng, Gavin Onghai, Ben Perez Flesler and Nicholas Smirnov for their exceptional preparation and meeting and succeeding with the challenging questions of the Long Island Quiz Bowl, Long Island’s Interscholastic Academic League! The team went undefeated during the Regional Quiz Bowl regular season (5-0) to qualify for the final tournament at Plainview-Old Bethpage High School on April 19. There, they won several matches and finished in second place overall. “It was a true team effort, and I am proud of each of the students involved,” Quiz Bowl adviser Mr. Matthew Sefick said. “They did a great job!” Date Added: 4/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168079 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168079 PJMS Science Olympiad Team Place Sixth in State In the New York State Science Olympiad Competition, the Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad team finished with a rank of sixth overall out of 40 teams throughout the state. This is the team’s best finish in an in-person event. The competition was held at East Syracuse Minoa High School in Syracuse, New York, on April 14 and 15. “The students were successful through their hard work in studying scientific principles and engineering devices to complete various tasks, and earned a total of 12 medals in the events,” team coach and Middle School science teacher Adam Bouchard said. Congratulations goes out to all team members and medal winners. Medal Winners: 1st Place Forestry – Jonah Boerboom, Kenshin Sugimoto 1st Place Roller Coaster – Kieran Casey, Mari Fukuto 4th Place Dynamic Planet – Joshua Kwon, Kenshin Sugimoto 4th Place Flight – Kieran Casey, Kevin Hong 6th Place Bio Process Lab – Deia Colosi, Dasha Zakharova 6th Place Write It Do It – Kieran Casey, Kevin Hong 7th Place Disease Detectives – Kevin Hong, Christopher Nam 8th Place Crime Busters – Avery Eisaman, Mari Fukuto 8th Place Sounds of Music – Jonah Boerboom, Kenshin Sugimoto 9th Place Crave the Wave – Isaac Rubenstein, Tucker Stanton 9th Place Meteorology – Luca Caltagirone, Kevin Hong 9th Place Rocks and Minerals – Christopher Nam, Tucker Stanton Other team members included Benjamin Batter, Sean Grossman, Narin Karakurum, Marco Puopolo and Kristina Shterengas. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 4/19/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168035 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168035 Proposed Bond Projects Date Added: 4/19/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=168029 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168029 Students Give Kids Hope The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School freshman class recently filled over 600 plastic Easter eggs to support Give Kids Hope. This Port Jefferson organization sponsors an annual egg hunt for children who are living in a shelter. Student volunteers were given the opportunity to enrich the lives of these families, helping them to realize the importance of community-building and bringing joyful moments to younger children. Date Added: 4/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167961 Fri, 14 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167961 A Collection of Love From Students and Staff Students and staff throughout the Port Jefferson School District worked collaboratively to collect stuffed animals to be delivered to Stony Brook Children’s Hospital in memory of Carla Sciara who was an active and cherished member of the Port Jefferson community. “She touched the lives of so many people,” teacher Gina Fedler said. “Her selfless acts continued when her last wishes were to provide comfort to children who are experiencing hardships in the hospital setting. Her love and devotion to the Port Jefferson community will never be forgotten.” Date Added: 4/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167962 Fri, 14 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167962 PJ EdCamp Encourages Professional Discourse For this year’s April Superintendent’s Conference Day, the Port Jefferson School District was excited to host its annual PJ EdCamp, a professional learning model, where the staff brings forth topics of interest to them and their colleagues. Rather than the presenter being viewed as the “expert” in a given area, presenters simply initiated a conversation to encourage professional discourse. A special thanks to the professional development committee led by Dr. Michael Caravello and Dr. Robert Neidig for organizing this year’s Edcamp as well as all the instructional staff who helped create a meaningful, productive day by facilitating a wide variety of topics. Date Added: 4/5/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167812 Wed, 05 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167812 Scholarship, Character, Cooperation, Leadership & Service The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Chapter 2172 of the Tri-M Music Honor Society hosted its 16th annual honors recital and induction on April 4. This year’s inductees are students Thales Cheng, Caitlin Dickhuth, Kenneth Dixon-Lanza, Mari Fukuto, Iris He, Andi Kelly, Kay Moran, Fiona Reichers, Samantha Reichers, Alice Snyder, Emily Snyder, Kristina Shterengas and Madison Testa. Requirements needed to become a member of Tri-M are based on the society’s five points of distinction: scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership and service. Date Added: 4/5/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167813 Wed, 05 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167813 Top 30! Congratulations to junior Carman Stanton for being named to Newsday’s Top 30 boys tennis players on Long Island! Way to go Royal! Click here to view the Newsday story. Date Added: 4/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167753 Tue, 04 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167753 Collaboration Is FIRST for Robotics Team Members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School robotics team took part in the recent FIRST competition at Hofstra University to put their knowledge to the test against 50 other New York high school teams and six international teams coming from as far away as India and Taiwan. This year, Port Jefferson was joined by Mount Sinai High School students. Their combined efforts helped the team make it to the final rounds to place seventh overall – an extremely challenging event to win considering the level of international competition. Students used their math, science and engineering abilities and took months to design and build their robot, following strict rules, limited resources and an intense time limit. The teams were challenged to raise funds, design a brand, hone teamwork skills and program their industrial-size robots to play a difficult field game against like-minded competitors. “We call FIRST Robotics Competition the ultimate sport for the mind,” Port Jeff’s technology and engineering teacher and robotics team adviser Mr. Brian Chalmers said. “Applying skills learned in the classroom during competition is always a positive opportunity for our students. It’s as close to real-world engineering as a student can get. We are proud of our students and grateful for our volunteer professional mentors who shared their time and talents to guide these students to success.” Date Added: 3/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167693 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false167693 A Love of Music Shared at District’s ‘Petting Zoo’ How do you share an appreciation of music with young students? The Port Jefferson School District has just the event! The District’s Petting Zoo – a musical collaboration between second and third graders and high school students – is a day to share all that is fun and educational about band and orchestra instruments. Organized by district music teachers, the younger students got to hear the sounds of the instruments played and ask questions about them. The students will soon make their selection of the instrument they would like to begin to learn when they enter third and fourth grade in September. “This year, we expanded our offering to now include both second and third grade students to extend an opportunity to younger grade levels to participate in instrumental music classes,” Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. This is a great addition in the school district – encouraging an appreciation of music, cultivating creativity and increasing memory capabilities are just a few of the numerous benefits to playing an instrument at the elementary level. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167691 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167691 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 18, 2023, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 19, 6:30 p.m., to vote on the 2023-2024 Eastern Suffolk BOCES Administrative Budget and Board Election. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167614 Wed, 29 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167614 Mathematical Masters! Sixth and seventh graders from Port Jefferson Middle School took their math skills to new levels! Encouraged by sixth grade math teachers Megan Roth-Ueno and Megan Ryan and seventh grade math teacher Jamie Veraldi, students participated in the New York Math League Contest. The top five scorers in sixth grade are Kieran Browne, Kai Gronenthal, Morgan McManus, Austin Nam and Ryan Verruto. The top five scorers in seventh grade are Sam Fabian, Brian Hyrycz, Nila Manian, Lucas Smirnov and Elizabeth Yin. Great job! Date Added: 3/27/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167526 Mon, 27 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167526 Middle School’s Analytical Thinkers Among the topics included on the AMC 8 are probability, estimation, proportional reasoning, geometry including the Pythagorean Theorem, spatial visualization, interpreting graphs and tables, linear or quadratic functions and equations. The 25-question, 40-minute, multiple-choice examination in middle school mathematics promotes the development of problem-solving skills. Port Jefferson Middle School math teacher Mr. Matthew Garofola coached 31 students who participated in the contest this year. The school’s top scorers are Benjamin Batter (first place), Joshua Kwon (second place) Kenshin Sugimoto (third place) and tied for fourth place are Marco Baranta and Luca Caltagirone. Congratulations! Date Added: 3/24/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167527 Fri, 24 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167527 Student Artwork Celebrated! Pops of color, digital art projects, collage work, mixed media and more adorn the walls of the Port Jefferson Village Center. A reception was held on March 23 to honor and celebrate the works of Port Jefferson School District students from all three schools. The collaboration between the school district and the village is an opportunity for the greater community to view the creations of district students. Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello and Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan, along with district art teachers Skylar Benatar, Meghan McCarthy and Nancy Randazzo were on hand to congratulate the students in attendance. The show runs until April 3. Date Added: 3/24/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167512 Fri, 24 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167512 Lola Idir: Player of the Year! Port Jefferson senior Lola Idir was named the Suffolk County Girls Basketball Player of the Year! This award is voted on by all coaches throughout Suffolk County from AA to class D schools. What an outstanding achievement for Lola. Lola has been a member of the varsity girls basketball team and a top player in the county since eighth grade. Throughout her five years on the varsity basketball team Lola helped lead the Royals to four consecutive county championships from 2020-2023 and a Long Island championship in 2023. This season Lola averaged 22 points, eight rebounds, five steals and five assists per game. During her high school career she scored over 1,000 points, was the League MVP for three straight years, received All-League and All-Conference awards three times and was a two-time All-County player, all while missing all of the regular season in ninth grade due to a knee injury. Date Added: 3/23/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167494 Thu, 23 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167494 Athletic Summer Camps! Date Added: 3/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167440 Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167440 College Fair Success! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s guidance office hosted a College Fair on March 21 which was a great opportunity for the students to check out some options for after graduation. There are so many exciting possibilities for high school students. Guidance counselors Ms. Kathi Galvin and Mrs. Kerri Neligon organized the event and reported that there were 78 colleges from all over the northeast in attendance. Sophomores and juniors were able to talk to the college representatives and ask questions about the admission process and gain other important information about the colleges. Date Added: 3/22/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167441 Wed, 22 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167441 Royals Winter Scholar Athlete Teams! All varsity winter sports teams received NYSPHSAA scholar athlete team honors. To be deemed a scholar athlete team, 75% of the team’s roster must have a grade point average of a 90 or higher. Congratulations to: Boys Basketball Girls Basketball Cheerleading Independent Swimming Boys Track Girls Track Unified Bowling Wrestling Date Added: 3/21/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167376 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167376 Educational Experiences at Frost Valley! Port Jefferson Middle School eighth graders participated in nature hikes, science exploration, outdoor living skills, trust-building activities and teamwork during this year’s trip to Frost Valley. The two days of adventures included ziplining, a glider activity, snow tubing, visiting waterfalls, observing animals and crossing cable bridges. Frost Valley educators introduced the students to a variety of animals and reptiles and helped them understand how these species spend their days both in captivity and in the wild. The students also took a maple sugar trail hike in which they tasted freshly made maple syrup! “It was an educational experience that our students will have for a long, long time,” Principal Brian Walker said. “It was inspiring to see our students challenge themselves in new ways and witness the character building and bonding with their classmates in an environment different from the school.” Date Added: 3/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167338 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 06:00:00 GMT false167338 Students and Staff Brave It & Shave It! The Port Jefferson School District takes pride in showing off its green. On March 17, the high school hosted an inaugural St. Baldrick’s Foundation event. The volunteer and donor powered charity works to support research to find cures for childhood cancers and give survivors long and healthy lives. With shavees, shavers and many cheers from the sidelines, the brave students and staff who signed up for the cause did it to show children who lost their hair during cancer treatment that they are supported, and it brings hope to their families and friends. The event brought funds and awareness for childhood cancer, raising more than $6,000. “We’re so grateful to sophomore Kyle Martin for bringing this organization’s mission to his peers in Port Jeff,” Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal John Ruggero said. “The awareness and funds raised for this worthwhile cause is not only heartwarming, it is a testament to this kind and considerate community.” Date Added: 3/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167348 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167348 Science Olympiad Medal Winners! The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad team participated in the 2023 State Competition at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, on March 17 and 18. The team placed 28th overall out of 60 teams from all over New York State. There were 23 events in various STEM and science-related topics. The top 10 pairs of students in each event earn a medal. Port Jeff’s team earned three state medals in Disease Detectives, Green Generation and Remote Sensing. Medal winners: Disease Detectives: 3rd Place, Eric Chen and Michelle Wu Green Generation: 10th Place, Max Joyner and Michelle Wu Remote Sensing: 10th Place, Benjamin Perez-Flesler and Nicholas Smirnov Coaches were Mrs. Amanda Perovich and Ms. Melissa Garcia. Additional chaperones were Mr. Gregory Gorniok and Mr. Dannie Holland. “We continue to be impressed by our high school Science Olympiad students in their hard work and success,” coach Melissa Garcia said. “The teams received many compliments from event staff in terms of excellent sportsmanship and kindness, and we will also take that as a win!” Mrs. Perovich echoed the sentiments and added the pride in not only the academic achievements of the entire team but in participating in the state competition and earning three state medals. “If you do the statistics for this year’s Science Olympiad season,” she said, “the season started with 408 teams equivalent to 6,120 students, and this team of students was a part of the top 1% in the state. That is something to be incredibly proud of!” The team members also congratulate their competitors from Long Island – Syosset High School and Ward Melville High School – on their success and wish them all the luck at nationals. Date Added: 3/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167330 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167330 Best Day Ever! Join the Port Jefferson School District’s talented students for three performances of The SpongeBob Musical. Friday, March 17 and Saturday, March 18 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 19 at 2 p.m. High School auditorium stage. $5 donation per person. Date Added: 3/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167285 Fri, 17 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167285 The Art of Storytelling Port Jefferson Middle School students turned back the hands of time for a current art lesson. Art teacher Stacey Schuman introduced sixth graders to the art of petroglyphs, a form of communication used to convey messages and ideas. “They aren’t read like words, or even like ancient hieroglyphics,” Ms. Schuman said. “They are symbols that can represent anything from a simple object to a complex idea. Our modern cultures also use symbols in similar ways.” According to Ms. Schuman’s lesson, Native Americans created these images to record the history of tribal events, but also included ceremonial images and even maps of hunting areas. The students in her class used these real, historic symbols to convey stories of their own. Date Added: 3/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167243 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167243 Pi Day at Port Jefferson Middle School! Port Jefferson Middle School teachers are in a constant forward motion, and March 14, Pi Day, is an exceptional time to share the excitement of the most recognized digits of the irrational number. Teacher Mrs. Linda Moran taught a lesson to her eighth grade technology class about pi. The students engaged in a STEM project, each creating a pi box, designed like a slice of pie. Mrs. Moran then added circle chocolate and candy to each student’s piece of pi! Date Added: 3/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167217 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167217 Board of Education Approves Resolution for Revised Bond Vote The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education approved a resolution for proposed capital bond projects at its March 14 Board of Education meeting. A community vote on the projects will take place as a separate proposition with the annual budget vote and trustee election on May 16. The proposal, which has been reduced in scope and cost from the December 2022 vote, includes a focus on key infrastructure and programmatic needs. These include heating and cooling system upgrades at the high school ($3.9 million); the music portable demolition and renovations ($3.4 million); locker rooms, nurse office, team rooms, trainer rooms and Wellfit room upgrades ($6.2 million); and Makerspace and technical education relocation and upgrades ($2.4 million) for a total of $15.9 million. A key focus of the renovations to the music areas and physical education spaces surrounds safety. If approved, these projects will bring all students into the main building and eliminate the need for them to travel to external structures during the school day. “We have critical needs throughout our buildings that need to be addressed,” Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan said. “This bond is imperative in moving forward in planning for the future education of our students.” The bond vote will take place during the annual budget on Tuesday, May 16 from 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School cafeteria. Details about the proposed bond is available on the District website. Please visit www.portjeffschools.org/bond/home. Date Added: 3/15/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167188 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167188 Fine Arts Accolades for Port Jeff Siblings Port Jefferson School District student-artists and siblings Claire Potter and Noah Potter were both honored for their artistic accomplishments. Port Jefferson Middle School sixth grader Claire had a pen and ink drawing selected to be in a juried student show for The Atelier at Flowerfield in Saint James titled “Shooting Stars.” Noah, a junior at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School junior was selected to participate in the student exhibition at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton. His work is titled “Doppelganger.” Congratulations to Claire and Noah on their creative achievements! Date Added: 3/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167161 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167161 MS Science Olympiad Team Qualifies for States! The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad Team came in second place at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad Competition, held at Murphy Junior High School on March 11. Students from grades 6-9 competed against 28 teams in events which tested the students’ study skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and scientific problem-solving. The students did extremely well, receiving a total of 27 medals between the A, B and C teams. The Science Olympiad team will be competing on April 14 and 15 in the state competition at East Syracuse Minoa High School in Syracuse, New York. The team is coached by Adam Bouchard, the Middle School Earth Science and Science 8 teacher. “Every student was highly motivated and worked incredibly well together with their partners on the events,” Mr. Bouchard said. “It truly showed this year with the team’s dominant performance in regionals.” Medal Winners: 1st Place Disease Detectives – Kevin Hong, Christopher Nam 1st Place Wheeled Vehicle – Kieran Casey, Mari Fukuto 1st Place Write It Do It – Sam Perez-Flesler, Oliver Rhame 2nd Place Bio Process Lab – Dasha Zakharova, Deia Colosi 2nd Place Dynamic Planet – Marco Puopolo, Kristina Shtrengas 2nd Place Flight – Kieran Casey, Kevin Hong 2nd Place Forestry – Jonah Boerboom, Kenshin Sugimoto 2nd Place Road Scholar – Luca Caltagirone, Sean Grossman 2nd Place Write It Do It – Kieran Casey, Kevin Hong 3rd Place Crime Busters – Mahati Sistla, Medini Sistla 3rd Place Fast Facts – Sam Perez-Flesler, Lucas Smirnov 3rd Place Rocks and Minerals – Christopher Nam, Tucker Stanton 3rd Place Solar System – Sam Perez-Flesler, Luca Thomsen 3rd Place Sounds of Music – Jonah Boerboom, Kenshin Sugimoto 4th Place Fast Facts – Benjamin Batter, Tucker Stanton 4th Place Solar System – Benjamin Batter, Dasha Zakharova 5th Place Anatomy – Joshua Kwon, Christopher Nam 5th Place Crave the Wave – Tucker Stanton, Isaac Rubenstein 5th Place Meteorology – Luca Caltagirone, Kevin Hong 6th Place Road Scholar – Narin Karakurum, Ava Romonoyske 5th Place Rocks and Minerals – Marco Puopolo, Kristina Shtrengas 6th Place Storm the Castle – Sean Grossman, Isaac Rubenstein 9th Place Crave the Wave – Marco Puoplo, Kristina Shtrengas 9th Place Crime Busters – Veronica Shtrenegas, Elizabeth Yin 9th Place Forestry – Narin Karakurum, Ava Romonoyske 10th Place Bridge – Benjamin Batter, Dasha Zakharova 10th Place Dynamic Planet – Deia Colosi, Joshua Kwon Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167166 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167166 The PJ Cup: Building Sportsmanship and Camaraderie The Port Jefferson School District soccer program has held off-season workouts over the last two months in the style of an indoor tournament named The PJ Cup! Each week, dozens of high school and middle school soccer players showed up to compete, have fun and build program chemistry. The workouts were organized by both boys and girls varsity coaches Bryan Vaccaro and Taylor Forstell, along with the help of varsity assistant coaches Chris Dructor, Logan Hoffman and Port Jefferson Middle School coach Mike LaCava. Date Added: 3/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167096 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167096 SCMEA All-County Festival Students! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates 40 students districtwide who were selected to participate in this year’s Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County Festival. In Division I (grades 5/6): Timothy Amadio, Megan Becherer, Seyanna Cerar, Bianca Cipriano, Reese Fallon, Isabella Fratticci Cseri, Jacob Fulton, Claire Gearns, Kai Gronenthal, Patrick Hutchinson, Ruairi Hogan, Tatum Lastra, Angelina Marsala, Gloria Monaghan, Austin Nam, Adyson Nocito, Sude Ozgur, Violet Perez-Flesler, Patrick Rickard, Sebastian Salzman, Vanessa Schuchman, Nicholas Spagnoli, Kaho Sugimoto, Alice Turner, Sophia Villagracia and Leilani Von Oiste were selected. In Division II (grades 7/8): Allie Blumenthal, Eve Cruz, Avery Eisaman, Aiden Fratticci-Rodriguez, Julia Lima De Oliveira Gomes, Iris Park and Jenny Yankai Cheung were selected. In Division III (grades 9/10): Thales Cheng, Caitlin Dickhuth, Mari Fukuto, Andi Kelly, Evan Monaghan, Madison Testa and Devon Welsch were selected. “Congratulations to all of our outstanding student musicians and their music teachers,” District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. Date Added: 3/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167102 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167102 SCMEA SCHOLARS! Congratulations to Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth grader Seyanna Cerar and Port Jefferson Middle School eighth grader Deia Colosi who were selected as recipients of a Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association scholarship for summer music study! Here they are congratulated by District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello and music teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman. Date Added: 3/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167105 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167105 Port Jefferson High School Presents: The Spongebob Musical Date Added: 3/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=167064 Fri, 10 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false167064 Let’s Roll! Port Jefferson School District hosted its first Unified Bowling match against Southampton in its inaugural season on March 7 at Port Jeff Bowl. The program pairs students with and without intellectual disabilities to help foster friendship and understanding while training and playing together. During the first match, students and coaches from both teams were smiling, laughing and high-fiving one another with a focus on solidarity instead of competition. “This is the first year Unified Bowling is an official sport of Section XI,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “Seeing the friendships that have been built through Unified Basketball and how the school and community have come to support our unified student-athletes since the program began in 2019, it was a no-brainer to add Unified Bowling this year once the opportunity presented itself.” The team will compete in six more contests against other schools and will have two more home matches at Port Jeff Bowl, on March 14 vs. East Hampton and March 21 vs. Riverhead. The Unified Bowling team is coached by Port Jefferson Middle School/High School health and physical education teacher and varsity wrestling coach Michael Maletta. The team started out with 12 students and has grown to a roster of 20 within the first two weeks of the season: Junior Beltran, Mariangely Beltran, Parker Biedenkapp, John Bonura, Brenden Clark, Nick Comito, Chase Davis, Cade Delgado, Frankie D’Elia, Thalia Dorsett, Zach Miller, Maria Oliva, Alyssa Passarella, Ottilie Philbrick, Peter Poten, Brielle Procaccini, Grayson Ramonez, Willy Rodriguez, Hannah Shikora and Ryan Sproul. Date Added: 3/8/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166953 Wed, 08 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166953 All-State! Congratulations to sophomore Colin Veit on receiving All-State honors in the 200IM for boys swimming. Colin finished in the top 20 in the 200IM at the NYSPHSAA Boys Swimming and Diving Championships at Ithaca College on Saturday, March 4. Date Added: 3/8/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166984 Wed, 08 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166984 A Home Run! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students took part in an exclusive tour of Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. The students in the high school’s Sports History class got to enjoy on-field and dugout access, along with behind-the-scenes views of the press box, luxury suites and clubs, as well as the indoor batting cages. The students were accompanied by teachers Gina Fedler, Charles Hafner and Bryan Vaccaro. Date Added: 3/8/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166985 Wed, 08 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166985 Port Jefferson School District Offers Summer Music Camp The Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson is now open for registration. This exceptional program provides an enjoyable and positive opportunity for beginning and advanced students to enhance their musical studies while meeting new friends and playing music together and offers several levels of musical training classes, including beginning band and string. There are also more advanced classes for current elementary and middle school band and string instrumentalists. The camp will take place from July 31-August 10 at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School with times varying depending on experience levels. Offered by the Port Jefferson School District Music and Fine Arts Department, this year the camp offers Beginner instrumental classes for current grade 2 and grade 3 students. There are also a number of scholarships available. For more information on the camp and scholarship information, please contact Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello at (631) 791-4450 for more details. Date Added: 3/7/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166933 Tue, 07 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166933 All-State! Congratulations to senior Jenna Jacobs for earning All-State honors for Indoor Track in the 300M dash. Jenna finished 8th at the NYSPHSAA Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on March 4. Jenna ran a personal best of 40.45 seconds. Date Added: 3/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166892 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166892 Students Connect With School Community Read Across America was a moment to read across the district when 34 Earl. L Vandermeulen High School students trekked to Edna Louise Spear Elementary School to share their own love of reading. The event, spearheaded by elementary librarian Mrs. Meg Hoon, was co-coordinated by Middle School/High School librarian Ms. Eva Grasso. “We know that reading has enumerable benefits – from improving vocabulary, to helping us develop critical thinking, imagination, empathy and a simple love of literature. This field trip was a wonderful way to model all of that,” Ms. Grasso said. “It also gave our older students an opportunity to push themselves out of their comfort zones, navigate those I’m-about-to-read-to-a-classroom-full-of-little-people butterflies, catch up with former teachers, and feel connected to their community in a really special way.” High school service clubs and National Honor Society members participated in the event. Each student chose a book they wanted to read, took it home to practice and came prepared to share it with the elementary school students. One student even read in Spanish to the younger ENL students, and they also created some bookmarks for Mrs. Hoon to give to her library students. Thanks to our veteran readers – Mariangely Beltran, Sophie Blumenthal, Cessarina Buehler, Lauren Calendrille, Elizabeth Campo, Gabriel Cesare, Caitlyn Cobb, Kasey Cobb, Ava Cooper, Mia Cormier, Lia Donohue, Thalia Dorsett, Aoife Hogan, Jenna Jacobs, Keyth Jeudy, Narin Karakurum, Meghan Laffey, Nilson Fuentes Martinez, Lola Mazuryan, Isabel Nunez, Hipolita Oliva, Maria Oliva, Alyssa Passarella, Hannah Pflaster, Dominique Pina, Catherina Poten, Marco Puopolo, Olivia Schlegel, Tabitha Schully, Sadie Tafuro, Ava Timpanaro, Cayden Veit, Gianna Viviano and Amy Whitman – for sharing in a day of camaraderie and reading! Date Added: 3/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166894 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166894 National Merit Finalists! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students Benjamin Perez-Flesler and Olivia Schlegel have moved on as Finalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The two academically talented students have met all the requirements to advance to the Finalist standing. “This is an exceptional accomplishment for Ben and Olivia, one that will help broaden their academic opportunities in the future,” Principal Mr. John Ruggero said. “On behalf of our school community, we share in their pride.” The selection of some 7,250 Merit Scholarship winners from the group of more than 15,000 Finalists is now in progress and names will be released later this spring. Great job, Ben and Olivia! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166842 Fri, 03 Mar 2023 07:00:00 GMT false166842 Students & Staff Answer Call to Action Port Jefferson students hosted a “Dressing Comfy Day” to acknowledge the earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey. Members of the International Club and Peer Leadership, along with advisers Ms. Kristin Britt, Ms. Jennifer Walling and Ms. Melissa Zinger, organized the event. They raised $315, which was donated to Americares, which in turn provided $20 in aid for each dollar raised, making the efforts of Port Jefferson students and staff total $6,300 to help people in need. They were made aware of the organization’s mission by Ms. Malina Salman, a senior office assistant at the school. “Thank you so much for everyone’s support and raising money for those in need in Syria and Turkey,” Ms. Walling said. “We truly appreciate everyone’s rallying together and supporting those going through this tragedy.” Date Added: 3/3/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166832 Fri, 03 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166832 Winter 2023 Newsletter Available! Date Added: 3/3/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166838 Fri, 03 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166838 Read Across America! Scraggy Welcomes Award-Winning Author Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students welcomed award-winning author Mr. Laurence Pringle for a day to celebrate his dozens of books about nature, science, health and environmental issues. School librarian Mrs. Meg Hoon set the library up with many of his famed titles, including “The Story of a Monarch Butterfly,” “Sharks! Strange and Wonderful” and “The Secret Life of the Red Fox.” Mr. Pringle shared stories of his childhood and the one-room schoolhouse that he attended with only 18-20 students from grades 1-8. He told of his appreciation of nature and highlighted his gift of turning history and science into stories that have been beloved for many years. Mr. Pringle read his book “Naming the Cat,” a tale about a family who tries to decide on a name for their new pet. At the end of the story, the children guessed the name in unison – Lucky – and Mr. Pringle shared facts about feral cats and whether cats do actually land on their feet. Students asked him some questions such as what his favorite book is, and they learned what an editor does to enhance a story. He also spoke about writing a strong lead to hook a reader. He read the lead from three books – “Because of Winn-Dixie,” “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “Matilda” – to the older students, encouraging them to name the story. They were able to identify all three books. “He was so sweet when he left,” Mrs. Hoon said. “He said his time here was one of his favorite school visits of his career.” Date Added: 3/3/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166840 Fri, 03 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166840 2023 Annual Student Art Show Exhibit - March 6-April 3 Date Added: 3/3/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166818 Fri, 03 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166818 Students Check Out Potential Career Paths Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in Mrs. Linda Moran’s Career and Finance class have been discussing different available career pathways and options based on interests, skills, training and job growth outlook. Recently, five employees from the Suffolk County courts visited the class for a unique experience to network and create meaningful learning connections. Students asked questions to help foster their learning through direct interaction. Some students watched how a court reporter’s stenotype machine works by typing their name phonetically and watching it translate onto the screen. “Guest speakers enable me to provide my students with a unique perspective on what the world of business is like and what different career paths look like,” Mrs. Moran said. “They serve as great role models, and sometimes students can imagine themselves in such positions in the not-so-distant future. There’s also the chance that one of the speakers might pique a student’s interest in a particular career that they may have never even known about.” Date Added: 3/1/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166760 Wed, 01 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166760 Study of Impressionism Leads to ‘Monet’s Garden’ Port Jefferson students took a lesson on impressionist painting one step further with a visit to “Monet’s Garden: The Immersive Experience” in New York City. Heather Marshak’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School eighth grade French language classes studied Claude Monet’s influence on the Impressionist movement. The visit to the interactive art exhibition and experience – a 360-degree journey through the history and works of Monet – was staged with state-of-the-art multimedia technology, which allowed the students to immerse themselves in Monet’s world and the work of the one of the greatest artists of the past century. “At the exhibit, students were literally surrounded by life-size and elaborate, interactive replicas and projections of Monet’s work,” Ms. Marshak said. “It was a great time and a great opportunity for them to view a world of color in a unique and memorable way.” Date Added: 3/1/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166763 Wed, 01 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166763 Sixth Graders Answer: What Is a Chemical Reaction? Port Jefferson Middle School student-scientists are conducting controlled experiments to determine the volume of gas produced in a chemical reaction. Working with Ms. Megan Roth-Ueno and Ms. Christina Marino and teaching assistant Mrs. Elizabeth Cavanagh, the sixth graders’ experiment includes making a solution of citric acid, measuring solids carefully and measuring the volume of gas produced during the reaction. In a lesson that emulates fun, Mrs. Roth-Ueno said that the students like capture the gas just as much as capture the flag! Date Added: 2/28/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166739 Tue, 28 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166739 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on March 14, 2023, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on March 28, 2023 at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Library. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering into executive session to discuss personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166665 Mon, 27 Feb 2023 12:00:00 GMT false166665 Two Hour Delay - Feb. 28 Given the impending overnight and morning snow forecast, all Port Jefferson Schools will open on a two-hour delay tomorrow, Tuesday February 28. This additional time will allow us to assess the weather conditions in the morning. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may pose and thank you for your cooperation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166690 Mon, 27 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166690 High School Students Engage in Virtual Kindness Community Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal John Ruggero takes pride in working with students in the school. Mr. Ruggero organized a CNBC virtual event with the Born This Way Foundation, co-founded and led by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta. The organization’s mission is to support youth mental health and work with young people to build a kinder and braver world. The students participated in the school’s auditorium in the youth-led conversations and messages of sharing kindness in their communities with several schools from across the country. “Seeing the success and feedback from the students, it is something we will continue to promote in school community,” Mr. Ruggero said of the high-impact programming, validation of the emotions of young people, and work toward the elimination of the stigma surrounding mental health. Date Added: 2/16/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166508 Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166508 All About Communities First graders in Mrs. Kelly’s and Mrs. Lohmann’s class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School have been learning all about communities in their social studies unit. Students were exposed to different texts and activities to help build on the concepts of community roles and responsibilities. They were introduced to maps and discussed important places that make up their community on a map. Part of the unit included first graders interviewing community members in and around the school. Students could ask questions of the classroom visitors to help foster their learning through direct interaction. Visitors were bus drivers Mr. Fausto and Mr. Owens, music teacher and local firefighter Mr. Neubert, school nurse Ms. Tucci, building head custodian Mr. Scalcione and Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Schmettan. They learned how each member contributes to their community and what their role is. “It was an excellent learning experience for them,” Ms. Lohmann said. Date Added: 2/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166388 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166388 Love Shared by Elementary Buddy Program Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students not only think about others in the local community, they often do something about it. Students in Ms. Christine Bokina and Ms. Kristi Krieg’s fifth grade class and Ms. Maureen Zajac’s second grade class teamed up to bring some smiles to the faces of local children through the school’s Buddy Program, creating an initiative of kindness, sharing and love for other children. Parents and guardians received notice of the need for the hundreds of treat bags and small plush toys and sent their fifth and second graders to school with the items. In a quick turnaround that highlighted teamwork, the cross-grade-level collaborators created Valentine cards for the Port Jefferson-based Give Kids Hope’s Project Valentine. The cards will be presented to children assisted by the organization. The Buddies took another step and put together candy-filled treat bags for children who are in the shelter. Mission accomplished! Date Added: 2/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166396 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166396 County Champ! Congratulations to Jenna Jacobs on being crowned the Suffolk County Champion in the 300m dash with a time of 40.64 seconds. Jenna’s performance also qualified her for the NYSPHSAA Championship on March 4 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. Date Added: 2/14/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166418 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166418 P.S. The Port Jefferson School District Loves You! The Port Jefferson School District has joined the growing list of participating school communities who are helping to spread the love. All three schools have jointly worked to share the mission of P.S. I Love You, an organization that encourages communities to wear purple to foster kindness and a welcoming environment and educate others that mental health is just as important as physical health. The event takes place on the second Friday of every February. A sea of purple was everywhere on Feb. 10, with students decorating lockers with inspirational notes including Maya Angelou’s exceptional words, “We need joy as we need air. We need love as we need water. We need each other as we need the earth we share.” The Port Jefferson School community is grateful to all our students, teachers, clubs and greater community for spreading messages that emphasize the importance of being friends with someone who may seem different, being aware of our words and actions, reaching out to someone who may be lonely and standing up for one another. Date Added: 2/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166313 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166313 State Bound! The Port Jefferson varsity wrestling team put on a great performance at the Section XI Division II County Championships. The championship tournament took place on Feb. 11 at Mattituck-Cutchogue Jr./Sr. High School. Port Jefferson finished second overall as a team and had six wrestlers qualify for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Individual Wrestling Championships. The Royals representatives at the NYSPHSAA championships are Preston Beidenkapp, Chase Davis and Liam Rogers, all of whom finished as the county runners-up for their weight class. The Royals will also be sending their three county champions, Junior Beltran, Anthony Pipa and Willy Rodriguez, to the NYSPHSAA championship. The six wrestlers will participate in the two-day tournament on Feb. 24 and 25, at MVP Arena in Albany, New York. Date Added: 2/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166332 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166332 Pre-K Information Date Added: 2/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166278 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166278 Concussion Awareness On Feb. 7 and Feb. 8, Middle School and High School students learned about the importance of brain health, concussion awareness and concussion treatment while in physical education class. Former major league baseball player Billy Alvino, who is also the concussion circle and awareness liaison for Headway Foundation, shared his experience with postconcussion symptoms and why brain health, awareness and treatment is so important. After the school break in February, the middle and high school students will also be able to do ImPact Baseline concussion testing in physical education class to assist doctors in helping to recognize and treat head injury accurately. Date Added: 2/8/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166152 Wed, 08 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166152 Small School Champions! Section XI hosted the Small School Championships at Suffolk County Community College on Saturday, Feb. 4. At the competition senior Ruby Ray was the Small School Champion in the 1500m Race Walk with a time of 7:39.51 and senior Jenna Jacobs was the Small School Champion in the 300m with a time of 41.7. The team had a great performance finishing third overall among the 23 small schools competing. The Royals will next compete at the State Qualifiers on February 13 at Suffolk County Community College. Go Royals! Date Added: 2/7/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166137 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166137 Port Jefferson Parent Workshop Please join us for this month’s Parent Workshop. On Tuesday, Feb. 7, at 7 p.m., the special education department is hosting “Your Family and Screens,” a workshop presented by a speaker from the Cornell Cooperative Extension. This workshop is open to families of students of all ages. Please use the following link: https://cornell.zoom.us/j/94377558809?pwd=Z3pOMy9qcm40WnAvamFYRGNVeGpZQT09#success If you have any questions, please contact the Special Education office at (631) 791-4241. Date Added: 2/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166086 Mon, 06 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166086 100 wins! Junior Frank D’Elia recorded his 100th career win as a varsity wrestler for the Royals yesterday in front of the home crowd at the individual tournament hosted by Port Jefferson. Frank has been one of the best wrestlers in the county. Last year he was a Section XI county champion and competed in the NYSPHSAA Championship tournament. He is looking to continue his success at the county championship tournament on Saturday, Feb. 11, held at Mattituck High School. Date Added: 2/2/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=166009 Thu, 02 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166009 Science Olympiad Success! Congratulations to the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad A team for making it to states! Teams across the region competed in the Eastern Long Island Regional Competition on Saturday, Jan. 28, at Hauppauge High School. The High School A team placed fifth out of 53 teams! Port Jefferson also had a B and C team compete. There were 21 STEM events and the top 10 teams in each event earned a medal. Congratulations to our medal winners (listed in event order): Anatomy- 5th (A) Gavin Onghai and Benjamin Perez-Flesler Astronomy- 8th (A) Ryan Gameng and Emily Snyder Bridge- 5th (A) Max Joyner and Teppei Fukuto Cell Biology- 4th (A) Michelle Wu and Eric Chen Chemistry Lab- 8th (A) Devon Welsch and Eric Chen Detector Building- 7th (A) Riley Perrotta and Jonah Pflaster Disease Detectives- 4th (A) Eric Chen and Gavin Onghai Dynamic Planet- 5th (A) Alice Snyder and Emily Snyder Experimental Design- 10th (A) Connor Lioio, Yosef Mimbarsi and Benjamin Perez-Flesler Fermi- 3rd (A) Benjamin Perez-Flesler and Teppei Fukuto Flight- 3rd (A) Teppei Fukuto and Jonah Pflaster Forensics- 5th (A) Gavin Onghai and Michelle Wu Remote Sensing- 4th (A) Nicholas Smirnov and Benjamin Perez-Flesler Trajectory- 2nd (A) Riley Perrotta and Connor Lioio; 9th (B) Rumaan Khan and Sara Freitas Wifi- 6th (A) Gavin Onghai and Nicholas Smirnov; 8th (B) Max Paulus and Carman Stanton Write It, Do It- 6th (A) Yosef Mimbarsi and Max Joyner The States Competition will be held on March 17-18 at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. Eight teams will represent Eastern Long Island at the New York State competition. Other teams competing besides Port Jefferson are Bay Shore, Bayport-Blue Point, Half Hollow Hills East, Hauppauge, The Stony Brook School, Ward Melville and West Babylon. Coaches were high school science teachers Amanda Perovich and Melissa Garcia. “I am so happy we were back to a fully in-person Science Olympiad competition this year, and I am exceptionally proud of these students,” Coach Perovich said. “Their interest, hard work and dedication to science and STEM events really shows in their results!” “This team works very hard together throughout the year to achieve a place at states, and we couldn’t be more proud of their teamwork, camaraderie and their accomplishments in science!” Coach Garcia said. Science teachers Mr. Bouchard, Mr. Gorniok, Mr. Maletta, Mrs. Roth-Ueno, Ms. Sklar and Ms. Weaver accompanied the group. Additional participants were Molly Becherer, Paige Braile, Thales Cheng, Iris He, Petra Kundic, Evan Monaghan, Jax Moore, Myeda Nawaz, Yushan Pan, Ash Patterson, Marlo Pepe, Julia Perrotta, Kay Ranjbar, Andrew Schretzmayer, Liam Thomsen and Colin Veit. Congratulations! Date Added: 1/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165611 Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165611 New Date for ES Spring Concert Due to a scheduling conflict with the Port Jefferson School District’s assigned NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival, the 5th Grade Spring Concert will be moved from Wednesday, May, 17 to Tuesday, May 23 at 7 p.m. in the Elementary School Gymnasium. Thank you for your continued support of the Port Jefferson School District music program and we look forward to seeing all of you at our performance on May 23! Date Added: 1/31/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165629 Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165629 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on February 14, 2023 at 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165550 Fri, 27 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165550 Books and Books and Books! With titles like “The Glass Witch” by Lindsay Puckett, Gordon Korman’s “Restart” and the third installment of the fantasy graphic novel Amulet series, “The Cloud Searchers,” among the choices, Port Jefferson Middle School students are enjoying the Scholastic books purchased with funds from the PTSA book fair fundraiser. More than $1,000 was raised for the ELA classrooms to add to their reading selections! Date Added: 1/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165495 Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165495 2023-2024 Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Registration Date Added: 1/26/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165494 Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165494 State Bound! The Port Jefferson varsity wrestling team has qualified for the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Dual Meet Championship. After a tough loss in the Division 2 Suffolk County finals to Elwood-John Glenn, 32-27, the Royals qualified for the At-Large Bid for the state tournament. This is determined based on the number of returning All-County wrestlers, wrestlers with more than 20 wins and overall team record. The Royals are seeded seventh out of 12 teams in the Division 2 tournament. The team will leave Friday morning for Syracuse, New York, and compete in the dual meet championship on Saturday, Jan. 28 at the SRC Arena and Events Center. Date Added: 1/24/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165428 Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165428 Elite Runners! The Port Jefferson varsity boys and girls track teams had a lot of success at the League 5 Championship meet on Saturday, Jan. 21, and Sunday, Jan. 22, at Suffolk County Community College. For the girls, Ruby Ray finished first in the 1500-meter race walk. Jenna Jacobs finished first and Alexa Jacobs finished second in the 55-meter dash. Jenna and Alexa also finished first and second in the 300-meter dash. Maggie Johnston finished third in the 600-meter run, and the 4x400-meter relay team of Gwen Connelly, Jenna Jacobs, Alexa Jacobs and Maggie Johnston finished second. Overall, the team finished third in League 5. For the boys, Brendan Capodanno finished first in the 3200-meter run and third in the 1600-meter run. Evan Monaghan finished second in the 55-meter hurdles, and Dante Cangemi finished first in the long jump. Lastly, the 4x400-meter relay team of Giancarlo Caltagirone, Dante Cangemi, Brendan Capodanno and Carmen Stanton finished first. Overall, the team finished second in League 5. Date Added: 1/24/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165443 Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165443 High School Earns Computer Science Distinction Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has earned the College Board Advanced Placement Computer Science Female Diversity Award for achieving high female representation in AP Computer Science Principles. The school is among those who have expanded girls’ access in AP computer science courses. “We’re excited to congratulate our female AP computer science students and teachers on this step toward gender parity in computer science education,” said Principal Mr. John Ruggero. “We’re honored that we have earned this distinction and look forward to seeing these young women and others pursue and achieve success in computer science education and careers.” More than 1,100 institutions achieved either 50% or higher female representation in one of the two AP computer science courses or a percentage of the female computer science exam takers meeting or exceeding that of the school’s female population during the 2021-22 school year. In 2022, Earl L. Vandermeulen was one of 832 schools recognized in the category of AP Computer Science Principles. Date Added: 1/23/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165388 Mon, 23 Jan 2023 06:00:00 GMT false165388 Port Jefferson’s Own Pre-K Ski Lodge! Who knew that a variety of learning activities can come from the creation of a ski lodge? Port Jefferson School District pre-K students in Mrs. Susan Giglio’s classroom are loving lessons in math, science, reading, the environment and social skills as they welcome guests to their very own Snow Valley Ski Lodge. With amenities including a cocoa station with all the fixings, a snack area where they can purchase items for a day on the slopes, an inventive skating rink made from a shower curtain, and ski slopes with poles fashioned from pool noodles, the students celebrated opening day with some warm chocolate and rotational jumps and spins on the rink. They also learned about arctic animals in the tundra, a play area designed with soap flakes used as snow that featured some plastic polar bears, fox, owls and deer who make their home in the northerly regions of the world. The students ended their busy time at Snow Valley by a wood-paneled fireplace backdrop to warm up their toes for a good seasonal story! Date Added: 1/23/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165402 Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165402 String Students Attend Intermediate Long Island String Festival A dozen Port Jefferson elementary and middle school student-musicians in grades 5-8 were selected to perform in the Intermediate Long Island String Festival on Jan. 22 at Northport High School. The students are Allie Blumenthal (grade 8), Seyanna Cerar (grade 5), Jenny Cheung (grade 7), Nicholas Hogan (grade 6), Ruairi Hogan (grade 8), Joshua Kwon (grade 8), Gloria Monaghan (grade 5), Iris Park (grade 8), Sebastian Salzman (grade 6), Kaho Sugimoto (grade 6), Alice Turner (grade 5) and Leilani Von Oiste (grade 6). They were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Congratulations to all selected string students! Date Added: 1/23/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165386 Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165386 Senior Named Presidential Scholar Nominee Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Luke Dickhuth is among four students on Long Island and only 25 students statewide who were nominated by the New York State Education Department for the 2023 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Luke was selected by The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group tasked with identifying high school scholars each year based on academic achievements, artistic excellence and community service, among other things. Applications for the honor are by invitation only, based on recommendations from legislators. Congratulations, Luke! Date Added: 1/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165369 Fri, 20 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165369 State Qualifier! Congratulations to Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomore Colin Veit on qualifying for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Swimming and Diving Championships in the 100-butterfly.Colin’s time in the 100-butterfly at the independentswim meet on Jan. 19 at West Islip High qualified him for the state championships. The swimming championships will take place on March 3 and 4 at Ithaca College.Prior to the state championships, Colin will compete in the county championships on Feb. 11 at Stony Brook University. Date Added: 1/20/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165375 Fri, 20 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165375 Division 2 Finals! The Royals hosted the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats in the semifinals of the Division 2 dual meet wrestling championships on Jan. 18. With a great team effort, the Royals battled throughout the game. The contributions from team members kept the match close. With two weight classes left to compete, the Royals were trailing 33-27. Cade Delgado came up huge, winning his match 12-3 and earning the Royals four points, which set the stage for Nick Comito. With the Royals trailing 33-31, Nick needed a victory for the team to advance to the finals. He was trailing 1-0 with less than a minute left, but was able to get an escape followed by a take-down with 20 seconds left to go up 3-1. Nick finished it off from there, securing a 6-1 victory and propelling the Royals to a 34-33 victory. “Whether they were out on the mat or encouraging teammates from the bench, it was an outstanding performance by the team,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “I look forward to the team bringing that same energy to the Division 2 championships against Elwood-John Glenn.” The Royals advance to the championship match on Saturday, Jan. 21, at 3 p.m. at Bay Shore High School. Date Added: 1/19/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165294 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165294 Middle School Science Lab Port Jefferson Middle School students in Ms. Michelle Landetta’s science class are currently learning about waves. Teaching assistant Ms. Demetra Laino recently supported the students as they worked collaboratively to construct a wave model to show how the energy in waves moves through a medium and is able to reflect back. Click here to view the video. Date Added: 1/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165270 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165270 PE Volleyball Tournament Champions! Prior to the winter break the high school physical education teachers hosted the annual Physical Education Winter Volleyball Tournament. The tournament included over 100 students on 14 teams. The single elimination tournament was spread out over three days with the last day showcasing the championship match of Team Calta vs. Sod Farm. Sod Farm took the first set in the best-of-three championship match. Team Calta responded by winning the next two sets and winning the Physical Education Winter Volleyball Tournament Championship. In the photo, Top row, L to R: PE teacher Andrew Cosci, PE teacher Logan Hoffmann, Caroline Hayde, Lola Idir, Amy Whitman, Alexa Ayotte, Gretchen Zimmerman, PE teacher Dinarae Camarda; Middle Row, L to R: Dan Owens, Giancarlo Caltagirone, Frank D’Elia; Bottom Row: Ryan Whiffen Date Added: 1/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165279 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165279 Imaginations at Work! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School algebra students attended a field trip to the Long Island Science Center, accompanied by Mrs. Linda Moran and Mrs. Winnie Kuemmel, to explore the Fibonacci Sequence, one of the mostwell-known formulas in mathematics. Students created and designed a project utilizing the sequence and calculations and making connections between nature, art and design. Students were then given the opportunity to explore the interactive STEM exhibits on displaythroughout the museum. Date Added: 1/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165286 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165286 Thank You, PTSA! The Port Jefferson School District PTSA had some special post-holiday gifts for the middle school and high school Family and Consumer Science classes. At the Jan. 11 meeting, they invited Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Mr. Brian Walker, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal Mr. John Ruggero and Family and Consumer Science teacherMs. Alyssa Rivera to present a donation of pots and pans, baking sheets, aprons, dish towels, vegetable choppers and cutting boards for the students to utilize. The students will be able to explore different baking and cooking techniques with the new kitchen equipment. Date Added: 1/18/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165245 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165245 Running Like the Wind! They did it again. The Port Jefferson Royals girls relay team of Gwen Connelly, Maggie Johnston, Alexa Jacobs and Jenna Jacobs set another school record on Jan 15. This time the foursome beat the 14-year-old school record in the 4x200 relay at the Stanner Games at the Armory Track and Field Center with a time of 1:53.75. Bravo, Royals! Date Added: 1/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165246 Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165246 Students Participate in Mid-Island Band Festival Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students, sophomore Thales Cheng, senior Kenneth Dixon, sophomores Meara Kelly and Nathaniel Lawler, freshman Madison Testa and sophomore Devon Welsch, recently participated in the 63rd Annual Mid-Island Band Festival at Patchogue-Medford High School. Accompanied by high school band teacher, Ms. Christine Creighton, the festival concluded with a performance conducted by Ms. Christina Helbock, a Long Islandmusicteacher from the Brentwood School District. Congratulations to all participating students! In photo: Earl L. Vandermeulen High School band teacher, Ms. Christine Creighton, Meara Kelly, Devon Welsch, Nathaniel Lawler, Kenneth Dixon, Thales Cheng, Madison Testa, and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello. Date Added: 1/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165231 Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165231 League Champs! The Port Jefferson wrestling team secured the League 8 championship with their victory over Mattituck on Jan. 13. The Royals will host Shoreham-Wading River in the Division II Dual Championship Tournament on Wednesday, January 18 at 5 p.m. The winner of Wednesday's playoff matchup will advance to the Division II Championship on Saturday, Jan. 21 at Bay Shore High School. I am extremely proud of our team for securing the league championship,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “I know the boys are excited about winning League 8 but are still very hungry for more. I am looking forward to a great matchup this Wednesday against the Wildcats. All matches in the Dual Championship Tournament require a $8.35 admission fee via GoFan. Tickets can be purchased athttps://gofan.co/app/events/859801?schoolId=NYSPHSAAXI Date Added: 1/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165237 Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165237 Middle School Names Spelling Bee Champion! A little-known word for a small wooden structure that is formed on the underside of a folding seat in a place of worship was the winning ticket for Port Jefferson Middle School sixth grader Kieran Browne, who was named the school’s Spelling Bee champion! Kieran spelled “misericords” correctly during the Jan. 13 schoolwide competition, hosted by the school’s English Department. More than 80 students in grades 6-8 participated in the initial spelling bee round held in December.Of those participants, 25 of the school’s top spellers moved on to the final round. Kieran will advance to the regional round of the Scripps National Spelling Bee in February, where he will compete against other local spelling bee champions.We wish Kieran the best of luck! Date Added: 1/17/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165244 Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165244 Millrose Games Trials On Wednesday, January 11 at the Millrose Games Trials at The Armory in New York City, the Port Jefferson 4x400 relay team of Jenna Jacobs, Maggie Johnston, Alexa Jacobs and Gwen Connelly set a new school record of 4:16.16. This broke the previous record of 4:23.26 the foursome set back in December. The record performance also qualified the squad for the Millrose Games on Saturday, February 11 at The Armory. The Millrose Games is one of the world's most premier indoor track andfield events. The Millrose Games features top quality competitionfrom the youth through professional level. Date Added: 1/13/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165193 Fri, 13 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165193 Kudos, Brenden! Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Mr. Brian Walker took a moment to honor an Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student for his positive influence on younger students at the Jan. 10 Board of Education meeting. Brenden Clark was cited for his kindness, compassion, patience and guidance with students in The Little Savages Fishing Club and their two trips on the Port Jefferson Harbor-based Celtic Quest. Mr. Walker noted Brenden’s mastery of leadership skills and shared his pride in his going above and beyond with the Middle School students before thanking him and presenting him with a certificate of recognition. Date Added: 1/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165154 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165154 University Engineering Collaboration Honors Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Mr. Brian Walker introduced five Middle School students at the Jan. 10 Board of Education meeting and highlighted their work with Stony Brook University’s Middle School Engineering Program. Kieran Browne, Aven Fox, Anna Maria Koullias, Ryan Verruto and Dean Zaltsman were presented with certificates by Board of Education trustee Mr. Ryan Walker. Principal Walker also noted the leadership of teacher Mrs. Megan Roth-Ueno in spearheading the five-week intensive and interactive program in which the students learned about circuits, the engineering design process, simulations, programming and basic Python coding skills to operate a simple 3D-generated nightlight. Principal Walker noted each student’s favorite subjects and future career goals as he called each of them up to the podium. Date Added: 1/12/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165155 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165155 Safety Patrol Honors! Two Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students were applauded at the Jan. 10 Board of Education meeting for their leadership efforts. Fifth graders Nora Licausi and William Villatoro were introduced to the Board members by Interim Assistant Principal Mr. Christopher Scardino for their outstanding work as part of the school’s Grade 5 Safety Patrol Leadership Program. They were each presented with a certificate of recognition for their classroom leadership skills and acts of kindness throughout the school. Date Added: 1/11/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165135 Wed, 11 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165135 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 24, 2023, at 7:00 PM at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR for the presentation of the first draft of the 2023-2024 school budget and the capital bond. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a legal matter. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165124 Wed, 11 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165124 Port Jefferson School District/One River School Exhibit Student artwork from the Port Jefferson School District's fine arts department was exhibited at the One River School for Art and Design’s Port Jefferson Station location. As a collaborative effort, student artwork across grades K-12 was showcased. There was an opening reception on Jan. 7 welcoming students and families to celebrate their outstanding artistic achievement. A special thanks to Port Jefferson art teachers Skylar Benatar, Meghan McCarthy, Nancy Randazzo and Stacey Schuman; Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello and the One River School’s Assistant Director of Education Ellen Jones for organizing this special community event. Date Added: 1/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165070 Tue, 10 Jan 2023 19:00:00 GMT false165070 Thank You for Your Service, Petty Officer Bernath! Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Brendan Bernath is heading back to his base in Lake Erie where his unit missions consist of search and rescue, law enforcement and homeland security, but first he stopped in to thank the students of Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The school’s Buddy Program, the cross-grade-level initiative of fifth graders from Kari Costanza’s class and first graders in Laura Kelly’s and Paige Lohmann’s class, created and sent holiday cards of gratitude to servicemen and service women, and Petty Officer 3rd Class Bernath’s visit was an opportunity to thank them on behalf of his colleagues for their gesture. To prepare for his visit the students brainstormed some questions from how he spent his holidays to how fast his boat travels on the water. They also created some welcome signs, choosing patriotic colors to honor him and his Coast Guard unit. Petty Officer 3rd Class Bernath was thoughtful and engaging with the students, sharing a firsthand glimpse into his everyday work and his mission to explore the world. He encouraged the students to learn more about the waters of Long Island and the Coast Guard stations that welcome students to tour their facilities. Date Added: 1/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165081 Tue, 10 Jan 2023 08:00:00 GMT false165081 Student-Musicians Attend Secondary Long Island String Festival Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student-musicians sophomore Caitlin Dickhuth, freshman Mari Fukuto, sophomore Andi Kelly and junior Nicholas Smirnov were selected to perform in the Secondary Long Island String Festival at Smithtown High School West. The four students were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Congratulations to all selected student-musicians! Date Added: 1/10/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165069 Tue, 10 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165069 100 Victories! On Saturday, Jan. 7, at the Rocky Gilmore wrestling tournament at East Islip High School, senior Liam Rogers recorded his 100th career victory as a member of the Royals wrestling team. Last year Liam finished second in Suffolk County and qualified for the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships at 126 pounds. “Liam has been steamrolling opponents at 152 pounds this year,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “I am lookingforward to his dominant performance continuing throughout the county and state championship tournaments.” Date Added: 1/9/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=165048 Mon, 09 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165048 Student-Artists Visit Heckscher Museum High school art students recently visited The Heckscher Museum of Art to view artwork from the Long Island Biennial exhibition. Accompanied by art teachers, Ms. Skylar Benatar and Ms. Nancy Randazzo, and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello, students viewed juried works of art created by Long Island’s own contemporary artists. Date Added: 1/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164993 Fri, 06 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164993 Another School Record!  On Jan. 5, senior Jenna Jacobs broke the 25-year-old school record in the 55-meter dash at the Jim Howard Meet at Suffolk County Community College with a time of 7.45. This is the fourth school track and field record Jenna has broken going back to last spring. Jenna previously broke the school 100-meter record as well as the school record as a member of the 4x100 and 4x400 relay teams. Date Added: 1/6/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164994 Fri, 06 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164994 All-State! Congratulations to senior Anthony Pipia on being named All-State First Team Class D Football Defensive Back by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Anthony had 67 tackles, one blocked kick and one sack on the defensive side of the ball along with 72 carries for 438, 12 catches for 132 yards and four touchdowns. Date Added: 1/5/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164936 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164936 Another Tournament Win for PJ Wrestling The Port Jefferson Royals wrestling team traveled to West Islip High School to participate in the Edie Mellino Memorial Breast Cancer Awareness Tournament on Dec. 28.The Royals finished first as a team, 70 points above the second-place team.Port Jefferson took on wrestlers from Brooklyn Tech, Centereach, Central Islip, Clarkstown South, East Islip, Lindenhurst and West Islip.In addition to the team’s tournament victory, three Port Jefferson wrestlers placed first in their weight class: David Argyros, 102 pounds; Liam Rogers, 152 pounds and Anthony Pipia, 172 pounds.Nine other wrestlers also finished in the top four of their weight class: Nick Rodriguez, third at 112 pounds; Frankie D’Elia, second at 118 pounds; Cade Delgardo, second at 126 pounds; Chris Lotten, third at 138 pounds; Nick Comito, third at 145 pounds; Allen Kirsch, fourth at 160 pounds; Preston Bidenkap, second at 172 pounds; Willy Rodriguez, second at 215 pounds and Jagger Celentano, fourth at 285 pounds. Date Added: 1/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164923 Thu, 05 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164923 Dynasty Day! The Port Jefferson Royals varsity girls basketballteam hosted Dynasty Day on Dec. 23, a day that honored 13 invited Port Jefferson alumni who played basketball for the Royals from the years 2017-2022. During that five-year period the Royals earned a Long Island championship and four county championships and reached the New York State Girls Basketball finals.The alumni in attendance – Samantha Ayotte,Jackie Brown,Lia Desmond,Hailey Hearney, Claudia Koutsantanou, Jackie Lambe, Courtney Lewis, Annie Maier, Abigail Rolfe, Corrine Scannell, Camryn Spiller, Evelyn Walkerand Brooke Zamek – were called onto the court and recognized prior to the start of the varsity girls basketball game against Smithtown Christian. Date Added: 1/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164899 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164899 1,000 Points for Lola Idir! The Port Jefferson Royals varsity girls basketballgame on Dec. 23 had a crowd of spectators and staff anxiously waiting for senior Lola Idir to reach the 1,000-career-points mark.Lola had 993 points heading into the contest. Lola did not make the crowd wait long as she reached the 1,000-career-points mark in the first quarter of the game against Smithtown Christian. “It was a great and well-deserved accomplishment for Lola,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “The atmosphere in the gym was amazing. I am looking forward to watching Lola and her teammates work hard to bring another championship to Port Jefferson.” Date Added: 1/4/2023 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164900 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164900 Special Education Department Winter 2023 Parent Workshop Series The Special Education Department is excited to announce the Winter 2023 Parent Workshop Series! Each workshop will be presented virtually via zoom with a speaker from the Cornell Cooperative Extension. Workshops are open to families of ALL students hope to see you there! Please use the following link to register for the workshops you are interested in: Winter 2023 Parent Workshop Series January 12, 2023 7:00-8:00 pm Bringing Back Childhood (for parents of Pre-k and Elementary students) February 17, 2023 7:00-8:00 pm Your Family and Screens (for parents ALL students) March 16, 2023 7:00-8:00 pm Raising Responsible Children (for parents ALL students) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164877 Tue, 03 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164877 Top 50 Congratulations to Royals Frank D’Elia and Willy Rodriguez for being named to Newsday’s Top 50 wrestlers on Long Island for the 2022-23 season. Date Added: 12/28/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164822 Wed, 28 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164822 Tree Grows With Love and Kindness Date Added: 12/22/2022 @media only screen and (max-width: 639px) { iframe.webmade { width: 300px; height: 168px; } } @media only screen and (min-width: 640px) { iframe.webmade { width: 640px; height: 360px; } } https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164735 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164735 Port Jeff Students Know The Best Way to Spread Holiday Cheer! The Board of Education’s final meeting of 2022 was filled with the sounds of the season as student-musicians performed several holiday classics before being recognized for their contributions to the school and community during the holiday season. Dr. Michael Caravello, Director of Music and Fine Arts, introduced music teacher Mrs. Christine Creighton and high school concert band students William Harris, Jamie Kircher, Kay Moran, Riley Perrotta, Kristina Shterengas and Madison Testa who were each presented with a certificate of appreciation for their musical efforts. Dr. Caravello highlighted the many opportunities that Port Jefferson students have for public musical performance in the local community including the many hours of commitment to participating in the festive Port Jefferson Village’s annual Dicken’s Festival. Date Added: 12/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164742 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164742 Champion Teams Lauded! The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education’s Dec. 13 meeting was a time to congratulate two Suffolk County champions – the boys cross-country team and girls volleyball team. The student-athletes were lauded by Adam Sherrard, Director of Physical Education, Athletics, Health and Nursing for their efforts as well as cross-country team coach Brian Snow and volleyball coach CJ Hafner. Congratulations Royals! Date Added: 12/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164751 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164751 Student Leaders in the Community The first Section XI Student-Athlete Leadership Conference was held on Friday, Dec. 16, at Center Moriches High School. The overall purpose of the conference was to help provide student-athletes with the tools to help themselves and others be the best version of themselves.High schools from across Suffolk County selected four student-athletes to represent their school at the conference. Talin Bajaj, Gwen Connelly, Ottilie Philbrick and Amy Whitman attended the conference with Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard.Students were assigned to groups with members from other schools. Each group worked on leadership activities surrounding social media, mentalhealth, pressure and expectations.Presenters such as FrankCatalanotto (current baseball coach at Hofstra University and former MLB player), Alton Byrd and Wade Richardson (Long Island Nets and the Team Up for Unity Program),Mark Leinweaver (MLB agent), Chris Rice (nationally ranked adventure racer, ultrarunner and Spartanathlete) and Kristyna Templeton (Game Changer Mental Performance Coach) shared ideas on character, resilience, asking for help, helping others and being a leader of change with the group of student-athletes, coaches and athletic directors in attendance. “It was great to see students from schools across the county engaging and collaborating on leadership experiences,” Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard said. “Talin, Gwen, Ottilie and Amy demonstrate leadership traits every day in the classroom, in the community and in athletics.I am proud of their opennessto participate in the leadership conference and am looking forward to them helping to lead Port Jefferson students this year and in the future.” Date Added: 12/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164768 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164768 Winter Sports Fair! Fifth grade students visited the High School on Dec. 15 for the Winter Sports Fair.The event started out with a performance by the varsity cheerleaders in which the fifth graders chanted and moved along to the Royal Rumble cheer. The students took this excitement into their athletic stations for track, basketball and wrestling. The fifth graders participated in the high jump, long jump, shot put, hurdles and sprints with boys and girls varsity track student-athletes and coaches.The students then moved over to the wrestling station where the students learned basic wrestling holds under the guidance of the varsity wrestlers and coaches.After wrestling, the fifth graders participated in lay-up and shooting drills and contests with the varsity boys basketball team and ended with dribbling drills and contests and a game of Knockout with the varsity girls basketball team. “The main purpose of the Sports Fair is to build connections between our high school students and elementary students and to demonstrate the positive experiences athletics has for our students,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “Our varsity student-athletes did such an amazing job laughing, dancing, encouraging and teaching the fifth graders. I am looking forward to the Sports Fair in the spring.” Thanks to all the student helpers! Boys basketball team: Gabe Cesare, Jack Keegan, Ciaran Laffey, Dan Owens, Rishabh Singh and Coach Keith Buehler. Boys track team: Dante Cangemi, Brendan Capodanno, Kasey Cobb, Teppei Fukuto, Connor Lioio and Coach Andrew Cosci. Girls basketball team: Alexa Ayotte,Emma Batter, Cessarina Buehler, Caitlin Dickhuth, Sienna Cipriano, Matreya Driscoll-Stremetch, Lola Idir, Amy Whitman, Alexa Wonderland and Coach Keith Buehler. Wrestling team: David Argyros, John Bonura, Braeden Cesarski, Chris Lotten, Liam Rogers, Nick Rodriguez, Anthony Pipia and Coach Jake Horton. Girls track team: Gwen Connelly, Jenna Jacobs, Alexa Jacobs, Maggie Johnston, Mia O’Connell and coaches Brian Snow and Dannie Holland. Cheerleading team: Olivia Andriani, Aiden Barrett, Grace Brown, Annie Byrne, Caitlyn Cobb, Thalia Dorsett, Meghan Leffey, Emily Longo, Isabella Longo, Nina Mercante, Alyssa Passarella, Ottilie Philbrick, Chloe Pipia, Catty Poten, Saima Qureshi, Ava Rago, Mia Savino, Hailey Sorell, Cristyn Spiller and Coach Sharon Gatz. Date Added: 12/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164769 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164769 Holiday Helpers and More From Port Jefferson Schools Kindness comes in many forms from the Port Jefferson school community. The Edna Louise Spear Elementary School faculty, districtoffice staff, district parents and Port Jefferson Library patrons worked together to purchase wish list items for 23 children in the local community. The generous program is organized annuallyby school counselor Mrs. JessicaPeterson. School social worker Ms. Kristin Britt has organized and run the Holiday Helpers program for 20 years at the secondary level for both Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and noted this year that the district served 18 families in the community with gifts, gift cards and food items.Students from National Honor Society with advisers and guidance counselors Mrs. Kerri Neligon and Ms. Kathi Galvin sorted and packed food to be distributed. The Holiday Helpers Program worked in collaboration with the third annual Stuff a Locker Program and together they were a huge success. The school community raised over $3,000 in donations from both fundraisers. With the support and help from various middle and high school clubs, faculty, administration, staff and the Port Jefferson community the program was extremely successful.The collaboration provided bountiful food baskets for Thanksgiving and a festive winter holiday for an ever-growing number of families in the community. “I was overjoyed by the compassion, kindness, and generosity that was shown for our students and their families,” Ms. Britt said.“When I deliver the gifts and food items to these families they are always so humbled,grateful and appreciative for what we do for them. It is a magical time of year where peace and love prevail and our school community is the reason for so much joy and happiness.” Date Added: 12/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164770 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164770 All-State Honors! Congratulations to Olivia Schlegel who received All-State honors in the 200 IM and the 100 backstroke. Date Added: 12/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164665 Wed, 21 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164665 Student-Artists Exhibit at One River Check out some of the amazing artwork of our students! Date Added: 12/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164676 Wed, 21 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164676 Happy Holidays from District Office! The Port Jefferson School District thanks all the staff in the Business, Personnel, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction, Payroll, Transportation and Superintendent’s offices. Their effortsbehind the scenes keep the District running smoothly. Date Added: 12/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164697 Wed, 21 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164697 Port Jeff Proud! CJ Hafner named Newsday’s Suffolk County Girls Volleyball Coach of the Year: https://www.newsday.com/beta/sports/high-school/all-long-island/girls-volleyball-team-2022-nfj751fn Date Added: 12/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164623 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164623 ROYALS RECORD! At the high school girls winter track crossover meet on Dec. 17 at Suffolk County Community College, the Port Jefferson school record of the 4x400 relay was broken. Sophomore Gwen Connelly, freshman Alexa Jacobs, and seniors Jenna Jacobs and Maggie Johnston ran a time of 4:23.26, breaking the 26-year-old record of 4.24.2. Date Added: 12/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164628 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164628 PJ Wrestling Dominates Armstrong Cup The Port Jefferson wrestling team put forth an amazing performance at the Armstrong Cup Wrestling Tournament hosted at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School on Dec. 17. The tournament included wrestlers from Center Moriches, Harborfields, Mt. Sinai, Newfield, Port Jefferson, Riverhead and Ward Melville. The morning started out with a rocking saxophone rendition of the national anthem played by Coach Mike Maletta’s son, Mikey. The Royals kept that energy rolling throughout the rest of the day as they took home the team championship as well as five individual champions: Frankie D’Elia at 118 lbs, Liam Rogers at 152 lbs, Anthony Pipia and Preston Biedenkapp (co-champs) at 172 lbs and Willy Rodriguez at 215 lbs. Liam Rogers also received the Most Pins in the Least amount of Time award with four pins in just 1 minute and 7 seconds. Port Jefferson did well across the board, with eight other varsity wrestlers finishing in the top four of their weight class: David Argyros, second at 110 lbs; Nick Rodriguez, fourth at 110 lbs; Cade Delgado, third at 126 lbs; Chris Lotten, second at 138 lbs; Nick Comito, third at 152 lbs; Allen Kirsch, fourth at 160 lbs; Matt Wengatz, third at 189 lbs; Jagger Celentano, fourth at 285 lbs. In the JV tournament, Parker Biedenkapp, Chase Davis, Zach Miller, Peter Poten and James Verruto all went undefeated. Date Added: 12/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164642 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164642 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 10, 2023, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 24, 2023, at 7:00 PM at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR, for the presentation of the first draft of the 2023-2024 School Budget, and any other business as may be needed. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164618 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164618 NYSPHSAA Fall Scholar-Athletes All nine varsity teams (cheerleading, boys cross-country, girls cross-country, football, boys golf, boys soccer, girls soccer, girls tennis and girls volleyball) were named NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete teams. All teams had a cumulative academic average of a 90 or better. Great job students! Date Added: 12/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164511 Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164511 All State! Congratulations to Alexa Ayotte and Erin Henry for receiving First Team All-State honors for girls volleyball! Date Added: 12/12/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164396 Mon, 12 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164396 Lola Idir Honored! Congratulations to senior Lola Idir for being named to Newsday’s Top 100 girls basketball players on Long Island for the 2022-23 season. Lola was noted for her 20 points, five rebounds, five assists and five steals per game for the Suffolk Class C champions, as well as 17 points in a Long Island championship game. Date Added: 12/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164378 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 06:00:00 GMT false164378 Way to Go Luke! Royals Luke Dickhuth has been named to the Newsday Top 100 boys basketball players on Long Island for the 2022-23 season. Luke, a senior, was noted for his ability to impact the game at both ends of the floor. He averaged 14 points and eight rebounds last season. Date Added: 12/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164356 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164356 Royals Honored for Sportsmanship The Suffolk County Soccer Officials Association awarded Port Jefferson’svarsity boys soccer team the Sportsmanship Award for the 2022-23 season. After each contest, officials are tasked with rating student-athletes’ and coaches’ sportsmanship for each school. These ratingsare tallied up throughout the season to determine the Sportsmanship Award winners. Port Jefferson’sJV boys soccer team won the award in 1996 and the Middle School team won the award in 2004. This is the first time the varsity team has received the award. Head Coach Bryan Vaccaro, Assistant Coach Chris Dructor and Athletic Director Adam Sherrard attended the Suffolk County Soccer Officials Association dinner on Dec. 7 to receive the award at the Rock Hill Golf and Country Club. Date Added: 12/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164357 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164357 Let There Be Light! The Port Jefferson School District collaborated with Stony Brook University’s Middle School Engineering Program for a hands-on engineering experience. Sixth and eighth grade teachers Mr. Robert Farenga, Mrs. Linda Moran and Mrs. Megan Roth-Ueno introduced their coding and technology classes to two graduate students from SBU’s Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering to create a smart nightlight with several modes of function. The five-week program was an intensive and interactive process in which the students learned about circuits, the engineering design process, simulations, programming and basic Python coding skills to operate a simple 3D-generated nightlight. Along the way, they learned how to make and control circuits while incorporating code to give instructions to the circuits. They also worked together through circuit and coding issues, understood what each line of code meant, the purpose of a photoresistor, open and closed circuits and the final step of programming microcontrollers on a breadboard. The feedback from students on the ongoing process was that it was a positive experience, being able to learn in a hands-on environment. Date Added: 12/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164367 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164367 Computer Science Carnival Dozens of students and families signed up for the Port Jefferson School District’s first Computer Science Carnival held on Dec. 5, a perfect time to recognize National Computer Science Education Week, which is Dec. 6-12. The event, spearheaded by Earl L. Vandermeulen High School math teacher Winifred Kuemmel, was an opportunity to encourage and create awareness of what the high school offers rising Port Jefferson students. The carnival was set up with booths serviced by more than 20 high school student volunteers as well as science and math teachers. They included binary magic, binary bracelets, binary decoding, a drone obstacle course, computer labs and more! The colorful and creative event also had a snack stand offering popcorn and water bottles. Students signed in and visited each booth to learn a bit about some of the skills they will need in the ever-expanding STEM fields. “This was a great way for our high school students to actually share their own developing computational thinking skills and the basics of computer science with the younger students,” Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal John Ruggero said. “We are grateful for all those who came out to support what will certainly become a tradition in the next years.” Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 12/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164375 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164375 Sharing Hope With Others The Port Jefferson School District’s GSA took on a fundraising endeavor to assist The Neighborhood House of Long Island. The students, along with advisers, Kristin Britt and Meg Lavin, raised more than $1,000 through candle sales throughout the first weeks of school to help the organization, which works to restore hope and provide a community of kindness and acceptance for people working through grief and trauma and connecting with others on similar journeys. Date Added: 12/8/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164312 Thu, 08 Dec 2022 06:00:00 GMT false164312 Students Excel at Colonial Poster Project Port Jefferson Middle School students took an advanced look at history when they were tasked with a social studies research project. Students selected one of the 13 colonies to research and create a poster to showcase their research and artistic skills. They included the history, economy, society and government of their selected colony. Teachers Mr. Phil Giannusa and Ms. Veronica Colon helped the seventh grade students research in the library with the assistance of librarian Ms. Eva Grasso. Mr. Giannusa was so impressed with the projects, he selected four of the best from each of his classes. Olivia Andriani, Jenny Cheung, Joe Curley and Brian Hyrycz were congratulated for their exceptional projects. “I have been doing this project for approximately 15 years, and these four students produced some of the most creative and informative works I have seen,” Mr. Giannusa said. Date Added: 12/8/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164305 Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164305 SEPTA Family Fun Night! The Port Jefferson School District’s SEPTA Family Fun Night was a huge success. Suffolk County based ‘My Reptile Guys’ visited for a fun and educational evening on Nov. 30. Staff, students and their families filled the Port Jefferson Middle School multi-purpose room for up-close and personal encounters with some really cool reptiles. Several brave staff members, and parents volunteered to hold and showcase the reptiles for students! Fun was had by all, according to Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill. Date Added: 12/7/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164262 Wed, 07 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164262 Royals Honored by Suffolk County Legislature The accolades continue! The Port Jefferson Royals girls volleyball team were honored by the Suffolk County Legislature on Dec. 6 for their Class C Suffolk County, Long Island and Regional championships this season. Presented with a proclamation from Leg. Kara Hahn, the team had much to celebrate taking the county title for the first time since 2004 and the first ever Long Island and Regional championships. The student-athletes were joined by coach Charles Hafner, Principal John Ruggero and Athletic Director Adam Sherard at the ceremony. The school district once again congratulates the team, coach Hafner and assistant coach Matt Dolan for their tremendous efforts throughout the season. Date Added: 12/6/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164256 Tue, 06 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164256 Bond Video Series Watch our bond video series, where the district answers a few important questions related to the proposed bond: How was the bond developed? How has the district worked to address building needs in the past? When was the last capital project? How do the bond projects correlate to program needs? Can we look at some of the projects? How does a bond work? What are residents voting on regarding the bond and what is the financial impact to taxpayers? Date Added: 11/30/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164125 Mon, 05 Dec 2022 07:00:00 GMT false164125 Students Share Gifts of Joy and Music at Dickens Festival! Members of the Port Jefferson School District Music and Fine Arts Department joined in the festivities of the annual Charles Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson Village this past weekend. Music students and teachers entertained the spectators with seasonal songs during various performances throughout the village. Students in the district’s Drama Club assisted Santa at the Village Center in the elf workshop and served as background actors in the Stony Brook University film crew taping of the event. “They did a fantastic job of interacting with the villagers and students and children just waiting to see Santa,” Drama Club adviser Mr. Tony Butera said. The unique event was another opportunity for teachers and students to share their Port Jefferson School District award-winning talents in a public setting. Date Added: 12/5/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164224 Mon, 05 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164224 Class of 2024 Poinsettia Sale The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2024 is selling poinsettia plants to help assist those in need during this holiday season as well as raise funds for the junior class. Those interested in purchasing these seasonal beauties can contact jwalling@portjeffschools.org. The sale runs through Friday December 16th and will be sent home with students on the Dec. 9 or Dec. 16, depending on when the order was received. Poinsettias are $8 each. Payment is cash only, please. HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Date Added: 12/5/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164195 Mon, 05 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164195 Leo Club Coat Drive Date Added: 12/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164148 Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164148 Winter Concerts Live Stream All of our Winter Concerts will be Live Streamed Live Event Recorded Events https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164173 Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164173 Leo Club Coat Drive Date Added: 11/30/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164123 Wed, 30 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164123 SEPTA Family Fun Night 2022 Date Added: 11/30/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164118 Wed, 30 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164118 Students Attend University Violin Performance In a partnership with Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, Port Jefferson music students experienced a nearly sold-out performance by renowned violinist Caroline Campbell. Accompanied by Port Jefferson orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman, the close-to-home musical collaboration engages students with innovative performances, as this concert highlighted. “She is quite a violin superstar so this was a very special event for us,” Dr. Salzman said. Ms. Campbell, along with pianist Carlos Avila, was an engaging presence on stage and had the audience enthralled with her spectacular performance of virtuoso violin showpieces, from Hollywood film melodies to the music of Sting. Port Jefferson orchestra students and their families are invited to attend concerts each year at the university, arranged by Dr. Salzman and Paul Newland, outreach director at Stony Brook University. Tickets are provided courtesy of Staller Center Outreach Endowment. “We are extremely grateful to Mr. Newland and the director of The Staller Center, Mr. Alan Inkles, for providing our student musicians this incredible opportunity,” Dr. Salzman said. “We were most appreciative of the time [Ms. Campbell] took following the performance to interact with our students and share inspiration to continue pursuing their musical journeys.” Date Added: 11/29/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164071 Tue, 29 Nov 2022 07:00:00 GMT false164071 Kindness Is Cool in Elementary School! Students in Edna Louise Spear Elementary School continue to share kindness in many ways. A recent Kindness Challenge Spirit Weekwas a great opportunity to be caught doing something kind for another person. Students got into the spirit by wearing favorite Port Jefferson gear and patriotic colors to honor veterans. They dressed as senior citizens because kindness never gets old, and even wore their pajamas to school as they dreamt of a kinder world! Students in Laura Kelly and Paige Lohmann’s first grade class worked with Kari Costanza’s fifth grade class in the Buddy program to create kindness rocks – be on the lookout for these special notes of joy in a planned rock garden at the school. All students and teachers are working on aKindness Treebulletin board that is displayed in the hallway near the main office. “Each circle represents a student’s message of kindness,” Ms. Lohmann said. “We hope reading a message as you pass by will help changesomeone’s day for the better.” Date Added: 11/29/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164058 Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164058 Port Jeff All-Stars! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors Kasey Cobb, Anthony Pipia and Willy Rodriguez were selected to participate on the North team of the Suffolk County PAL annual Football All-Star Game held on Nov. 23. Kasey played at offensive guard, Anthony at safety and Willy at the defensive line. The trio put forth impressive performances in the game, and it was a great experience for them to play with and against the top senior football players in Suffolk County. It was an exciting game that ended with a North team overtime victory over the South 17-14. Date Added: 11/29/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=164061 Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164061 Fifth Graders Host Cards for Cops Campaign Students in Christine Wicks and Kym Rambazis’ fifth grade class spearheaded a Cards for Cops initiative and shared the idea throughout the school. Dozens of creative cards with heartfelt messages will be delivered to Beyond the Badge, a not-for-profit organization that was created by two local law enforcement officers that raises mental health awareness in the law enforcement community. Date Added: 11/23/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163914 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163914 Port Jeff Proud The girls varsity volleyball team put in all their efforts at the State Class C final on Nov. 20. The school district takes pride in their teamwork and camaraderie throughout the historic season for the team, coach Charles Hafner and assistant coach Matt Dolan. “The coaches and I had high expectations of the team going into the season,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “Coach Hafner, Coach Dolan and all the girls on the team stayed focused and determined throughout the season to make it to the states. It was a phenomenal season led by a strong group of seniors. Their leadership has trickled down to the underclassmen as they asked the coach if they can get to work with off-season workouts preparing for next season just days after returning from the state finals.” Congratulations to Alexa Ayotte, Caroline Hayde, Erin Henry, Maggie Johnston, Anna Matvya, Maddy Matvya, Bianca Nakagawa, Mia O’Connell, Hannah Pflaster, McKayla Pollard, Ava Reilly, Chloe Sherman, Olivia Sherman, Lexi Verruto, Sophia Wennerod and Gretchen Zimmerman. Date Added: 11/23/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163965 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163965 Buddy Program Teaches Collaboration Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s Buddy Program, the cross-grade-level initiative, teamed up fifth graders from Kari Costanza’s class with first graders in Laura Kelly’s class to create cards of gratitude. The older students encouraged the younger ones to write thoughtful messages of appreciation, assisting them with spelling and ideas for the content. The collaborative activity encouraged students to experience the skills of communication, patience and perseverance. The cards will be sent to the U.S. Marines training camp in Fort Lee, Virginia, to thank the service men and women for their efforts. Date Added: 11/23/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163978 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163978 Field Trip Centered on Conservation In this high-paced, tech world it is nice to change the style of learning every once in a while, to unravel scientific methods that have stood the test of time. Students in Jonathan Maletta’s science classes at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School visited the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery and Aquarium recently to observe a centuries-old aquaculture technique used to sustain the populations of brook trout, our New York State fish. A heritage strain of fertilized eggs were collected and safely transported back to school as part of a conservation program.For the remaining school year, students will care for this environmentally sensitive species. “Similar to the North America river otter, brook trout are classified as a true indicator species that act as a barometer of environmental health,” Mr. Maletta said. “Their presence or absence tells a story about our ambient environmental conditions. When water runs clean and clear, they survive and thrive.” According to Mr. Maletta, the presence of brook trout in rivers throughout New England was once an immutable law of nature. Environmental degradation, pollution and climate change have created a multifaceted problem for a species that has a narrow range of tolerance (i.e., a strong preference for cold temperature regimes). As a result, they are extirpated from more than half of their native rivers in lower New England. With some hope on the horizon, Mr. Maletta’s students will help to reestablish a small population of brook trout on the north shore of Long Island. Date Added: 11/23/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163979 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163979 Four Selected for NYSCAME All-County Festival Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students Sophie Blumenthal, Luke Dickhuth, Ruby Ray and Nicholas Smirnov, were selected to participate in the New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education All-County Music Festival recently held at Connetquot and Half Hollow Hills High School East. Students were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Congratulations to all of our student-musicians for their outstanding musical achievement! Date Added: 11/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163892 Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163892 Students Take the Polar Plunge! A heartwarming event for Port Jefferson School District’s Varsity Club took place on Nov. 19 when they participated in the Town of Brookhaven’s annual Polar Plunge to support the Special Olympics. The event, held at Cedar Beach in Mt. Sinai, was a true “freezin’ for a reason” event for the students and co-advisers Mr. Jesse Rosen and Mrs. Deirdre Filippi. As a team, they raised more than $6,925 to date! Date Added: 11/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163910 Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163910 Fifth Graders Caught ‘Read’ Handed! Students in Christine Bokina and Kristi Krieg’s fifth grade class used leisure time at home to catch up on some reading. Parents snapped photos of their child that are gracing the hallway bulletin board for all to see. Parents also took part in PARP and read an excerpt from their child's favorite book, virtually, to advertise books to the class. Date Added: 11/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163865 Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163865 Bravo! After weeks of rehearsal, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s drama club members took the stage for three weekend performances on Nov. 18-20 of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People.” Dozens of students took part in the fall production as actors and as part of the lighting, audio, stage construction and refreshments crews. The students collaborated under the direction of Anthony Butera to bring the story to life. In addition to the many skilled actors at the high school, this performance featured two elementary students, Timothy Amadio and Lukas Peterson, in roles as Morten Stockmann and Elijah Stockmann, sons of the main character, played by Albert Peterson. Other talented Port Jefferson students on stage included Kaylee Friedlander, Mari Fukuto, Marija Garue, William Harris, Narin Karakurum, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Marlo Pepe, Maya Shand, Victoria Snaden, Isabela Thomsen and Gianna Viviano. The show was presented in a small black-box theater setting, which provided a unique experience for the cast, crew and audience. The cast performed within a small stage area, with the audience seated right in front of them and to their sides. The arrangement allowed the audience to be close to the action on stage. Date Added: 11/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163870 Mon, 21 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163870 Senior Plays in All-Star Soccer Game Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Jonah Pflaster competed in the Suffolk County Boys Soccer All-Star game on Nov. 16. Jonah’s hard work during the All-Star tryouts paid off as his team won the game 5-0. Jonah was able to dedicate his time to the All-Star tryouts, practices and game, all while participating in the start of his varsity basketball season. Date Added: 11/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163852 Mon, 21 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163852 Swimming to Success! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Olivia Schlegel finished 12th in the 200 Individual Medley and 13th in the 100 Backstroke at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s girls swimming championships in Webster, New York, on Nov. 19 and 20. This was Olivia’s fourth time competing at the state championships. “I am so proud of Olivia,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “She always performs well in big events and has been one of the top swimmers in the state over the last four years. We will all miss her contagious smile when she graduates this June. I am looking forward to reading about her swimming success over the next several years as a member of the Colgate University swim team.” Date Added: 11/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163853 Mon, 21 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163853 Middle School Hosts a Thoughtful Thanksgiving Luncheon! Port Jefferson Middle School hosted a festive Thanksgiving luncheon for local senior citizens on Nov. 16. With turkey sandwiches stuffed with cranberries and all the trimmings, bottled waters and some tasty apple pies for dessert, the residents – including one woman who graduated from Port Jefferson High School in 1950 – enjoyed this long-time tradition. Middle school student-musicians performed seasonal selections under the leadership of Dr. Vanessa Salzman, and several students read poetry and greeted the guests along with Student Council adviser Megan Roth-Ueno and Principal Brian Walker. Thank you to Luca Caltagirone, Michael Castro, Julia Gomes, Kai Gronenthal, Nila Manian, Gianna Marsala, Olivia Nguyen and Olivia Viviano and all the student-musicians for sharing your kindness in our community! Date Added: 11/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163864 Mon, 21 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163864 Computer Science Carnival Event Date Added: 11/18/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163796 Fri, 18 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163796 ‘An Enemy of the People,’ on Stage Tonight! After weeks of rehearsal, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s drama club members will take the stage beginning tonight with three weekend performances of Henrik Ibsen’s “An Enemy of the People.” Dozens of students took part in the fall production as actors and as part of the lighting, audio, stage construction and refreshments crews. The students collaborated under the direction of Mr. Anthony Butera to bring the story to life. In addition to the many skilled actors at the high school, this performance will feature two elementary students, Timothy Amadio and Lukas Peterson, in roles as Morten Stockmann and Elijah Stockmann, sons of the main character, played by Albert Peterson. Other talented Port Jefferson students to watch for on stage include Kaylee Friedlander, Mari Fukuto, Marija Garue, William Harris, Narin Karakurum, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Marlo Pepe, Maya Shand, Victoria Snaden, Isabela Thomsen and Gianna Viviano. The show is being presented in a small black-box theater setting, which will provide a unique experience for the cast, crew and audience. The cast will perform within a small stage area, with the audience seated right in front of them and to their sides. This arrangement will allow the audience to be close to the action on stage. Date Added: 11/18/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163817 Fri, 18 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163817 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on December 13, 2022, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163746 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163746 High School Fall Stage Production – This Weekend Date Added: 11/17/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=163758 Thu, 17 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163758 A Royals Visit to Yankee Stadium Students in Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s sports history class enjoyed an exclusive field trip to Yankee Stadium on Nov. 14. The students got an in-depth history lesson on the New York Yankees franchise as well as the ballpark. The students visited the field level, the Yankees Museum and Monument Park and enjoyed the Hard Rock Cafe for lunch. Arranged by social studies teacher Mr. Bryan Vaccaro, they were also accompanied by Mr. Taylor Forstell, Mrs. Gina Fedler, Mrs. Celiana Gandolfo and Mrs. Debra Hartmann. Date Added: 11/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161728 Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161728 Best Performances in Championship Race! Four members of the varsity girls cross-country team competed in the NYSPHSAA championship this weekend. Sophomores Gwen Connelly and Aoife Hogan, senior Jenna Jacobs and freshman Cayden Veit put forth some of their best performances of the season in the championship race. With a young group of runners, the team is looking forward to building upon this season’s success. Date Added: 11/14/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161667 Mon, 14 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161667 Performance and Perseverance! The Port Jefferson varsity boys cross-country team competed in the NYSPHSAA championship on Nov. 12 in Verona, New York. The team of runners pushed through the muddy and windy conditions to take home third place among all state Class D schools. Senior Brendan Capodanno set the pace for the Royals, finishing 17th overall, followed by sophomore Colin Veit, who finished 20th. Brendan and Colin received All-State honors for their top 20 finishes. “It is a great group of young men,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “They have a great team chemistry that enables them to joke around and keep each other loose but also help push one another to perform at their best. I am very proud of their performance and perseverance throughout the season.” Congratulations to Brendan, Colin and teammates senior Teppei Fukuto, junior Andrew Schretzmayer, sophomore Ryan Sommerstad, junior Carman Stanton and eighth grader Blake Weaver. Date Added: 11/14/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161674 Mon, 14 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161674 State Bound! The Port Jefferson Royals girls volleyball team defeated John S. Burke Catholic 3-0 to take home the regional championship on Nov. 12. The contest took place at James I O’Neill High School in West Point, New York. The Royals now advance to the NYSPHSAA championships. There are four teams competing in pool play on Saturday with the top two teams advancing to the championship contest on Sunday. Port Jefferson will compete against Galway, Lansing and Portville. “The team plays with energy and confidence regardless of what is happening on the court,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “Their strong senior leadership has helped propel the Royals to their best season in the school’s history. I am extremely proud of their success so far this season and am looking forward to their performance in the championship tournament this weekend.” Congratulations to team members Alexa Ayotte, Caroline Hayde, Erin Henry, Maggie Johnston, Anna Matvya, Maddy Matvya, Bianca Nakagawa, Mia O’Connell, Hannah Pflaster, McKayla Pollard, Ava Reilly, Chloe Sherman, Olivia Sherman, Lexi Verruto, Sophia Wennerod and Gretchen Zimmerman, head coach CJ Hafner and assistant coach Matt Dolan. Date Added: 11/14/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161675 Mon, 14 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161675 Students Engage With Lieutenant Colonel via Google Meet Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students in Mrs. Erickson and Ms. Gandolfo’s class were honored and excited to meet with Lt. Col. Travis Toole, who is stationed in Germany. He visited the classroom via Google Meet, engaged with the curious students and answered their questions. “We were truly honored to meet an active-duty lieutenant colonel who for the past 17 years has been defending our rights and freedoms by fighting for our country,” Mrs. Erickson said. Date Added: 11/14/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161676 Mon, 14 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161676 International Club Shares Hope and Kindness What's in your Pasta Bolognese? The students in the Port Jefferson School District’s International Club took a recipe including garlic, onions, carrots, chop meat and pasta and sprinkled heaps of kindness into the mix. The finished meal was delivered to the residents of Hope House in Port Jefferson. The students and advisers Ms. Kristin Britt and Ms. Jennifer Walling will continue to provide a meal each month to Hope House. “To be able to do this for a local organization that helps people with compassion and care is so worthwhile for our students to be involved with,” Ms. Walling said. “Helping those right in our community gives us all hope for a more thoughtful future.” Date Added: 11/10/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161599 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161599 Students Explore Navy SEALs History Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students embarked on an interactive and educational field trip to the newly opened Lt. Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum in Sayville. The students were given a firsthand look at the history of the U.S. Navy’s primary special operations force – Navy Sea, Air, and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs – and their involvement in warfare through the oration of retired Navy SEALs. The high school juniors took part in an underwater simulation ride and learned through touch-screen graphics about major operations and training that goes into being a Navy SEAL. They were also taught about major concepts such as never giving up and learning from failures, aspects that the SEALs abide by. The students were joined in the educational experience by teachers Jesse Rosen, Bryan Vaccaro and Melissa Zinger. Date Added: 11/10/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161625 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161625 Trio Sign National Letters of Intent Three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors were honored at a National Letter of Intent Signing Day for Division I college athletics on Nov. 9. Introduced by Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard, the three women were applauded by fellow students, staff, parents and administrators. Alexa Ayotte will play lacrosse at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She was honored by her assistant coach Logan Hoffman. Jenna Jacobs will join the women’s track and field team at Providence College. Coach Brian Snow shared highlights of Jenna’s high school career to date. Olivia Schlegel will attend Colgate University to be a part of the women’s swim team. Mr. Sherrard read prepared statements from her current swim coach Kate Smit and former swim coach Mary Fleckenstein. The students were joined by a special guest, 2020 Port Jefferson alumna Kyra Sommerstad, who joined by videoconference from Ohio State, where she is a member of the Buckeyes swim team. “Our coaches, teachers, administrators and students are so proud of Alexa, Jenna and Olivia on reaching this milestone in their lives,” Mr. Sherrard said. “We all know the commitment and hard work they put in to get themselves to this level academically and athletically. We are going to miss their contagious smiles and leadership once they leave for college but are looking forward to watching them perform at a high level for the duration of the senior year here at Port Jefferson.” Date Added: 11/10/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161638 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161638 Honoring Veterans at Armed Forces Tribute Members of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Varsity Club honored those who helped to protect and preserve the country’s freedoms at the Port Jefferson School District’s Armed Forces Tribute, located at the high school. The students set flags out for each of the armed forces of the United States at the tribute on Nov. 9. The flags line the tribute’s brick Path of Honor. Date Added: 11/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161554 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161554 Motivation Celebration! Port Jefferson Middle School social studies teacher Mr. Philip Giannusa had the answer right in front of him when he was looking to honor the Port Jefferson Rotary Club’s Most Motivated Student of the Month. He selected one of his students, seventh grader Samuel Fabian, because of his love of social studies, his strong work ethic, positive attitude toward work and his positive relationships with his classmates. Samuel attended the Rotary luncheon with Mr. Giannusa and was honored with a plaque. “Sam won the most motivated student award because of his hard work, dedication to learning and his leadership in the classroom,” Mr. Giannusa said, adding that Sam is a well-rounded student-athlete who played football in the fall and is gearing up for basketball season. “[He is,] most importantly, a great person,” he said. Date Added: 11/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161563 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161563 District Celebrates Employees for Career Milestone The Port Jefferson School District applauds nine employees for serving the students in its three schools with 25 Years of Service Awards. The group was honored at the Nov. 8 Board of Education meeting by Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Robert Neidig. Dr. Neidig reflected on several facts that occurred in 1997, the year they each began their career in the district, before citing their strong connections with students, parents and colleagues and their evolution in meeting the challenges of the changing times. They were each gifted with pins and certificates and were thanked by Board Vice President Tracy Zamek for their continued hard work and dedication to students. The district congratulates Christine Bokina, Anthony Butera, Marissa Shannon, Christine Wicks and Maureen Zajac from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School; Keith Buehler from Port Jefferson Middle School; and Debra Hartmann, Michael Maletta and Stephanie Miazga from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Date Added: 11/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161567 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161567 Royals Wrestling Camp! Date Added: 11/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160397 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false160397 Royals State Bound! Four members of the Port Jefferson School District girls cross-country team qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships. Gwen Connelly, Aoife Hogan, Jenna Jacobs and Cayden Veit will represent the Royals at the state championships on Nov. 12. The boys cross-country team will join the girls after winning the Class D County championship. The team includes Brendan Capodanno, Teppei Fukuto, Chris Nam, Andrew Schretzmeyer, Ryan Sommerstad, Carman Stanton, Colin Veit and Blake Weaver. Date Added: 11/8/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161507 Tue, 08 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161507 Girls Volleyball Team: County Champs! The Port Jefferson girls volleyball team took on a tough Mattituck team on Nov. 7 for the Class C Suffolk County Championship. After being down 2 sets to 0 the Royals stormed back, winning three consecutive sets to defeat the Tuckers 3-2, taking home the county championship for the first time since 2004. “It was great to see the mental toughness and confidence the team displayed,” Athletic Director Adam Sherard said. “There is fantastic leadership amongst the team. Being down 2-0 they easily could have folded, but the girls kept on battling.” The team advances to the Long Island Championship where they will take on Oyster Bay. The championship contest will take place on Thursday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. at Hauppauge High School. Tickets can be purchased online using the GoFan app or at the door via credit card. Date Added: 11/8/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161510 Tue, 08 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161510 Club Students Serve as Environmental Stewards There is something extra special about being a part of the Port Jefferson School District, and members of three of the service clubs took that pride into the local community. The district’s Environmental Club, Interact Club and Leo Club joined forces for two local beach cleanup days at local beaches. “The event was well regarded as a way to encourage more leadership roles in the community, sharing pride and responsibility as well as a greater understanding of local environmental issues,” said Mr. Brian Chalmers, who co-chairs the Leo Club with librarian Ms. Eva Grasso. The community service event was sponsored by the Village of Port Jefferson and The Coastal Steward “Adopt a Beach Program.” The students worked at McAllister Park in Belle Terre and then at Crystal Brook Beach in Port Jefferson. They worked together and collected various debris and discussed the source of debris found. In addition to Mr. Chalmers and Ms. Grasso, the students were joined by Interact Club adviser Mrs. Deirdre Filippi and Environmental Club adviser Mr. Jonathan Maletta. Date Added: 11/7/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=161499 Mon, 07 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161499 Students and Staff Celebrate Halloween Edna Louise Spear Elementary School teachers led their students out the door to greet parents and grandparents and younger siblings at the school’s celebratory Halloween parade. Eerie and festive music played as the many witches, dinosaurs, princes, and favorite movie and book characters enjoyed a fun start to the school week. Date Added: 11/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160269 Tue, 01 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160269 THANKS VARSITY CLUB! The Port Jefferson School District hosted another memorable event for young students in the school community. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Varsity Club members, along with advisers, teachers Deirdre Filippi and Jesse Rosen, organized a drive-thru trick or treat at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School on Oct. 30. More than 50 high school students decorated tables in creative, colorful themes and handed out special treats to local students. “An amazing time was had by all,” Mrs. Filippi said, with club members making hundreds of young students excited for the festivities. Date Added: 11/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160312 Tue, 01 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160312 Fitness Center Opens Nov. 15! Date Added: 11/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159668 Tue, 01 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159668 Bond Projects Take a look at some of the projects included in the proposed bond. Date Added: 10/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160179 Thu, 27 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160179 Duo Qualify for County Golf Tournament It’s two for tee for Port Jefferson Middle School eighth grader Ben Connelly and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School ninth grader Talin Bajaj who have both qualified for the Section XI County Golf Tournament. The two will tee off on Monday, Oct. 31, at 7:30 a.m. at Spring Lake Golf Club in Middle Island. Congratulations and good luck! Date Added: 10/26/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160116 Wed, 26 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160116 Peer Leaders Gift Children Halloween Costumes Question: What do Elmo, a witch, a dinosaur and a bee have in common? Answer: They are all among the dozens of Halloween costumes collected by the Port Jefferson School District’s Peer Leadership Club. The students, along with advisers Ms. Kristin Britt and Mrs. Melissa Zinger, set out to make Halloween an even more festive one for children assisted by Port Jefferson-based Give Kids Hope Thrift and Donation Center. “It was a great success,” Ms. Britt said, in her office at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, which was overflowing with costumes and bags that were delivered to the organization in time for children to get dressed up for their trick-or-treating adventures. Date Added: 10/26/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160125 Wed, 26 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160125 Students Focus on Impact Through Action Port Jefferson School District’s Peer Leadership Club and International Club are partnering with the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy and hosted a kickoff on Oct. 25. The student leaders are working together in the program that empowers high school students to put leadership principles into practice through student-led community service projects that culminate in a year-end impact project. Port Jefferson’s students worked together on the program’s one million book giveaway project along with advisers Ms. Kristin Britt, Ms. Jennifer Walling and Ms. Melissa Zinger. In this leadership role, the students will present the books to elementary students in the district as well as those in need in our larger community. The students will also spend time reading to these students in the elementary school library. “This first ‘give back’ to the community is the first of many in which our young leaders will be participating,” Peer Leadership co-adviser Melissa Zinger said. Date Added: 10/26/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160142 Wed, 26 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160142 County Swim Qualifiers! Eighth grader Dasha Zakharova and senior Olivia Schlegel both qualified for the Section XI Swim Championship. Dasha qualified in the 100-meter butterfly, 50-meter freestyle and 100-meter freestyle. She must pick two out of the three events to compete in at the county meet. Olivia qualified in the 100-meter backstroke and 200-meter individual medley. Olivia’s time in the 100-meter backstroke during the season already qualified her for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association state competition. Date Added: 10/25/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160066 Tue, 25 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160066 PEAK Performance! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fourth grade student-musicians Ruby Minatta and Madison Villagracia participated in the annual Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association PEAK (Parents, Educators and Kids) Festival. The event, held at Northport High School on Oct. 22, is a unique celebration of elementary classroom music where students from across Suffolk County perform alongside their parents and music teachers. Elementary music teacher Ms. Laurel Zimlinghaus joined the musical duo and their parents at the event with workshops, musical activities, games and improvisation as highlights. Date Added: 10/25/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160085 Tue, 25 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160085 Cross-Country Teams Named League Champs The Port Jefferson School District varsity boys and varsity girls cross-country teams secured the league championship. The boys were the league 4 champions last season as well. Both squads will compete at the divisional meet on Oct. 25 and the county meet on Nov. 4 at Sunken Meadow State Park, with the goal of being county champions and earning a bid to the NYSPHSAA State Championship. Date Added: 10/25/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160096 Tue, 25 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160096 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on November 8, 2022, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160087 Tue, 25 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160087 Port Jeff Lights Up The Night! Royals spirit lit up Port Jefferson this past weekend when the 2022 homecoming festivities brought students, faculty, administrators, Board of Education members and community residents to the parade down Main Street on Friday night. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students decorated cars and trucks with Port Jeff purple lights and balloons. Port Jefferson Middle School student-musicians shared their talents, and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students joined in the beautiful nighttime walk through the village. Date Added: 10/24/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160029 Mon, 24 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160029 Royals Homecoming Game Success! The Royals spirit and fun continued at the Saturday, 10.22 football game against Greenport. The halftime festivities included the varsity cheerleaders leading students in grades 1-6 in a routine, to much applause from the spectators. The Royals took the game title 28-0. Date Added: 10/24/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=160032 Mon, 24 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160032 Students Showcase Mathematical Mastery Earl L. Vandermeulen High School members of the school’s Mathletes took part in the first competition of the academic year on Oct. 19. The 21 students participated for each round of the competition, consisting of two questions with an allotted time of 10 minutes for both questions. The team, along with co-coaches Mr. Dennis Christofor and Mr. John Lipponer, are excited for a new season of competition! Date Added: 10/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159966 Fri, 21 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159966 Homecoming Pre-Party Cheers! In preparation for this weekend’s homecoming game, on Oct. 20 the varsity cheerleaders along with coach Sharon Gatz hosted a cheerleading clinic for students in grades 1-6. More than 30 students attended the clinic where they learned an exciting cheerleading routine. The cheer clinic attendees will show off their skills with a performance during halftime of this weekend’s homecoming football game. “The cheer clinic was a great idea of Coach Sharon,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “It helped promote the cheer program, fostered relationships between students of different ages in the school district and will add to the positive environment of homecoming.” Date Added: 10/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159983 Fri, 21 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159983 Record Assists for Alexa Ayotte Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Alexa Ayotte recorded her 1,000th career assist on Oct. 14, in a home contest vs. Babylon. Alexa has been a member of the varsity girls volleyball team since ninth grade and has increased her season assist total each varsity season. The accomplishment is not surprising knowing Alexa’s work ethic. “She is a great leader and does everything necessary to help her teammates improve and perform at their best,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “I don’t think it is a coincidence that in Alexa’s junior and senior seasons, the volleyball team has had its best performance in the last 20 years. I am looking forward to Alexa adding to her assist total in the playoffs this year.” Alexa also currently leads all of Suffolk County with 462 assists this season. Date Added: 10/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159987 Fri, 21 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159987 Student-Scientists Conduct Studies of Local Marine Environment Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students took lessons they are learning in the classroom and applied them to Long Island waters for a real-life educational experience. Mr. Jonathan Maletta’s AP Environmental Science and Marine Science classes boarded the R/V Peconic in Shinnecock Bay as part of a visit to Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at the Southampton campus. The students conducted field studies of the local marine environment. They observed water quality parameters and learned about the importance of the eelgrass community as a keystone species that supports a wealth of biodiversity in Shinnecock Bay. Students collected samples of marine life using specialized trawl fishing gear to observe benthic species (crustacea, finfish, and shellfish). They sorted through their catch for unique organisms with interesting adaptations such as the decorator crab’s ability to camouflage and the calico (female) crab’s ability to carry offspring on the ventral side of her body until their release as plankton in the ocean. Species including black sea bass, tautog, pipefish, and even tropical species of fish and crabs (a Boxfish named “Shrinky” and a hermit crab named “Dink”), carried in by the warm Gulf Stream current from the Caribbean to Long Island, were part of the catch. Students brought back some of the collected specimens to further investigate their findings. Date Added: 10/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159938 Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159938 Who’s Up for Sushi? Wearing Chefology 101 aprons, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students participated in a food lab with head high school chef Robin Hoolahan and Chef Tony Distefano, director of Strategic Operations at Whitsons Culinary Group. Together, they learned the art of making traditional sushi rolls filled with rice, nori (dried seaweed) and favorite ingredients – carrots, cucumbers, avocado and crabsticks. The young chefs practiced kitchen safety, sanitation and personal hygiene procedures, rolling to perfection during the hands-on learning opportunity. “Students loved this activity,” Principal John Ruggero said. “It was a great opportunity for teamwork, as well as lessons in time management and career exploration while having fun.” Date Added: 10/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159950 Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159950 National Recognition for High School Trio Three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students have been named commended students in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Matthew Buonomo, Luke Dickhuth and Teppei Fukuto are recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their outstanding performance on the qualifying test used for program entry. They are among 34,000 high performers nationwide who will receive a Letter of Commendation with a congratulatory message from the National Merit Scholarship Program. Bravo gentlemen! Date Added: 10/18/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159894 Wed, 19 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159894 Fostering Student-Leaders What makes a leader? The Port Jefferson School District Athletic Department hosted a Fall Leadership Luncheon for students to find out. Student-athlete leaders from the volleyball, soccer, tennis, golf, cheer, football and cross-country teams brainstormed with Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard to discuss leadership characteristics and responsibilities. With refreshments provided by the Royal Athletic Club, the group shared their leadership experiences, struggles and successes. “I was very impressed with the group’s eagerness to share their thoughts and experiences of leadership with me and their peers,” Mr. Sherrard said. “The goal of the exercise was to foster leadership not only in athletics but throughout our classrooms, hallways and the community. It’s exciting to see their leadership skills now, and I look forward to witnessing their growth and expansion throughout the school year and beyond.” The school district thanks all the student leaders who participated in the Leadership Luncheon: Alexa Ayotte, Dante Cangemi, Brendan Capodanno, Kasey Cobb, Ben Connelly, Ava Cooper, Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Teppei Fukuto, Jenna Jacobs, Jack Keegan, Chris Mark, Hipolita Oliva, Maria Oliva, Dan Owens, Jonah Pflaster, Ottilie Philbrick, Anthony Pipia, Catty Poten, Sophia Wennerod and Amy Whitman. Date Added: 10/17/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159797 Mon, 17 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159797 Accelerating Science Lessons Port Jefferson Middle School students took a science lesson outside to the school’s track to test a concept. Ms. Meg Ryan and Ms. Monica Consalvo’s science class is studying speed, velocity and acceleration. To determine an average speed, the students headed up to the school’s track to test their knowledge as they timed each other on their walking vs. speedwalking speeds. Back in the classroom, they combined their math skills with their science skills to find the average of their speeds. “At close, the students watched a video about the science of speedwalking which allowed them to connect their learning to a real-world application of skill,” Ms. Consalvo said. Date Added: 10/14/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159765 Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159765 Students Show Port Jeff Pride and School Spirit More than 50 students, staff and parents came out to celebrate the school community by beautifying the hallways of Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School on Oct. 7. The community event, spearheaded by Middle School Principal Mr. Brian Walker, High School Principal Mr. John Ruggero, High School/Middle School Dean Mr. Jesse Rosen and Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard, was unifying and promoted school pride and spirit. “The event turned out to be even bigger and better than we had imagined,” Mr. Sherrard said. “There was so much support from the students, staff and the community. It was a great team effort.” Director of Facilities Mr. Fred Koebel and lead custodian Mr. Sal Figliolia were instrumental in getting the hallways ready for the occasion, during which art teacher Mrs. Nancy Randazzo and her students traced stencils throughout them. Students and district leaders will plan additional school beautification events throughout the academic year to help continue to promote school culture and pride. Date Added: 10/14/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159796 Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159796 Special Education Parent FALL 2022 Workshop Series The Port Jefferson School District Department of Special Education is excited to provide the following workshop opportunities for parents. All workshops will be held virtually and will include a presentation followed by a question and answer session. A virtual link will be emailed to each registrant. Please sign up to attend at: Fall 2022 Parent Workshop Series Please contact Dr. Jodi Cahill with any questions at (631) 791-4241. October 18, 2022 7:00-8:00 pm Adult Career and Continuing Education Services Information Session (for parents of 11th and 12th grade Special Education students) Adult Career and Continuing Education Services (ACCES-VR) is part of the NY State Education Department. It administers vocational rehabilitation services to assist eligible individuals with disabilities in obtaining employment. This agency can also provide transition services to students and youth who are in High School to assist in employment goals. November 15, 2022 7:00-8:00 pm Why Teens Do What They Do (for MS/HS parents of ALL students ages twelve to sixteen years old) Presented by the Cornell Cooperative Extension-Suffolk County Community Education. As a parent of a pre-teen or teen, are you bewildered by adolescent behavior? Does their moodiness drive you crazy? Does their attitude push your buttons? Would you like to have a more respectful relationship with them? Unlock the mystery of adolescence with the key of understanding that can improve your relationship with your teen. December 14, 2022 7:00-8:00 pm Discipline vs. Punishment (for parents of ALL Pre-k and Kindergarten students up to 5 years old) Presented by the Cornell Cooperative Extension-Suffolk County Community Education. During this program, the difference between discipline and punishment will be discussed. We will define and give examples of each as well as talk about the goals and outcomes of each. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159752 Thu, 13 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159752 Applications for absentee ballots for the December 12, 2022 Bond Vote Applications for absentee ballots for the December12, 2022 Bond Vote may be obtained from the District Clerk located at 550 Scraggy Hill Road between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday, except holidays. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159724 Wed, 12 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159724 Port Jefferson School District Swimming Pool is Open for Community Use Date Added: 10/7/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159652 Fri, 07 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159652 Duo Honored for Academic Excellence Two Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students have earned academic excellence awards as part of the Town of Brookhaven’s 9th annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. Seniors Frank Andriani and Benjamin Perez-Flesler will be recognized at a ceremony on Oct. 14 at Brookhaven Town Hall for earning grade point averages of 95.46 and 99.19, respectively. In college, Frank looks forward to majoring in business and Benjamin in biochemistry. Hosted by Brookhaven’s Hispanic Advisory Board, the students were among dozens of seniors from school districts throughout Brookhaven township who were lauded for achieving a grade point average of 95 or higher. Date Added: 10/7/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159653 Fri, 07 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159653 Port Jefferson Schools Bond 2022 Date Added: 10/5/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159585 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159585 Student-Musicians Strike a Pose! Students in Edna Louise Spear Elementary School are learning to balance academics and music classes. A recent session for fourth grade beginner cellists found the student-musicians working on their posture and playing position with music teacher Mr. Christian Neubert during a weekly lesson. Date Added: 10/5/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159586 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159586 Homecoming Week Festivities Date Added: 10/5/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159596 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159596 District Welcomes Mr. Christopher Scardino The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has assigned Mr. Christopher Scardino to serve as the Interim Assistant Principal at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School for the 2022-23 school year. Mr. Scardino retired as the Fork Lane Elementary School Principal for the Hicksville School District in 2020, where he served for 16 years. Prior to that role, Mr. Scardino served as an Assistant Principal in the Babylon School District from 1999 until 2004, and began his teaching career serving students in grades 2-6 in the Wyandanch School District. He has an extensive background in school budgeting, scheduling, staffing, observations and evaluations. He is also well-versed in safety training, parent/staff presentations, analyzing data to inform instruction, community events, leading committees/school teams, character education initiatives and staff development workshops. Mr. Scardino holds school district administrator in educational administration certification from Stony Brook University; a Master of Science and Technology from the New York Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in elementary education from LIU Post. “Mr. Scardino’s background in building a solid educational foundation with academics and character development at the elementary level at the forefront, benefits our youngest students. We are pleased to have him join our team,” said Jessica Schmettan, Superintendent of Schools. Date Added: 9/30/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159479 Fri, 30 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159479 Port Jeff Students Promote Peace Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students continue to strengthen social connections throughout the school and across the country, and a recent library project will help empower them to make a difference in the world. Students worked with librarian Mrs. Margaret Hoon to learn about the Peace Crane Project. Mrs. Hoon read the book, “Peace Train,” based on a song written by Cat Stevens more than 50 years ago and recently illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds, sharing its message of hope, love and the celebration of all cultures and identities. The students learned how to create origami – peaceful puppies for the younger students and folded cranes for the older students. They then wrote messages of peace and hope to exchange with students at Cucamonga Elementary School, a school in California, similar in student size to Port Jefferson’s elementary school. First grade teacher Laura Kelly worked with fifth graders last year and wanted to bring the program schoolwide so she teamed up with Mrs. Hoon to reach more students. Mrs. Hoon had creative assistance from fourth grader Joowon Bak, a skilled origami artist. The Peace Crane Project is known internationally and helps to strengthen not only writing skills and hand-eye coordination, but encourages friendships, teaches geography and exposes students to new languages and cultures. Date Added: 9/30/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159480 Fri, 30 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159480 A Port Jeff Fish Tale The Port Jefferson School District takes pride in its unique club offerings for students. One – The Little Savages Fishing Club – is growing in popularity with students at Port Jefferson Middle School. Middle School guidance counselor Mr. Keith Buehler and high school science teacher Mr. Greg Gorniok, the club advisers, teach students the basics of fishing while encouraging friendships and an appreciation for local waters. This year, approximately 50 students are involved in the club, which took a recent trip on the Port Jefferson Harbor-based Celtic Quest. The catch? Porgies, sea bass, memories and new friends. Date Added: 9/30/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159481 Fri, 30 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159481 Substance Misuse Prevention Educational Forum Date Added: 9/28/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=159408 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159408 Royal Pride & Camaraderie! Fifth graders recently visited the high school for a Fall Sports Festival, where they were greeted by Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard waving the Royal flag to welcome them. The students followed Mr. Sherrard to the athletic stadium where the high school student-athletes and coaches from the varsity fall sports teams set up drills and activities so that younger students could experience all of the sports that are offered in the Port Jefferson School District. The fifth graders rotated to areas throughout the high school football field and track to spend time practicing cheerleading, cross-country, field hockey, football, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball. The Port Jefferson School District thanks the student-athletes and coaches for sharing in school pride and helping to promote the district’s athletic program. Date Added: 9/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157459 Tue, 27 Sep 2022 05:00:00 GMT false157459 Save the Dates: PJSD Sets Dates for School Tours Three tour dates for the December 12, 2022 Bond Referendum have been scheduled. The tours will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 5 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 29, at 9 a.m. and Thursday, Nov. 17, at 7 p.m. and will be approximately one hour in length. Attendees will meet in the main lobby of the High School/Middle School and will need to check in at the security vestibule. During the tours, community members will have an opportunity to ask questions of administration. The proposal contains two propositions that cover much-needed facilities renovations. Proposition No. 1, in the amount of $23,127,000, focuses on key instruction and infrastructure needs, including improving indoor air quality, maximizing the efficiencies of building spaces, updating bathrooms for accessibility and enhancing student safety by bringing all programs into the main building at the Middle School and High School. Proposition No. 2, in the amount of $1,876,000, calls for the installation of a turf field at the High School to increase field use playability for all students. Please note, Proposition No. 2 is contingent on the passing of Proposition No. 1. More information about the proposed bond is available here: https://www.portjeffschools.org/bond/home. Please remember to save the Dec. 12 date for the vote. Date Added: 9/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157444 Tue, 27 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157444 Port Jeff’s Young Physicists! Students in Edna Louise Spear Elementary School have been honing their scientific skills by learning about states of matter. The young physicists in Mrs. Carleen Parmegiani and Mrs. Christina Carlson’s second grade class tested their knowledge by going on a scavenger hunt trying to find solids, liquids and gases. “Our students had the best time exploring the outdoors and inside our classroom,” Mrs. Carlson said. Date Added: 9/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157447 Tue, 27 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157447 Fifth Graders Say Hello in Many Languages Students in Edna Louise Spear Elementary School spanned the globe to learn to say hello in dozens of languages, including German, French, Italian, Mandarin, Spanish and Swahili. Christine Wicks’ andKimberly Rambazis’ fifth grade class used speech and nonverbal actions to create social connections with each other as part of the school’s participation in the Sandy Hook Promise’s Start With Hello Week (Sept. 19–23). The students worked together, brainstorming their chosen language and creating artwork, either computer-generated or freehand. The ultimate product was a book of their creations – connecting to one another using language as the tool and communication as the process. Date Added: 9/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157450 Tue, 27 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157450 Green: The Color of Promise in our District! The Port Jefferson School District joined the nationwide call-to-action dedicated to making new social connections and creating a sense of belonging among the school community when it participated in the Sandy Hook Promise’s Start With Hello Week (Sept. 19–23). With daily themes in all three schools, including meet and greets to say hello to someone in school that a student does not yet know, random acts of kindness and sharing appreciation, students and staff increased their inclusivity and empathy with their classmates and showed that there is always hope and change for the future. During Wear Green Wednesday, Port Jefferson students and staff wore a sea of green as a symbol of solidarity with Sandy Hook Promise. The Port Jefferson School District takes pride in the promise pledges to keep the spirit going throughout the year. Date Added: 9/23/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157395 Fri, 23 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157395 Port Jeff Duo to Represent at NYSSMA Festival The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that two high school students – Luke Dickhuth and Nicholas Smirnov – have been selected to perform in the New York State School Music Association’s All-State performing ensembles. Their selections stem from evaluation scores and comments from the spring 2022 NYSSMA assessment, along with detailed teacher recommendations. Luke was selected for the symphony band and Nicholas for the symphony orchestra. “We are once again so pleased to have our music program represented and proud of these two young men for all their efforts in being selected,” District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. This year’s All-State Festival will take place in Rochester, New York, in early December. The district congratulates these students on this exceptional achievement. Date Added: 9/23/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157383 Fri, 23 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157383 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 11, 2022, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 25, 2022 at 7:00 PM at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR, for the presentation of the 2021-2022 Assessment Scores, and any other business as may be needed. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157384 Fri, 23 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157384 Senior Alexa Ayotte Represents Peers Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Alexa Ayotte will serve as the 2022-23 student-representative for the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education. Alexa, a three-sport athlete – basketball, lacrosse and volleyball – has been an active member of the school’s Student Organization since her freshman year. She will attend monthly Board of Education meetings to give a report on school happenings and upcoming events. Alexa said she is looking forward to working with high school principal Mr. John Ruggero and the Board this year. Date Added: 9/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157374 Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157374 Royals Brighten Community! The Port Jefferson School District football and cheerleading team members donned their purple and white uniforms while out on Sept. 10 at the Port Jefferson Village Hall soaking and scrubbing up cars and trucks. The car wash resulted in a number of bright and shiny vehicles seen in the local community. The school district thanks the young men and women for the great customer service provided to community residents. Date Added: 9/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157324 Wed, 21 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157324 First Career Victory for Royals Coach Port Jefferson School District coach Bryan Vaccaro was celebrated on his first career victory as varsity boys soccer coach for the Royals. On Sept. 14 the Royals defeated Smithtown Christian 2-0. This was the first win of the season for the team and the first win in Coach Vaccaro’s first season as varsity boys soccer head coach for Port Jefferson. “We are very excited for Coach Vaccaro,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “He brings enthusiasm and excitement to the field every day. His positivity is definitely having an impact on the team as they continue to improve throughout the season. Whether in the classroom teaching social studies or on the athletic field, Coach Vaccaro is always pushing his students and himself to perform at their best.” The Port Jefferson School District is looking forward to many more victories that Coach Vaccaro and the varsity boys soccer team will be bringing to the athletic program. Date Added: 9/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157269 Tue, 20 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157269 Orchestral Sextet Perform in Village Festival While the Port Jefferson Dragon Boat Race Festival featured much excitement on the village’s waterfront on Sept. 17, six student-musicians from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School stayed on land to entertain the masses. Molly Becherer, Caitlin Dickhuth, Andi Kelly, Yushan Pan, Alice Snyder and Emily Snyder performed on the Jill Nees Russell Performance Stage at Harborfront Park. Sisters Emily and Alice arranged all the parts for their four fellow classmates from the high school’s orchestra. Their performance was part of the musical and cultural offerings including the Chinese Classical Long Fan Dance and folk singing, an umbrella dance, the lion dance, and Taiko and Korean drum performances. “This was a great opportunity for these students to showcase their talents in a public performance,” District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. Date Added: 9/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157303 Tue, 20 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157303 Character Counts at Port Jefferson Middle School Port Jefferson Middle School staff are on the lookout for students who are doing good deeds for others. Principal Mr. Brian Walker started a Character Coupons program honoring honesty, respect, integrity, self-control, responsibility and excellence. Sixth grade student Madison Menninger was caught assisting her classmates with a difficult math problem. Eighth grader Julie Friedman took it upon herself to help a new student to the district navigate the hallways of the school. Students are honored each Friday by Mr. Walker with a purple rubber wristband and a congratulations honoring their excellence. Date Added: 9/19/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157244 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 16:00:00 GMT false157244 Junior Takes on Role of Royals Announcer The culture and atmosphere of the Port Jefferson School District athletic program is on the rise. The excitement before, during and after each game has students, staff and community members anxiously awaiting the district’s next athletic event. In addition to the success of the athletic teams, one of the key factors in the exciting and proud environment is Earl L. Vandermeulen High School junior Seamus McKeown. Seamus began introducing the starting lineups for varsity basketball games last winter. “It didn’t take long for anyone to realize he has a special talent,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “The energy and enthusiasm he puts into every word of his introductions gives you goosebumps.” Seamus continues looking for ways to expand on the energy around athletics. He is now writing his own pregame scripts and has expanded his role to being a play-by-play commentator. In addition to his work on the mic, Seamus is also a three-sport athlete playing golf, basketball and baseball. His commitment to all phases of athletics is admired. Go Royals! Date Added: 9/19/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157266 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 05:00:00 GMT false157266 Developing Scientific Literacy Port Jefferson Middle School sixth graders are advancing in scientific inquiry and a physical science unit is helping them understand speed and acceleration. In a recent lesson, students discussed speed with teachers Ms. Megan Roth-Ueno and Ms. Christina Marino and teaching assistant Mrs. Elizabeth Cavanagh and came up with ways to measure it. They then took the lesson into their “laboratory” – the school’s multipurpose room – and collected data on a golf ball rolled at a constant speed. Date Added: 9/19/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157237 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157237 First Win for Royals Coach Shields The Royals varsity football team hosted Mt. Sinai on Sept. 17. The exciting back-and-forth game ended with a Port Jeff score in the final minutes that secured a 13-12 Royals victory. The spectators, players and coaches were extremely happy about the victory, but for head coach Josh Shields the win was a little extra special. It was his first win as varsity head football coach for Port Jefferson. Coach Shields took over as head coach late last spring, after serving as assistant coach, and has hit the ground running. “The passion and care that Coach Shields has for our student-athletes is incredible,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “It goes way beyond football; whether it’s helping them with social, emotional, academic or athletic situations, Coach Shields is there to support the team. I am happy for all the coaches and our student-athletes for Saturday’s win. I look forward to seeing them celebrate more victories throughout this season and beyond.” Date Added: 9/19/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157256 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157256 A Scraggy Treasure Hunt! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School pre-K students in Mrs. Gina Santini’s and Ms. Susan Giglio’s classes are learning all about shapes in art class. Art teacher Mrs. Meghan McCarthy worked with the students to create pirate hats, treasure maps and treasure bags. “We went on a treasure hunt around the art room to find shapes,” Mrs. McCarthy said. “Students made artwork with their found treasures.” Date Added: 9/19/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157259 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157259 PJ Goes Orange in Support of Leukemia Awareness Month Earl L. Vandermeulen High School took steps in support of Leukemia Awareness Month by wearing the color orange on Sept. 16. Students and staff also raised $250 by donating funds during homeroom to raise awareness of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and to honor a former Port Jefferson School District student living with leukemia. Date Added: 9/16/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157230 Fri, 16 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157230 Artistic Accolades! The Port Jefferson School District’s Board of Education honored one of its talented fine arts students, whose work was featured on the cover of the 2022-2023 school calendar. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomore Lucy Kwon was lauded at the Sept. 13 meeting by District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello for sharing her beautiful work with the school community. Dr. Caravello also thanked high school art teacher Ms. Nancy Randazzo for her expertise and artistic guidance over the years. Dr. Caravello mentioned Lucy’s dedication in honing her artistic skill, including attending intensive art workshops each Saturday morning. “Although she enjoys all artistic mediums, Lucy is most passionate about digital art. When Ms. Randazzo shared Lucy’s digital depiction of our own Port Jeff harbor, we immediately knew it was the perfect choice for this year’s calendar,” he said. Lucy was presented with a framed copy of her artwork and she and Ms. Randazzo were each gifted with certificates of recognition. Date Added: 9/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157171 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157171 Duo Selected as National Merit Semifinalists Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students Benjamin Perez-Flesler and Olivia Schlegel have qualified as semifinalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These two academically talented students have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,250 National Merit Scholarships worth nearly $28 million that will be oered next spring. Benjamin and Olivia must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. Close to 95% of the semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing, and approximately half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. Congratulations! Date Added: 9/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157182 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157182 Board of Education Approves Resolution for Bond Vote for December 12 The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education approved a resolution to move forward with two proposed capital bond projects at its September 13th Board of Education meeting. A community vote on the project will be December 12. The proposal contains two propositions that cover an array of much-needed facilities renovations. Proposition No. 1, in the amount of $23,127,000, focuses on key instruction and infrastructure needs including improving indoor air quality, maximizing the efficiencies of building spaces, updating bathrooms to meet ADA compliance and enhancing student safety by bringing all programs into the main building at the Middle School and High School. Proposition No. 2, in the amount of $1,876,000, calls for the installation of a turf field at the High School to increase field use playability for all students. Please note, Proposition No. 2 is contingent on the passing of Proposition No. 1. “Our District has worked hard to maintain our school buildings through regular updates,” Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan said. “This bond is necessary to complete larger scale projects. It restores, renovates and modernizes our buildings.” More information about the proposed bond is available on the District website. Please visit www.portjeffschools.org/bond/home and save the Dec. 12 date to vote. Date Added: 9/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157197 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157197 And They’re Off! The Port Jefferson School District girls and boys cross-country student-athletes participated in the Jim Smith Invitational on Sept. 10 at Sunken Meadow State Park. The meet is named after Port Jeff’s legendary coach who led the Royals to state titles in 1974 and 1976. The first meet of the season was arranged so that each grade level is a separate race/division. A high finish in any of the races at Jim Smith is a good indication for later-season success as well as proving who put in quality work over the summer. Eighth grader Blake Weaver finished the run at 8:08 minutes. Sophomore Gwen Connelly was Suffolk’s first finisher – a big breakthrough for Gwen, who now has to be considered for the Class D title with more improvement. Great efforts were evident from student-athlete Colin Veit, who ran under 18:34 – an excellent time for early-season sophomores. Senior Brendan Capodanno ran 17:55; he will look to lead Port Jefferson’s much-improved team to the Class D title in November. Brendan ran a huge Sunken Meadow Personal Record of 18:00 over the summer. Port Jeff will be hard to beat for the team title based on Jim Smith results. Date Added: 9/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157205 Thu, 15 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157205 How to Build a House Port Jefferson Middle School students are learning to use some fun digital design tools under the tutelage of art teacher Stacey Schuman. Ms. Schuman introduced her eighth grade students to electronic illustrations via Google Drawings. They used the web-based diagramming software to create architectural details that are then imbedded into their Google Docs for their “dream homes.” Date Added: 9/13/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157127 Tue, 13 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157127 Port Jefferson Will Never Forget Earl L. Vandermeulen High School again took part in the Port Jefferson Fire Department’s annual 9/11 memorial service. Student-musician Nicholas Smirnov, a violinist, gave a moving performance with his renditions of “America the Beautiful” and “God Bless America.” It was a fitting tribute to honor those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Date Added: 9/12/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157089 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157089 Students Review Historic Athletic Moments Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students had a glimpse into many historic athletic moments when they were visited by Mr. Chris Vaccaro, president of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame in the high school’s inaugural Hall of Fame sports history class. With a video introduction from actor and Long Island resident Ralph Macchio, famed for the “Karate Kid” films and the “Cobra Kai” television series, the special visit touched on the many influential people in the field of athletics who have impacted thousands of student-athletes across Long Island. These include football quarterback Boomer Esiason, sportscasters Linda Cohn and Robert Costas, and Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski, among others. The course, developed by social studies teacher Mr. Bryan Vaccaro, who is also Mr. Chris Vaccaro’s brother, will be augmented by lessons developed by the Hall of Fame staffers. Guest speakers will visit throughout the year in person or via Zoom to speak on opportunities related to sports history, research and media. The students will also become involved in researching local places of sporting significance and make recommendations to the Hall of Fame on where to place future historic markers. Date Added: 9/12/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=157103 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157103 Building Blocks of Friendships As students settled back into the routines of the 2022-23 school year, Ms. Christina Marino’s sixth grade class at Port Jefferson Middle School had some fun meeting new classmates. The students played “Get to Know You Jenga” a way to unite them through play, learn the importance of patience and enhance their decision-making skills. “It’s our first year together so it was great to hear about them and their likes and dislikes,” Ms. Marino said. “They really enjoyed incorporating a familiar game inside the classroom.” Date Added: 9/6/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156953 Tue, 06 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156953 Welcome Mr. Ruggero! The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that Mr. John Ruggero has been named principal at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Before joining the Port Jefferson School District, Mr. Ruggero most recently served as the assistant principal at Robert Moses Middle School in the North Babylon School District, where he served since 2018. Prior to that position, he served as an elementary principal in the Sachem School District. His professional background also includes 12 years of teaching experience in mathematics at the middle and high school level in the Sachem, William Floyd and Wyandanch school districts. He is also an active head coach for the Center Moriches Blue Devils lacrosse team and has held coaching positions in football, baseball, softball and lacrosse for numerous years. Mr. Ruggero earned a Master of Science in education from Dowling College, where he also received dual advanced certification in school building leadership and school district leadership. He holds a Bachelor of Science in finance from SUNY Old Westbury. The Port Jefferson School District welcomes Mr. Ruggero’s leadership skills and educational values. We look forward to his professional commitment to our students, staff and entire school community! Date Added: 9/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156871 Thu, 01 Sep 2022 05:00:00 GMT false156871 Students Return, Ready to Learn! Future scientists, authors, leaders, explorers and more! Sunshine and smiles filled the hallways of all three schools in the Port Jefferson School District on Sept. 1 as the district officially opened its doors for the first day of classes for students. From pre-K students meeting new friends in their colorful classrooms to high school seniors kicking off their final year in the district, students throughout the Port Jefferson School District quickly settled in to their new routines. Overall, the 2022-2023 school year got off to a great start and is a clear indication of a wonderful year ahead. Welcome back! Date Added: 9/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156879 Thu, 01 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156879 Royals Host Successful Clothing Drive! The Port Jefferson School District Royal Athletic Booster Club hosted a successful clothing drive fundraiser on Aug. 30. The club members thank the Port Jefferson community for its support of their efforts. Date Added: 9/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156863 Thu, 01 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156863 Fostering a Culture of Care The Port Jefferson School District is gearing up for the new school year and staff and educators joined in the first of two Superintendent’s Conference Days on Aug. 30. Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Robert Neidig welcomed new staff, presented facility and technology updates and introduced staff to the national awareness campaign Stop the Bleed led by members of the Port Jefferson Emergency Medical Services. In addition to professional development opportunities, a highlight of the program was guest speaker Mr. Eric Kussin, a professional sports executive and mental health advocate who spoke on normalizing mental health conversations and best practices for working through emotional uncertainties. Date Added: 8/30/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156814 Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156814 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education for the purpose of discussion of the capital bond projects slated for a December 12, 2022 vote will be held on Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 7:00 PM, at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Auditorium. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on September 13, 2022, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156767 Fri, 26 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156767 Clothing Drive Fundraiser - August 30, 2022 2pm-5pm Date Added: 8/25/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156747 Thu, 25 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156747 Fun and Games at PJSD Athletic Camps The Port Jefferson School District athletic camps ended a successful first year with the youth football and cheerleading camps this past week. More than 60 kindergarten through ninth grade students had the opportunity to learn about each sport and build connections with the district’s varsity student-athletes. The coaches and our student-helpers did a phenomenal job,” Port Jefferson School District Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard said. “The success of the camps is all due to their preparation and desire to build relationships with the campers. I am looking forward to offering some camps and clinics throughout the school year to keep our younger students engaged in athletics and continue the personal connections with our varsity student-athletes.” Date Added: 8/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156702 Mon, 22 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156702 Field Day Fun! The Port Jefferson School District Summer School celebrated the last day with some field day activities. The day was filled with fun and games for students and staff alike. The students culminated a successful summer school program with smiles, laughter and an all-time favorite… ice pops!! Date Added: 8/16/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156644 Tue, 16 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156644 Information on Free or Reduced Meals Dear Port Jefferson School District Families, The Port Jefferson School District’s federal funding waiver, which enabled the District to offer lunch at no charge to all our students, has ended. The federal program, started early in the pandemic, was extended to students across the country to be sure that healthy meals were provided to aid in their success at school. As a reminder, families may qualify for free or reduced price meals for the 2022-2023 school year. Eligibility is based upon individual household income levels. Families must fill out an annual application to qualify for this program. Please contact your principal or access the following link https://www.portjeffschools.org/departments/food_services for a free and reduced meal application. As always, the Port Jefferson School District is pleased to offer an exceptional educational program for all our students. In partnership with our district nutrition professionals, we will continue to provide students with access to a nutritional and inviting food service program. Date Added: 8/16/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156636 Tue, 16 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156636 Capital Bond Projects Special Meeting The Port Jefferson School District will hold a special Board of Education meeting to discuss the proposed capital bond projects slated for a December 12, 2022 vote. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 6 at 7 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School auditorium. This is an opportunity for community input as it is anticipated that the Board of Education will approve a resolution for the bond vote at its Tuesday, Sept. 13 meeting. Community members are encouraged to attend and participate in this open forum. For more information on the Bond, please go to www.portjeffschools.org/bond/home Date Added: 8/12/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156588 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156588 Learning in Harmony! The annual Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson brought the beautiful sounds of music to the air as elementary and middle school students honed their creative skills. More than 50 student-musicians in grades 3-6 participated in this year's instrumental camp. Group music instruction on band and string instruments as well as ukulele were taught by music teachers Mr. Mark Abbonizio and Mr. Christian Neubert. As always, the camp provided an enjoyable and positive way for students to begin to learn to play an instrument or continue their studies. Date Added: 8/12/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156591 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156591 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 15, 2022 at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 7:30PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel matters. Public session will follow immediately at the conclusion of executive session. This special meeting is dedicated to personnel agenda items only. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156573 Thu, 11 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156573 Juggling Joy! The Port Jefferson School District’s summer School Program at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School welcomed Jester Jim for a performance filled with laughter and joy. With his trunk of props, Jester Jim showcased his skills with a variety of juggling, balance and musical acts. “The students had fun getting silly and clowning around,” District Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill. After the performance, students from Mr. Brian Mas’ class took orders, made and delivered some circus-themed snacks to all the students from their mobile “Circus Store.” It was a fun day of laughter for all. The Port Jefferson School District thanks SEPTA for their support. Date Added: 8/10/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156556 Wed, 10 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156556 High School Lauded by NYSPHSAA Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was named a School of Distinction by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. The purpose of the School of Distinction Award is to unite varsity coaches in challenging their teams to achieve a statewide academic honor. This year, only 86 schools statewide earned the School of Distinction Award. Port Jefferson received the status by having 100% of its varsity teams qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award during their respective sports seasons. Port Jefferson School District Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard will be presented a plaque and a commemorative award at the Section XI local athletic director workshop this fall. The school district congratulates its student-athletes for their continued commitment to academics as well as athletics. Date Added: 8/4/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156499 Thu, 04 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156499 S’More Action in Port Jeff’s Summer School! Port Jefferson School District students enrolled in summer school classes created their own indoor “campfire” to signify days of summer fun. The students listened to campfire stories and used their creative skills to make a solar oven. They then enjoyed some tasty no-bake chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker s’mores! Date Added: 7/26/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156345 Tue, 26 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156345 Summer Newsletter – Now Available Date Added: 7/18/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156253 Mon, 18 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156253 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 9, 2022, 7:30 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. A public hearing on the District’s Safety Plan will be held on August 30, 2022, 7:00 PM, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. A business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will follow at 7:30 PM. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Meetings are livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156258 Mon, 18 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156258 Educational Partnership: Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame Earl L. Vandermeulen High School continues to add to its unique educational offerings and, with the input of one of its teachers and a multisport coach, will offer a sports history class in the fall of 2022 in conjunction with the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. The program will be a distinctive opportunity for Port Jefferson students to learn about local sports history and provide them with unique experiences in the classroom, on research-based projects and at Hall of Fame events. This is the first program of its kind in the 32-year history of the Hall of Fame, which serves to honor people and places of historic significance in Suffolk County. The course, developed by social studies teacher Mr. Bryan Vaccaro and approved by the Port Jefferson Board of Education and administration, will be augmented by lessons developed by Hall of Fame staffers who will line up guest speakers and work directly with Port Jefferson’s faculty on content creation opportunities related to history, research and media. Mr. Vaccaro’s brother, Mr. Chris Vaccaro, serves as president of the Hall of Fame and was instrumental in forming the partnership with the school district. He cited Port Jefferson’s outstanding academic track record as a plus for the Hall of Fame to evolve its purpose and place on Long Island. Key aspects of the educational partnership: * Curriculum and lessons: The Hall of Fame will work with the high school social studies department to create lessons and curriculum related to local sports history. * Guest speakers: Inductees of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame will visit the class in person or via Zoom throughout the school year. * Induction attendees: Students will have the opportunity to attend the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame induction in June and help provide social media support, thus improving their media and sports business skills and understanding. * Historic research projects: The class will research local places of sporting significance and make recommendations to the Hall of Fame on where to place future historic markers. * Inductee research projects: Students will research notable sports people and make recommendations to the Hall of Fame voting committee on potential future inductees. * Sports content creation: Student work and research will be featured on the Hall of Fame’s website and social media pages with faculty approval. “We are so appreciative of Brian Vaccaro’s vision and bringing this partnership to fruition with his research and resources,” Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal Eric Haruthunian said. “This is another exceptional opportunity to bridge our school and the greater community and certainly an exciting real-world educational experience for our students.” Date Added: 7/12/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156206 Tue, 12 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156206 Give Kids a Smile Day - Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022 Date Added: 7/5/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156098 Tue, 05 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156098 Bravo! Luke Filippi named to Newsday's All-Long Island baseball team 2022. To view the story please click here. Date Added: 7/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156072 Fri, 01 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156072 Abigail Rolfe Wins 2022 Newsday Marcus A. Henry Award To view the story please click here. Date Added: 7/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156028 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156028 Port Jeff’s Heroes! To view the story please click here. Date Added: 6/28/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=156005 Tue, 28 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156005 Congratulations Class of 2022! The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2022 received their diplomas during the 128th annual commencement exercises on June 24. A beautiful evening with the traditional Color Guard presented by members of the Port Jefferson Fire Department served as the backdrop for the ceremony. Parents, siblings, friends, teachers, administrators and Board of Education members lauded the most recent alumni of the school district. Principal Eric Haruthunian welcomed those in attendance and valedictorian and Student Organization vice president William Wu led in the Pledge of Allegiance. They were followed by the national anthem performed by the high school band under the direction of music teacher Christine Creighton and congratulatory words from Student Organization President Alexandra Carlson. Salutatorian Hugo Onghai recited from Carl Sagan’s famed book, “Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space” and related it to graduating in 2022 and savoring every moment to come. Hugo shared appreciation for and thanks to many of the high school teachers as well as his fellow graduates. Hugo was followed by parent speaker Lisa Scannell (mom to Michael Scannell) who offered appreciation for her three children receiving their primary education in the Port Jefferson School District. Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan took the podium to thank and congratulate each student and the special partnership of families in creating a great education for the students. Mrs. Schmettan quoted from the lyrics of “A Million Dreams,” from the film “The Greatest Showman” to encourage the students to continue to pursue their dreams. Class President Luci DeWitt presented the traditional class gift, a scholarship that will be presented to a student from the Class of 2028, in memory of student Aida Ramonez, to honor her life and her impact on the school community. Wu took the stage and jokingly introduced himself as a man of few words and promptly left the podium, only to be summoned back by Principal Haruthunian and many laughs from those in attendance. William shared memories with his fellow classmates and words of powering through and overcoming the obstacles of the past few years. Mr. Haruthunian then presented the Class of 2022 to Superintendent Schmettan and Board of Education president Ellen Boehm. Each student walked to the podium for their diploma while Mr. Haruthunian highlighted their personal achievements and postgraduation plans. Date Added: 6/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=155971 Mon, 27 Jun 2022 05:00:00 GMT false155971 High School Heroes Congratulations to the entire Class of 2022 and these six amazing graduates (in photo, left to right): Hunter Volpi, Shane Hartig, Ryan Parmegiani, Kasumi Layne-Stasik, Andrew Patterson, Peter Rizzo. View the story here: https://longisland.news12.com/port-jefferson-high-school-seniors-spring-into-action-for-garage-fire-call-during-graduation Date Added: 6/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=155957 Mon, 27 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155957 Student-Cellist Receives LISFA Scholarship Port Jefferson Middle School student Iris Park is the recipient of a Long Island String Festival Association Suffolk County Private Study Grant. Iris, a seventh grader, is a cellist who plans to continue her cello studies over the summer months. She joins fellow music students, eighth grader Mari Fukuto and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth grader Sebastian Salzman, who were named summer music study grant recipients earlier in the year from the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association. Date Added: 6/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=155780 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155780 ChromeBook Information Dear Parents and Guardians, At the end of the current 2021-2022 school year, all students will be expected to take their Chromebooks and chargers home for the summer months. There will not be a collection of student Chromebooks except for the grade levels that are receiving replacements. As a result, if there is a current known issue with your child’s Chromebook, it is important that they bring the device to the Tech Center immediately. If you do not plan on using your Chromebook during the summer months make sure it is put in a safe place with the charger so it is ready for September. Subsequently, students are also expected to report on the first day of school in September in possession of their fully charged functioning Chromebook. If your child is not returning to the school district in September, please make arrangements to return the Chromebook to the PJ Tech Department. Our support team can be reached at 631-791-4273. Any Chromebooks that are in need of repair as school winds down should be brought to our tech center in either the HS/MS or in the ES so they can be repaired and working at 100% for the start of school. Lastly, Chromebooks that require tech support during July and August should be brought to the Technology Office at the Elementary School by appointment by calling 631-791-4273. If you have any questions, please contact the building principal of your child’s current school prior to June 25th. Thank you and have a wonderful summer! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142976 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false142976 With Gratitude The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education meeting on June 14 was a time for celebrating district retirees for their decades of service to district students. Words of appreciation and thanks were shared from Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan before each retiree was highlighted. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal Mr. Eric Haruthunian spoke highly of two of the school’s staff members. Retiree Mrs. June Ann Crovello was lauded for her 16 years of service in various capacities in the school district, most recently as a teaching assistant at the high school. Mr. Haruthunian also lauded Mr. Matthew Moloney, network and systems technician, for his more than 20 years of service to the district. Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Mrs. Amy Laverty congratulated teaching assistant Johanna O’Hara. Dr. Robert Neidig shared stories about science teacher Debra Hagmeyer. Director of Athletics Adam Sherrard shared some kind words for physical and health education teacher Mr. James Mimnaugh. Mr. Sherrard read quotes from students and staff for Mr. Mimnaugh’s almost three decades of service to Port Jefferson students. Date Added: 6/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152868 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152868 Duo Honored With Andrew McMorris Scholarship Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors Alexandra Carlson and Peter Rizzo each received an Andrew McMorris Scholarship. The requirements to receive the scholarship were to embody character traits similar to those of Andrew, who lived a life of kindness, care, selflessness and passion. The reception was held at the McMorris Lodge at the Baiting Hollow Scout Camp on June 18. Congratulations, Alexandra and Peter! Date Added: 6/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=155749 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155749 Royals Rule! Port Jefferson School District Director of Athletics Adam Sherrard honored student-athletes for their exciting and award-winning Royals 2021-22 school year at the June 14 Board of Education meeting. It was a follow-up to a recognition in May of student-athletes who were crowned as individual county champions in girls cross-country, girls swimming and wrestling. The teams honored were boys cross-country (Class D county champions); girls soccer (Class C county champions); girls basketball (Class C county champions); boys lacrosse (Class D county champions) and baseball (Class C Long Island champions). “We have had individual competitors in cross-country, swimming, wrestling and track qualify for the NYSPHSAA championships,” he said in his remarks. “Teams have won league titles, and 16 of our 20 varsity teams made playoff appearances. These are certainly accomplishments we are extremely proud of.” Mr. Sherrard then highlighted the characteristics of courage, compassion, perseverance, belief in oneself, sacrifice and integrity in each of the champion teams before they were lauded by their coaches. Congratulations! GIRLS BASKETBALL Class C County Champions Coaches: Keith Buehler, Charles Hafner and Jesse Rosen Alexa Ayotte, Cessarina Buehler, Siena Cipriano, Caitlin Dickhuth, Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Savannah Florio, Lola Idir, Annie Maier, Anna Matvya, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Abigail Rolfe, Cam Spiller, Amy Whitman and Alexa Wonderland GIRLS SOCCER Class C County Champions Coaches: Taylor Forstell and Mary Carron Olivia Bianco, Paige Braile, Gwen Connelly, Ava Cooper, Caitlin Dickhuth, Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Julia Fite, Savannah Florio, Sara Freitas, Alexa Jacobs, Lilli Kircher, Annie Maier, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Hipolita Oliva, Maria Oliva, Kiersten Parmegiani, Brielle Procaccini, Abigail Rolfe and Amy Whitman BOYS CROSS-COUNTRY Class D County Champions Coaches: Rod Cawley and Brian Snow Brendan Capodanno, Teppei Fukuto, Joshua Gray Joyner, Rumaan Khan, Matthew Miele, Evan Monaghan, Gavin Onghai, Andrew Schretzmeyer, Carman Stanton, Ryan Sommerstad and Colin Veit BASEBALL Class C Long Island Champions Coaches Anthony Filippi, Matt Garofola, Jesse Rosen and Bryan Vaccaro Frank Andriani, Joseph Aronica, Elijah Dorsett, Kyle Erickson, Luke Filippi, Ciaran Laffey, Christopher Lotten, Seamus McKeown, Nathaniel Mullen, Daniel Owens, Ruairi Rago, Evan Raymond, Abigail Rolfe, Christian Urcuiolio, Luke Walter, Matthew Wengatz and Jake Zamek BOYS LACROSSE Class D County Champions Team Managers Olivia Alvarez and Isabelle Roberts Coaches Taylor Forstell and Jon Maletta Gavin Argyros, Stephen Bayer, John Bonura, Matthew Buonomo, Cade Delgado, Cole Delgado, Brady DeWitt, Ryan Filippi, Patrick Johnston, Alexander Layne-Stasik, Christopher Mark, Peter Murphy, Jonah Pflaster, Anthony Pipia, Peter Poten, Blake Roberts, Kyle Scandale, Michael Scannell, John Sheils, Brandon Verruto, James Verruto, Harrison Volpi, Ryan Whiffen and Kyle Yannucci Date Added: 6/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=155753 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155753 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The reorganization meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at 7:00 PM, in the Large Group Room in the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School with the regular business meeting at 7:30 PM. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=155732 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155732 Board of Education Honored The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education was among a number of school districts honored by the Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association. The accolade was for the dedication of effective and responsive governance during an unprecedented time. The certificate presented to the school board included a quote from singer-songwriter and activist Harry Chapin: “We all have the potential to move the world, and the world is ready to be moved.” A fitting tribute to Port Jefferson’s seven-member Board: President Mrs. Ellen Boehm, Vice President Mrs. Tracy Zamek and trustees Mrs. Randi DeWitt, Mr. David Keegan, Dr. Ravi Singh, Mrs. Rene Tidwell and Mr. Ryan Walker. Date Added: 6/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152853 Mon, 20 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152853 Senior Lauded by BOE Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Lucy Dewitt was recognized for her service during the 2021-22 school year as the student representative to the Board of Education. Lucy was introduced by Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan at the June 14 Board of Education meeting. Mrs. Schmettan thanked Lucy for serving as the voice of her fellow high schoolers to the seven-member Board of Education. Throughout her tenure, Lucy shared information on high school student activities and events. Mrs. Schmettan cited Lucy’s staunch advocacy for her classmates and her willingness to express her opinions. She was applauded by all Board trustees for her commitment to her important role in representing her peers. Lucy will attend Colgate University in fall 2022 to major in environmental studies. Date Added: 6/17/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152855 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152855 Tenured Educators Honored The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education recognized a milestone in the careers of district staff members at the June 14 Board of Education meeting. To the applause of Board trustees, administrators, family members, colleagues and community members, Melissa Garcia, high school science teacher; Charles Hafner, high school science teacher; Jennifer Mezzatesta, teaching assistant; Melissa Mott, teaching assistant; Susan Robinson, teaching assistant and Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard were honored with tenure for their dedication to Port Jefferson students. Executive Director of Human Resources Isha Morgenstern also congratulated teaching assistants Dannie Holland and Cassandra Meehan, who were granted tenure earlier in the school year. Board President Ellen Boehm lauded the educators and shared the pride of the school community for their efforts. “We are lucky to have you in Port Jeff and look forward to many more years of a wonderful relationship,” she said. Date Added: 6/17/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152851 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152851 Duo Honored for PE Leadership Port Jefferson Middle School eighth graders Jamie Kircher and Bianca Nakagawa were named 2021-2022 Suffolk Zone Award honorees by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Jamie and Bianca were chosen by the school’s physical education teachers for demonstrating strong leadership and character traits in physical education as well as a commitment to academics. Their continued exceptional efforts exemplify the core leadership values of the school and athletic community. Congratulations! Date Added: 6/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152734 Wed, 15 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152734 Royals Represent at State Track Championships Eight members of the Port Jefferson School District boys and girls track teams had a successful weekend at the NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championships. Hugo Onghai finished 10th in Division II in the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 16.48. Dante Cangemi finished 18th in Division II with a long jump of 20-03. Brendan Capodanno finished 31st in the state in the 3200-meter run with a time of 10:09.82. Warren Coburn finished 20th in the state with a jump of 10-06. On the girls’ side, the 4x100 relay team of Lucy Dewitt, Alexa Jacobs, Jenna Jacobs and Annie Maier finished eighth in Division II and 12th overall in New York State with a time of 51.49. Jenna broke her own school record in the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.57 and finished 13th in Division II. Jenna also finished 14th amongst all Division II runners in the 200-meter dash with a time of 26.74. Athletic Director Adam Sherrard was very impressed with how well the group performed. “Our senior leadership team was phenomenal all season,” he said. “That leadership, along with the determination and work ethic of our underclassmen, was a combination for success. I am very proud of this group and excited to be putting some new times on the record board this summer!” Date Added: 6/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152741 Wed, 15 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152741 Fifth Graders Honored Two students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School were named Suffolk Zone Award honorees by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Fifth-graders Ezedin Gately and Olivia Viviano were chosen by the school’s physical education teachers for demonstrating strong leadership and character traits in physical education as well as a commitment to academics. The honor recognizes their commitment to physical education and serving as role models for their peers. Date Added: 6/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152742 Wed, 15 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152742 Back-to-Back Championships On consecutive Fridays, May 20 and May 27, championship games were held in Port Jefferson, after which championship trophies were held high by both the Royals baseball and boys lacrosse teams. On May 20, the lacrosse team started off the championship run with an 11-8 victory over Center Moriches to win the Boys Lacrosse Suffolk County Class “D” championship. Head Coach Taylor Forstell attributes the victory to all the hard work and dedication the team has put in throughout the year. “These are student-athletes who were hungry for victory,” Mr. Forstell said. “They put so much time into preparing for these moments, and I was so happy for them to get to celebrate on their home field in front of hundreds of friends and family members.” The championships did not stop there. On May 27, the Port Jefferson baseball team defeated Pierson 7-6 in front of hundreds of fans lining the first base path. The game ended with Frank Andriani’s awareness on the base path, leading to a game-winning run off a wild pitch. The baseball team followed up the county win on May 27 with a win over Carle Place on June 3, crowning them Long Island champions. “We could not be happier for the team’s accomplishments,” varsity baseball coach Jesse Rosen said. “It is very exciting to share this experience with the entire school community. Having this type of success, a week after the boys lacrosse team won their second consecutive County Title, created an awesome buzz in the school.” Date Added: 6/10/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152596 Fri, 10 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152596 Keith Buehler: Counselor of the Year! Port Jefferson Middle School guidance counselor Mr. Keith Buehler was named Western Suffolk Counselors’ Association Counselor of the Year. He was honored at a ceremony at The View in Oakdale on June 8. Nominated by Port Jefferson parent and fellow school counselor Mrs. Jean Poten and Port Jefferson Middle School interim principal Mr. James Nolan, he was noted for his high regard for and respect from students, families, colleagues, administration and the community. Mrs. Poten also gave a heartfelt speech at the ceremony. “Keith’s counseling skills and human development talents extend far beyond the walls of his office,” Mr. Nolan said. “He is an empathetic listener who is highly effective in assessing situations and building relationships.” Mr. Buehler was also cited for his patience, understanding, compassion, kindness and unique ability to leave everyone feeling positive and optimistic. Among Mr. Buehler’s achievements are numerous programs to motivate and support students, including one that donates gifts to children in the hospital, organizes relief efforts to help families and schools in less fortunate parts of the world and connects with the incoming sixth grade class each year. Upon arrival to middle school, Mr. Buehler interviews each student to build a mutually respectful and trusting relationship. One unique Port Jefferson program – Little Savages Fishing Club – in which he teaches students about fishing while building relationship and friendships is well-appreciated by the students and families alike. “So many of our middle school and high school students benefit from the unconditional love and support that comes from [this club],” Mr. Nolan said. Mr. Nolan also noted that Mr. Buehler can be found in the classrooms, on the athletic fields and in the community interacting with the students and their families. He recognizes all student efforts with praise and compliments and although he is assigned to the middle school, it is common to see Mr. Buehler working with high school students. He has coached numerous athletic teams from community youth programs through varsity athletics. “Mr. Buehler has touched countless lives through coaching, and he remains a friend, mentor and role model in the lives of many young men and women,” Mr. Nolan said. Date Added: 6/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152530 Thu, 09 Jun 2022 05:00:00 GMT false152530 State Bound! Eight members of the varsity boys and girls track teams are heading up to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s Outdoor Track and Field Championship. They are: Hugo Onghai: 110-meter hurdles Warren Coburn: pole vault Dante Cangemi: long jump Brendan Capodanno: 3200-meter run Jenna Jacobs: 100-meter and 200-meter dash Lucy DeWitt, Alexa Jacobs, Jenna Jacobs and Annie Maier: 4x100 relay. Jenna Jacobs set the school record for the 100-meter dash last week at the state qualifier meet. The 4x100 relay squad also broke the Port Jefferson School District’s record time at the state qualifier meet. The NYSPHSAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship will take place at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. The student-athletes will compete on Friday June 10. The 3200-meter run and the pole vault championships will have the championship round on Friday evening; the top performers from the other events on Friday will move onto the championship round on Saturday. The NYSPHSAA championships can be viewed on www.nfhsnetwork. “The student-athletes rose to the occasion and performed at their best the last few weeks of the season during the county and state qualifying meets,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “I am looking forward to seeing this continue at the state championship meet. There was no NYSPHSAA championship for spring track the last two years due to COVID. These eight student-athletes have been so excited for the opportunity to compete at the highest level, and they put in the hard work to make it there.” Date Added: 6/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152491 Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152491 College Signing Day The Port Jefferson College Signing Day ceremony took place on June 7 in the Earl. L. Vandermeulen High School auditorium to recognize the achievements of six high school student-athletes who have committed to competing in collegiate athletics. The students honored are: Grace Chambers, West Virginia University, women’s rowing Anthony Evangelista, University of Scranton, wrestling Caelan Schretzmayer, Wellesley College, cross-country and track and field John Sheils, Bridgewater State University, men’s basketball Camryn Spiller, Fairleigh Dickinson University, women’s lacrosse Kyle Yannucci, Nichols College, football Parents, siblings, sport trainers, coaches and classmates filled the auditorium to support the college commits. Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard spoke about the commitment, dedication and leadership the student-athletes shared and thanked them for helping to develop a culture of winning, support and school spirit. That commitment not only led to athletic success this school year but will help lead to continued success for Port Jefferson’s athletic program in the future. Coaches Natalie Badolato, Andrew Cosci, Mike Maletta, Pete Meehan and Brian Snow each spoke about the qualities and characteristics of each student-athlete, and although many athletic accolades were noted, each coach emphasized the quality relationships between the student-athletes and their teammates and coaches. “Committing to athletics is not just a commitment by the student-athlete,” Mr. Sherrard said. “It is a commitment by the coaches and, most importantly, the families. The student-athletes put the work in during practices, competitions and the offseason, but none of that is possible without the dedication and support from those around them. It is important that everyone involved in the journey helped celebrate the accomplishment of commitment to collegiate athletics. I am looking forward to these six outstanding young men and women displaying their talent outside the walls of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. I hope to see them come back to support our athletic programs and share their stories of adversity and success with our student-athletes. Date Added: 6/8/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152445 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152445 Valedictorian William Wu Honored by SCSSA Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior William Wu was among the top Suffolk County students who were honored at the annual Suffolk County School Superintendents Association Valedictorians Luncheon. The event honored the accomplishments of the county’s highest-achieving graduates from the Class of 2022 and was attended by valedictorians, their parents, high school principals and school district superintendents. The students were lauded by SCSSA President Dr. Yiendhy Farrelly, guest speaker Suffolk County Sheriff Dr. Errol D. Toulon Jr. and SCSSA President-Elect James Polansky. William, along with all the valedictorians present, received a commemorative plaque. Date Added: 6/7/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152428 Tue, 07 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152428 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, June 7, 2022, 7:00 PM in the auditorium at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School to discuss the proposed capital bond projects. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a legal and personnel matters. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on June 14, 2022, 7:30 p.m., in the auditorium of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152359 Mon, 06 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152359 A Fair Day of Fun! Mini golf, bumper cars and a driving range were some of the fun ways that Earl L. Vandermeulen High school’s Class of 2022 celebrated during the Senior Class Trip at Coram’s Country Fair on June 2. Date Added: 6/3/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152316 Fri, 03 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152316 Class C Suffolk Champions! Date Added: 6/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152188 Wed, 01 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152188 Summer Music Camp Registration is Now Open! Date Added: 5/31/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152174 Tue, 31 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152174 Port Jeff Pilots Self-Defense Program Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in Ms. Dinarae Camarda’s Wellfit class took part in a self-defense pilot program with Mr. Carlos Henrique from Carlos Henrique Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Team and Mr. Eric Fells, Port Jefferson School District former athletic trainer, a purple belt in Brazilian jiujitsu. The students learned self-defense techniques and how to defend multiple types of attacks, from one hand grabbing their wrist to a two-handed attack up by the shoulders. Students worked with a partner and rotated turns with each member of the class as the attacker and the defender. “The first step to self-defense is awareness; after that, building confidence and increasing self-esteem,” Ms. Camarda said, who also took part in the techniques portion with the students. “This workshop helped to demonstrate that to our students. I am so grateful to be able to bring this experience into Wellfit classes.” A 7th degree red and black belt in Brazilian jiujitsu, Mr. Henrique has more than 45 years of jiujitsu training. He has been a self-defense instructor since 1993, which includes self-defense training for the Brazilian army and Brazilian Criminal System Department. Based on the success of incorporating it into the Wellfit classes, Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Mr. Adam Sherrard plans to work with Mr. Henrique on incorporating self-defense into physical education classes in the 2022-23 school year. Date Added: 5/31/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152156 Tue, 31 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152156 Elementary Math Masters! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students participated in the Mathematical Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools, or MOEMS, throughout the school year under the leadership of STEM teacher Dr. Kathryn Zvokel. The five highest scorers were chosen to participate in a recent virtual Math Olympiad competition. They were presented with individual problems to solve followed by working as a group to solve different problems. The answers to the MOEMS-type problems were reviewed together to learn different strategies. Fourth grader Alice Turner and fifth graders Kieran Browne, Rauiri Hogan, Austin Nam and Nathan Rubenstein represented the school. Austin earned second place in the competition! Bravo to these students for embracing multiple strategies for out-of-the-box problem-solving, developing mathematical flexibility in solving the problems and fostering mathematical creativity and ingenuity. Date Added: 5/31/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152171 Tue, 31 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152171 Music in the Village! A chamber music festival with the Port Jefferson Middle School string orchestra under the leadership of Dr. Vanessa Salzman took place at Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson Village on May 26. Students performed selections from Bach, Ernst, Handel, Respighi, Schumann and Tchaikovsky. The event was another opportunity for Port Jefferson student-musicians to perform for a public audience while building their musical skills. Date Added: 5/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152102 Fri, 27 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152102 Senior Honored With Entrepreneurial Scholarship Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Ryan Parmegiani was honored with a $1,000 entrepreneurial scholarship from the Celebrate Your Home Team at Keller Williams Points North. According to Beth Hayde, director of operations for Celebrate Your Home, Ryan’s essay and accomplishments really stood out, and she and her colleagues were excited to surprise him with his award. “It was our pleasure to award Ryan for his outstanding accomplishments,” Ms. Hayde said, adding that they wish him happiness and success as he pursues his post-high school education in horticultural technology management. Date Added: 5/26/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=152033 Thu, 26 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152033 Chamber Music Festival A chamber music festival with the Port Jefferson Middle School string orchestra under the leadership of Dr. Vanessa Salzman will take place at Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson Village on Thursday, May 26 at 10:30 a.m. The rain date is Friday, May 27. Students will perform selections from Bach, Ernst, Handel, Respighi, Schumann and Tchaikovsky. According to Dr. Salzman chamber music boosts students’ confidence and musicianship through learning their own individual part while discovering how it fits together within the ensemble. The public performance is helping the students to build valuable social and musical connections. Date Added: 5/25/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151989 Wed, 25 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151989 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on June 14, 2022, 7:30 p.m., in the auditorium of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151862 Mon, 23 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151862 PJSD Special Board of Education Meeting: Proposed Capital Bond Projects Date Added: 5/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151792 Fri, 20 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151792 TBR Newspaper Senior Photos https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151731 Thu, 19 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151731 Budget Passes! Proposition #1: Yes 642; No 165 Proposition #2: Yes 673; No 130 Candidates Paul Ryan 267 Ellen Boehm 550 Randi DeWitt 563 Date Added: 5/17/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151660 Tue, 17 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151660 A Win for PJ Unified Basketball Team! The Port Jefferson School District’s unified basketball team took on Southampton last week in the first home game of the season. Once again, teamwork was a priority for the student-athletes who prevailed 38-32 over Southampton, with Ryan Sproul, playing for the first time this season, scoring 10 points to take the win. “The collaboration among students is wonderful to witness,” Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill said. “The guidance and positive energies shared among our Royals have resulted in new friendships and memories that will last long after the season.” Date Added: 5/16/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151591 Mon, 16 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151591 Fit Club for Fifth Graders With months of preparation, 14 Edna Louise Spear Elementary fifth graders competed in the Suffolk Zone Fit Club competition on May 11 in Sayville. The competition was against 29 other elementary schools from across Suffolk County, and Port Jeff finished in seventh place. Wearing team jerseys, Josie Amtmann, Leo Baranta, Isabella Fraticci Cseri, Julianna Fraticci Cseri, Ezedin Gatley, Kai Gronenthal, Austin Nam, Olivia Nguyen, Luke Peterson, Nathan Rubenstein, Vanessa Schuchman, Ryan Verruto, Olivia Viviano and Leilani Von Oiste were selected by Mr. Adam Sherrard, Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing, and Assistant Principal Mr. Brian Walker. The students participated in tryouts during physical education classes earlier in the spring. The top seven boys and seven girls were selected for the school’s Fit Club team. They met after school over the past seven weeks to prepare for the competition. “The preparation and focus on improving their individual fitness levels were extraordinary,” Mr. Sherrard said. “We gave the students some equipment to do additional practice at home on their own, and it was evident that they put the equipment to good use. Every day they came to practice, each student had an improved score from the week prior.” The students competed in two “As Many Rounds as Possible” events. In the first event, they performed 30 situps, 30 shoulder taps, 15 agility jumps and a 25-foot bear crawl. In the next event, they performed 15 box jumps, a 75-foot farmer’s carry, 30 jump ropes and a 25-foot crab walk. In both events, each student completed four exercises and continued to complete as many rounds as possible within 15 minutes. “I could not be more proud of our students,” Mr. Walker said. “The determination they demonstrated to keep pushing through each exercise was outstanding. The encouragement from their teammates certainly helped them persevere.” Date Added: 5/16/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151602 Mon, 16 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151602 Port Jefferson Royal Achievements! The Port Jefferson School District varsity winter athletic teams recently attended their Section XI end-of-season awards dinner. The event was an opportunity to recognize teams, student-athletes and coaches for all of their hard work and accomplishments in their respective sport. Port Jefferson congratulates all its Royals and was fortunate to have several student-athletes take home postseason awards. Boys Track Dante Cangemi: All-County for Long Jump Hugo Onghai: All-County for Hurdles, All-Academic Team Andy Cosci: League V Coach of the Year Wrestling Preston Biedenkapp: All-County Liam Rogers: All-County Frank D’Elia: All-County, County Champion Cade Delgado: All-County Anthony Evangelista: All-County, County Champion Junior Beltran: All-League Willy Rodriguez: All-County, County Champion Anthony Pipia: All-County Girls Basketball Amy Whitman: All-League Alexa Ayotte: League VII Unsung Hero Annie Maier: All-League, All-Academic team Abby Rolfe: All-League, All-Conference, All-Academic team Lola Idir: All-County, League VII MVP, Class C All-State 7th team Camryn Spiller: Rookie of the Year Coach Jesse Rosen: Coach of the Year Coach Keith Buehler: Coach of the Year Boys Basketball Mike Scannell: League VII Unsung Hero Luke Dickhuth: All-League, All-Conference John Sheils: All-League Peter Murphy: Academic All-County Date Added: 5/13/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151514 Fri, 13 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151514 County Champions Recognized Five Port Jefferson School District student-athletes were recognized at the May 10 Board of Education meeting for their outstanding athletic achievement in the fall and winter sports seasons. Athletic Director Adam Sherrard spoke about the championship mentality and each student-athletes’ year-round commitment to training, working hard and improving themselves. Coaches Mary Fleckenstein (swim), Mike Maletta (wrestling) and Brian Snow (track) spoke about each student-athlete and the perseverance, courage, dedication and fortitude they demonstrated over the last several years to help them become county champions. Senior Kate Sommerstad was the Suffolk County champion in the 500-meter freestyle and placed fifth in New York State in the 200-meter free and third in the state in the 500-meter free. She received All-County, All-Long Island and All-State honors for her performance in the freestyle. Kate will join the swim team for the University of Miami next year. Senior Caelan Schretzmayer was the Class D county champion in cross-country and qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship meet. She also received All-County and Class D All-State Honorable Mention honors from the New York State Sports Writers Association. Caelan will join the track team for Wellesley College next year. Student Frankie D’Elia was the county champion at 110 pounds for wrestling. Anthony Evangelista was the county champion at 152 pounds for wrestling, and Willy Rodriguez was the county champion at 215 pounds for wrestling. All three qualified for the NYSPHSAA championship tournament. Frankie was the overall champion in his weight class at the Armstrong Cup and Huntington tournaments. Anthony was the overall champion in his weight class at the Armstrong Cup, East Islip and West Islip tournaments. He also had the Most Pins in Least Amount of Time in the county tournament, pinning four opponents in a total time of 6 minutes and 29 seconds. He was also named the team’s Most Valuable Wrestler this season. Anthony will join the wrestling team at the University of Scranton next year. Willy was the overall champion in his weight class at the Armstrong Cup tournament. Throughout the season he competed against wrestlers larger in size and still was able to physically dominate his opponents. The School District will recognize the Port Jefferson county championship teams at the June 14 Board of Education meeting. Date Added: 5/13/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151515 Fri, 13 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151515 Guidance Presentation - Navigating HS Please read the attached letter regarding the upcoming presentation for Middle School 8th Graders https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151454 Thu, 12 May 2022 11:00:00 GMT false151454 The Science of Skating Port Jefferson Middle School sixth graders enjoyed a unique educational experience on a math and science field trip to United Skates of America in Seaford. Students learned how the concepts of science, technology, engineering and math can be found in everyday experiences and hands-on activities, and roller skating brought that to life. “The kids had a blast,” math teacher Meg Ryan said. “They skated every minute possible, nobody sat out. They really enjoyed the math portion of the trip.” Students took turns timing each other as they ran across the rink and computed their speed as a rate in feet per second. They did another activity where they found the average size roller skate based on data they collected from their peers. In addition to Ms. Ryan, thanks to chaperones Sheila Albinson, Kristin Britt, Melissa Corey, Craig Perrino, Alyssa Rivera, Megan Roth-Ueno and Chuck Ruoff for encouraging education and fun all rolled into one! Date Added: 5/12/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151471 Thu, 12 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151471 2022-23 Budget Video Information Date Added: 5/11/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151370 Wed, 11 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151370 NYSED Regents Field Tests https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151353 Tue, 10 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151353 Sex Offender Alert Letter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151281 Mon, 09 May 2022 17:00:00 GMT false151281 We Love Our Teachers! Although Port Jefferson School District educators are appreciated every day of the year for their commitment to our students, national Teacher Appreciation Week is another opportunity to thank them for all their efforts. Today, seniors wore “We Love Our Port Jeff Teachers” T-shirts, courtesy of the Royal Athletic Club. Date Added: 5/6/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151245 Fri, 06 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151245 College Decision Day! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors celebrated a milestone in their academic careers by wearing the shirts of their intended college or university for College Decision Day. Congratulations! Date Added: 5/6/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151246 Fri, 06 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151246 Bravo! Port Jefferson Again Named to Prestigious List The Port Jefferson School District has again been ranked among the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education in America. The honor acknowledges schools and districts across the country for their dedication to and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. This is the 16th consecutive year that Port Jefferson – one of only 738 school districts across the nation named in 2022 – has received the prestigious national recognition. The school district boasts numerous vocal, band and orchestral performing groups, and students have numerous opportunities to perform within the community. The award program recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education in Port Jefferson. The district was designated for its demonstration of an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education. Date Added: 5/5/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151160 Thu, 05 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151160 Quartet Welcomed to Port Jeff Port Jefferson School District students welcomed special musical guests, the Euclid Quartet, who performed several works for the Port Jefferson Middle School grades 7 and 8 music students. The ensemble in residence at Indiana University South Bend performed Dvorak’s “American” Quartet and Debussy’s String Quartet. They also coached three string chamber ensembles who performed works by Bach, Ernst, Handel and Respighi. The musicians discussed ideas of melody and the importance of nonverbal cues within chamber performance in addition to other elements to improve ensemble playing. “For many of our younger players, this was their first time listening to live chamber music,” Port Jefferson Middle School orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman said. “This up-close and engaging performance was a wonderful introduction for our young musicians. We appreciate violinist Aviva Hakanoglu for maintaining her connections with our school district and consistently organizing and bringing in colleagues from all over the world to volunteer their time and talents to enrich and support our music program here in Port Jefferson.” Date Added: 5/4/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151105 Wed, 04 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151105 Trees, Please! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School first graders are a caring group of students with lots of knowledge about the environment. They shared it with two special guests to the school – Dr. Heather Lynch, a professor in Stony Brook University’s Department of Ecology and Evolution, and Ms. Rebecca Kassey, a Port Jefferson Village Board trustee. Both are members of the Port Jefferson Conservation Advisory Council Re-Treeing Task Force subcommittee. The duo shared information on the village’s plan to plant trees and gave each curious student a packet of information on native plants and a voucher for a sapling, to be picked up at the Port Jefferson Farmers Market on Sunday, May 8. The students had a choice of a red oak, a white spruce or a winter berry. According to Ms. Kassey, who chairs the committee, the saplings are an opportunity for Port Jefferson residents to plant on their own property or village properties, including the Port Jefferson Country Club and the community garden. The benefits of the plantings are twofold – to increase the beauty of the village and to improve native ecosystems. “It is our hope that this could turn into a yearly tradition,” Ms. Kassey said. This inaugural group of students will get to appreciate the trees’ growth, beauty, shade, home to birds such as woodpeckers and more when they graduate high school in 2033. Date Added: 5/4/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151108 Wed, 04 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151108 Royals Represent at Penn Relays Five student-athletes from the Port Jefferson varsity boys track team had acceptable times to participate in the coveted Penn Relays event April 28-30 at The University of Pennsylvania. The Penn Relays hosts hundreds of top track and field athletes from both the high school and collegiate level. Students Giancarlo Caltagirone, Dante Cangemi, Brendan Capodanno and Gray Joyner competed in the 4x100 relay and ran a season personal best of 3:38.38 in the 4x400 relay. Their time was the 11th best 4x400 relay time in Division II of New York State this spring. Student Arik Sen also accompanied the team as an alternate. Early on in the season, Coach Andrew Cosci and Coach Rod Cawley challenged the runners to perform at a high enough level to enter them in the Penn Relays. Throughout the season the boys pushed themselves to earn their spot. Along with teammate Hugo Onghai, who couldn't compete due to a scheduling conflict, Giancarlo, Dante, Brendan, Gray and Arik rose to the challenge. “It has been a few years since we had student-athletes compete in the Penn Relays,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “It is such a great experience for our runners. Hopefully, the season best performance over the weekend is a sign of things to come as the postseason approaches.” Date Added: 5/4/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151117 Wed, 04 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151117 Second-Place Win for Broadcasting Students Students in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s broadcasting course were invited to attend Stony Brook University’s BASH (Broadcast Awards for Senior High). The students represented the school in multiple video categories and entered five videos into the competition. They brought home a second-place win in the Best Anchor Team category. Students Lola Idir, Jenna Jacobs and Amy Whitman submitted the prize-winning piece. The collaborative high school class with technology teacher Brian Chalmers and English teacher Meg Lavin has grown and evolved since its inception a few years ago. The engagement of Port Jefferson students in real-world learning opportunities goes hand in hand with the BASH mission to support and foster growth among high school students and educators interested in broadcast journalism, video production, media and communications. The annual BASH event celebrates student broadcast journalism and video production. Stony Brook University hosts the event, serving as part awards ceremony and part learning conference for Long Island high school students and teachers involved in high school journalism programs and media production classes. Date Added: 5/4/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151124 Wed, 04 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151124 2022 High School Art Show Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students showcased their talents at the 2022 High School Art Show. Under the guidance of art teacher Nancy Randazzo and through various mediums, students were encouraged to explore and discover their creative talents. Date Added: 5/3/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151086 Tue, 03 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151086 Students Build Connections Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School are recognizing Mental Health Awareness Month with weekly initiatives coordinated by school social workers Kristin Britt and Larissa Hoefler along with school psychologist Kristen Wendel. The purpose is to raise awareness and educate the public about mental health issues. The first week of the initiative students will focus on empathy. Students are encouraged to check in with each other for a few minutes in classes, with teachers walking around listening to ensure students are engaged in the activity and for any urgent topics that may arise. According to Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Mr. Adam Sherrard, the check-ins will deepen classroom connectedness and increase self-awareness as well as awareness of others. Date Added: 5/2/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151053 Mon, 02 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151053 SEL Mission Accomplished The Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s social-emotional learning program has a mission to make a positive impact on students. During a recent lesson with health teacher Mr. Benjamin Bajus, students in Ms. Nancy Winkler-Brogan’s third grade class collaborated on several scenarios with guidance from the Second Step web-based, social-emotional learning curriculum. The students worked in groups on the steps: Say the Problem, Think of Solutions, Explore Outcomes and Pick a Solution. Two of them, Will Fabian and Michael Viviano, were excited to share their views on how the program helps. “It’s a way for us to show kindness to kids,” Will said. Michael added, “[And] a way to welcome new friends to school and show awareness of their feelings.” Mission accomplished. Date Added: 4/29/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150974 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150974 Senior Named News 12 Scholar-Athlete Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Abby Rolfe has been selected as a recipient of the News12 Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. The $1,000 scholarship is provided by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Abby was a four-year starter for varsity girls soccer. During that time she received All-League honors in 2019 and All-County in 2020 and 2021. As a captain, Abby helped lead the girls Suffolk County Championship this past fall. Abby has been a starter for varsity girls basketball since eighth grade. She received All-League honors in 2019 and All-County in 2020 and 2021. As a member of the basketball team, she helped lead the team to four county championships. She was a starter for the varsity softball team in grades 7-9. In grades 10-12 she has been a member of the varsity baseball team and has been a starter for the last two seasons. Abby received All-League honors for softball in 2019 and All-League Academic honors for baseball in 2020. In addition to her outstanding performance in athletics, Abby also spends time giving back to others. Abby has done 500 hours of community service and is a member of the Varsity Club and Honor Society at the high school. She is a leader of Vacation Bible School, a Sunday school teacher and counselor aid at Hidden Pond day camp. She is a constant participant in League of Yes and the Polar Plunge to help raise awareness for individuals with special needs. With all of the time committed to athletics and giving back to others, Abby’s school work does not take a back seat. She is enrolled in honors and AP classes and maintains a GPA over 98. News12 recently came to the school to interview Abby and present her with the scholarship. News12 will air the episode with Abby and the other Scholar-Athlete recipients on Tuesday, May 3 at 5 p.m. The episode will also be posted on the News12 Facebook page after that initial airing. Date Added: 4/29/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=151007 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151007 'Petting Zoo' Celebrates Music! The Port Jefferson School District’s Petting Zoo took place in the Elementary School’s courtyard when students returned from spring break. The musical event brought together third graders and members of the High School’s instrumental and choral ensembles in a fun and festive opportunity for the younger students to learn about band and orchestra instruments. Organized by district music teachers, the younger students were able to hear the instruments played and ask questions about them. The students will soon make their selection of the instrument they would like to begin to learn when they enter fourth grade in September. Date Added: 4/29/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150961 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150961 Real-World Science Lessons Students from Mr. Greg Gorniok’s Advanced Placement Biology class at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School recently visited The Biotechnology Teaching Center at Stony Brook University. The students had an opportunity for hands-on learning as they applied classroom knowledge of biology to problem-solve. With Mr. Gorniok, graduate students in the Master of Science Education program and university faculty guidance, Port Jefferson students conducted lab experiments manipulating and analyzing DNA using various lab techniques and equipment. It was a valuable experience for the students and a way, so close to home, to gain some insight into higher education and real-world learning. Date Added: 4/29/22 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150964 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150964 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 10, 2022, 7:30 p.m., in the auditorium of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The Budget Hearing will be at 7:00 p.m. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2022, 9:30 PM at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Cafeteria declaring the results of the election and budget vote. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150969 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150969 2022 Budget Newsletter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150970 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150970 Senior Moderates Film Discussion Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Norah Abbas has ambition. A student in the audio production program at Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology, Norah served as the volunteer moderator for a Producer Panel discussion after a “Pioneers in Skirts” watch party. The award-winning documentary highlights the obstacles that often get in the way of women’s pioneering ambition. Norah was lauded by the school’s Director of Career Technical and Adult Education Leah Arnold for her courage in stepping up to the task and her contributions to the discussion. She was also noted as being inspiring, articulate and impressive by the audience members – a true testament to ambition. Great job, Norah! Date Added: 4/28/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150930 Thu, 28 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150930 100 Wins! In a recent game, the Port Jefferson varsity baseball team defeated Greenport 15-1. The victory was also the 100th victory for the team’s head coach, Jesse Rosen. Coach Rosen has been the varsity baseball coach for the past 12 years, during which time his players have had seven playoff appearances, including two in the Suffolk County finals. “To see how excited the players were to help get their coach his 100th victory is a testament to the positive impact Coach Rosen has on the lives of his student-athletes,” Athletic Director Adam Sherard said. “He brings passion not only to the baseball field, but to the relationships he builds with his players. This is an exceptional milestone for Coach Rosen and I look forward to the team's continued success as the playoffs approach this spring.” Date Added: 4/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150886 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150886 Golden Eleven Honors Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Luke Filippi was recognized by the National Football Foundation for being a member of the Golden Eleven Football Team for top high school scholar-athletes. Luke carries a weighted average of 98 and scored a 1400 on the SAT. He earned All-County, All-Long Island and First Team All-State honors for football. Luke has been the captain of the football team for the last three years and received the Team Most Valuable Player award this past fall. Luke is also the co-president of the Port Jefferson School District’s Varsity Club and a member of the Interact Club. Date Added: 4/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150887 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150887 How Does Your Garden Grow? Port Jefferson School District students are finding that out as part of a unit in the life skills science curriculum. Students in Ms. Michelle Landetta’s science class at Port Jefferson Middle School are growing peas, lettuce, and cucumbers in their hydroponic growing stations. This revolutionary way to grow plants allows students to observe the plants as they mature without the use of soil. According to District Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill, the real-world connection to science through collaboration and experimentation is one of the highlights of this class project. Date Added: 4/25/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150748 Mon, 25 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150748 Inaugural Season for Girls Golf History is in the making with the Port Jefferson School District fielding its first varsity girls golf team. With little participation in high school softball the last few years, the district was seeking ways to increase female participation in athletics during the spring season. This paved the way for the golf team. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School physics teacher and girls varsity volleyball and basketball coach Charles Hafner helped to spearhead the program. “Mr. Hafner held multiple student interest meetings, coordinated with the Port Jefferson Country Club and designed uniforms for our girls golf team,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “With his experience in the sport of golf and coaching female sports in our district, he was the ideal candidate to coach the new team.” All 18 members of the golf team – Aiden Barrett, Annie Byrne, Lauren Calendrille, Gwen Connell, Ava Cooper, Lina DeLeo, Petra Kundic, Maddy Matvya, Annie McKeown, Angelina Orofino, Kiki Parmegiani, Julia Perrotta, Sophie Peterson, Ava Reilly, Tabitha Schully, Sophia Wennerod, Amy Whitman and Gretchen Zimmerman – have been putting in the effort to improve every day of practice. This determination paid off as the team earned the first win in program history in their match against Connetquot on April 4, led by Gwen Connelly, Ava Cooper, Maddy Matvya, Julia Perrotta, Ava Reilly and Tabitha Schully. “I look forward to the continued growth of the program and anticipate a junior varsity girls golf team in the future which will provide more opportunity for our students to compete against other schools,” Mr. Sherrard said. Date Added: 4/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150742 Fri, 22 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150742 Port Jeff Lights It Up Blue! To recognize Autism Acceptance Month, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School created a fundraiser to sell puzzle pieces for $5 each to raise funds for Families In Arms, an organization that raises money to send families of children with autism to Disney World. They are creating a wall of support throughout the month of April in the school hallway to highlight their efforts. Coordinated by special education teacher Mr. Steven Orlowski and teaching assistant Ms. Cassandra Meehan, staff and students wore blue on April 8 to celebrate World Autism Awareness Day. Date Added: 4/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150713 Fri, 22 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150713 Grade 3 Cross-Curricular Project Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students used lessons in research and technology and turned to the environment to create a unique Makey Makey project. Mrs. Amy Castaldo’s third grade class chose a favorite historical figure, including Neil Armstrong, Simone Biles, Marie Curie, Jimmy Fallon and Abraham Lincoln, and came up with five facts for their person. They then designed a paper cutout, pasted them on recycled plastic bottles and secured brass fasteners to serve as buttons. The next step was working with Eastern Suffolk BOCES teacher integration specialist Ms. Carrie McGuire to finish their “biography bottles.” The students recorded their voices stating the five facts on each of their Chromebooks, fashioned a foil bracelet to serve as the ground, connected a USB cord and alligator clips to the fasteners on their paper cutout and viola! Their voice made for an interactive plastic bottle museum that they shared among their classmates. Date Added: 4/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150719 Fri, 22 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150719 Freshman Meara Kelly is on a Mission Earl L. Vandermeulen High School freshman Meara Kelly enjoys art, science and robotics. She is also a champion in helping others, as she has been raising funds for the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation and will participate in the Take Steps Walk slated for May 1 at Belmont Lake State Park. Named an Honored Hero by the nonprofit organization that helps to improve the quality of life of children and adults affected by Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis, Meara has been diligently fundraising toward her $10,000 goal. She has posted flyers in the local library, reached out to major companies for gift cards and donations and coordinated a table selling candies in plastic eggs during lunch periods through the high school’s GSA Club. Meara shared that she and her family will take steps with and for the organization in hopes that someday there is a cure for these illnesses in the future. Date Added: 4/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150741 Thu, 21 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150741 PJSD Professional Development: PJ EdCamp The Port Jefferson School District held a Superintendent’s Conference Day before the holiday break. School administrators were excited to host an inaugural PJ EdCamp, a professional learning model where staff members bring forth topics of interest to them and their colleagues. Rather than the presenter being viewed as the expert in a given area, facilitators simply initiated a conversation to encourage professional discourse. A special thanks to the district’s professional development committee led by Dr. Michael Caravello and Dr. Robert Neidig for organizing PJ EdCamp, as well as all of the instructional staff who helped create a meaningful, productive day by facilitating a wide variety of topics. Date Added: 4/21/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150711 Thu, 21 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150711 Hall of Fame Honors Two Port Jefferson coaches were inducted into the Suffolk County Cross-Country and Track and Field Coaches Association Hall of Fame, Class of 2021. They were honored at the district’s annual steeplechase event with more than 30 schools and 700 spectators in attendance. Coach Rod Cawley and Coach Don Slingerland were lauded by District Athletic Director Mr. Adam Sherrard for more than eight decades of combined coaching. Mr. Sherrard presented Coach Cawley and Coach Sling plaques to recognize their Hall of Fame accomplishment. The district recognized the accomplishment with an outdoor plaque over the press box. Mr. Sherrard also recognized alumnus Anthony Toro, who was also inducted into the Coaches Hall of Fame Class of 2021 as a track coach at Longwood High School. Mr. Cawley coached the Port Jefferson boys cross-country team from 1994-2020 and is currently a volunteer coach for the program. He coached boys winter track from 1990-2021 and boys spring track from 1987-2021. Between cross-country and track, the teams had an overall record of 337-52-1. As a cross-country coach, his teams won 18 League championships, six Division/Conference titles and 16 County championships. Throughout winter track, his teams secured seven League titles and three Small School County championships. He also had success in spring track as his teams earned 19 League titles and five County championships. Coach Cawley was named County Coach of the Year 24 times throughout his coaching career at Port Jefferson. Mr. Slingerland coached cross-country and track at Port Jefferson from 1964-2019. During his 55 years coaching in the district, he had an overall record of 436-173. His girls cross-country teams won seven League and County championships. Between boys and girls winter and spring track, his teams won 13 League championships and nine County championships. He received County Coach of the Year honors 39 times throughout his time at Port Jefferson. Both gentlemen also hosted memorable events for the school and community. Together they hosted the State Qualifiers at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School for 17 years, and Coach Cawley was also instrumental in developing the popular Night at the Races event over the summer months. Date Added: 4/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150704 Wed, 20 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150704 Kindness is Colorful! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s Buddy Program, a cross-grade-level initiative involving fifth graders in Christine Wicks class and kindergarten students in Melissa Martin’s class, created a Quilt of Kindness in the hallway to reflect on the friendships formed and lessons learned in the patchwork of character education principles. Date Added: 4/19/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150651 Tue, 19 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150651 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held virtually on Wednesday, April 27, 2022, 6:30 p.m., to vote on the 2022-2023 Eastern Suffolk BOCES Administrative Budget and Board Election. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150680 Tue, 19 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150680 Camaraderie and Connection The Port Jefferson School District hosted its Spring Sports Fair for Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth graders and put a new spin on the connection. Varsity student-athletes visited each kindergarten through fourth grade classroom at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School to read the inspiring true story of famed NBA player Stephen Curry’s “The Boy Who Never Gave Up,” to the younger students. They took time for some feedback and questions on the story as well as high school sports participation. The elementary students listened attentively to the story and the consensus was to never give up and believe in your dreams. The high school students then set up the Scraggy Fields for some drills and activities for the fifth graders from the track, lacrosse, baseball, softball and golf team members. A special thanks to all the varsity student-athletes for helping to highlight the district’s athletic program. Date Added: 4/18/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150650 Mon, 18 Apr 2022 16:00:00 GMT false150650 Students Honored for Creative Talents The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education congratulated Edna Louise Spear Elementary School student-artists whose works were on display at the 2022 Student Art Show at the Port Jefferson Village Center. District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello introduced art teachers Ms. Lauren Lewonka and Mrs. Meghan McCarthy and presented each student with a certificate for their creative efforts. Date Added 4/18/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150649 Mon, 18 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150649 With Gratitude and Appreciation The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education welcomed four guest speakers to the April 12 meeting. Port Jefferson Middle School students Elizabeth Campo, Lia Donohue, Max Kronberg and Gianna Viviano spoke of the leadership opportunities they are involved in at the middle school. They thanked the Board members for their continued support of the morning announcements, a recent bake sale that raised more than $200 and an upcoming field trip. Elizabeth noted the academic, social and emotional benefits that field trips provide for all students. The students them thanked interim principal Mr. James Nolan and assistant principal Mr. Brian Walker for their guidance and encouragement in helping them to become the leaders they are every day. “They are our strongest supporters,” Elizabeth said. Date Added: 4/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150646 Fri, 15 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150646 Surprise! Although Mr. Brian Walker was officially named principal of Port Jefferson Middle School at the April 12 Board of Education meeting, the party didn’t start until the next morning. As Mr. Walker walked up the drive to Port Jefferson Middle School he was greeted with cheers, tears, banners and even a bagpipe player to congratulate him on his new position. The morning event was carefully – and secretly – coordinated by Interim Principal Mr. James Nolan, who had students, staff, administrators and Mr. Walker’s family in attendance for this extraordinary event that truly caught him off guard. Date Added: 4/14/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150597 Thu, 14 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150597 Athletic Summer Camps for 2022 Date Added: 4/13/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150549 Wed, 13 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150549 Mr. Brian Walker Named Middle School Principal The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that Mr. Brian Walker was named principal of Port Jefferson Middle School at the April 12 Board of Education meeting. Since April 2021, Mr. Walker has been the assistant principal at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and Port Jefferson Middle School. He joined the school district after serving as an assistant principal at Selden Middle School in the Middle Country Central School District. Mr. Walker was the principal of Middle Country’s Extended School Year Program for three years, and a special education teacher for more than ten years. Mr. Walker earned a Bachelor of Arts in Child Study and Students with Disabilities from St. Joseph’s College, and Master of Arts in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University. He holds an advanced educational leadership certification from Stony Brook University. “Mr. Walker is well-deserving of this appointment,” Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan said. “He has earned the respect and loyalty from fellow administrators, teachers, parents and, most importantly, our students. We congratulate him on this new role, and we are confident in his abilities to continue to build upon a supportive educational environment and positive culture in the school.” Mr. Walker will replace Mr. James Nolan, who has been the interim principal of the Middle School since the start of the 2021-22 school year. Mr. Walker will begin his role on July 1, 2022. Date Added: 4/13/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150539 Wed, 13 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150539 Student-Musicians Perform at NYSSMA Festival The Port Jefferson School District had numerous student-musicians from all three schools participate at the annual New York State School Music Association Festival hosted at Smithtown High School West. At the first in-person festival in over two years, music students performed a solo selection, scales or rudiments, and a sight-reading excerpt for an official NYSSMA adjudicator, who provides a score as well as constructive comments for improvement. “Congratulations to our student-performers and their music teachers for their outstanding performances and a successful return to a live festival,” District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. Date Added: 4/12/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150475 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 05:00:00 GMT false150475 PJMS Science Olympiad Team Ranks in State Competition The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad team finished with a rank of eighth overall in the New York State Science Olympiad competition. The competition was held at East Syracuse Minoa Central High School in Syracuse, New York, on April 8 and 9. “The students were successful through their hard work in studying scientific principles and engineering devices to complete various tasks,” science teacher and coach Adam Bouchard said. The team earned 10 medals and each team member was able to earn a medal in at least one event. Congratulations goes out to all team members and medal winners. Port Jefferson Middle School Medal Winners: 2nd Place Crave the Wave - Evan Monaghan, Kenshin Sugimoto 2nd Place Dynamic Planet - Max Joyner, Marco Puopolo 3rd Place Crime Busters - Alice Snyder, Emily Snyder 3rd Place Ornithology - Jonah Boerboom, Kenshin Sugimoto 6th Place Green Generation - Max Joyner, Talin Bajaj 7th Place Disease Detectives - Christopher Nam, Kevin Hong 7th Place Ping Pong Parachute - Mari Fukuto, Rumaan Khan 8th Bridge - Max Joyner, Rumaan Khan 8th Place Electric Wright Stuff - Kieran Casey, Kevin Hong 8th Place Rocks and Minerals - Kristina Shterengas, Tucker Stanton Date Added: 4/12/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150474 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150474 Sophomore Class Fundraiser with Chipotle this Saturday (April 16, 4-8 pm) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150470 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150470 University Gallery Visit Fifth grade art club students, along with Edna Louise Spear Elementary School art teacher Meghan McCarthy, recently visited the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center to view artwork from graduating master’s students. During their visit, Karen Levitov, director and curator for the gallery, spoke with the students about the techniques and inspiration behind the artists’ works. The students also engaged in several hands-on activities. Date Added: 4/8/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150381 Fri, 08 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150381 Spring College Fair For students trying to decide on their choices after high school, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School guidance office hosted a spring college fair during the school day with 83 colleges in attendance. Students were able to meet with college admission officers to ask questions or gather information about the colleges. Date Added: 4/7/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150328 Thu, 07 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150328 High School Names Top Two Students A combination of a love of learning, an appreciation for their school community and a shared sense of humor head the list of the Port Jefferson School District’s top two students. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors William Wu and Hugo Onghai have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Class of 2022. Throughout his high school years, valedictorian William Wu has participated in a well-rounded education. His list of achievements includes taking 16 Advanced Placement, honors and college-level courses. He is a National Merit Commended Scholar, a member of the high school’s Academic Team, Art Club, Investment Club, Jazz Band, Mathletes, National Honor Society, robotics team, Science Olympiad team, Student Organization and Tri-M Music Honor Society. William’s interest in mathematics is abundant, and his regard for education is exceptional. He is a recipient of a first-place win in the Suffolk County Mathematics League competition, which he has placed in since eighth grade; a past student at the Institute of Creative Problem-Solving for Gifted and Talented Students, where he was named a Long Island Young Scholar; a gold medalist at the Long Island Math Fair; and a student at SchoolNova, Stony Brook University’s weekend enrichment program, in which he finished the curricula and became a teacher assistant. “I’ve learned that creativity and problem-solving are two of the most vital things when it comes to success,” he said. Salutatorian Hugo Onghai has taken 15 Advanced Placement classes, four honors classes and two college-level mathematics courses. He is an AP Scholar with Distinction, a National Merit Commended Student, a multiple National Latin Exam gold medalist and has earned three President’s Volunteer Service Awards. He is an All-State and All-County cellist and a pianist for the Jazz Band and Tri-M Music Honor Society. He is a three-season athlete, soccer, and winter and spring track, received an Academic All-County Scholar Athlete award for varsity soccer and was named league champion in 55-meter high hurdles. Hugo is president of the National Honor Society and of the Latin Club, captain of the varsity Academic Team, co-captain of Mathletes, a member of the Science Olympiad team and Investment Club, and a programmer on the robotics team. At Stony Brook University, he attended the Simons Summer Research Program, received a Garcia Center Summer Research Program internship and is editor of the technological ethics division of a research journal that gives students a platform for publications. “Pride belongs to these two gentlemen who epitomize what it means to be a part of a school district that promotes and champions excellence,” Principal Eric Haruthunian said. “William and Hugo both take challenging courses, have been involved in clubs, student organizations and more, taking advantage of opportunities presented to them and encouraging fellow students with a sense of camaraderie and community. I take pride in knowing them and the contributions they will bring forth in their post-high school education and careers.” William is looking to major in astrophysics in college and Hugo in materials science and engineering. Asked for six words of wisdom to share with fellow graduates, William replied, “In case of fire, pull alarm.” Before heading to college in the fall, Hugo would like to start a hot-dog stand over the summer. As for his schooling in Port Jefferson, he said, “I have made lifelong friends who make me laugh every day.” Date Added: 4/5/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150268 Tue, 05 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150268 Congratulations Student-Artists! Date Added: 4/1/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150158 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150158 Student-Artists on Display Until April 8 The Port Jefferson School District celebrates the work of district students at the 2022 Student Art Show at the Port Jefferson Village Center. The collaboration between the school district and the village is an opportunity for the greater community to view the creations of district students. The colorful and comprehensive display featured artworks of students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School under the guidance of district art teachers Lauren Lewonka, Meghan McCarthy, Nancy Randazzo and Stacey Schuman. Dr. Michael Caravello, the district’s director of music and fine arts, congratulates all those whose works is on display on their continued efforts in their exploration of the arts. The show runs until April 8. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150183 Fri, 01 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150183 SEPTA Goes Bowling! The Port Jefferson Special Education Parent Teacher Association hosted a festive night of camaraderie, spares, doubles and even some strikes at its SEPTA Goes Bowling event at the Port Jefferson Bowling Alley. “It was quite a success with students, families and staff all having fun together,” Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill said. Date Added: 3/30/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150092 Wed, 30 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false150092 Energizing Physics! Ready, aim, energize! Port Jefferson Middle School students in Mrs. Megan Roth-Ueno and Mrs. Christina Carlson’s sixth grade science class were tasked to build cotton ball launchers to help visualize the difference between potential and kinetic energy. Working in groups, they designed their launchers using cardboard tubes, tape and rubber bands in preparation for the launching competition to see which launcher worked the best. “The students had a great time working together, being creative and a little competitive,” Mrs. Carlson said. Date Added: 3/30/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150091 Wed, 30 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150091 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 12, 2022, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=150049 Tue, 29 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150049 Summer Music Camp Many Port Jefferson students take advantage of the musical offerings to keep up their skills on their respective instruments at the Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson. Registration for the 2022 season, organized by the Port Jefferson School District Music and Fine Arts Department is in progress. The camp provides an enjoyable and positive opportunity for beginning and advanced students to enhance their musical studies while meeting new friends and playing music together and offers several levels of musical training classes, including beginning band and string. There are also more advanced classes for current elementary and middle school band and string instrumentalists. The camp runs from August 2-12 with times varying depending on experience levels. For more information, please contact Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello at (631) 791-4450 or click here. Date Added: 3/25/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149952 Fri, 25 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149952 Middle School Ranks in Math Contest The results are in, and Port Jefferson Middle School has been ranked in the 2021-22 New York Mathematics League contest. The sixth grade team – Hayden Chesler, Samuel Fabian, Brian Hyrycz, Nila Manian and Lucas Smirnov – ranked fourth in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The seventh grade team – Benjamin Batter, Jonah Boerboom, Joshua Kwon, Isaac Rubenstein and Kenshin Sugimoto – ranked third in Nassau and Suffolk. Port Jefferson School District Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Robert Neidig congratulated the students and lauded math teachers Megan Roth-Ueno, Megan Ryan and Jamie Veraldi for their daily efforts in encouraging students to explore mathematical ideas and solve complex problems. “An accomplishment like this doesn’t happen by accident,” he said. “This is an honor for our school and our community.” Date Added: 3/24/2022 r r r https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149472 Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149472 Student-Musician Performs at Carnegie Hall Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student-musician Katherine Ranjbar recently performed at Carnegie Hall as part of its grand prize concerto competition. A sophomore, Katherine performed at New York’s famed venue on solo piano. “Congratulations to Katherine on her outstanding musical achievement,” District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. Date Added: 3/22/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149740 Tue, 22 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149740 State Honors! The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad team participated in the New York State Science Olympiad competition at Lemoyne College in Syracuse, New York, this past weekend. The team placed 20th overall out of 60 teams from throughout the state. There were 23 events in various STEM and science-related topics. The top 10 pairs of students in each event earned a medal. Port Jefferson medal winners earned three state medals in bridges, forensics and remote sensing: 8th Place, Forensics – Gavin Onghai and Michelle Wu 8th Place, Remote Sensing – Hugo Onghai and Benjamin Perez-Flesler 9th Place, Bridges – Teppei Fukuto and Riley Perrotta “We continue to be impressed by our high school Science Olympiad students in their hard work and success,” co-coach Melissa Garcia said. Co-coach Amanda Brideson added, “We are exceptionally proud of our entire team for not only their academic achievements but also displaying excellent sportsmanship and kindness the entire trip toward other competing teams.” In addition to Ms. Brideson and Ms. Garcia, chaperones Mr. Gregory Gorniok and Mr. Dannie Holland joined the students. With Port Jeff Pride, the team members congratulate competitors Ward Melville High School on their success and wish them all the luck at nationals! Date Added: 3/21/2022 .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} .tb_button.hover {border:2px outset;} https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149710 Mon, 21 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149710 Good Grief! Do not miss the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School production of “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.” There are three spectacular shows this weekend, starting tonight. Friday, March 18 @ 7 p.m. Saturday, March 19 @ 7 p.m. Sunday, March 20 @ 2 p.m. Suggested donation: $5 per person/$20 per family. The all-star cast and crew of Port Jefferson students, staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly for months on this production, a special nostalgic treat for the whole family. The show follows the adventures of classic “Peanuts” characters Lucy, Linus, Schroeder and the lovable and headstrong Snoopy on top of his doghouse and features kite flying, Beethoven music and short vignettes reminiscent of the original comic strip. Based on the comic strip “Peanuts” by Charles M. Schulz; book, music and lyrics by Clark Gesner; additional dialogue by Michael Mayer and additional music and lyrics by Andrew Lipp. “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” is produced by special arrangement with Concord Theatricals (www.concordtheatricals.com) on behalf of Samuel French Inc. Date Added: 3/18/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149670 Fri, 18 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149670 Coveted Scholarship for Two Music Students Two Port Jefferson School District students have been named as recipients of a Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association scholarship for summer music study. Port Jefferson Middle School eighth grader Mari Fukuto (here with orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello) and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth grader Sebastian Salzman will each receive a $500 scholarship to further their studies in music during the summer months. “Congratulations to these talented SCMEA scholarship winners,” Dr. Caravello said. Date Added: 3/18/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149651 Fri, 18 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149651 SCMEA All-County Festival Honors! In-person musical performances are back, and Port Jefferson School District students represented at the recent Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County Festival held at Ward Melville High School. In the fifth and sixth grade Division I, students Josie Amtmann, Jenny Cheung, Isabella Fratticci Cseri, Nina Gnatenko, Kai Gronenthal, Ruairi Hogan, Patrick Hutchinson, Nila Manian, Austin Nam, Adyson Nocito, Clara Pearce, Violet Pryor, Sara Puopolo, Aiden Fraticci Rodriguez, Sebastian Salzman, Dylan Sproul, Kaho Sugimoto, Leilani Von Oiste and Elizabeth Yin were selected. Seventh and eighth graders Rowan Casey, Crystal Reustle, Sadie Salzman and Daria Zakharova were selected for Division II, and Division III’s ninth and tenth graders welcomed Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student Andi Kelly. “Congratulations to all of our outstanding student musicians who were fortunate to perform in the FIRST in-person county music festival in nearly three years!” Dr. Michael Caravello, district director of music and fine arts, said. Date Added: 3/18/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149664 Fri, 18 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149664 PJHS Presents "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown" Musical Date Added: 3/17/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149626 Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149626 Heading To State Competition! The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad team came in third place at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad Competition, held at Candlewood Middle School. Students from grades 6-9 competed against 30 teams in events which tested their study skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and scientific problem-solving. The students did extremely well, receiving a total of 29 medals between the A, B and C teams. The Science Olympiad team will be competing on April 8 and 9, in the state competition at East Syracuse Minoa Central High School in Syracuse, New York. The team is coached by Adam Bouchard, the Middle School Earth Science and Science 8 teacher. “Every student was highly motivated and showed a lot of hard work in preparing for their events,” Bouchard said. “It truly showed this year with the team’s all-around terrific performance.” Medal Winners: 1st Place, Dynamic Planet – Max Joyner and Marco Puopolo 1st Place, Mousetrap Vehicle – Kieran Casey and Ruuman Khan 1st Place, Rocks and Minerals – Kristina Shterengas and Tucker Stanton 2nd Place, Bridge Building – Max Joyner and Ruuman Khan 2nd Place, Crime Busters – Alice Snyder and Emily Snyder 2nd Place, Ornithology – Jonah Boerboom and Kenshin Sugimoto 2nd Place, Road Scholar – Max Joyner and Talin Bajaj 3rd Place, Ping Pong Parachute – Ruuman Khan and Mari Fukuto 3rd Place, Solar System – Benjamin Batter 4th Place, Anatomy – Maru Sugimoto and Joshua Kwon 5th Place, Anatomy – Christopher Nam and Kristina Shterengas 5th Place, Food Science – Max Joyner and Marco Puopolo 5th Place, Green Generation – Max Joyner and Talin Bajaj 5th Place, Mission Possible – Mari Fukuto and Evan Monaghan 5th Place, Ornithology – Evan Monaghan and Kevin Hong 5th Place, Crave the Wave – Maru Sugimoto and Kenshin Sugimoto 6th Place, Bridge Building – Benjamin Batter and Dasha Zakharova 6th Place, Meteorology – Luca Caltagirone and Joshua Kwon 7th Place, Disease Detectives – Skylar Biehl and Lucas Sweeney 7th Place, Food Science – Olivia Andriani and Deia Colosi 7th Place, Meteorology – Christopher Nam and Kristina Shterengas 8th Place, Bio Process Lab – Talin Bajaj and Tucker Stanton 8th Place, Disease Detectives – Christopher Nam and Kevin Hong 8th Place, Electric Wright Stuff – Kieran Casey and Ruuman Khan 8th Place, Food Science – Mahati Sistla and Medini Sistla 8th Place, Rocks and Minerals – Jonah Boerboom and Benjamin Batter 8th Place, Solar System – Alice Snyder and Emily Snyder 9th Place, Mission Possible – Brian Hyrycz and Oliver Rhame 9th Place, Road Scholar – Luca Caltagirone Date Added: 3/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149535 Tue, 15 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149535 Science Olympiad Success! Three Science Olympiad teams from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School recently competed in the regional competition at Hauppauge High School. The A team placed third out of 55 teams at regionals and are now one of only eight teams from eastern Long Island who will attend the state competition slated for March 18-20 in Syracuse, NY. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the medal winners: First Place, Remote Sensing – Hugo Onghai and Ben Perez-Flesler Second Place, Trajectory – Teppei Fukuto and Logan Shaffer Second Place, Wifi – Gavin Onghai and Nicholas Smirnov Second Place, Wright Stuff – Kasumi Layne-Stasik and Andrew Patterson Third Place, Anatomy – Natalie McGuigan and Ben Perez-Flesler Third Place, Bridge – Teppei Fukuto and Riley Perrota Third Place, Detector – Ryan Gameng and Riley Perrotta Third Place, Forensics – Gavin Onghai and Michelle Wu Third Place, Ping Pong Parachute – Justin Garcia and Arik Sen Fourth Place, Bridge – Jonah Pflaster and Stefano Rabeno (with assistance from Middle School Science Olympiad members) Fourth Place, Disease – Gavin Onghai and Andrew Patterson Fourth Place, Gravity Vehicle – Riley Perrotta and Logan Shaffer Fifth Place, Chem Lab – Eric Chen and Hugo Onghai Fifth Place, Ornithology – Kasumi Layne-Stasik and Andrew Patterson Fifth Place, Ping Pong Parachute – Teppei Fukuto and Logan Shaffer Sixth Place, Astronomy – Nicholas Smirnov and William Wu Seventh Place, Trajectory – Justin Garcia and Ricky Melucci Eighth Place, Wright Stuff – Justin Garcia and Ricky Melucci Tenth Place, Detector – Warren Coburn and Jonah Pflaster “They worked very hard this year and coach [Melissa] Garcia and I are both very proud of the team,” coach and science teacher Amanda Brideson said. Date Added: 3/11/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149448 Fri, 11 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149448 Sophomore Presents Research at LISEF Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomore Katherine Ranjbar attended the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, a competition for the most advanced high school projects. Katherine’s research poster, “Impact of Imperfection Spin Resonance Strength on Depolarization in RHIC,” was presented at the fair to experts in their subject areas from scientific institutions, local universities, professionals and peers from other high schools. RHIC (Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider) is used to study the fundamental properties of matter and is the only machine that can collide beams of polarized protons to investigate the “missing” spin of the proton. Katherine was mentored by her father, Dr. Vahid Ranjbar, a physicist at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Katherine was the only student from the school to attend the prestigious event, accompanied by science teacher Melissa Garcia. She earned an honorable mention for her work. Citing the wonderful learning experience, Ms. Garcia noted that Katherine is already planning what she might do differently in next year’s competition. Date Added: 3/11/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149449 Fri, 11 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149449 Student Art Show 2022: March 15 - April 8 Date Added: 3/9/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149402 Wed, 09 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149402 Senior Advances to National Merit Finalist Round Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Andrew Patterson has advanced to the Finalist standing in the 2022 annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Andrew took the qualifying test as a junior and is now among approximately 16,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the distinction. In the next several months, approximately half of those students will be selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award, which is based on their abilities, skills and achievements. An accomplished and well-rounded student, Andrew excels in academics, athletics and community service. He is a three-season athlete – captain of the soccer team and member of the winter and spring track team. 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. Andrew’s Finalist designation exemplifies the Port Jefferson School District’s high level of student achievement and academically rigorous program for all students. National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring. Congratulations Andrew! Date Added: 3/8/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149358 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 06:00:00 GMT false149358 Scraggy Reads Across America! Click here to view the video Date Added: 3/8/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149346 Tue, 08 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149346 A Milestone Accomplishment Construction projects have always been a great opportunity for Eagle Scouts to do something for their community that will have some permanence. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Peter Rizzo had that thought in mind when he laid plans for his own unique Eagle Scout project. Peter designed and built a memorial patio for Hope House Ministries in Port Jefferson. The patio currently has 50 names engraved on the bricks. “This patio allows for a peaceful and soothing retreat for the victim’s families to remember their loved ones,” Peter said. Peter was honored at a ceremony and rose to the rank of Eagle Scout for Troop 70 in Setauket on March 6. The Port Jefferson School District community thanks Peter for his efforts and the award’s well-recognized prestige. Date Added: 3/7/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149296 Mon, 07 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149296 Educator Makes History with Harvard Club Honor The Port Jefferson School District boasts an exceptional and historic achievement with one of its own educators. Dr. Tara Sladek-Maharg is the first teacher from the district to be named a Distinguished Teacher of 2022 by the Harvard Club of Long Island. According to Dr. Judith Esterquest, chair of the Distinguished Teacher Selection Committee, the award honors middle and high school teachers who have profoundly influenced their students’ lives. “Dedicated teachers like Dr. Sladek-Maharg inspire Long Island students to excel, to become passionate about learning and to recognize the value of hard work,” Dr. Esterquest said. “These teachers devote countless hours to creating better futures for our children.” Dr. Sladek-Maharg was nominated by Peggy Yin, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2021 valedictorian, who is now a freshman at Harvard College. Dr. Sladek-Maharg will be honored at a virtual awards ceremony on April 2, along with seven other teachers from Long Island. Affectionately called Doc by her students, Dr. Sladek-Maharg has taught social studies and psychology at the middle and high schools in Port Jefferson since 2000. Before teaching, she lived in Vienna, Austria, and worked as a Fulbright English teaching assistant. She speaks fluent German and has studied Russian and Mandarin. While Dr. Sladek-Maharg downplays her own accomplishments, directing her pride toward her students, she is proud to have brought therapy dogs into the school district, not only to calm stressed students and faculty, but also to offer her AP Psychology students a living model of classical conditioning. “Dr. Sladek-Maharg exemplifies an extraordinary educator,” Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan said. “She has created a learning environment for students that stimulates individual potential. Her dedication, enthusiasm and guidance in inspiring and challenging our students extends beyond the classroom and helps transform Port Jefferson students into lifelong learners.” Date Added: 3/7/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149302 Mon, 07 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149302 Updated NYDOH Guidance 3-3-22 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149186 Thu, 03 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149186 Prekindergarten and Kindergarten Registration Prekindergarten and Kindergarten registration is now open for September 2022. The registration packet and HLQ form are located under the Central Registration tab, under DISTRICT, on the district webpage https://www.portjeffschools.org Registration packets may be dropped off weekdays, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, 500 Scraggy Hill Road, Port Jefferson. Only complete packets will be accepted. The registration deadline is April 1, 2022. Please note that the Port Jefferson School District does not provide transportation for Prekindergarten students. This is a full-day program (pending approval of the Port Jefferson School District budget) located in the Elementary School. Depending on the number of applicants, a lottery system may be utilized. To be eligible for Prekindergarten and Kindergarten, children must be 4 and 5 years old, respectively, on or before December 1, 2022, and a resident within the boundaries of the Port Jefferson School District. Please call 631-791-4323 for more information or to request a registration packet for pickup. Date Added: 3/2/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149140 Wed, 02 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149140 Postseason Awards The Port Jefferson School District congratulates numerous senior athletes for their efforts on their respective Royals teams and their fall postseason honors. We take pride in watching them all use their combined skills and the teamwork and camaraderie that show what it means to be a Royal. The district congratulates the following students: Boys Soccer Jack Hennessy: All-Conference Ricky Melucci: All-League Andrew Patterson: Academic All-County Blake Roberts: All-League Girls Soccer Amy Whitman: All-League Abby Rolfe: All-County Girls Volleyball Olivia Alvarez: All-Class, All-League Alexa Ayotte: All-Class, All-County Tournament Team, All-League, All-State Erin Henry: All-Class, All-League Mia O’Connell: All-League, All-Class Olivia Sherman: All-Class, All-League Sophia Wennerod: All-Class, All-League Girls Tennis Jasmine Adams: Teams Sportsmanship Award Elizabeth Campo: All-League Natalie McGuigan: All-League Kristina Shterengas: All-League Sierra Welsch: All-League Football Stephen Bayer: All-League Luke Filippi: All-County, All-Long Island, All-State Chris Mark: All-League 2nd team Peter Murphy: All-County Anthony Pipia: All-League 2nd team Willy Rodriguez: All-League James Verruto: All-League 2nd team Kyle Yannucci: All-League Girls Swimming Olivia Schlegel: All-County, All-State, 200 IM, 100 Back Kate Sommerstad: All-County, All-Long Island, All-State 200 Free, 500 Free Brennyn Veit: All-County 200 IM Boys Cross-Country Brendan Capodanno: All-County, All-League Teppei Fukuto: All-County Gray Joyner: All-County, All-League Andrew Schretzmayer: All-County Ryan Sommerstad: All-County Carman Stanton: All-County Colin Veit: All-County Girls Cross-Country Jenna Jacobs: All-League 2nd team Caelan Schretzmayer: All-County, All-League Date Added: 2/28/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149037 Mon, 28 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149037 Board Trustee Candidate Packets If you are interested in running for a Board Trustee position, please pick up a Candidate Packet from the District Clerk’s office. All nominating petitions are due back to the District Clerk by 5:00 PM on April 18th. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149000 Mon, 28 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149000 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The March 22, 2022 work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has been changed to a special meeting at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Library. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purpose of entering into executive session to discuss personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=149003 Mon, 28 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149003 Art Students of The Month Date Added: 2/25/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=148970 Fri, 25 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false148970 PE Teachers Host Volleyball Tournament The high school physical education teachers hosted the Winter Volleyball Tournament after students completed the volleyball unit. To wrap up the unit, students created their own volleyball teams to enter the tournament. The 12-team, single elimination tournament took place over three days in early February. The finals were a best of three contests between Team Greece and the Steezers. Team Greece won the first set with little resistance, but the Steezers took the next two games, and were crowned the tournament champions. Congratulations to Stephen Bayer, Anthony Evangelista, Kyle Henry, Ricardo Ledezma, Liam Rogers, Kyle Scandale and Michael Tesser. The tournament’s success was achieved with the help from students and staff. Students from the broadcasting class created highlight videos and player interviews, members of the varsity volleyball team helped set up the court and numerous teachers came down to cheer on students and help to officiate. “It was great seeing how excited the students were for the tournament,” Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Adam Sherrard said. You could hear students in the classroom, hallways and at athletic practices talking about it in the days leading up to the tournament. This was an annual tradition in the past that stopped several years ago. Based on its success, I expect the annual physical education volleyball tournament to continue for years to come. A special thank-you to our physical education teachers Mr. Mimnaugh, Mr. Cosci, Mrs. Camarda, Mr. Bajus and Mr. Maletta for putting this all together.” Date Added: 2/25/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=148982 Fri, 25 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false148982 On The Radio! The Port Jefferson School District was featured on the “Spotlight on Long Island Schools” show on LI News Radio 103.9 FM. Hosted by Mr. Robert Vecchio on Zoom, the Q-and-A format, 30-minute show highlighted Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students, Principal Eric Haruthunian, librarian Eva Grasso, orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman and family and consumer science teacher Alyssa Rivera, who shared insight into how small chats among educators turned into themed events at the MS/HS media center’s First Fridays. The simple approach to food and music is a way for students and staff to connect and a magical time for music students to share their songs in front of an actual audience. The unique program continues to evolve with Gina Fedler’s life skills students who make delicious treats in their classroom kitchen, Michelle Landetta’s middle school students who help greet and serve guests and middle school musical performers who recently performed a sneak peek of their winter stage production with director Christine Creighton. The show aired on Feb 19. Listen here: https://soundcloud.com/jvcbroadcasting/spotlight-on-long-island-schools-port-jeff-school-district-week-2-2-19-22 Date Added: 2/24/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=148959 Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false148959 A Literacy Celebration! Students in Mrs. Carleen Parmegiani’s and Mrs. Darlene Wells’ second grade classes at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School are a diverse group with varied interests. The students wrote and illustrated their own fact-based books, choosing a topic based on their knowledge of friends, fishing, outer space, pets, sports and winter fun, among others. They shared their advancing English language arts skills with a writing celebration to highlight their nonfiction writing curriculum. The classes rotated sitting at tables set up so administrators and students could stop to hear the stories and see the illustrations that were created. Visitors were encouraged to ask questions of the writers and leave a note in the paper hearts to share special comments. “The students were so excited to share their writing,” Mrs. Wells said, noting that the event also helped to build their social and public-speaking skills. Date Added: 2/16/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=147510 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 18:00:00 GMT false147510 Creative Collaboration Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students continue to collaborate and innovate, and a recent project brought their skills together in one interesting, interdisciplinary project. Students in Mr. Matthew Emma’s Creative Writing class wrote poems, and each day one poem was selected and posted up in the shared Google Classroom. Meanwhile, taking advantage of Computer Science Week opportunities, the Advanced Placement Computer Science Principles students were working on a project that taught them how to animate poems to show the mood and tone all through coding. “My students were enjoying reading the poems each day from the Creative Writing class and wanted to test their newfound skills out on one of their favorites,” AP Computer Science Principles teacher Ms. Winnie Kuemmel said. “We asked for permission to utilize Mr. Emma’s students’ poems and created the projects. The Creative Writing students then got to see their poems come to life.” Check out the works here: Click Here Date Added: 2/16/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=147504 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 06:00:00 GMT false147504 Wrestling Team Wins! The Port Jefferson wrestling team put on a great performance at the Section XI Division 2 championships on Feb. 11. Eight Royals completed the day standing on the podium receiving All-County honors. Junior Beltran finished fourth at 189 pounds and Preston Biedenkapp finished third at 170 pounds to receive All-County honors. Frankie D’Elia (110 pounds), Anthony Evangelista (152 pounds) and Willy Rodriguez Lopez (215 pounds) were county champions. Liam Rogers finished second at 126 pounds, Anthony Pipia finished second at 160 pounds and Cade Delgado finished third at 118 pounds. Evangelista also was awarded Most Pins in the Least Amount of Time, pinning four of his opponents in five minutes and 40 seconds. Wrestlers who finished No. 1 or No. 2 in their weight class received All-County honors and qualified for the NYSPHSAA wrestling championships Feb. 25 and 26 at the MVP Arena in Albany. Delgado also received a bid to the NYSPHSAA championship as the current second-place finisher cannot compete due to an injury. “I am happy for our wrestlers who competed this weekend,” Coach Mike Maletta said. “Wrestling is a tough sport, and the county and state tournaments are the culmination of months of hard work. To have six wrestlers invited to the party in Albany to represent the nation upstate is exciting. It will be up to Frankie, Cade, Liam, Anthony E., Anthony P. and Willy to make it a memorable trip.” Date Added: 2/16/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=147505 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147505 HS/MS Librarian’s New Vision Earl L. Vandermeulen High School principal Mr. Eric Haruthunian enthusiastically shared many of the events and opportunities happening in the high school/middle school library at a recent Board of Education meeting, describing the space as a vibrant hub between middle school and high school students. He then introduced librarian Ms. Eva Grasso, who shared her ideas and vision in continuing to develop a successful, calming and warm place for students to read a book, study, puzzle, tinker, engineer, craft and refocus energies while meaningfully making the academic program a future-ready way of thinking about the library instructional program. “Awesome, inspirational, phenomenal,” Board of Education trustee David Keegan said of Ms. Grasso’s insightful presentation. Date Added: 2/16/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=147472 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147472 Strength and Conditioning Competition The Port Jefferson School District athletic department will host its inaugural Royals Strength and Conditioning Competition beginning March 1. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students will have the opportunity to compete in the bench press, squat, deadlift, pullups and 40-yard dash. The top three scores in each event will be displayed on the Strength and Conditioning Record Board in the high school fitness center. The top three performers for each event will also receive a Strength and Conditioning Champion T-shirt. The competition will be run by physical education teachers Mr. Michael Maletta, Mr. James Mimnaugh and Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Mr. Adam Sherrard after school in the fitness center beginning Tuesday, March 1. All students in grades 9-12 are invited to participate. Students can sign up to compete in a single event or all five. Anyone interested in participating should sign up with Mr. Mimnaugh. “The purpose of the Strength and Conditioning Competition is to build school spirit and emphasize the importance of proper nutrition and exercise,” Mr. Sherrard said. “The goal moving forward is to host the competition each fall, winter and spring so that students can work hard to reach their fitness goals and improve their strength and conditioning.” Date Added: 2/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=147457 Tue, 15 Feb 2022 06:00:00 GMT false147457 Collaboration Among Elementary SEL Team Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Mrs. Amy Laverty provided an overview of the school’s Social-Emotional Learning program at the February Board of Education meeting. She highlighted the work of the elementary SEL team, health teacher Mr. Benjamin Bajus, psychologist Dr. Allyson Carlson and counselor Mrs. Jessica Peterson. Mrs. Laverty referenced Mr. Bajus’ work with students in which he gives them scenarios and strategies to deal with tough situations and covers topics including emotions, empathy, perspectives and goal-setting to help prepare for the future. She also cited the continuous collaboration and problem-solving abilities among the trio as they meet the needs of all students. “I’m thankful for the impact they are having on our elementary school students,” Mrs. Laverty said. Date Added: 2/15/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=147456 Tue, 15 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147456 Students on the Radio! The Port Jefferson School District thanks students for sharing a fundraising effort they conducted as guests on the “Spotlight on Long Island Schools” show on LI News Radio 103.9 FM. Hosted by Mr. Robert Vecchio on Zoom, the Q-and-A format, 30-minute show highlighted Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s “Save Madagascar” fundraiser spearheaded by Mrs. Laura Kelly and Mrs. Paige Lohmann’s fifth grade class. Along with Mrs. Lohmann, students Josie Amtmann, Gideon Cesare, Jacob Fulton, Kenneth Polanco and Bradley Winters recounted a journalism lesson and an article they read about how climate change had caused drought and famine in Madagascar. Students visited the lower grade levels to share their research, created posters and donation boxes to put around the school and made announcements each morning to advertise the fundraiser. With an intended goal of $320 to feed 45 people for one month, the schoolwide fundraising efforts raised $900. The program ran on Feb. 12. Listen to it here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=147406 Mon, 14 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147406 Letter regarding at home testing prior to returning from winter break. Please see the attached letter regarding at home testing prior to returning from winter break. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=147382 Fri, 11 Feb 2022 22:00:00 GMT false147382 Little Flower School District Board of Education Please read the attached Memo regarding anopportunity to serve on the Little Flower board of education. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=147048 Wed, 02 Feb 2022 17:00:00 GMT false147048 Camaraderie and Connection Teamwork was the name of the game when the Port Jefferson School District hosted its second Sports Fair this year for Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth graders on Jan. 25. Welcomed by Adam Sherrard, director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing, the younger students worked with High School student-athletes from the varsity winter basketball, track and wrestling teams. The high school gymnasium was set up for drills and activities so the younger students could experience the winter sports offered in the District. The fifth graders rotated throughout the high school gymnasium to practice wrestling takedown moves, basketball footwork, dribbling and proper form for shooting, and foundational skills in winter track events. “The school district thanks all of the high school student-athletes for sharing their expertise and passion for their particular sport,” Mr. Sherrard said. “It was a perfect showing of camaraderie and connection among the students to highlight our athletic program.” A special thanks to Stephen Bayer, Santiago Burgos-Fallon, Gray Joyner, Peter Murphy, Michael Scannell, Chris Scotto, John Sheils and Michael Tesser (boys basketball); Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Lola Idir, Annie Maier, Abby Rolfe, Cam Spiller and Amy Whitman (girls basketball); Justin Garcia, Hugo Onghai, Andrew Patterson, Arik Sen, Stefano Rabeno and Hunter Volpi (boys track); Lucy DeWitt, Jenna Jacobs, Maggie Johnston and Mia O’Connell (girls track) and Frankie D’Elia, Anthony Evangelista, Anthony Pipia and Liam Rogers (wrestling). Coaches Keith Buehler (girls basketball), Andrew Cosci and Dannie Holland (boys track), Brian Snow (girls track), Jake Horton (wrestling) and Pete Meehan (boys basketball) were also in attendance to cheer for future athletic stars who will join Port Jefferson’s storied athletic program. Date Added: 1/31/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=146966 Mon, 31 Jan 2022 06:00:00 GMT false146966 January Music Students! Date Added: 1/31/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=146955 Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false146955 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on February 8, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=146949 Mon, 31 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false146949 Sixth Grade Scientists! Students in Port Jefferson Middle School are using their scientific inquiry skills in lessons with teachers Christina Carlson and Megan Roth-Ueno. The sixth graders recently experimented on and observed a mystery substance. Using their resources, they spent time recording their observations. “The students had a lot of fun working together on this lab,” said Mrs. Carlson as they learned about the chemical reaction the mystery substance - citric acid and baking soda – have when they react with one another. Date Added: 1/28/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145996 Fri, 28 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145996 January Art Students Date Added: 1/27/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145955 Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145955 Royals on the Mat! The Port Jefferson School District wrestling team shined in the annual Armstrong Cup wrestling tournament hosted at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School this past weekend. The Royals came away with four weight class champions: Frankie D’Elia, 110 pounds; Anthony Evangelista, 152 pounds (three-time tournament champion); Anthony Pipia, 160 pounds and Willy Rodriguez, 215 pounds. Pipia also had the most pins in the least amount of time, registering five pins in 7:40. The Royals also had eight other wrestlers finish in the top four of their weight class: Nick Rodriguez, 3rd at 102 pounds; Cade Delgado, 3rd at 118 pounds; Chris Lotten, 3rd at 126 pounds; Liam Rogers, 2nd at 132 pounds; Braeden Cesarski, 4th at 138 pounds, Preston Biedenkapp, 4th at 172 pounds; Junior Beltran, 4th at 189 pounds and Jagger Celentano, 3rd at 285 pounds. “Due to a shortened season and COVID restrictions, we weren’t able to host any tournaments last year,” Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard said. “It was great to keep the tradition going and host the Armstrong Cup again this year. Our wrestlers certainly did not disappoint, with outstanding performances across the board. With close to 100 wrestlers involved, it was exciting to see Port Jefferson wrestling dominate the tournament.” The Royals will host a multiteam dual meet tournament on Wednesday, Feb. 2, in which they will highlight their seniors. Date Added: 1/26/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145902 Wed, 26 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145902 Student-Athlete Peak Performances The Port Jefferson School District boys track and girls track teams put on a great performance at the Section XI League Championship this past weekend. The girls team received 10 individual medals throughout eight events. Congratulations to: High Jump Maggie Johnston: 2nd Mia O’Connell: 4th 1500m Race Walk Ruby Ray: 2nd 300m Dash Jenna Jacobs: 1st 1500m Run Caelan Schretzmayer: 4th 600m Run Mia O’Connell: 6th 55m Dash Jenna Jacobs: 2nd Alexa Jacobs: 3rd 3000m Run Caelan Schretzmayer: 4th 1000m Run Gwen Connelly: 3rd The boys team came away as the League 5 champions, defeating the next best team by 44 points. They recorded 18 individual medals. Congratulations to: 55m Dash Giancarlo Caltagirone: 4th 600m Run Gray Joyner: 4th Jonah Pflaster: 5th 1000m run Carmen Stanton: 1st Tepei Fukuto: 6th 1600m Brendan Capodanno: 1st 3200m run Brendan Capodanno: 1st Andrew Schretzmayer: 6th 55m Hurdles Hugo Onghai: 1st Arik Sen: 3rd Warren Coburn: 4th 4x200 Relay Giancarlo Caltagirone, Dante Cangemi, Andrew Patterson, Jonah Pflaster: 4th 4x400 Relay Giancarlo Caltagirone, Hugo Onghai, Andrew Patterson, Jonah Pflaster: 3rd 4x800 Relay Brendan Capodanno, Tepi Fukuto, Gray Joyner, Carmen Stanton: 1st High Jump Arik Sen: 2nd Long Jump Dante Cangemi: 1st Arik Sen: 2nd Triple Jump Hugo Onghai: 5th “It was great to see so many of our student-athletes performing at their best at the championship meet,” Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard said. “Several of them recorded their own personal records at the event. There is a great combination of veteran leadership and underclassman talent to help the teams be successful this year and beyond.” The teams are looking to continue their success at the small school championships the weekend of Feb. 5. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145882 Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145882 OTC COVID-19 Test Kit Distribution HS 4-7 p.m. Please read the attached letter regardingOTC COVID-19 Test Kit Distribution. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145826 Mon, 24 Jan 2022 18:00:00 GMT false145826 Abby Rolfe Receives the Thomas Cutinella Service Award Making a positive impact in her high school career, exhibiting kindness, modesty and selflessness and sharing a genuine concern for improving the condition of the community at large are commitments that have led senior Abby Rolfe to be honored with the Thomas Cutinella Service Award. Abby was honored virtually by Long Island Radio Broadcasting’s local radio station 101.7 The Beach and the Tour For 54 – Thomas’s jersey number – which honors local high school students with the award to help raise awareness for the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Foundation, named in memory of the athlete and working to inspire and share the fundamental beliefs and values that defined his life. Abby is known for resiliency in her pursuit of improvement, not only in herself but also in others. A member of the varsity girls soccer team, she helped lead the team to the Long Island Championship this past fall. She also helped the varsity girls basketball team win two consecutive Suffolk County championships and has been with the varsity team since she was in seventh grade. Besides demonstrating her leadership and success in athletics, Abby also sets the example of how to deal with adversity. When faced with the conflict of having no high school softball team at the high school, Abby decided to join the varsity baseball team, taking the challenge head-on and earning a spot in the starting lineup. In addition to her leadership in athletics, Abby is dedicated to her academics and community. She is a member of several school clubs, has an overall GPA of more than 99 and has more than 500 hours of community service. “Abby is one of those students that you look at and think, I want my daughter to grow up to be just like her,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “The way she treats people, carries herself and her tireless work ethic are things that her peers look up to. Abby truly deserved to receive the Thomas Cutinella Award.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145773 Fri, 21 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145773 C.A.P. Virtual Meeting - January 20, 2022 at 7:30 - 8:30pm Virtual Port Jefferson School District Capital Advisory Panel Thursday, January 20 · 7:30 – 8:30pm Google Meet joining info: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/pvg-hnhj-vbo Or dial: ‪(US) +1 435-631-9482 PIN: ‪582 922 869# Date Added: 1/20/2022 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145710 Thu, 20 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145710 All-State Honors for Senior Luke Filippi Earl L. Vandermeulen High School varsity football quarterback Luke Filippi was awarded 1st Team All-State football honors by the New York State Sportswriters Association. Luke is the first Port Jefferson School District football player to be selected 1st Team All-State since Chris Colmer received this award in 1998. Chris went on to play in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In addition to his outstanding performance in football, Luke is also a standout baseball player. He will play baseball in his freshman year in September 2022 at the University of Albany. Luke thanked the New York State Sportswriters Association for selecting him to receive the coveted award. “A big thank-you to my teammates, especially the linemen. I wouldn’t have received this award without all of their hard work and support throughout the season,” he said. Varsity coach Andrew Cosci shared his pride in Luke, stating, “This is a fitting end to a great high school career for this young man. I couldn’t be more proud of him.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145636 Tue, 18 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145636 Edna Louise Spear Elementary Art Students of the Month https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145296 Wed, 05 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145296 The Horizon (Early Winter 2022 Edition) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145006 Mon, 03 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145006 Suffolk Zone Physical Education Leadership Award Michael Scannell and Sofia Ulinski were awarded the Suffolk Zone Physical Education Leadership Award for Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The Suffolk Zone is the Suffolk County chapter of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Every high school in Suffolk County nominates two students to receive this award. Michael and Sofia were chosen by their physical education teachers to receive this award due to their leadership in the gym, classroom, hallways and community. Michael’s physical education teacher, Andrew Cosci, said, “Michael always has given great effort and participation every year since middle school. He has always been a great leader and role model for other students.” Sofia’s physical education teacher, Dinarae Camarda, said, “Sofia has always strived for excellence in Wellfit and challenged herself every time in class. Her work ethic is outstanding and she goes out of her way to help her classmates.” Congratulations to Michael and Sofia! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144971 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144971 Middle School Cell Drawings Port Jefferson Middle School students have a fun and unique way to further understand science lessons presented to them. Students in Michelle Landetta’s seventh and eighth grade science class are learning about plant and animal cells. They took the opportunity to draw their work on the new dry erase tables in the classroom. They were tasked to include all of the organelles for the chosen cell and label them. “It really highlighted their creativity and ability to apply what was learned,” Mrs. Landetta said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145042 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false145042 Citizens Capital Advisory Panel Forming Interested members can sign up using the below form or by calling the Business Office at 631-791-4231. The initial meeting is scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 20, 2022 in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Library at 7:30 p.m. Click here to access the form. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=145011 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false145011 All Long Island and All State Honors! Four Port Jefferson students received All Long Island or All State honors for their performance during the fall athletic season. Kate Sommerstad was awarded both All Long Island and All State honors for girls swimming based on her season best times and performance in the NYSPHSAA swim championships in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Kate finished 5th in the 200 meter freestyle and 3rd in the 500 meter freestyle at the State championships. Olivia Schlegel also received All State honors for girls swimming based on her performance in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke at the NYSPHSAA swim championships. Olivia finished 7th in the 200 IM and 15th in the 100 backstroke at the State Championships. Alexa Ayotte was awarded 4th Team All State honors by the New York Volleyball Coaches Association. Alexa had 55 kills, 281 assists, 18 blocks, 75 digs and 25 aces on the season and helped lead the team to the Suffolk County Championship game. Luke Filippi was awarded 2nd Team All Long Island Quarterback honors by Newsday. Luke totaled 1,603 yards and 19 touchdowns on the season both running and throwing for the Royals. Luke was also a tremendous leader on the defensive side of the ball. Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said To be selected as one of the top student-athletes throughout all of Long Island and New York State is an outstanding achievement. All four of the student-athletes on this list, put work in year round to help improve their fitness and skill level to perform at their absolute best. They put the work in to earn these postseason honors. I am extremely proud to have them represent the Port Jefferson Athletic program. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144861 Fri, 17 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT false144861 Student-Musicians Serenade BOE The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School chamber choir led by music teacher Mr. Jeffrey Trelewicz burst into seasonal songs before the start of Port Jefferson School District’s Dec. 14 Board of Education meeting. District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello introduced the group and recognized them for spreading holiday cheer in the school and local community through holiday events, including their recent performance at the Charles Dickens Festival. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144799 Fri, 17 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144799 Varsity Winter Sports Off to a Great Start! The varsity winter athletic teams are off to a great start this season. With postseason aspirations for all of our teams, each squad has started off the season on the right foot. PJ Nation wrestling followed up a strong performance at the Lou Gianni Memorial Wrestling Tournament in Huntington which had seven individual wrestlers finish in the top five in their weight class with another great weekend of wrestling. The Royals went 6-0 defeating Babylon last Friday 57-14 in their first dual meet of the season. The team continued rolling at the Michael Tarulli Dual Meet Tournament in Irvington, Westchester. The Royals completed the day at 5-0 and were the tournament champions. The Royals defeated a tough Ossining team in the finals, 39-28. Many Royals wrestlers finished the weekend undefeated: Cade Delgado (6-0), Frankie D’Eia (9-0), Anthony Evangelista (6-0), Anthony Pipia (6-0) and Liam Rogers (11-0). Other wrestlers having a strong weekend were Preston Biedenkapp (5-1), Allen Kirsh (4-2), Chris Lotten (4-2), Nick Rodriguez (5-1) and Willie Rodriguez (5-1). The Royals varsity boys basketball team started the season demonstrating their intense defense which has held opponents to 44 points or less in all three league contests this season. The Royals are led by a strong group of seniors: Steven Bayer, Santiago Burgos-Fallon, Peter Murphy, Mike Scannell, Chris Scotto, John Sheils and Mike Tesser. The team opened up the season with a victory over Southold and is looking to get another “W” in upcoming games vs. Miller Place, Ross and Smithtown Christian. The Port Jefferson varsity girls basketball team has an average margin of victory of 15 points in their four victories this season. The combination of veteran players such as Lola Idir, Annie Maier, Abby Rolfe and Amy Whitman and new players Alexa Ayotte, Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Rose Mellick-Hammock and Camryn Spiller has helped get the team off to a great start. The team has started the season off with nonleague contests against larger schools such as Half Hollow Hills West, Newfield and Sachem North. The Royals demonstrated a well-balanced attack with multiple players scoring in every game this season. The team is looking to continue their balanced attack in upcoming games against William Floyd and Babylon. The varsity boys and girls track teams have made the best of an unfortunate situation. Due to an insurance issue between Section XI and Suffolk County Community College, the first two indoor track meets at the college were postponed. In place of the postponed meets, the Royals hosted an outdoor dual meet last Sunday against Southold/Greenport. The running events took place out on the track, and throwing and jumping events took place in the gym. The Royals had been practicing for just about a month without competing against opponents from other schools. It was great to finally compete against another team. The boys team will look to Dante Cangemi, Brendan Capodanno, Gray Joyner, Andrew Patterson and Arik Sen to help lead it to success throughout the winter track season. The girls squad has a strong group of upperclassmen which will help with the development of the younger student-athletes, such as Lucy DeWitt and Sadie Salzman working on hurdles together, Jenna Jacobs and her sister Alexa working sprints together and Caelan Shrtezmayer and Gwen Connelly working on the longer distances. The insurance issue has now been resolved and the Royals have put their focus on their scheduled crossover meets at Suffolk County Community College. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144786 Thu, 16 Dec 2021 20:00:00 GMT false144786 Superintendent's Letter to Families - December 2021 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144772 Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144772 English Lesson Sparks Humanitarian Efforts Edna Louise Spear Elementary School staff and students took a lesson in English and journalism and turned it into a far-exceeding fundraising effort to assist a nation more than 8,500 miles away. “Save Madagascar” was prompted by learning about the suffering and famine in the African island country. Students in Paige Lohman and Laura Kelly’s fifth grade class learned about the ongoing drought, which has led to food shortages and hunger. Students created posters, visited the lower grade levels to share their research and student Jacob Fulton made daily announcements each morning to advertise the fundraiser. With an intended goal of $320 to feed 45 people for one month, the schoolwide fundraising efforts raised $600 in one week’s time. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144780 Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144780 Students Help to Connect, Hope and Heal Port Jefferson School District students continue to reach out for causes larger than themselves. Members of the district’s Gay Straight Alliance recently held a candle sale to raise funds for a Sayville-based organization that provides therapeutic assistance for individuals who have lost someone to suicide or overdose free of cost to all participants. Along with co-advisers Ms. Dinarae Camarda and Ms. Kristin Britt, students raised $1,000 to donate to The Neighborhood House of Long Island, double the amount they raised last year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144709 Wed, 15 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144709 Three Student-Athletes Named to Top 100 List Three varsity basketball players have been named to Newsday’s top 100 basketball players list. Congratulations to John Sheils, Lola Idir and Abby Rolfe. John Sheils (senior) averaged 6.1 points per game in a 7-2 campaign last season but has taken on a larger role this season averaging 21 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals in the first 2 games this season. Lola Idir (junior) averaged 16.5 points, 6 rebounds and five assists last year and has led the team in scoring on the way to two consecutive Suffolk County Championships. This year, Lola is averaging 22.7 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 5 steals in the first three games this season. Abby Rolfe (senior) averaged 12.8 points and 11 rebounds per game last season and has led the team in rebounding on the way to two consecutive Suffolk County Champions. Abby is averaging 7.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in the first three games this season. Athletic Director Adam Sherrardsaid "We are very proud to have John, Lola and Abby represent Port Jefferson on the list of top 100 basketball players on Long Island. They put the work in during the offseason to improve their skill and are great leaders on the court. We are looking forward to them helping to lead their teams deep into the postseason this year." https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144680 Tue, 14 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144680 High Expectations for Wrestling Team The Port Jefferson School District wrestling team had their first experience with competition this season at the Lou Gianni Memorial Wrestling Tournament in Huntington on Dec. 5. The team found themselves with top finishes across multiple weight classes against Huntington, Kings Park, Massapequa and St. Anthony’s high schools. Preston Biedenkapp (grade 10): third place, 170 pound John Bonura (grade 10): third place, 138 pounds Frankie D’Elia (grade 10): first place, 110 pounds Chris Lotten (grade 9): fourth place, 132 pounds Nick Rodriguez (grade 7): third place, 102 pounds Willie Rodriguez (grade 11): third place, 215 pounds Liam Rogers (grade 11): first place, 126 pounds and Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler Award recipient “Coach [Mike] Maletta and I have high expectations for the team this year,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “We are excited to see our wrestlers get off to a good start and are looking forward to their continued success throughout the season.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144531 Thu, 09 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT false144531 Toys & Joys for Local Children! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Interact Club has again helped to make spirits bright by taking part in the annual gift-wrapping event along with members of the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson. The project took place in the high school cafeteria, where a great collection of clothing and other necessities, toys, books and games that will benefit local children were wrapped. A special thanks to the students, adviser Mrs. Deirdre Filippi and Rotary Club members for this exceptional undertaking. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144472 Tue, 07 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144472 Seasonal Songs at Dickens Festival! Members of the Port Jefferson School District music department entertained the spectators with seasonal music during various performances at the Charles Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson Village this past weekend. Along with Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello and music teachers Christian Neubert, Edward Pisano, Dr. Vanessa Salzman, Christine Tamer and Jeffrey Trelewicz, musical ensembles from all three schools performed holiday favorites at both indoor and outdoor venues at the festival. The unique event was another opportunity for teachers and students to share their talents in a public setting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144436 Mon, 06 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT false144436 Students Read Literary Works at Dickens Festival Four Port Jefferson Middle School students shared a unique spotlight when they read their poetry to the many spectators during the opening ceremony of the 25th Annual Charles Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson. Accompanied by teacher Monica Consalvo, sixth grader Elayna Jacobs, seventh graders Deia Colosi and Julie Friedman and eighth grader Gianna Viviano shared their winter-inspired poems during the special evening lantern dedication that served as a backdrop to the Village’s transformation to the Dickensian era, with streets filled with roaming characters including Dickens Mayor, Father Christmas, Scrooge, the Town Crier and the beloved chimney sweeps. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144432 Mon, 06 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144432 Winter Concert Wows! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth graders wowed the audience on an outstanding Winter Concert performance on Dec. 2. District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello welcomed everyone back to the high school auditorium for the historic evening of music. Leading the special way to get into the holiday spirit were eager students and orchestra teacher Christian Neubert, band teacher Mark Abbonizio and select-choir and chorus teacher Christine Tamer. Click here to enjoy this festive concert https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144397 Fri, 03 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144397 Career Insights for High School Students Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in Kelly Spencer’s English class welcomed Maja Beyer, human resources manager for Jefferson’s Ferry in South Setauket. Ms. Beyer discussed employment in the areas of hospitality, recreational therapy, food service, security and health care. “The students asked great questions and enjoyed the presentation,” Port Jefferson School District Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill said. The presentation was an opportunity for students to discover their interests and talents and is part of a monthly program in which guest speakers from various businesses visit to inform students about career options available after high school. The students follow up the visits by writing thank-you letters to each guest. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144350 Thu, 02 Dec 2021 19:00:00 GMT false144350 Making a Difference! The Port Jefferson Middle School Student Council coordinated another successful food drive. Under the leadership of adviser Mrs. Allison Giannusa, students and staff collected, counted and organized 1,332 items to donate to Long Island Cares to assist with holiday meals for people in need. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144349 Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144349 Collaborative Beach Cleanup! Members of the Port Jefferson School District’s Leo Club and Environmental Club joined forces on a November weekend to head to the local waterfront, for not just an ordinary beach outing but a cleanup of the shoreline at Port Jefferson’s East Beach. Along with Leo Club advisers Brian Chalmers and Eva Grasso and Environmental Club adviser Jonathan Maletta, the 18 students met at the end of Crystal Brook Hollow Road in Port Jefferson’s Harbor Hills, which meanders into East Beach. They worked together collecting various debris and discussing the source of debris found. The community service event was sponsored by the Village of Port Jefferson and Coastal Steward Long Island’s Adopt a Beach Program. “The event was well-regarded as a way to encourage more leadership roles in the community, sharing pride and responsibility as well as a greater understanding of local environmental issues,” Mr. Chalmers said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144296 Tue, 30 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144296 Class D Champion! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates student-athlete Caelan Schretzmayer who was named the Class D Cross-Country Suffolk County champion and received All-Academic Team and 2nd Team All-County awards from the Suffolk County Coaches Association. “We are so happy to have Caelan returning to the Royal family,” coach Brian Snow said. “She showed tremendous perseverance overcoming a mid-season injury to achieve her goal of being the Class D County Champion. We are so proud of her hard work and achievements in her senior season.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144297 Tue, 30 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144297 NYSPHSAA Championships for Cross-Country Runners The Port Jefferson School District boys cross-country team of Brendan Capodanno, Teppei Fukuto, Gray Joyner, Andrew Schretzmayer, Ryan Sommerstad, Carman Stanton and Colin Veit recently competed against the top teams of all 11 sections in the state in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships. The team battled the rain and cold to finish 7th of all class D schools in New York State. Also competing as individual runners were four members of the girls cross country team: Aiofe Hogan, Jenna Jacobs, Sophie Peterson and Caelan Schretzmayer. “I was very impressed with the performance of all of our runners,” said Port Jefferson School District Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard. “For the majority of them it was their first time competing at the state level. I am hopeful that our underclassman will be back at NYSPHSAA championships in the years to come.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144229 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 07:00:00 GMT false144229 Making a Splash at NYSPHSAA Championships The Port Jefferson School District congratulates students Olivia Schlegel, Kate Sommerstad and Brennyn Veit for qualifying for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Girls Swim Championships which were recently held at Ithaca College. Kate finished 5th in the 200-yard freestyle and 3rd in the 500-yard freestyle. Olivia finished 7th in the 200-yard individual medley and 15th in the 100-yard backstroke while Brennyn finished 23rd in the 200-yard individual medley. As expected, Kate and Olivia improved their performance from the 2019-20 state championship (championships were not held in 2020-21 due to the pandemic). In only her second season in independent swimming, Brennyn finished with one of her best times in the 200 IM. “Although our numbers for swimming are small, Port Jeff’s performance is always big at the championship events,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. “I look forward to watching Olivia perform at a high level at the state championship again next year and reading about Kate and Brennyn's success swimming at the collegiate level.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144217 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144217 Students to Perform at Dickens Festival Members of the Port Jefferson School District music department are slated to entertain spectators with seasonal music during various performances at the Charles Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson Village on Dec. 4 and 5. Musical ensembles from all three schools will perform holiday favorites at various venues in the village. The unique opportunity highlights the district’s Music and Fine Arts Department’s mission to foster the tools of imaginative self-expression and meaningful social interaction. The schedule is as follows for Port Jefferson students and music teachers: Saturday, December 4th •10:30-11:00 a.m. Port Jefferson Middle School Chamber Orchestra Director, Dr. Vanessa Salzman, Port Jefferson Public Library • 11:00-11:30 a.m. Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Select Choir Director, Christine Tamer, In front of Port Jefferson Village Center • 11:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Chamber Choir Director, Jeffrey Trelewicz, In front of Port Jefferson Village Center Sunday, December 5th • 1:00-1:30 p.m. Port Jefferson Tri-M Music Honor Society Adviser, Edward Pisano, in front of Port Jefferson Village Center • 2:45-3:15 p.m. Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Chamber Orchestra Director, Christian Neubert, Port Jefferson Public Library • 4:15-4:45 p.m. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Orchestra Director, Dr. Michael Caravello, Port Jefferson Public Library https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144226 Mon, 29 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144226 Local Giving Through Elementary School’s Annual Food Drive Students, staff and families helped to make the annual food drive at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School another successful endeavor. Under the leadership of elementary guidance counselor Jessica Peterson, the school community once again showed its generosity in aiding others with shopping bags filled with nonperishables for Thanksgiving dinners, breakfast items and much-needed toiletries that will benefit 10 local families. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144198 Wed, 24 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144198 Congratulations November 2021 Art Students of the Month! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144108 Tue, 23 Nov 2021 06:00:00 GMT false144108 Brain/Body Connections Port Jefferson Middle School students continue on a path of wellness with social-emotional learning. Students in Melissa Corey’s sixth grade social studies class welcomed health teacher Benjamin Bajus who taught them to understand how their brains make neural pathways when learning something new. The introductory lesson was from the district’s Second Step SEL curriculum. A simple ball toss among the students allowed them to see this process in action as they tossed the ball in specific patterns around their groups. The more they practiced, the easier it became, teaching them that practice and repetition form new neural pathways, in turn, allowing them to learn new skills. According to Ms. Corey, the hands-on lesson had students up and engaged, while working together in friendly competition. Another main takeaway from the lesson was to never give up when faced with new challenges in school and in life. “With enough hard work and practice, anything is possible,” Mr. Bajus said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144107 Tue, 23 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144107 Varsity Club Members Warm Hearts Members of the Varsity Club participated in the Town of Brookhaven’s Polar Plunge recently held at Cedar Beach in Mt. Sinai. The 25 students and co-advisers Deirdre Filippi and Jesse Rosen raised more than $4,500, which will help to sponsor 18 Special Olympics young athletes for the year. The Varsity Club members annually engage in projects centered around athletics and work to help others while challenging themselves in the process. They also run school-organized events and activities that help to raise money for various service-minded organizations. The school district thanks Mrs. Filippi and Mr. Rosen and students Joey Aronica, Emma Batter, Matthew Buonomo, Dante Cangemi, Alex Carlson, Christina Carlson, Kate Carlson, Caitlyn Cobb, Kayla Daily, Luke Filippi, Savannah Florio, Lola Idir, Jenna Jacobs, Lilli Kircher, Annie Maier, Christopher Mark, Anna Matvya, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Angelina Orfino, Abby Rolfe, Cami Spiller, Amy Whitman and Ryan Whiffen for their efforts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144071 Mon, 22 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144071 Field Trip Fun! A bit of world history was in store for Port Jefferson Middle School students when they visited the Vanderbilt Museum in Centerport. The purpose of the trip for sixth graders was to learn about ancient Egypt. They viewed a 21st Dynasty Egyptian mummy, coffin and X-rays and learned about William Vanderbilt’s visits to Egypt. “It was so nice to finally have the opportunity to go on a field trip,” teacher Christina Carlson said. “Everyone had a great time.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143994 Fri, 19 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143994 National Letter of Intent Signing Day! With coaches, parents, peers and administrators in attendance, eight Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors were honored at the 2021 Port Jefferson National Letter of Intent Signing Celebration. Hosted by the Port Jefferson athletic department and introduced by Adam Sherrard, director of health, physical education and athletics, each student committed to playing their respective sports in Division 1 or Division II collegiate athletics. During the ceremony, each student was lauded by coaches and Mr. Sherrard, who shared high school career highlights. “This is such an exciting time in these students’ lives and we are proud to recognize their amazing achievements,” Mr. Sherrard said. “I am extremely proud of their dedication to the Port Jefferson School District and am honored to have them as a member of our athletic program. They have proven time and time again their dedication to academics and athletics.” The Port Jefferson School District congratulates these student-athletes and commends them all for this next level of their education and athletic endeavors. Stephen Bayer, Adelphi University men’s lacrosse Luke Filippi, Albany University baseball Kyle Johnston, Assumption College women’s lacrosse Peter Murphy, Mercy College men’s lacrosse Kyle Scandale, Long Island University men’s lacrosse Kate Sommerstad, Miami University women’s swimming Brennyn Veit, Iona College, women’s swimming Senior Sofia Ulinski was also honored. She will attend Rutgers University as part of the women’s rowing team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144005 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144005 Tenure for Two! “Being a teaching assistant is not hard work; it’s heart work.” Those were the words that Port Jefferson School District Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill used to introduce two tenured educators in the district: Daniel Holland and Cassandra Meehan. Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Amy Laverty then lauded both teaching assistants at the November Board of Education meeting. Mr. Holland was commended for his cheerful attitude, sportsmanship and commitment to the well-being of students. Ms. Meehan was applauded for her flexibility, adaptability and teamwork. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates these educators for their efforts in advancing the goals and mission of the district. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143978 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143978 Second Graders Honors Veterans Edna Louise Spear Elementary School second graders took part in a social studies lesson via Google Meet to learn about Veterans Day. Student Finn Gronenthal’s military mentor, Lt. Col. Travis Toole, met with the students, courtesy of Finn’s mother Erica Gronenthal. Lt. Col. Toole works for Africa command in Germany and served two combat tours with Finn’s father, who died while serving our country when Finn was a baby. He also worked in the Pentagon and the Capitol, jumped out of planes at Fort Bragg with the 82nd Airborne and is a military hero. The students also created Veterans Day cards to share their thanks and appreciation for the service of our nation’s veterans. View their gratitude video here: https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143813 Mon, 15 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143813 Royals Wrestling Camp Grades K-6 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143814 Mon, 15 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143814 A Musical Tribute! Under the direction of the Port Jefferson School District orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman, a musical tribute took place in front of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School on the outdoor cafeteria patio. To honor veterans, the students performed patriotic songs, while members of the district’s Varsity Club placed American flags around the Armed Forces Tribute rock. The impromptu event was another opportunity for Port Jefferson student-musicians to publicly showcase their talents. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143815 Fri, 12 Nov 2021 06:00:00 GMT false143815 District Stuff-A-Locker Letter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143816 Wed, 10 Nov 2021 13:00:00 GMT false143816 Letters to the Governor regarding Masks and Vaccines Dear Royal Families and Staff, Please see the attached two letters which were sent this morning, from five North Shore School District Superintendents, to the following: Ms. Kathy Hochul, Governor, State of New York Dr. Mary T. Bassett, Commissioner, New York State Department of Health Mr. Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Executive Dr. Gregson H. Pigott, Commissioner, Suffolk County Department of Health Dr. Rochelle Walensky, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, Director, NIAID, Office of Communications & Government Relations In summary, these letters are advocating for: * Schools in our geographical areashould not be required to hostCOVID-19 vaccine clinics for our students. * A review of the indoor school mask mandate; including specific metrics for lifting the mandate and allowancesfor athletes during competition – such as basketball, wrestling and indoor track. I appreciate the professional collaboration and partnership between our District and our neighbors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143817 Wed, 10 Nov 2021 12:00:00 GMT false143817 Book Tasting! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students are enjoying in-person library lessons this year. Fifth graders had a book genre tasting recently, facilitated by librarian Mrs. Margaret Hoon. Mrs. Hoon has also subscribed to the Junior Library Guild, from which the school will receive a thoughtfully curated and gold-standard selection of books every month to introduce new literature to the library. “She was very excited to see students checking out different books after this activity,” Principal Amy Laverty said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143818 Mon, 08 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143818 Division IV Champs! The Port Jefferson varsity boys cross-country team came away victorious at the divisional meet on Thursday, Oct. 28 at Sunken Meadow State Park. The team edged out Bayport-Blue Point by 1 point to secure the Division IV championship. Each member of the Royals squad finished within the top 20 runners in Division IV, led Brendan Capodanno and Gray Joyner. Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard said, “The boys cross-country program has been one of the top-performing teams throughout Suffolk County over the last five years. The team continually elevates their performance in big moments.” The boys now set their sights on the county title at the Suffolk County championship and State Qualifier meet on Friday, Nov. 5. The boys are scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., followed by the girls county championship at 3:30 p.m. at Sunken Meadow State Park. Left to Right in team photo: Evan Monaghan, Gavin Onghai, Rumaan Khan, Brendan Capodanno, Colin Veit, Teppei Fukuto, Gray Joyner, Carman Stanton, Ryan Sommerstad, Andrew Schretzmayer https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143819 Wed, 03 Nov 2021 19:30:00 GMT false143819 Royal Camaraderie Fifth graders visited the high school for a Fall Sports Festival where they were greeted by Assistant Principal Mr. Brian Walker, waving the Royal flag to welcome them. Student-athletes from the varsity fall sports teams set up drills and activities to provide the younger students an opportunity to experience all of the sports that are offered in the Port Jefferson School District. The fifth graders rotated to areas throughout the high school football field and track to spend time practicing cheerleading, cross-country, field hockey, football, golf, soccer, tennis and volleyball. The high school student-athletes worked to build a connection with the younger students and enjoyed the event as much as the fifth graders. One even commented on how much fun the younger students had and wants to do a similar event for every student. “I was so impressed with the compassion, pride and excitement our varsity student-athletes demonstrated throughout the event,” Adam Sherrard, director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing, said. “This was a great way for students to come together to demonstrate school pride and help promote the athletic program. I am looking forward to having more events like this for all of our sports programs in the future.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143820 Wed, 03 Nov 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143820 Varsity Club Hosts Halloween Event After creating a safe Halloween event last year, the Port Jefferson School District hosted another memorable event for young students in the school community. The district’s Varsity Club members, along with advisers, teachers Deirdre Filippi and Jesse Rosen, organized a drive-thru trick or treat at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School on Sunday, Oct. 31. The older students decorated tables with colorfully themed items and spent the morning making a lot of local students and their families filled with delight. Along with Principal Amy Laverty and Assistant Principal Brian Walker, the volunteers distributed treats to the young trick or treaters who visited with their families. The event was again was a huge success, according to Mrs. Filippi, with club members making hundreds of young students happy with lots of treats. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143821 Mon, 01 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143821 Students Celebrate the Eerie Season! Against a background of popular Halloween songs, students in Edna Louise Spear Elementary School paraded around the outside of the school, with parents and grandparents, cameras in hand, on the sidelines. Dressed as princesses, robots, astronauts, dinosaurs and even Harry Potter, students cheerfully returned to being able to celebrate the traditional autumn event. See more photos on Facebook! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143822 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 21:00:00 GMT false143822 Spooky Science! Students in Ms. Michelle Landetta’s class at Port Jefferson Middle School are getting into the Halloween spirit in a cool way. The student-scientists conducted an experiment by dropping dry ice in plain water and then in soapy water. The dry ice began to bubble and created a fog, the result of the rapid warming and the mixture of carbon dioxide and water vapor. “The students were amazed by the gas and bubbles that were created,” Ms. Landetta said. “They loved popping the bubbles formed by the dish soap with their fingers and seeing the gas burst out of it. It was such a ‘cool’ experience for them.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143823 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 14:00:00 GMT false143823 Congratulations! Four High School students have been accepted into the National Honor Society. The district congratulates Grace Chambers, Jedd Kronberg, Caelan Schretzmayer and Michael Tesser for pledging to uphold the purpose and principles of the society, including scholarship, leadership, service and character. Their efforts in inspiring others to be exemplary citizens and to share and spread the National Honor Society legacy throughout their post-high school careers is to be commended. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143824 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143824 PEAK Performances! Fourth grade music students Seyanna Cerar, Reese Fallon and Sophie Franck attended the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association PEAK Festival on Oct. 23. The PEAK Festival (Parents, Educators and Kids) is a unique celebration of elementary classroom music where students from across Suffolk County perform alongside their parents and music teachers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143825 Thu, 28 Oct 2021 19:00:00 GMT false143825 A Salute to Veterans Middle School students took some time to thank local veterans. Along with teacher Monica Consalvo, sixth grade social studies students created cards that will be sent to Melville-based Cona Elder Law as part of their Veterans Day card campaign. “They enjoyed spreading a little sparkle and joy to those who have served our country,” Ms. Consalvo said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143826 Thu, 28 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143826 Student-Musicians Perform at Harvest Fest Port Jefferson Middle School student-musicians continue to acquire and build self-discipline and musical connections, and recently performed for a public audience. Along with orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman, a duet and a trio performed two pieces of music and followed up with all five performing the fiddle tune “Cripple Creek” at the Port Jefferson Village Harvest Fest. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143827 Thu, 28 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143827 Girls Soccer: Championship Bound! The Port Jefferson varsity girls soccer team is much improved from a season ago. The Royals are the smallest school participating in girls soccer in Section XI, but you wouldn’t know that by watching them play. Led by one of the top goalkeepers in the county, the Royals have battled in close contests against larger schools throughout the entire season and have earned their spot in the Long Island Championship game. “With young talent and strong upperclassman leadership, the team has played with toughness and grit throughout the entire season,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. The team will go against the class C Nassau County representative, Carle Place, on Saturday, Oct. 30, at 1 p.m. at Shoreham-Wading River High School. All those in attendance are encouraged to black out the bleachers and wear black to the game. Tickets are $8 and must be purchased online at: https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143828 Wed, 27 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143828 County Finals! The Port Jefferson varsity girls volleyball team had a tremendous season this fall. The team finished the season 11-1 as the co-league champions of League VI. It is the first league title for the team since 2002. Their tireless effort and strong play at the net has helped lead them to the Suffolk County championship. The team will play against Mattituck on Wednesday, Nov. 3. The class C championship match will take place at Hauppauge High School at 7 p.m. Mattituck and Port Jefferson split their regular season games against each other, with each team winning on their home court. This will be a tremendous battle with two extremely talented teams. Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said, “Based on the resilience and desire this team demonstrated throughout the season, I am confident they will rise to the challenge next Wednesday.” All those in attendance are encouraged to black out the gym and wear black to the game. Tickets are $8 and must be purchased online at: https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143829 Wed, 27 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143829 Royals Homecoming Festivities! Royal spirit was in the air this past weekend when the 2021 homecoming festivities brought students, faculty, administrators, Board of Education members and community residents to the parade down Main Street with floats from each grade level at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Port Jefferson Middle School student-musicians and an Edna Louise Spear Elementary School float. The fun continued at a celebration in front of the high school and a recognition ceremony of senior football payers and cheerleaders before the afternoon football game against Bayport-Blue Point. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143830 Tue, 26 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143830 Port Jeff Pumpkin Bread! Students in Edna Louise Spear Elementary School baked pumpkin bread using the pumpkins they picked from a field trip to Pantaleons Farm in Setauket. The Fun Friday event for Ms. Alyssa Bosco’s class encouraged teamwork, collaboration and peer interactions as students practiced following multistep directions and charting their process, resulting in some seasonal culinary treats! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143831 Tue, 26 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143831 Four Honored for Academic Excellence Four Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students have earned academic excellence awards as part of the Town of Brookhaven’s 8th annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. The students, Omaris Adames Pena, Santiago Burgos-Fallon, Justin Garcia and Ana Oliva, were recognized at a ceremony on Oct. 1 at Brookhaven Town Hall for earning grade point averages of 97, 96, 99 and 95, respectively. In college, Omaris looks forward to majoring in fine arts, Santiago in computer science, Justin in mechanical engineering and Ana in business. Hosted by Brookhaven’s Hispanic Advisory Board, the students were among 150 seniors from 15 school districts throughout Brookhaven who were lauded for achieving a grade point average of 95 or higher. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143832 Mon, 25 Oct 2021 10:00:00 GMT false143832 Middle School Inventors! Students in Megan Roth-Ueno and Christina Carlson’s sixth grade science class experimented with Makey Makey, an invention kit that connects everyday objects to computer keys. The students used a USB cable with a circuit board and alligator clips to send the computer a mouse click signal or keyboard stroke. They followed the lesson with Carrie McGuire a teacher integration specialist with the Eastern Suffolk BOCES Model Schools Program, an initiative that offers teacher support in technology integration to facilitate the implementation of state learning standards. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143833 Fri, 22 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143833 STEM Challenge Accepted! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students continue to develop the foundations of scientific inquiry and engineering design principles. They recently participated in a STEM design challenge to create the longest paper chain with just one piece of paper. The school congratulates Alexis Amtmann and Brandon Hildreth in Mrs. Anne Marie Spina’s fourth grade class for creating the longest chain at 209 inches! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143834 Thu, 21 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143834 AP Students Conduct Research in Shinnecock Bay Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in Mr. Jonathan Maletta’s AP Environmental Science class visited the Southampton campus of Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. The group sailed aboard the R/V Peconic into Shinnecock Bay to conduct field studies of the local marine environment. The students observed water quality parameters including dissolved oxygen content, turbidity and the presence of phytoplankton species. They learned about the importance of the eelgrass community as a keystone species that supports a wealth of biodiversity in Shinnecock Bay. Samples of marine life were collected using specialized trawl fishing gear to observe benthic species (crustacea, finfish and shellfish). Students had an authentic, hands-on marine science experience, searching through their catch for unique organisms with interesting adaptations such as the decorator crab’s ability to camouflage and the calico (female) crab’s ability to carry offspring on the ventral side of her body until their release as plankton in the ocean. Species including black sea bass, tautog, pipefish and even tropical species of shrimp, carried in by the warm Gulf Stream current to Long Island, were part of the catch. Students returned to school and are caring for some of the specimens they collected. “I really enjoyed learning about the diversity of life we have in our local ecosystems and how those ecosystems are influenced by human activities,” said senior Andrew Patterson. Classmate Arik Sen added that “the trip definitely heightened my understating of the content.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143835 Thu, 21 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143835 A Focus on Healthy Relationships Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomore students welcomed a guest speaker from the Long Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence to address differences between caring, supportive relationships and controlling or abusive relationships in an interactive program in their health class. Health teacher Michael Maletta introduced educator April Manis who engaged the students in real-life scenarios, a game called Stay or Go? which focused on power dynamics, patterns, boundaries and compromises that often arise in relationships. The program was part of a series of social-emotional instruction and resources to further expand on the mental and social emotional health of Port Jefferson students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143836 Tue, 19 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143836 Shared Vision of BOE Commended Port Jefferson School District Board of Education members were honored for their efforts throughout the year on behalf of the students in the district at the Oct. 12 Board of Education meeting. The special accolades highlighted the New York State School Board Association’s School Board Recognition Week (Oct. 18-22). The annual awareness campaign spotlights the important role that school board members have within a school district. Port Jefferson’s seven Board members – President Mrs. Ellen Boehm, Vice President Mrs. Tracy Zamek and trustees Mrs. Randi DeWitt, Mr. David Keegan, Dr. Ravi Singh, Mrs. Rene Tidwell and Mr. Ryan Walker – were commended for their tireless efforts on behalf of students, staff and community residents. Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan introduced members of the district leadership team – Mrs. Mary Kay Butera (President, United Paraprofessionals Association), Mr. Anthony Butera (President, Port Jefferson Teachers Association), Dr. Michael Caravello (President, Port Jefferson Administrators Association) and Mrs. Merrill Dona (President, Port Jefferson Office Staff Association) – who all had words of appreciation for the Board of Education’s service and stewardship of the school district. The district also thanks senior Lucy DeWitt for her contributions as a student representative to the Board of Education. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143837 Tue, 19 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143837 Updated Early Voting Information for Suffolk County Residents https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142337 Tue, 19 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142337 PORT JEFF HOSTS 127TH HIGH SCHOOL COMMENCEMENT Test https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143083 Sat, 16 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143083 SENIOR THANKED BY BOE Test https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143084 Fri, 15 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143084 Students Virtually Welcome Holocaust Survivor Earl L. Vandermeulen High School welcomed Holocaust survivor Ruth Elenberg Eisenberg to speak about her experiences as a child when Nazis occupied her hometown in Eastern Galicia (now Ukraine). Social studies teacher Bryan Vaccaro’s class virtually met Mrs. Elenberg Eisenberg – a volunteer at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – as she spoke of her personal history of hardship and fortitude, including a daring escape from her family’s home and her father’s subsequent death in a labor camp. The class discussion enabled students to gain a better perspective on this important moment in history. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143839 Fri, 15 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143839 Congratulations, Dinarae Camarda! Health and physical education teacher Dinarae Camarda was named a 2021 News 12 Long Island Honor Roll honoree. She was recognized for starting a cartwheel initiative during the pandemic to lighten up the heaviness her students felt. Thank you for inspiring our students with your positive sources of energy! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143840 Tue, 12 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143840 National Merit Commended Students Five Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors have been named commended students in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. David Lawler, Hugo Onghai, Stefano Rabeno, Blake Roberts and William Wu have each been recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated on their outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. They each received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program. The five young men are very involved in all aspects of their high school careers and recognize that this achievement is vital to the advancement of educational excellence. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates these students for demonstrating outstanding potential for academic success. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143841 Fri, 08 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143841 Coach Appreciation Days The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has designated Oct. 5-7 as Coach Appreciation Days. The Port Jefferson coaches inspire our student-athletes to push themselves to their maximum ability. Our coaches teach their players how to deal with adversity and help develop perseverance, confidence, teamwork and leadership among members of the team. Coaching doesn’t end once a practice, competition or season concludes. The preparation, communication with parents and advocating for student-athletes is an around-the-clock job. Adam Sherrard, director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing, said, “I would like to say thank-you to our coaches for all the time you dedicate and the work that you put into having a positive impact on our students’ lives.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143842 Fri, 08 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143842 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 12, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 26, 2021 at 7:00 PM at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR, for the presentation of the 2020-2021 Assessment Scores, and any other business as may be needed. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142332 Mon, 04 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142332 High Energy Fun With SEPTA The Port Jefferson Special Education PTA hosted its first in-person event since February of 2020. A fun-filled evening for students and parents welcomed Jester Jim, a comedian, juggler and entertainer to the Port Jefferson Middle School. “Those in attendance truly enjoyed the high energy of the performer,” Dr. Jodi Cahill, the district’s director of special education said. “It was wonderful to have families and staff together to enjoy an evening filled with applause and laughter.” SEPTA’s theme for the year is FUN and they are in the process of planning The Color Run for November. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143843 Fri, 01 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143843 Line Sculptures! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School kindergarten students are creating line sculptures. They are learning about different types of lines, including horizontal, vertical, zig-zag and spiral, and how to make their artwork 3D. “It’s a fun way for them to explore the element of line, and expand their art vocabulary as well as learn the basics of creating in the art room,” art teacher Meghan McCarthy said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143844 Fri, 01 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143844 Royals Showing Physicality The Port Jefferson Royals varsity football team has brought toughness and physicality to the football field over the first three weeks of the season. Over the last two games the Royals’ defense has given up only 21 total points while holding both Greenport and Mt. Sinai each to under 300 total yards of offense. The defense has also recorded two blocked kicks and scored a touchdown over that span. On the offensive side of the ball the team has established a physical running game. In each of the last two games the team has run for at least 200 yards on the ground. The key to the team’s success over the last team games is the physical style of play and the dominance by the offensive and defensive line. Head Coach Andy Cosci has two new coaches on his staff this season. Josh Shields is running the offense and Keith Buehler is running the defense. The new staff is gelling together seamlessly and infusing the tough and physical mentality throughout the team. Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said, “This is by far the most physical team I have seen during my tenure at Port Jeff. The toughness and relentlessness that the boys play with makes us a tough matchup against anyone.” The Royals look to continue their physical play at Hampton Bays this Saturday at 4 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143845 Wed, 29 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143845 Port Jefferson Girls Volleyball Off To A Hot Start The Port Jefferson girls volleyball is off to a hot start this season. The varsity squad has been undefeated so far this season with a 5-0 record. The Royals have won 15 out of 17 total sets with an enthusiasm that electrifies the gym. The squad also has displayed strong play at the net led by Erin Henry who is currently in the top 10 in all of Suffolk County in total kills, Mia O'Connell who is 6th in the county in blocks and Alexa Ayotte is 8th in the county in assists . The JV team has also had a successful start to the season posting a 3-1 record. Both teams will play @ Pierson this Wednesday. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143846 Tue, 28 Sep 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143846 Base 10 Brainiacs! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fourth grade students in Kristen Boney’s class had a fun math lesson that took them on a school scavenger hunt. Finding “Base Ten Brainiac” task cards in the hallways, the students strengthened their math proficiencies by finding and solving the equations on their personal recording sheets. “It was an activity to help continue develop their understanding of how much numerical value each digit has in a whole number,” student teacher Meghan O’Neill said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143847 Tue, 28 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143847 Port Jeff Promotes International Day of Peace! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth graders connected with students from across the world during class activities for the International Day of Peace. Students in Christine Wicks’ and Christine Bokina and Kristi Krieg’s classes learned about the Peace Crane Project as well as how to fold an origami crane and write a message of peace on its wings. Laura Kelly and Paige Lohmann’s class wrote letters to peers in a school in Essex, United Kingdom, that described the Port Jefferson school community and what it is like to grow up in a close-knit village by the harbor. “It was a fun project and the students enjoyed learning about the International Day of Peace,” Ms. Kelly said. “Their efforts are empowering in making a difference in the school, community, country and world.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143848 Mon, 27 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143848 SEPTA Meeting Location Change Location Changed from Elementary School LGR to Middle School MPR https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142325 Wed, 22 Sep 2021 19:00:00 GMT false142325 Port Jefferson Boasts National Merit Semifinalist 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! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143849 Tue, 21 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143849 Cool Chemistry After Literacy Lesson 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. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143850 Thu, 16 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143850 Recognizing 9/11 20 Years Later 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. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143026 Mon, 13 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143026 Welcome Back! 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. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143025 Fri, 03 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143025 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on September 14, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143024 Wed, 01 Sep 2021 12:00:00 GMT false143024 The Return of Exploring Musical Talents! Dozens of Port Jefferson students are advancing their musical skills by taking part in the Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson. Beginner and intermediate band and string classes for elementary and middle school students are led by music teachers Mr. Mark Abbonizio and Mr. Christian Neubert. The lessons at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School help to foster an appreciation of music and to develop the skills for New York State School Music Association solo performances during the academic year. “We are excited to see our students and educators back creating music together,” Dr. Michael Caravello, District Director of Music and Fine Arts said. “The joy in exploring their talents and expanding their confidence as they master playing their instrument is a great boost to their self-esteem and a positive outlet for creativity.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144513 Wed, 01 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false144513 Music & Fine Arts Stories Prior to 2021-22 School Year Click here to view Music & Fine Arts stories published prior to the 2021-2022 school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144561 Tue, 31 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false144561 Scavenger Hunt – Scraggy Style! To ready elementary students who were taught virtually for the 2021-22 school year, Principal Amy Laverty hosted a Scavenger Hunt before the official start of school. The self-directed activity for students and a parent encouraged them to use clues to become reacquainted with the building. The students were able to familiarize themselves with arrival and see where their classrooms are located, ask questions and essentially ease some anxiety about returning to in-person instruction. “I wanted their first experience back in the school building to be a positive and fun one,” Mrs. Laverty said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=137761 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false137761 Scavenger Hunt – Scraggy Style! To ready elementary students who were taught virtually for the 2021-22 school year, Principal Amy Laverty hosted a Scavenger Hunt before the official start of school. The self-directed activity for students and a parent encouraged them to use clues to become reacquainted with the building. The students were able to familiarize themselves with arrival and see where their classrooms are located, ask questions and essentially ease some anxiety about returning to in-person instruction. “I wanted their first experience back in the school building to be a positive and fun one,” Mrs. Laverty said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143023 Mon, 30 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143023 New York Department of Health (NYDOH) Mask Update Yesterday, all schoolsin New York were sent anemailfrom the New York Department of Health (NYDOH) mandating masks for all students, staff, and visitors while inside school buildings, regardless of vaccination status. Effective immediately, masks are required in all PortJeffersonSchool District buildings in compliance with this new regulation. Masks continue to be optional outdoors. Some community members may disagree with this decision by our Governor, however the District isasking for your continued partnership and cooperation as we implement this update. The Districtremains hopeful that these mandates will be eased as the school year goes on. The first day for our students is Thursday, September 2. Check the District website for upcoming news and events. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143022 Sat, 28 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143022 Port Jeff Names Interim Principal The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education appointed Mr. James Nolan to serve as the Port Jefferson Middle School interim principal. A seasoned educator for over 33 years, Mr. Nolan began his career as an English teacher for both the Sachem School District and Kings Park School District. He later served as the dean of students and middle school principal in Patchogue Medford School District. Mr. Nolan returned to Sachem in roles as assistant principal and principal of Sachem High School North before taking the top position in the district as superintendent of schools. Mr. Nolan’s wealth of experience and knowledge led to postretirement service as Baldwin High School’s interim principal and East Islip’s interim assistant principal. “Mr. Nolan’s administrative leadership coupled with his years of classroom experience at various grade levels and all-around energy for our middle school mission are a win-win for our school community. We are pleased to welcome him on board,” Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan said. Mr. Nolan looks forward to his new role in Port Jefferson and building relationships in the community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=137684 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false137684 Port Jeff Names Interim Principal The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education appointed Mr. James Nolan to serve as the Port Jefferson Middle School interim principal. A seasoned educator for over 33 years, Mr. Nolan began his career as an English teacher for both the Sachem School District and Kings Park School District. He later served as the dean of students and middle school principal in Patchogue Medford School District. Mr. Nolan returned to Sachem in roles as assistant principal and principal of Sachem High School North before taking the top position in the district as superintendent of schools. Mr. Nolan’s wealth of experience and knowledge led to postretirement service as Baldwin High School’s interim principal and East Islip’s interim assistant principal. “Mr. Nolan’s administrative leadership coupled with his years of classroom experience at various grade levels and all-around energy for our middle school mission are a win-win for our school community. We are pleased to welcome him on board,” Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan said. Mr. Nolan looks forward to his new role in Port Jefferson and building relationships in the community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141204 Tue, 24 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false141204 Field Day Fun! The District’s summer program ended with a day of fun, friendships and field day activities. The students played Connect Four, Jenga, soccer and had a water balloon toss. They also enjoyed watermelon and ice pops. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=132148 Wed, 18 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false132148 Field Day Fun! The District’s summer program ended with a day of fun, friendships and field day activities. The students played Connect Four, Jenga, soccer and had a water balloon toss. They also enjoyed watermelon and ice pops. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142858 Wed, 18 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142858 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE There will be a special meeting session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education on Wednesday, August 25, 2021 at 7:00 PM in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The purpose of this meeting is to present an update on our School Reopening Plan for the 2021-2022 school year. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142857 Tue, 17 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142857 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE *** REVISED A regular business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 31, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Auditorium. Call to order will be 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142856 Thu, 12 Aug 2021 14:00:00 GMT false142856 Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health Initiatives Click here to view a presentation detailing the Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health Initiatives in the Port Jefferson School District. If you would like additional information or have any questions please email Robert Neidig, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at rneidig@portjeffschools.org https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142855 Wed, 11 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142855 Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health Initiatives Click here to view a presentation detailing the Social Emotional Learning and Mental Health Initiatives in the Port Jefferson School District. If you would like additional information or have any questions please email Robert Neidig, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at rneidig@portjeffschools.org https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=132050 Wed, 11 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false132050 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE ***Revised*** The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 10, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR. Board Trustee Tidwell will be attending via remote access from home. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142854 Mon, 09 Aug 2021 14:00:00 GMT false142854 STEAM Lessons! Students are learning some creative science lessons in the Port Jefferson School District’s summer program. The students used plastic water bottles and air-dry clay to fashion table-top volcanoes and then added the special ingredients of food coloring, baking soda, dish soap and water. They were then joined by district teachers and administrators who added the finishing ingredient to make the volcanoes erupt: vinegar. “They enjoyed the countdown and ‘explosion,’” teacher Christina Marino said. The students are also involved in other STEAM activities, including constructing marshmallow catapults and the ever-popular tie-dye science experiment and craft project rolled into one. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142853 Tue, 03 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142853 STEAM Lessons! Students are learning some creative science lessons in the Port Jefferson School District’s summer program. The students used plastic water bottles and air-dry clay to fashion table-top volcanoes and then added the special ingredients of food coloring, baking soda, dish soap and water. They were then joined by district teachers and administrators who added the finishing ingredient to make the volcanoes erupt: vinegar. “They enjoyed the countdown and ‘explosion,’” teacher Christina Marino said. The students are also involved in other STEAM activities, including constructing marshmallow catapults and the ever-popular tie-dye science experiment and craft project rolled into one. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131958 Tue, 03 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131958 Summer Learning in Full Swing! The Port Jefferson School District’s summer program is in full swing with students actively engaged through a number of distinctive learning opportunities. From a visit with Ray, a therapy dog from the Long Island chapter of Love on a Leash, to local field trips including the beach and Stony Brook’s Avalon Park and Nature Preserve, the experiences allow students to discover the joys of summer while preparing for a structured academic year in September. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131867 Tue, 27 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131867 Summer Learning in Full Swing! The Port Jefferson School District’s summer program is in full swing with students actively engaged through a number of distinctive learning opportunities. From a visit with Ray, a therapy dog from the Long Island chapter of Love on a Leash, to local field trips including the beach and Stony Brook’s Avalon Park and Nature Preserve, the experiences allow students to discover the joys of summer while preparing for a structured academic year in September. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142852 Tue, 27 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142852 State Accolades for High School! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was one of only 11 Suffolk County Section XI schools named a 2020-21 Scholar-Athlete School of Excellence by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. The accolade honors varsity coaches in their commitment to challenging student-athletes to achieve a statewide recognition. To earn the School of Excellence Award, 75% of the high school’s 21 varsity teams qualified and received the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete team award, which was established in the 1991-92 school year. The School of Excellence Award commenced in 2016. The honor is a testament to the continued efforts of Port Jefferson’s student-athletes and varsity coaches, who, in addition to the teamwork that is instilled on the playing fields and courts, place an important value on academics. Mr. Adam Sherrard, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics, will be presented with a plaque at the local athletic director workshop in the fall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131865 Mon, 26 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131865 State Accolades for High School! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was one of only 11 Suffolk County Section XI schools named a 2020-21 Scholar-Athlete School of Excellence by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. The accolade honors varsity coaches in their commitment to challenging student-athletes to achieve a statewide recognition. To earn the School of Excellence Award, 75% of the high school’s 21 varsity teams qualified and received the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete team award, which was established in the 1991-92 school year. The School of Excellence Award commenced in 2016. The honor is a testament to the continued efforts of Port Jefferson’s student-athletes and varsity coaches, who, in addition to the teamwork that is instilled on the playing fields and courts, place an important value on academics. Mr. Adam Sherrard, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics, will be presented with a plaque at the local athletic director workshop in the fall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142851 Mon, 26 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142851 The Return of Exploring Musical Talents! Dozens of Port Jefferson students are advancing their musical skills by taking part in the Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson. Beginner and intermediate band and string classes for elementary and middle school students are led by music teachers Mr. Mark Abbonizio and Mr. Christian Neubert. The lessons at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School help to foster an appreciation of music and to develop the skills for New York State School Music Association solo performances during the academic year. “We are excited to see our students and educators back creating music together,” Dr. Michael Caravello, District Director of Music and Fine Arts said. “The joy in exploring their talents and expanding their confidence as they master playing their instrument is a great boost to their self-esteem and a positive outlet for creativity.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142850 Thu, 22 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142850 The Return of Exploring Musical Talents! Dozens of Port Jefferson students are advancing their musical skills by taking part in the Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson. Beginner and intermediate band and string classes for elementary and middle school students are led by music teachers Mr. Mark Abbonizio and Mr. Christian Neubert. The lessons at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School help to foster an appreciation of music and to develop the skills for New York State School Music Association solo performances during the academic year. “We are excited to see our students and educators back creating music together,” Dr. Michael Caravello, District Director of Music and Fine Arts said. “The joy in exploring their talents and expanding their confidence as they master playing their instrument is a great boost to their self-esteem and a positive outlet for creativity.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131836 Thu, 22 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131836 Summer Program COVID Letter Please read the attached letter regarding the updated COVID Guidelines https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142849 Fri, 09 Jul 2021 12:00:00 GMT false142849 Dr. Robert Neidig Appointed Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Following his role as Port Jefferson Middle School principal for six years, the Port Jefferson School District is pleased to name Dr. Robert Neidig as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. He was appointed at the July 1 Board of Education meeting. The veteran educator joined the school district in 2015 and swiftly took on his new role as middle school principal, becoming popular with administrators, faculty members, students and families. His commitment to academics and leadership in the building resulted in a realignment of the school’s mathematics curriculum, the creation of a coding program, a library makerspace and a mindfulness program. Dr. Neidig worked closely with the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson honoring the “Most Motivated Student” monthly awards. Partnering with SEPTA, he also successfully launched the “Royal Gaming” club with students. Beyond the middle school, Dr. Neidig has taken on districtwide responsibilities including English as a New Language coordinator and the Social and Emotional reopening committee chairperson. Dr. Neidig is part of the Professional Development committee, the Equity team and the District Safety team. Dr. Neidig holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in social studies from the University of Scranton, a master’s degree in liberal studies and a master’s degree in school district administration from Stony Brook University, and an educational doctorate in educational administration from Dowling College. Before joining the Port Jefferson School District, he was Assistant Principal of North Country Road Middle School in the Miller Place School District. Prior to his years as an administrator, he began his educational career as a secondary social studies teacher in the Babylon School District. “We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Neidig to this role,” said Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan. “His current commitment to our school community is evident as we continue to provide a personalized, rigorous educational program. In this new position, Dr. Neidig will continue to make the Port Jefferson School District an exceptional place to learn.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142848 Thu, 08 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142848 Dr. Robert Neidig Appointed Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Following his role as Port Jefferson Middle School principal for six years, the Port Jefferson School District is pleased to name Dr. Robert Neidig as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. He was appointed at the July 1 Board of Education meeting. The veteran educator joined the school district in 2015 and swiftly took on his new role as middle school principal, becoming popular with administrators, faculty members, students and families. His commitment to academics and leadership in the building resulted in a realignment of the school’s mathematics curriculum, the creation of a coding program, a library makerspace and a mindfulness program. Dr. Neidig worked closely with the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson honoring the “Most Motivated Student” monthly awards. Partnering with SEPTA, he also successfully launched the “Royal Gaming” club with students. Beyond the middle school, Dr. Neidig has taken on districtwide responsibilities including English as a New Language coordinator and the Social and Emotional reopening committee chairperson. Dr. Neidig is part of the Professional Development committee, the Equity team and the District Safety team. Dr. Neidig holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in social studies from the University of Scranton, a master’s degree in liberal studies and a master’s degree in school district administration from Stony Brook University, and an educational doctorate in educational administration from Dowling College. Before joining the Port Jefferson School District, he was Assistant Principal of North Country Road Middle School in the Miller Place School District. Prior to his years as an administrator, he began his educational career as a secondary social studies teacher in the Babylon School District. “We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Neidig to this role,” said Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan. “His current commitment to our school community is evident as we continue to provide a personalized, rigorous educational program. In this new position, Dr. Neidig will continue to make the Port Jefferson School District an exceptional place to learn.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131674 Thu, 08 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131674 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Friday, July 9, 2021, 8:30 AM in the Conference Room at the District Office. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142847 Wed, 07 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142847 Port Jeff Hosts 127th High School Commencement With proud parents, siblings, friends, teachers, administrators and members of the Board of Education, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2021 received their diplomas during the 127th annual commencement exercises on June 25. Principal Eric Haruthunian welcomed everyone to the momentous ceremony. Grace Keegan led in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the national anthem performed by valedictorian Peggy Yin. Words of wisdom and congratulatory remarks on the accomplishments of the students were offered by Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan, Mr. Haruthunian and parent speaker Dr. Stephen Rabeno, father of twin graduates Mattea Rabeno and Michela Rabeno. Dr. Rabeno shared an inspiring story of his daughters’ growing up in Port Jefferson and referred to Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” as a reflection of the kindness and acceptance of students in the school community. Peggy and salutatorian Massimo Cipriano shared memories with their fellow classmates and thanked family members and teachers for the continued encouragement for all students to succeed in the small school community. Mr. Haruthunian then presented the Class of 2021 to Superintendent Schmettan and Board of Education president Ellen Boehm before inviting each student to the podium and highlighting their high school careers and future plans. He was assisted by Assistant Principal Kevin Bernier in handing out the diplomas. The students then stood and tossed their caps in the air in celebration of becoming the newest graduates of the high school. From the entire Port Jefferson School District and community, congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2021. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142978 Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142978 Port Jeff Hosts 127th High School Commencement With proud parents, siblings, friends, teachers, administrators and members of the Board of Education, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2021 received their diplomas during the 127th annual commencement exercises on June 25. Principal Eric Haruthunian welcomed everyone to the momentous ceremony. Grace Keegan led in the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the national anthem performed by valedictorian Peggy Yin. Words of wisdom and congratulatory remarks on the accomplishments of the students were offered by Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan, Mr. Haruthunian and parent speaker Dr. Stephen Rabeno, father of twin graduates Mattea Rabeno and Michela Rabeno. Dr. Rabeno shared an inspiring story of his daughters’ growing up in Port Jefferson and referred to Robert Fulghum’s “All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten” as a reflection of the kindness and acceptance of students in the school community. Peggy and salutatorian Massimo Cipriano shared memories with their fellow classmates and thanked family members and teachers for the continued encouragement for all students to succeed in the small school community. Mr. Haruthunian then presented the Class of 2021 to Superintendent Schmettan and Board of Education president Ellen Boehm before inviting each student to the podium and highlighting their high school careers and future plans. He was assisted by Assistant Principal Kevin Bernier in handing out the diplomas. The students then stood and tossed their caps in the air in celebration of becoming the newest graduates of the high school. From the entire Port Jefferson School District and community, congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2021. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131506 Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131506 Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131374 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 19:00:00 GMT false131374 The Joy Continues with Our Grade 5 Student-Musicians: https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131107 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131107 The Joy Continues with Our Grade 5 Student-Musicians: https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142969 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142969 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, 6:30 PM in the library at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, to enter into executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The reorganization meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Thursday, July 1, 2021, 7:00 PM, in the Large Group Room at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School with the regular business meeting at 7:30 PM. Call to order will be 6:00 PM for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142975 Wed, 23 Jun 2021 16:00:00 GMT false142975 Music Students of the Month! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142974 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 06:00:00 GMT false142974 Bravo to our Grade 4 Student-Musicians! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142968 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142968 Bravo to our Grade 4 Student-Musicians! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131105 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131105 Music Students of the Month! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131271 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131271 The Joy Continues with our Grade 5 Student-Musicians https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144515 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false144515 Summer Music Camp Registration https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142973 Mon, 21 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142973 Congratulations Andi Kelly! The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to recognize student Andi Kelly as a recipient of a Long Island String Festival Association scholarship. Andi, an eighth grade student-violinist at Port Jefferson Middle School, was named a LISFA 2021 Summer Music Program Scholarship winner. Andi plans to attend the Port Jefferson Music Camp and the Stony Brook University Summer Chamber Music Camp. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142971 Sun, 20 Jun 2021 14:00:00 GMT false142971 Spring Art Show Click here to view the Art Show https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142732 Sat, 19 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142732 PJ SPRING SHOWCASE HIGH SCHOOL Click here to view https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142723 Sat, 19 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142723 PJ VOICES (A Musical Revue) A Musical that has been a year in the making The HS Drama Musical Production of PJ Voices Director: Tony Butera Music Director: Christine Creighton Technical Director: John Worrell PJ VOICES (A Musical Revue) takes a look at this past year and years past. It is a compilation of scenes and musical numbers that were filmed throughout Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and reflects sentiments and opinions of students and staff. It recalls favorite events, activities and people who have helped create everlasting experiences at all three Port Jefferson schools. Many students and teachers make cameo appearances throughout the production. It is dedicated to both the Class of 2021 and the Class of 2020. Thanks to students: Kailey D’Accordo, Andrew Harris, Jarek Furjanic, Katherine Kirsch, Jade McGarrity, Elena McKillop, Rose Meliker, Albert Peterson, Mattea Rabeno, Fiona Reicher, Samantha Reicher, Alexander Smalyuk, Chris Smith, Cassidy Worrell and Peggy Yin for your efforts! https://drive.google.com/file/d/16HlTj6p-zQuKRWQEUgBacBQMaZhRuQ1O/view?usp=sharing https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142972 Fri, 18 Jun 2021 22:50:00 GMT false142972 Congratulations Andi Kelly! The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to recognize student Andi Kelly as a recipient of a Long Island String Festival Association scholarship. Andi, an eighth grade student-violinist at Port Jefferson Middle School, was named a LISFA 2021 Summer Music Program Scholarship winner. Andi plans to attend the Port Jefferson Music Camp and the Stony Brook University Summer Chamber Music Camp. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=131140 Fri, 18 Jun 2021 14:00:00 GMT false131140 Grades 7 & 8 Spring Showcase https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129915 Fri, 18 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129915 Grades 7 & 8 Spring Showcase https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142967 Fri, 18 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142967 Moving Up and Graduation Ceremonies Broadcast Live Middle School 8th Grade Moving Up 6/21 5:30 p.m. Elementary School 5th Grade Moving Up 6/23 10 a.m. High School Graduation 6/25 6 p.m. Moving Up and Graduation Ceremonies BroadcastLIVE Port Jeff LiveStream Account https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142970 Thu, 17 Jun 2021 17:00:00 GMT false142970 Grade 6 Spring Showcase https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142966 Wed, 16 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142966 Grade 6 Spring Showcase https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129912 Wed, 16 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129912 Career Milestone for Two Educators The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education granted tenure to two staff members during the last Board meeting of the 2020-21 school year. Nicole Sklar, teacher of special education, and Elizabeth Cavanagh, teaching assistant, were named by Executive Director of Human Resources Isha Morgenstern, to the applause of family members, colleagues and community members. Ms. Sklar teaches at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Ms. Cavanagh works with students in Port Jefferson Middle School. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129777 Tue, 15 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129777 Career Milestone for Two Educators The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education granted tenure to two staff members during the last Board meeting of the 2020-21 school year. Nicole Sklar, teacher of special education, and Elizabeth Cavanagh, teaching assistant, were named by Executive Director of Human Resources Isha Morgenstern, to the applause of family members, colleagues and community members. Ms. Sklar teaches at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Ms. Cavanagh works with students in Port Jefferson Middle School. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142964 Tue, 15 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142964 Honored for Dedication to Education Four members of the Port Jefferson School District community were honored with SCOPE Educational Service Awards. They were presented with plaques at the June 8 Board of Education meeting. Each were honored in categories that recognized their leadership, fiscal responsibility, dedication and countless hours of service in improving the educational experiences of all Port Jefferson School District students. The recipients this year are Mr. Adam Sherrard, district director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing, for Administrator Service; Mr. Dennis Brennan, former Board of Education member and longtime champion of students in the district, for Community Service; Mrs. Lucy Arnone, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School senior office assistant, for Support Staff Service and Regina Paquette, ENL teacher, for Teacher Service. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142737 Mon, 14 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142737 Seniors Walk Through History! As the Port Jefferson School District begins to wind down the academic year, so many are sharing good memories with the Class of 2021. The soon-to-be graduates donned caps and gowns and set out for Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, where they were greeted with signs and cheers from the younger students and some of their own elementary teachers. The Senior Walk was an opportunity for the Class of 2021 to both celebrate their achievements and inspire younger students to follow in their footsteps. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129837 Mon, 14 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129837 Honored for Dedication to Education Four members of the Port Jefferson School District community were honored with SCOPE Educational Service Awards. They were presented with plaques at the June 8 Board of Education meeting. Each were honored in categories that recognized their leadership, fiscal responsibility, dedication and countless hours of service in improving the educational experiences of all Port Jefferson School District students. The recipients this year are Mr. Adam Sherrard, district director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing, for Administrator Service; Mr. Dennis Brennan, former Board of Education member and longtime champion of students in the district, for Community Service; Mrs. Lucy Arnone, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School senior office assistant, for Support Staff Service and Regina Paquette, ENL teacher, for Teacher Service. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129738 Mon, 14 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129738 Senior Thanked by BOE The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education thanked senior Hailey Hearney for her year of service as the student representative to the seven-member board of trustees. Hailey’s role this year included communicating student activities and upcoming events at the Board’s monthly meetings. Since September, Hailey’s reports included mention of the smooth transition to the start of the school year, athletic highlights, virtual events, opportunities for student involvement, PSAT and ACT test dates, Spirit Day themes and much more. Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan commended Hailey’s role as a nonvoting Board of Education representative and applauded her successful high school career, exceptional communication skills, involvement in school and community activities and plans for the future. Hailey was presented with a plaque for her commitment and efforts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129677 Fri, 11 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129677 Congratulations to our Valued Retirees! The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education recognized the service of several retirees during the last regular Board meeting for the school year. Executive Director of Human Resources Isha Morgenstern introduced the retirees and commended them for their many years of dedication and service to the students of Port Jefferson. Staff members from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School include custodians Gary Kenyon and Kevin Winters; senior office assistant Lucy Arnone; teaching assistants Constance Byrnes, Louise Sciotto and Deborah Wilson; and teaching aides Constance Bermel and Bernadine Devlin. Third grade teacher Doreen Marullo was also recognized. Latin teacher Anne Algieri and ESL teacher Regina Paquette, who teach at both the middle school and high school, were honored. Librarian Mary LaSita and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Christine Austen were also recognized for their many years of service in the district. On behalf of the school community, congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129672 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 16:00:00 GMT false129672 Congratulations to our Valued Retirees! The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education recognized the service of several retirees during the last regular Board meeting for the school year. Executive Director of Human Resources Isha Morgenstern introduced the retirees and commended them for their many years of dedication and service to the students of Port Jefferson. Staff members from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School include custodians Gary Kenyon and Kevin Winters; senior office assistant Lucy Arnone; teaching assistants Constance Byrnes, Louise Sciotto and Deborah Wilson; and teaching aides Constance Bermel and Bernadine Devlin. Third grade teacher Doreen Marullo was also recognized. Latin teacher Anne Algieri and ESL teacher Regina Paquette, who teach at both the middle school and high school, were honored. Librarian Mary LaSita and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Christine Austen were also recognized for their many years of service in the district. On behalf of the school community, congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142734 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 16:00:00 GMT false142734 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, June 16, 2021 at 6:30 PM via Google Meet, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142736 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 13:00:00 GMT false142736 Spring Art Show Click here to View the Art Show https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129644 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129644 National Latin Exam Success! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School students participated in The National Latin Exam earlier this spring. Under the tutelage of Latin teacher Anne Algieri, they were among more than 88,000 students from across the country as well as 20 other countries who participated. Eighth grade students enrolled in Latin IB took the Beginning Latin Exam. Nine students received awards for their outstanding performance on this exam. Alice Snyder, Andi Snyder, Emily Snyder and Maru Sugimoto were each honored with a gold medal, summa cum laude. Emily achieved a perfect score on this exam and was recognized by the National Latin Exam Committee with a special certificate. Caitlin Dickhuth, Breyden Horstman, Josef Joyner, Rumaan Khan and James Morris were each honored with a silver medal, maxima cum laude. Ninth grade students enrolled in Latin II took the Intermediate Latin Exam. Nine students received gold medals, summa cum laude, for their outstanding performance on this exam. They are Eric Chen, Ryan Gameng, Iris He, Gavin Onghai, Katherine Ranjbar, Alana Samara, Andrew Schretzmayer, Carman Stanton and Michelle Wu. Eric and Michelle achieved a perfect score on the exam. Eric also achieved a perfect score last year on the Latin I exam. Tenth grades students enrolled in Latin III took the Intermediate Latin Reading Comprehension Exam. Five students received awards for their outstanding performance on the exam. Benjamin Perez-Flesler and Teppei Fukuto each earned a gold medal, summa cum laude. Brendan Capodanno, Jack Keegan and Olivia Schlegel each earned a silver medal, maxima cum laude. Students enrolled in Latin IV, V and AP Latin took the Advanced Latin Prose exam, and 10 students received awards for their outstanding performance on this exam. Andrew Patterson, Grant Samara and Peggy Yin each earned a gold medal, summa cum laude. Hugo Onghai and Lucas Welinder each earned a silver medal, maxima cum laude. Liam Gameng and Kasumi Layne-Stasik were recognized with magna cum laude, and Ameen Khan, Beverly (Annie) Maier and Hunter Volpi were recognized with cum laude. Peggy has won a gold medal for the past five years, and Andrew and Grant have now won four gold medals. All three students will be recognized with a special book award by the National Latin Exam Committee in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments. Congratulations students! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129659 Wed, 09 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129659 National Latin Exam Success! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School students participated in The National Latin Exam earlier this spring. Under the tutelage of Latin teacher Anne Algieri, they were among more than 88,000 students from across the country as well as 20 other countries who participated. Eighth grade students enrolled in Latin IB took the Beginning Latin Exam. Nine students received awards for their outstanding performance on this exam. Alice Snyder, Andi Snyder, Emily Snyder and Maru Sugimoto were each honored with a gold medal, summa cum laude. Emily achieved a perfect score on this exam and was recognized by the National Latin Exam Committee with a special certificate. Caitlin Dickhuth, Breyden Horstman, Josef Joyner, Rumaan Khan and James Morris were each honored with a silver medal, maxima cum laude. Ninth grade students enrolled in Latin II took the Intermediate Latin Exam. Nine students received gold medals, summa cum laude, for their outstanding performance on this exam. They are Eric Chen, Ryan Gameng, Iris He, Gavin Onghai, Katherine Ranjbar, Alana Samara, Andrew Schretzmayer, Carman Stanton and Michelle Wu. Eric and Michelle achieved a perfect score on the exam. Eric also achieved a perfect score last year on the Latin I exam. Tenth grades students enrolled in Latin III took the Intermediate Latin Reading Comprehension Exam. Five students received awards for their outstanding performance on the exam. Benjamin Perez-Flesler and Teppei Fukuto each earned a gold medal, summa cum laude. Brendan Capodanno, Jack Keegan and Olivia Schlegel each earned a silver medal, maxima cum laude. Students enrolled in Latin IV, V and AP Latin took the Advanced Latin Prose exam, and 10 students received awards for their outstanding performance on this exam. Andrew Patterson, Grant Samara and Peggy Yin each earned a gold medal, summa cum laude. Hugo Onghai and Lucas Welinder each earned a silver medal, maxima cum laude. Liam Gameng and Kasumi Layne-Stasik were recognized with magna cum laude, and Ameen Khan, Beverly (Annie) Maier and Hunter Volpi were recognized with cum laude. Peggy has won a gold medal for the past five years, and Andrew and Grant have now won four gold medals. All three students will be recognized with a special book award by the National Latin Exam Committee in recognition of their outstanding accomplishments. Congratulations students! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142733 Wed, 09 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142733 SCSSA Honors Peggy Yin Senior and Class of 2021 valedictorian Peggy Yin was honored by the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association at a virtual viewing recognition ceremony on June 3. Members of the SCSSA Board of Directors congratulated Peggy and other Suffolk County high school top students for their exceptional achievements during their high school careers. Peggy was honored with a certificate of recognition and a gift bag that included Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” and renowned author and the event’s keynote speaker Jon Gordon’s “The Energy Bus.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142731 Tue, 08 Jun 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142731 SCSSA Honors Peggy Yin Senior and Class of 2021 valedictorian Peggy Yin was honored by the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association at a virtual viewing recognition ceremony on June 3. Members of the SCSSA Board of Directors congratulated Peggy and other Suffolk County high school top students for their exceptional achievements during their high school careers. Peggy was honored with a certificate of recognition and a gift bag that included Dr. Seuss’ “Oh, The Places You’ll Go,” and renowned author and the event’s keynote speaker Jon Gordon’s “The Energy Bus.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129635 Tue, 08 Jun 2021 05:00:00 GMT false129635 Senior Honored with National Merit Scholarship Senior Gani Ates has been recognized among some of the nation’s most academically talented students with a college-sponsored Merit Scholarship award from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Gani has been honored with the National Merit Stony Brook University Scholarship, sponsored by the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He will join the 2021 freshman class of Stony Brook University where he plans to major in physics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129584 Tue, 08 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129584 Senior Honored with National Merit Scholarship Senior Gani Ates has been recognized among some of the nation’s most academically talented students with a college-sponsored Merit Scholarship award from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Gani has been honored with the National Merit Stony Brook University Scholarship, sponsored by the State University of New York at Stony Brook. He will join the 2021 freshman class of Stony Brook University where he plans to major in physics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142730 Tue, 08 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142730 Mask Update 6-7-21 At the Governor’s press conference today, he stated that wearing masks outsideat schools is no longer mandated by New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). He also stated that the indoor wearing of masks by staff and students remains a NYSDOH mandate and is still required. As a result of this announcement, effective tomorrow June 8, 2021 wearing masks outside for staff and students is optional atall buildings. If a student or a staff member prefers to continue wearing a mask outdoors, this will be an individual choice. Please note that staff and students are still required to wear masks when indoors or on buses. As the warmer weather continues, students will be permitted to take additional water breaks and more frequent mask breaks. Port Jefferson iscommitted to providing you with the most up to date information. If any additional restrictions are eased we will be sure to communicate them in a timely fashion. With the final days of the 2020-2021 school year upon us, we are confident that together we will complete thisyear with great success. Thank you for continued cooperation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142729 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 21:00:00 GMT false142729 Royals Commit to Colleges Eight seniors were honored at the 2021 College Athletic Signing ceremony. Hosted by the Athletic Department and introduced by Adam Sherrard, director of health, physical education and athletics, each student committed to playing their respective sports at some of the nation’s most prestigious universities in the fall. Each student was congratulated by varsity head coaches Rod Cawley (track/cross-country), Andrew Cosci (football), Taylor Forstell (men’s lacrosse and women’s soccer) and Jess Rosen (baseball) during the socially distanced ceremony. The coaches spoke of each student’s career highlights and wished them all well at the next level of their education and athletic endeavors. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following students: James Gruenfelder, Hood College, baseball Hailey Hearney, Drew University, women’s soccer Alex Ledesma, Alfred State University, football Will Ledezma-Benitez, Farmingdale State College, track/cross-country Grant Samara, Rice University, track/cross-country Joey Shaughnessy, Florida Southern College, men’s lacrosse Brian Veit, The University of Tampa, track/cross-country Tommy Yost, Fairleigh Dickinson University, baseball The district also invited to the event and congratulated three students who signed national letters of intent in November 2020. Heidi Biedenkapp will join the rowing team at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Katelynn Johnston will play lacrosse at Assumption University and Daniel Koban will play lacrosse at St. John’s University. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142726 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142726 Science Olympiad Success! The Port Jefferson Middle School students flexed their competitive muscles in STEM content challenges in the New York State Science Olympiad competition. The Middle School Science Olympiad team finished with a rank of 5th overall, against 50 of the best teams across the state. This is the highest ranking ever for the Middle School Science Olympiad equaling the school’s result in 1999 when there were fewer teams competing across New York State, according to earth science teacher and coach Mr. Adam Bouchard. The students received their recognition trophies and certificates for outstanding achievement this week. The students collaborated with their partners using Google meets or Facetime and completed long and often difficult exams competition to prepare for the virtual events. The team earned medals in six events, which are given out to the top 10 teams in each event. “The students were successful by their hard work in studying complex scientific topics prior to the event in preparation and creating their own study sheets and binders,” Mr. Bouchard said. State Competition Team members: Eric Chen, Isabelle Chen, Mari Fukuto, Josef Joyner, Rumaan Khan, Evan Monaghan, Christopher Nam, Gavin Onghai, Marco Puopolo, Alana Samara, Kristina Shterengas, Nicholas Smirnov and Michelle Wu. State Medal winners: 1st Place, Disease Detectives – Gavin Onghai and Alana Samara 1st Place, Water Quality – Josef Joyner and Michelle Wu 3rd Place, Fossils – Mari Fukuto, and Alana Samara 8th Place, Dynamic Planet – Christopher Nam and Michelle Wu 8th Place, Reach for the Stars – Eric Chen and Nicholas Smirnov 8th Place, Road Scholar – Eric Chen and Josef Joyner https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142728 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142728 Royals Commit to Colleges Eight seniors were honored at the 2021 College Athletic Signing ceremony. Hosted by the Athletic Department and introduced by Adam Sherrard, director of health, physical education and athletics, each student committed to playing their respective sports at some of the nation’s most prestigious universities in the fall. Each student was congratulated by varsity head coaches Rod Cawley (track/cross-country), Andrew Cosci (football), Taylor Forstell (men’s lacrosse and women’s soccer) and Jess Rosen (baseball) during the socially distanced ceremony. The coaches spoke of each student’s career highlights and wished them all well at the next level of their education and athletic endeavors. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following students: James Gruenfelder, Hood College, baseball Hailey Hearney, Drew University, women’s soccer Alex Ledesma, Alfred State University, football Will Ledezma-Benitez, Farmingdale State College, track/cross-country Grant Samara, Rice University, track/cross-country Joey Shaughnessy, Florida Southern College, men’s lacrosse Brian Veit, The University of Tampa, track/cross-country Tommy Yost, Fairleigh Dickinson University, baseball The district also invited to the event and congratulated three students who signed national letters of intent in November 2020. Heidi Biedenkapp will join the rowing team at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Katelynn Johnston will play lacrosse at Assumption University and Daniel Koban will play lacrosse at St. John’s University. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129541 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129541 Science Olympiad Success! The Port Jefferson Middle School students flexed their competitive muscles in STEM content challenges in the New York State Science Olympiad competition. The Middle School Science Olympiad team finished with a rank of 5th overall, against 50 of the best teams across the state. This is the highest ranking ever for the Middle School Science Olympiad equaling the school’s result in 1999 when there were fewer teams competing across New York State, according to earth science teacher and coach Mr. Adam Bouchard. The students received their recognition trophies and certificates for outstanding achievement this week. The students collaborated with their partners using Google meets or Facetime and completed long and often difficult exams competition to prepare for the virtual events. The team earned medals in six events, which are given out to the top 10 teams in each event. “The students were successful by their hard work in studying complex scientific topics prior to the event in preparation and creating their own study sheets and binders,” Mr. Bouchard said. State Competition Team members: Eric Chen, Isabelle Chen, Mari Fukuto, Josef Joyner, Rumaan Khan, Evan Monaghan, Christopher Nam, Gavin Onghai, Marco Puopolo, Alana Samara, Kristina Shterengas, Nicholas Smirnov and Michelle Wu. State Medal winners: 1st Place, Disease Detectives – Gavin Onghai and Alana Samara 1st Place, Water Quality – Josef Joyner and Michelle Wu 3rd Place, Fossils – Mari Fukuto, and Alana Samara 8th Place, Dynamic Planet – Christopher Nam and Michelle Wu 8th Place, Reach for the Stars – Eric Chen and Nicholas Smirnov 8th Place, Road Scholar – Eric Chen and Josef Joyner https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129568 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129568 Spring Newsletter Now Available https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142727 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142727 Mask Update 6-6-21 Please read the attached letter from Superintendent Schmettan regarding masks. New York State Education Department has directed schools that masks are still required until further notice. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142725 Sun, 06 Jun 2021 23:00:00 GMT false142725 Updated Mask Guidance As you are likely aware, earlier today Dr. Zucker, Commissioner of the New York Department of Health (NYDOH) issued a letter to the CDC announcing the State is looking to ease mask restrictions in schools. A full copy of the letter can be readhere. The District remains committed to following the NYDOH guidance, and is currently awaiting confirmation if this request by the NYDOH will be approved and in place for Monday, June 7. Further information will be shared as it becomes available. We are hopeful that Dr. Zucker’s letter to the CDC will translate into updated guidance that will help us resume normalcy in our schools. We thank you for your patience as we await this important information. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142724 Fri, 04 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142724 Students Perform at LISFA Four Port Jefferson Middle School ensembles were accepted into the 2021 Long Island String Festival Association’s Chamber Music Festival. The festival was held virtually this year, and each ensemble had the opportunity for one-hour coaching and one-hour interactive presentations with members of the Cali Chamber Players, members of the string faculty at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. Students Emma Batter, Molly Becherer, Hailey Johansen, Christopher Lotten and Nina Mercante performed Müller-Rusch’s “A Pleasant Journey”; Mia Cormier, Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Alexa Wonderland and Cassidy Worrell performed Haydn’s “Allegretto,” Op. 76, No. 2; Caitlin Dickhuth, Aoife Hogan, Andi Kelly, Evan Monaghan, Yushan Pan, Sadie Salzman and Maru Sugimoto performed Bach’s “Bach Double”; and Marlo Pepe, Alice Snyder and Emily Snyder performed Pleyel’s “Springtime.” “It was incredible for each ensemble to have this experience after a very challenging school year,” orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman said. “The clinicians were patient and kind with our student-musicians and improved their performance while building their confidence as a young ensemble. It was a highlight of our year to have been a part of this very special event with an amazing and talented group of professionals.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142722 Wed, 02 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142722 Students Perform at LISFA Four Port Jefferson Middle School ensembles were accepted into the 2021 Long Island String Festival Association’s Chamber Music Festival. The festival was held virtually this year, and each ensemble had the opportunity for one-hour coaching and one-hour interactive presentations with members of the Cali Chamber Players, members of the string faculty at the John J. Cali School of Music at Montclair State University. Students Emma Batter, Molly Becherer, Hailey Johansen, Christopher Lotten and Nina Mercante performed Müller-Rusch’s “A Pleasant Journey”; Mia Cormier, Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Alexa Wonderland and Cassidy Worrell performed Haydn’s “Allegretto,” Op. 76, No. 2; Caitlin Dickhuth, Aoife Hogan, Andi Kelly, Evan Monaghan, Yushan Pan, Sadie Salzman and Maru Sugimoto performed Bach’s “Bach Double”; and Marlo Pepe, Alice Snyder and Emily Snyder performed Pleyel’s “Springtime.” “It was incredible for each ensemble to have this experience after a very challenging school year,” orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman said. “The clinicians were patient and kind with our student-musicians and improved their performance while building their confidence as a young ensemble. It was a highlight of our year to have been a part of this very special event with an amazing and talented group of professionals.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129366 Wed, 02 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129366 Letter to Governor Cuomo regarding HS Graduation https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142600 Wed, 02 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142600 Senior Awards Night Livestream - Wednesday 6/2/21 6:30 p.m. https://livestream.com/accounts/18260106/events/7479281 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142598 Tue, 01 Jun 2021 12:00:00 GMT false142598 North Shore Coalition Letter to Governors Office https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142599 Tue, 01 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142599 Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144514 Tue, 01 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false144514 Music Students of the Month! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144523 Tue, 01 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false144523 Art Students of the Month! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142597 Fri, 28 May 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142597 A Memorable Chamber Music Festival A chamber music program with the Port Jefferson Middle School grade 7/8 string orchestra and the high school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society, under the leadership of Mr. Ed Pisano, was created to adapt to the uniqueness of this school year. During the second semester, students were given the opportunity to form their own ensembles and select their chamber piece to work on and perform. The Chamber Music Festival that took place at Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson Village on May 27 was a celebration of their work. “Chamber music boosts students’ confidence and musicianship through learning their own individual part while discovering how it fits together within the ensemble,” orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman said. “There is tremendous responsibility within this experience and the students are building valuable social and musical connections.” Click here to view the Chamber Music Festival Program https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142596 Fri, 28 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142596 A Memorable Chamber Music Festival A chamber music program with the Port Jefferson Middle School grade 7/8 string orchestra and the high school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society, under the leadership of Mr. Ed Pisano, was created to adapt to the uniqueness of this school year. During the second semester, students were given the opportunity to form their own ensembles and select their chamber piece to work on and perform. The Chamber Music Festival that took place at Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson Village on May 27 was a celebration of their work. “Chamber music boosts students’ confidence and musicianship through learning their own individual part while discovering how it fits together within the ensemble,” orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman said. “There is tremendous responsibility within this experience and the students are building valuable social and musical connections.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129298 Fri, 28 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129298 Music Students of the Month! Congratulations to Sophia Cavanaugh, Sebastian Franck, Jacob Negron, Reese Fallon, Yuchen Du and Nila Manian for your outstanding efforts! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129238 Thu, 27 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129238 Music Students of the Month! Congratulations to Sophia Cavanaugh, Sebastian Franck, Jacob Negron, Reese Fallon, Yuchen Du and Nila Manian for your outstanding efforts! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142595 Thu, 27 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142595 Congratulations Students! The following student-musicians from Port Jefferson Middle School received a Suffolk County Music Educators Association Summer Study Scholarship: sixth graders Joshua Kwon and Iris Park, seventh grader Madison Testa and eighth grader Evan Monaghan. Each student will receive a $500 scholarship to further their studies in music during the summer months. “Congratulations to all of our SCMEA scholarship winners,” Dr. Michael Caravello, district director of music and fine arts said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142594 Tue, 25 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142594 Congratulations Students! The following student-musicians from Port Jefferson Middle School received a Suffolk County Music Educators Association Summer Study Scholarship: sixth graders Joshua Kwon and Iris Park, seventh grader Madison Testa and eighth grader Evan Monaghan. Each student will receive a $500 scholarship to further their studies in music during the summer months. “Congratulations to all of our SCMEA scholarship winners,” Dr. Michael Caravello, district director of music and fine arts said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129133 Tue, 25 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129133 Top Two Honored by Senator 2021 valedictorian Peggy Yin and salutatorian Massimo Cipriano were honored at a virtual celebration hosted by New York State Sen. Anthony Palumbo to recognize the accomplishments and achievements of 41 of Long Island’s most accomplished students. Sen. Palumbo welcomed Assemblyman Steve Englebright along with other assembly members to join in the morning of conversation and accolades for the students. “It was a great pleasure speaking with these remarkable students and hearing about their future plans, accomplishments and favorite memories from high school,” Sen. Palumbo said. “We wish them all the best in their future endeavors and congratulate them and their parents on their significant accomplishments.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129106 Mon, 24 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129106 Top Two Honored by Senator 2021 valedictorian Peggy Yin and salutatorian Massimo Cipriano were honored at a virtual celebration hosted by New York State Sen. Anthony Palumbo to recognize the accomplishments and achievements of 41 of Long Island’s most accomplished students. Sen. Palumbo welcomed Assemblyman Steve Englebright along with other assembly members to join in the morning of conversation and accolades for the students. “It was a great pleasure speaking with these remarkable students and hearing about their future plans, accomplishments and favorite memories from high school,” Sen. Palumbo said. “We wish them all the best in their future endeavors and congratulate them and their parents on their significant accomplishments.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142592 Mon, 24 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142592 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE ***Revised*** The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on June 8, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Auditorium. Call to order will be 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the public access will be required to be masked and fill out a COVID-19 screening. We respectfully ask that only those residents planning to make a public comment to the Board of Education attend the meeting in person. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142593 Sun, 23 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142593 Student-Athletes Honored Although the winter sports season was a shortened one, The Port Jefferson School District’s student-athletes proved what it takes to be a Royal. In lieu of the winter season’s annual recognition events in each sport that acknowledge students for their achievements, they received plaques for their individual accomplishments and continued efforts in working together toward a common goal: sportsmanship. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following student-athletes for their efforts on their respective Royals teams and their post-season honors. Boys Basketball – Drew Feinstein, Chris Scotto and John Sheils were recognized with All-League honors; Drew Feinstein received All-County and All-Tournament Team Conference IV; Massimo Cipriano received All-Academic Team honors. Dave Kamen received League VIII Junior Varsity Coach of the Year honors and Pete Meehan received League VIII Varsity Coach of the Year honors. Girls Basketball – Hailey Hearney and Brooke Zamek received All-League and Academic All-County honors. Evelyn Walker was named to All-Conference; Lola Idir and Abby Rolfe were named to All-County. Boys Winter Track – Giancarlo Caltagirone, Brendan Capodanno, Gray Joyner, Will Ledezma, Grant Samara, Brian Veit were each recognized with All-League. Brady DeWitt was recognized with the Team’s Most Improved Player. Girls Winter Track – Jenna Jacobs and Brennyn Veit were both recognized with All-League honors. Cheerleading – Madison Feinstein and Jacqueline Poten were named to All-County and Charlotte Ambrozy was recognized as Academic All-County. Wrestling – Frank D'Elia and Anthony Evangelista were named to All-County 1st Team; Cade Delgado and Sam Robertson were named to All-County 2nd Team; Alex Rodriguez, Liam Rogers and Tyler Rogers were named to All-County 3rd Team and Willy Rodriguez received an Honorable Mention. “We are so proud of our student-athletes, our coaches and the support of our school community and families in helping to make a successful and memorable season for our Royals,” Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142591 Fri, 21 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142591 Student-Athletes Honored Although the winter sports season was a shortened one, The Port Jefferson School District’s student-athletes proved what it takes to be a Royal. In lieu of the winter season’s annual recognition events in each sport that acknowledge students for their achievements, they received plaques for their individual accomplishments and continued efforts in working together toward a common goal: sportsmanship. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following student-athletes for their efforts on their respective Royals teams and their post-season honors. Boys Basketball – Drew Feinstein, Chris Scotto and John Sheils were recognized with All-League honors; Drew Feinstein received All-County and All-Tournament Team Conference IV; Massimo Cipriano received All-Academic Team honors. Dave Kamen received League VIII Junior Varsity Coach of the Year honors and Pete Meehan received League VIII Varsity Coach of the Year honors. Girls Basketball – Hailey Hearney and Brooke Zamek received All-League and Academic All-County honors. Evelyn Walker was named to All-Conference; Lola Idir and Abby Rolfe were named to All-County. Boys Winter Track – Giancarlo Caltagirone, Brendan Capodanno, Gray Joyner, Will Ledezma, Grant Samara, Brian Veit were each recognized with All-League. Brady DeWitt was recognized with the Team’s Most Improved Player. Girls Winter Track – Jenna Jacobs and Brennyn Veit were both recognized with All-League honors. Cheerleading – Madison Feinstein and Jacqueline Poten were named to All-County and Charlotte Ambrozy was recognized as Academic All-County. Wrestling – Frank D'Elia and Anthony Evangelista were named to All-County 1st Team; Cade Delgado and Sam Robertson were named to All-County 2nd Team; Alex Rodriguez, Liam Rogers and Tyler Rogers were named to All-County 3rd Team and Willy Rodriguez received an Honorable Mention. “We are so proud of our student-athletes, our coaches and the support of our school community and families in helping to make a successful and memorable season for our Royals,” Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=129060 Fri, 21 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129060 Eighth Graders Honored with Zone Awards Port Jefferson Middle School eighth graders Kyle DiCarlo and Kendry Rodriguez Lopez were named 2020-2021 Suffolk Zone Award honorees by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. They were honored with certificates from physical education teacher Mr. Ben Bajus. Kyle and Kendry were chosen by the school’s physical education teachers for demonstrating strong leadership and character traits in physical education as well as a commitment to academics. “These two students have proven themselves to their physical education teachers and the school community as being students with exceptional physical performance, scholastic ability and leadership qualities,” Mr. Adam Sherrard, the district’s director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128971 Thu, 20 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128971 Eighth Graders Honored with Zone Awards Port Jefferson Middle School eighth graders Kyle DiCarlo and Kendry Rodriguez Lopez were named 2020-2021 Suffolk Zone Award honorees by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. They were honored with certificates from physical education teacher Mr. Ben Bajus. Kyle and Kendry were chosen by the school’s physical education teachers for demonstrating strong leadership and character traits in physical education as well as a commitment to academics. “These two students have proven themselves to their physical education teachers and the school community as being students with exceptional physical performance, scholastic ability and leadership qualities,” Mr. Adam Sherrard, the district’s director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142590 Thu, 20 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142590 Hailey Hearney Named a News 12 Scholar-Athlete Congratulations Hailey! Learn more about Hailey here: Click Here https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142589 Wed, 19 May 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142589 Hailey Hearney Named a News 12 Scholar-Athlete Congratulations Hailey! Learn more about Hailey here:Click Here https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128967 Wed, 19 May 2021 05:00:00 GMT false128967 Duo Honored for PE Leadership Two students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School were named Suffolk Zone Award honorees by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. They were honored with certificates from physical education teacher Mr. Kevin Rowett. Fifth-graders Olivia Andriani and Luca Thomsen were chosen by the school’s physical education teachers for demonstrating strong leadership and character traits in physical education as well as a commitment to academics. According to Mr. Adam Sherrard, the district’s director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing, the students continued efforts exemplify the core leadership values of the school and athletic community. “This honor recognizes their commitment to physical education and serving as role models for their peers,” he said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128876 Wed, 19 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128876 Duo Honored for PE Leadership Two students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School were named Suffolk Zone Award honorees by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. They were honored with certificates from physical education teacher Mr. Kevin Rowett. Fifth-graders Olivia Andriani and Luca Thomsen were chosen by the school’s physical education teachers for demonstrating strong leadership and character traits in physical education as well as a commitment to academics. According to Mr. Adam Sherrard, the district’s director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing, the students continued efforts exemplify the core leadership values of the school and athletic community. “This honor recognizes their commitment to physical education and serving as role models for their peers,” he said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142586 Wed, 19 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142586 Budget Results Budget – Yes 579 No 120 Prop 2: Use of capital reserve Yes - 618 No - 82 Prop 3: Establish capital reserve Yes - 587 N0 - 111 Board of Education Election (* indicates the three individuals elected)- Tracy Zamek - 473* René Tidwell - 408 * Shannon Handley - 384 Ryan Walker – 456* https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142588 Wed, 19 May 2021 00:00:00 GMT false142588 Port Jeff Recognizes National Mental Health Awareness Month Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is recognizing National Mental Health Awareness Month with weekly initiatives coordinated by school social worker Ms. Kristin Britt and school psychologist Ms. Kristen Wendel. “The purpose is to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illness,” Ms. Britt said of the activities for students and staff throughout the month from practicing resilience and self-care activities to having positive and trusted adults to turn to while drawing on personal strengths during difficult times. “We are also asking our staff members to engage in the activities, in order to not only model for our students but to also make sure they are taking care of their own mental health needs,” she said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142587 Tue, 18 May 2021 06:00:00 GMT false142587 Port Jeff Recognizes National Mental Health Awareness Month Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is recognizing National Mental Health Awareness Month with weekly initiatives coordinated by school social worker Ms. Kristin Britt and school psychologist Ms. Kristen Wendel. “The purpose is to raise awareness and educate the public about mental illness,” Ms. Britt said of the activities for students and staff throughout the month from practicing resilience and self-care activities to having positive and trusted adults to turn to while drawing on personal strengths during difficult times. “We are also asking our staff members to engage in the activities, in order to not only model for our students but to also make sure they are taking care of their own mental health needs,” she said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128890 Tue, 18 May 2021 06:00:00 GMT false128890 Running Like the Wind! A beautiful spring day was the backdrop for the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Scraggy Walk/Run, an event that has taken place for more than two decades and brings smiles, laughter and some fun competition to the Port Jefferson School District’s youngest students. Wearing colorful class T-shirts and sneakers, the students did their best to complete the course that started behind the school for each grade level and down rolling hills and wooded trails to cross the finish line where they were met with cheers and applause from the socially distanced spectators. The annual race helps to promote physical fitness and culminates a several-week training period where students walked and ran and in their physical education classes with teachers Benjamin Bajus, Kevin Rowett and Francoise Schachner. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128870 Tue, 18 May 2021 05:00:00 GMT false128870 Running Like the Wind! A beautiful spring day was the backdrop for the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Scraggy Walk/Run, an event that has taken place for more than two decades and brings smiles, laughter and some fun competition to the Port Jefferson School District’s youngest students. Wearing colorful class T-shirts and sneakers, the students did their best to complete the course that started behind the school for each grade level and down rolling hills and wooded trails to cross the finish line where they were met with cheers and applause from the socially distanced spectators. The annual race helps to promote physical fitness and culminates a several-week training period where students walked and ran and in their physical education classes with teachers Benjamin Bajus, Kevin Rowett and Francoise Schachner. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142585 Tue, 18 May 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142585 District Gifted with Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame Plaque Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was the recipient of a plaque from the family of Ruth Gracey, a former physical education teacher in the Port Jefferson School District who was posthumously inducted into the 2020 Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony was postponed due to the pandemic and held on May 12, 2021. Ms. Gracey, who served Port Jefferson students for more than 25 years before retiring in 1971, was also inducted into the high school’s Wall of Fame in 2018. She was noted as a pioneer in women’s athletics – one of the first to make field hockey an institution of Long Island sports, as well as introducing programs for women in basketball, track and archery. “This is such an honor to share this artifact in our building,” Port Jefferson School District Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Mr. Adam Sherrard said. “Our numerous female-athletes can share the pride of this piece of important school history.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142584 Tue, 18 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142584 District Gifted with Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame Plaque Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was the recipient of a plaque from the family of Ruth Gracey, a former physical education teacher in the Port Jefferson School District who was posthumously inducted into the 2020 Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. The ceremony was postponed due to the pandemic and held on May 12, 2021. Ms. Gracey, who served Port Jefferson students for more than 25 years before retiring in 1971, was also inducted into the high school’s Wall of Fame in 2018. She was noted as a pioneer in women’s athletics – one of the first to make field hockey an institution of Long Island sports, as well as introducing programs for women in basketball, track and archery. “This is such an honor to share this artifact in our building,” Port Jefferson School District Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Mr. Adam Sherrard said. “Our numerous female-athletes can share the pride of this piece of important school history.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128866 Tue, 18 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128866 Budget Results Budget Results: Budget – Yes 579 No 120 Prop 2: Use of capital reserve Yes - 618 No - 82 Prop 3: Establish capital reserve Yes - 587 N0 - 111 Board of Education Election (* indicates the three individuals elected)- Tracy Zamek - 473* René Tidwell - 408 * Shannon Handley - 384 Ryan Walker – 456* https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128923 Tue, 18 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128923 University Virtual Gallery Visit Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Advanced Placement art students recently visited the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at SUNY Stony Brook's Staller Center for a virtual tour of the university’s senior art exhibit. The students, along with art teacher Lauren Lewonka and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello, had an opportunity to view the works. During the tour, Karen Levitov, director and curator for the gallery, was accompanied by several university students who spoke about the techniques and inspiration behind their works as well as their experiences on campus life as both students and artists. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128853 Mon, 17 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128853 University Virtual Gallery Visit Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Advanced Placement art students recently visited the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at SUNY Stony Brook's Staller Center for a virtual tour of the university’s senior art exhibit. The students, along with art teacher Lauren Lewonka and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello, had an opportunity to view the works. During the tour, Karen Levitov, director and curator for the gallery, was accompanied by several university students who spoke about the techniques and inspiration behind their works as well as their experiences on campus life as both students and artists. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142583 Mon, 17 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142583 Varsity Club Recognizes Armed Forces Day Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Varsity Club worked together to display flags at the school’s Armed Forces Tribute rock in recognition of Armed Forces Day on May 15. On behalf of the Port Jefferson School District, thank you to the students and advisers Deirdre Filippi and Jesse Rosen for this special tribute to military personnel who continue to protect and preserve our country’s freedoms. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142581 Fri, 14 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142581 Live Music Returns! Port Jefferson Middle School student-musicians were delighted to share live music for members of the 5Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth grade orchestra for the first time in over a year. The middle school chamber ensemble, led by Dr. Vanessa Salzman, performed several concert works for the elementary students in addition to discussing musical opportunities at the middle school level. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142582 Fri, 14 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142582 Varsity Club Recognizes Armed Forces Day Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Varsity Club worked together to display flags at the school’s Armed Forces Tribute rock in recognition of Armed Forces Day on May 15. On behalf of the Port Jefferson School District, thank you to the students and advisers Deirdre Filippi and Jesse Rosen for this special tribute to military personnel who continue to protect and preserve our country’s freedoms. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128781 Fri, 14 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128781 Live Music Returns! Port Jefferson Middle School student-musicians were delighted to share live music for members of the 5Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth grade orchestra for the first time in over a year. The middle school chamber ensemble, led by Dr. Vanessa Salzman, performed several concert works for the elementary students in addition to discussing musical opportunities at the middle school level. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128802 Fri, 14 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128802 PreK/K Orientation Tuesday, May 18 · 1:30 – 2:00pm Google Meet Information: Video call link: https://meet.google.com/wcw-fyva-zez Or dial: ‪(US) +1 617-675-4444 PIN: ‪211 010 446 2822# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/wcw-fyva-zez?pin=2110104462822 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142580 Thu, 13 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142580 Vaccine Informational Webinar Tonight, Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m., Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott, will host an informational webinar for parents regarding COVID-19 vaccines for children. You must have ZOOM uploaded prior to 7 p.m. Click on link for webinar: https://healthsuffolkcountyny.zoom.us/j/85461248445?pwd=T0tYVldtbCtJeHZzZkxoR2FhdEo5QT09#success https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142579 Thu, 13 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142579 Vaccine Informational Webinar Tonight, Thursday, May 13 at 7 p.m., Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott, will host an informational webinar for parents regarding COVID-19 vaccines for children. You must have ZOOM uploaded prior to 7 p.m. Click on link for webinar: https://healthsuffolkcountyny.zoom.us/j/85461248445?pwd=T0tYVldtbCtJeHZzZkxoR2FhdEo5QT09#success https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128695 Thu, 13 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128695 2021 Budget Video https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142577 Fri, 07 May 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142577 Student Artwork Showcased in County Exhibit Thirteen students from the Port Jefferson School District were selected to participate in this year’s Suffolk County Art Leaders’ Association Art Showcase. The 2021 virtual exhibition showcased the various mediums of students throughout the grade levels. Edna Louise Elementary School’s second graders Lily June Bowman and Tripp Menninger; third grader Maximillian Krause; fourth grader Olivia Viviano; fifth graders Olivia Andriani and Samuel Perez-Flesler; and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s freshmen Alexa Eichinger and Jadie Hernandez; sophomore Amy Whitman; junior Omaris Adames Peña and seniors Hannah Skula, Kayla Timpanaro and Alexandra Weldon were part of the exhibit. “On behalf of the Port Jefferson School District, congratulations to all of these talented artists,” Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142576 Fri, 07 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142576 Student Artwork Showcased in County Exhibit Thirteen students from the Port Jefferson School District were selected to participate in this year’s Suffolk County Art Leaders’ Association Art Showcase. The 2021 virtual exhibition showcased the various mediums of students throughout the grade levels. Edna Louise Elementary School’s second graders Lily June Bowman and Tripp Menninger; third grader Maximillian Krause; fourth grader Olivia Viviano; fifth graders Olivia Andriani and Samuel Perez-Flesler; and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s freshmen Alexa Eichinger and Jadie Hernandez; sophomore Amy Whitman; junior Omaris Adames Peña and seniors Hannah Skula, Kayla Timpanaro and Alexandra Weldon were part of the exhibit. “On behalf of the Port Jefferson School District, congratulations to all of these talented artists,” Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128485 Fri, 07 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128485 2021 Budget Video https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128503 Fri, 07 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128503 Graduation Information Class of 2021 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142575 Thu, 06 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142575 Graduation Information Class of 2021 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128471 Thu, 06 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128471 Varsity Club May ONE Mile Walk Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Varsity Club raised $1,000 for Special Olympics by recognizing the organization’s May ONE Mile Walk that benefits Special Olympics athletes in the local community. The funds raised will sponsor four local Special Olympic athletes for the year. The Varsity Club members and advisers Deirdre Filippi and Jesse Rosen met at the high school track on Saturday, May 1 at 1 p.m. The district thanks all the students involved: Frankie Andriani, Joey Aronica, Matt Buonomo, Phil Buonomo, Brendan Capadano, Braeden Cesarski, Massimo Cipriano, Brady DeWitt, Lucy DeWitt, Luke Filippi, James Gruenfelder, Hailey Hearney, Ciaran Laffey, Annie Maier, Peter Murphy, Blake Roberts, Abby Rolfe, Michael Tesser, Brennyn Veit, Christopher Wengatz, Amy Whitman, Kyle Yannucci, Brooke Zamek and Jake Zamek. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142574 Wed, 05 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142574 LISFA HONORS! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates 41 student-musicians who were recognized by the Long Island String Festival Association. Fifth graders from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School included Olivia Andiani, Emilia Clements, Ella D'Andrea, Nila Manian, Sima Ozgur, Clara Pearce, and Sara Puopolo. Port Jefferson Middle School student participants were sixth graders Allie Blumenthal, Jonah Boerboom, Luca Caltagirone, Nicholas Hogan, Joshua Kwon, Iris Park, Ava Sexton and Kenshin Sugimoto; seventh graders Rowan Casey, Mari Fukuto, Kevin Hong, Marco Puopolo, Ava Romonoyske and Sadie Salzman; eighth graders Caitlin Dickhuth, Aoife Hogan, Andi Kelly, Christopher Lotten, Evan Monaghan, Vivian O'Brien, Yushan Pan and Maru Sugimoto; Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students included freshmen Iris He, Gavin Onghai and Christopher Smith; sophomores Alexa Ayotte, Teppei Fukuto and Kathleen Zhou; juniors David Lawler, Stefano Rabeno, Ruby Ray and Olivia Schlegel; and seniors Marina Kelley-Renda and Jack Reilly. As part of this year’s virtual LISFA experience, students participated in workshops including styles such as jazz improvisation, fiddle and pop as well as classical master classes presented by world-renowned guest artists. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142573 Tue, 04 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142573 LISFA HONORS! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates 41 student-musicians who were recognized by the Long Island String Festival Association. Fifth graders from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School included Olivia Andiani, Emilia Clements, Ella D'Andrea, Nila Manian, Sima Ozgur, Clara Pearce, and Sara Puopolo. Port Jefferson Middle School student participants were sixth graders Allie Blumenthal, Jonah Boerboom, Luca Caltagirone, Nicholas Hogan, Joshua Kwon, Iris Park, Ava Sexton and Kenshin Sugimoto; seventh graders Rowan Casey, Mari Fukuto, Kevin Hong, Marco Puopolo, Ava Romonoyske and Sadie Salzman; eighth graders Caitlin Dickhuth, Aoife Hogan, Andi Kelly, Christopher Lotten, Evan Monaghan, Vivian O'Brien, Yushan Pan and Maru Sugimoto; Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students included freshmen Iris He, Gavin Onghai and Christopher Smith; sophomores Alexa Ayotte, Teppei Fukuto and Kathleen Zhou; juniors David Lawler, Stefano Rabeno, Ruby Ray and Olivia Schlegel; and seniors Marina Kelley-Renda and Jack Reilly. As part of this year’s virtual LISFA experience, students participated in workshops including styles such as jazz improvisation, fiddle and pop as well as classical master classes presented by world-renowned guest artists. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128350 Tue, 04 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128350 2021 Budget Newsletter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128235 Fri, 30 Apr 2021 05:00:00 GMT false128235 2021 Budget Newsletter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142571 Fri, 30 Apr 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142571 Top Rankings for High School! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has been ranked among the top 6% of high schools nationwide and in the top 8% of high schools in New York State as part of the annual U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools list. The designation is based on the 2018-19 school year. Of all the eligible schools that received the designation, Port Jefferson was ranked 1,046 out of 17,857 public high schools and 101 out of 1,218 in New York State. The news organization evaluated the high school based on several factors, including the number of students who took at least one AP exam, the number of students who passed at least one AP exam, and student math and reading proficiency rates. All schools are rated on their performance on state-required tests, graduation rates and how well they prepare students for college. “We are pleased to again receive this nationally acclaimed designation and are grateful to all our stakeholders – teachers, parents and our Port Jefferson community – in encouraging student excellence at all grade levels,” Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan said. The high school annually boasts numerous AP Scholars and National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students, in addition to the many athletic, musical, civic and volunteer accomplishments of its students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142572 Fri, 30 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142572 Top Rankings for High School! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has been ranked among the top 6% of high schools nationwide and in the top 8% of high schools in New York State as part of the annual U.S. News & World Report’s Best High Schools list. The designation is based on the 2018-19 school year. Of all the eligible schools that received the designation, Port Jefferson was ranked 1,046 out of 17,857 public high schools and 101 out of 1,218 in New York State. The news organization evaluated the high school based on several factors, including the number of students who took at least one AP exam, the number of students who passed at least one AP exam, and student math and reading proficiency rates. All schools are rated on their performance on state-required tests, graduation rates and how well they prepare students for college. “We are pleased to again receive this nationally acclaimed designation and are grateful to all our stakeholders – teachers, parents and our Port Jefferson community – in encouraging student excellence at all grade levels,” Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan said. The high school annually boasts numerous AP Scholars and National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students, in addition to the many athletic, musical, civic and volunteer accomplishments of its students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128265 Fri, 30 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128265 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education willbe held on Tuesday, May 18, 2021, 9:30 PM at the Earl L. Vandermeulen HighSchool Cafeteria declaring the results of the election and budget vote. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142570 Fri, 30 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142570 District Welcomes New AP Brian Walker The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that Mr. Brian Walker has been named assistant principal. In his new role, Mr. Walker will work with Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Mrs. Amy Laverty. Mr. Walker joins Port Jefferson after his most recent role in the Middle Country Central School District as an assistant principal at Selden Middle School. He was also a special education teacher for various grade levels for more than a decade in Middle Country and served as principal of the district’s Extended School Year Program for three years. “I am honored to be in this position, and I am looking forward to assisting Mrs. Laverty and Dr. Neidig in continuing to develop students who are independent, lifelong learners, in a challenging and nurturing environment,” Mr. Walker said. “I believe that as a school, we play a fundamental role in positioning students for future success. I am committed to working closely with teachers, parents and community members to ensure our children achieve their full potential and are prepared for the next phase of their educational career.” Mr. Walker earned a Master of Arts in liberal studies from Stony Brook University and a Bachelor of Arts in child study and students with disabilities from St. Joseph’s College. He holds initial certification in school building leadership and professional certifications in early childhood/childhood and students with disabilities. He also received an educational leadership advanced certificate from Stony Brook University. “Mr. Walker’s educational philosophies fit perfectly with our Port Jefferson School District’s core beliefs and dedication to student success,” Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan said. “On behalf of our entire school community, we look forward to his enthusiasm and professional commitment to our students.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142569 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142569 District Welcomes New AP Brian Walker The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that Mr. Brian Walker has been named assistant principal. In his new role, Mr. Walker will work with Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Mrs. Amy Laverty. Mr. Walker joins Port Jefferson after his most recent role in the Middle Country Central School District as an assistant principal at Selden Middle School. He was also a special education teacher for various grade levels for more than a decade in Middle Country and served as principal of the district’s Extended School Year Program for three years. “I am honored to be in this position, and I am looking forward to assisting Mrs. Laverty and Dr. Neidig in continuing to develop students who are independent, lifelong learners, in a challenging and nurturing environment,” Mr. Walker said. “I believe that as a school, we play a fundamental role in positioning students for future success. I am committed to working closely with teachers, parents and community members to ensure our children achieve their full potential and are prepared for the next phase of their educational career.” Mr. Walker earned a Master of Arts in liberal studies from Stony Brook University and a Bachelor of Arts in child study and students with disabilities from St. Joseph’s College. He holds initial certification in school building leadership and professional certifications in early childhood/childhood and students with disabilities. He also received an educational leadership advanced certificate from Stony Brook University. “Mr. Walker’s educational philosophies fit perfectly with our Port Jefferson School District’s core beliefs and dedication to student success,” Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan said. “On behalf of our entire school community, we look forward to his enthusiasm and professional commitment to our students.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128197 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128197 First-Place Win! Students in the High School’s Investment Club are continuing to develop financial strategies and recently participated in The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Foundation’s Stock Market Game, in which they worked in groups competing against schools across Long Island. Headed by high school language teacher and club adviser Mr. Robert Farenga, the competition ran from September through April and the students invested an imaginary equity portfolio of $100,000. Sophomore Safiy Khan placed first in the high school division of Long Island, growing his portfolio to $226,027.03, which beat the growth of S&P 500 index by 107%! Students Luke Dickhuth, Jonah Pflaster and Rishabh Singh placed fourth in the competition. The total average return of all the teams in the high school was 30% above the S&P 500, which was the top-performing return as a school across Long Island. Safiy has been invited to the virtual awards ceremony for the program and will create a video describing his experience. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128141 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128141 First-Place Win! Students in the High School’s Investment Club are continuing to develop financial strategies and recently participated in The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Foundation’s Stock Market Game, in which they worked in groups competing against schools across Long Island. Headed by high school language teacher and club adviser Mr. Robert Farenga, the competition ran from September through April and the students invested an imaginary equity portfolio of $100,000. Sophomore Safiy Khan placed first in the high school division of Long Island, growing his portfolio to $226,027.03, which beat the growth of S&P 500 index by 107%! Students Luke Dickhuth, Jonah Pflaster and Rishabh Singh placed fourth in the competition. The total average return of all the teams in the high school was 30% above the S&P 500, which was the top-performing return as a school across Long Island. Safiy has been invited to the virtual awards ceremony for the program and will create a video describing his experience. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142568 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142568 Class C Champions! The Port Jefferson School District’s Varsity Boys Cross Country team won the Suffolk County Class C championship. This was the third consecutive county championship for the team, which was led by seniors Grant Samara and Brian Veit who finished with the top individual times in Class C. On behalf of the Port Jefferson School District., congratulations to team members Brendan Capodanno, Teppei Fukuto, Gray Joyner, Grant Samara, Ryan Sommerstad, Brian Veit and Colin Veit and Coach Rod Cawley for bringing home the top honors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142567 Mon, 26 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142567 Class C Champions! The Port Jefferson School District’s Varsity Boys Cross Country team won the Suffolk County Class C championship. This was the third consecutive county championship for the team, which was led by seniors Grant Samara and Brian Veit who finished with the top individual times in Class C. On behalf of the Port Jefferson School District., congratulations to team members Brendan Capodanno, Teppei Fukuto, Gray Joyner, Grant Samara, Ryan Sommerstad, Brian Veit and Colin Veit and Coach Rod Cawley for bringing home the top honors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=128067 Mon, 26 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128067 Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127877 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127877 Senior Peggy Yin Selected for All-Eastern Concert Senior Peggy Yin was selected to participate in the National Association for Music Education’s 2021 All-Eastern concert. Peggy is an Alto I in the mixed chorus at the virtual April 23 performance. Peggy, who cites music as one of her life’s passions, met with her All-Eastern peers for a virtual program of rehearsals, master classes and sectionals in March and submitted video recordings for the virtual collaborative performance. The high school’s 2021 valedictorian, Peggy counts among her musical achievements All-County, All-State and All-Eastern honors as a vocalist and flutist. She has performed twice onstage as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, has been on the Manhattan School of Music Dean’s List for three years and has been a recipient of five international vocal competitions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127961 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127961 Mindful Moments + Environmental Management Middle School students found a fun and productive way to celebrate after the New York State assessments. In true Port Jeff style, they headed up to the building’s Green Roof where they donned their masks and plastic gloves and weeded the garden that was planted with succulents a few years ago. “It was a refreshing activity to participate in,” Principal Dr. Robert Neidig said. Now that it is weeded, the students will recharge the Green Roof with plantings to help lessen stormwater pollution and continue its function to help filter water and make the building more energy efficient. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127997 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127997 Mindful Moments + Environmental Management Middle School students found a fun and productive way to celebrate after the New York State assessments. In true Port Jeff style, they headed up to the building’s Green Roof where they donned their masks and plastic gloves and weeded the garden that was planted with succulents a few years ago. “It was a refreshing activity to participate in,” Principal Dr. Robert Neidig said. Now that it is weeded, the students will recharge the Green Roof with plantings to help lessen stormwater pollution and continue its function to help filter water and make the building more energy efficient. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142565 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142565 Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142679 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142679 Senior Peggy Yin Selected for All-Eastern Concert Senior Peggy Yin was selected to participate in the National Association for Music Education’s 2021 All-Eastern concert. Peggy is an Alto I in the mixed chorus at the virtual April 23 performance. Peggy, who cites music as one of her life’s passions, met with her All-Eastern peers for a virtual program of rehearsals, master classes and sectionals in March and submitted video recordings for the virtual collaborative performance. The high school’s 2021 valedictorian, Peggy counts among her musical achievements All-County, All-State and All-Eastern honors as a vocalist and flutist. She has performed twice onstage as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, has been on the Manhattan School of Music Dean’s List for three years and has been a recipient of five international vocal competitions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142680 Fri, 23 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142680 Trio Qualify for County Swim Championship The Port Jefferson School District congratulates sophomore Olivia Schlegel and juniors Kate Sommerstad and Brennyn Veit for qualifying for the Girls Swimming County Championships which will be held at Stony Brook University on April 24 and 25. Kate will swim in the 200m freestyle and 500m freestyle races. Olivia will compete in the 100m backstroke and the 200m individual medley. Brennyn will also compete in the 200m individual medley as well as the 100m breaststroke races. Good luck! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142678 Wed, 21 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142678 Trio Qualify for County Swim Championship The Port Jefferson School District congratulates sophomore Olivia Schlegel and juniors Kate Sommerstad and Brennyn Veit for qualifying for the Girls Swimming County Championships which will be held at Stony Brook University on April 24 and 25. Kate will swim in the 200m freestyle and 500m freestyle races. Olivia will compete in the 100m backstroke and the 200m individual medley. Brennyn will also compete in the 200m individual medley as well as the 100m breaststroke races. Good luck! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127874 Wed, 21 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127874 Championship Qualifiers! Four members of the Port Jefferson varsity girls tennis team qualified for the Division 4 Championships. On April 17, junior Natalie McGuigan and seventh grader Elizabeth Campo competed in singles competitions and junior Jasmine Adams and seventh grader Sadie Salzman competed in doubles competition. Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127841 Tue, 20 Apr 2021 18:00:00 GMT false127841 Championship Qualifiers! Four members of the Port Jefferson varsity girls tennis team qualified for the Division 4 Championships. On April 17, junior Natalie McGuigan and seventh grader Elizabeth Campo competed in singles competitions and junior Jasmine Adams and seventh grader Sadie Salzman competed in doubles competition. Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142677 Tue, 20 Apr 2021 18:00:00 GMT false142677 Three Medals for A Team! Congratulations to the High School Science Olympiad A team for winning three state medals at the New York State competition. Port Jefferson competed against teams from across the state in a virtual fashion on April 10. Port Jefferson’s A team placed 36th out of 68 teams. There were 15 events and the top 10 teams in each event won medals. Congratulations to the state medal winners: 10th Place, Anatomy – Natalie McGuigan and Ben Perez-Flesler Eighth Place, Water Quality – Ben Perez-Flesler and William Wu Fifth Place, Sounds of Music – Hugo Onghai and Peggy Yin “I am so impressed with the results and adaptability of this team to a virtual competition,” high school science teacher and coach Amanda Brideson said. “Winning three state medals is an amazing result, and it really shows how much work and dedication this team puts in! They should all be really proud of themselves as a competitor and a team.” Coach Nicole Sklar also shared her enthusiasm and pride for the students. Additional participants were Gani Ates, Nick DeDonato, Teppei Fukuto, Liam Gameng, Justin Garcia, Kasumi Layne-Stasik, Ricky Melucci, Andrew Patterson and Logan Shaffer. In good sportsmanship fashion, the Port Jefferson School District, Coach Brideson, Coach Sklar and all the student-participants wish Great Neck High School, their fellow competitors from Long Island, the best of luck in the National Science Olympiad competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142676 Tue, 20 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142676 Three Medals for A Team! Congratulations to the High School Science Olympiad A team for winning three state medals at the New York State competition. Port Jefferson competed against teams from across the state in a virtual fashion on April 10. Port Jefferson’s A team placed 36th out of 68 teams. There were 15 events and the top 10 teams in each event won medals. Congratulations to the state medal winners: 10th Place, Anatomy – Natalie McGuigan and Ben Perez-Flesler Eighth Place, Water Quality – Ben Perez-Flesler and William Wu Fifth Place, Sounds of Music – Hugo Onghai and Peggy Yin “I am so impressed with the results and adaptability of this team to a virtual competition,” high school science teacher and coach Amanda Brideson said. “Winning three state medals is an amazing result, and it really shows how much work and dedication this team puts in! They should all be really proud of themselves as a competitor and a team.” Coach Nicole Sklar also shared her enthusiasm and pride for the students. Additional participants were Gani Ates, Nick DeDonato, Teppei Fukuto, Liam Gameng, Justin Garcia, Kasumi Layne-Stasik, Ricky Melucci, Andrew Patterson and Logan Shaffer. In good sportsmanship fashion, the Port Jefferson School District, Coach Brideson, Coach Sklar and all the student-participants wish Great Neck High School, their fellow competitors from Long Island, the best of luck in the National Science Olympiad competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127825 Tue, 20 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127825 Congratulations to our Student-Artists of the Month! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127784 Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127784 Congratulations to our Student-Artists of the Month! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142675 Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142675 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held virtually on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, 6:30 p.m., to vote on the 2021-2022 Eastern Suffolk BOCES Administrative Budget and Board Election. A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 27, 2021, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering into executive session to discuss personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142674 Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142674 Bravo! The Port Jefferson School District has not missed a beat and has again been ranked among the National Association of Music Merchants Foundation’s Best Communities for Music Education in America. The honor acknowledges schools and districts across the country for their dedication to and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. This is the 15th consecutive year that Port Jefferson – one of only 686 school districts across the nation named in 2021 – has received the prestigious national recognition. The district boasts numerous vocal, band and orchestral performing groups, and students have numerous opportunities to perform within the community. Although many partnerships with Stony Brook University, local orchestras and other community groups were put on hold due to the pandemic this year, the students and music educators found innovative and resourceful ways to present their music. “This year, music played such a significant role in our students’ lives,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, the District’s Director of Music and Fine Arts. “We are grateful to our music educators for keeping music education at the forefront in our three schools and thank our dedicated students for their creativity and joy in embracing this craft.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142673 Fri, 16 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142673 A Celebration of Music: Instrument Petting Zoo! The Port Jefferson School District’s Instrument Petting Zoo returned to Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s courtyard on a beautiful spring day! The musical event brought together third graders and 12 members of Earl. L Vandermeulen High School’s instrumental ensembles in a socially distant opportunity for the younger students to learn about the band and orchestra instruments. Organized by music teachers Mr. Mark Abbonizio, Mrs. Christine Creighton, Mr. Christian Neubert and Mr. Ed Pisano, the third graders were able to hear the instruments played and ask questions about them. They visited Mr. Abbonizio’s and Mrs. Creighton’s setups and those of high school students Teppei Fukuto, Justin Garcia, Marina Kelley-Renda, Natalie McGuigan, Hugo Onghai, Stefano Rabeno, Luz Ramonez, Logan Shaffer, Christopher Smith, Carman Stanton, Amy Whitman and Peggy Yin. Before the end of the school year, the third graders will select the instrument they would like to begin to learn when they enter fourth grade in September. Thanks to all of our student-musicians and the Music and Fine Arts Department for bringing this much loved event back! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142672 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142672 A Celebration of Music: Instrument Petting Zoo! The Port Jefferson School District’s Instrument Petting Zoo returned to Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s courtyard on a beautiful spring day! The musical event brought together third graders and 12 members of Earl. L Vandermeulen High School’s instrumental ensembles in a socially distant opportunity for the younger students to learn about the band and orchestra instruments. Organized by music teachers Mr. Mark Abbonizio, Mrs. Christine Creighton, Mr. Christian Neubert and Mr. Ed Pisano, the third graders were able to hear the instruments played and ask questions about them. They visited Mr. Abbonizio’s and Mrs. Creighton’s setups and those of high school students Teppei Fukuto, Justin Garcia, Marina Kelley-Renda, Natalie McGuigan, Hugo Onghai, Stefano Rabeno, Luz Ramonez, Logan Shaffer, Christopher Smith, Carman Stanton, Amy Whitman and Peggy Yin. Before the end of the school year, the third graders will select the instrument they would like to begin to learn when they enter fourth grade in September. Thanks to all of our student-musicians and the Music and Fine Arts Department for bringing this much loved event back! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127689 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 05:00:00 GMT false127689 Divisional Champs! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the varsity boys cross country team on their win at the divisional meet at Sunken Meadow State Park. The team was led by seniors Grant Samara and Brian Veit who finished first and second, respectively, in the divisional meet. Coached by Mr. Rod Cawley, the seven-member team – seniors Will Ledezma, Grant Samara and Brian Veit; junior Gray Joyner; sophomore Teppei Fukuto and eighth graders Ryan Sommerstad and Colin Veit – will next compete at the Suffolk County tournament on Wednesday, April 21. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127678 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127678 Divisional Champs! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the varsity boys cross country team on their win at the divisional meet at Sunken Meadow State Park. The team was led by seniors Grant Samara and Brian Veit who finished first and second, respectively, in the divisional meet. Coached by Mr. Rod Cawley, the seven-member team – seniors Will Ledezma, Grant Samara and Brian Veit; junior Gray Joyner; sophomore Teppei Fukuto and eighth graders Ryan Sommerstad and Colin Veit – will next compete at the Suffolk County tournament on Wednesday, April 21. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142671 Thu, 15 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142671 Girls Soccer Team Kicks for Cancer The girls varsity soccer team not only knows how to play an excellent game, its members understand that they have the power to make a difference in the lives of others. The team closed out the season on April 10 with the Kicks for Cancer game. Although the tradition was a little different than in years past, the girls still raised awareness and funds that will benefit Long Island individuals and families affected by cancer. The team raised $400 for Kicks for Cancer, a local initiative that combines athletics and fundraising for cancer research, and has raised more than $1 million since its inception. The girls also closed out the season with a 3-0 victory over their opponent, Mattituck/Southold/Greenport. Great job to the student-athletes, coach Taylor Forstell and assistant coach Logan Hoffmann on your efforts and a great season! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142669 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142669 Girls Soccer Team Kicks for Cancer The girls varsity soccer team not only knows how to play an excellent game, its members understand that they have the power to make a difference in the lives of others. The team closed out the season on April 10 with the Kicks for Cancer game. Although the tradition was a little different than in years past, the girls still raised awareness and funds that will benefit Long Island individuals and families affected by cancer. The team raised $400 for Kicks for Cancer, a local initiative that combines athletics and fundraising for cancer research, and has raised more than $1 million since its inception. The girls also closed out the season with a 3-0 victory over their opponent, Mattituck/Southold/Greenport. Great job to the student-athletes, coach Taylor Forstell and assistant coach Logan Hoffmann on your efforts and a great season! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127621 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127621 Snow Make-up Days School Will Be in Session on May 27th and May 28th for Snow Make-up Days. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142670 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142670 Tops on the Field! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates student-athletes Stephen Bayer and Luke Filippi. The two juniors were recognized as Newsday Gridiron Greats for their outstanding individual performances during a recent football game against East Hampton/Pierson. Stephen caught 17 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns in Port Jeff’s 25-14 win over EH/P. Luke completed 31 of 42 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 113 yards and a score in the same game. Mr. Adam Sherrard, the District Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing, noted that Stephen also set a New York State Public High School Athletic Association record in the game with his 17 receptions – the second all-time record for Port Jefferson – in which he tied with 2020 graduate Aidan Kaminska. The Port Jefferson School District commends Stephen and Luke for their sportsmanship and continued commitment to academics and athletics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142668 Tue, 13 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142668 Tops on the Field! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates student-athletes Stephen Bayer and Luke Filippi. The two juniors were recognized as Newsday Gridiron Greats for their outstanding individual performances during a recent football game against East Hampton/Pierson. Stephen caught 17 passes for 210 yards and two touchdowns in Port Jeff’s 25-14 win over EH/P. Luke completed 31 of 42 passes for 358 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another 113 yards and a score in the same game. Mr. Adam Sherrard, the District Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing, noted that Stephen also set a New York State Public High School Athletic Association record in the game with his 17 receptions – the second all-time record for Port Jefferson – in which he tied with 2020 graduate Aidan Kaminska. The Port Jefferson School District commends Stephen and Luke for their sportsmanship and continued commitment to academics and athletics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127577 Tue, 13 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127577 Summer Music Camp Registration Form (2021) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127546 Mon, 12 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127546 Summer Music Camp Registration Form (2021) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142667 Mon, 12 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142667 Honors for Student-Artist! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates senior Kayla Timpanaro, who was awarded an honorable mention in the Art League of Long Island’s 14th annual Go APE Advanced Placement Student Exhibition. Kayla’s work was among 124 pieces from students in Advanced Placement courses from dozens of Nassau and Suffolk high schools. Her acrylic and ink artwork, “Things We Left Behind,” was one of seven pieces from Long Island students that received honorable mentions. Kayla works with high school art teacher Ms. Lauren Lewonka, who also encouraged the works of two other students who represented the high school in the show – seniors Carley Davidson and Farrah Ghaleb. All three are in the high school’s AP Art and Design program. She cited the trio’s artistic drive stemming from their own curiosities and inquiries and noted their excitement in seeing their works on display with the renowned visual arts organization. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142665 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142665 Honors for Student-Artist! The Port Jefferson School District congratulates senior Kayla Timpanaro, who was awarded an honorable mention in the Art League of Long Island’s 14th annual Go APE Advanced Placement Student Exhibition. Kayla’s work was among 124 pieces from students in Advanced Placement courses from dozens of Nassau and Suffolk high schools. Her acrylic and ink artwork, “Things We Left Behind,” was one of seven pieces from Long Island students that received honorable mentions. Kayla works with high school art teacher Ms. Lauren Lewonka, who also encouraged the works of two other students who represented the high school in the show – seniors Carley Davidson and Farrah Ghaleb. All three are in the high school’s AP Art and Design program. She cited the trio’s artistic drive stemming from their own curiosities and inquiries and noted their excitement in seeing their works on display with the renowned visual arts organization. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127509 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127509 Virtual All-State Concert - April 11 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142666 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142666 Top Two Students! The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce Peggy Yin and Massimo Cipriano as the Class of 2021 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Valedictorian Peggy Yin has had numerous academic accomplishments throughout her high school career. She is captain of the Science Olympiad team and has been a top medalist in both state and regional competitions. As a junior, she helped initiate a partnership to mentor elementary students in science fair projects. She serves as the editor-in-chief of the Mast literary magazine, president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, president of the Latin Club, captain of the Academic Team, an officer of the National Honor Society and an officer and treasurer of the Drama Club. This year, she helped to spearhead a food drive that raised over $3,000 and food donations for those in need. Peggy is a founder and editor-in-chief of the news media platform The Current and is collaborating with Legislator Kara Hahn on several initiatives. She has served as a summer intern at both Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory, where she worked on cutting-edge projects. Peggy is a National Merit Scholarship finalist, Battelle Scholarship recipient and a Coca-Cola Scholar semifinalist. Music plays an important role in her life and her musical achievements are plenty with All-County, All-State and All-Eastern honors as a vocalist and flutist among them. She has performed twice onstage as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, has been on the Manhattan School of Music Dean’s List for three years and has been a recipient of five international vocal competitions. She is active in community and volunteer initiatives, including serving as a youth ambassador for Concerts in Motion and a live radio show host and broadcast engineer for China Blue on WUSB 90.1 FM. Salutatorian Massimo Cipriano has excelled in many of his classes in Port Jefferson. He was a member of the Student Organization as a freshman and sophomore and served as secretary for the Class of 2021. He served as a student representative for the district’s PTSA and three years as president of the Varsity Club. This year, he is a co-president of the Varsity Club, a very popular club at the high school. Massimo has also been a Royal, a three-sport athlete in his high school career, as a member of the soccer, basketball and baseball teams. He was also part of the founding team members of The Current, the independent online newspaper, where he is the head of the sports column. He participates in numerous volunteer and community service actions and recently helped spearhead a pen pal program with veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook. Citing English as a favorite subject, Massimo would like to study journalism when he begins college in the fall. Massimo used his four years in high school to tap into many of the school’s offerings, helping him to become a well-rounded scholar. He commends several high school teachers with encouraging him to continue to embrace the world with kindness, empathy and a positive mindset, and values the mentors and role models they are to him. He is also pleased to have been a student in the district since childhood, citing his gratefulness to a school community that has encouraged lifelong relationships and inspired him to keep his best foot forward. The Port Jefferson School District commends Peggy and Massimo on their continued commitment to school and community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142520 Tue, 06 Apr 2021 06:00:00 GMT false142520 Same World, Different View Under the tutelage of Middle School art teacher Ms. Stacey Schuman, students share their creative works. View them here: Click Here https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142519 Tue, 06 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142519 Top Two Students! The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce Peggy Yin and Massimo Cipriano as the Class of 2021 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Valedictorian Peggy Yin has had numerous academic accomplishments throughout her high school career. She is captain of the Science Olympiad team and has been a top medalist in both state and regional competitions. As a junior, she helped initiate a partnership to mentor elementary students in science fair projects. She serves as the editor-in-chief of the Mast literary magazine, president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, president of the Latin Club, captain of the Academic Team, an officer of the National Honor Society and an officer and treasurer of the Drama Club. This year, she helped to spearhead a food drive that raised over $3,000 and food donations for those in need. Peggy is a founder and editor-in-chief of the news media platform The Current and is collaborating with Legislator Kara Hahn on several initiatives. She has served as a summer intern at both Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory, where she worked on cutting-edge projects. Peggy is a National Merit Scholarship finalist, Battelle Scholarship recipient and a Coca-Cola Scholar semifinalist. Music plays an important role in her life and her musical achievements are plenty with All-County, All-State and All-Eastern honors as a vocalist and flutist among them. She has performed twice onstage as a soloist at Carnegie Hall, has been on the Manhattan School of Music Dean’s List for three years and has been a recipient of five international vocal competitions. She is active in community and volunteer initiatives, including serving as a youth ambassador for Concerts in Motion and a live radio show host and broadcast engineer for China Blue on WUSB 90.1 FM. Salutatorian Massimo Cipriano has excelled in many of his classes in Port Jefferson. He was a member of the Student Organization as a freshman and sophomore and served as secretary for the Class of 2021. He served as a student representative for the district’s PTSA and three years as president of the Varsity Club. This year, he is a co-president of the Varsity Club, a very popular club at the high school. Massimo has also been a Royal, a three-sport athlete in his high school career, as a member of the soccer, basketball and baseball teams. He was also part of the founding team members of The Current, the independent online newspaper, where he is the head of the sports column. He participates in numerous volunteer and community service actions and recently helped spearhead a pen pal program with veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook. Citing English as a favorite subject, Massimo would like to study journalism when he begins college in the fall. Massimo used his four years in high school to tap into many of the school’s offerings, helping him to become a well-rounded scholar. He commends several high school teachers with encouraging him to continue to embrace the world with kindness, empathy and a positive mindset, and values the mentors and role models they are to him. He is also pleased to have been a student in the district since childhood, citing his gratefulness to a school community that has encouraged lifelong relationships and inspired him to keep his best foot forward. The Port Jefferson School District commends Peggy and Massimo on their continued commitment to school and community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127414 Tue, 06 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127414 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 13, 2021, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, public access to the meeting will be limited to 15 people. Those attending in-person will be required to be masked and have their temperature checked and COVID screened. We respectfully ask that only those residents planning to make a public comment to the Board of Education attend the meeting in person. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142518 Tue, 06 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142518 Same World, Different View Under the tutelage of Middle School art teacher Ms. Stacey Schuman, students share their creative works. View them here: Click Here https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127408 Tue, 06 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127408 Putting Things in Perspective The creative talents extend throughout the Port Jefferson School District. Check out some of the works of our High School students under the direction of Mrs. Lauren Lewonka and Mrs. Nancy Randazzo: Click Here for Mrs. Lewonka's Art Studio Click Here for Mrs. Randazzo's Art Studio https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127337 Fri, 02 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127337 Day Brighteners! Thanks to our Elementary School students and teachers Ms. DiLeone, Mrs. McCarthy and Ms. Signorelli for their creativity! Check out some of their works here: Click Here https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127348 Fri, 02 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127348 Putting Things in Perspective The creative talents extend throughout the Port Jefferson School District. Check out some of the works of our High School students under the direction of Mrs. Lauren Lewonka and Mrs. Nancy Randazzo: Click Herefor Mrs. Lewonka's Art Studio Click Here for Mrs. Randazzo's Art Studio https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142516 Fri, 02 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142516 Day Brighteners! Thanks to our Elementary School students and teachers Ms. DiLeone, Mrs. McCarthy and Ms. Signorelli for their creativity! Check out some of their works here: Click Here https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142517 Fri, 02 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142517 Congratulations Kate Sommerstad! Kate is on the Newsday’s Top 25 swimmers of 20-21 list. Read more here: https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/swimming/top-25-girls-swimmers-for-spring-2021-1.50194958 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142515 Mon, 29 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142515 Congratulations Kate Sommerstad! Kate is on the Newsday’s Top 25 swimmers of 20-21 list. Read more here: https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/swimming/top-25-girls-swimmers-for-spring-2021-1.50194958 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127256 Mon, 29 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127256 Science Olympiad Team Heads to State Competition! The three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad teams competed in the virtual regional competition on March 20. Team A placed fourth out of 44 teams and will head to the state virtual competition in April. Port Jefferson also had a B and C team compete. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the medal winners: Second Place, Designer Genes – Natalie McGuigan and Peggy Yin Second Place, Sounds of Music – Hugo Onghai and Peggy Yin Second Place, Water Quality – Ben Perez-Flesler and William Wu Third Place, Anatomy – Natalie McGuigan and Ben Perez-Flesler Third Place, Astronomy – Gani Ates and William Wu Third Place, Disease Detectives – Andrew Patterson and Ben Perez-Flesler Fourth Place, Geomapping – Gani Ates and Liam Gameng Sixth Place, Dynamic Planet – Liam Gameng and William Wu “I am so happy we had a Science Olympiad competition, and I am exceptionally proud of these students who were able to adapt to a virtual competition format in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” science teacher Amanda Brideson said. “I am so proud of them. They really worked hard and it shows!” Brideson and science teacher Nicole Sklar co-coach the teams. Congratulations to all the participants: Frankie Andriani, Warren Coburn, Nick DeDonato, Luke Dickhuth, Teppei Fukuto, Justin Garcia, Safiy Khan, Kasumi Layne-Stasik, Connor Lioio, Emmett Maier, Ricky Melucci, Riley Perrota, Jonah Pflaster, Stefano Rabeno, Arik Sen, Logan Shaffer, Rishabh Singh, Sierra Welsch and Jialin Yue. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127211 Fri, 26 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127211 Science Olympiad Team Heads to State Competition! The three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad teams competed in the virtual regional competition on March 20. Team A placed fourth out of 44 teams and will head to the state virtual competition in April. Port Jefferson also had a B and C team compete. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the medal winners: Second Place, Designer Genes – Natalie McGuigan and Peggy Yin Second Place, Sounds of Music – Hugo Onghai and Peggy Yin Second Place, Water Quality – Ben Perez-Flesler and William Wu Third Place, Anatomy – Natalie McGuigan and Ben Perez-Flesler Third Place, Astronomy – Gani Ates and William Wu Third Place, Disease Detectives – Andrew Patterson and Ben Perez-Flesler Fourth Place, Geomapping – Gani Ates and Liam Gameng Sixth Place, Dynamic Planet – Liam Gameng and William Wu “I am so happy we had a Science Olympiad competition, and I am exceptionally proud of these students who were able to adapt to a virtual competition format in light of the COVID-19 pandemic,” science teacher Amanda Brideson said. “I am so proud of them. They really worked hard and it shows!” Brideson and science teacher Nicole Sklar co-coach the teams. Congratulations to all the participants: Frankie Andriani, Warren Coburn, Nick DeDonato, Luke Dickhuth, Teppei Fukuto, Justin Garcia, Safiy Khan, Kasumi Layne-Stasik, Connor Lioio, Emmett Maier, Ricky Melucci, Riley Perrota, Jonah Pflaster, Stefano Rabeno, Arik Sen, Logan Shaffer, Rishabh Singh, Sierra Welsch and Jialin Yue. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142514 Fri, 26 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142514 Duo Selected for State Exhibit Two High School students have been selected to be part of the 31st Annual New York State Art Teachers Association Legislative Student Art Exhibition. Junior David Ford and freshman Hanna Simunek have their works as part of the virtual exhibit, which is in partnership with New York State United Teachers and in collaboration with New York State legislators who organize the annual show. The exhibit is an opportunity to showcase district art programs to state legislators and to give K-12 student-artists an opportunity to receive statewide recognition. The students are in the high school’s Studio-in-Art class, taught by Lauren Lewonka. “March is Youth Art Month, and we’re delighted to have student work on display at the state level during this time,” Dr. Michael Caravello, District Director of Music and Fine Arts said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142511 Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142511 Royal Pride! Three Royals made Newsday’s Top High School athletes lists. Congratulations to Grant Samara and Brian Veit, listed on the Top 25 boys cross country runners on Long Island and Hailey Hearney who made the list of Top 100 girls soccer players on Long Island. Read more here: https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/cross-country/top-boys-runners-2021-1.50185933 https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/girls-soccer/long-island-top-100-girls-soccer-1.50187602 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142512 Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142512 First Place for Middle School Science Olympiad Team! The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad Team placed first at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad Competition, held as a virtual competition this year. Students in grades 6-9 competed against 22 teams in events which tested their study skills in the categories of Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Engineering, Physics and Scientific Problem-Solving. The students had a dominant performance and received medals in every single event. The team will compete on April 17 in the virtual state competition. The team is coached by Mr. Adam Bouchard, the Middle School Earth Science and Science 8 teacher. “Every student was highly motivated and showed a lot of hard work in preparing for their events despite the circumstances and hardships to overcome,” Mr. Bouchard said. “I applaud their efforts and cannot wait to see how they do at the state level.” The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the medal winners: 1st Place, Anatomy – Isabelle Chen and Gavin Onghai 1st Place, Crime Busters – Alana Samara and Michelle Wu 1st Place, Disease Detectives – Gavin Onghai and Alana Samara 2nd Place, Reach for the Stars – Ryan Gameng 2nd Place, Water Quality – Max Joyner and Michelle Wu 3rd Place, Fossils – Alana Samara and Mari Fukuto 3rd Place, Reach for the Stars – Eric Chen and Nicholas Smirnov 4th Place, Dynamic Planet –Ryan Gameng and Christopher Nam 4th Place, Food Science – Max Joyner and Marco Puopolo 4th Place, Ornithology – Eric Chen and Nicholas Smirnov 5th Place, Heredity – Eric Chen and Nicholas Smirnov 5th Place, Machines – Max Joyner and Rumaan Khan 5th Place, Meteorology – Christopher Nam and Kristina Shterengas 6th Place, Crime Busters – Mari Fukuto and Kristina Shterengas 6th Place, Meteorology – Evan Monaghan 6th Place, Road Scholar – Ryan Gameng 7th Place, Circuit Lab – Rumaan Khan and Evan Monaghan 7th Place, Water Quality – Christopher Nam and Kristina Shterengas 8th Place, Anatomy – Iris He 8th Place, Density Lab – Isabelle Chen and Gavin Onghai 8th Place, Road Scholar – Eric Chen and Max Joyner 10th Place, Dynamic Planet – Marco Puopolo and Michelle Wu Additional team members included Allie Blumenthal, Luca Caltagirone, Kieran Casey, Vincent Chen, William Harris, Joshua Kwon, David Morris, James Morris, Carman Stanton, Tucker Stanton and Dasha Zakharova. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142513 Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142513 Duo Selected for State Exhibit Two High School students have been selected to be part of the 31st Annual New York State Art Teachers Association Legislative Student Art Exhibition. Junior David Ford and freshman Hanna Simunek have their works as part of the virtual exhibit, which is in partnership with New York State United Teachers and in collaboration with New York State legislators who organize the annual show. The exhibit is an opportunity to showcase district art programs to state legislators and to give K-12 student-artists an opportunity to receive statewide recognition. The students are in the high school’s Studio-in-Art class, taught by Lauren Lewonka. “March is Youth Art Month, and we’re delighted to have student work on display at the state level during this time,” Dr. Michael Caravello, District Director of Music and Fine Arts said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127014 Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127014 Royal Pride! Three Royals made Newsday’s Top High School athletes lists. Congratulations to Grant Samara and Brian Veit, listed on the Top 25 boys cross country runners on Long Island and Hailey Hearney who made the list of Top 100 girls soccer players on Long Island. Read more here: https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/cross-country/top-boys-runners-2021-1.50185933 https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/girls-soccer/long-island-top-100-girls-soccer-1.50187602 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127020 Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127020 First Place for Middle School Science Olympiad Team! The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad Team placed first at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad Competition, held as a virtual competition this year. Students in grades 6-9 competed against 22 teams in events which tested their study skills in the categories of Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Engineering, Physics and Scientific Problem-Solving. The students had a dominant performance and received medals in every single event. The team will compete on April 17 in the virtual state competition. The team is coached by Mr. Adam Bouchard, the Middle School Earth Science and Science 8 teacher. “Every student was highly motivated and showed a lot of hard work in preparing for their events despite the circumstances and hardships to overcome,” Mr. Bouchard said. “I applaud their efforts and cannot wait to see how they do at the state level.” The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the medal winners: 1st Place, Anatomy – Isabelle Chen and Gavin Onghai 1st Place, Crime Busters – Alana Samara and Michelle Wu 1st Place, Disease Detectives – Gavin Onghai and Alana Samara 2nd Place, Reach for the Stars – Ryan Gameng 2nd Place, Water Quality – Max Joyner and Michelle Wu 3rd Place, Fossils – Alana Samara and Mari Fukuto 3rd Place, Reach for the Stars – Eric Chen and Nicholas Smirnov 4th Place, Dynamic Planet –Ryan Gameng and Christopher Nam 4th Place, Food Science – Max Joyner and Marco Puopolo 4th Place, Ornithology – Eric Chen and Nicholas Smirnov 5th Place, Heredity – Eric Chen and Nicholas Smirnov 5th Place, Machines – Max Joyner and Rumaan Khan 5th Place, Meteorology – Christopher Nam and Kristina Shterengas 6th Place, Crime Busters – Mari Fukuto and Kristina Shterengas 6th Place, Meteorology – Evan Monaghan 6th Place, Road Scholar – Ryan Gameng 7th Place, Circuit Lab – Rumaan Khan and Evan Monaghan 7th Place, Water Quality – Christopher Nam and Kristina Shterengas 8th Place, Anatomy – Iris He 8th Place, Density Lab – Isabelle Chen and Gavin Onghai 8th Place, Road Scholar – Eric Chen and Max Joyner 10th Place, Dynamic Planet – Marco Puopolo and Michelle Wu Additional team members included Allie Blumenthal, Luca Caltagirone, Kieran Casey, Vincent Chen, William Harris, Joshua Kwon, David Morris, James Morris, Carman Stanton, Tucker Stanton and Dasha Zakharova. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=127035 Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127035 Seniors Go APE! Three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors have works included in the Art League of Long Island’s 14th annual Go APE Advanced Placement Student Exhibition. Their works are among 124 pieces from students in Advanced Placement courses from 37 Long Island high schools. Carley Davidson’s “Forgotten Possibilities” is featured along with Farrah Ghaleb’s “Untitled” and Kayla Timpanaro’s “Things We Left Behind.” “The young artists in our AP Art and Design program are creating personalized works of art driven by their own curiosities and inquiries,” art teacher Lauren Lewonka said. “It’s amazing to see their work and their thinking mature throughout the year as they experiment with various ideas, processes and materials. I’m very proud of how far they’ve come, and it’s a thrill for us to see their hard work on display with a well-renowned visual arts organization.” The show runs through April 2 at https://artleagueli.org/go-ape-advanced-placement-exhibit/. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126928 Fri, 19 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false126928 Seniors Go APE! Three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors have works included in the Art League of Long Island’s 14th annual Go APE Advanced Placement Student Exhibition. Their works are among 124 pieces from students in Advanced Placement courses from 37 Long Island high schools. Carley Davidson’s “Forgotten Possibilities” is featured along with Farrah Ghaleb’s “Untitled” and Kayla Timpanaro’s “Things We Left Behind.” “The young artists in our AP Art and Design program are creating personalized works of art driven by their own curiosities and inquiries,” art teacher Lauren Lewonka said. “It’s amazing to see their work and their thinking mature throughout the year as they experiment with various ideas, processes and materials. I’m very proud of how far they’ve come, and it’s a thrill for us to see their hard work on display with a well-renowned visual arts organization.” The show runs through April 2 at https://artleagueli.org/go-ape-advanced-placement-exhibit/. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142510 Fri, 19 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142510 45 Recognized as All-County Musicians The Port Jefferson School District congratulates 45 student-musicians who were recognized by the Suffolk County Music Educators' Association. Port Jefferson Middle School sixth and seventh graders selected for Division 1: Allie Blumenthal, Jonah Boerboom, Rowan Casey, Vincent Chen, Avery Eisaman, Julie Friedman, Mari Fukuto, Nicholas Hogan, Kevin Hong, Joshua Kwon, Sadie LaPresti, Inarra McMaster, Lily Mahony, Thea Mangels, Eve McCabe, Iris Park, Catherine Poten, Marco Puopolo, Crystal Reustle, Sadie Salzman, Sadie Tafuro, Madison Testa, and Blake Weaver. In Division II, eighth and ninth graders Thales Chang, Isabelle Chen, Iris He, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Evan Monaghan, Gavin Onghai, Katherine Ranjbar, Maya Shand, and Nicholas Smirnov were selected. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in grades 10-12 selected for Divisions III and IV are Alexa Ayotte, Luke Dickhuth, Kenneth Dixon-Lanza, Justin Garcia, Marina Kelley-Renda, David Lawler, Mattea Rabeno, Ruby Ray, Jack Reilly, Olivia Schlegel, Hannah Skula, Valentina Velazquez and Peggy Yin. “Congratulations to all of our outstanding student musicians, who were also given access to virtual musical workshop experiences, including professional musicians who shared instrument-specific knowledge and career experiences,” Dr. Michael Caravello, Director of Music and Fine Arts said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142509 Thu, 18 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142509 45 Recognized as All-County Musicians The Port Jefferson School District congratulates 45 student-musicians who were recognized by the Suffolk County Music Educators' Association. Port Jefferson Middle School sixth and seventh graders selected for Division 1: Allie Blumenthal, Jonah Boerboom, Rowan Casey, Vincent Chen, Avery Eisaman, Julie Friedman, Mari Fukuto, Nicholas Hogan, Kevin Hong, Joshua Kwon, Sadie LaPresti, Inarra McMaster, Lily Mahony, Thea Mangels, Eve McCabe, Iris Park, Catherine Poten, Marco Puopolo, Crystal Reustle, Sadie Salzman, Sadie Tafuro, Madison Testa, and Blake Weaver. In Division II, eighth and ninth graders Thales Chang, Isabelle Chen, Iris He, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Evan Monaghan, Gavin Onghai, Katherine Ranjbar, Maya Shand, and Nicholas Smirnov were selected. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in grades 10-12 selected for Divisions III and IV are Alexa Ayotte, Luke Dickhuth, Kenneth Dixon-Lanza, Justin Garcia, Marina Kelley-Renda, David Lawler, Mattea Rabeno, Ruby Ray, Jack Reilly, Olivia Schlegel, Hannah Skula, Valentina Velazquez and Peggy Yin. “Congratulations to all of our outstanding student musicians, who were also given access to virtual musical workshop experiences, including professional musicians who shared instrument-specific knowledge and career experiences,” Dr. Michael Caravello, Director of Music and Fine Arts said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126896 Thu, 18 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false126896 Class of 2022 Give Kids Hope Members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2022 filled over 200 plastic Easter eggs with candy and put together 10 Easter baskets for children in a local shelter through the Port Jefferson Station-based nonprofit organization Give Kids Hope. All of the eggs, baskets and candy was donated by families of the class. Co-advisers Christina Carlson and Melissa Zinger helped organized the donation event for the treats along with students Alex Carlson, Kate Carlson, Kayla Daily, Lucy Dewitt, Heather Quiggle, Cami Spiller and Chris Wengatz. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126875 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false126875 Class of 2022 Give Kids Hope Members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2022 filled over 200 plastic Easter eggs with candy and put together 10 Easter baskets for children in a local shelter through the Port Jefferson Station-based nonprofit organization Give Kids Hope. All of the eggs, baskets and candy was donated by families of the class. Co-advisers Christina Carlson and Melissa Zinger helped organized the donation event for the treats along with students Alex Carlson, Kate Carlson, Kayla Daily, Lucy Dewitt, Heather Quiggle, Cami Spiller and Chris Wengatz. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142508 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142508 Congratulations to our Student-Musicians! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142507 Tue, 16 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142507 Important School Bus Safety Information https://longisland.news12.com/suffolk-school-bus-camera-program-to-launch-monday-passing-drivers-could-face-fines?utm_campaign=Suffolk%20County&utm_content=155851807&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-1690479654591258 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142506 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false142506 Important School Bus Safety Information https://longisland.news12.com/suffolk-school-bus-camera-program-to-launch-monday-passing-drivers-could-face-fines?utm_campaign=Suffolk%20County&utm_content=155851807&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&hss_channel=fbp-1690479654591258 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126792 Mon, 15 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false126792 Filippi Named to Newsday Top 100 List! Cited as an excellent playmaking quarterback for the Royals, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Luke Filippi was named to the Newsday list of TOP 100 players! Congratulations! https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/football/top-100-football-players-long-island-2021-1.50179513 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126683 Thu, 11 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126683 Filippi Named to Newsday Top 100 List! Cited as an excellent playmaking quarterback for the Royals, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Luke Filippi was named to the Newsday list of TOP 100 players! Congratulations! https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/football/top-100-football-players-long-island-2021-1.50179513 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142504 Thu, 11 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142504 Winter Newsletter Now Available https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142505 Thu, 11 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142505 Middle School Virtual Production of Junie B. Jones Junie B. Jones, the free-spirited, sassy, mischievous children’s book character will be brought to life by the Port Jefferson Middle School Drama Club. Show times are Friday, March 12, 2021 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday March 14, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets (free) are required for both online performances and can be found here: https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/48289 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142503 Tue, 09 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142503 Art Students of the Month https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142502 Mon, 08 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142502 Math Meets Art! To teach a lesson in textile/pattern design, Middle School art teacher Ms. Stacey Schuman only had to peer down the hallway to gather inspiration to share with seventh grade students. She noticed that math teacher Mr. Matt Garofola often wore shirts with grid designs on them, which is similar to graph paper, so she directed the students to design a textile pattern using math symbols in the school’s electronic illustration course. “Being he is a math teacher I thought it would make a fun idea for an assignment in textile/pattern design,” Ms. Schuman said. Ms. Schuman then created a template for the students to work on, copying a shirt and tie, then drawing lines on it to create the grid. The patterns were then applied to a garment design, essentially creating new wardrobe possibilities for a favorite math teacher! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142501 Fri, 05 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142501 Math Meets Art! To teach a lesson in textile/pattern design, Middle School art teacher Ms. Stacey Schuman only had to peer down the hallway to gather inspiration to share with seventh grade students. She noticed that math teacher Mr. Matt Garofola often wore shirts with grid designs on them, which is similar to graph paper, so she directed the students to design a textile pattern using math symbols in the school’s electronic illustration course. “Being he is a math teacher I thought it would make a fun idea for an assignment in textile/pattern design,” Ms. Schuman said. Ms. Schuman then created a template for the students to work on, copying a shirt and tie, then drawing lines on it to create the grid. The patterns were then applied to a garment design, essentially creating new wardrobe possibilities for a favorite math teacher! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126508 Fri, 05 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126508 Secondary Students Returning to 5 Day In-Person Learning - March 8th Please read the attached letter regarding the return of our secondary students to 5 day in-person learning. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142499 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 19:00:00 GMT false142499 Celebrating Read Across America Day! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students joined thousands of schools nationwide to celebrate Read Across America Day and the birthday of renowned author Dr. Seuss on March 2. This year’s festivities were a bit different from years past but didn’t stop school librarian Ms. Selinda Stout from encouraging students to continue their love of reading. Students in kindergarten through grade 2 received goodie bags with gift cards from Applebee’s and Panera Bread and a special visit from a favorite character, The Cat in the Hat, aka Principal Amy Laverty! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142500 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142500 Celebrating Read Across America Day! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students joined thousands of schools nationwide to celebrate Read Across America Day and the birthday of renowned author Dr. Seuss on March 2. This year’s festivities were a bit different from years past but didn’t stop school librarian Ms. Selinda Stout from encouraging students to continue their love of reading. Students in kindergarten through grade 2 received goodie bags with gift cards from Applebee’s and Panera Bread and a special visit from a favorite character, The Cat in the Hat, aka Principal Amy Laverty! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126376 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126376 County Title for Girls Basketball! Although the Suffolk County high school athletic season was abbreviated, that didn’t stop the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School girls basketball team from having a successful time on the court. This past weekend, they capped off the season by taking the Suffolk County championship title. It was the second consecutive Suffolk County championship for Port Jefferson, which won the Class B title a year ago. The district congratulates varsity players Hailey Hearney, Lola Idir, Katelynn Johnston, Claudia Koutsantanou, Abby Rolfe, Evelyn Walker and Brooke Zamek and junior varsity players Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Savannah Florio, Lilli Kircher, Anna Matvya, Madeline Matvya, Hipolita Oliva, Maria Oliva, Angelina Orofino and Keanny Polanco. Bravo also to co-coaches Jesse Rosen and Keith Buehler, volunteer coach CJ Hafner and trainer Eric Fells for your leadership efforts! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126293 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126293 Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration Information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126317 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126317 Pre-K and Kindergarten Registration Information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142498 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142498 County Title for Girls Basketball! Although the Suffolk County high school athletic season was abbreviated, that didn’t stop the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School girls basketball team from having a successful time on the court. This past weekend, they capped off the season by taking the Suffolk County championship title. It was the second consecutive Suffolk County championship for Port Jefferson, which won the Class B title a year ago. The district congratulates varsity players Hailey Hearney, Lola Idir, Katelynn Johnston, Claudia Koutsantanou, Abby Rolfe, Evelyn Walker and Brooke Zamek and junior varsity players Maitreya Driscoll-Stremich, Savannah Florio, Lilli Kircher, Anna Matvya, Madeline Matvya, Hipolita Oliva, Maria Oliva, Angelina Orofino and Keanny Polanco. Bravo also to co-coaches Jesse Rosen and Keith Buehler, volunteer coach CJ Hafner and trainer Eric Fells for your leadership efforts! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142820 Mon, 01 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142820 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE There will be a virtual special meeting session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education, on Tuesday, March 2, 2021 at 7:00 PM for the purpose of entering into executive session to discuss contract negotiations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142819 Fri, 26 Feb 2021 17:00:00 GMT false142819 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, March 23, 2021 at 6:00 PM via Google Meet, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142818 Thu, 25 Feb 2021 12:00:00 GMT false142818 A Night of Laughs! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Drama Club presents an exciting three-part production of laughter. Introduced by director Mr. Tony Butera, dozens of current students and some surprise guest graduates have joined in the fun and entertaining shows. Featuring comic monologues, some truly funny and a black and white silent movie. The credits will roll after that. So, get the popcorn ready and enjoy the talents of our Port Jefferson students! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142817 Wed, 24 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142817 A Night of Laughs! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Drama Club presents an exciting three-part production of laughter. Introduced by director Mr. Tony Butera, dozens of current students and some surprise guest graduates have joined in the fun and entertaining shows. Featuring comic monologues, some truly funny and a black and white silent movie. The credits will roll after that. So, get the popcorn ready and enjoy the talents of our Port Jefferson students! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=126141 Wed, 24 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126141 Board Trustee Candidate Packets If you are interested in running for a Board Trustee position, please pick up a Candidate Packet from the District Clerk’s office. All nominating petitions are due back to the District Clerk by 5:00 PM on April 19th. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142816 Tue, 23 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142816 Music Students of the Month Congratulations to our Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Music Students of the Month! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142815 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142815 Music Students of the Month Congratulations to our Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Music Students of the Month! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=125970 Wed, 17 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125970 Third Graders Experience Wild Encounters! Third graders have been learning about animal adaptation as part of their science unit. To add to their lessons, they took part in a virtual animal presentation from Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom.” The colorful, grade-level presentation covered topics including the food chain and food web, biomes, geography and the important role animals play in our world and what we can all do to help wildlife. The up-close-and-personal view of the many species that survive in the wild encouraged some students to bring a stuffed, furry friend from home or to dress in wildlife apparel to create a fun and festive classroom experience. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=125899 Tue, 16 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125899 Third Graders Experience Wild Encounters! Third graders have been learning about animal adaptation as part of their science unit. To add to their lessons, they took part in a virtual animal presentation from Mutual of Omaha’s “Wild Kingdom.” The colorful, grade-level presentation covered topics including the food chain and food web, biomes, geography and the important role animals play in our world and what we can all do to help wildlife. The up-close-and-personal view of the many species that survive in the wild encouraged some students to bring a stuffed, furry friend from home or to dress in wildlife apparel to create a fun and festive classroom experience. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142814 Tue, 16 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142814 Valentine’s Showcase With love and appreciation from our talented student-musicians and educators! Thank you for your continued support of the Port Jefferson School District Music and Fine Arts Department. Enjoy! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142813 Fri, 12 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142813 Valentine’s Showcase With love and appreciation from our talented student-musicians and educators! Thank you for your continued support of the Port Jefferson School District Music and Fine Arts Department. Enjoy! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=125867 Fri, 12 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125867 Art Students of the Month Congratulations to our elementary students for continuing to embrace the creative process! Thanks to fourth grader Sebi Salzman for sharing his original self-portrait. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=125788 Thu, 11 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125788 Art Students of the Month Congratulations to our elementary students for continuing to embrace the creative process! Thanks to fourth grader Sebi Salzman for sharing his original self-portrait. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142812 Thu, 11 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142812 Three Selected as National Merit Finalists Congratulations to seniors Gani Ates, Grant Samara and Peggy Yin who have advanced to Finalist standing in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These three academically accomplished students took the qualifying test as juniors and are now among approximately 15,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the distinction. In the next several months, approximately half of those students will be selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award, which is based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments. Their Finalist designation exemplifies the Port Jefferson School District’s high level of student achievement and academically rigorous program for all students. National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142811 Wed, 10 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142811 Three Selected as National Merit Finalists Congratulations to seniors Gani Ates, Grant Samara and Peggy Yin who have advanced to Finalist standing in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These three academically accomplished students took the qualifying test as juniors and are now among approximately 15,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the distinction. In the next several months, approximately half of those students will be selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award, which is based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments. Their Finalist designation exemplifies the Port Jefferson School District’s high level of student achievement and academically rigorous program for all students. National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=125789 Wed, 10 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125789 Lunch Program The Port Jefferson School District was granted a waiver to offer lunch at no charge to all our students. This waiver is expected to run through June, 2021. This will entitle all students to receive a free meal with all the components. Snacks and additional beverages still must be purchased and are not covered under this program. Students on remote instruction can pick up a bag lunch meal each day at the security desk at the HS between 12 and 1 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142810 Thu, 04 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142810 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on February 23, at 7:00 PM at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School LGR, for the presentation of the Suffolk County Stop Arm Camera Program, and any other business as may be needed. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, public access to the meeting will be limited to 15 people. Those attending in-person will be required to be masked and have their temperature checked and COVID screened. We respectfully ask that only those residents planning to make a public comment to the Board of Education attend the meeting in person. The meeting will be livestreamed and can be accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142809 Wed, 03 Feb 2021 18:00:00 GMT false142809 Writing Award for Eighth Grader Port Jefferson Middle School eighth grader Jax Moore has been named a Silver Key award recipient in the Region-at-Large program of the 2021 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Jax entered the competition, sponsored by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, with the short story, “Drowning.” For almost a century, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards have recognized some of America’s most celebrated artists when they were teenagers. Jax is now counted among an esteemed group of alumni, including Stephen King, Joyce Carol Oates and Andy Warhol. “I have had the absolute pleasure of being Jax’s teacher this year,” English teacher Taylor Thomas said. “The sky is the limit for this young author.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142808 Tue, 02 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142808 Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction Ceremony Congratulations to our newest members! Check out the ceremony and individual performances: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xaoBYsyff769Y-iFiI2RfvZIg-_Vj0r6/view?ts=601427a3 https://flipgrid.com/+pisano9158 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142807 Mon, 01 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142807 PJ Free Library Budget Vote 4/6/21 Please read the attached Public Notice regarding the PJ Free Library Budget Vote: https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142806 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142806 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION EMERGENCY MEETING NOTICE The Board of Education calls an emergency meeting for Friday, January 29, 2021 at 7:00 PM. The meeting will be conducted remotely on a Google platform. The public can access the public meeting by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142805 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142805 Merrily Making Music! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142804 Wed, 27 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142804 COLLEGE ATHLETICS “RECRUITING” PRESENTATION https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142664 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142664 Winter Showcase: Musical Inspiration from Port Jeff Student-Musicians Students throughout the Port Jefferson School District have been working diligently since September to meet the standards of performance, literacy, analysis, creativity and making connections set by the Music and Fine Arts Department. We are so pleased to present the Winter Showcases below. Best wishes for a wonderful holiday season as we ring in a better 2021! High School Winter Showcase 7th & 8th Grade Winter Showcase 6th Grade Winter Showcase (UPDATED 1/25/21) 5th Grade Winter Showcase https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142548 Mon, 25 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142548 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 26, 2021, at 6:00 PM via remote access, for presentation of the first draft of the 2021-2022 school year budget, and any other business as may be needed. This meeting will be conducted remotely on a Google platform. The public can access the public meetings by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142662 Fri, 22 Jan 2021 14:00:00 GMT false142662 January K-5 Art Students of the Month Thank you to our elementary art teachers Mrs. Meghan McCarthy and Ms. Amanda Signorelli for inspiring our student-artists! We applaud the continued creativity of our January K-5 Art Students of the Month. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142663 Fri, 22 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142663 Kindness Prevails in PJMS It’s no wonder Port Jefferson Middle School students have been treating one another with more empathy, compassion and acceptance. Students in Ms. Michelle Landetta’s class read R. J. Palacio’s bestselling book “Wonder” together, discussed its theme and steps they can take to promote kindness to others. Students and staff decorated and wrote inspirational quotes, positive affirmations and words of hope on the popsicle sticks that were provided to them. They then created a “PJMS – We Stick Together” bulletin board right in a hallway of the school for all to not only admire their creative work, but to share in their refreshing ideas and promote everyone’s appreciation for the simple and joyful act of friendship. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142661 Tue, 19 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142661 Special Education Parent Workshop Series Student Transition during the School Years and Beyond https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142660 Fri, 15 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142660 Edna Louise Spear’s Future Engineers! Fifth grade students in Ms. Kari Costanzo’s class have been learning the engineering design process and have used their skills to construct pompom launchers with a set number of simple objects including straws, popsicle sticks, tape, string and plastic cups to see how far their experiments could go. As engineers, they examined the materials they could use, came up with their designs and moved on to building, testing, modifying and testing again. The students conducted an informal contest to see who developed the one that went the farthest (Clara Pearce), the sturdiest one (Kemp Garrett) and the simplest and most inexpensive one (Nina Gnatenko). https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142659 Wed, 13 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142659 News 12 Honor Roll Congratulations to Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig for being nominated to News 12 Long Island’s Honor Roll! The accolades highlight students, educators, administrators and others who work within the education system and their efforts during the past ten months. Dr. Neidig was recognized for doing his very best to keep students and staff connected since the start of the pandemic. Thanks Dr. Neidig for your leadership, calming demeanor, and always keeping smiles on the faces of those throughout the school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142658 Tue, 12 Jan 2021 21:00:00 GMT false142658 Duo Give Visual Voice to Imagination Earl L. Vandermeulen High School freshman Lucy Kwon and art teacher Ms. Lauren Lewonka took part in the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association annual Invitational Show, which celebrates the very essence of art education. The online exhibition was an opportunity for member art teachers and their selected students to exhibit alongside them, potentially highlighting a creative path and/or link between them. Lucy’s graphite pencil still life was showcased with Ms. Lewonka’s “Grandma’s Recipes” acrylic paint over collage. As part of its mission, SCALA recognizes the importance of highlighting the physical manifestations that develop out of the mentor/mentee relationship from both perspectives. The exhibit is an opportunity to give visual voice to imagination, exploration and discovery. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142657 Tue, 12 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142657 Statement on Remote Learning January 12-15, 2021 Dear Port Jefferson School Community: As of yesterday, 26 staff members including teachers and teaching assistants in our Middle School/High School building have been subject to quarantine due to COVID-19. This is for a variety of reasons related to their own health, in-school and out of school exposures and/or COVID-positive family members. After careful examination of all schedules and the district’s available substitute coverage, it was determined that we did not have the appropriate staff coverage in our Middle School and High School and shifted grade 6-12 students to remote learning from Tuesday, Jan. 12 through Friday, Jan. 15. (There was no effect to the Monday, Jan. 11 schedule as this is an asynchronous remote day in the district’s hybrid schedule). Staff coverage for our 8:1:1 special education students has not been affected and the in-person class schedules for these students remain the same. There was no change to this today. We understand that this may be difficult news after the highly anticipated return to four days per week of in-person instruction. This determination is only for this week and we expect to begin this phase of our reopening plan on Tuesday, Jan. 19 as long as circumstances permit. We thank you for your patience and understanding during these incredibly challenging times. We look forward to having all of our students back next week. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142656 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 06:00:00 GMT false142656 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be heldon Thursday, January 14, 2020 at 7:00 PM via Google Meet, for the purpose of enteringexecutive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142655 Mon, 11 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142655 High School Siblings on News 12 Student-athletes Brian Veit and Brennyn Veit, along with their father East Islip School District track coach Mr. Chris Veit, took part in a virtual roundtable discussion on News 12’s “Talking Sports” with Kevin Maher on Jan. 7. The students spoke of the excitement of starting the winter sports season this past week. Both Brian and Brennyn – members of the boys and girls track teams – talked about their individual training and keeping their own spirits up during the past 10 months as well as the new rules and protocols that all students are working with as they are back with their teammates. “We thank both Brian and Brennyn for representing Port Jeff and articulating the pride of being a Royal,” said Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Mr. Adam Sherrard. “We are also so proud of all our student-athletes who have continued to take care of their physical, mental and emotional health in their practice to excel in their respective sports during this era.” See the full video here: https://www.facebook.com/News12LI/videos/2198805670253462 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142654 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false142654 January K-5 Art Students of the Month Thank you to our elementary art teachers Mrs. Meghan McCarthy and Ms. Amanda Signorelli for inspiring our student-artists! We applaud the continued creativity of our January K-5 Art Students of the Month. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144516 Fri, 01 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144516 Buddy Program Meets Virtually! For more than a decade, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s Buddy Program, a cross-grade level initiative involving fifth-graders and kindergarten students has taken place. This year, due to social distance restrictions, the older students in Mrs. Christine Wicks class helped the younger ones in Mrs. Melissa Martin’s class navigate Google Meets in their separate classrooms and shared favorite holiday stories together. The long-time partnership between the two teachers has resulted in growth in the school’s program with other classes partnering and more importantly the friendships that are formed and endure throughout the school year. Some of the students that are currently in Mrs. Wicks class remember being in kindergarten and taking part in the initiative. According to Mrs. Wicks, together the students experience the skills of communication as the older students learn patience and perseverance, public speaking and the younger ones are learning listening skills, identifying words, spelling and sentence structure. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142553 Tue, 22 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142553 Caring for our Community There was no stopping the snow last week, just as there was no stopping the members of the Earl L Vandermeulen Leo Club from conducting their annual “Blizzard bags” event for the Three Village Meals on Wheels program. The Leo Club purchased the food items then assembled the bags that were delivered to the organization that delivers the Blizzard Bags to the seniors receiving Meals on Wheels services. Each Blizzard Bag contained boxed or canned, non-perishable items for the recipients to have in their home to use when their daily Meals on Wheels delivery is canceled due to poor winter weather. “These students recognize the real need for this program, delivering food to the Three Village Meals on Wheels’ clients is a true community outreach event," Leo Club adviser Mr. Brian Chalmers said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142554 Mon, 21 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142554 Schools Closed Dec. 17 Due to a winter storm beginning this evening, all Port Jefferson Schools will be closed tomorrow, Thursday, December 17th. Since this is a traditional snow day with no virtual learning, calendar adjustments will be necessary. Depending on the severity of this winter season, we will make future snow day decisions on an individual basis in order to satisfy the New York State required 180 instructional days. Thank you for your cooperation. Stay safe ! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142552 Thu, 17 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142552 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Friday, January 8, 2021 at 7:00 p.m., via remote access. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The public can access the meeting by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Due to the Covid-19 health crisis, there will be no “in-person” public participation; however, the public can participate in the following manner: * Email your comment/questions to the District Clerk, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at Khanley@portjeffschools.org * Click on the following link to fill out a comment form, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdwCnAYNx5Qa7LNNYCaTpJLUb1ZQylV2qU0VdJdwDfUyY-0KA/viewform https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142551 Wed, 16 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142551 Willingness to Test Survey Click here to take the survey https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142550 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142550 Duo Honored for Leadership and Community Contributions Congratulations to seniors Brian Veit and Brooke Zamek who were each named a 2020 Suffolk Zone award winner by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. This award is presented annually to the top female and male senior physical education leaders in each Suffolk County high school. According to Mr. Adam Sherrard, the district’s director of health, physical education, athletics and nursing, the pair were chosen by the high school physical education teachers for their outstanding character, leadership skills in schoolwide as well as physical education and health class activities, positive attitude toward instructional activities, scholastic achievements and being role models for their peers. In past years, students were honored at a dinner celebration. This year, a video is being created to recognize the efforts of all students across Suffolk County who were selected for the honor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142549 Fri, 11 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142549 Port Jefferson Appoints New Elementary School Principal The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that Mrs. Amy Laverty has been named Principal of the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. She was appointed at the Dec. 8 Board of Education meeting, and will begin her new role on Jan. 1, 2021 taking over for Mr. Thomas Meehan, who will retire at the end of December. Mrs. Laverty previously served as Pre-K-8 Assistant Principal in the District. Before joining the Port Jefferson School District, Mrs. Laverty had an extensive career in the Northport-East Northport School District, where she served a dual role as the Summer Reading Program Principal and the Instructional Curriculum Coordinator. Before that, she was a classroom teacher at various elementary levels in the district’s Ocean Avenue Elementary School. Mrs. Laverty earned a Master of Arts in liberal studies from Stony Brook University, and a Bachelor of Arts in child study and students with disabilities from St. Joseph’s College. She holds initial certification in school building leadership and professional certifications in early childhood/childhood and students with disabilities. She also received an educational leadership advanced certificate from LIU CW Post. After an extensive search and interview process, the interview committee and Board of Education were unanimous in their decision to recommend and appoint Mrs. Laverty as the Elementary School Principal. “We are so pleased to have Mrs. Laverty at the helm of the Elementary School,” Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan said. “She has a comprehensive educational philosophy and possesses the leadership abilities and positive energies that encourage collaboration among our teachers, students and families. We congratulate her on this new role.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142547 Wed, 09 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142547 December Elementary School K-5 Students of the Month Congratulations to our December Elementary School K-5 Students of the Month! Under the guidance and instruction of art teacher Mrs. Meghan McCarthy students are creating, producing, responding and connecting! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142546 Tue, 08 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142546 West Point Cadet Visits Virtual Class Elementary teacher Samantha Grabher gave her virtual students a unique perspective on learning to manage their virtual lessons. She invited Cadet Stephen Grabher, who is completing his sophomore year at the United States Military Academy at West Point, to speak to them. During the virtual visit, Stephen answered questions from both the fourth and fifth grade class regarding remote learning. “Stephen currently has one of his classes online and therefore could relate to some of the issues that our elementary school remote learners are experiencing,” Ms. Grabher said. Students asked questions that pertained to participating online, completing work and asking questions in front of other students online. Cadet Grabher gave them some ideas on how to manage the number of assignments virtually. He recommended students always reach out to teachers when they are struggling with work, creating a priority list to help them complete the most important assignments first and discussed the importance of taking breaks during their independent work time. “As a member of the men’s Army lacrosse team, he also voiced that finding a hobby or activity to relieve stress can help students refocus when it is time to complete assignments online,” Ms. Grabher said of her brother’s suggestions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142544 Tue, 08 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142544 Senior Named Semifinalist in Scholars Program Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Peggy Yin has been selected as a semifinalist in the 2020-2021 Coca-Cola Scholars Program. Peggy is one of only 1,609 semifinalists who were chosen from among 99,403 applicants this year because of her outstanding leadership, academic achievements and dedication to the Port Jefferson school community. Peggy was notified of her status and is now moving to the next round of the selection process to potentially become a Coca-Cola Scholar and receive a $20,000 college scholarship. “Peggy is consistent in her leadership, academic, musical and community actions,” Principal Mr. Eric Haruthunian said. “She is passionate about all the projects she is involved in and brings pride to our school community for her bright and encouraging ways in empowering those around her to make positive changes in the world. We congratulate her and wish her well in the next phase of the competition.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142545 Mon, 07 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142545 Leadership and Community Awareness from Middle School Students Being mindful of community needs is one aspect of the Middle School Student Council. This year for their annual food drive, their call to action for sixth, seventh and eighth graders was met with a successful campaign to benefit Long Island Cares, one of the region’s most comprehensive hunger assistance organizations. The students’ efforts resulted in 908 items and $100 in cash that was donated to the nonprofit. The Student Council members were responsible for all the details of the event, from advertising, collecting and sorting items to packing everything for distribution. “This year, I believe our students really understood how their actions have positive effects in the greater community,” adviser Mrs. Allison Giannusa said. “Good citizenship and civic responsibility go a long way in promoting the lifelong, constructive values of our students.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142543 Mon, 07 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142543 December Month at a Glance Calendar https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142535 Mon, 07 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142535 ‘Mr. Port Jefferson’ Thomas Meehan to Retire At the Nov. 10 Port Jefferson School District Board of Education meeting, the Board honored Mr. Thomas Meehan, Principal of the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, who will retire on December 31. Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan spoke highly of Mr. Meehan’s decade of service at the helm of the Elementary School citing his skills and initiatives such as instituting the school’s Grade 5 Safety Patrol Leadership Program and collaborating with the Port Jefferson Fire Department in the annual 9/11 ceremony. She also spoke of his relationships with both the Royal Educational Foundation and the PTA over the years resulting in the raised garden beds for science and nutrition lessons, a GaGa ball pit for physical education and socialization, and a book vending machine which encourages reading for education and fun. Mr. Meehan is affectionately known as “Mr. Port Jefferson.” He is a graduate of the Port Jefferson School District, as well as a member of the fire department, a part of the beach community and regularly hikes around the village. But most importantly, he is lauded foremost for his commitment to the students of the district. “It’s always about our students,” Mrs. Schmettan said. “He knows all of our elementary children and their families by name.” She added that he is not afraid to jump into the GaGa ball pit, shoot a few hoops, examine a science project, join in on a music lesson, direct a bus, investigate a furnace or read a class a book. “He truly is a master of all talents,” she said. Mrs. Schmettan and the Board presented him with a gift and applauded his leadership and service. “It was an honor for me to be principal,” Mr. Meehan said. “It meant so much to me and my family.” The Board of Education is set to appoint a new principal for the Elementary School at the Dec. 8 Board of Education meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142541 Fri, 04 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142541 Learning the Japanese Art of Kintsugi Eighth grade student-artists are learning Kintsugi, the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with art teacher Ms. Stacey Schuman. “By repairing broken ceramics it’s possible to give a new lease of life to pottery that becomes even more refined thanks to its ‘scars,’” Ms. Schuman said. “Kintsugi teaches that broken objects are not something to hide but to display with pride.” The traditional Japanese art form uses a precious metal – liquid gold, liquid silver or lacquer dusted with powdered gold – to bring together the pieces of a broken pottery item and at the same time enhance the breaks. The technique consists of joining fragments and giving them a new, more refined aspect. Every repaired piece is unique, because of the randomness with which ceramics shatter and the irregular patterns formed that are enhanced with the use of metals. The students studied pieces and then drew their own designs to highlight the scarred parts of the object. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142542 Thu, 03 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142542 Free Lunch Program The Port Jefferson School District applied and was granted a waiver to offer lunch at no charge to all our students. This waiver starts on December 1, and is expected to run through June, 2021. This will entitle all students to receive a free meal with all the components. Snacks and additional beverages still must be purchased and are not covered under this program. Students on remote instruction can pick up a bag lunch meal each day at the security desk at the HS between 12 and 1 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142540 Tue, 01 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142540 Lockers, Baskets and Boxes of Food! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School held its annual food drive and filled boxes with nonperishable foods as well as toiletries for local families in need. Under the leadership of elementary guidance counselor Jessica Peterson, the school community once again showed its generosity in aiding others with dozens of boxes of food collected that will help families enjoy a nutritious Thanksgiving meal. Eight second grade students – Jessica Curley, Thomas Donohue, Brier Fox, Ruby Minatta, Lucas Peterson, Vincent Pryor, Andrew Weinisch and Madeline Zoudov – used their organizational skills and sheer desire to help families in the community by sorting boxes of items for each family. At Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, a “Stuff-A-Locker” initiative was launched and has faculty, staff, administration, art students and all the high school clubs involved in working to fill the unused first floor lockers with nonperishable food and monetary donations. “It is important for students, staff and the community to recognize the importance and need for staying connected during this time,” Principal Eric Haruthunian said. “Our high school is unifying our food drive efforts in order to help the community.” Once a certain number of lockers are filled, the food in them is delivered and student-artists create a mural to cover those lockers. The final art piece will be revealed in full once all of the lockers are stuffed. The International Club helped kick off the campaign by collecting dozens of non-perishable foods, stuffing and bread mixes, vegetables, juices and frozen turkeys that filled up the first five lockers. Club advisers Jennifer Walling, who teaches English as a second language, and social worker Kristin Britt delivered the bountiful baskets to local families just in time for a nutritious Thanksgiving holiday meal. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142539 Wed, 25 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142539 Trio of Royals Commit to Colleges With coaches, parents, siblings and administrators in attendance at a socially distant ceremony, three seniors were honored at the 2020 National Collegiate Athletic Association signing event. Each student committed to playing their respective sports at several of the nation’s most prestigious Division I and Division II universities in the fall. Heidi Biedenkapp will join the rowing team at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Katelynn Johnston will play lacrosse at Assumption University and Daniel Koban will play lacrosse at St. John’s University. The event was hosted by the Port Jefferson Athletic Department and introduced by Adam Sherrard, director of health, physical education and athletics. During the ceremony, each student was lauded by their coaches James Finke (rowing), Logan Hoffman (girls lacrosse) and Taylor Forstell and John Maletta (boys lacrosse). The coaches spoke of each student’s high school career highlights and wished them all well at the next level of their education and athletic endeavors. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates these students who will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142538 Tue, 24 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142538 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A regular business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be heldon Tuesday, December 8, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise SpearElementary School. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, public access to the meeting will be limited to 15 people. Thoseattending in-person will be required to be masked and have their temperature checked and COVIDscreened. We respectfully ask that only those residents planning to make a public comment tothe Board of Education attend the meeting in person. The meeting will be livestreamed and canbe accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE taband click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website theday prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142537 Tue, 24 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142537 Stuff-A-Locker Food Drive https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142536 Mon, 23 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142536 A Virtual Visit with Military Personnel First graders had a real-time social studies lesson when they met virtually with military personnel and local government officials to share their appreciation for those who protect our country. U.S. Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Jonathan Bellomy, a preventive medicine technician, and two of his colleagues; Suffolk County Executive Mr. Steven Bellone; Suffolk County Director of Community Affairs Ms. Melanie Sinesi; Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army Mr. Steven Castleton and Mrs. Erica Gronenthal, mother to first grader Finn Gronenthal, virtually visited the classroom decorated for the occasion. The students wore paper hats saying “Thank you, veterans” and, along with teachers Ms. Sandra Eybs, Ms. Meagan Bellantuono and Ms. Allison Coppi, wore patriotic colors. The visit stems from a keychain project that Finn and his classmates created in Ms. Coppi’s kindergarten class last year. Finn’s father passed away while serving our country when Finn was a baby. Petty Officer 2nd Class Bellomy is a military mentor to Finn and his older brother Kai. Students asked well-thought-out questions including how veterans are honored in the county and the best and worst parts of the careers of those on the virtual conference. Finn was honored to hear Mr. Bellone and Mr. Castleton call his father a hero in our country because of the extraordinary sacrifices that he made. Both men thanked the students for their cards of appreciation and support. According to Ms. Eybs, the students were so excited and proud to be a part of this special event and were well prepared with their questions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142534 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 06:00:00 GMT false142534 Honoring Veterans at Armed Forces Tribute Members of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Varsity Club honored those who helped to protect and preserve the country’s freedoms at the Port Jefferson School District’s Armed Forces Tribute, located at the high school. The students set flags out for each of the armed forces of the United States at the tribute that was created and unveiled in the spring of 2019 with much school and community support. The flags line the tribute’s Path of Honor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142533 Tue, 10 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142533 A Virtual Celebration of Music! Ten students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School attended the recent virtual Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s PEAK (Parents, Educators, and Kids). Fourth graders Yuchen Du, Patrick Hutchinson, Madison Menninger, Adyson Nocito, Katherine Pacheco, Melina Rust, Sebastian Salzman, Vanessa Schuchman, Olivia Viviano, and Leilani von Oiste attended the unique celebration of elementary classroom music where students from across Suffolk County performed from the comfort of their homes alongside their parents and music teachers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142532 Mon, 09 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142532 NYSED Parent Data Dashboard https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142531 Thu, 05 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142531 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION *** REVISED MEETING NOTICE The regular business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be heldon Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. in the Auditorium at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session todiscuss legal and personnel matters. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, public access to the meeting will be limited to 30 people. Thoseattending in-person will be required to be masked and have their temperature checked and COVIDscreened. We respectfully ask that only those residents planning to make a public comment tothe Board of Education attend the meeting in person. The meeting will be livestreamed and canbe accessed as follows: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE taband click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website theday prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142530 Wed, 04 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142530 Varsity Club’s Socially-Distant Halloween Safe Halloween events took on a whole new meaning this year and the Port Jefferson School District created a memorable event for many young students in the community. The High School’s Varsity Club members, along with advisers, teachers Mrs. Deirdre Filippi and Mr. Jesse Rosen, put together a well-organized, drive-thru trick or treat event at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School on Saturday, Oct. 31. With stations that included a number of themes such as sports, superheroes, Willy Wonka, Cat in the Hat, jungle animals, Hawaii, space and spooky Halloween motifs, the volunteers distributed thousands of pieces of candy to the young trick or treaters who visited the drive-thru with their families. “It was a tremendous success,” Mrs. Filippi said. “We couldn’t be happier with the turnout. Our volunteers teamed up, decorated their assigned tables with colorfully-themed decorations and spent the morning making a lot of kids and their families happy.” More than 200 cars showed up with families eager to share in the safe Halloween festivities. Elementary School Principal Mr. Thomas Meehan, Assistant Principal Mrs. Amy Laverty, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Mrs. Christine Austen and Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan also attended to help hand out candy. “We are so proud of our student-athletes,” said Mr. Rosen. “They showed us that they can rise above adversity and still find a way to do something amazing for the community.” The Port Jefferson School District thanks the following students for making this event one filled with Port Jefferson pride: Aamna Ali, Alexa Ayotte, Emily Brown, Alex Carlson, Kate Carlson, Gabe Cesare, Massimo Cipriano, Caitlyn Cobb, Brady DeWitt, Lucy DeWitt, Kayla Daily, Luke Filippi, Adam Friedman, Atticus Furjanic, Emilia Guzzetta, Hailey Hearney, Jenna Jacobs, Grace Keegan, Annie Maier, Payton Melzer, Sarah Moshe, Sami Moussa, Peter Murphy, Julian Nunez, Abby Rolfe, Sarah Ruggiero, Lily Russell, Olivia Schlegel, Logan Shaffer, Camryn Spiller, Brennyn Veit, Amy Whitman, Kyle Yannucci and Brooke Zamek. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142529 Mon, 02 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142529 In Appreciation National Principals Month is our opportunity to recognize the essential role that Port Jefferson School District principals play in making our schools exceptional places to learn. Thank you to Mr. Thomas Meehan (Edna Louise Spear Elementary School), Dr. Robert Neidig (Port Jefferson Middle School) and Mr. Eric Haruthunian (Earl L. Vandermeulen High School) for your daily commitment and leadership in fostering a positive climate and culture for our students and staff. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142527 Thu, 29 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142527 November Month at a Glance Calendar https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142528 Thu, 29 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142528 Royals Create/Royals Inspire Our Royals Create/Royals Inspire campaign highlights the Fine Arts units of study from K-12 and the skills they will develop along with our art educators. See below for some high school student-artists working under the direction of art teacher Ms. Lauren Lewonka. https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vSyTWGUECUnyNngNmtCM-iCIv_Q7LV3xnn0l-4IwILXyoWrMlABjLMVhEZQwng4BCP6osNQTnyhmMPf/pub?start=true&loop=true&delayms=5000 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142526 Tue, 27 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142526 Fight Flu at Home and School Fight Flu at Home and School https://www.health.ny.gov/diseases/communicable/influenza/seasonal/ https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142525 Tue, 27 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142525 ‘The Morning Show’ Is Back! After two successful seasons of the High School’s “The Morning Show” and a sudden halt to production when schools closed in March, a new crew of students are eagerly participating in the broadcasting course, a collaboration with technology teacher Mr. Brian Chalmers and English teacher Mr. Michael Augello. According to Mr. Augello, the students are working to create content that is informative and entertaining to their audience. “We try to make these stories as local as possible, but they might also incorporate a subject that is more widely relevant,” he said. The students are learning to frame their interview questions in a way that gives their subject room to discuss and explain – a more flowing, conversational interview, not just simple yes or no answers. The students are also developing organizational and public-speaking skills as anchors. On the technical side, they are learning how to shoot and edit their stories, which includes setting up a shot with proper lighting, arranging and connecting microphones, framing the subject within the shot and editing during postproduction. Mr. Chalmers is also teaching them how to manage and operate cameras, the control room, the teleprompter and other equipment necessary in producing the show. The students created a celebratory video announcing the show’s return and are proposing their first spots for the year. See the video here: https://youtu.be/_nKG-Dn3UPE. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142524 Mon, 26 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142524 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Monday, November 2, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School via remote access. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss a return to a full instruction model for the 2020-2021 school year. The public can access the meeting by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. A regular business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, November 10, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School via remote access. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The public can access the meeting by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no “in-person” public participation; however, the public can participate in the following manner: * Email your comment/questions to the District Clerk, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at Khanley@portjeffschools.org * Click on the following link to fill out a comment form, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at https://forms.gle/So3TnAh4PF769qpC9 * You may also participate by using the comment feature on the Livestream feed. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142523 Mon, 26 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142523 Virtual Eligibility and Scholarship Workshop https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142522 Fri, 23 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142522 Five Honored for Dedication to Education The Port Jefferson School District celebrated five members of the school community who were presented with SCOPE Educational Service Awards earlier in the year. The recipients were honored in categories that recognized their leadership, fiscal responsibility, dedication and countless hours of service in improving the educational experiences of all district students. They were named at the Oct. 13 Board of Education meeting by Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan. The recipients who were honored are Mrs. Ellen Boehm, Port Jefferson School District Board of Education president for School Board Service; Mr. Scott Zamek, Royal Education Foundation chairperson for Community Service; Mrs. Anne Algieri, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Latin teacher for Teacher Service; Mrs. Rosalie Loizos, Port Jefferson Middle School main office staff member for Support Staff Service and Port Jefferson Middle School principal Dr. Robert Neidig for Administrator Service. Mrs. Schmettan cited their significant impact on the school community and their continued commitment, compassion and selflessness in their respective roles within the school district. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142274 Mon, 19 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142274 BOE Lauded During School Board Recognition Week Port Jefferson School District Board of Education members were lauded for their efforts during School Board Recognition Week (Oct. 19-23), the New York State School Board Association’s annual awareness campaign that highlights the important role that school board members have within a school district. At the Oct. 13 Board of Education meeting, the seven board members – president Mrs. Ellen Boehm, vice president Mrs. Tracy Zamek and trustees Mrs. Randi DeWitt, Mr. David Keegan, Dr. Ravi Singh, Mrs. Rene Tidwell and Mr. Ryan Walker – were commended for their tireless efforts on behalf of students, staff and community residents. Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan introduced members of the district leadership team – Mrs. Mary Butera (United Paraprofessionals Association), Mr. Anthony Butera (Port Jefferson Teachers Association), Dr. Michael Caravello (Port Jefferson Administrators Association) and Mrs. Merrill Dona (Port Jefferson Office Staff Association) – who all cited words of appreciation for the Board of Education’s service and stewardship of the school district. Mrs. Schmettan spoke on behalf of the central office staff members and lauded the trustees for their shared vision and direction in achieving the highest student performance. To further signify the school district’s close ties to the community, Dr. Caravello honored the board members with a donation to St. Charles Hospital on behalf of the PJAA. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142521 Mon, 19 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142521 Gaining Perspective in Elementary Art Class One of a teacher’s greatest joys is having a student emulate what they are taught. When third grade student Alice Turner shared some of her sketches with art teacher Mrs. Meghan McCarthy, the elementary educator realized that Alice was utilizing some art techniques that she learned in class, in particular using a repeated line technique to create depth. “She had so much fun with this technique, which involves creating the illusion of a third dimension on a flat surface,” Mrs. McCarthy said. “Sketchbooks are new this year, and it’s been so nice to see our students so inspired!” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142273 Fri, 16 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142273 Reading Interests Explored! For many students, the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School library has always been a haven for exploring their interests. With social distancing protocols in place, students cannot currently use the library, so librarian Ms. Selinda Stout is bringing it to them. Ms. Stout pushes a colorful mobile book cart to each class with books that are appropriate for that grade level. The students may choose a book from the cart or request a book. They use their individual shelf markers (paint stir sticks that have each student’s library bar code attached, serving as their library card) to root through the books on the cart and the bins so they are not touching the books with their hands. Ms. Stout then uses a VersaScan which is synchronized to the school’s library manager to check out the books. “When I enter the classroom, the students are so excited to see me,” Ms. Stout said. “It’s very satisfying that I can bring some normalcy to their day.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142272 Thu, 15 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142272 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION WORK SESSION NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will beheld on October 27, 2020 at 7:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spearto present the Spotlight on the Elementary School; and, any other business as may beneeded. The meeting will be live-streamed via remote access. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143077 Wed, 14 Oct 2020 02:00:00 GMT false143077 Duo Selected for NYSSMA All-State Conference Congratulations to seniors Jack Reilly and Peggy Yin who were selected to participate in the New York State School Music Association 2020 Virtual All-State Concert. This being their second All-State appearance, this year Jack will perform on double bass with the All-State Symphony Orchestra and Peggy will perform with the All-State Symphonic Band. “Congratulations to Jack and Peggy for representing the Port Jefferson school music program proudly as they embark on this historic virtual event,” Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142271 Thu, 08 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142271 National Merit Commended Students! Four seniors have been named commended students in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Liam Gameng, Aaron Held, Noah Teany and Lucas Welinder have each been recognized for the exceptional academic promise demonstrated on their outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. They each received a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Program. All young men are very involved in all aspects of their high school careers and recognize that this achievement is vital to the advancement of educational excellence. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates these students for demonstrating outstanding potential for academic success. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143082 Fri, 02 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143082 PJ Schools Social Media https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143080 Thu, 01 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143080 Jewelry Design Students in high school art teacher Nancy Randazzo’s jewelry design class are learning techniques such as using a jeweler’s saw to cut through brass, copper and sterling silver. They will move on to stone setting, forging, stamping and use of a torch for soldering to finish their designs through demonstrations and instruction. “The saws are like little coping saws with the thinnest blades – almost thread-like – and they are practicing how to insert saw blades on their own and getting the correct tension for sawing metal,” Ms. Randazzo said. “It’s very important to have very tight tension on the blade. They need to hear a high-pitched ping when they strum the blade,” she added, as they work to complete their first project: a heart-shaped pendant from copper. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143081 Thu, 01 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143081 October – Month-at-a-Glance https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143079 Thu, 01 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143079 Repetition, Variation and More in Elementary Art Classes Elementary students have been using the great outdoors to get their creative juices flowing. Under the guidance of art teacher Mrs. Meghan McCarthy, the young artists at all grade levels are designing their art portfolios, discovering font styles and more to produce their visually interesting masterpieces. Second grade students focused on bubble and block letters as well as different techniques to achieve their desired look for their art portfolios. Third graders worked on repeated line designs, using repetition and variation to create depth on a 2D surface. Fifth graders were encouraged to design their own art folders by using their name as the focal point and including a theme that represents them. “We discussed font styles and how different lettering may give you a specific feeling,” Mrs. McCarthy said. “Students had the opportunity to utilize technology for visual references while experiencing the beauty of the outdoors.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143078 Wed, 30 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143078 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A regular business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be heldon Tuesday, October 13, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise SpearElementary School via remote access. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of enteringexecutive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The public can access the meeting by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no “in-person” public participation; however, the public canparticipate in the following manner: * Email your comment/questions to the District Clerk, at least two (2) hours prior to themeeting, at Khanley@portjeffschools.org * Click on the following link to fill out a comment form, at least two (2) hours prior to themeeting, at https://forms.gle/So3TnAh4PF769qpC9 * You may also participate by using the comment feature on the Livestream feed.Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143076 Tue, 29 Sep 2020 11:00:00 GMT false143076 Hello Cello! The sounds of a cello filled the air during a recent outdoor lesson for Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students when music teacher Mr. Christian Neubert demonstrated the orchestral string instrument to second grade students. Under his guidance, students are learning to explore and experience the concepts of music. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143075 Fri, 25 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143075 Relevant Research for Senior Peggy Yin Senior Peggy Yin took part in Brookhaven National Laboratory’s High School Research Program, a highly competitive summer educational opportunity for students interested in pursuing science, technology, engineering and mathematics studies. The program, which took place virtually this year, offered Peggy and other Suffolk County High School students an opportunity to conduct research under the mentorship of application architect Hubertus van Dam as part of the newly formed National Virtual Biotechnology Laboratory. Their collective research was on a topic relevant for the times: COVID-19. Peggy and her colleagues conducted computational studies and explored how inhibitor drugs can disrupt viral proteins that help infectious particles escape from cells. To learn how the virus protein works, the students conducted numerous docking studies to model how the viral protein and tetherin (an interferon-induced protein) interact, as well as the interactions of the virus protein with small druglike molecules to see which might work to stop the virus from blocking glycosylation. Their research was conducted with access to BNL’s supercomputing clusters to run molecular dynamics simulations. Peggy, who applied for the program in late winter – before COVID-19 became a pandemic – highlighted her desire to perform computational biology research in her essay. As her awareness of the magnitude of the virus expanded, she inquired about the possibility of performing COVID-19 research. “My hope is that our research could shed light on the mechanisms of how these viruses work, and our research could help with other areas of coronavirus research and prevent other pandemics in the future,” she said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143074 Wed, 23 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143074 Trio Selected as National Merit Semifinalists Congratulations to Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students Gani Ates, Grant Samara and Peggy Yin, who have been selected as semifinalists in the annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These three academically talented students have an opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring. To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, Gani, Grant and Peggy must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. Over 90 percent 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. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143073 Mon, 21 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143073 Censo 2020 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143072 Mon, 21 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143072 2020 Census https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143071 Mon, 21 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143071 Edna Louise Spear Elementary Virtual Back-to-School Night - Wednesday 9/23 @ 7pm https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143067 Mon, 21 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143067 Update Letter - COVID Case at MS https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143070 Sun, 20 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143070 COVID case - Middle School; Sept. 18 After dismissal, the District was notified of a positive student COVID-19 case in our Middle School. We have been in contact with the Department of Health and have begun contact tracing procedures. Students or staff members that were in contact with this student will receive a separate correspondence and a possiblequarantinefrom the Department of Health. The investigation is ongoing so please be mindful of your interactions this weekend . Wear a mask, social distance and practice proper hygiene. When the Department of Health gives us a determination we will provide you with an update. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143069 Fri, 18 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143069 School Picture Days - September 24 & 25 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143066 Thu, 17 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143066 September "Month at a Glance" Calendar https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143064 Wed, 16 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143064 COVID-19 Case at Elementary School - Sept. 16 This morning the Port Jefferson School District was notified that a student at the elementary school tested positive for COVID-19. Following our procedures and protocols and guidance from the Department of Health, the elementary school is closed today for distance learning. We will be disinfecting the building and working to conduct contact tracing. Thank you for your patience and understanding, we will update you as we learn more information. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143063 Wed, 16 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143063 Confirmed COVID-19 Case Update https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143065 Wed, 16 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143065 Community-Minded Service Project Members of the High School’s Varsity Club helped to put out American flags on Friday, Sept. 11 in front of the District’s Armed Forces Tribute to honor those who perished in the 2001 attacks. Along with advisers, teachers Mr. Jesse Rosen and Mrs. Deirdre Filippi, the students continue to engage in community and service-minded projects. The district thanks students Massimo Cipriano, Brady DeWitt, Lucy DeWitt, Luke Filippi, Ryan Filippi, James Gruenfelder, Hailey Hearney and Grace Keegan for their efforts in continuing to establish a sense of community and creating a positive influence with their peers. The flags surround the district’s brick placard that sends an uplifting message of strength and unity for the school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143062 Mon, 14 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143062 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The purpose of this meeting is to present an update on our School Reopening Plan for the 2020-2021 school year. The public can access the meeting by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no “in-person” public participation; however, the public can participate in the following manner: * Email your comment/questions to the District Clerk, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at khanley@portjeffschools.org * Click on the following link to fill out a comment form, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at https://forms.gle/janJQPsuX7Mkw9wF8 * You may also participate by using the comment feature on the Livestream feed. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143061 Thu, 10 Sep 2020 11:00:00 GMT false143061 First Day https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143060 Tue, 08 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143060 Meal Distribution Information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143059 Fri, 04 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143059 We Look Forward to Welcoming our Students Back! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143058 Fri, 04 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143058 Port Jefferson School District Virtual Board of Education Meeting Tuesday, September 8 7:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143057 Thu, 03 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143057 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A regular business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be heldon Tuesday, September 8, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise SpearElementary School via remote access. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose ofentering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The public can access the meeting by following these instructions: go to the District website atwww.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no “in-person” public participation; however, the public can participate in the following manner: * Email your comment/questions to the District Clerk, at least two (2) hours prior to themeeting, at Khanley@portjeffschools.org * Click on the following link to fill out a comment form, at least two (2) hours prior to themeeting, at https://forms.gle/So3TnAh4PF769qpC9 * You may also participate by using the comment feature on the LiveStream feed. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143056 Fri, 28 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143056 Reopening Parent Forum Wednesday, August 19th 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Wednesday, August 19th 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. Questions can be submitted ahead of time here: https://forms.gle/jXEicPXjvCzwmfuU6 The forum will be livestreamed here: https://livestream.com/accounts/18260106/events/5009770 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143054 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT false143054 Reopening Parent Forum Tuesday, August 18th 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Port Jefferson Middle School Tuesday, August 18th 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. Questions can be submitted ahead of time here: https://forms.gle/HmBqj5YPAU84Tze66 The forum will be livestreamed here: https://livestream.com/accounts/18260106/events/5009770 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143053 Tue, 18 Aug 2020 00:00:00 GMT false143053 Reopening Parent Forum Monday, August 17th 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Monday, August 17th 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Questions can be submitted ahead of time here: https://forms.gle/ouRLz56mcECx18c69 The forum will be livestreamed here: https://livestream.com/accounts/18260106/events/5009770 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143052 Fri, 14 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143052 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A regular business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Thursday, August 27, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School via remote access. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The public can access the meeting by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no “in-person” public participation; however, the public can participate in the following manner: * Email your comment/questions to the District Clerk, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at Khanley@portjeffschools.org * Click on the following link to fill out a comment form, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at https://forms.gle/So3TnAh4PF769qpC9 * You may also participate by using the comment feature on the Livestream feed. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143051 Wed, 12 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143051 Board of Education Meeting Click here to view the livestream https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143050 Mon, 10 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143050 Graduation Photos Now Available https://whitelightphotography.gotphoto.com/album/class-of-2020 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143049 Wed, 05 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143049 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A regular business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, August 11, 2020, at 7:30 p.m. in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The public can access the meeting by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no “in-person” public participation; however, the public can participate in the following manner: * Email your comment/questions to the District Clerk, at least two (2) hours prior to themeeting, at Khanley@portjeffschools.org * Click on the following link to fill out a comment form, at least two (2) hours prior to themeeting, at https://forms.gle/So3TnAh4PF769qpC9 * You may also participate by using the comment feature on the Livestream feed. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143048 Tue, 04 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143048 Standout Student Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque... https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=121201 Mon, 03 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121201 Congratulations to the Class of 2020! The members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Class of 2020 received their diplomas in two separate, well-orchestrated ceremonies that signified the school’s 126th commencement exercises on Aug. 1. The pledge of allegiance led by Student Organization vice president Hana Ali was followed by the Star-Spangled Banner performed by Rachel Park. Both high school principal Mr. Eric Haruthunian and Student Organization president Dylan Dugourd welcomed everyone to the two morning events. Congratulatory remarks and words of praise and inspiration were presented by Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan and parent Mr. Richard Righi, father of Katelynne Righi. Senior Class President James Marci presented the class gift fit for the current time and to honor the community: a donation to both Mather Hospital and St. Charles Hospital, noting that many of the students who grew up in the community were born at St. Charles. The top two students, valedictorian Christine Iasso and salutatorian Kyle Onghai also addressed their fellow classmates, sharing memories, reflections on their primary education, grateful words to teachers and family members, and words of advice for their fellow graduates. “We all have the power to make the changes needed to create the brightest future our generation can enjoy,” Christine said, who encouraged her peers to appreciate the planet and one another as they will have the opportunity to affect the lives of all the people they will interact with in the future. Christine will major in sustainable agriculture and food systems at the University of California, Davis and Kyle will attend UCLA to major in mathematics. Mr. Haruthunian then presented the Class of 2020 to Mrs. Schmettan and Board of Education president Mrs. Ellen Boehm before he called each student to the podium and, as is tradition, highlighted their high school careers and future plans. As they walked to the podium, they were handed their diplomas by Assistant Principal Mr. Kevin Bernier. The Class of 2020 then stood and tossed their caps in the air in celebration of becoming the newest graduates of the high school. Check out more photos on Facebook! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143047 Mon, 03 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false143047 Standout Student Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Aenean commodo ligula eget dolor. Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque.. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=121202 Mon, 03 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121202 School Reopening Information Click here for more information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142321 Fri, 31 Jul 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142321 Congratulations Graduates! https://livestream.com/accounts/18260106/events/5651313 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143046 Thu, 30 Jul 2020 14:00:00 GMT false143046 Royals Welcome Two New Coaches The Port Jefferson girls varsity tennis team and girls varsity field hockey team will both have a different look on the sidelines this fall. Drew Dunleavy will lead the girls tennis team while Mallory Guerin will lead the field hockey squad. Coach Dunleavy holds a United States Professional Tennis Association professional tennis certification as well as a United States Tennis Association professional coaching certification. He has experience as a private tennis coach as well as a high school tennis coach, most recently in the Smithtown School District. “Mr. Dunleavy has extensive experience working with students of all ages, including those with disabilities,” Port Jefferson School District Director of Health, Physical Education, Athletics and Nursing Adam Sherrard said. “As a former health, physical education teacher and athletic director, Mr. Dunleavy understands how to differentiate his instruction to meet the needs of each student-athlete to maximize their potential. His focus on building character and confidence for our student-athletes set him apart from the other candidates.” Coach Dunleavy is excited to keep the girls tennis program moving in the right direction - continuing with the success and enthusiasm that Coach Denis Christofor has established for many years. Due to scheduling conflicts, Christofor will not coach the team this year. “Mr. Christofor helped build the foundation of our tennis program,” Sherrard said. “He has been a tremendous asset to the athletic program and an advocate for tennis throughout the district. He has met with Coach Dunleavy multiple times to help with a smooth and successful transition.” An Earl L. Vandermeulen High School alumna, Mallory Guerin received All-Long Island and All-State honors while helping lead the team to four Suffolk County Class C championships, three Long Island Championships and two appearances in the State tournament. Coach Guerin continued her field hockey career at SUNY Cortland, where she was member of the Red Dragons women’s field hockey SUNYAC Champion team. A volunteer coach for the Royals in 2014, she moved on to be an assistant field hockey coach at both the high school and college level. “We are excited for the energy and innovative ideas Miss Guerin will bring to the program,” Sherrard said. “She has facilitated many clinics for student-athletes in grades K-12 including the Long Island Field Hockey program. These are the things we need to keep the field hockey program growing and moving in the right direction.” Guerin will take the reins from long-time coach Debbie Edgar-Brown, who has retired from coaching. She and former Port Jefferson coach Nancy Gallagher played key roles in the search for a new coach and are eager to volunteer their time to help the team in the upcoming season. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142323 Wed, 22 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142323 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Wednesday, July 29, 2020, at 7:00 p.m. in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise SpearElementary School. The purpose of this meeting is to present the School Reopening Plan for the2020-2021 school year. The public can access the meeting by following these instructions: go tothe District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE MeetingLivestream. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, there will be no “in-person” public participation;however, the public can participate in the following manner: Email your comment/questions to the District Clerk, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at Khanley@portjeffschools.org Click on the following link to fill out a comment form, at least two (2) hours prior to the meeting, at https://forms.gle/So3TnAh4PF769qpC9 You may also participate by using the comment feature on the Livestream feed. Meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142324 Wed, 22 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142324 HS Graduation Update Letter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142322 Fri, 17 Jul 2020 13:00:00 GMT false142322 Welcome Dr. Ravi Singh Two members of the Port Jefferson School District’s Board of Education – one newly elected trustee and one reelected incumbent – took the oath of office at the annual reorganization meeting on July 14, which was held virtually. Mr. David Keegan and Dr. Ravi Singh each raised their right hand and swore the oath administered by District Clerk Mrs. Kathy Hanley to each commence a three-year term as trustees. The Board reinstalled Mrs. Ellen Boehm as president and elected to reappoint Mrs. Tracy Zamek as vice president. Mrs. Boehm then swore in Mrs. Hanley as district clerk for the Board of Education for the 2020-21 school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142320 Wed, 15 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142320 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The reorganization meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be heldon Tuesday, July 14, 2020 at 7:00 p.m., via remote access, with the regular monthly businessmeeting at 7:30 p.m. Call to order will be 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive sessionto discuss legal and personnel matters. Reorganization and business meeting agendas areavailable on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. Meetings will be conducted remotely on a Google platform. The public can access the publicmeetings by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org;click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142319 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 16:00:00 GMT false142319 PJTA Deliver Meals and Thanks to Healthcare Workers On behalf of the entire Port Jefferson School District, the Port Jefferson Teachers Association delivered 150 meals to Mather Hospital and 75 meals to Stony Brook University Hospital. More than $600 was raised for this ongoing meal drive from all units of employees of the Port Jefferson School District. A special thanks to Mr. Omar Karasu, (Port Jeff’s junior varsity football assistant coach and permanent substitute) who is also a chef. Mr. Karasu helped to coordinate matching contributions from The Bench Bar and Grill and Sweet Mama’s, both in Stony Brook, as well as delivered the meals along with technology teacher and high school drama director Mr. Anthony Butera. The PJmealdrive fund has continued to receive donations and is planning another delivery. In addition, the PJTA continues to run a food drive with all donations going to the Infant Jesus Food Pantry. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142317 Wed, 01 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142317 Summer Food Service Plan https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142318 Tue, 30 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142318 Six Nominated for TEENY Awards Six Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student have each been nominated for a Teeny Award, a recognition from the East End Arts Council, an organization that has been recognizing and celebrating excellence in high school theater for almost two decades. This is the first time Port Jefferson has been invited to enter into the awards, making the nominations not only a point of pride for the district, but a historic moment for the high school’s drama program. Liam Sproul was nominated in the category of Lead Male in a Play for his role of Cassius in the school’s fall drama production of Julius Caesar, adapted by theater director Anthony Butera. Jade McGarrity performed the role of Portia in the same production and is nominated as Supporting Female in a Play. Both Liam and Jade are each competing with six actors from Suffolk County schools for the first-place honors. Julius Caesar also produced four nominations in the Technical Recognition categories – Carley Davidson and Jack Worrell for stage managers and Dylan Dugourd and Ryan Parmegiani for Lighting Design and Crew. Dylan was also cited for his unique special technical effects for the show. “This is such a great achievement for these students, using the skills they possess on the stage and as part of the crew is a testament to the commitment they all have for theater,” Mr. Butera said. “They really embraced their roles in this production and are all exceptional students to work with. We all congratulate and wish them all well at the ceremony.” In a virtual program to be held in late July, esteemed community members, theatre professionals and arts supporters, will honor students in multiple categories including lead and supporting actors and actresses, student choreographers, poster and playbill designers, outstanding performers, design and technical categories and pit orchestra. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142316 Tue, 30 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142316 Grade 8 Moving Up! Click here to view graduation ceremonies https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142315 Thu, 25 Jun 2020 22:30:00 GMT false142315 Chromebook Return Information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142313 Thu, 25 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142313 Grade 5 Moving Up! Click here to view graduation ceremonies https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142314 Wed, 24 Jun 2020 22:30:00 GMT false142314 Congratulations 5th Graders https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142312 Wed, 24 Jun 2020 13:00:00 GMT false142312 Virtual Finance Committee Meeting - Monday, June 22 at 4:00 PM https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142311 Fri, 19 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142311 Senior Upcoming Events https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142310 Tue, 16 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142310 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Educationwill be held on Tuesday, June 23. Executive session will be calledat 5:00 pm to discuss legal and personnel matters. The Board expects the regular business meeting to begin at at 6:30 PM, via remote access. Business meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting.Meetings will be conducted remotely on a Google platform. The public can access the publicmeetings by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org;click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142308 Tue, 09 Jun 2020 12:00:00 GMT false142308 2020 Best Community for Education https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142309 Tue, 09 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142309 New Budget Vote & Election Information As per Governor Cuomo's directive of Sunday, June 7th, the Budget Vote & Election will be extended to June 16, 2020. Residents will have until June 9th, 5:00 PM to drop ballots in lockboxes at either the HS Lobby or the ES Lobby. Ballots received in the mail will be accepted until June 16th. Ballot Counting LiveStream - No Audio https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142307 Mon, 08 Jun 2020 12:00:00 GMT false142307 Letter Regarding the Last Day of School Last Day of School Letter in English Last Day of School Letter in Spanish https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142305 Fri, 05 Jun 2020 16:00:00 GMT false142305 Budget Video Update https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142306 Fri, 05 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142306 Budget Hearing Livestream - Tuesday, June 2 @ 5 pm https://livestream.com/accounts/18260106/events/5009770 Public comments can be made in the CHAT FEATURE, accessed by clicking on the CHAT Bubble in the upper right corner of the screen. Once you identify yourself, you will be granted access to ask your questions pertaining to the proposed budget. Full budget hearing details can be accessed here: https://go.boarddocs.com/ny/portjeff/Board.nsf/vpublic?open https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142846 Mon, 01 Jun 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142846 Senior Week PJ Senior Athletes Spring 2020 Musical Message to our Seniors Decision Day Video Senior Art Slideshow https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142845 Mon, 01 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142845 The Horizon Budget Newsletter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142844 Wed, 27 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142844 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The Budget Hearing for the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on June 2nd at 5:00 PM, via remote access. A Special Meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, June 9th at 9:00 PM, declaring the results of the election and budget vote, via remote access. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, June 23 at 5:00 PM, via remote access. Executive session will be called at the conclusion of the regular business meeting to discuss legal and personnel matters. Business meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. Meetings will be conducted remotely on a Google platform. The public can access the public meetings by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142843 Tue, 26 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142843 Royal Pride: Port Jeff Announces Class of 2020 Top Two Students Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is proud to announce that seniors Christine Iasso and Kyle Onghai have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Class of 2020. Christine’s well-rounded education and extracurricular activities include being a member of the Academic team, Environmental Club, Interact Club, Mathletes team, captain of the junior varsity basketball team and a junior counselor at vacation Bible school. She also took advantage of the impressive MIT LaunchX, a program that teaches entrepreneurial skills and mindset through starting real companies, with interactive lectures, business simulations, entrepreneur panels and the actual design and launch of a company. Christine will major in sustainable agriculture and food systems at the University of California, Davis. Kyle’s interests in math, investing, entrepreneurship, research and scientific journals have paved the way to being a National Advanced Placement Scholar, a National Honor Society member, a recipient of a Regents scholarship, captain of the Mathletes team and president of the Latin Club, where he has received five gold medals in the National Latin Exam. He has been honored in advanced calculus on the county level and has been an award winner in the school’s Physics Bowl, Quiz Bowl, Robotics and Science Olympiad. Kyle received The President’s Volunteer Service Award for his church altar service and for working in the patient education department at Stony Brook University Hospital. He took part in the Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University as a researcher in biomedical engineering using MATLAB and quantitative ultrasound. He has been on the varsity tennis team for all four years of high school along with other local athletic pursuits. His musical accomplishments as a cellist and pianist have led him to the Young Artist Program at Stony Brook University and as a participant in Levels 1-6 of the New York State School Music Association Festival. Kyle will attend UCLA and major in mathematics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142294 Tue, 19 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142294 Budget Information Click here to visit the Budget page https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142293 Tue, 12 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142293 New date for Budget Vote & Elections – June 9, 2020 As per Governor Cuomo’s Executive Order, the Budget Vote & School Board Elections are scheduled for June 9, 2020 with an absentee ballot vote only. There will be no poll voting. Ballots will be mailed to each residence with a prepaid return envelope. Ballots must be returned to the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 PM on June 9, 2020. Should you require additional ballots at your residence, please contact the District Clerk by either email atKhanley@portjeffschools.orgor by phone at 631-791-4221. Please make sure to state your name and address when requesting a ballot. If you wish to run for a board seat, you may pick up a Board Candidate Packet from the District Clerk at 550 Scraggy Hill Road from Tuesday, May 5 through Friday, May 9th from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM; and Monday, May 11th from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM. All nominating petitions must be filed in the Office of the District Clerk by 5:00 PM, May 11, 2020. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142291 Tue, 05 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142291 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education scheduled for May 12, 2020 at 5:00 PM has been changed to a Special Meeting, via remote access. It is anticipated that a motion will be immediately made to enter into executive session to discuss legal matters. The regular monthly business meeting has been rescheduled to Tuesday, May 19, 2020 at 5:00 PM, via remote access. Executive session will be called at the conclusion of the regular business meeting to discuss legal and personnel matters. Business meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. Meetings will be conducted remotely on a Google platform. The public can access the public meetings by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142292 Tue, 05 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142292 Senior Student Athletic Tribute https://livestream.com/accounts/18260106/events/7479281 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142290 Fri, 01 May 2020 20:00:00 GMT false142290 Frequently Asked Questions 5/1/20 1. How much longer is school closed? Governor Cuomo has announced that all schools in New York State will remain closed for the remainder of the academic year. No decision has been made regarding summer school programs. We will keep you apprised as new information is shared with us. 2.Now that the decision has been made to close the buildings for the remainder of the academic year, how will I be able to retrieve my child’s belongings? The building principals are working along with the Director of Facilities to coordinate the retrieval of personal belongings from classrooms and lockers. Once the schedule has been decided, we will be in contact with families to facilitate the safe retrieval of all personal effects. 3. How can we ensure all parents and students are receiving up-to-date information? Parents can sign into the PowerSchool Parent Portal to update their email and phone numbers. School Messenger takes contact information from PowerSchool in order to generate District calls. There are directions on our website on accessing your Parent Portal account. For up-to-date information, families can check our website www.portjeffschools.org, or follow our social media platforms; Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.Please see the links below for information regarding the Parent Portal. Creating an Account in the Parent Portal How to Access the Parent Portal 4.What is happening with the 2020 Spring Athletic season? After much discussion and consideration, Section XI has decided to cancel the 2020 spring athletic season for all levels. This decision was not an easy one to make, however, it was made in the best interest of the health and safety of all student-athletes, staff and community members. Throughout the school closure, we encourage all student-athletes to continue to be active while maintaining appropriate social distancing guidelines. The Port Jefferson School District has also posted mental health resources on the school district website under the “Resources” tab. Please contact our Athletic Director, Mr. Sherrard, at asherrar@portjeffschools.org with any questions. 5. Are there assignments tailored for students with special needs? How are IEPs and 504 instructional accommodations being met? The Special Education Director, Dr. Jodi Cahill is in continuous contact with staff providing updates as they become available from NYSED. During this unprecedented time of prolonged school closure, the distance learning plans implemented by the special education teachers, and related service providers, will be appropriately individualized in order to meet the needs stated on each student’s Individualized Education Plan. Throughout the closure, students will have services and support from the same Special Education teachers and Related Service personnel (Speech, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Behavior Consultant, Psychologist ect.) that they would typically see as part of their program in the school buildings. Please note that our Occupation Therapy, Physical Therapy and Behaviors Services are contracted through outside vendors. Correspondence about scheduling services may come from their agency offices, however, these are the same providers that regularly work with our district and you child should be familiar with them. Committee on Special Education Annual Review meetings will continue to be held via phone conference and/or through a virtual platform such as Google Hangouts. You will be contacted by phone to arrange the meeting and any documents pertinent to the meeting will be emailed to you. The decision about scheduling meetings which require new or updated evaluations (Initial Eligibility or Reevaluation meetings), that have not been completed due to the school closure, will be made on a case-by-case basis in accordance with guidance from the State Education Department. Please email your child’s special education teacher, or call the Special Education office at (631) 791-4241 regarding any questions or concerns specific to your child. 6.When will my child be able to take the College Entrance Exams, such as, the PSAT, SAT and ACT? PSAT: We are scheduled to administer the PSAT on Saturday, October 17, 2020. SAT: The College Board has announced that if schools are open in the fall, they will provide weekend SAT administrations every month through the end of the calendar year, beginning in August. This includes a new administration on September 26 and the previously scheduled tests on August 29, October 3, November 7, and December 5. The Port Jefferson School District is registered to offer the exams on Saturday, September 26 and Saturday, November 7. Registration for the fall SAT dates will open the week of May 26. Students can get early access to register for August, September, and October if they’re: Already registered for June. In the high school class of 2021 and don’t have SAT scores. In the event that schools are still closed due to the concerns about the COVID pandemic, College Board will provide a digital SAT for home use, similar to how they are delivering the AP digital exams. They intend to ensure that the at-home SAT testing is simple, secure and fair, accessible to all, and valid for use in college admissions. ACT: We are scheduled to administer the ACT on Saturday, October 24, 2020 and Saturday, December 12, 2020. 7.When will the 2020 National Honor Society Induction Ceremony be held? Due to the school closure, the National Honor Society Induction Ceremony will be held in October 2020. Students will be notified of their acceptances by Friday, May 22. Class of 2020 members of the National Honor Society will receive their pin and membership card by the end of this school year by mail. 8.What is happening with the President's Volunteer Service Award this year? Due to the school closure and impact of social distancing on the students’ ability to complete service hours, the deadline to submit applications has been extended to Friday, July 31, 2020. Every effort will be made to distribute the awards to our 2020 graduates before they begin their post-secondary plans and coordinate a distribution ceremony in the fall provided it is safe to do so. Information about the collection of the applications will be provided in the near future. 9.What if a student needs a device? Device pick-up is currently being scheduled on an individual basis. If your child needs a device please contact the building principal. Building principals will arrange an appointment time. 10.What if a family doesn’t have internet access? Many of the learning platforms including Google are accessible through a smartphone using cellular data. Some local wifi providers have options for free internet access during the health crisis, but may charge a fee after the initial trial period. Individuals without access should contact their classroom teacher or support service personnel for alternate assignments. 11. What if my family and I are in need of meals? The Port Jefferson School Districtis prepared to offer breakfast and lunch to any child, aged 18 or younger, during the school closure. The bag meals may be picked up each day between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the High School cafeteria, located at 350 Old Post Road. Please be advised that beginning on Monday, March 30th, the District will be adjusting the meal program to an alternate day schedule as follows: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Students will receive two lunches/two breakfasts on Mondays and Wednesdays and three lunches/three breakfasts on Fridays. 12. What if I am a healthcare worker or first responder and I need childcare? The District is working with local agencies to provide access to childcare programs during typical school hours without cost to essential personnel during this health crisis. In their March 19 memo, NYSED defined professionals that are eligible for prioritized childcare as health care workers, first responders, support clinicians, food manufacturing, transportation, trucking, construction and social service agencies. If you believe you are defined by the aforementioned professions, please contact your principal directly. Information regarding school childcare can be found here: http://portjeffschools.org/news/article.aspx?id=113577&fbclid=IwAR3RfLZ3Rs2KmHCo1P1rq5PuTvCfSlNvssHwlyrc0ToZL0o_96NYa1D7E4o 13. Who can I reach out to for mental health support during the school closure? We are committed to providing mental health support for you and your child during the school closure. Please feel free to reach out to the following individuals via the email addresses listed below. If there is a crisis or an immediate psychiatric emergency, please contact your nearest emergency room or any of the community resources we have provided below. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us, we are here to help. Elementary School School Psychologist: Allyson Carlson acarlson@portjeffschoolschools.org School Social Worker: Jessica Peterson jpeterso@portjeffschools.org High School/Middle School School Psychologist: Laura Ametrano Lametra@portjeffschools.org School Social Worker: Kristin Britt kbritt@portjeffschools.org School Psychologist: Kristen Wendel kwendel@portjeffschools.org Outside Resources: DASH - Crisis Care for Children, Adults and Families 90 Adams Avenue, Hauppauge, NY 11788 (631) 952-3333 Available 24/7 365 days Mather Hospital 75 North Country Road, Port Jefferson, NY (631) 473-1320 Response Crisis Hotline: (631) 751-7500 COVID-19 Mental Health Resource Hub Beacon Health Options Domestic Violence Hotline: New Yorkers in need of help or assistance can text 844-997-2121 or go to the new confidential online site to reach a professional at www.opdv.ny.gov 14. Will High School class specific activities, ie. prom, be held? Building administration is in the process of discussing options should there be a need for alternate plans. At this time, the Junior Prom has been rescheduled for Friday, June 19th. This was the date that the venue and DJ were available. We will keep parents and students updated about any changes to the calendar events in the upcoming weeks. 15. How will fourth quarter and third trimester grades be calculated for our students due to the closure? Building administrators and teachers are currently working to develop a grading plan that is designed to keep our students engaged in distance learning for the remainder of the academic year. We will share the final plan on Monday, May 4th. 16. How will AP exams be given? Students will receive a 45-minute online free-response exam (exact timing to be announced). There will be no multiple-choice questions. Students will complete the exam at home, online, on a specified day and time. To minimize conflicts, students will be able to choose from two different test dates, one earlier or one later. Like a college exam, these exams will be “open book/open note.” They won’t test simple factual recall; instead they’ll be focused on skills and thematic understandings. Students will not be tested on content typically taught in the last 25% of an AP course, as laid out in the unit structure shown in the AP Course and Exam Description. Each student response will be monitored by plagiarism detection software, and students whose responses mirror content from the web or other students’ submissions will be disqualified. Student responses will be submitted digitally and scored by remote readers. This is a similar process to the one we have used for years in scoring AP at-home work for college credit in courses like AP Seminar, AP Research, and AP Computer Science Principles. The College Board will release the AP testing schedule on Friday, April 3, on their coronavirus updates page, we’ll publish the full exam schedule including the specific free-response question types that will comprise each AP exam when we receive the information. *Updated Information Regarding AP Students with Accommodations: “Students will be able to take this year’s online AP® Exams with College Board–approved accommodations. Details are now available about how accommodations will be provided for this year’s exams. Specific details about accommodations for the AP World Language and Culture exams will be available next week. As always, students may only use accommodations they’ve been approved for by the College Board Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office.” Review Accommodations Details 17. What is happening with the Regents exams. On Monday, April 6th, Chancellor Rosa of the New York State Education Department (NYSED) announced the cancelation of the June 2020 High School Regents Examination Program in response to the statewide closures of schools and districts to prevent the spread of COVID-19. This cancellation applies to all Regents Examinations that had been scheduled for the June 2020 Regents Examination period. Due to the cancellation of the Regents, the exam grade will not be included in the Final Grade for any course culminating in a Regents exam. On Thursday, April 30th, NYSED cancelled the administration all August 2020 Regents exams. 18. How does the cancellation of the June 2020 Regents administration impact the diploma types and graduation requirements for students? Because of the cancellation of the June 2020 Regents Examinations, the NYSED is making certain modifications to the assessment requirements that students must meet in order to earn high school diplomas, credentials, and endorsements. These modifications apply to all students enrolled in grades 7-12 during the 2019-20 school year who were intending to participate in one or more of the June 2020 Regents Examinations. For more information regarding the Regents exams and diploma types, please click on the FAQ link provided or contact your child’s guidance counselor for specific information. 19.What effect will the cancellation of the June 2020 Regents exams have on my child’s transcript? NYSED will develop and disseminate guidance on how schools/districts should record the exemptions from examination requirements in their student management systems, in our case, PowerSchool. NYSED will develop new codes for reporting “COVID-19 Exemptions” and provide further guidance to our school district. We have been advised that student transcripts should not reflect an examination score for any examination for which the student is exempted during the COVID-19 closure. 20. How will students complete the required community service hours? Adjustments will be made to the required community service hours based on the length of the school closure. Members of the Class of 2020 will have the requirement waived should the closure continue past the May 1st deadline to hand in the forms documenting their hours. Underclassmen will have their hours prorated according to their year of graduation. 21. How will students in Drivers’ Education be impacted by the closure? We have been in contact with the State Department which oversees the Driver’s Education program in order to address concerns and to provide accurate information. The District completed a survey that was sent to us indicating our questions and concerns which include potential make-up time, overlap sessions, potentially waived hours, and online lecture. After consulting with the Department of Motor Vehicles, SED said, "School districts may allow students enrolled in driver’s education courses in the spring 2020 semester to finish their instruction during the summer 2020 session or the fall 2020 semester." The district will continue to provide updates in the event that future sessions will be cancelled due to COVID-19. The State Department indicated that only students who have already completed 18 hours of lecture are allowed to finish the program online. Port Jefferson students had only completed nine hours of lecture; therefore, we are unable to complete the lecture program through online/distance based learning. 22. How will students in the High School apply for working papers during the closure? NYSED released the following information on March 30, 2020. “Section 3215-a of New York State Education Law requires schools to provide this service for pupils and employers in the community. School superintendents have the authority to designate principals or other school officials to act as certificating officials and nonpublic schools and BOCES may issue such certificates to their own students. Minors may apply for certificates where they live, where they go to school, or where they are to be employed. Districts preferring to use the traditional method may continue to do so, however, they must ensure that their school community is aware of the process. If the school district provides abbreviated office hours for in-person processing of working papers, it is recommended that appointments be made to maximize social distancing. “ If your child is interested in obtaining working papers, please email Mr. Haruthunian at eharuthu@portjeffschools.org to schedule a time to process the working papers. For your convenience, we have included the link to the fillable PDF application here. 23. What will happen to our School Board elections and Budget vote? Governor Cuomo postponed all local elections and budget votes until June 1, 2020. We are awaiting guidance of how the actual vote will be conducted. Generally, the District conducts a series of budget workshops around the community. Given the restrictions on gatherings, check out our first two budget presentations on our website: http://www.portjeffschools.org/departments/business_office 24. Why are the fields and playgrounds closed? In compliance with the directives issued by County Executive Bellone and Governor Cuomo, we have closed all of our fields, the high school track, tennis courts and the elementary school playgrounds to discourage gatherings, encourage social distancing practices and minimize the spread of COVID-19. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142279 Fri, 01 May 2020 19:00:00 GMT false142279 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 12, 2020, via remote access. The Budget Hearing will be at 5:00 p.m. followed by the regular business meeting at 5:30 p.m. Executive session will be called at the conclusion of the regular business meeting to discuss legal and personnel matters. Business meeting agendas are available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting. Meetings will be conducted remotely on a Google platform. The public can access the public meetings by following these instructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142289 Tue, 28 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142289 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School receives state honors Praised for its high academic achievement, student growth, graduation rate and progress during the last academic year, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has been named a 2019-20 Recognition School by the New York State Education Department. Recognition Schools are identified for being among the highest achieving schools under the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act for performance and for student growth and/or graduation rates. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is among the 582 schools named that have also met or exceeded measures of interim progress for English language arts and mathematics, and college, career and civic readiness. “We commend our educators, administrators, staff, parents, and most importantly our students,” Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan said. “Their unwavering dedication and ongoing efforts are an integral part in this recognition.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142288 Mon, 27 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142288 Message from Section XI Executive Director After much discussion and consideration, the Athletic Council of Suffolk County has voted unanimously to cancel the spring sports season for 2020 at all levels. This decision was made in the best interest of the health and safety of all of our student athletes, staffs and communities. The decision was not an easy one to make, however in what the world is experiencing at this time, it is the most prudent decision to make. Thank you and stay safe. Tom Combs, Executive Director of Section XI, NYSPHSAA https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142287 Wed, 22 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142287 Athletic Coaches Survey Complete The Results are In! In an effort to get student and parent input on the selection of the best athletic coaches possible, a survey was sent to all students and parents in grades 6-12 on the coaching qualities they deem most important for the Port Jefferson student-athletes. The survey provided eight examples of coaching qualities for respondents to select from. Respondents also had an opportunity to list coaching qualities of their own. Of the 114 responses, there were five coaching qualities that were most favorable (see graphic). Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said, “There are so many important aspects of coaching, it is important to get as many different perspectives as possible when hiring a new coach. Combining the knowledge of the teachers, staff and administrators on the interviewing committees with the preferences of students and parents will help us select coaches who will have a positive physical, social and emotional impact on our student athletes.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142285 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142285 VIDEO: Thousands of Thanks https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142286 Tue, 21 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142286 Varsity Club Supply Drive https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142284 Mon, 13 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142284 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 21, 2020, 5:00 PM via remote access. Executive session will be called at the conclusion of the regular business meeting to discuss legal and personnel matters. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. Due to the COVID-19 virus, we are conducting our Board of Education meetings through remote access. The public is invited to “virtually attend” by visiting our website at www.portjeffschools.org , click the BOE tab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. To access the agenda, click the link to BoardDocs on the same BOE page or Below Agenda 4/21/20 Budget Presentation 4/21/20 Any community member that wishes to address the Board of Education during the Public Comment portion of the meeting, should click the link below, fill out the Public Comment Survey Form, and submit at least two (2) hours prior to the start of the meeting. Your comment/question will be read into the record. Public Comment Google Form https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142283 Thu, 09 Apr 2020 01:00:00 GMT false142283 Video: We Miss You All! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142282 Tue, 07 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142282 School Election and Budget Vote Information Please be advised that as per the Governor's Executive Order 202.13, school elections and budget votes have been postponed until at least June 1st including, but not limited to, the manner in which school budget votes and elections will be conducted. As soon as we are notified as to the new date and voting procedures, we will let the community know immediately. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142280 Mon, 06 Apr 2020 14:00:00 GMT false142280 Nonpublic Transportation Deadline Extended https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142281 Sun, 05 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142281 Grab and Go Meal Program https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142278 Wed, 01 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142278 Covid-19 Emergency Child Care Services Emergency Child Care Letter to Parents - English / Spanish Emergency Child Care Parent Info -English / Spanish Registration Instructions for Emergency Child Care -English / Spanish Emergency Child Care Locations -English / Spanish https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142276 Tue, 31 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142276 Distance Learning Opportunities to Begin on Monday, March 30th Superintendents Letter - Distance Learning - English Superintendents Letter - Distance Learning - Spanish Superintendents Letter - Distance Learning - Chinese Assistant Superintendents Letter- Distance Learning - English Assistant Superintendents Letter- Distance Learning - Spanish Assistant Superintendents Letter- Distance Learning - Chinese Elementary Schedule - English Elementary Schedule - Spanish Elementary Schedule - Chinese Secondary Schedule - English Secondary Schedule - Spanish Secondary Schedule - Chinese https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142275 Mon, 30 Mar 2020 02:00:00 GMT false142275 Video Messages from Our Superintendent Click here to view the videos https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141997 Fri, 27 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false141997 Frequently Asked Questions Frequently Asked Questions 1. How will students in Drivers’ Education be impacted by the closure? We have been in contact with the State Department which oversees the Driver’s Education program in order to address concerns and to provide accurate information. The District completed a survey that was sent to us indicating our questions and concerns which include potential make-up time, overlap sessions, potentially waived hours, and online lecture. We are working with the Department of Motor Vehicles, council’s office, and New York State Education Department (NYSED) administration to resolve these policy questions and provide you with the answers you need. As soon as we have information to share, we will let you know. 2. How will lab requirements for Regents science courses be met? Last guidance received from NYSED is below: “In cases where the COVID-19 virus has caused either an extended absence of individual students, or an extended closure of an entire school or program, thus preventing either the school’s ability to provide or student’s ability to meet the mandatory laboratory requirement for admission to a science Regents examination, the superintendent may admit students enrolled in such courses to the culminating Regents examination.” 3. What’s the status on Spring Break and snow days? School will be in session on the previously scheduled spring break from April 3 through April 10. There will be no “give back” snow days. 4. How much longer is school closed? Currently, Governor Cuomo has closed all schools in New York State until midnight on March 31, 2020. Although we hope to return on Wednesday, April 1, 2020, it is uncertain if the closure will be extended. 5. How can we ensure all parents and students are receiving up-to-date information? Parents can sign into the Powerschool Parent Portal to update their email and phone numbers. School Messenger takes contact information from PowerSchool in order to generate District calls. There are directions on our website on accessing your Parent Portal account. For up-to-date information, families can check our website www.portjeffschools.org, or follow our social media platforms; Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. 6. Are there assignments tailored for students with special needs? How are IEPs and 504 instructional accommodations being met? The Special Education Director, Dr. Jodi Cahill is in continuous contact with staff providing updates as they become available from NYSED. During this unprecedented time of prolonged school closure, the distance learning plans implemented by the special education teachers will be appropriately individualized in order to meet the needs stated on each student’s Individualized Education Plan. Please email your child’s special education teacher, or call the Special Education office at (631) 791-4241 regarding any questions or concerns specific to your child. 7. Will High School class specific activities, ie. prom, be held? Building administration is in the process of discussing options should there be a need for alternate plans. At this time, the Junior Prom has been rescheduled for Friday, June 19th. This was the date that the venue and DJ were available. We will keep parents and students updated about any changes to the calendar events in the upcoming weeks. 8. What is the status of the High School musical performance? At this point the spring musical is cancelled. Unfortunately, the licensing for the show prevents us from postponing or live streaming the performance. 9. How will AP exams be given? Students will receive a 45-minute online free-response exam (exact timing to be announced). There will be no multiple-choice questions. Students will complete the exam at home, online, on a specified day and time. To minimize conflicts, students will be able to choose from two different test dates, one earlier or one later. Like a college exam, these exams will be “open book/open note.” They won’t test simple factual recall; instead they’ll be focused on skills and thematic understandings. Students will not be tested on content typically taught in the last 25% of an AP course, as laid out in the unit structure shown in the AP Course and Exam Description. Visit collegeboard.org/ap-covid19-updates for a list of which units will be included in each AP Exam this year. Each student response will be monitored by plagiarism detection software, and students whose responses mirror content from the web or other students’ submissions will be disqualified. Student responses will be submitted digitally and scored by remote readers. This is a similar process to the one we have used for years in scoring AP at-home work for college credit in courses like AP Seminar, AP Research, and AP Computer Science Principles. By April 3, we’ll publish the full exam schedule including the specific free-response question types that will comprise each AP exam. 10. What if a student needs a device? Device pick-up is currently scheduled for Thursday, March 26, 2020 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Families are asked to drive through the elementary school bus circle in order to pick up devices by the crayon entrance. Drivers and students should remain in their car; staff members will approach your vehicle in order to assist with the delivery of the devices. 11. What if a family doesn’t have internet access? Many of the learning platforms including Google are accessible through a smartphone using cellular data. Some local wifi providers have options for free internet access during the health crisis, but may charge a fee after the initial trial period. Individuals without access should contact their classroom teacher or support service personnel for alternate assignments. 12. How will students complete the required community service hours? Adjustments will be made to the required community service hours based on the length of the school closure. Members of the Class of 2020 will have the requirement waived should the closure continue past the May 1st deadline to hand in the forms documenting their hours. Underclassmen will have their hours prorated according to their year of graduation. 13. What if my family and I are in need of meals? The Port Jefferson School DIstrict is prepared to offer lunch to any child, aged 18 or younger, during the school closure. The bag lunches may be picked up each day between the hours of 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the High School cafeteria, located at 350 Old Post Road. Please be advised that beginning on Monday, March 30th, the District will be adjusting the meal program to an alternate day schedule as follows: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Students will receive two lunches on Mondays and Wednesdays and three lunches on Fridays, for a total of seven lunches per week. 14. What if I am a healthcare worker or first responder and I need childcare? The District is working with local agencies to provide access to childcare programs during typical school hours without cost to essential personnel during this health crisis. In their March 19 memo, NYSED defined professionals that are eligible for prioritized childcare as health care workers, first responders, support clinicians, food manufacturing, transportation, trucking, construction and social service agencies. If you believe you are defined by the aforementioned professions, please contact your principal directly. 15. How will personal/instructional items be retrieved from buildings? At this time, our buildings have been closed to the public with very few staff members permitted inside. If you have a specific need, please reach out to the building principal who will assess the priority of the items needed (medicine, etc). If deemed a necessity, we can make arrangements for pick up. 16. Why are the fields and playgrounds closed? In compliance with the directives issued by County Executive Bellone and Governor Cuomo, we have closed all of our fields, the high school track, and the elementary school playground to discourage gatherings, encourage social distancing practices and minimize the spread of COVID-19. 17. How will third quarter grades be calculated for high school and middle school students due to the closure? We are evaluating different grading options with our teaching staff and administration at this time to ensure that students are not negatively impacted by the school closure. We will share our recommendation with high school and middle school parents and students before the third quarter ends on April 3rd. 18. What is happening with the New York State Assessments usually administered in March and April? President Trump announced Friday morning that the Federal Government is going to waive all testing requirements. The New York State Education Department followed by announcing, "The administrations of the 2020 elementary- and intermediate-level State assessments have been suspended for the remainder of this school year." The NYSED press release can be read here: http://www.nysed.gov/news/2020/statement-board-regents-chancellor-betty-rosa-and-interim-state-education-commissioner-2 19. How will elementary students receive their second trimester report cards? Elementary second trimester report cards are now posted in the Parent Portal. Visit the links below for information regarding the Parent Portal. Creating Account in Parent Portal How to Access the Parent Portal 20. How will students be able to take a Regents exam after the closure? NYSED released the following guidance on March 13: Admission to Regents Examinations “Commissioner’s Regulation 8.2(a) states that all pupils who have studied a subject at an approved school for a period of time not less than that prescribed by the commissioner shall have the right to be admitted to the Regents examination at such school. In such instances where the COVID-19 virus has caused either an extended absence of individual students, or an extended closure of an entire school or program, thus preventing either the school’s ability to provide or student’s ability to meet the unit of study requirements, the superintendent amay admit students enrolled in such courses to the culminating Regents examination. In cases where the COVID-19 virus has caused either an extended absence of individual students, or an extended closure of an entire school or program, thus preventing either the school’s ability to provide or student’s ability to meet the mandatory laboratory requirement for admission to a science Regents examination, the superintendent may admit students enrolled in such courses to the culminating Regents examination.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142006 Tue, 24 Mar 2020 20:00:00 GMT false142006 Student Device Pick Up https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142005 Tue, 24 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142005 AP Frequently Asked Questions 2020 AP Frequently Asked Questions https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142003 Mon, 23 Mar 2020 11:00:00 GMT false142003 NYSSMA Cancellation Festival Season 2020 My Dear Friends and Colleagues, NYSSMA recognizes that the COVID-19 pandemic has closed all of our schools and the feasibility of rescheduling almost 150 festivals is no longer possible. Therefore, we have sadly determined we can no longer move forward with Festival Season 2020. All 2020 solo festivals and major ensemble festivals are cancelled. NYSSMA leadership is currentlyinvestigating optionsfor All-State auditions for the 2020 Winter Conference. Sincerely, David Dr. David M. Brown President, New York State School Music Association https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142004 Mon, 23 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142004 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION EMERGENCY MEETING NOTICE The Board of Education calls an emergency meeting for Tuesday, March 18, 2020at 4:00 PM where it is anticipated that a motion will be immediately made toenter into executive session. The meeting will be conducted remotely on aGoogle platform. The public can access the public meeting by following theseinstructions: go to the District website at www.portjeffschools.org; click on BOEtab and click on BOE Meeting Livestream. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141995 Wed, 18 Mar 2020 15:00:00 GMT false141995 Video Tutorial for Accessing District Resources from Home Click Here for Video Tutorial https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141996 Wed, 18 Mar 2020 13:00:00 GMT false141996 Important Information Regarding COVID-19 Click Here https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141998 Wed, 18 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false141998 Video Tutorial for Accessing District Resources from Home https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142000 Wed, 18 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142000 Video Tutorial for Accessing District Resources from Home Video Tutorial for Accessing District Resources from Home https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142001 Wed, 18 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142001 Students Selected for SCMEA All-County Festival The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following student-musicians who were selected for participation in the 2020 Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All- County Festival. Fifth and sixth graders selected in Division I are Allie Blumenthal, Jonah Boerboom, Rowan Casey, Vincent Chen, Avery Eisaman, Julie Friedman, Mari Fukuto, Nicholas Hogan, Kevin Hong, Joshua Kwon, Yankai Li, Lily Mahony, Inarra McMaster, Iris Park, Mark Puopolo, Sadie Salzman, Madison Testa and Blake Weaver. Seventh and eighth graders selected in Division II are Isabelle Chen, Viviane Kim, Katherine Ranjbar, Alana Samara and Nicholas Smirnov. Ninth and tenth graders selected for Division III are Alexa Ayotte, Luke Dickhuth, Kenneth Dixon-Lanza, Justin Garcia, David Lawler, Ruby Ray, Anna Rebic, and Sierra Welsch. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142620 Tue, 17 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142620 HS MUSICAL PRODUCTION HAS BEEN CANCELLED Due to school closure, please be aware that all three productions of the HS Spring Musical scheduled for March 20-22 have been cancelled. Thank you. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141994 Tue, 17 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false141994 Students Hit the Greens With Village Collaboration Students have been learning the fundamentals of golf in a collaborative effort with the Port Jefferson County Club. Assistant golf professional Jake Anderson, PGA, has been working with Edna Louise Spear Elementary School physical education teachers to provide skills including grip, stance, swing and strategies of the game. “The Port Jefferson Country Club is such a great resource for our community and our students,” Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Adam Sherrard said. “We appreciate Mr. Anderson for donating his time to help teach our students a sport such as golf to help them maintain lifelong fitness.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142619 Mon, 16 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142619 Video Tutorial for Accessing District Resources from Home Click Here to Watch the Video https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141999 Mon, 16 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false141999 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Sunday, March 15, 2020 at 4:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss matters of health and safety. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142617 Sat, 14 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142617 Student Readers Are Student Leaders! Elementary students had a colorful Read Across America celebration in the school library for the annual recognition of Dr. Seuss’ birthday. Organized by librarian Ms. Selinda Stout, students and staff were encouraged to wear striped socks and crazy hats. Dr. Seuss coloring books and other activities were available, and The Cat in the Hat and The Grinch were on hand to greet students and hand out tokens for the school’s book vending machine. The highlight of the day was students at all grade levels who served as guest readers and read aloud their favorite stories to their classmates. They were Timothy Amadio, Lina Awadallah, Allie Blumenthal, Adrian Diaz, Avery Eisaman and Sophie Franck. Leading up to the event, students participated in a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses such as Applebee’s, Kilwins Chocolate Shop, Panera, Port Jeff Bowl and Roger’s Frigate. Ms. Stout thanked each reader and complimented their abilities in reading aloud to their peers in the school’s efforts to promote independent reading. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142618 Fri, 13 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142618 Letter Regarding School Athletics https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142616 Fri, 13 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142616 Middle School Math Masters! Building student interest and confidence is the goal for students who are challenged with Math League contests, and 11 Port Jefferson Middle School students received top scores when they participated in the 2019-20 New York Math League contest. Sixth graders Elizabeth Campo, Kevin Hong, Max Kronberg, Christopher Nam, Victoria Snaden and Lucas Sweeney and seventh graders Thales Cheng, Aoife Hogan, Josef Joyner, Ana Kelly and Evan Menaghan each received a certificate of merit for superior achievement on the online tests. They were commended by Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and middle school math teachers Ms. Meg Ryan and Ms. Jamie Veraldi for their efforts in continuing to develop an interest in mathematics through problem-solving activities such as these contests. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142613 Thu, 12 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142613 SCMEA 2020 FESTIVALS HAVE BEEN CANCELLED Dear SCMEA Membership: After much consideration and consultation with Suffolk County school districts and host sites, we have decided to cancel this weekend's festival. As the week has progressed, more sites have been unable to host the festivals nor send their students to the event due to the COVID-19 outbreak. While we considered alternative plans, ultimately, the health and safety of our students and teachers is paramount. I know that many students and families will be disappointed in this cancellation, but please know that this decision was not made lightly or hastily. In the coming weeks the SCMEA Festivals Team will be in contact with the membership about the particulars surrounding the cancellation of this festival, including but not limited to ticket refunds and music collection. It is advised that everyone check their email regularly for updates on these items and more. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142615 Wed, 11 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142615 Trio Promote a Culture of Inclusion at Youth Summit Three Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students shared ideas of how to increase spectators at the district’s unified basketball games at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and Special Olympics Youth Activation Committee Summit recently held at Connetquot High School. Students Adam Friedman, Aarya Patel and Chris Sciotto represented the team in a brainstorming session including promoting the games on the school’s Morning Show program and creating unified basketball team socks and T-shirts to use as giveaways during home games. The team will also host a pizza party for their opponents after each home game to help build relationships between the student-athletes on both teams to support the idea of inclusiveness. “We are so proud of our students for helping to continue this culture of inclusion throughout our school community,” Port Jefferson School District Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Adam Sherrard said of the students and the sport that is recognizing its second year at Port Jefferson, last year bringing the team to a league championship and third place finish at the Section XI Championship Tournament. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142612 Wed, 11 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142612 Student-artists Showcase Work at Village Center The Port Jefferson School District celebrated the work of district students at an opening reception for the 2020 Spring Student Art Show at the Port Jefferson Village Center. The annual monthlong joint collaboration between the village and the school district is an opportunity for the greater community to view the creations of district students. The colorful and comprehensive display featured artworks of students from all three district schools under the guidance of art teachers Christina Ceccarelli, Lynne Edsall, Meghan McCarthy, Stacey Schuman and Nancy Randazzo. District Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello commended all those whose works will be on display throughout March on their continued efforts in their exploration of the arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142611 Wed, 11 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142611 Candidates for Board of Education If you are interested in running for a Board Trustee position, please pick up a Candidate Packet from the District Clerk's office or from the links below. All nominating petitions are due back to the District Clerk by 5:00 PM on April 30th. Board Candidate Packet (English) Board Candidate Packet (Spanish) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142614 Wed, 11 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142614 Coronavirus Response Plan https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142610 Wed, 11 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142610 Ancient Artifacts and More! Students from the High School’s Latin class recently visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Along with teacher Ms. Anne Algieri, the students had an opportunity to expand on the cultural and historical significance of their classroom lessons with a guided tour of the museum’s Arts of Ancient Egypt exhibit. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142608 Tue, 10 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142608 District Raises Funds for DezyStrong Foundation The school district recently hosted PJ Madness, a basketball tournament for students and teachers, organized by ELVHS science teacher Mr. Charles Hafner. Along with friendly competition, a message of strength and inspiration grew from the event that raised thousands of dollars for an organization devoted to helping people living with cancer. Mr. Hafner shared the story of Mr. Matthew DiStefano, a Suffolk County teacher who succumbed to kidney cancer recently and whose spirit and message of “We Get To” was shared throughout the district. Port Jefferson Middle School teachers Mrs. Deirdre Filippi and Mrs. Jeannette Garofola took the message to their colleagues and students, and proceeds from the tournament, T-shirts and other donations totaling $5,368 was donated to his namesake organization, the DezyStrong Foundation, a nonprofit that helps support and encourage those living with a life-threatening disease. “It is heartwarming when a school community comes together to support an initiative of this caliber,” Superintendent of Schools Mrs. Jessica Schmettan said. “It not only shows the character of our staff and students, it reinforces Mr. DiStefano’s message of living each day to the fullest.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142609 Mon, 09 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false142609 Students Learn to Put Visions Into Actions With Former NFL Player Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students had a stimulating learning experience when they welcomed Long Island University professor and motivational speaker Mr. Perry Williams to talk about his life experiences and career path. A retired NFL player who was with the New York Giants for more than a decade, Mr. Williams holds NCAA records for track and field from North Carolina State University and is now the director of the sports management program at LIU. Mr. Williams shared encouraging stories about teambuilding, leadership and mentoring with teacher Ms. Linda Moran’s sports marketing and accounting classes. Aside from his trajectory from high school student to college athlete to professional football player with two Super Bowl championships, he highlighted how he has used his real-world experiences to enhance his work as a college professor. “He spoke to the students about creating opportunities for themselves and the three Ds: don’t quit, don’t get outworked and don’t be intimidated,” Ms. Moran said. “The students really enjoyed listening to his stories and how he came to be a professor at LIU.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142607 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142607 A Celebration of Literacy Students in Mrs. Carleen Parmegiani’s second-grade class are continuing to refine their English Language Arts skills and recently had a culminating celebration to highlight their non-fiction writing curriculum. The students wrote and illustrated their own fact-based books, choosing a topic based on their knowledge including pets, sports and holiday traditions, among others. Family members, administrators, teachers and other students in the school stopped by to hear the stories and see the illustrations that the class members created. They also decorated their desks with props from their stories to encourage additional questions from their visitors and created a bulletin board to display their final products. “The students were so excited to share their writing,” Mrs. Parmegiani said, noting that the event also helps to build their social and public speaking skills. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142606 Wed, 04 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142606 Science Olympiad Team Qualifies for State Competition! The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad Team placed third out of 35 teams who competed at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad competition, recently held at Candlewood Middle School. Their ranking allows them to compete against the best teams across New York State on April 17 and 18 at East Syracuse Minoa High School in Syracuse, NY. Students in grades 6-9 competed in events which tested their study skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and scientific problem-solving. Coached by Mr. Adam Bouchard, the school’s earth science and Science 8 teacher, the students had a dominant performance and received medals in 21 of 23 events. “Every student was highly motivated and showed a lot of hard work in preparing for their events,” Mr. Bouchard said. “It truly showed this year with the team’s outstanding performance competing with the top teams of the county.” The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the medal winners: 1st Place - Ben Perez-Flesler and Michelle Wu for Dynamic Planet 1st place - Ben Perez-Flesler and Michelle Wu for Water Quality 2nd place - Alana Samara and Iris He for Fossils 2nd place - Eric Chen and Kathleen Zhou for Heredity 2nd place - Ben Perez-Flesler and Riley Perrotta for Meteorology 2nd place - Teppei Fukuto and Ryan Gameng for Ping Pong Parachute 3rd place - Ben Perez-Flesler and Gavin Onghai for Anatomy 3rd place - Alana Samara and Michelle Wu for Crime Busters 3rd place - Gavin Onghai and Teppei Fukuto for Density Lab 3rd place - Nicholas Smirnov and Eric Chen for Ornithology 3rd place - Ben Perez-Flesler and Iris He and Max Paulus for Science Quiz Bowl 4th place - Emily Ambrozy and Katie Chambers for Elastic Launched Glider 4th place - Emily Ambrozy and Katie Chambers for Write It Do It 5th place - Emily Ambrozy and Isabelle Chen for Crime Buster 5th place - Gavin Onghai and Alana Samara for Disease Detectives 5th place - Teppei Fukuto and Riley Perrotta for Mission Possible 5th place - Mari Fukuto and Kevin Hong for Ping Pong Parachute 5th place - Carman Stanton and Nicholas Smirnov for Write It Do It 6th place - Riley Perrotta and Kathleen Zhou for Reach for the Stars 6th place - Eric Chen and Ryan Gameng for Road Scholar 7th place - Connor Lioio and Max Joyner for Mission Possible 8th place - Marco Puopolo and Violet Kim for Anatomy 8th place - Katherine Ranjbar and Emily Snyder for Circuit Lab 9th place - Katerine Ranjbar for Reach for the Stars 10th place - Max Paulus and Carman Stanton for Circuit Lab 10th place - Mari Fukuto and Kevin Hong for Mission Possible https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142605 Tue, 03 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142605 Our staff is missing their students, take a look at this great video our Middle School put together! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142277 Tue, 03 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142277 Coronavirus Information - Updated https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142604 Mon, 02 Mar 2020 06:00:00 GMT false142604 Letter Regarding State Assessments 2020 Please read the attached letter regarding the upcoming NYS Assessments https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142183 Mon, 02 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142183 Village Art Show - Reception Wed. 3/4 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142603 Mon, 02 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142603 Six Wrestlers Place at County Tournament The Port Jefferson School District wrestling team participated in the Section XI County tournament recently held at Center Moriches High School. Six wrestlers placed fourth or better in their weight classes and earned All-County honors. The district congratulates the following students: Second Place – senior Anthony D’Elia (113 lbs.), two-time All-County recipient, two-time County finalist in his weight class Third Place – sophomore Anthony Evangelista (138 lbs.), two-time All-County recipient Third Place – junior Tyler Rogers (130 lbs.) Fourth Place – eighth grader Frank D’Elia (99 lbs.) Fourth Place – senior Jack Niederberger (285 lbs.) Fourth Place – freshman Liam Rogers (113 lbs.) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142182 Fri, 28 Feb 2020 06:00:00 GMT false142182 Middle School Students and Staff Honored by BOE To recognize the commitment and hard work of two students in Port Jefferson Middle School, they were honored by the Board of Education at a recent meeting. Principal Dr. Neidig spoke of the pride that sixth grade students Lexi Veruto and Gianna Viviano took in assisting with a presentation in the school’s Family and Consumer Science class. Each student took turns presenting to the Board members various aspects of the class including kitchen safety, careers and budgeting, taught by teacher Ms. Camille Doherty. Dr. Neidig also thanked Ms. Doherty for her efforts in adopting best practices for the class and tailoring it to meet the needs of students. Teaching assistant Mrs. Jennifer Mezzatesta was also recognized for her positive influence on students, her strong connections and communication expertise with the district’s ENL families and her professionalism and devotion to the school community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142181 Fri, 28 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142181 25 Questions. 75 Minutes. 31 Students Take National Math Exam Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students are so often up for a challenge. Recently, 31 of them tested themselves by participating in the American Math Competition 10 and 12. The AMC 10 and 12 are both 25-question, 75-minute, multiple-choice examinations in high school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. The AMC 10 covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. The AMC 12, open to high school seniors, covers the entire high school curriculum, including trigonometry, advanced algebra and advanced geometry, but excluding calculus. According to math teacher Mr. Dennis Christofor, the exams help students further their analytical skills and are a great opportunity to continue to master their mathematical talents. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142175 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142175 Sophomore Performs at Carnegie Hall Sophomore Sierra Welsch recently performed at Carnegie Hall as part of the elite Honors Performance Series for high school students. As a member of the honors treble choir, Sierra rehearsed and performed under master conductors and had the opportunity to collaborate with high school musicians from around the world. She was accepted into the ensemble based on a competitive, international audition process with a summer tour to Vienna scheduled for June 2020. “We congratulate Sierra on this outstanding musical achievement,” Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142174 Wed, 26 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142174 FamilyID https://www.familyid.com/organizations/port-jefferson-athletics https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142178 Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142178 Suffolk Class B Champions! Congratulations to our Girls Basketball team for bringing home the title! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142179 Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142179 For the Love of Tennis: Athletes Honored at New York Open Capping off the fall season and gearing up for the spring season, the varsity girls and boys tennis teams recently attended the Association for Tennis Professionals New York Tennis Open at Nassau Coliseum. Team captains Hana Ali and Nicolina Giannola (girls) and Liam Cooper and Lucas Welinder (boys) were honored on the court. Accompanied by tennis coach Mr. Dennis Christofor, the Port Jefferson players had an opportunity to support their captains and watch two top-ranked American tennis players – Steve Johnson and Tennys Sandgren – face off that evening. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142173 Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142173 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board ofEducation will be held on March 10, 2020, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear ElementarySchool. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session todiscuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board ofEducation are live-streamed via the School District’s website. Business meeting agendasare available on the District’s website the day prior to the meeting.The March 24, 2020 work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board ofEducation has been changed to a special meeting for the purpose of entering intoexecutive session to discuss personnel matters. Call to order will be at the District Office. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142180 Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142180 Developing an Eye for Art at University Gallery Fifth grade Art Club students recently visited the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at the Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University to view the “Artists as Innovators” exhibit along with art teacher Mrs. Meghan McCarthy. During their visit, the students engaged in several hands-on activities while Karen Levitov, director and curator for the gallery, spoke with them about the techniques and inspiration behind the artists’ works. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142176 Mon, 24 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142176 Positive Actions Members of the Port Jefferson School District’s Gay Straight Alliance attended the first GSA summit recently held at Shoreham Wading River High School along with co-advisors Ms. Dinarae Camarda and Ms. Kristin Britt. The students participated in workshops and group discussions with students from area high schools. Topics addressed were safe spaces and positive ways of advocating for LGBTQ students. “The event was such a positive venue for connecting and empowering our students,” said Ms. Britt. “Part of our message to the students was finding the champions in our schools and being heroes themselves.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142177 Fri, 21 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142177 A Race Against the Clock in Hot Shot Competition! Elementary students had a fun and interactive experience during physical education classes when they took part in the annual Hot Shot competition, a basketball shooting game in which they raced against the clock to score baskets. Students in grades 3-5 competed, and fifth graders Ben Amadio and Dasha Zakharova were named 2020 champions. The school’s physical education department has been running this in-school competition for the past five years. “The students really enjoy it and are always working to achieve their personal best each year,” physical education teacher Mrs. Francoise Schachner said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142171 Fri, 21 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142171 A Magical Evening of Music Students from the Tri-M Music Honor Society recently hosted their third annual cabaret night. The event, under the leadership of Mrs. Christine Creighton, music teacher and adviser, served as a fundraiser for the Tri-M Music Honor Society’s annual scholarship. Throughout the year, the students work to broaden the musical horizons of fellow students and community members. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142172 Wed, 19 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142172 100 Days of School https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142169 Fri, 14 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142169 SUFFOLK B FINALS Congratulations to our girls varsity basketball team on their playoff win over Babylon, 55-37. The girls will take on Mattituck in the Suffolk B finals on Friday, February 21. The game will start at 6 p.m. at Centereach High School. $8 admission fee if tickets purchased online at https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI $10 admission fee (cash only) if purchased at the door Hope to see you there! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142170 Fri, 14 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142170 Kindergarten Class Creates Appreciation Keychains Kindergarten students are sharing their appreciation to deployed military with a special project. The students in Ms. Allison Coppi and Ms. Meagan Bellantuono’s class each made USA and LOVE keychains for the troops as well as Valentine’s Day cards with loving messages. The project was especially heartfelt for student Finn Gronenthal, whose mother came in to help with the project. Finn’s father passed away while serving our country when he was just a baby. Finn has a military mentor, Petty Officer Jon Bellomy, who is currently deployed to Afghanistan. He is a medic serving in the Navy, and the gifts will be sent to him to share with other military personnel. “The keychains look amazing and because it was for the troops, the children worked extra hard,” Ms. Coppi said. “They are very proud to be a part of something so special.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142168 Thu, 13 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142168 Rave Reviews for ‘Bugsy Malone JR.’ The Port Jefferson Middle School Drama Club presented “Bugsy Malone JR.” to the applause of appreciative audiences on Feb. 7 and 8. Dozens of students from the middle school and high school took part as directors, choreographers, set designers, lighting and technical directors, and crew, with music directed by Port Jeff alumnus Bridget Yost. Along with middle school/high school librarian Mrs. Mary LaSita, who serves as the club’s adviser, the production is a combined effort of months of planning and rehearsals that culminated in another successful performance. Congratulations to all involved for putting on a great performance! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142166 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142166 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE - CANCELED A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Educationscheduled for February 25, 2020, 7:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room at Edna LouiseSpear Elementary School, for a second draft presentation of the 2020-2021 school yearbudget, has been canceled. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142759 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142759 Girls Basketball Playoff Game vs. Babylon Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Gymnasium Thursday, 2/13 $7 admission if purchased online https://gofan.co/app/school/NYSPHSAAXI $10 admission (cash only) at the door https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142167 Wed, 12 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142167 Musical Masters! The district congratulates the 14 elementary and middle school string students who were selected to perform in the Intermediate Long Island String Festival recently held at Northport High School. The students were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with New York State School Music Association scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Fifth graders Allie Blumenthal, Jonah Boerboom, Nicholas Hogan, Joshua Kwon and Iris Park; sixth graders Mari Fukuto, Kevin Hong, Hannah Pflaster, Marco Puopolo and Sadie Salzman, seventh graders Gavin Onghai and Katherine Ranjbar; and eighth graders Alana Samara and Nicholas Smirnov were chosen to participate and represent the district’s exceptional music program. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142758 Tue, 11 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142758 Tri-M Music Honor Society’s 3rd Annual Night of Music Cabaret Thursday, February 13th 6:30 PM HS Cafeteria Tickets are $10 each/ $5 students or $70 per table and include food and entertainment Tickets will be sold during lunch periods or see Mrs. Creighton $20-$30 Gift baskets will be raffled off throughout the night. Raffle tickets are $5 for 6 or $1 each https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142757 Mon, 10 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142757 Second Place for Science Olympiad Teams! The high school’s two Science Olympiad teams participated and placed in the New York State Eastern Long Island Science Olympiad Division C Regional Competition recently held at Hauppauge High School. Accompanied by advisers Mr. Adam Bouchard and Ms. Amanda Brideson and science teachers Mrs. Melissa Garcia, Mr. Greg Gorniok, Mrs. Debra Hagmeyer, Mr. Jonathan Maletta and Ms. Nicole Sklar, the district placed second out of 52 competing teams and are one of the eight teams from the region who will attend the New York State competition in March at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. Port Jefferson came home with 20 medals, with medals awarded for the first 10 places in each of the 26 events. “We are extremely proud of all the hard work and commitment our students have done to achieve such amazing results,” Ms. Brideson said. Congratulations! The list of medals and our awarded students are as follows: 1st place – Grant Samara and Andrew Patterson for Fossils 1st place – Sinan Ates, Liam Gameng and William Wu for Protein Modeling 1st place – Hana Ali and Peggy Yin for Designer Genes 2nd place – Sinan Ates and Gavin Chambers for Anatomy and Physiology 2nd place – Liam Gameng and William Wu for Dynamic Planet 2nd place – Gil Zaltsman and Peggy Yin for Green Generation 2nd place – Liam Gameng and Grant Samara for Ping Pong Parachute 3rd place – Hugo Onghai and Peggy Yin for Sounds of Music 3rd place – Justin Garcia and Rachel Park for Wright Stuff 3rd place – Gani Ates and William Wu for Astronomy 4th place – Hugo Onghai and Andrew Patterson for Disease Detectives 4th place – Liam Gameng and Grant Samara for Geologic Mapping 5th place – Aaron Held and Gil Zaltsman for Water Quality 6th place – Aaron Held and Kyle Onghai for Circuit Lab 6th place – Kasumi Layne-Stasik and Gil Zaltsman for Ornithology 6th place – Hana Ali and Kasumi Layne-Stasik for Write It, Do It 7th place – Andrew Patterson and Grant Samara for Wright Stuff 7th place – Ricky Melucci and Logan Shaffer for Ping Pong Parachute 7th place – Sinan Ates and Dylan Scott with help from Ricky Melucci and Justin Garcia for Gravity Vehicle 10th place – Dylan Scott Kyle Onghai and Dylan Scott for Detector Building https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142755 Thu, 06 Feb 2020 17:00:00 GMT false142755 Seven inducted into Tri-M Music Honor Society The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Chapter 2172 of the Tri-M Music Honor Society recently hosted its 13th annual honors recital and induction. This year’s inductees are Joshua Ecker, Justin Garcia, Hugo Onghai, Lucas Rohman, Nicole Schully, Logan Shaffer and William Wu. In addition to outstanding musical achievement, students are selected into the honor society on the basis of five points of distinction: scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership and service. The special evening included an honors recital featuring performances by the new inductees, followed by a ceremony and reception. Congratulations to these student-musicians! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142754 Thu, 06 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142754 Elementary Students Showcase Art in Village Library Twenty-nine student-artists from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School have their works on display at the Port Jefferson Free Library throughout February. Organized by the school’s art teacher Meghan McCarthy, the artistic pieces of students from pre-K through grade 5 will be showcased in the Children’s Room. The Port Jefferson School District proudly recognizes its talented students: pre-K students Colette Miller and Daniel Sieckowski; kindergarten students Laila D’Andrea, Ekin Karakurum and Jude Shubber; first graders Isabelle Gafary, Philip Lucia, Charlotte Mahony and Charlie Severin; second graders Joseph Beltran, Yufan Cao, Allyson Vasquez Gallegos, Doyoung Kim and Nora Licausi; third graders Leo Baranta, Hitoki Katano, Rahym Khan, Hannah Shakeri and Ryan Verruto; fourth graders Dylan Litman, Clara Pearce, Violet Pryor, Sara Puopolo and Katherine Snaden; and fifth graders Allie Blumenthal, Michael Castro, Julia Lima De Oliveira Gomes, Thea Mangels and Hudson Philbrick. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142756 Thu, 06 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142756 SUNY’s ‘Artists as Innovators’ Engages Art Students High School art students visited the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at SUNY Stony Brook's Staller Center to view the "Artists as Innovators" exhibit. The Studio in Art students, accompanied by art teacher Nancy Randazzo, viewed the works of more than 20 artists who received support from the New York State Council on the Arts and New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowships who have recorded significant achievements in their artistic careers. During their visit, Karen Levitov, director and curator for the gallery, spoke with the students about the techniques and inspiration behind the artists’ works. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142753 Tue, 04 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142753 Important Film for Port Jefferson Families This important film highlights true stories of how teenagers are learning to navigate the boundaries over screen usage. We are grateful to The Port Jefferson Royal Educational Foundation for bringing this relevant topic to our schools and for encouraging the facilitation of thoughtful discussions among families. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142718 Mon, 03 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142718 Code Enforcement on School Premises https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142752 Thu, 30 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142752 Inventing Musical Compositions Fourth and fifth grade students in Ms. Lisa Scrom’s music classes performed their own musical compositions using Makey Makey, a hands-on invention kit that uses everyday objects and turns them into a touchpad that interacts with a computer program. First creating rhythms, the students assigned colors corresponding to pitches in their composed melodies. They followed this by using the Makey Makey software to code and design their own controller to then perform their compositions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142751 Wed, 29 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142751 Merry Music at Mid-Island Band Festival Congratulations and thank you to the seven high school band students who represented the school district’s music program as participants in the 62nd Annual Mid-Island Band Festival at Hauppauge High School. Sophomores Justin Garcia and Logan Shaffer, juniors Karishma Trejo, Jack Worrell and Peggy Yin and seniors Joshua Ecker and Cole Swenson were accompanied by high school band teacher Mrs. Christine Creighton. The festival concluded with a performance conducted by Mr. Christopher Neske, a music educator from the East Islip School District and the president of the Suffolk County Music Educators Association. “On behalf of the school community, we congratulate these students on this achievement,” district director of music and fine arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142750 Wed, 29 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142750 School Community Partnership Meeting School Community Partnership Meeting on February 6th at 6:30 PM in the High School Library https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142749 Wed, 29 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142749 Legal Notice - Library Vote https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142748 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142748 Interact Club Supports Hope Children’s Fund Members of the High School’s Interact Club continue to be mindful of the projects they embrace, and their most recent one will help someone 7,300 miles away from Port Jefferson. The students hosted a movie screening at the elementary school and raised money that was presented to Hope Children’s Fund, an organization that supports children at the Hope Children’s Fund Home in Meru, Kenya. The $365 that they contributed will provide for the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and medical care of one child for one year. “This is something that our club hopes to continue supporting in the future through various fundraising activities,” club adviser Mrs. Deirdre Filippi said of the students who share a passion for both community service and friendship. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142747 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142747 Creative Play as Students Engage in Coding Elementary students are engaged in coding and creating with small robots that combine the physical and digital worlds. Librarian Selinda Stout introduced them to Ozobots and the students immediately started to navigate the simple and easy to use robots. “I have never seen them more excited,” Ms. Stout said of the students who are so eager to open the bins that house the robots. Once they become familiar with the color-based coding – a visual way for them to understand coding and programming – they will be tasked with fun, educational and grade-level appropriate activities while having the freedom to create their own. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142746 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142746 Music Student Participates in SCMEA Day of Horn Congratulations to seventh grader Meara Kelly who recently participated in the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s 15th Annual Day of Horn Festival at Northport High School. During the event, Meara joined horn students from across Suffolk County gathered on one stage to perform alongside professional musicians including renowned guest artist Dr. Heidi Lucas. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142745 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142745 New BOE Communication System The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education is excited to announce its implementation of BoardDocs Pro, a cloud-based board management system that will enhance communication with the school community. A fast, easy and powerful paperless agenda solution, BoardDocs Pro will help with electronic distribution of the BOE meeting agendas to not only save time and natural resources, but also provide public access via the district’s website to agenda items and other BOE-related information. To access the site, click: https://go.boarddocs.com/ny/portjeff/Board.nsf/vpublic?open . BoardDocs can also be accessed at www.portjeffschools.org and clicking the BOE tab. Archived minutes, agendas and presentations can also be found in the File Cabinet on this page. For additional information, please contact the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at (631)791-4221. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142744 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142744 First Graders Travel Through a World of Knowledge To kick off a science unit on space lessons, first graders learned about the planets through an inflatable, portable planetarium. With the support of the Royal Educational Foundation of Port Jefferson, Star Lab, a unique educational resource, was set up inside the school, and Long Island Science Center educator Angela Kiang spent the day encouraging students to view the dark skies and observe the astronomical simulations. This inspired them with a galactic experience to better understand the world around them. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142742 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142742 Suffolk County Graduation Measures Meeting Invitation https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142743 Wed, 22 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142743 How to Start a Food Truck: Students Showcase Business Talents High School students had a unique opportunity to showcase their end-of-semester project when they competed for the title of Best Food Truck Startup. Ms. Linda Moran’s Career and Financial Management class set up their presentations in the high school library where other students were able to browse their businesses, sample the food offerings and vote for their favorites. In the classroom, the students assumed the role of a food truck entrepreneur and utilized word processing, spreadsheets and presentation applications to create and design all of the documents that an actual food truck would need to market itself and start serving its food to the public. The students created a logo, menu and a recipe card for their signature dish in addition to learning about actual permits that they would need to run the business. “The simulation provided the students with an in-depth, real-world view of what it is like to use their creativity, business and computer skills to run their own business,” Ms. Moran said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142741 Tue, 21 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142741 Student Performs at Carnegie Hall As a first-place winner of the American Protégé International Vocal Competition, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School music student Peggy Yin was recently featured as a vocal soloist at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. A junior, Peggy performed Italian composer Antonio Cesti's “Intorno all' idol mio.” Peggy submitted a video recording for her audition and was selected for the very competitive event among solo and group vocalists of all ages, nationalities and countries. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142739 Tue, 21 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142739 Port Jefferson Middle School Drama Club presents: Bugsy Malone Jr. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142740 Tue, 21 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142740 New Club Offers Mentoring Opportunities for HS Science Scholars Thanks to the six ELVHS students – Hana Ali, Sinan Ates, Kyle Onghai, Royce Perrera, Logan Schaffer and Peggy Yin – who volunteered their time to help mentor students in the new elementary-level science club. The students and science teachers Ms. Amanda Brideson and Mrs. Melissa Garcia ventured to the elementary school to help the younger students in engaging scientific investigations. The academically focused relationships between the high school students – who are in AP classes and on the Science Olympiad team – are a new endeavor for Port Jefferson’s young practicing scientists. Headed by fifth grade teachers Mrs. Megan Roth-Ueno and Mrs. Kari Costanzo, the club members are generating ideas for their April 1 science fair projects as they embark on developing them, both at home and in the club. According to Ms. Brideson, it was wonderful to see the studious skills of the high school students in action and in a different setting with the younger students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142721 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142721 Representing Music Program at String Festival Congratulations to the seven ELVHS string students who represented the Port Jefferson School District music program when they were selected to perform in the Secondary Long Island String Festival at St. John the Baptist High School on Jan. 12. Freshmen Alexa Ayotte and Olivia Schlegel, sophomores David Lawler and Kasumi Layne-Stasik, juniors Jack Reilly and Nicole Schully and senior Kyle Onghai were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with New York State School Music Association scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142719 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142719 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will beheld on January 28, 2020, 7:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise SpearElementary School, for a first draft presentation of the 2020-2021 school year budget;and, any other business as may be needed. Call to order will be 6:30 PM for the purposeof entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The meeting willbe live-streamed via the school district website. Meeting agendas are available on theDistrict’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142738 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142738 No Strings Attached Visits Elementary School Members of Binghamton University’s acapella group, No Strings Attached, recently performed for students at Port Jefferson’s Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. As part of their winter tour, the group sang an assortment of Disney classics and included Abby Bossert, who graduated from Earl L. Vandermuelen High School in 2018. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142717 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142717 Student Thanked by Board of Education Leadership is the power of one harnessing the power of many. That is how ELVHS Principal Mr. Eric Haruthunian introduced junior Liam Cooper to the Board of Education for his efforts in raising $1,520 for Wreaths Across America. The national organization was able to place 101 holiday wreaths on the graves of our nation’s veterans with Liam’s leadership and the help of the school’s Varsity Club, staff, administrators and community. Mr. Haruthunian lauded Liam’s endeavor and thanked the school community for the tremendous achievement before Liam was presented with a certificate of appreciation for his undertaking of the successful project. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142720 Thu, 16 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142720 Eighth grader Eric Chen Aces National Math Exam Congratulations to student Eric Chen who has scored in the top 5% on the Mathematical Association of America’s American Mathematics 8 Competition. The examination in middle school mathematics provides an opportunity for students to develop positive attitudes toward analytical thinking and mathematics that can assist in future careers. “Our school has been participating for many years, and Eric’s score marks only the third occasion that a Port Jeff Middle School student scored at least 20 out of 25 questions correct [Eric scored 21],” said Eric’s math teacher Mr. Matt Garofola. “Eric has a natural aptitude for math and sees the connections between mathematical concepts at an extremely high level. He also has great persistence and will never give up when trying to find the solution to a problem.” The material covered on the AMC 8 includes topics from a typical middle school mathematics curriculum. Some topics include counting and probability, estimation, proportional reasoning, elementary geometry including the Pythagorean Theorem, spatial visualization, everyday applications, and reading and interpreting graphs and tables. Some questions also involve linear or quadratic functions and equations, coordinate geometry, and other topics traditionally covered in a beginning algebra course. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142716 Wed, 15 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142716 All-State Honors for Two Seniors Congratulations to seniors Sam Florio and Aidan Kaminska who both received All-State football honors from the New York State Sportswriters Association. Aidan received second team All-State honors and Sam received All-State honorable mention honors. Sam had 841 yards passing, 601 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns for the Royals this season. Aidan recorded a school record with 62 receptions for 1,078 yards and 14 touchdowns. Aidan is also second in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s record books for 17 single game receptions which he set in a game against Mount Sinai this season. “These are two of the most dynamic players to ever come through Port Jefferson football,” coach Andrew Cosci said. “Sam is a two-time All-County player and plans to continue his football career in college next year. Aidan is going on to play lacrosse at UMASS Amherst. Both athletes have been important players for this program and will be hard to replace.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142715 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 19:00:00 GMT false142715 Music Students Attend Lincoln Center Concert Music students from throughout the district had an opportunity to experience a leading institution’s first-rate artistic programming when they attended an evening performance of the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center. Accompanied by music teacher Christian Neubert and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello, attendees included students from the elementary, middle and high school string programs and their families who enjoyed the orchestra’s performance featuring world-renowned pianist Paul Lewis. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142714 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142714 Homework Club Promotes Independence and Self-Motivation Students are learning to be independent, capable and motivated as members of the Homework Club at the elementary school. The neutral space in the school’s library provides students in grades 3-5 a quiet place to complete their homework assignments as independently as possible and share in the camaraderie of their peers. According to fifth grade teacher Mrs. Kari Costanzo, who oversees the club, many of the 25-30 students who regularly attend the two-day-per-week, after-school club are so self-motivated that they are able to work diligently on their homework. As she noticed them completing their assignments efficiently and in a timely manner, Mrs. Costanzo introduced flash cards to the students to further develop their math skills when they finish their required assignments. “They love it,” she said of the Homework Club, another way that students are practicing what they are learning in the classroom, retaining information and fortifying a new skill in their minds. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142713 Fri, 10 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142713 Investigating Long Island’s Watershed Sixth grade students had a hands-on opportunity to learn about Long Island’s watershed with Ms. Tracy Marcus, a marine youth education specialist from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. Along with science teacher Mrs. Janelle Bellotti and special education teacher Mrs. Christina Carlson, students learned about stormwater pollution and what they can do to help prevent pollutants from entering local harbors and tidal creeks. Funded by Port Jefferson Village as part of the storm water management program, the interactive presentation allowed students to participate and ask questions about the local community and gave them a greater understanding of how lawn pesticides, fertilizers and household items including paints and solvents can affect the environment if they are not disposed of properly. They also learned to be responsible pet owners by using effective disposal methods and were encouraged to suggest to their families and neighbors to use a commercial car wash that uses recycled water, or wash a car on the lawn instead of a paved driveway. The students then discovered ways to help prevent pollution from entering the local watershed by building a small model of a storm drain to demonstrate where water goes during a rainstorm, creating pollution using water and food coloring. They then executed how the water enters the drain and discussed the impact of it along with ways to prevent it. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142712 Wed, 08 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false142712 Senior Honored with Service Award Congratulations to senior Holly D’Accordo, who was nominated and recognized with the Thomas Cutinella Foundation Service Award for her work in helping to make a positive impact in her local community. Holly was honored during a varsity girls basketball game halftime ceremony by the Long Island Radio Broadcasting’s Tour For 54, which honors local high school students with the award to help raise awareness for the Thomas Cutinella Foundation, named in memory of the Shoreham-Wading River High School athlete. Noted by both athletic director Mr. Adam Sherrard and soccer coach Mr. Taylor Forstell, who nominated her for the honor, Holly has all the characteristics of an outstanding student-athlete, maintaining a high GPA while serving as a captain for the soccer team and a leader on the lacrosse team, as vice president of the Varsity Club, a member of the Interact Club and the National Honor Society as well as her involvement in local theater and volunteering for school and community events. The school community congratulates Holly on her achievement and for helping to promote a lasting legacy for Thomas Cutinella. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141203 Mon, 06 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false141203 School-Community Partnership Survey There is still time to share your feedback, deadline is Friday, January 10. Thank you for your continued support of our school community. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PJSCP2019 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141202 Mon, 06 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false141202 Leadership Lauded for Two Seniors ELVHS seniors Dennis Jourdain and Kyra Sommerstad were each named Suffolk Zone award winners by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. This award is presented annually to the top female and male senior physical education leaders in each Suffolk County high school. Dennis and Kyra were chosen for their outstanding character, leadership skills in schoolwide as well as physical education and health class activities, positive attitude toward instructional activities, scholastic achievements and being role models for their peers. “Kyra and Dennis have proven themselves to their physical education teachers and school community as being students with exceptional physical performance, scholastic ability and leadership qualities,” Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics Adam Sherrard said. “Their performance and effort in physical education has earned them this well-deserved recognition.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141201 Thu, 02 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false141201 Inspiring Musical Greatness Third grade students in Lisa Scrom’s music classes at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School had a special preholiday treat when members of the Three Village Chamber Players visited the school to perform excerpts from Haydn and Borodin and some amazing arrangements made of Nordic folk tunes from the Danish String Quartet. “The students especially liked this music,” orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman said of the unique arrangements of Scandinavian songs. The visit coincided with a chamber festival tour of the local community that the quartet – Kate Dreyfuss, Micaela Fruend Haimov (viola), Stephanie Liu (violins) and Phuc Phan (cello) – were participating in. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141200 Mon, 30 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141200 A New Kindergarten Tradition The Edna Louise Spear Elementary School cafeteria was filled with the kindergarten Class of 2032 and their parents who together embarked on a festive holiday craft that is the newest Port Jefferson tradition. Amy Laverty, the K-8 assistant principal led the dozens of crafters in a simple applesauce and cinnamon ornament creation. The event was a way to meet the parents in a fun and festive environment and for the families to treasure a keepsake that signifies the beginning of their child’s academic career in the Port Jefferson School District. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141199 Mon, 23 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141199 Joyful Holiday Celebrations Third-grade students in Mrs. Amy Castaldo’s class held dual celebrations for Christmas and Hanukkah before the holiday break. Under the leadership of Mrs. Castaldo, the students performed the classic holiday song White Christmas in American Sign Language. They also welcomed a special visitor when Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2018 graduate Ben Zaltsman arrived to share a Hanukkah celebration with them. Ben taught the students how to play the traditional game of dreidel after a lesson on its history and meaning of the letters on the four sides of the spinning top. The visit was extra special for third grader Dean Zaltsman as he welcomed his older brother home for the holidays from Texas, where he is a student at Rice University. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141198 Mon, 23 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141198 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Educationwill be held on January 14, 2020, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call toorder will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal andpersonnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed viathe school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the District’s website theday prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141197 Fri, 20 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141197 Paint Night Promotes Philanthropy Creativity and the spirit of giving were the driving forces for members of the high school’s Student Organization, who hosted a paint night to raise money to purchase gifts for three children that the group adopted for the holiday season. The successful event allowed students to showcase artistic talents and to share in the camaraderie of the group. The event also promoted the development of leadership skills and fostered shared interests and engagement. Students later purchased the gifts and wrapped them together. “Everyone’s projects came out great,” said Ms. Gina Fedler, who co-advises the Student Organization with Mrs. Celiana Gandolfo. “It was a wonderful experience for the students to see all of the gifts that we were able to give to the local community.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141196 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141196 Promoting Character and Integrity Students in Mr. Michael Maletta’s seventh-grade health class have been learning about the six pillars of character – trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship – as well as the importance of anti-bullying in their school community. To culminate the health unit, they worked to create a welcoming, caring and safe environment by covering the classroom walls with posters sharing positive messages. “The posters will not only brighten the students’ day but will serve as a reminder to be thoughtful and respectful to each other throughout the school day and beyond,” Mr. Maletta said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141194 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 17:00:00 GMT false141194 All-State Honors for Hailey Hearney Congratulations to junior Hailey Hearney who was awarded the honor of Class B, fourth team All-State for girls soccer. Hailey was also honored last year for her efforts on the soccer field with third team accolades. In addition to playing multiple high school sports for Port Jefferson, Hailey participates year-round in soccer clinics, showcases, tournaments and travel teams. “Hailey’s commitment and dedication to advancing her craft make us all proud of her efforts,” athletic director Adam Sherrard said. “She is always looking to improve her skills. The Royals are looking forward to her helping to lead the Port Jefferson girls soccer team again next season.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141193 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141193 Leo Club’s Impact on Snowbound Local Citizens Members of the Leo Club recently completed their annual Blizzard Bags project for the Three Village Meals on Wheels program. Their thoughtful project started with fundraising bake sales in the school, shopping for all the food items and assembling the bags for delivery to the organization, which then delivered the packages to the senior citizens who receive Meals on Wheels services. Each Blizzard Bag contained four shelf-stable boxed or canned meals for seniors to have in their home to use when their daily Meals on Wheels delivery is canceled due to poor winter weather. Last week’s early winter snowstorm forced Meals on Wheels to cancel its regular meal delivery, but the recipients already had their Blizzard Bags in their homes. “Our students have done this project for quite a few years, and it was really special for them to be acknowledged with a note of kindness from the organization’s vice president during the first snowstorm of the season,” said technology teacher Mr. Brian Chalmers, who co-advises the club with school librarian Mrs. Mary LaSita. “They learn to understand the impact of their dedication and efforts more fully.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141192 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 20:00:00 GMT false141192 Today's girls middle school volleyball game has been canceled. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141195 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 06:00:00 GMT false141195 Student-musicians Spread Holiday Cheer The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education’s December meeting was filled with the sounds of the season as student-musicians performed several holiday classics before being recognized for their contributions to the school and community during the holiday season. Dr. Michael Caravello, Director of Music and Fine Arts, introduced music teachers Mr. Jeff Trelewicz and Mr. Edward Pisano and the student-musicians for their participation in community events, including the Port Jefferson Village’s annual Dicken’s Festival, performing at local churches and the public library, local businesses as well as the winter concert at the high school. The students were each presented with a certificate of appreciation for their musical efforts. Dr. Caravello then took a moment for special recognition of students Jack Reilly and Peggy Yin, who participated in the New York State School Music Association All-State Winter Conference recently held in Rochester. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141191 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141191 Students Read Literary Gems at Dickens Festival Three Port Jefferson Middle School students shared a unique spotlight when they read their poetry to hundreds of spectators during the opening ceremony of the annual Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson. Accompanied by teacher Monica Consalvo, seventh grader Isabelle Chen shared her winter-inspired poem during the Friday evening lantern dedication, and seventh graders Marlo Pepe and Sara Freitas helped to bring in holiday cheer at the Saturday opening ceremonies with their winter-themed literary pieces “The Spirit of Christmas” and “Snowflakes,” respectively. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141190 Mon, 16 Dec 2019 06:00:00 GMT false141190 Realistic Fiction for Second Graders! Second graders in Mrs. Carleen Parmegiani’s class hosted a Holiday Book Shop to celebrate the culmination of their written and illustrated realistic fiction books. The annual event showcases the grade-level English language arts curriculum and encourages the students to share their writing process, enhance their reading and public speaking skills and highlight their creative process including why they chose a character’s name or if they mirrored their setting or plots on real-life events. Guest visitors included other classes, administrators, teacher and family members who were encouraged to attend and listen to the proud authors/illustrators, who each had six copies of their books printed that could be “purchased” for holiday gift giving with coupons presented to the guests. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141188 Mon, 16 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141188 Student-Musicians Shine at Dickens Festival Members of the Port Jefferson School District music department entertained hundreds of spectators with seasonal music during various performances at the annual Charles Dickens Festival held this past weekend in Port Jefferson Village. Musical ensembles from all three schools performed holiday favorites at various venues including churches and the public library. The unique opportunity highlights the Music and Fine Arts Department’s mission to foster the tools of imaginative self-expression and meaningful social interaction. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141189 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 20:00:00 GMT false141189 Trio Swim to State-Level Success Three Port Jefferson student-athletes placed at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s swimming and diving championships recently. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Kyra Sommerstad was the Suffolk County champion in the 200-yard Individual Medley and the 100-yard backstroke. At the state championship, she finished first in the 200-yard IM and second in the 100-yard backstroke. Sophomore Kate Sommerstad finished seventh at the state championships in the 500-yard freestyle and 21st in the 200-yard freestyle. Freshman Olivia Schlegel qualified for the 100-yard backstroke and swam her best time of the season at the NYSPHSAA championships. Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141187 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141187 Mozart and Mendelssohn for Middle School Students Port Jefferson Middle School music students had a musical treat when members of the Three Village Chamber Players visited the school recently. The guest musicians – pianist Xin Ben Yu, violinist Emre Engin and cellist Alison Rowe – played movements from Mozart’s Piano Trio in C Major, K.548 and Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio in C minor, Op. 66. The trio took the time to share their talents with the students as they were performing locally in free concerts. In addition to their classical performance, they conducted a masterclass with each ensemble in the school. The visit was another opportunity for Port Jefferson students to experience creative participation in musical and fine arts experiences. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141186 Tue, 10 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141186 Kid Wrestling Program Wrestling coaches Michael Maletta, Nick Miceli, James Sinclair as well as Earl L. Vandermeulen High School wrestlers are hosting a Kid Wrestling program through Feb. 11 on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in the high school wrestling room. Contact Mike Maletta mmaletta@portjeffschools.org for details. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141185 Mon, 09 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141185 Welcome to our School Community! Members of the High School International Club came up with a thoughtful fundraising project when they sold bagels and hot chocolate before and after school to raise money to create welcome bags for new students to the Port Jefferson School District. Under the direction of English as a Second Language teacher Ms. Jennifer Walling and school social worker Ms. Kristin Britt, who are co-advisers to the International Club, the students put together welcome letters and goodies to the recipients as a warm welcome as they navigate their new school. “This gesture points to the kindness of our students and the generosity that they want to share in making new friends and being sure that new classmates are comfortable in their new surroundings,” Ms. Walling said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141184 Mon, 09 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141184 Important Survey https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PJSCP2019 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141183 Mon, 09 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141183 Fourth Graders Raise Funds for St. Jude When asked what inspired four students to raise funds for children who are ill, in unison they replied “our loved ones.” The children who receive treatment at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will be the beneficiaries of the $500 raised by fourth graders Olivia Andriani, Tess O’Connell, Anneliese Rago and Ava Rago. Their spirited fundraising efforts included making and selling rainbow loom bracelets, small rubber ducks, pencils, teddy bears and other items throughout the school. “We did get a lot of good responses for doing this project,” Olivia said. The young student leaders are already brainstorming what they can do next to help in the greater community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141182 Fri, 06 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141182 Investment Club Advancing Knowledge of Financial Markets Students in the High School’s Investment Club are participating in two competitions – the school’s own and the Long Island Stock Market. Headed by high school language teacher and club adviser Mr. Robert Farenga, the Long Island competition is a program run by The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association Foundation, where students work in groups competing against schools across the region. The Port Jefferson competition involves students individually competing against fellow students and staff within the district. For both competitions, students manage a hypothetical $100,000 portfolio of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, impact investments and cash. “Students are developing unique investment strategies connecting their knowledge of math, finance, new technology, popular trends, current events and global awareness,” Mr. Farenga said of the skills that the approximately 40 members of the club are learning and helping to keep students Luke Dickhuth, Ameen Khan, Safiy Khan, Jonah Pflaster and Rishabh Singh at a consistent high ranking in the SIFMA Foundation competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141181 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141181 Spreading Kindness at Spear Staff and students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School make it an everyday effort to share kind gestures throughout the building, so spreading it even more during World Kindness Week was another kindhearted opportunity to do so. According to special education teacher Ms. Paige Lohmann who helped coordinate the schoolwide event, during lunchtime a kindness booth was set up that encouraged students to write something kind to classmates or a favorite teacher. Each day had a theme to cultivate friendship, generosity and consideration for others. “Kindness is a team effort” had participants wearing their favorite sports apparel, “Light up the world with kindness” encouraged fluorescent colors, and tie-dye clothing was the inspiration for “Tied up in kindness.” Staff and students ended the weeklong activities by dreaming of a kinder world and wearing their pajamas to school! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141180 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141180 Trio Honored for Success on the Soccer Field Three varsity girls soccer players were honored at the 2019 Suffolk County Girls Soccer Coaches Association Awards Dinner recently held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. Student-athlete Hailey Hearney was honored as an All-County player, as she finished as the second-highest goal scorer (23) and overall points leader (30) in Suffolk County. Reese Koban and Abigail Rolfe were each recognized as All-Division players for their all-around stellar play throughout the season. “We congratulate these players for their success on the field and for bringing pride to our school district and athletic program,” said Mr. Adam Sherrard, district director of health, physical education and athletics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141179 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141179 A Thoughtful Thanksgiving Feast Thank you to the High School International Club for their hard work in preparing a Thanksgiving meal for 60 residents at Hope House in Port Jefferson. The feast of mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing with cranberries, gravy and turkey was created with care by the students. “I am so proud of them and all their hard work,” Ms. Jennifer Walling, ENL teacher and co-adviser of the club said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141178 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 06:00:00 GMT false141178 Junior Spearheads Fundraiser for Wreaths Across America Growing up in a military family brought Liam Cooper to Port Jefferson just last year to continue his studies at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. In a conversation with assistant principal Mr. Kevin Bernier, Liam, a junior, suggested an idea that he wanted to share in his new school community. Mr. Bernier put him in touch with Mrs. Deirdre Filippi, who is the co-adviser of the Varsity Club, and a thoughtful collaboration was brought to fruition. To recognize National Wreaths Across America Day on Dec. 14, the Varsity Club and Liam have collaborated on a project to sell wreaths at $15 each, to be a part of wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery and more than 1,600 additional locations across the country. “It was something that was important to me, and I am excited by the enthusiasm of those I’ve shared it with,” Liam said of the support of his classmates, teachers and people in the community. The fundraiser continues until Friday, Dec. 6. Donations can be forwarded to Mrs. Filippi at dfilippi@portjeffschools.org or contact her for more information. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142653 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142653 Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE Port Jeff LiveStream Account THURSDAY DECEMBER 5TH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 7:00 P.M.ES GYM THURSDAYDECEMBER 12THHIGH SCHOOL7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM WEDNESDAYDECEMBER 18THMIDDLE SCHOOLGRADE 6 7:00 P.M.HSAUDITORIUM THURSDAYDECEMBER 19THMIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 7 & 87:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141177 Mon, 02 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141177 Second Graders Share Grateful Hearts In the spirit of Thanksgiving, second-graders in Mrs. Carleen Parmegiani’s class were filled with gratitude as students participated in an autumn-inspired gathering with family members. Each student shared what being grateful means to them and parents and grandparents assisted as they created a unique holiday craft in which they wrote on strips of orange paper what they are thankful for, attached them together to form a pumpkin shape and added green paper leaves and vines for a finished table centerpiece for their family’s Thanksgiving celebration. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142652 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 19:00:00 GMT false142652 Students take the Polar Plunge! With a goal of raising $9,500 for the Special Olympics, the High School’s Varsity Club has raised to date more than $11,100 as part of the Town of Brookhaven’s annual Polar Plunge recently held at Cedar Beach in Mt. Sinai. The fundraising record goes hand in hand with the record number of 68 students who signed up to take part in the plunge, along with co-advisers Mr. Jesse Rosen and Mrs. Deirdre Filippi. The Varsity Club members annually engage in projects centered around athletics and work to help others while challenging themselves in the process. They also run school-organized events and activities that help to raise money for various service-minded organizations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142650 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 17:00:00 GMT false142650 Insightful Event for Peer Leaders Members of the High School’s Peer Leaders recently attended the annual Compassion Without Borders Leadership conference held at Smithtown East High School, where they collaborated with hundreds of Suffolk County high school students to further advance a culture of compassion, acceptance, tolerance and positivity in their school community. The eight students were accompanied by school social worker Kristin Britt and guidance counselor Kerri Neligon and participated in the themed “paying it forward” workshops while developing their social and emotional leadership skills. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142651 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142651 Orchestra Students Attend Staller Center Concert District elementary and middle school orchestra students and their families attended the annual Starry Nights concert at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center. The concert, which featured master musician Colin Carr and others from the university’s Department of Music, was made possible through the Staller Center Outreach Endowment and its coordinator, Paul Newland. Students were able to observe various techniques used by the musicians and enjoy the music, which included works for violin and piano by Boulanger, Ciocârlia and Kreisler; cello and piano by Ravel and Popper, and works for viola and piano by Bridge. Here, orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman and students Maru Sugimoto, Nicholas Rodriguez and Kenshin Sugimoto thank Mr. Newland. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142649 Tue, 26 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142649 Our Royal Pride! The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School boys cross-country team have continued the great winning streak that was started last year. The team members – Gray Joyner, Owen Okst, Royce Perera, Jack Reilly, Grant Samara, Cooper Such and Brian Veit – ran through the regular season undefeated and won the league championship. Brian won the individual Class C county championship. The team then made its way to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s championships in Plattsburgh, New York, where it finished third out of all New York State Class C schools. Grant and Brian received All-State awards by finishing in the top 20 of all Class C runners at the state championships. This is the third consecutive year that the team has received league and county championship honors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142648 Mon, 25 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142648 Five Selected for NYSCAME Music Festival Congratulations to our high school students Sinan Ates, Katherine Kirsch, Rachel Park, Jack Reilly and Peggy Yin, who were each selected to participate in the New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education All-County Music Festival. The five students were selected along with others from Suffolk County high schools on a competitive basis with New York State School Music Association scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Here they are celebrated by music teacher Mrs. Christine Creighton, Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello and music teacher Mr. Jeffrey Trelelwicz. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142644 Mon, 25 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142644 Elementary School Shares its Compassionate Side The students, staff and families helped to make the annual food drive at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School another successful endeavor. Under the leadership of elementary guidance counselor Mrs. Jessica Peterson, the school community showed its generosity in aiding others with food collected that will benefit eight local families. Teachers also donated money so that each family could receive a gift card to a local food store. Thanks to fifth grade Safety Patrol student-leaders Ava Reilly, Madilyn Peterson and Annie McKeown for helping to organize the collected food items for delivery. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142645 Fri, 22 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142645 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Educationwill be held on December 10, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call toorder will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal andpersonnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed viathe school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the District’s website theday prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142647 Fri, 22 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142647 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION RETREAT NOTICE The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be attending a retreat on December 10,2019, 5:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Library. The purpose of this retreat isto be trained on BoardDocs. No formal actions will be taken at this retreat. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142646 Fri, 22 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142646 Physical or Chemical Reaction? To engage sixth grade science students in understanding physical and chemical changes, Port Jefferson Middle School science teacher Janelle Bellotti presented them with milk, vinegar and baking soda. After learning about the characteristics of each type of change, the students used the materials to create a substance and concluded that it was glue – a chemical change – since the substance had different properties from the original materials that were used. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142643 Thu, 21 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142643 Wreaths Across America https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142642 Wed, 20 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142642 Port Jeff Students Display ‘Service Above Self’ Members of the High School’s Interact Club and Port Jefferson Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society took part in the annual cleanup efforts at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck in Center Moriches on Nov. 17. The 27 students were accompanied by Interact Club adviser Mrs. Deidre Filippi, special education teacher Ms. Christina Marino, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Christine Austen, High School Principal Mr. Eric Haruthunian and Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and members of the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson and Rocky Point Rotarians in their efforts to assist the greater community through service projects. The students worked collaboratively to help ready the facilities and grounds for next summer’s campers, individuals with physical or developmental disabilities who have the opportunity to enjoy the recreation, education and camping experience that the camp offers. “Our students truly understand the rewards that volunteer work in the community accomplishes not only for others, but for themselves,” Mrs. Filippi said. “Working alongside their peers outside of classroom activities is an engaging process that will serve them throughout their lives.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142641 Tue, 19 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142641 Community Forum Series: Vaping - Thursday, November 21, 2019 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142640 Tue, 19 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142640 Two Seniors Ink College Letters of Intent Congratulations to seniors Aidan Kaminska and Kyra Sommerstad, who each signed a National Letter of Intent. Aidan signed his Letter of Intent to play lacrosse at UMASS Amherst. He was a starring member of Port Jefferson’s lacrosse team as a junior, who were honored with the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association’s Crosse Award, and received individual accolades as an All-County player. He was also a member of the Royals varsity football team where he recently set a Section XI Suffolk County record, an honor that placed him on The New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s single game reception list. Kyra, a member of the Three Village Swim Club, signed to swim for The Ohio State University. She won the New York State competition in the 200 Individual Medley (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle) last year and the Suffolk County title for the 200 Individual Medley and backstroke this year and will head to the state competition. She has also qualified for the Olympic trials in the 100-yard backstroke. The trials will take place in Omaha, Nebraska next June. “We are honored to have these two students represent our school district as they go forward in their athletic and academic goals,” Adam Sherrard, the district’s Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics said. “We commend their families and coaches for their support during their high school years and further encouragement as they move on to the next levels of athletic achievement.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142638 Mon, 18 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142638 Port Jefferson High School Presents Julius Caesar https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142639 Mon, 18 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142639 Connecting Classroom Lessons to the Financial World Students in the high school’s College Accounting and Career and Financial Management courses focus on concepts and principles of the business world while in the classroom. They had a recent opportunity to bring these lessons to life and engage in learning in a new context when they took a trip to New York City to participate in a Wall Street tour. Along with business teacher Ms. Linda Moran, they started at Federal Hall – where George Washington was inaugurated – before visiting the New York Stock Exchange, Trinity Church and the 9/11 memorial. The highlights included learning about the history of Wall Street, how trading began and the changes that the financial industry has endured with the growing mobile technological advancements. “Our group was fortunate to have a valuable tour guide who has many years of experience working on Wall Street,” Ms. Moran said. “She explained to the students how she has adapted to today’s technologies and discussed with them all of the advantages that young people have in the industry today.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142637 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142637 Tennis Team Lauded! Members of the girls varsity tennis team were recently honored along with coach Dennis Christofor at the Suffolk County Tennis Coaches Association Awards Dinner for a successful season. Senior Hana Ali received the Sportsmanship Award and freshman Nicolina Giannola earned All-County honors for her exceptional singles play. Students Sierra Welsch, Aamna Ali, and Natalie McGuigan earned All-League honors for their excellent singles and doubles play throughout the season. New additions to the team Jasmine Adams and Isabelle Roberts helped to secure a 7-3 league record for the season. Congratulations Royals! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142636 Wed, 13 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142636 Color Study! Inspired by the artist Wassily Kandinsky’s painting Squares with Concentric Circles, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students in Mrs. Deanna Lilimpakis’ class worked with art teacher Mrs. Meghan McCarthy on reviewing and drawing shapes, working in a concentric design and exploring wax resist, a process in which any substance that prevents or repels paint. The students used oil pastels as the wax component since they are made of oil pigments with a wax binder before applying watercolor paints. They also learned that the paint is repelled off of the wax and soaks only into the white paper. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142635 Tue, 12 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142635 Big Sounds from Student-Musicians at Tuba Festival Port Jefferson band students junior Gani Ates, seventh grader Max Joyner and eighth grader Max Paulus participated in the Suffolk Count Music Educators’ Association Day of Tuba Festival at Central Islip High School on Nov. 1. They joined more than 200 students from across Suffolk County gathered on one stage to perform alongside professional musicians including renowned guest artist Lauren Veronie Curran of the U.S. Army Field Band. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142633 Fri, 08 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142633 Students of French Form Worldly Friendship As part of their classroom studies, students in Ms. Heather Marshak’s ninth and tenth grade French classes have reached out to a humanitarian organization that works to advance children’s rights and equality for girls. Through sponsorship with Plan International, the students are sponsoring Aïcha, a 10-year old girl from Niger and their donation – which will help in her education, health and family life – also gives them the opportunity to communicate with each other in French, the official language of Niger. In addition to the listening and speaking skills necessary for the language, this altruistic approach to learning French has a great emphasis on the students’ reading and writing skills. They have also embraced the communication aspect and in developing their writing skills they have shared their common teenage interests – music, favorite foods and more. “In learning about the very real struggles that young women in Niger face, our hope is that we can use our experience to develop a cross-cultural perspective that reflects peace, empathy and awareness,” Ms. Marshak said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142632 Thu, 07 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142632 Students Gain Capacity for Empowerment at Annual Walk Members of the Port Jefferson School community braved the rain and joined hundreds of other supporters to take part in the annual Out of the Darkness walk, recently held at Jones Beach. Their goal, and the ongoing fundraising efforts of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Gay Straight Alliance, help to create awareness and hope for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “We thank our students for their intrepid spirit in joining this movement to honor those who have struggled with mental health issues,” Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan said. The students were accompanied at the event by school social worker and adviser to the GSA Kristin Britt and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Christine Austen. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142631 Mon, 04 Nov 2019 19:00:00 GMT false142631 Superintendent of Schools Takes Oath of Office Surrounded by her family, district staff and community members, Mrs. Jessica Schmettan was officially sworn into office on Oct. 31 by District Clerk Mrs. Kathleen Hanley. Her term of office commenced on Nov. 1. After taking the oath of office prescribed by the constitution, Mrs. Schmettan thanked everyone in attendance for their support and commended retired Superintendent Dr. Paul Casciano for his leadership in guiding the district to its current level of excellence, of which she is eager to continue. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142630 Mon, 04 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142630 Students Combine Clubs for Beach Cleanup Members of the school district’s Leo Club annually conducts civic-minded endeavors – food drives, bake sales, “Blizzard Bags” for Meals on Wheels, and last year’s used eyeglass collections that were donated to the Lions Club International’s Recycle for Sight program. Last week, they combined their efforts with the district’s new fishing club and headed to Port Jeff’s East Beach for a cleanup. The event was well regarded as a way to encourage more leadership roles in the community, sharing pride and responsibility as well as a greater understanding of local environmental issues. “This was a wonderful collaboration between these two clubs,” Principal Mr. Eric Haruthunian said. “Not only are the students connecting with one another and sharing their interests, they are taking an initiative in caring for the greater community. We commend their efforts and thank the club advisers – Mr. Chalmers, Mrs. LaSita, Mr. Buehler and Mr. Gorniok – for coordinating this opportunity.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142628 Fri, 01 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142628 College Athlete Recruiting Presentation Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. No pre-registration required. For more information, please contact Athletic Director Adam Sherrard at asherrar@portjeffschools.org or 631-791-4441. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142627 Fri, 01 Nov 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142627 11/2 Varsity Football Game vs Southampton has been canceled. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142629 Fri, 01 Nov 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142629 A Unique Celebration of Music! Five students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School attended the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s PEAK (Parents, Educators, and Kids) on Oct. 26. Fourth graders (in photo from left) Luca Thompsen, Eve Cruz, Sienna McCabe, Ava Ragu and Anneliese Ragu attended the unique celebration of elementary classroom music where they performed music alongside their parents and music teachers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142626 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142626 Two Juniors Selected for All-State Conference Congratulations to Earl L. Vandermeulen High School juniors Jack Reilly and Peggy Yin who were selected to participate in the New York State School Music Association All-State Winter Conference to be held in December in Rochester, NY. Jack, performing on double bass with the All-State string orchestra and Peggy, singing with the All-State treble chorus, will sit among the finest musicians across New York State. “We congratulate Jack and Peggy for representing our school music program with pride,” Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142624 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142624 A Powerful Port Jeff Powder Puff Game! The Varsity Club hosted the high school’s first Powder Puff game! The flag football game between the Class of 2020 and the Class of 2021, with some help from the varsity football player coaches, was close in score. After going into overtime, the junior class took home the coveted trophy after a 25-yard field goal was kicked by junior Reese Koban, who was named the MVP of the game. The event was initiated by Varsity Club members last year and more than 40 students signed up to play, volunteer as student coaches and cheer the players on! “This was the event’s inaugural year, so we just wanted to focus on school spirit and getting students excited about the competition,” said Mrs. Deirdre Filippi, who co-advises the Varsity Club along with Mr. Jesse Rosen. “The event was a huge success and is something that we look forward to continuing in the future.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142623 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142623 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, October 29, 2019 at 8:30 p.m. in the library at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142625 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142625 U.S. Ambassador Honored at Wall of Fame Ceremony Earl L. Vandermeulen High School welcomed the United States Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein, Mr. Edward T. McMullen Jr., as its 2019 Wall of Fame inductee at a recent ceremony in the high school library. A graduate of the Class of 1982 and a successful diplomat and entrepreneur, Mr. McMullen was welcomed by district administrators and students who started the festive event with a tour of the high school building and grounds with several Class of 1982 alumni and former U.S. History teacher Richard Olson, who retired in 2002. As Mr. McMullen was escorted to the library, the high school chamber orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Michael Caravello, performed several selections. Introduced at the ceremony by Principal Mr. Eric Haruthunian and Student Organization co-vice presidents Sophia Knapp and Annika Wakefield, Mr. McMullen was lauded for his philanthropic efforts and professional achievements before taking the podium to thank the school for the honor and speak of his role as an ambassador. Grace Keegan, a junior and a student in the high school’s broadcasting class, interviewed Mr. McMullen for The Morning Show, the high school’s livestream news program. Mr. McMullen was then presented with a personalized plaque before proceeding to the Wall of Fame for an unveiling of the school’s wall plaque. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142622 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142622 BOE Lauded for Tireless Efforts on Behalf of Students Port Jefferson School District Board of Education members were lauded for their efforts during School Board Recognition Week (Oct. 21-25), the New York State School Board Association’s annual awareness campaign to highlight the important role that school board members have within the school district. “The Port Jefferson Board of Education is comprised of a very supportive and dedicated group of volunteers who consistently put children first in their decisions,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano said during the Oct. 15 Board of Education meeting. “They work many hours and attend many meetings for no compensation in order to provide governance and oversight of the education in our school-community. They are very deserving of our recognition for their tireless efforts on behalf of our students, staff and residents.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142621 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142621 Students Embrace the Sounds of the Beo String Quartet Middle School students had an opportunity to become a part of an engaging musical performance when the Three Village Chamber Players, featuring the Beo String Quartet, visited for a special event. Performing a number of classical pieces for students in grades 6-8, the students were encouraged to join in on the creative and collaborative production with musicians Ryan Ash, Aviva Hakanoglu, Jason Neukom and Sean Neukom, who crafted the entertaining works to connect and inspire the students. “We are so grateful for these musicians to share their time and talents with our young students,” orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman said. “They not only treated us to a wonderful performance, but engaged and energized the audience to become active participants and listeners within the chamber music experience." The Three Village Chamber Players have been an integral part of the music education experience in Port Jefferson, dedicating their time and sharing their music with students for the past several years. “We look forward to a continued partnership with them,” added Dr. Salzman. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142473 Thu, 24 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142473 Middle School Unites in Kindness and Acceptance Students in Port Jefferson Middle School joined schools across the nation to share a powerful message against bullying behavior on Unity Day on Oct. 23. By wearing something orange, a vibrant color that is associated with safety and visibility, the students were excited to share in promoting their important message. The theme of the day was to unite against bullying and all social studies classes in the school viewed a powerful and informative Powerpoint and video presentation, detailing the nationally recognized event. “We show solidarity with all schools in sharing with our students the message that we’re together against bullying and united for kindness, acceptance and inclusion,” said teacher Ms. Monica Consalvo, who annually coordinates the schoolwide campaign. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142472 Wed, 23 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142472 Environmental Club’s Efforts in Port Jefferson Village The high school Environmental Club recently visited the Long Island Explorium in Port Jefferson village along with science teacher and adviser Mr. Jonathan Maletta. The objective was to simply help plant flowers in the rain garden but the students came away learning that a rain garden’s purpose in its specific location is to collect pollutants from run-off in the soil before it reaches the harbor and causes harmful algae blooms. The Explorium had received a grant to plant two rain gardens in Port Jefferson and its staff was grateful to the club and the members’ excitement to be involved in the project. “The Explorium appreciated our effort to help out and took this opportunity to educate us on rain gardens as well as other things such as native species and the best location for these types of gardens,” senior and Environmental Club President Winnie Ne said. “This trip was a wonderful learning opportunity for everyone who participated and we would love to have more of these experiences in the future.” Mr. Maletta added that the school district looks forward to a continued collaboration on other projects with the Long Island Explorium and encourages community members to support their local efforts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142471 Tue, 22 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142471 College Athlete “Recruiting” Presentation For Parents and Students https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142470 Mon, 21 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142470 Learning the Options in the Field of Fine Arts High School art students were recently visited by a representative of the University of Hartford’s art school. Ashley Berube from the Hartford Art School spoke with students from Lynne Edsall’s art classes to discuss opportunities in the field of fine arts both in college and as a potential career. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142469 Fri, 18 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142469 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE **REVISED** The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on November 12, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142467 Thu, 17 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142467 New! Board of Education Policy Committee Meeting, Tuesday, Oct. 29 5:30 – 6:30 p.m. District Office. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142468 Thu, 17 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142468 Cross-Country Team Talent! The Port Jefferson boys varsity cross-country team – juniors Owen Okst, Royce Perera, Jack Reilly, Grant Samara, Cooper Schoch and Brian Veit and sophomore Gray Joyner –competed against schools from all across the country in the Disney Cross- Country Classic this past weekend. They placed first overall in the AA Division, with Brian Veit finishing first overall. Three placed in the top 10 (Grant, Cooper and Brian) and six in the top 20 (Gray, Owen, Royce, Grant, Cooper and Brian). Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142466 Wed, 16 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142466 Embracing the Purpose of Giving The Class of 2022 are already working to make a difference in the community this school year. When they found out that organizers of the local non-profit Give Kids Hope were looking for Halloween donations, they set out to help. With 150 Halloween bags filled with special treats, their mission was accomplished. The goodies will be distributed to children living in a local shelter. “Our students were excited to be a part of this opportunity for children right here in Suffolk County,” said teacher Christina Carlson, who co-advises the group along with teacher Melissa Zinger. “Being able to actually work together to organize the goodie bags really gave them an added sense of the purpose of community giving. They were so happy to be a part of making Halloween special for the children.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142465 Tue, 15 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142465 An Artist’s Viewpoint for Drawing and Painting Students To help expand their knowledge of drawing techniques for their own original works of art, students from the high school’s Drawing and Painting class visited the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at SUNY Stony Brook’s Staller Center to experience “The View From Here” exhibit along with art teacher Ms. Nancy Randazzo. The students also met with Karen Levitov, director and curator for the gallery, who spoke with them about the techniques and inspiration behind the artists' works, which focused on perspectives of artists from the African country of Senegal. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142463 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142463 School-Community Partnership Meeting https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142464 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142464 Homecoming Win for the Royals! Royal spirit was in the air this past weekend when the annual homecoming festivities brought students, faculty, administrators, Board of Education members and community residents to the annual parade down Main Street with floats from each grade level at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Port Jefferson Middle School student marchers, an Edna Louise Spear Elementary School float and musicians led by music teacher Mark Abbonizio. The fun continued at Joe Erland Field with a Port Jefferson Village sponsored pregame celebration before the afternoon football game against Greenport. Congratulations Royals on your 62-0 win! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142462 Mon, 07 Oct 2019 06:00:00 GMT false142462 A Plus for Port Jeff Middle School Check out the new Port Jefferson Middle School Math Fact Staircase! The project was made possible by a grant awarded to math teacher Ms. Megan Ryan from the Royal Educational Foundation. “The staircase adds some much-needed color to our halls; but more importantly, it will help reinforce students’ basic multiplication skills,” Ms. Ryan said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142461 Mon, 07 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142461 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Educationwill be held on October 15, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call toorder will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal andpersonnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed viathe school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website theday prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142460 Thu, 03 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142460 Royal Pride! Senior Aidan Kaminska set a Section XI Suffolk County record with 17 receptions vs. Mount Sinai this past weekend. His receptions also placed him on The New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s single game reception list. He completed the game with 233 receiving yards and three touchdowns. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142459 Wed, 02 Oct 2019 06:00:00 GMT false142459 Inspiring Students to Embrace Woodwind Instruments Elementary students had a guest visitor when retired music teacher Ms. Donna Basile presented a workshop on the recorder to Ms. Lisa Scrom’s third grade music classes. Performing on various sized instruments, the students learned both the musical and historical significance of this early woodwind instrument, dating back to the Middle Ages. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142457 Wed, 02 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142457 Messages of Peace Throughout Our Schools Believe in yourself. You’ve got this. Peace, love and harmony. The Post-it notes were a sea of yellow – decorating every locker in the high school building before leading to the colorful posters lining the hallways with messages of peace. It was a districtwide celebration, when members of the Port Jefferson educational community united to commemorate the International Day of Peace and celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s birthday. The youngest students read "What Does Peace Feel Like?” a story that asks children around the world what "peace" means to them. Fourth grade art students learned about mandalas and discovered why and how they’re made, the messages of love, unity, and tranquility they promote, and how they can inspire their art. Older students worked collaboratively to design a Peace Day poster with a goal of promoting wellness and peace through their artwork by including powerful quotes about peace and a visual design that would catch a viewers’ eye. Students in the high school broadcasting class interviewed classmates and teachers about what world peace means to them while peaceful music came over the loudspeakers between class periods. The Student Organization, along with co-advisers Ms. Gina Fedler and Ms. Celiana Gandolfo, sold hot chocolate with cups designed by foreign languages classes displaying well-known quotes from world leaders. Students in health/physical education teacher Ms. Dinarae Camarda’s classes practiced meditation and art teacher Ms. Lynn Edsall’s students also participated by designing peace posters, two of which were submitted for display at the Shanti Fund's annual event at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142458 Tue, 01 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142458 Homecoming! Saturday, October 5. Parade @ 11 am Port Jeff Village Pre-Game Celebration @ 12 pm (Joe Erland Field @ Caroline Avenue) Game @ 2 pm https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142451 Mon, 30 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142451 Start With Hello Working to promote a culture of inclusion and connectedness, students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School enjoyed greeting one another with a simple “Hello” as part of the Sandy Hook Promise, a program that teaches students to make a difference with their peers with small but powerful actions in simple, fun and impactful ways. Take a look at the smiles they are sharing! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142456 Fri, 27 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142456 National Merit Honors for High School Trio Three high school seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Gavin Chambers, Christine Iasso and Lucas Rohman who have been recognized for their outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. For playing an important role in their high school academic development, guidance counselors Ms. Kerri Neligon and Ms. Kathi Galvin praised the students for their achievement. “These students demonstrate exceptional promise and take advantage of many academic opportunities in school and beyond” said Ms. Neligon. “The addition of a National Merit Commended Scholar to their college applications will help broaden their educational pursuits,” added Ms. Galvin. The students are among approximately 34,000 high school students throughout the country who were recognized for their exceptional academic promise. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142455 Thu, 26 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142455 AIMSweb Data Breach Letter Please read the attached letter from the Superintendent. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142453 Wed, 25 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142453 Beliefs of the Port Jefferson Schools Our District is revising our statement of beliefs. The Beliefs of the Port Jefferson Schools is a part of Board of Education policy and represent the guiding ideas by which we should be conducting our school business. A draft of our proposed revised guiding ideas is located here. Please email any comments or suggestions about our beliefs statement to Superintendent Dr. Paul Casciano pcascian@portjeffschools.org before Monday, Sept. 30, 2019. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142454 Wed, 25 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142454 Kindness Rocks in Port Jeff Schools! The idea that one kind message can change a person’s life was the inspiration that two Port Jefferson educators put into place to encourage a districtwide embrace of the worldwide Kindness Rocks Project. Special education teachers Paige Lohmann and Jeanette Garofola received a grant from the Port Jefferson Royal Educational Foundation to host Kindness Rocks Project founder Megan Murphy to share her story about the power of kindness and positivity, and how a simple gesture of designing and writing encouraging messages on rocks can have a lasting effect on someone. “The idea resonated when I see how stressful at times it can be being a kid these days,” Ms. Lohmann said. “Their academic, social and emotional well-being is so fragile. It’s important for children to support each other, and sometimes the thought is there but they don’t know how to articulate it.” The Kindness Rocks Project offered a solution. The rocks have become a simple and creative way to show students a way of being kind and to think of others, especially during adolescent years when academic and social pressures intensify. The first weeks of school have been inspiring all around – even parents got into the fun when, during Port Jefferson Middle School’s Open House night, they left messages of gratitude, encouragement and affirmations for their children to find when they returned to school the next morning. Plans are ongoing in both Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and the middle school to create a rock garden in the springtime where students can leave or take a rock when they need one the most. “With the generosity of the Royal Educational Foundation and the thoughtful leadership of these two teachers for bringing this worthy project to our district, we can continue to promote and strengthen a positive school culture,” Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142452 Tue, 24 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142452 Exceptional Academic Skills Lead to National Merit Semifinalist Status Congratulations to senior Giuseppina Than who has qualified as a semifinalist in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship Program! Known by classmates as Pina, she is among 16,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the distinction by achieving the highest scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. “Being recognized as a National Merit semifinalist is a significant achievement,” Pina said. “The designation is an honor that will help with my college applications and scholarship opportunities.” Her pride extends to recognizing her sister, Luigia, who graduated from Port Jeff two years ago and advanced to the finalist standing in the 2018 annual National Merit Scholarship Program. “I’m thrilled to be a National Merit semifinalist the same way I was thrilled to be named a Simons Research Fellow this past summer,” she said of when she worked in a pharmacology lab at Stony Brook University with two mentors on their ongoing research into mechanisms of gene regulation. “It was difficult, but I got to do cool processes, even one including radioactive material. It was a glimpse into a possible future, and National Merit is a step in opening that door.” An exceptional student, Pina has taken every math course offered in the district and enjoys being on the Mathletes team, where she has been a member since middle school. Her diligent work in class and her participation in a variety of clubs include her involvement in the district’s Latin Club since seventh grade – a language and culture she is fascinated by and loves to study. Last year she was honored with an Oxford Classical Dictionary by the National Latin Exam committee in recognition of a four-year, consecutive Gold Medal streak, a prestigious accomplishment. Her outstanding academic talents give her the opportunity to continue in the competition, in which she must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level and a chance to earn the Merit Scholar title. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142450 Thu, 19 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142450 A Royal in the News! Congratulations to Hailey Hearney for making the Newsday Top 100 girls soccer players! Read all about it: https://projects.newsday.com/feature-grid/sports/high-school/girls-soccer/top-100-girls-soccer-players-2019/#default https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142449 Wed, 18 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142449 Congratulations Royal Runners! Congratulations to our cross-country boys team of Brian Veit (1st overall), Cooper Schoch, Owen Okst, Royce Perera, Jack Reilly and Will Ledezma who took first place at the Jim Smith Cross Country Invitational at Sunken Meadow State Park on Saturday. Great job also to Brennyn Veit who finished 8th out of 108 runners in the girls sophomore division! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142447 Tue, 17 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142447 Senior Sophia Knapp Represents Peers at BOE Meetings High School senior Sophia Knapp serves as a voice of her peers as a student representative to the seven-member Port Jefferson School District Board of Education. Sophia was approached by guidance counselor Ms. Kathi Galvin for the volunteer position where she will report on student activities and upcoming events at the Board’s monthly meetings throughout the school year. “It is an honor to be chosen as the student representative for the Board of Education,” Sophia said. “I am so happy that I get to represent my school at the meetings and provide the board with information and events currently happening.” In addition to serving as a nonvoting Board of Education representative, Sophia is a member of the school’s Varsity Club, Interact Club, National Honor Society and the vice president of the Senior Class. She is also a member of the varsity lacrosse and varsity soccer teams. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142841 Mon, 16 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142841 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will beheld on September 24, 2019, 7:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spearto discuss the School Community Partnership; and, any other business as may beneeded. The meeting will be live- streamed via the school district website. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142448 Mon, 16 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142448 Thank You! To recognize the commitment and hard work of staff over the summer months, the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education honored members of the district’s technology, security, facilities and clerical departments at its Sept. 10 meeting. Representatives from each department were in attendance to receive a certificate of recognition. Director of Facilities Fred Koebel followed the recognition with a comprehensive presentation on the progress of district facility upgrades and capital projects that were addressed over the summer. The district extends a thank-you to all members of the staff for helping to ready the schools and facilities to welcome students on the first day of school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142840 Fri, 13 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142840 Please read this important information from the Suffolk County Police Commissioner https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142842 Fri, 13 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142842 Collaborative Literary Discussion for HS Students Ray Bradbury’s science fiction short story, “A Sound of Thunder,” was the universal text that all Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students read this summer. Once school began, students took several days of in-class discussion and interaction with the text before meeting in the library for a lively, multigrade exploration of the story’s plot, characters, the Butterfly Effect and a guided time travel expedition to the Cretaceous period. According to English teacher Michael Augello, the reason the school year begins with an activity like this is to get students used to the expectations for their classes and to reflect and learn about what good readers do when reading, analyzing and writing about literature. “When the students come together and meet with other classes (especially different grade levels), they are amazed at the different perspectives other students and teachers bring to the conversation,” Mr. Augello said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142839 Thu, 12 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142839 Congratulations Sam Florio! Read all about it: https://projects.newsday.com/feature-grid/sports/high-school/high-school-football/top-100-high-school-football-players-2019/?filter0=.port-jefferson#!sam-florio-2019 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142838 Wed, 11 Sep 2019 18:00:00 GMT false142838 A Musical Tribute of Remembrance Members of Port Jefferson Middle School's 7th and 8th grade orchestra paid tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 by giving a moving performance during the Port Jefferson Fire Department’s annual 9/11 memorial service. The students – Katherine Ranjbar, Alana Samara, Iris He, Paige Braile, Gavin Onghai – led by music teacher and Port Jefferson volunteer fireman, Christian Neubert, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142837 Wed, 11 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142837 Royals Receive State Accolades Congratulations to the Port Jefferson Royals 2018-19 spring athletic teams who received the spirit of sportsmanship award – junior varsity boys lacrosse, varsity girls track, modified girls lacrosse and boys varsity baseball were commended by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. “To be honored in this capacity points to the commitment of our students and exemplifies the true meaning of respect and integrity,” Adam Sherrard, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics said. “We congratulate them, our coaches and the shared commitment of parents of our athletes.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142836 Mon, 09 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142836 Math Maneuvers Students in Matthew Garofola’s eighth-grade math class at Port Jefferson Middle School got right into the routine of school when they entered his classroom and put their mathematical skills to work. “It was a great start back, the students really have a positive attitude toward learning and I look forward to a successful year of them developing and demonstrating their natural abilities,” Mr. Garofola said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142835 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 12:00:00 GMT false142835 Royal Welcome https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142834 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 09:00:00 GMT false142834 September Board Meetings https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142823 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142823 Principal Meet & Greet https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142833 Wed, 04 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142833 Royals Ready to Learn! With school supplies, new backpacks and books in hand, elementary, middle and high school students in the Port Jefferson School District arrived for their first day of the 2019-20 school year on Sept. 3. At all three schools, students from pre-K through grade 12 were welcomed by teachers, administrators and support staff as they made their way to their classrooms, and quickly became acclimated to their new schedules and routines. Check back for more photos during the week. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142832 Tue, 03 Sep 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142832 First Day of School Photos https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142831 Tue, 03 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142831 Off to a Great Start! Port Jefferson School District faculty and staff members are gearing up for the 2019-20 academic year, which begins on Tuesday, September 3. During staff conference days, they had an energizing start to another successful school year when inspirational speaker John Perricone delivered an earnest and insightful educational presentation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142830 Fri, 30 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142830 School Starts Tuesday, September 3! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142828 Fri, 30 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142828 BNL Collaboration for High School Trio The opportunity to contribute to the scientific community was just one of the highlights for three Port Jefferson students who participated in Brookhaven National Laboratory’s High School Research Program. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Gavin Chambers, junior Grant Samara and 2019 graduate Monica Alexander were each paired with a BNL scientist who served as a mentor for the advanced high school program. Gavin and Grant’s combined research was in the Collider-Accelerator department, with a project that used artificial intelligence to find chromaticity values from the lab’s Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider and extracting chromaticity using Python machine learning algorithms. Monica worked with a leader in the Brand Management department in the highly competitive six-week research program. “Programs such as this are exceptional collaborative opportunities for our students to further explore STEM studies at this world-renowned institution,” Jessica Schmettan, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, said. “We share in the pride of their research and continued efforts in pursuing these academic disciplines.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142829 Thu, 29 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142829 New Leadership Role for Christine Austen After four years as Principal at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Mrs. Christine Austen is moving up to the position of Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. She will officially begin her new role on Sept. 1. “I am pleased that Mrs. Austen will continue the district’s move forward in the enhancement of the district’s curriculum and program development,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano said. “This is a natural trajectory for her given the superb supervisory skills, extensive educational background and considerable knowledge of our schools and community she possesses.” Mrs. Austen was a Library Media Specialist in the Islip School District and the Patchogue-Medford School before joining the staff in Port Jefferson in 1999, where she has worked successfully with educators to integrate new technology and lesson plans into classroom instruction as well as collaborated with the district’s library renovation committee. Austen also served as Assistant Principal, Dean of Students and Technology Integration Specialist in the district before attaining the principal’s position. She has been instrumental in the district’s recent Armed Forces Tribute and Wall of Fame committees and over her professional career has been a member of the Code of Conduct, Extracurricular Code of Conduct, Professional Development and Technology committees. Austen is also involved in the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and is a member of the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson. Under her leadership, the high school received a National Blue Ribbon School award and a national Blue Ribbon School of Excellence award. She was also honored as a C.W. Post Educator of the Year and as the 2017 Times Beacon Record Person of the Year, and received a SCOPE Administrative Service Award. Mrs. Austen earned advanced graduate certificates in educational leadership and educational computing from Stony Brook University, where she also earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in psychology. She holds a Master of Science in library science from LIU Post. Austen also earned professional certification in school building leadership and school district leadership and has permanent New York State certification as a K-12 library media specialist. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142827 Wed, 28 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142827 Port Jeff Welcomes Two to District Leadership Positions The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that Mr. Eric Haruthunian has been named principal at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Ms. Amy Laverty has been named pre-K-8 assistant principal. Before joining the Port Jefferson School District, Mr. Haruthunian most recently served as the assistant principal at John F. Kennedy High School in the Plainview-Old Bethpage School District, where he served since 2015. Prior to that position, he served as supervisor of discipline at Wantagh High School. His professional background also includes eight years of teaching experience in mathematics at the middle and high school level in the Freeport School District. Mr. Haruthunian earned a Master of Science in educational leadership from the College of New Rochelle and a Master of Science in elementary education from LIU Post (then known as Long Island University, C.W. Post). He holds a Bachelor of Arts in secondary math education, also from LIU Post, and permanent certification as a school administrator/supervisor, school district administrator and in 7-12 mathematics. He has considerable experience in curriculum, budget and professional development, leadership and teambuilding, and student and teacher supervision. Ms. Laverty joins Port Jefferson from an extensive career in the Northport-East Northport School District, where she served a dual role as the Summer Reading Program principal and the instructional curriculum coordinator. Before that, she was a classroom teacher at various elementary levels in the district’s Ocean Avenue Elementary School. Ms. Laverty earned a Master of Arts in liberal studies from Stony Brook University and a Bachelor of Arts in child study and students with disabilities from St. Joseph’s College. She holds initial certification in school building leadership, and professional certifications in early childhood/childhood and students with disabilities. She also received an educational leadership advanced certificate from LIU Post. In her new role, Ms. Laverty will work with Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Mr. Thomas Meehan. “The educational experiences of both Mr. Haruthunian and Ms. Laverty will help us continue to guide our students in the stimulating learning environment of our schools,” Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Jessica Schmettan said. “We look forward to their professional commitment to our students, staff and entire school community.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142826 Tue, 27 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142826 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on September 10, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142825 Tue, 27 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142825 Athletic Apparel Stores are Now Open Click on the links below to view our stores. Tennis Cross Country Football Cheer Field Hockey Golf Volleyball Soccer Fan wear apparel All other Fall Athletic Apparel stores will open 8/19. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142822 Wed, 14 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142822 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 29, 2019, 7:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The meeting will be live-streamed via the school district website. Call to order will be 6:15 PM for the purpose of entering into executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142824 Wed, 14 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142824 Summer Newsletter Now Available https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142803 Thu, 01 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142803 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 13, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142821 Thu, 01 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142821 ELVHS Lauded as School of Excellence Royal Pride continues as Earl. L Vandermeulen High School was named a School of Excellence by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. One of only 14 high schools in Suffolk County and 135 statewide to achieve the honor, the accolade honors varsity coaches in their commitment to challenging student-athletes to achieve a statewide recognition. “This honor is a testament to the continued efforts of our student-athletes and varsity coaches, who in addition to the teamwork that is instilled on the playing fields and courts, place an important value on academics,” Adam Sherrard, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics said. To earn the School of Excellence Award, 75 percent of the high school’s varsity teams qualified and received the NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete team award. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142802 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142802 Port Jefferson Pride! Earl L. Vandermeulen High School rising senior Kyra Sommerstad recently qualified for the Olympic trials in the 100-yard backstroke with a time of 1:02.66, making the cut by .03 seconds. The trials will take place in Omaha, Nebraska in June 2020. Kyra has her sights set on the 200-yard backstroke and 200 Individual Medley. Congratulations Kyra! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142801 Fri, 26 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142801 A Summer of Music! Dozens of students are keeping up with their musical skills by taking part in the annual Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson. Working along with music teachers Mark Abbonizio and Christian Neubert, the sounds of string and woodwind instruments have been in the air at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The camp is an opportunity for students to foster an appreciation of music with beginner lessons as well as programs to prepare for New York State School Music Association solo performances during the academic year. “Not only is this an enjoyable and educational experience for students, it encourages a year-round exploration of their musical talents,” Dr. Michael Caravello, district director of music and fine arts said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142800 Thu, 25 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142800 Football and Cheerleading Starting Friday, July 19, Family ID will open for registration for all students who plan to participate in high school football of high school cheerleading. To register, please visit https://www.familyid.com/organizations/port-jefferson-athletics https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142799 Wed, 17 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142799 Board of Education reorganizes for 2019-20 school year The Port Jefferson School District’s Board of Education held their annual reorganization meeting on July 8 to swear in new board members and elect officers for the upcoming school year. Newly elected to the Board of Education, Randi DeWitt took the oath of office, followed by the nomination and election of Ellen Boehm and Tracy Zamek as president and vice president, respectively. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142798 Fri, 12 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142798 Congratulations! With proud parents, siblings, friends, teachers, administrators and members of the Board of Education in attendance, the members of the Class of 2019 received their diplomas during the annual commencement exercises on June 28. The sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance,” performed by student-musicians under the baton of Dr. Michael Caravello, filled the air as the proud students walked onto the high school lawn to be commended one final time for their successful high school careers. Words of wisdom and congratulatory remarks on the accomplishments of the students were offered by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano and Principal Christine Austen. She spoke of the small acts of kindness that she noticed in her daily routine at the school, from students who assisted with prom tickets, to those who guided younger peers with personal issues, to a helping a peer’s family member who had an illness. “Your compassion and support for one another and the underclassmen is admirable, and I want to thank each one of you for making the high school a better place,” she said. She commended them for their grit, courage and determination and encouraged them to remember to believe in themselves, and not to forget to ask for help. This year’s parent-speaker, Tara Higgins, continued to set a tone of pride for all the graduates. Valedictorian Annalisa Welinder and salutatorian Ava Schully also addressed their fellow classmates with gratitude for family and fond memories of growing up in the close-knit school community. Their many high school achievements will lead them to post-high school studies at Stanford University and Brown University, respectively. Mrs. Austen then called each student to the podium and highlighted their high school careers and future plans. She was assisted by members of the Board of Education in handing out the diplomas. The students then stood and tossed their caps in the air in celebration of becoming the newest graduates of the high school. From the entire Port Jefferson School District and community, congratulations and best wishes to the Class of 2019. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142797 Mon, 01 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142797 A Year In Photos https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142796 Fri, 28 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142796 High School Recognized by State Education Department Praised for its high academic achievement, student growth, graduation rate and progress during the last academic year, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has been named a 2018-19 Recognition School by the New York State Education Department. Recognition Schools are identified for being among the highest achieving schools under the state’s Every Student Succeeds Act for performance and for student growth and/or graduation rates. Earl L. Vandermeulen is among the schools named that have also met or exceeded measures of interim progress for English language arts and mathematics, lower rates of chronic absenteeism, and college, career and civic readiness. “This honor is a testament to the unwavering commitment of our educators, administrators, staff, parents, and most importantly our students,” Jessica Schmettan, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction said. “Their efforts are an integral part in this recognition.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142794 Thu, 27 Jun 2019 20:00:00 GMT false142794 A Musical Tribute Thank you to music teacher Christian Neubert and student-musicians Teppei Fukuto, Anna Rebic, Tabitha Schully and Olivia Schlegel for your moving performance at the school district’s public recognition ceremony for the new Armed Forces Tribute at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School last weekend. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142795 Thu, 27 Jun 2019 20:00:00 GMT false142795 Peer Leaders Share Lessons Learned Thank you to our high school peer leaders for their well-prepared presentation on the dangers of vaping. With training from John Martin, an educator from the Suffolk County Department of Health’s Office of Health Education, the student leaders highlighted the lessons they learned with eighth graders in an interactive format. With some icebreaker activities, fun games and a Powerpoint presentation, the students shared how they support one another and engaged in a dialogue with the younger students before their entry into the high school in September. “These students did a great job in educating and empowering the future high school students,” school social worker Kristin Britt said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142793 Thu, 27 Jun 2019 19:00:00 GMT false142793 Student Representative Honored by BOE The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education honored senior Chloe Andriani for her service as a student representative in the 2018-19 school year. She was presented with a plaque of gratitude for her dedication and commitment. Chloe attended the monthly board meetings and reported on the high school activities and events. Her many accomplishments during her school career have set Chloe on a successful path to the future. She will have an opportunity to develop civic, social and business leadership skills when she embarks on an eight-week paid summer internship with The Long Island Museum in Stony Brook before starting her freshman year at Boston College in September. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142792 Thu, 27 Jun 2019 15:00:00 GMT false142792 Crosscutting Concepts at Work Students in Kari Costanzo’s, Kristi Krieg’s, Megan Roth-Ueno’s and Christine Wicks’ fifth grade classes worked cooperatively and used their STEM skills to design, build and launch Remote Operated Vehicles in the elementary school indoor pool. The event was the culmination of a seven-day project with three marine science educators from OceansWide, an educational organization that explores the depths of the oceans. The engaging program was a first for the district and brought together all three dimensions of the New York State Science Learning Standards to life - scientific and engineering practices, cross-cutting concepts and disciplinary core ideas. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142791 Thu, 27 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142791 All the Best to our Retirees The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education recently honored several retiring employees of the school district. High school Principal Christine Austen spoke highly of science teacher Rod Cawley for his 35 years of distinguished service to the school, citing his skills in educating more than 5,000 students and his influence on many of them who have pursued careers in science and engineering. She also commended him for his coaching expertise in boys track and boys cross-country. Dr. Michael Caravello, the district director of music and fine arts spoke admirably of elementary art teacher of Richard Anderson for his 34 years of teaching the students of Port Jefferson and his leadership and mentorship to other art educators. Elementary school Principal Thomas Meehan commended teaching assistant Katherine Siani – who started in the district in 1981 – for being a valued part of the school. Deputy Superintendent of Schools Sean Leister applauded Joan Lyons for her 33 years of service as head custodian. Also recognized was Michael Stiles for his 14 years of service and commitment to the district’s security staff. In his remarks to the retirees, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano said that the end of a school year is often a time of reflection of all that was accomplished, and it is also a bittersweet time to say goodbye to those who have contributed to the success of the school district. The Port Jefferson school community applauds these retirees for their dedication and years of service and wishes them well in their new endeavors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142564 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142564 An Expedition to Ancient Lands Sixth graders took a colorful, exciting trip to Greece and they never even left the building. With social studies teacher Melissa Corey guiding them, and as a supplement to their classroom lessons, the students had an opportunity to work with Google Expeditions Virtual Reality. The simulated environment had them playing a bit of I SPY as they explored the art, architecture, and historical landmarks of the ancient city of Athens and the Parthenon, the Aegean Sea and the island of Santorini. Helping to bring the history to life was BOCES integration specialist Claudia Camassa, whom teachers worked with to learn how to navigate and guide their students with this immersive technology. This was the first time they worked with Google Expeditions in the middle/high school library and experienced what student Sean Wilson described as “incredible detail and color.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142563 Tue, 25 Jun 2019 19:00:00 GMT false142563 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The reorganization meeting of the Port Jefferson District Board of Education will be held on Monday, July 8, 2019, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, with the regular monthly business meeting at 7:30 p.m. Call to order will be 4:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The reorganization and regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142562 Tue, 25 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142562 Board of Education Recognizes Tenured Educators The Port Jefferson School Board of Education recognized a milestone in the careers of several staff members at a recent Board meeting. To the applause of family members, colleagues and community members, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano named the staff members – special education teacher Meagan Bellantuono, high school science teacher Amanda Brideson, ELA teacher Megan Lavin, ESOL teacher Christina Marino, music teacher Christian Neubert, high school guidance counselor Kathi Galvin, and teaching assistants June Crovello, Michelle Lautato, Joan Meere and April St. John. The Port Jefferson school community congratulates these educators for their efforts in advancing the goals and mission of our district. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142557 Mon, 24 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142557 Public Recognition for Armed Forces Tribute The Port Jefferson School District will host a public recognition ceremony for the new Armed Forces Tribute on Saturday, June 22 at 9:30 a.m. at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The tribute, which was created to express gratitude to those former students and staff members who have served in the armed forces to preserve and protect the country’s freedoms and ideals, will ceremoniously salute military personnel. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142561 Fri, 21 Jun 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142561 All-League/All-County Honors Five members of the Port Jefferson School District varsity baseball team were honored at the Section XI All-League/All-County Dinner on June 17th. All-League honors went to freshman Luke Fillipi (shortstop/pitcher) and seniors Charlie Rolfe (first baseman) and Jordan Suarez (outfielder). Junior Peyton Ginas (pitcher/outfielder) received All-County honors and senior Gabe Zoda (outfielder/pitcher) received All-Academic honors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142556 Fri, 21 Jun 2019 14:00:00 GMT false142556 It All Adds Up for Port Jeff Math Students Fourth and fifth grade students placed first and second, respectively, in the 2019 Suffolk County Math Olympiad Competition recently held at Stony Brook University. The students, who are all in the SEAL Studies Enriching Academic Learning program, competed against 60 other schools for the impressive achievement. The competition for the top five fourth-grade and the top five fifth-grade Olympiad students from Port Jefferson was an opportunity to learn important strategies for problem-solving. Fourth-graders Yan Kai placed second and Austin Garcia placed eighth out of all the fourth-graders in Suffolk County. In addition to Yan and Austin the fourth-grade team members are Benjamin Batter, Avery Eisaman and Kenshin Sugimoto. The fifth-grade team members are Kevin Hong, Mari Fukuto, Anvang Jiang, Christopher Nam and Tucker Stanton. “I commend these students on their efforts all year long to prepare for this competition,” teacher Kate Zvokel said. “It is a wonderful achievement.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142560 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 18:00:00 GMT false142560 Student-Musicians Perform at Barnes & Noble Fundraiser Members of the high school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society teamed up with Tri-M chapters from Miller Place and Shoreham-Wading River to perform at Barnes & Noble at the Smith Haven Mall. The unique performance served as a benefit for the Andrew McMorris Foundation. “This was a great event, such an eclectic array of music genres and all the students were so talented,” music teacher and Tri-M adviser Christine Creighton said of the event that showcased the accomplishments of Port Jefferson student-musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142559 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142559 National Gold Medal Winner Congratulations to high school junior Dylan Dugourd for receiving top honors in the prestigious Alliance for Young Artists & Writers’ Scholastic Art & Writing awards for his independent research on computer graphics and video game design. Dylan spent many hours researching and developing his game and was honored with a gold medal in video game design at a recent ceremony at Carnegie Hall. His game – Dylan’s Library – is a narrated multiplatform game that was developed with the halls and classrooms of the high school created in a 3D model as inspiration. His goal is to take a surreal look into the minds of high school students as they create their own stories of themselves – motivators, likes, dislikes, what makes them unique. His work was exhibited with other honorees at the Parsons School of Design’s Art.Write.Now. 2019 National Exhibition, which featured the most creative visual and literary works by teens from across the country. Dylan credits high school science teacher Melissa Garcia for encouraging him in his research direction and music teacher Christine Creighton for her part in organizing students in the school’s Music Industry II class to create different kinds of music for the various levels in his game. He spent last summer attending a summer academy in engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and this summer looks forward to participating in a game design program at New York University to continue on his creative and technical path of digital game development. “My game is a testament to the high school experience,” Dylan said. “People want to share their stories and I thought this would be an interesting platform for that. I look forward to expanding on it and enhancing my vision.” Click here for a preview of Dylan’s Library: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCmCmPAw1FM https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142558 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142558 Ten Port Jeff Royals Commit to Colleges With coaches, parents, peers and administrators in attendance, several Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors were honored at the 2019 College Athletic Signing ceremony. Hosted by the Port Jefferson Athletic Department and introduced by Adam Sherrard, director of health, physical education and athletics, each student committed to playing their respective sports at some of the nation’s most prestigious universities in the fall. During the ceremony, each student was lauded by varsity head coaches Brian Snow (track), Andrew Cosci (football), Taylor Forstell (lacrosse), Chuck Ruoff (golf), Deborah Edgar-Brown (field hockey) and Lauren Filiberto (women’s equestrian). The coaches spoke of each student’s high school career highlights and wished them all well at the next level of their education and athletic endeavors. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following students who will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level: Jonathan Bachmann: Western Connecticut State University, Football Amanda Brosnan: Salve Regina University, Cross-Country/Track and Field Shane DeVincenzo: Fairfield University, Golf Nicholas Koban: Suffolk County Community College, Lacrosse Jonathan Moshe: Gettysburg College, Lacrosse Natalya Patriquin: Long Island University, Women’s Equestrian Aileen Schretzmayer: Denison University, Cross-County/Track and Field Sabrina Schully: Wheaton College of Massachusetts, Track and Field Phalina Sciara: Western Connecticut State University, Field Hockey Daniel Shaughnessy: Bridgton Academy, Football https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142555 Wed, 19 Jun 2019 18:00:00 GMT false142555 60 Students Honored for Commitment to Civic Engagement Sixty 60 students were recognized with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award for their efforts and active volunteer service of between 50 and 100 hours in the community. Coordinated by Port Jefferson resident Jackie Hull, each student was presented with a certificate at a ceremony attended by members of the Board of Education, school community and families for their commitment to civic participation throughout the year. On behalf of the school district, congratulations to Chloe Andriani, Ella Barrett, Aiden Barrett, Lexi Becker, Sophie Blumenthal, Jessica Boswell, Morgan Bullis, Philip Buonomo, Sam Caltagirone, Giancarlo Caltagirone, Gavin Chambers, Ryan Daly, Carley Davidson, Nicholas DeDonato, Lia Desmond, Dylan Dugourd, Joshua Ecker, Elliana Forgione, Emily Hearney, Sarah Hull, Dennis Jourdain, Grace Keegan, Ameen Khan, Safiy Khan, Emmett Maier, Colin Malinowski, James Marci, Kylie Melzer, Carmella Moran, Owen Okst, Hugo Onghai, Kyle Onghai, Ryan Parmegiani, Kiersten Parmegiani, Royce Perera, Sapphire Perera, Jonah Pflaster, Skylar Pine, Samantha Reichers, Fiona Reichers, Peter Rizzo, Sarah Ruggiero, Joseph Saieva, Andrew Scott, Pratham Sethia, Logan Shaffer, Rohan Singh, Rishabh Singh, Camryn Spiller, Jillian Sullivan, Giuseppina Than, Kalysta Torriero, Valentina Velazquez, Kendall Ward, Lucas Welinder, Annalisa Welinder, Gil Ron Zaltsman, Brooke Zamek, Otto Zimmerman and Eric Zimmermann. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142383 Wed, 19 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142383 District to Host Public Recognition for Armed Forces Tribute The Port Jefferson School District will host a public recognition ceremony for the new Armed Forces Tribute on Saturday, June 22 at 9:30 a.m. at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The tribute, which was created to express gratitude to those former students and staff members who have served in the armed forces to preserve and protect the country’s freedoms and ideals, will ceremoniously salute military personnel. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142385 Wed, 19 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142385 Student-Musician Accepted into National Youth Orchestra Senior Annalisa Welinder was accepted into the prestigious National Youth Orchestra of the USA as part of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. As a member of the NYO-USA, Annalisa will represent Port Jefferson as a musical ambassador, joining other talented young instrumentalists to tour the world, performing in concert halls across Great Britain, the Netherlands and Germany. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142354 Tue, 18 Jun 2019 20:00:00 GMT false142354 Unified Basketball Team Honored by BOE The district’s unified basketball team members were honored at a recent Board of Education meeting for their successful inaugural season. High school Assistant Principal Kevin Bernier shared highlights of the team’s season and the support and encouragement that permeated the school. “A culture of collaboration and inclusion emerged all around the building,” he said, as announcements were made, posters were created and students, teachers and administrators were motivated by the new friendships that formed among the team members. He also lauded the positive energy, leadership and sense of collaboration that has progressed throughout the season and how each student-athlete stepped out of their comfort zone to bring the team to a third-place win at the championship tournament at Farmingdale State University. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142381 Tue, 18 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142381 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be heldon Thursday, June 20th, 6:30 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of enteringexecutive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142384 Tue, 18 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142384 Environmental Responsibility at Port Jefferson Middle School Sixth-graders engaged in conversations about pollution, green roofs and stormwater management when they were visited by a representative of the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. The students in Janelle Bellotti’s science classes worked with Mark Cappellino, a marine youth educator from the county’s Stormwater Management Program and planted sedum on the school’s green roof. They learned that sedum is a succulent that can live in dry places with hot or cold conditions. Mr. Cappellino also taught them that green roofs help filter water and make buildings more energy efficient. “They all felt a great sense of environmental responsibility in replenishing our plants and helping to clean up the garden,” Ms. Bellotti said, adding her gratitude to Mr. Cappellino, Suffolk County and Cornell University for providing the plants. “It really was an amazing experience.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142379 Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142379 Lacrosse Team Honored with Crosse Award The 2019 boys varsity lacrosse season was the best in the program’s history, with the team finishing with a 10-7 overall record. The team was selected by the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association for the Crosse Award, which is presented to the team that defies preseason expectations by surpassing their preseason league ranking. Port Jefferson was the only team in League II to be recognized with such an honor. Along with the team Crosse Award, individual players have also been lauded for their outstanding play throughout the season – Aidan Kaminska was recognized as an All-County player, and Daniel Shaughnessy, Jonathan Moshe, Colton VanOverberghe and Daniel Koban were each selected as All-League recipients. Congratulations to the team and coaches Taylor Forstell, Omar Karasu and Jonathan Maletta on an awesome accomplishment! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142380 Mon, 17 Jun 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142380 Actions in the Community for Interact Club Members of the high school Interact Club recently took part in a Habitat for Humanity Student Build. The 15 students were selected to work on a new home in Bellport, where they diligently installed new fencing around the property, helping to ready the home for the family who will be moving in later this year. The students raised $1,500 for Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk, some of it coming from a cheesecake fundraiser they held and some coming from donations. “The experience was truly a rewarding one,” adviser Deirdre Filippi said. “In addition to learning some new skills, the students really came away with a sense of accomplishment while understanding how they can help to strengthen the greater community.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142378 Mon, 17 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142378 Exceptional Marks on National Latin Exam Students enrolled in the Port Jefferson School District’s Latin course earned exceptional marks on the 2019 National Latin Exam. To recognize their success, each student was honored for their achievements at an awards ceremony hosted by Latin teacher Anne Algieri. The students, who were among 139,000 students from across the nation and 20 countries to take the annual exam. Seventh-grade students enrolled in Latin IA took the Introduction to Latin Exam. At this level three awards are given for outstanding performance on the exam: Perfect Paper Certificate plus a purple ribbon for a perfect score of 40, an Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a purple ribbon for a score of 35-39, and an Achievement Certificate for a score of 31-34. The following students received awards for their outstanding performance: Katherine Ranjbar* - Perfect Paper Certificate plus a purple ribbon Michael Melikyan* - Perfect Paper Certificate plus a purple ribbon Viviane Kim* - Perfect Paper Certificate plus a purple ribbon Alana Samara* - Perfect Paper Certificate plus a purple ribbon Michelle Wu - Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Eric Chen - Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Ryan Gameng - Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Gavin Onghai - Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Andrew Schretzmayer - Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Carman Stanton - Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Emily Ambrozy - Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Alexander Layne-Stasik - Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Madeline Matvya - Achievement Certificate * Only 442 students out of more than 22,000 attained this distinction. The following eight-grade students received awards for their outstanding performance on the Latin I Exam: Luke Dickhuth - gold medal, summa cum laude Teppei Fukuto - gold medal, summa cum laude Olivia Schlegel - gold medal, summa cum laude Benjamin Perez-Flesler - gold medal, summa cum laude Tabitha Schully - gold medal, summa cum laude Brendon Capodanno - gold medal, summa cum laude Jack Keegan - silver medal, maxima cum laude Kacey McGorry - cum laude Luke, Teppei and Olivia achieved a perfect score on this exam. The following students received awards for their outstanding performance on the Latin II Exam: Andrew Patterson* - gold medal, summa cum laude Hugo Onghai - gold medal, summa cum laude Kasumi Layne-Stasik - gold medal, summa cum laude Stefano Rabeno - gold medal, summa cum laude Kate Sommerstad - gold medal, summa cum laude Beverly Maier - silver medal, maxima cum laude Hunter Volpi - silver medal, maxima cum laude Caelan Schretzmayer - cum laude *Only 698 students this year out of over 130,000 who participated on Levels I, II, III, IV, and the Advanced Level attained this distinction. The following students received awards for their outstanding performance on the Latin III Exam. Peggy Yin - gold medal, summa cum laude Mattea Rabeno - gold medal, summa cum laude Lucas Welinder - gold medal, summa cum laude Liam Gameng - gold medal, summa cum laude Aaron Held - gold medal, summa cum laude Royce Perera - gold medal, summa cum laude Ameen Khan - silver medal, maxima cum laude Grant Samara - silver medal, maxima cum laude Michela Rabeno - silver medal, maxima cum laude Selena Ueno - silver medal, maxima cum laude Nicole Schully - magna cum laude Grace Keegan - magna cum laude Veronique Velazquez - cum laude Courtney Calendrille - cum laude Sapphire Perera- cum laude The following students received awards for their outstanding performance on the Latin IV Prose Exam: Kyle Onghai - gold medal, summa cum laude Giuseppina Than - gold medal, summa cum laude Kyle and Giuseppina have won a Gold Medal for the past four years and were awarded an Oxford Classical Dictionary by the National Latin Exam Committee in recognition of this prestigious accomplishment. The following students received awards for their outstanding performance on the Advanced Level National Latin Exam: Annalisa Welinder - gold medal, summa cum laude Ava Schully - magna cum laude Gavin Barrett - cum laude David Rotunno - cum laude Annalisa has won a Gold Medal for the past five years and has been given a Special Book Award by the National Latin Exam committee for this outstanding accomplishment. On behalf of the school community, congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142382 Fri, 14 Jun 2019 20:00:00 GMT false142382 Students Perform National Anthem Students from the Port Jefferson School District shared their musical talents when they performed the national anthem at Bethpage Ballpark to kick off a Long Island Ducks game. The event – which featured fifth and sixth graders – was organized by the Port Jefferson PTA and elementary school music teacher Mark Abbonizio. It also served as a fundraiser for the Class of 2026. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142377 Fri, 14 Jun 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142377 Students Perform at NYSSMA Majors Festival Music students from the middle school’s sixth grade orchestra, seventh and eighth grade orchestra and chamber ensemble performed at the New York State School Music Association’s Major Organization Festival held recently at Sachem East High School. Conducted by music teachers Dr. Vanessa Salzman and Mr. Christian Neubert, each ensemble performed several pieces for a panel of adjudicators, who evaluated them on their quality of performance and level of musicianship. The district congratulates our middle school student-musicians on their outstanding musical performances! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142373 Fri, 14 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142373 Students Represent Broadcasting Class at BASH Students in the high school’s broadcasting course were invited to attend Stony Brook University’s BASH (Broadcast Awards for Senior High). The students – Lea Desmond, Nathan DiGregorio, Dylan Dugourd, Cole Fortier, Peyton Ginas, Shane Hartig, Emily Hearney, Faye Held, Jacqueline Poten, Mattea Rabeno, Liam Sproul and Gabe Zoda – represented the school in various categories from best community news, entertainment, anchor teams, and overall broadcast, among others. They were subsequently honored for their participation at a recent Board of Education meeting, where high school assistant principal Kevin Bernier introduced them and the success of the program this year. The collaborative class with technology teacher Brian Chalmers and English teacher Michael Augello was lauded for its growth and evolution throughout the year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142372 Wed, 12 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142372 Makerspace Creativity Middle School students experienced the Middle School/High School makerspace that librarian Mary LaSita had set up for them along with teachers Michelle Landetta, Paige Lohmann and Christina Marino. They had an opportunity to experiment with circuits, controlled robots, problem solved with Jenga, and created 3D images with colored glue pens. “The students truly enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to going back,” Ms. Landetta said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142358 Tue, 11 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142358 Spring Newsletter Now Available https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142376 Tue, 11 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142376 Valedictorian Celebrated Senior Annalisa Welinder was among Suffolk County’s highest-achieving students from the Class of 2019 who were honored by school district superintendents, administrators and parents during the recent Suffolk County School Superintendents Association’s 25th annual Valedictorian’s Luncheon. Congratulating the students on their hard work and achievements were members of the SCCSA Board of Directors and keynote speaker Suffolk County District Attorney Tim Sini who spoke of education’s vitality to the security of our communities and nation. Annalisa, who will attend Stanford University in the fall, was called to the stage to receive a certificate and gift of recognition. In her closing remarks, SCCSA president-elect Bernadette Burns told the students, “Your high school is not the place you’ve gone to; it’s the place you go from.” She also encouraged the valedictorians to listen to others, be considerate, think beyond themselves and to never forget that little acts of kindness will be remembered long after the act itself. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142375 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142375 Meritorious Mathematicians Seven of our talented high school students were honored at the Suffolk County Math Teachers’ Association awards dinner, held recently at the Watermill in Smithtown. The Mathletes team – Sinan Ates, Christine Iasso, Kyle Onghai, David Rotunno, Pina Than, Annalisa Welinder and William Wu – placed third in Division I. Senior Annalisa, who served as team captain, was recognized as one of Suffolk County’s overall high scorers, an achievement she has maintained for all four years of high school. Freshman William Wu was honored for placing fourth overall in Suffolk County on the precalculus contest, which he took part in earlier in the year. Congratulations to all and coach Dennis Christofor! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142371 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 21:00:00 GMT false142371 2019-2020 ESSA-Funded Programs Planning Session 2019-2020 ESSA-Funded Programs Planning Session Parents, Teachers, Administrators, CommunityMembers As part of the Port Jefferson School District Application for ESSA-FundedPrograms, we are seeking input from all stakeholders. June 13th 9:15 AM Port Jefferson Middle School Multi Purpose Room Should you have any questions, please contact Claudia Smith, Pre-k-8 Assistant Principal at csmith@portjeffschools.org . https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142374 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142374 Exceptional Ending to Extraordinary Golf Career Senior Shane DeVincenzo tied for second place in the New York State High School golf championships held at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course at Cornell University this past weekend. There were 99 players in the field, representing the best student golfers from all 11 sections of the state. He shot 73-75 and made a great birdie on 18 to grab his share of second place. By finishing in the top six, Shane qualified for the prestigious Federation Tournament at the Bethpage Black Golf Course on June 9. There he will be among the top 24 players from public, private, city and independent schools in the state. “Shane worked tirelessly for five years and it all culminated with an outstanding performance,” coach Chuck Ruoff said. “He represented Port Jefferson and all of Suffolk County like a champion.” Shane will continue his academic and athletic career at Fairfield University this fall. “It has been a privilege to coach him over the past five seasons and he will be dearly missed,” Mr. Ruoff added. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142370 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 09:00:00 GMT false142370 Port Jefferson Students Take their Music to Carnegie Hall Ten students from the Port Jefferson School District experienced a world-class cultural institution when they performed recently at Carnegie Hall. This enriching and educational opportunity was a result of their commitment as participants of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra’s choral and orchestral ensembles. The students are Sophie Blumenthal, Isabelle Chen, Kenny Dixon-Lanza, David Lawler, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Chloe Pipia, Anna Rebic, David Rotunno, Ava Schully and Nicole Schully. “On behalf of the school district, we congratulate all of these students on their outstanding musical achievement,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142368 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142368 Triumphant Tennis Season The boys varsity tennis team had a successful season making the team playoffs while competing in the Upper League V of Division III this year with many strong programs including Ward Melville, Sachem, Miller Place and Bayport-Blue Point. All-League honors were earned by sophomores Liam Cooper, Noah Teaney and freshman James Capone for their singles play. Senior Jonathan Kelsch was awarded the well-deserved Sportsmanship Award and senior Josh Gelfond was honored as an All-County player at the Suffolk County Tennis Awards. Josh, who has played a varsity top singles spot for five years, won his final high school singles match in the team playoff in an exciting third set tie-breaker victory against Southold. Congratulations to all 17 participants of the team and coach Dennis Christofor for making Port Jefferson proud! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142369 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142369 League Champions! Congratulations to our Unified Basketball team who took the title of League Champions at a recent game against Longwood. It was a close game that went into overtime but Port Jefferson prevailed with a final score of 67-61. Congratulations to all our athletes on a wonderful season! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142367 Tue, 04 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142367 Summer Music Camp https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142365 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142365 Senior Earns Brookhaven Science Associates Scholarship Congratulations to senior Ju Eun Ha for being named a recipient of a Brookhaven Science Associates 2019 college scholarship. She will receive $2,500 per year for up to four years of study at Boston University, where she will major in biomedical engineering with a goal of becoming a medical practitioner. Brookhaven Science Associates is an organization that manages Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy. The annual scholarships they present are awarded to children of employees at BNL – a longstanding tradition that began in 1965. “On behalf of our school community, we are so proud of Ju Eun,” Principal Christine Austen said. “Pursuing higher education and this particular discipline will position her for numerous opportunities in her career options as she aids in the improvements in human health.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142366 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142366 From a Vision to a Legacy: Port Jefferson School District’s Armed Forces Tribute Grey skies were a fitting backdrop to honor former students and staff members who helped to protect and preserve the country’s freedoms at the Port Jefferson School District’s Armed Forces Tribute, held May 30 at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Months of planning, school and community involvement and detailed organizing and implementing of many aspects of the tribute culminated in a skillfully constructed ceremonious salute to military personnel. Welcoming remarks by Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal Christine Austen, senior Reid Biondo, Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margo Garant and Superintendent of School Dr. Paul Casciano set a stage of pride for the dozens of guests and hundreds of students present for the dedication. Senior Chloe Andriani led them in the Pledge of Allegiance, members of the Port Jefferson Fire Department Color Guard paraded the American flag and veteran James Henke shared his sentiments before fifth-grade and second-grade students recited poems they created especially for the event. Other Port Jefferson students involved in the occasion were the Port Jefferson Middle School band, who performed under the direction of teacher Ed Pisano; high school senior Gabe Zoda who created two benches that sit at the tribute’s Path of Honor and senior David Rotunno who performed Taps on trumpet. For those who were not able to attend the ceremony, a public recognition will be held on Saturday, June 22 at 9:30 a.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142364 Fri, 31 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142364 Important June Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142124 Fri, 31 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142124 Sophomore Performs at Carnegie Hall As a finalist of the Manhattan School of Music’s 2019 spring concert season competition, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School music student Peggy Yin was recently featured as a vocal soloist at Carnegie Hall. A sophomore, Peggy performed Pergolesi's “Se tu ma’ami, se sospiri.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142355 Thu, 30 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142355 Two Women Head Class of 2019 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is proud to announce that seniors Annalisa Welinder and Ava Schully have been named valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Class of 2019. Annalisa has an impressive and diversified high school résumé, includes taking eight honors and 12 Advanced Placement courses and one college-level class. She is an Advanced Placement Scholar, a Presidential Scholars Program nominee and a National Latin Exam four-time gold medalist. She serves as president of the Latin Club, is a member of Mathletes and the school’s Academic Team. Annalisa is also a member of the both the track team and tennis team. Annalisa’s musical achievements are also exceptional and she is applauded by the school community for her many accomplishments. A violinist, she is a member of the prestigious National Youth Orchestra, where she served as a concertmaster in 2017, traveling to numerous concert halls, including Carnegie Hall. She and her brother have run a summer music camp – Sound Strings Long Island – for all age levels and she is a frequent award winner for various violin competitions. Annalisa is also interested in creative writing endeavors. Asked for some words of wisdom to share with future graduates of the school, Annalisa had an uncomplicated and masterly response. “Everything seems easier and more doable if you enjoy it,” she said. Annalisa is excited to enter the freshman class at Stanford University in September. Ava Schully is proud and humbled by her accomplishment as salutatorian of the Class of 2019. She commended her family, peers, and teachers who have helped her succeed in school and other aspects of her life. Ava’s list of achievements is comprehensive and includes taking 10 AP courses, four honors courses and two college-level courses. She was on the school’s soccer team in ninth grade and has run on both the school’s track team cross-country team. She is a member of the Peer Leadership, Interact, Drama, and Latin clubs as well as a member of Tri-M Honor Society, Honor Society and Sources of Strength. Ava took a service trip to Peru to help build a clean water system for local people, attended a six-week intensive study of classical music at the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, took part in the Philadelphia International Music Festival and recently performed on cello in the National Association for Music Education All-Eastern music conference in Pittsburgh, PA. Her extracurricular activities include being a member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York and Stony Brook University Young Artists Program. She has received numerous school awards and is active in the local community. Ava’s post high school plans include exploring how music can promote community partnerships and cross-cultural relations. She has committed to Brown University where she plans to create her own major that focuses on a mixture of topics including ethnomusicology, human development, international relations, education, and non-profit organization in an interdisciplinary context. Ava shared some enlightened words for her peers: “challenge yourself in classes you’re actually interested and take part in extracurriculars that you love,” she said. “Don’t worry about doing what you think a college admissions office might want to do and just pursue your passions. The rest will follow.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142356 Wed, 29 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142356 Teamwork Abounds! The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School boys and girls varsity lacrosse teams recently hosted their annual youth clinic for the Port Jefferson Village Lacrosse Association. In addition to the hard work and enjoyment of all the students involved, Taylor Forstell, head coach for the boys varsity team, noted the importance of the event as a continuation of the development of the younger players, as they are the cornerstone of the program’s progress. “Events like this puts faces to the jerseys of the varsity athletes, whom our youth athletes come out to support,” he said. The mutual benefits to both players and volunteers was also expressed by senior captain Jonathan Moshe, who said “it is a great motivator for younger athletes to continue to work at the sport. Their efforts will help to make the lacrosse programs stronger in the years to come.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142362 Tue, 28 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142362 Third-grader Receives Brookhaven National Laboratory Accolades Student Nina Gnatenko, who participated in Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s annual science fair, went on to participate in the Brookhaven National Laboratory Science Fair. A student in Rachel Erickson’s third-grade class, she was honored with an honorable mention for her project titled Shiny Penny. Congratulations Nina! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142361 Fri, 24 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142361 Sixth Grade Skating Trip: Formulas, Fractions and Fun Port Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders took a STEM field trip to the United Skates of America in Seaford and attended lessons and hands-on activities that directly related to what they are learning in their classroom. They then roller skated and continued to grasp the science of roller skating, the laws of motion and even how the rink is designed. “This event really helped students grasp how STEM principles are a part of our everyday lives,” said math teacher Megan Ryan. “It was a great educational opportunity to learn and even get some physical activity.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142357 Thu, 23 May 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142357 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on June 11, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142360 Wed, 22 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142360 No School https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142151 Wed, 22 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142151 These Students Say Yes to Volunteering! The thirty-eight members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Varsity Club donned T-shirts imprinted with Ben Franklin’s well-known quote: “What good have I done today?” as they assisted special needs youngsters with the League of Yes, an organization that creates baseball programs for people with disabilities. Along with advisers, teachers Jesse Rosen and Deirdre Filippi, the Varsity Club engages in projects centered around athletics and also run school-organized events, including volleyball tournaments and the schoolwide Olympic games, activities that help to raise money for various service-minded organizations. Their work helps to establish a sense of community within the high school building and teaches them that they can create friendships and positively help and influence people while challenging themselves in the process. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142353 Tue, 21 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142353 Student Leader Receives Museum Internship An opportunity to develop civic, social and business leadership skills will be forthcoming for Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Chloe Andriani this summer. As a recipient of the Bank of American Leadership Program scholarship, Chloe will embark on an eight-week paid internship with The Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. She will also participate in a six-day, all-expense paid Student Leadership Summit in Washington D.C., in partnership with Bank of America and the Close Up Foundation. “We are so proud of Chloe's accomplishments so far and wish her continued success,” said high school guidance counselor Kathy Galvin. “We have no doubt that she will take full advantage of this wonderful opportunity that she has received.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142352 Mon, 20 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142352 They Know Much About History and More! With a nod to the teachers at Port Jefferson Middle School, eight students took part in the Long Island regional competition of the Academic Bees, with several of them eligible for the national championships, to be held in Chicago in June. Sixth graders Ruman Khan, Aoife Hogan, Max Joyner, Jack Snyder and Evan Monaghan, seventh graders Carman Stanton and Eric Chen and eighth grader Kenneth Dixon-Lanza represented at the Long Island regional competition. Aoife, Max, Jack, Carman and Kenneth each earned a place in the national competition. Following the preliminary rounds, Kenneth won the Long Island Regional competition for the eighth-grade division of the Academic Bee and qualified for the national championships. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142351 Fri, 17 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142351 Playing Hoops with Heart Port Jefferson hosted its first Unified Basketball game recently against Commack High School. Under the guidance of the Special Olympics and supported by Section XI, the concept is to pair people with and without disabilities on the same team, providing an equal opportunity for all to contribute to the success of the team through their unique skills and qualities. The team consists of nine members in grades 9-12. Along with Adam Sherrard, director of athletics, they participated in a Youth Activation Conference Summit hosted by the Special Olympics in late spring where they learned about inclusive sports and how to provide opportunities for all students to participate in sports alongside one another. The group also learned how to take on leadership roles in promoting unified activities and engaging the school and community in supporting the athletes. As part of the program, the students have also been promoting the campaign “Spread the Word to end the Word” in attempts for high school students to understand how the use of the R-word is offensive and to be more thoughtful with their choice of words. Coached by Jayson Williams, the recent game was an exciting first for Port Jefferson. Sophomore Hailey Hearney said that after getting to know one another as players on the team, now there are more smiles and a special fellowship in the hallways with the special education population. Her teammate James Marci simply said from the sidelines “this is why I do it,” when another teammate, Michael Brown, sunk yet another basket to cheers from the crowd and a win for Port Jefferson at 48-38. To date, the team is undefeated at 4-0. HOME GAME TODAY 4 p.m. COME OUT TO SUPPORT OUR TEAM: Michael Brown, Ryan Daly, Shane DeVincenzo, Adam Friedman, Hailey Hearney, James Marci, Aarya Patel, Brendan Rogers and Chris Scotto. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142350 Thu, 16 May 2019 15:00:00 GMT false142350 Celebrating 10 Years of the Instrument Petting Zoo The 10th annual Instrument Petting Zoo was recently held at the elementary school. The yearly event brings together members of the high school’s instrumental ensembles, their musical instruments and third graders for a hands-on opportunity to become familiar with all the instruments of the band, orchestra and chorus. Students were able to hear the instruments performed, ask questions about each instrument as well as experience the excitement of holding many of them for the first time. Before the end of the school year, the third graders will select the instrument they would like to begin to learn when they enter fourth grade in September. A special thanks to music teachers Ms. Christine Creighton, Mr. Mark Abbonizio and Dr. Vanessa Salzman for organizing this educational and exciting event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142344 Thu, 16 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142344 Student-Musicians Perform at NYSSMA Festival Districtwide music students performed at the annual New York State School Music Association festival hosted this year at Ward Melville High School in Setauket. During the event, each student performed a solo selection, scales or rudiments and a sight-reading excerpt for an official NYSSMA adjudicator, who provided a score as well as constructive comments for improvement. Congratulations to our student performers and their music teachers for their outstanding performances. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142349 Wed, 15 May 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142349 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will beheld on May 21, 2019, 9:15 p.m., in the cafeteria at Earl L. Vandermeulen HighSchool, for the purpose of accepting the tabulation of votes of the twopropositions and election of trustees brought before the voters on said date. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142348 Wed, 15 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142348 Sharing Musical Talents at All-County Jazz Festival Congratulations to high school student jazz musician Cole Fortier, who recently participated in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County Jazz Festival at Miller Place High School. Cole, a member of the all-county vocal jazz ensemble, performed a program of contemporary jazz standards led by world-renowned guest conductor Melissa Stylianou. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142343 Tue, 14 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142343 Students Honored for Athletic Leadership For displaying outstanding leadership and character in physical education classes, five Port Jefferson School District students were recognized at the Suffolk Zone of the New York Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance annual awards ceremony. The students earned their awards based upon recommendations from physical education teachers Francoise Schachner at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and Dinarae Camarda at Port Jefferson Middle School. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to eighth-graders Samantha DiCarlo and Jack Speidell and fifth-graders Talin Bajaj, Michael Castro and Alexa Jacobs. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142347 Mon, 13 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142347 Budget Newsletter Now Available https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142346 Mon, 13 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142346 Making an Impact Locally and Globally The Port Jefferson Middle School National Junior Honor Society recently hosted a shoe drive for the Soles4Souls initiative. Along with advisers English teacher Kayleen Everitt and special education teacher Christina Marino, the ambitious project resulted in collecting more than 120 pairs of shoes for the organization that serves people around the world by providing shoes and clothing in addition to helping to disrupt the cycle of poverty. “Our students used community engagement to provide new opportunities for those in need while have a positive impact on the environment,” Ms. Marino said. “Their participation in the project is helping to nurture their future leadership skills.” The school district commends all the students in the NJHS for their outstanding efforts: Frank Andriani, Alexa Ayotte, Abbie Blake, Sophie Blumenthal, Peyton Broyles, Matthew Buonomo, Giancarlo Caltagirone, Dante Cangemi, Braeden Cesarski,Grace Chambers, Kasey Cobb, Brady DeWitt, Samantha DiCarlo, Luke Dickhuth, Eric Friedman, Teppei Fukuto, Nicolina Giannola, Lola Idir, Mano Idir, Jenna Jacobs, Maggie Johnston, Jack Keegan, Safiy Khan, Sooah Kwak, Connor Lioio, Christopher Mark, Kacey McGorry, Mia O'Connell, Daniel Owens, Benjamin Perez-Flesler, Riley Perrotta, Jonah Pflaster, Anthony Pipia, Ruby Ray, Anna Rebic, Matthew Riccobono, Olivia Schlegel, Tabitha Schully, Garrett Simko, Rishabh Singh, Jack Speidell, Ellery Tafuro, Ava Timpanaro, Sophia Wennerod, Ryan Whiffen, Amy Whitman and Gretchen Zimmerman. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142345 Fri, 10 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142345 Academic Accomplishments Lead to National Merit Scholarship High School senior Annalisa Welinder has been named a National Merit Scholarship winner in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Annalisa was chosen from more than 15,000 outstanding students from across the country who were selected for their strong combination of exceptional academic accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college courses. She will receive a $2,500 scholarship for her studies at Stanford University where she will begin in the fall. Annalisa is also the school’s Class of 2019 valedictorian. “Annalisa is a true renaissance woman, excelling throughout her high school career in academics, music and athletics,” Principal Christine Austen said. “She is masterful in all she pursues and our school community looks forward to hearing great things about her as she continues in her higher education.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142342 Thu, 09 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142342 High School Ranked No. 4 in Suffolk County Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has been named a top high school by U.S. News & World Report for 2019. Of all the eligible schools that received the designation, it was ranked fourth in Suffolk County, No. 17 on Long Island, No. 74 within New York State and 804 out of more than 17,000 nationally. The news organization evaluated the high school based on several factors, including ensuring that it serves all students well, using graduation rates and state proficiency-test results in reading and mathematics as indicators, and assessing how well-prepared students are for college-level work. “This distinction is a testament to our exceptional educators and the opportunities that our students are expected and encouraged to pursue starting at the elementary level,” Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction Jessica Schmettan said. “The recognition is one that ensures our students continue on a path of academic excellence through high school and in future endeavors.” The high school annually boasts numerous AP Scholars and National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students, in addition to the many athletic, musical, civic and volunteer accomplishments of its students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142138 Wed, 08 May 2019 06:00:00 GMT false142138 Russian Stage Production for Orchestra Students Port Jefferson music students had an opportunity to take part in a sophisticated multimedia stage production recently at the Staller Center at Stony Brook University. Shostakovich and The Black Monk: A Russian Fantasy, created by James Glossman and Philip Setzer, the violinist in the Emerson String Quartet, connects Shostakovich’s music with Anton Chekhov’s story “The Black Monk.” “It was a stunning performance,” Dr. Vanessa Salzman, 4-6 grade orchestra teacher said. “I was looking around at all my students and they were all intently watching, it was so exquisite, the music just drew them in. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to share the experience with so many of our students and their families.” More than sixty students from throughout the district and their family members attended the performance, which was a collaboration between Dr. Salzman and Paul Newland, the outreach director at the Staller Center, who provides complimentary tickets for students to experience unique musical performances so close to home. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142137 Wed, 08 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142137 Seeing the Needs of Others The generosity of the Port Jefferson School District community was once again realized when students, staff and families collected dozens of eyeglasses for the high school’s Leo Club that will be donated to the Lions Club International’s Recycle for Sight program. “Not only do our students understand their role in civic engagement, this project helps them recognize the needs of others around the world,” said Leo Club co-adviser Brian Chalmers, of the donations that are placed in inventory for distribution to optical missions internationally. Thank you to Mr. Chalmers and co-adviser Mrs. Mary LaSita for spearheading this project. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142135 Tue, 07 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142135 Students Visit Ellis Island Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students recently visited the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Chaperoned by French teacher Heather Marshak and English as a Second Language teacher Jennifer Walling, who are co-advisers to the International Club, the students researched their ancestors who walked through the Great Hall when they entered the United States so many years ago. “It was amazing,” Ms. Walling said. “So many of the students found their ancestors’ names, sometimes four or five great aunts, grandparents; seeing their names brought them excitement and pride. They asked engaging questions and left the visit with great memories.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142136 Mon, 06 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142136 Senior performs at prestigious All-Eastern concert Senior Ava Schully recently performed in the National Association for Music Education All-Eastern music conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ava is a cellist who was accepted first as an All-State musician, and then selected to perform following a rigorous application process; representing the finest student musicians throughout the Eastern Division. “On behalf of the school district, we congratulate Ava on her outstanding musical achievement,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, the district’s director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142134 Mon, 06 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142134 Seven Inducted into Tri-M Music Honor Society The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Chapter 2172 of the Tri-M Music Honor Society recently hosted its 12th annual honors recital and induction. This year’s inductees are Monica Alexander, Marina Kelley-Renda, Jillian Lawler, Rachel Park, Hannah Skula, Jack Worrell and Peggy Yin. In addition to outstanding musical achievement, students are selected into the honor society on the basis of five points of distinction: scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership and service. The special evening included an honors recital featuring performances by the new inductees, followed by a ceremony and reception. Congratulations to all of the new Tri-M members. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142129 Fri, 03 May 2019 18:00:00 GMT false142129 A harmonious introduction to musical instruments Third-grade students experienced an informative and musical lesson on string, brass and woodwind instruments at the school’s recent instrumental recruitment meeting. From the soft vibrations of a violin to the baritone-voiced euphonium, the students were introduced to the instruments by the current fourth-graders, who were eager to demonstrate the instrument they each play. The annual event is a collaborative effort of Dr. Vanessa Salzman, the 4-6 grade orchestra teacher, who organizes the event and band teacher Mark Abbonizio, who runs the meeting with the students. The district commends the students who took part in showcasing their talents. They are Ben Amadio (alto saxophone), Vincent Chen (clarinet), Gianni Cipriano (tuba), Matteo Cipriano (trumpet), Avery Eisaman (oboe), Bomin Kim (viola), Lucas Lotten (baritone), Samuel Matvya (trombone), Iris Park (cello), Ava Sexton (violin), Blake Weaver (bass) and Dasha Zakharova (flute). https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142127 Fri, 03 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142127 Examples of Excellence Eleven students from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School recently participated and placed as high scorers in the annual Suffolk County Math Teachers’ Association competition. According to math teacher and math team adviser Dennis Christofor, the students excelled in their sections of competition, which is based on the state mathematics curriculum of each grade or course level. High school students Nicholas DeDonato, David Lawler, William Wu, Reid Biondo and Kyle Onghai were the school’s winners in geometry, algebra II, pre-calculus, calculus and advanced calculus, respectively. William Wu also placed fourth in Suffolk County in pre-calculus. Eighth grader Michael Melikyan was the middle school winner in the Level 1 category and Carman Stanton was the school winner in the seventh grade section. Sixth grade students Isabelle Chen was the middle school winner and tied for second place in all of Suffolk County, Alice Snyder tied for third place in the county and Emily Snyder and Mark Marinescu tied each other for fourth place. Congratulations to all the students! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142133 Thu, 02 May 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142133 Sharing His Aspirations with SEPTA The Port Jefferson Special Education PTA hosted two special guests at their recent meeting, John Cronin and his father Mark Cronin, co-founders of John’s Crazy Socks. John, a 22-year-old man with Down syndrome built the multi-million-dollar business as a result of his love of crazy socks. John’s work includes advocating for the rights of people with differing disabilities and he has spoken at the U.S. Capitol, the State Department and has been featured by CNBC, Money magazine and CBS Evening News. “The evening was truly inspirational,” Dr. Jodi Cahill, the district’s director of special education said. “John and his father spoke about the origin of their company and their mission to spread happiness while giving people with different abilities the opportunity for meaningful employment.” The event was well received with parents, students and staff in attendance. John and his father also received a special acknowledgment from the Village of Port Jefferson that declared March 21st (World Down Syndrome Day) “Rock Your Crazy Socks Day.” The Port Jefferson School community thanks John Cronin for visiting the district to share his empowering message and demonstrate the possibilities that each of our students possess. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142132 Thu, 02 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142132 High School Duo Score on National Math Exam The Mathematical Association of America has recognized senior Annalisa Welinder and sophomore Grant Samara for their achievement in the American Math Competition 12 and AMC 10, respectively. The exam, which was administered nationwide, consisted of 25 multiple-choice questions to be answered in 60 minutes. The main purpose of the AMC 12 is to spur interest in mathematics and develop talent through the excitement of solving challenging problems. The AMC 10 covers the high school curriculum up to 10th grade. The AMC 12, open to high school seniors, covers the entire high school curriculum including trigonometry, advanced algebra, and advanced geometry, but excluding calculus. “We are so proud of the accomplishments of Grant and Annalisa,” math teacher Dennis Christofor said. “These exams help further their analytical skills and are a great opportunity to continue to master their mathematical talents.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142131 Wed, 01 May 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142131 Art Students Experience Van Gogh on Stage High school art students recently attended a performance of the one-actor play “Vincent” at the Patchogue Theatre for the Performing Arts. Accompanied by art teachers Lynne Edsall and Nancy Randazzo, the students had the opportunity to learn about one of the world’s most renowned artists through a unique perspective. Written by Emmy nominated actor, Leonard Nimoy, the one-man production examined the life of acclaimed artist Vincent Van Gogh as told through letter correspondences with his brother Theo. The educational program shed a light on some the struggles and thoughts behind several of his most famous works. The students viewed Van Gogh’s works on the stage through projection as the narrator shared their fascinating back stories. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142122 Wed, 01 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142122 Spring Concerts Broadcast LIVE Spring Concerts Broadcast LIVE Port Jeff LiveStream Account THURSDAY MAY 2 HIGH SCHOOL 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM TUESDAY MAY 7 MS GRADE 6 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM WEDNESDAY MAY 8 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADE 4 7:00 P.M. ES GYM WEDNESDAY MAY 15 ES GRADE 5 6:30 P.M. THURSDAY MAY 16 MS GRADE 7 AND 8 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142159 Wed, 01 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142159 Important May Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142123 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 20:00:00 GMT false142123 Best Communities for Music Education Part II https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142164 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142164 Best Communities for Music Education https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142163 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142163 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 14, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. The Budget Hearing will be at 7:00 p.m. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142130 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142130 Port Jeff Celebrates National Library Week In celebration of National Library Week, middle school and high school students were encouraged to explore and create in the new Discovery Den in the HS/MS library. Librarian Mary LaSita set up exciting activities that included “Let’s Stick Together,” a mosaic picture, which was a fun puzzle that when completed was a replica of Leonardo DaVinci’s Mona Lisa and a “Snap into Spring @ the Library” photo caption contest, which incorporated Google classroom and other technologies for more than 130 students, teachers and staff. Snap circuits, 3D pen projects, Sphero Ball coding robots and Jenga were other engaging activities to round out an exciting way to recognize the library and the staff for the role they serve in the enrichment, engagement and development of Port Jefferson students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142128 Fri, 26 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142128 Artful Dozen Showcase Work at Village Center The district’s Fine Arts Department was commended at the April 9 Board of Education meeting and 12 students were honored for having their work displayed at the 2019 Spring Art Show at the Port Jefferson Village Center. The annual month-long joint collaboration between the village and the school district is an opportunity for the greater community to view the creations of district students. The vast display featured the artworks as instructed by teachers Richard Anderson and Meghan McCarthy at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School; Stacey Schuman at Port Jefferson Middle School and Lynne Edsall and Nancy Randazzo at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Dr. Michael Caravello, the district’s director of music and fine arts, presented each student with a certificate and thanked the teachers for their commitment to the students. “They are true art leaders,” Dr. Caravello said. “Their incredible creativity and inspiration is a testament to their dedication to our students and their exploration and discovery of the arts.” Students recognized were kindergartner Catherine Ioannou; third graders Joseph Curley and Natalie Paulus; fifth graders Alexa Jacobs, Violet Kim, Hannah Pflaster and Sadie Salzman; sixth grader Ana Kelly; eighth graders Connor Lioio, Jonah Pflaster and Anna Rebic and senior Jillian Lawler. Jillian was also lauded for her commitment and talent in sketching the artwork for the district’s Armed Forces Tribute, which will be unveiled at a dedication ceremony on May 30. Jillian will continue her artistic career at Ringling College of Art in Design in Sarasota, Florida, where she will major in computer animation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142121 Fri, 26 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142121 Gaining Intrinsic Rewards through Volunteer Efforts Dozens of students from the high school and middle school joined forces with members of the Port Jefferson Rotary Club to help ready Camp Paquatuck for the summer season. Members of the high school Interact Club and the middle school National Junior Honor Society spent a recent weekend day to help ready cabins, dorm rooms and buildings and rake and add mulch to the flowering plants at the Center Moriches camp, which provides special needs children and young adults with camping experiences. According to adviser Interact Club adviser Deirdre Filippi, the annual volunteer event is always a success for the students and helps them to understand not only the needs of others, but how simple efforts go a long way in serving the greater community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142126 Thu, 25 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142126 Congratulations to our All-County Wrestling Recipients! Seven Royals were honored at the Section XI wrestling awards dinner recently. Congratulations: Harry Cona 182 lbs. Luca Rohman 152 lbs. Brendan Rogers 120 lbs. Rick D'Elia 113 lbs. Anthony D'Elia 113 lbs. Anthony Evnagelista 126 lbs. Ryan Robertson 132 lbs. Congratulations to Coach Mike Maletta who received League 8 Coach of the Year honors for the fourth time! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142125 Wed, 24 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142125 Studying Ancient Musical Instruments Fourth grade students have embarked on an art lesson involving clay and music. Along with teacher Meghan McCarthy, they learned about the long history of the ancient instrument known as the ocarina. They studied ocarinas from all over the world, starting in Central and South America, to China, Europe and North America. After constructing the form, they then worked together on making the whistle. They were able to create multiple sounds by piercing the ocarina to create a high or low pitch. “Students were influenced by particular ocarina forms and surface designs from the different cultures we studied,” Mrs. McCarthy said. “They had fun experimenting with the ocarinas and even making some into animals, characters or just beautiful abstract forms.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142165 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142165 Fostering an Interest in Mathematics Congratulations to Port Jefferson Middle School sixth grade students who placed in the Suffolk County Math Teachers’ Association Contest. Student Isabelle Chen tied for second place in all of Suffolk County, Alice Snyder tied for third place in the county and Emily Snyder and Mark Marinescu tied each other for fourth place. “It is a very competitive test and these students were up for the challenge,” sixth grade math teacher Melissa Corey said. “Contests like this help them continue to foster an interest in mathematics while they gain a better understanding of the subject matter,” added Megan Ryan, also a sixth grade math teacher. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142162 Thu, 18 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142162 Middle School Science Olympiad: Best Small School in New York State The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad team placed 11th out of 39 teams in the New York State Science Olympiad State competition at East Syracuse Minoa High School in Syracuse, NY on April 5th and 6th. With this ranking, they earned the honor of being named the best small school in New York State. This award is given to the highest-ranking school with an enrollment of under 500 students. The scores are determined by adding up the results of all the science and engineering events the team competed in. Coached by Mr. Adam Bouchard, the team was accompanied by Mrs. Debra Hagmeyer and Ms. Nicole Sklar. “During the event, the students were focused and showed the drive to perform well in the competition,” Mr. Bouchard said. “They put in many hours of studying and preparation for the tournament and it showed. We continue as a team to excel and I am very proud of their achievements.” Congratulations to all medal winners: 1st Place Sci Tech Quiz Bowl - Andrew Patterson, Hugo Onghai, Kasumi Layne-Stasik 2nd Place Fossils - Andrew Patterson, Alana Samara 4th Place Circuit Lab - Michael Melikyan, Max Paulus 5th Place Herpetology - Andrew Patterson, Kasumi Layne-Stasik 6th Place Anatomy - Gavin Onghai, Ben Perez-Flesler 6th Place Elastic Launched Glider - Andrew Patterson, Stefano Rabeno 8th Place Crime Busters - Alana Samara, Michelle Wu 9th Place Parasitology - Nicholas Smirnov, Ryan Gameng 9th Place Thermodynamics - Hugo Onghai, Michael Melikyan 10th Place Density Lab - Teppei Fukuto, Stefano Rabeno 10th Place Game On - Hugo Onghai, William Wu Other team members included Riley Perrotta, Jonah Pflaster, Pratham Sethia and Ricky Melucci. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142161 Wed, 17 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142161 With a Song in Their Heart Chamber choir students from the high school recently visited the Water’s Edge Rehab and Nursing Center at Port Jefferson to perform for patients and nursing staff. Led by music teacher Maria Diaz, the ensemble sang an upbeat program of popular music and standards to bring joyful sounds and encouragement to those residing at the facility. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142160 Tue, 16 Apr 2019 19:00:00 GMT false142160 Baskets of Kindness The freshman class at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School collected Easter candy, books and toys to create baskets for children whose families are enduring financial hardships. They also filled over 100 plastic eggs with goodies for an egg hunt at a local shelter. “The kids were so excited to help those in need,” said Christina Carlson, freshman class co-adviser along with Melissa Zinger, who both encouraged the entire class to share in the project by bringing the holiday items to Jesse Rosen’s social studies classroom. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142158 Tue, 16 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142158 No School https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142150 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142150 Summer Music Camp https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142235 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 06:00:00 GMT false142235 A Stronghold for Student Leaders A dozen students in the high school Gay-Straight Alliance attended the 23rd annual LGBT Conference at the Charles B. Wang Center at Stony Brook University recently. Accompanied by co-advisers Kristin Britt and Dinarae Camarda, members of the school’s Gay Straight Alliance spent the day attending workshops on topics including upstander training, enhancing their school’s GSA Club, LGBT history, community and youth organizing, health and social justice. “This annual event helps to empower students to advocate for positive social and health-related choices as well as being able to learn and share in a supportive environment,” Ms. Britt said. More than 500 students and 600 participants were in attendance at the conference, touted as the largest to date. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142149 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142149 Spear’s Science Sleuths The Scientific Method was at work at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Science Fair with a vast display of well-thought-out and creative experiments conducted by students that included demonstrations, charts and diagrams on topics such as magnets, melting ice, colors, flavors, sounds and numerous other original cause-and-effect relationships. Great job to all the participants and congratulations to the grade level winners: Kindergarten: Carter Maleson Project Title: Ice Cream Soup First Grade: Lina Awadallah Project Title: Wind Turbine Second Grade: Joshua Levine Project Title: Meteorites Third Grade: Nina Gnatenko Project Title: Shiny Penny Fourth Grade: Nick Rodriguez Project Title: Who is braver men or women? Fifth Grade: Sadie Salzman Project Title: Mighty Mollusks https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142157 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142157 Impressive Placement at Latin Certamen! Port Jeff students competed in a Latin Certamen with students from schools across Nassau and Suffolk County at Stony Brook University on March 26. The fast-paced Latin contest tests students’ knowledge of Latin grammar, vocabulary, word derivations, Roman life, history, mythology and literature. The middle school and high school students competed on the level of Latin in which they are enrolled. The district had one eighth-grade team compete at Level I, two ninth-grade teams compete at Level II, two tenth-grade teams compete at Level III, and two teams compete at the Advanced Level. The students had impressive placements throughout the competition. Coached by Latin teacher Anne Algieri, the Port Jefferson teams who placed at this year’s Certamen are: first place, Level One Team - Luke Dickhuth, Teppei Fukuto, Benjamin Perez-Flesler and Olivia Schlegel; first place, Level Two Team A - Annie Maier, Andrew Patterson, Stephano Rabeno and Kate Sommerstad; third place, Level Two Team B - Kasumi Layne-Stasik, Hugo Onghai, Caelan Schretzmayer and Hunter Volpi; first place, Level Three Team A - Aaron Held, Mattea Rabeno, Grant Samara and Peggy Yin; second place, Level Three Team B - Liam Gameng, Ameen Khan, Michela Rabeno and Lucas Welinder; first place, Advanced Level Team A - Katie Ambrozy, David Rotunno, Ava Schully and Annalisa Welinder. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142148 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142148 Board Appoints New Superintendent of Schools After a comprehensive search and selection process led by the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education, months of extensive research, interviews with a strong field of candidates and community input, the Board announced the appointment of Jessica Schmettan as superintendent of schools at the April 9 Board of Education meeting. She will take the leadership reins on Nov. 1. Mrs. Schmettan currently serves as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. Each board member took the time to praise Mrs. Schmettan, a community resident, for the arduous and competitive process she endured, her effective communication skills, her commitment to high academic standards and her willingness to take on the financial challenges that lie ahead. “These seven board members took this responsibility with extreme seriousness,” Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan said of the Board of Education. “There were other strong candidates and the Board was committed to selecting the best candidate that we could for Port Jefferson, and I am confident that we have done that. I am very happy that Mrs. Schmettan is our leader going forward.” Mrs. Schmettan thanked the Board for having confidence in her abilities and applauded both current Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano for his mentorship and Deputy Superintendent Sean Leister for his support during the process. Dr. Casciano, who will stay on for the transition period and will retire from the district on Oct. 31, was also praised by the Board for his leadership, guidance and bringing stability to the district. “Like many of our residents, our schools are the reason my husband and I moved here nine years ago,” Mrs. Schmettan said. “I am so grateful to be able to serve in the place that I call home. As a parent, a taxpayer and an educator, I am deeply invested in our school community. I value our history and, even with the challenges ahead, I look forward to an incredible future.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142156 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 06:00:00 GMT false142156 Oh, Say, Can She Sing! High School vocalist Katherine Kirsch was invited by the Port Jefferson Lions Club to perform the national anthem at their March 21st meeting. Katherine, a sophomore, was accompanied to the meeting by music teacher Maria Diaz. Thank you, Katherine, for representing the music program in the Port Jefferson schools! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142147 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142147 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2019, 4:00 p.m., at the District Office, to vote on the 2019-2020 Eastern Suffolk BOCES Administrative Budget and Board Election. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142155 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142155 An Act of Kindness Spreads to Village As part of a class project, students in Dana St. Pierre’s fourth-grade class thought about some random acts of kindness that they could do and came up with various ideas including washing dishes for a mother who works late, checking on an elderly neighbor, saying something encouraging to a schoolmate or just giving a smile to help someone feel better. Student Hudson Philbrick decided to write a letter to the members of the Port Jefferson Fire Department and hand deliver it. He thanked the firefighters for their commitment to the local community and their dedication and service to the residents of Port Jefferson. He, in turn, was met with an act of kindness when he received a certificate from the fire department for his kind words. “People should always be ready to commit a random act of kindness,” Hudson said. “It’s something you will always feel good about.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142146 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142146 Cultivating multi-dimensional wellness Port Jefferson Middle School and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School teachers continue to gain valuable instructional and behavioral tools to incorporate into their classrooms with the district’s partnership with Diane McDonald from It Takes a Village Wellness in Port Jefferson village. Breathing, movement, mindfulness techniques and social emotional activities are taught and classroom challenges are discussed during the professional development sessions that help meet the needs of students and staff alike. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142145 Mon, 08 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142145 Artists on Display The Port Jefferson School District’s Fine Arts Department invites the community to view the artwork of K-12 students at the Spring Art Show at the Port Jefferson Village Center. The vast display features their creative works as instructed by Richard Anderson and Meghan McCarthy at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School; Stacey Schuman at Port Jefferson Middle School and Lynne Edsall and Nancy Randazzo at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The show runs through April 26 and can be viewed from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142153 Mon, 08 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142153 BOE Superintendent Announcement The Board of Education is pleased to announce that they will be appointing the next Superintendent of Schools at their Board meeting on Tuesday, April 9th. Public Session starts at 7:30 pm. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142152 Mon, 08 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142152 Lighting it Up Blue Port Jefferson Middle School students and staff took part in World Autism Awareness Day when they shared their support and acceptance of Autism by wearing blue. The students were inspired by one another to celebrate the diversity of the global community and to help strengthen the message that speaks out against discrimination. “We had a great turnout,” special education teacher Christina Carlson said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142144 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142144 Good Luck at States! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142253 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 20:00:00 GMT false142253 Messages of Tolerance and Acceptance As an enhancement to the eighth-grade social studies curriculum, students at Port Jefferson Middle School learned important lessons on tolerance and injustice from Werner Reich who described his personal experiences as a young boy growing up and surviving the Holocaust. Organized by teacher Kayleen Everitt and welcomed and introduced by students Kenneth Dixon-Lanza and Nicolina Gionnala, Mr. Reich shared a personal story of hardship and fortitude peppered with wisdom and inspirational messages that he hoped would resonate with today’s generation. Before he took to the podium, student Peyton Broyles gave an overview of a poetry assignment that the class worked on and students Sophie Blumenthal, Regan Byrne and Ruby Ray read their own words of inspiration. The dynamic presentation continued when students viewed a comprehensive slideshow that featured photos, political cartoons and newspaper articles written during World War ll. “It is of utmost importance that we educate and inform each other so that history doesn’t repeat itself and so that nothing similar can ever happen in the future,” said Kenneth in his welcoming remarks. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142143 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142143 Revised 2018-19 School Calendar No School Closures for Weather Emergencies this School Year NO SCHOOL on April 17, May 24, May 28 As a result of not losing any school days due to weather emergencies or any other reason this school year, the following changes are being made to the Port Jefferson School District’s calendar for the remainder of the 2018-19 school year. All schools will be closed for classes on: Wednesday, April 17th, Friday, May 24th and Tuesday, May 28th. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142141 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142141 No ELA Computer Based Testing Wednesday We have been informed by the State Education Department that tomorrow, Wednesday April 3rd will be a non-testing administrative day. Grade 3 session #2 will be rescheduled for Thursday April 4th. Grade 7 will be rescheduled for Thursday April 4th and Friday April 5th. Grade 8will be rescheduled for Monday April 8th and Tuesday April 9th. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142142 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142142 Classical Masterclass for Music Students Music students from the middle school were recently visited by members of the Three Village Chamber Players, a classical ensemble. During the visit, the group held a masterclass with Dr. Vanessa Salzman’s sixth-grade orchestra students followed by a performance for several of the middle school music ensembles. Featuring the music of Mozart and Brahms, the group also addressed the unique musical skills required for performing in a small ensemble. “We are grateful for the opportunity to have performers of this caliber help to continue to build upon the successful music program in our schools,” Dr. Michael Caravello, the district’s director of music and fine arts said. “Their goals of working to be an essential source of artistry in Suffolk County align with our mission of encouraging students to explore and discover meaningful and creative participation in musical and fine arts experiences.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142270 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142270 Humor, History and Harmony on High School’s Stage Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s high-spirited and entertaining spring musical gave the audience history lessons and glimpses into New York lifestyles and landmarks when the Drama Club showcased “Celebrate New York” a musical tribute to the Empire State on the school’s stage. Directed by Tony Butera, the unique look at all things New York highlighted the fast pace of Manhattan, the competitive rehearsals for Broadway shows, the birthplace of Teddy Roosevelt and how we came to know the teddy bear. It also chronicled historic events and venues, tourism, the rush for morning coffee and so much more. The production’s talented students even gave a nod to several of the district’s own who have achieved notable recognition after graduation from the high school. Once again, the hard work, dedication and months of planning and rehearsals were met with positive reviews for the actors, musical performers, stage and costume crews and Mr. Butera! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142269 Fri, 29 Mar 2019 14:00:00 GMT false142269 Residents of Port Jefferson School District interested in running for the Board of Education Residents of Port Jefferson School District interested in running for the Board of Education, please call the District Office (631)791-4221 for the necessary paperwork. All forms for Board candidacy are due back at the office no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 22, 2019. Los residentes del Distrito Escolar de Port Jefferson interesados en postularse para la Junta de Educación, llame a la Oficina del Distrito (631) 791-4221 para los documentos necesarios. Todos los formularios para la candidatura de la Junta se deben devolver en la oficina a más tardar a las 5:00 pm del 22 de abril de 2019. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142154 Fri, 29 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142154 Girls Basketball All-League Honors Congratulations to the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School girls basketball team for their accomplishments this season and players Hailey Hearney, Lola Idir, Abigail Rolfe and Evelyn Walker for their All-League honors. Hailey was a two-time award winner, scoring 7.3 points per game, with a 4.5 average per game, 36 steals and 18 three-point field goals. Lola was honored with both All-League and All-Conference honors for her record of 15.6 points per game, a 2.2 average per game, 36 steals and 37 three-point field goals. Abigail received 7.9 points per game and 9.3 rebounds per game and Evelyn scored 6.7 points per game and 25 three-point field goals. Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142267 Thu, 28 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142267 Spring 2019 Newsletter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142268 Thu, 28 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142268 Board of Education Will Not Pursue Appeal of Court Decision The Port Jefferson Board of Education approved a motion at their meeting on Tuesday night, March 26, 2019, to rescind the appeal of the State Supreme Court Short Form Order. The decision by Justice Emerson on August 15, 2018 had dismissed all of Port Jefferson School District’s pending causes of action against the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). Since that time, the Town of Brookhaven entered into an agreement with LIPA on December 14, 2018 regarding property tax assessment of the plant which indirectly impacts the District. Although the District believes the State Supreme Court decision was in error, the Town’s settlement and the ongoing cost of contesting the decision were main considerations in the Board’s decision. The Port Jefferson School District is ready to move forward and meet the fiscal challenges in the post Town-LIPA settlement era. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142266 Wed, 27 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142266 NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION - English - Spanish https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142265 Wed, 27 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142265 Port Jeff Problem Solvers! An educationally enriching experience took place for Port Jefferson Middle School students when they participated in the 2018-19 annual sixth-grade New York Mathematics League contest. Sixth-graders Thales Cheng, Sofia Freitas, Evan Monaghan, Emily Snyder and Colin Veit worked together on the academically oriented competition, which consisted of a variety of math topics, including algebra, geometry and problem-solving. According to sixth-grade math teacher Megan Ryan, they enjoyed the challenge and are on a positive path in exploring further mathematical ideas. “This is an exceptional achievement and the students definitely benefit from the challenge by learning how to think about and solve complex problems,” Ms. Ryan said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142263 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142263 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 9, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142264 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142264 Promoting the Pillars of Character Students in Michael Maletta’s seventh-grade health class have been learning about the six pillars of character – trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship – and were assigned to create posters to promote the positive and negative aspects of each pillar. “They are learning that these core ethical values are essential in helping them to think before they act,” Mr. Maletta said, “and to reinforce that they are responsible and accountable for their choices.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142262 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142262 Freshman Hugo Onghai Performs at Carnegie Hall As part of the New York International Competition for Young Artists, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School music student Hugo Onghai was recently featured as a cello soloist at Weill Hall at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall. A ninth-grader, Hugo performed French composer Gabriel Faure’s “Sicilienne, Op. 78.” His performance was from memory and his unique opportunity to perform was a result of his second-prize win in the NYIC’s Young Professional Strings Category for students between the ages of 13 and 18. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142261 Fri, 22 Mar 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142261 Students Engage with Grammy Award Performers Port Jefferson music-students and their families had an opportunity to attend a concert by the renowned, two-time Grammy award winning Turtle Island Quartet. Their musical performance “The Art of the Groove” was recently performed at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center. The tickets were provided courtesy of Staller Center Outreach Endowment as a continuation of a partnership between music teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman and Paul Newland, outreach coordinator at Stony Brook University. The quartet performed several works for the students including an original composition by founding member David Balakrishnan, and an arrangement of the Jimi Hendrix version of “All Around the Watchtower,” a song written by Bob Dylan. Each member of the quartet spoke to the audience and introduced a different technique in their playing and shared their backgrounds in music. Topics discussed included the elements of vibrato, plucking techniques and the difference between the viola and violin. The also shared the use of improvisation in their performances and the “chop” – a percussive technique that provides rhythm and groove – in their playing which makes up for the fact there are no drummers in their ensemble. The students also enjoyed a tour of the Paul W. Zuccaire Art Gallery with gallery director Karen Levitov. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142260 Fri, 22 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142260 Math Educators Honored by BOE The mid-March Board of Education meeting, which took place right before the internationally recognized Pi Day (March 14), was an opportune time for Port Jefferson math educators to be recognized. Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig commended the work of teachers Melissa Corey, Matthew Garofola, Megan Ryan and Jamie Veraldi for their tireless and innovative efforts in teaching students about the complex mathematical world around them and help to meet the challenges with success. “These four educators have devoted their lives to helping students come to the realization that not only can they can do math, but they can do it well,” Dr. Neidig said as he and the Board thanked and congratulated them for their efforts in forwarding the goals of the middle school math program. The district extends a thank you to all the math teachers for continuing to help students achieve through classroom studies and problem-solving as well as challenging them to compete in regional competitions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142259 Thu, 21 Mar 2019 14:00:00 GMT false142259 International Club Raises Money for Humanitarian Organization Students in the International Club set out to raise funds for the humanitarian organization Plan International. With advisers English as a Second Language teacher Jennifer Walling and French teacher Heather Marshak, they came up with a fun way to help a child while also promoting school spirit. Students in the club encouraged classmates to purchase a strip of tape and to be able to help tape middle school guidance counselor Keith Buehler to a wall. They raised $125 and will sponsor a child from Haiti. They will be writing to the child in French and are planning to send gifts and cards throughout the school year. “The event truly created some great school spirit,” Ms. Walling said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142258 Thu, 21 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142258 Science Olympiad Team Places at State Competition The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad team competed in the New York State Science Olympiad against the best teams across the state at Le Moyne College in Syracuse this past weekend. They were one of only six teams from Long Island in the competition. Accompanied by advisers and science teachers Amanda Brideson and Adam Bouchard and chaperones Danny Holland and Nicole Sklar, the team came in 25th place out of a total of 56 teams and came home with three medals. Sinan Ates, Chloe Andriani and Peggy Yin placed third in the Protein Modeling category; Grant Samara and Aaron Held placed fifth in the Fossils category and Reid Biondo and Aaron Held also placed fifth in the Water Quality category. “We are extremely proud and impressed with all of the hard work our entire team has put in this year in our STEM science events,” said Ms. Brideson. “Their hard work and dedication to the Science Olympiad team shows through their awards and standings,” added Mr. Bouchard. The district congratulates all the members of the team who continue to refine their skills for competition and future careers: seniors Chloe Andriani, Gavin Barrett, Reid Biondo, Ju Eun Ha, Eadan McSweeney, David Rotunno and Christine Scott; juniors Sinan Ates, Gavin Chambers, Kyle Onghai, Dylan Scott and Gil Zaltsman; and sophomores Gani Ates, Liam Gameng Aaron Held, Grant Samara and Peggy Yin. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142257 Wed, 20 Mar 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142257 Port Jefferson Hosts County Music Festival Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was the site of the recent Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association’s Division 1 East All-County Festival. More than 400 Suffolk County music students in grades 5 and 6 participated in the festival, performing in band, chorus and orchestra. During the event, Port Jefferson music faculty and student volunteers from the Tri-M Music Honor Society assisted with rehearsals, auditions, ticket/food sales and guiding visitors through the building. “We congratulate our students, music teachers, custodial and security staff for helping to make a memorable music experience for so many of our county musicians and teachers,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, the district’s director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142256 Wed, 20 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142256 Upcoming Grades 3-8 New York State Assessment Information http://portjeffschools.org/departments/curriculum_assessment_info https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142255 Tue, 19 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142255 Port Jefferson Students Learn To Be Upstanders With a powerful message to be upstanders and not bystanders, Port Jefferson middle school and high school students took part in Sandy Hook Promise’s national Call-to-Action Week. Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. and two deputy sheriffs visited the school for “Say Something,” two assemblies that provided students with information on how they can help the school and community by being aware of warning signs and threats, especially in social media, of individuals who may intend harm to themselves or others and to say something to a trusted adult to get help. With actual quotes taken from social media accounts and video reenactments of possible tragedies, the students learned some key skills to prevent them. They then joined together to read aloud a pledge projected on the screen to help create healthier schools, homes and communities. Deputy Sheriff Brian Butler addressed the high school students and Deputy Sherriff Keith Hoffman addressed the middle school students and both reiterated the fact that each student has more power to prevent life-threatening incidents than either of them do, as many people learn about threats via social media. “We definitely learned that we have the power to help,” said sixth-grader Braden Snow. The two assemblies were followed by question-and-answer sessions, an additional way to engage the students with the importance of law enforcement. “This impressive assembly empowered students and reminded them of the important role they have when it comes to school safety,” Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142254 Mon, 18 Mar 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142254 Celebrate New York: A Musical Tribute to the Empire State https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142252 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 20:00:00 GMT false142252 All-County Honors! The Port Jefferson Royals entered the Section XI county wrestling tournament at Center Moriches High School on a mission. The mission was simple: Be relentless in the pursuit of victory. No matter the circumstance or score, the Royal wrestlers never quit. Their perseverance paid off. Seven wrestlers from PJ Nation finished the tournament with All-County honors. Seniors Harry Cona, Rick D’Elia, Ryan Robertson and Brendan Rogers, juniors Lucas Rohman and Anthony D’Elia, and freshman Anthony Evangelista all finished near the top of their weight classes. “Having one-third of your team finish as the top wrestlers in the county says a lot about the dedication, discipline and desire our wrestlers and coaches put forth on a daily basis,” Athletic Director Adam Sherrard said. Rick D’Elia also placed first at the county meet at 113 lbs. and qualified for the New York State wrestling championships, in which he finished fourth overall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142251 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 15:00:00 GMT false142251 School-Community Connection Series Please join us for our upcoming School-Community Connection Series event, providing information and conversation about the Port Jefferson School District community. This open discussion is an opportunity to engage with some of the important components that are integral to the educational success of our students and the future of our district. Our next open discussion – Instructional Programs: Setting Priorities – will be held on Thursday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School library. We welcome your participation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142250 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142250 Music Students Selected for SCMEA All-County Festival Forty Port Jefferson School District music students were selected to participate in this year’s Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County Festival. Students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and Port Jefferson Middle School who were selected to perform in Division I with other fifth- and sixth-graders are Emma Batter, Kieran Casey, Rowan Casey, Isabelle Chen, Caitlin Dickhuth, Mari Fukuto, Marija Garue, William Harris, Kevin Hong, Ana Kelly, Meara Kelly, Madison Testa, Breyden Horstman, Hailey Johansen, Vivian O’Brian, Marco Puopolo, Samantha Reichers, Sadie Salzman, Maya Shand, Jack Snyder, Isabella Thomsen, Gianna Viviano, Devon Welsch and Cassidy Worrell. Students Alexa Ayotte, Sophie Blumenthal, Luke Dickhuth, Kenneth Dixon-Lanza, Alexa Eichinger, Viviane Kim, Nathanial Lawler, Chloe Pipia, Ruby Ray, Anna Rebic, Tabitha Schully and Matthew Wengatz were selected to perform in Division II with other seventh- and eighth-grade students. Students in grades 9 and 10 who performed in Division III are David Lawler, Jack Reilly, Nicole Schully and Sierra Welsch. All three divisions took part in three days of rehearsals with a final performance at Southampton High School on March 10. “We congratulate all of these students on this exceptional achievement,” said Dr. Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142249 Wed, 13 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142249 A Plus for Senior Math Scholar Congratulations to senior Tianna Couch who was selected as a Dr. Jong-Pil Lee Scholarship recipient from the Long Island Mathematics Conference Board. She will be presented with a $1,500 scholarship at the introductory ceremonies for the Long Island Mathematics Conference on March 15 at the SUNY College at Old Westbury. Citing math and statistics as favorite subjects to study, Tianna’s successful high school career is varied and interesting. She has taken numerous Advanced Placement courses, is a member of both the cross-country and track teams, is involved in student government, the Environmental Club and numerous STEM initiatives, and is a member of the National Honor Society. In addition, Tianna took a Python programming course through the Institute for Advanced Computational Science at Stony Brook University and attended the University of Connecticut precollege summer program. She is involved in Girl Scouts, held a position as an intern in a Port Jefferson Village law office, babysits, works in a local shop as a cashier and takes part in community service activities through the high school’s Student Organization. Tianna describes lessons she has learned from high school math teachers Christine Morgan and Dennis Christofor that have set her on a path to study statistics or data science in college. “I learned from Mr. Christofor that you need to work hard to do well in math. This helped me gain confidence in my abilities,” she said. In Ms. Morgan’s class, she realized that there is more than one way to look at even the easiest problem. “I also learned that if you love something and work hard, success will follow.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142248 Tue, 12 Mar 2019 16:00:00 GMT false142248 Seventh-grader Shares Musical Talents on University Stage Port Jefferson Middle School music student Viviane Kim was featured as a piano soloist with the Stony Brook University orchestra at the family orchestra concert on March 5. Viviane was selected as the winner of the university’s Young Artist Program Concerto competition this year. A seventh-grader, Viviane had the opportunity to enhance her public musical performance skills on the Staller Center’s main stage alongside dozens of the university’s orchestra members. The theme of the concert was Dance in Orchestra, and among those in the audience were Viviane’s proud parents as well as students and faculty members from the Port Jefferson School District. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142247 Tue, 12 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142247 Students Investigate Long Island’s Watershed Students in Janelle Bellotti's sixth-grade science class had a hands-on opportunity to learn about Long Island’s watershed and non-point source pollution when Tracy Marcus, a marine youth education specialist from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, visited them. Funded by Port Jefferson Village as part of the storm water management program, the goal was to teach the class about the local watershed, what a storm drain is and its importance, and how water pollution affects local marine life. The students discovered ways to help prevent pollution from entering the local watershed by building a small model of a storm drain to demonstrate where water goes during a rainstorm, creating pollution using water and food coloring. They then executed how the water enters the drain and discussed the impact of it along with ways to prevent it. The students then took this information and did some stormwater detective work, investigating and solving the mystery of why a fish kill happened. They learned that fish kills occur in natural populations because of disease, poor water quality or toxins and when they tested a water sample they discovered it was a high level of nitrates, which were found to be at 50 ppm (parts per million). In addition to gaining the ability to look at a problem posed to them, investigate it and collect evidence to formulate their conclusion, “the students really enjoyed this program and had a lot of fun,” Ms. Bellotti said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142246 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false142246 Spotlight on Long Island Schools Fifteen students were interviewed by Long Island News Radio host Bob Vecchio for the Spotlight on Long Island Schools radio program. This is the second radio program that the district has taken part in this academic year. High School students Reid Biondo, Jonathan Cadicamo, Mattea Rabeno and Giuseppina Than spoke about the successes of the school’s STEM program and Reid joined Chloe Andriani, Ameen Khan and Emmett Maier in a conversation about the school’s numerous opportunities for students to develop leadership skills. Eighth-graders Alexa Ayotte Kacey McGorry Tabitha Schully and Amy Whitman were accompanied by Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and shared their commitment to the school and community through their work in student government. The question-and-answer format, 30-minute show also included middle school students Teppei Fukuto, Jonah Pflaster, Riley Perrotta and Matthew Riccobono who spoke about how they think like scientists and engineers with their LEGO League challenges along with technology teacher and adviser Kyle Dunlop. To hear more about the accomplishments and activities of these students, tune in to Long Island News Radio 103.9 FM on Saturday, March 9 and Saturday, March 16, both at 10:30 a.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142245 Fri, 08 Mar 2019 21:00:00 GMT false142245 Middle School Musicians Perform at Art Auction Ten members of the middle school string chamber ensemble performed at an art auction hosted by The Royal Educational Foundation at the Old Field Club in Setauket on March 1. Attendees enjoyed light classical works by the student-musicians during the preview session of the auction. The musical performance of Alexa Ayotte, Teppei Fukuto, Gavin Onghai, Kay Ranjbar, Ruby Ray, Anna Rebic, Alana Samara, Olivia Schlegel, Tabitha Schully and Nicholas Smirnov added to the festive fundraising event. The Royal Educational Foundation’s mission includes facilitating student development in the Port Jefferson School District by encouraging excellence through creative learning as well as providing funds for learning activities which supplement, complement and augment the basic educational program. “We congratulate the students for taking part in this special fundraiser in support of innovative and creative programming in the Port Jefferson School District,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, the district’s director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142244 Fri, 08 Mar 2019 06:00:00 GMT false142244 Elementary Students Celebrate Read Across America Day Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students joined thousands of schools nationwide to celebrate the birthday of renowned author Dr. Seuss and Read Across America Day. To plan for the annual celebration, school librarian Selinda Stout encouraged students at all grade levels to share their favorite book with their peers. Twenty-eight students were assigned as these special guest readers and to honor the author, many dressed in stripes, crazy hats and striped socks. I was happily overwhelmed with the number of students who wanted to participate,” said Ms. Stout. “They did a fabulous job reading to their peers, which is not an easy thing to do. I was proud of all of them!” The Dr. Seuss theme was carried out in the decorated library and adults dressed as The Cat in the Hat and The Grinch made several appearances throughout the day. Numerous local businesses contributed to the celebration including red and white balloons donated by Party Hardy and a large decorated Dr. Seuss-inspired sheet cake for the entire school staff donated by local bakery La Bonne Boulangerie. Ms. Stout also held a raffle with prizes including ice cream from Kilwin’s and the Frigate and gift certificates to Port Jeff Bowl, Applebee’s and Panera Bread. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142243 Fri, 08 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142243 Great Job! The Middle School Science Olympiad team placed third at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad Competition. This success qualifies the team to compete at the New York State level, which will take place in early April at East Syracuse Minoa High School in Syracuse, NY. Students from grades 6-9 competed against 35 teams in events which tested their skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics, engineering and scientific problem-solving. Coached by Middle School science teacher Adam Bouchard, the team received medals in 20 of 22 events. “The hours of hard work, commitment and enthusiasm that these students demonstrate exemplifies their knowledge of inquiry-based learning,” Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig said. “As a coach and a teacher, Mr. Bouchard continues to motivate his students to develop the skills to think like scientists and gain a natural curiosity into scientific perspectives.” Congratulations to all the Medal Winners! First Place, Elastic Launched Glider - Andrew Patterson and Stefano Rabeno First Place, Fossils - Alana Samara and Andrew Patterson Second Place, Circuit Lab - Michael Melikyan and Max Paulus Second Place, Meteorology - Ben Perez-Flesler and Jonah Pflaster Second Place, Science Quiz Bowl - Hugo Onghai, Andrew Patterson and William Wu Fourth Place, Elastic Launched Glider - Pratham Sethia and Ryan Gameng Fourth Place, Game On - Hugo Onghai and William Wu Fourth Place, Potions and Poisons - Hugo Onghai and Kasumi Layne-Stasik Fifth Place, Dynamic Planet - William Wu and Riley Perrotta Fifth Place, Herpetology - Andrew Patterson and Kasumi Layne-Stasik Fifth Place, Roller Coaster - Teppei Fukuto and Riley Perrotta Fifth Place, Write It Do It - Pratham Sethia and Nicholas Smirnov Sixth Place, Anatomy - William Wu and Ben Perez-Flesler Sixth Place, Crime Busters - Alana Samara and Michelle Wu Seventh Place, Disease Detectives - Hugo Onghai and Andrew Patterson Eighth Place, Battery Buggy - Michael Melikyan and Max Paulus Eighth Place, Circuit Lab - Ryan Gameng and Eric Chen Eighth Place, Density Lab - Teppei Fukuto and Stefan Rabeno Eighth Place, Heredity - Ben Perez-Flesler and Kasumi Layne-Stasik Sixth Place, Water Quality - Alana Samara and Michelle Wu https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142242 Thu, 07 Mar 2019 21:00:00 GMT false142242 Salt, Sun, Spartina & Seaweed at Spear A science lesson in Amy Castaldo’s third-grade class took a creative turn when students put together dioramas that included many native plants in salt marshes that they were learning about. As they learned about the importance of salt marsh ecosystems and the benefits they provide to both humans and the environment, they discovered the distinct zones of vegetation determined by elevation and how they shield land from coastal storms. They were also taught many new vocabulary words including phragmites, photosynthesis and intertidal as well as many of the plants such as purple plume, glasswort and sea lavender that they used to dot the shoreline of their dioramas while seaweed seemed to float in the water on many of their projects. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142241 Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142241 Annalisa Welinder Advances to National Merit Finalist Round Congratulations to senior Annalisa Welinder who has advanced to the Finalist standing in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Annalisa took the qualifying test as a junior and is now among approximately 15,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the distinction. In the next several months approximately half of those students will be selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award, which is based on their abilities, skills and achievements. An accomplished and well-rounded student, Annalisa excels in academics, music and athletics. Her Finalist designation exemplifies our school district’s high level of student achievement and academically rigorous program for all students. National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142240 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142240 Six Honored for Contributions to Athletic Program Six members of the Port Jefferson School District community were honored at the Feb. 28 Board of Education meeting for their dedication and contributions to the district’s athletic department. Athletic Director Adam Sherrard addressed the Board of Education and commended administrative assistant Cathy Hoffman, athletic trainer Eric Fells and groundskeeper Rich Lautato for their self-motivated and tireless efforts in being sure all activities, games and events through the department are properly put in place. Also honored were students Reid Biondo and Mattea Rabeno and teacher Dawn DeLeonardis for their commitment and initiatives in sharing the mindfulness program to the school community. After the recognition, Mr. Sherrard shared with the Board updates on the district’s Wellness Policy including positive effects of exercise on the body, data on the vending machines’ healthier offerings and approvals for more creative fundraising ideas that sell nutritious foods and drinks and encourage more physical activities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142239 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142239 Under the Sea at Spear! When students in Kari Costanzo’s fifth-grade class started their Living Systems science curriculum, the opportunity to investigate starlet sea anemones came to life when they worked with two scientific educators who also happen to be parents to a student in the class. Dr. Gerald Thomsen, a professor in Stony Brook University’s Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, and Julia Tudorov-Thomsen, a biologist and marine scientist, (and parents of Isabela) conducted a lab experiment with the students, in which they observed the anemones eat marine life and then cut a piece of them to investigate the regeneration process. The students recorded their observations in a sketch pad, and Dr. Thomsen returned a week later to check out their investigative findings. As Mrs. Costanzo guided the students in what they could record, how they anemones changed shapes during the experiment and asked each of them to present and explain their findings, she recognized that their curiosity was peeked and their enthusiasm for the unit was compounded by the professional visits. “They all had great questions about how anemones can regenerate while other organisms cannot,” Mrs. Costanzo said and as Dr. Thomsen pointed out – for scientific investigation, there are no right or wrong answers. “As we document our work and share our research, it’s just a cool thing to show off,” he said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142238 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142238 March Board Meeting Notice https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142234 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142234 District’s Armed Forces Tribute Brick Sale Extended to March 8th We need the community’s assistance in identifying Port Jefferson School District staff and students who served in the armed forces so that they can be recognized by name on a brick in their honor. The bricks will be used to create our Royal Court of Courage and our Path of Honor. The Royal Court of Courage will be created by bricks with the names of PJSD students and staff who have or are currently serving in the Armed Forces. The Path of Honor will be created by bricks for anyone else who wants to show support or pay tribute to someone not on the Royal Court of Courage. For example, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano has purchased a brick that will read “The Casciano Family” and another brick that will honor his father who served in WW II but was not a part of the school district. Both bricks will be placed on the Path of Honor. If you have questions, please email Dr. Casciano at pcascian@portjeffschools.org or Kathy Hanley at khanley@portjeffschools.org https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142237 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142237 Notification Service Now Available for All School District Residents Dear Resident of the Port Jefferson School District: The Port Jefferson School District uses a communication service called SchoolMessenger, to communicate regularly via email and recorded phone messages, to residents who have children attending our school district. We are pleased to announce that all residents of the school district will now have the same opportunity to receive school messages. The school district has contracted with West Corporation, the provider of SchoolMessenger Solutions, to implement a program called Communicate providing this same service to all district residents. In order to accurately deliver this service to residents without children attending our school district, we need your assistance. If you would like to receive school district messages, we kindly request that you create your own contact preference profile using our school district’s subscriber website for Communicate. This will enable you to control the ways in which you prefer to be contacted. It also works like a mailbox, giving you a place to review messages that you may have missed. In order to utilize this feature, simply follow the steps below to create an account through this secure website. For additional information, please call Kathy Hanley at 631-791-4221. ______________________ Steps for setting up your account: 1. Enter the following URL into your web browser: https://asp.schoolmessenger.com/PortJeff/subscriber/ 2. Click the Sign Up Now link near the bottom of the page. 3. You will be taken to the Sign Up page where you will need to confirm the encrypted image, your name, a valid email address and a password. You’ll use your email address and the password you entered to access your account. Review and accept the Terms of Service. Click Create Account when you are done. (Note: West Corporation has a strict privacy policy and does not sell or distribute your contact information to any third-party organizations.) 4. Check your email. You should receive an account activation email from support@schoolmessenger.com with the subject “Account Activation.” Follow the directions to activate your account - activation codes are valid for 24 hours. Next, click on the link which takes you to a confirmation page. You must enter your password in order to activate your account. (Note: Do not reply to this email directly – you only need to follow the directions). 5. Once your account is activated, you’re ready to select your notification preferences. 6. Simply select the type(s) of notifications you wish to receive and the groups to which you belong. 7. When you have finished making selections, click Save. 8. Follow the instructions to add additional contact information to your account, ie. additional emails, phone numbers, etc. Please know that you will need to reactivate your account each school year. We hope you enjoy Communicate and take advantage of this opportunity to stay connected to our school community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142236 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142236 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The March 26, 2019 work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board ofEducation has been changed to a special meeting to be held at Edna Louise SpearElementary School at 7:30 PM. Call to order will be at 6:00 PM at the District Office forthe purpose of entering into executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142030 Sun, 24 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142030 A Little Night Music! Students from the high school Tri-M music honor society hosted their annual Cabaret Night on Feb. 13. Led by Tri-M adviser Christine Creighton, attendees were seated at tables and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and desserts while being entertained by the student-musicians who performed a wide variety of musical selections. The event served as a fundraiser for the Tri-M music honor society’s annual scholarship. Thanks to our talented performers Katie Ambrozy, Cole Fortier, Lane Lofaso, Chris Parsick, Mattea Rabeno, Ava Schully, Pina Than, Jack Worrell and Peggy Yin. Thanks also to the Tri-M Executive Board members for their efforts in bringing joyful sounds to our school community: co-presidents Cole Fortier & Ava Schully; vice president Grace Crugnale; secretary Olivia Weldon; treasurer Katie Ambrozy and community liaison Ju-Eun Ha. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142233 Thu, 21 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142233 The elementary school After School Swim program is canceled on Wednesday 2/27 due to staff training. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142039 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142039 Missing Mitten Prompts Generous Gesture Fifth-grader Catherine Poten was on safety patrol duty – a leadership program in which older students escort kindergartners from their bus to their classroom – when she noticed her charge was visibly upset. “I asked her what was wrong and she said she lost her mitten,” Catherine said. Catherine tried to keep her calm by asking her favorite color – pink – and then brought her to her classroom. When Catherine went home that day, she told her parents what had happened and her dad took her to the store to get the child a new pair of mittens. “Kindness comes from our hearts,” Catherine said, before adding that the little girl wears the new mittens almost every day. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142232 Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:00:00 GMT false142232 Students Explore Iconic Works of Art Students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s fifth-grade art club visited the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at SUNY Stony Brook's Staller Center to view the “Iconicity” exhibit. The trip was an opportunity for them to expand on their classroom and art club creativity and lessons. They were accompanied by art teachers Richard Anderson and Meghan McCarthy. During the visit, Karen Levitov, director and curator for the gallery, spoke with the students about the techniques and inspiration behind the artists’ works before they engaged in several hands-on activities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142051 Fri, 15 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142051 Spring Athletic Apparel Hey Royals fans, The spring athletic apparel stores are now open! Don't miss out on the chance to show your Royal pride and support Port Jefferson Athletics. Click the links below to see your apparel options. Once you are ready to order, follow the yellow arrow and click on the words SHOP NOW located on the bottom right of the flyer. The final day to order is February 26th. Thank you for supporting Port Jefferson Athletics! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142231 Fri, 15 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142231 Third-grade Wordplay Nice, Intelligent, Noticeable and Awesome for Nina. Loyal, Understanding, Kind and Entertaining for Luke. Joyful, Outgoing, Silly, Entertaining, Peaceful and Helpful for Joseph. Those were just some of the words students in Rachel Erickson’s third-grade class used as they took a creative step in identifying themselves. The class produced acrostic poems with adjectives that spelled out their name along with magazine pictures or printed emojis to decorate a bulletin board outside their classroom. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142230 Thu, 14 Feb 2019 19:00:00 GMT false142230 Dash’s Lego Challenge To coincide with the robotics and computer programming unit and new STEAM program in the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School library, fourth- and fifth-graders were presented with a challenge: to create and build a structure with Legos that represented a book. The students realized that it wasn’t going to be so easy. Their engineering skills came into play when they built the structure, mounted it on the Dash robot’s head, then coded it with movement, sound and lights, while being sure the structure stayed attached the entire time. The coding had to relate to the structure and the book (for example a car book had to have sounds and movement related to automobiles). After the students completed their assignment, they presented their structure and coding to the class. “I was thrilled with their work ethic and enthusiasm for the challenge,” school librarian Selinda Stout said. “They used their imagination and their coding skills to present such cool, animated robots! I am so proud of my students.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142046 Thu, 14 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142046 Celebrating Pre-K Students in Susan Giglio’s pre-K class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School celebrated the 100th day of school by dressing up as 100-year old ladies and gentlemen. In their classroom, they walked and counted 100 steps and stepped through a large paper number 100. After creating paper crowns and capes, their lessons consisted of counting and collaborating in STEM activities including making blocks and domino structures. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142050 Wed, 13 Feb 2019 17:00:00 GMT false142050 American Imperialism on Trial Port Jefferson Middle School eighth-graders took their classroom lessons to another level when they teamed up to create a mock trial about American Imperialism. After learning about the political, economic and cultural influences of the country, the students in Kayleen Everitt’s and Dr. Tara Sladek-Maharg’s English and social studies classes, respectively, represented the prosecution against Imperialism and spoke as witnesses to the trial as representatives of Latin America. The English class served as the jury and gallery. While the jury deliberated at the end and decided the trial, the gallery’s role was to evaluate each representing side’s use of the ethical strategies of ethos, pathos and logos. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142045 Wed, 13 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142045 Motivated by Music at Long Island String Festival Eleven Port Jefferson elementary and middle school string students in grades 5-8were selected to perform in the Intermediate Long Island String Festival on Jan. 27 at Hauppauge High School. Students were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with New York State School Music Association scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. The district congratulates fifth-graders Mari Fukuto and Sadie Salzman; sixth-graders Caitlin Dickhuth, Ana Kelly, Meara Kelly and Vivian O' Brian; seventh-grader Anna Rebic; and eighth-graders Alexa Ayotte, Teppei Fukuto, Olivia Schlegel and Tabitha Schully for their hard work and musical participation! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142044 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 17:00:00 GMT false142044 Chelsea Gallery Showing for Port Jeff Educator’s Art Port Jefferson Middle School/High School art teacher Stacey Schuman, a conservatory trained visual artist and instructor for 18 years in Port Jefferson schools, will showcase her work at the Atlantic Gallery in the Landmark Arts Building in Manhattan’s Chelsea gallery district. The show is Escape/ism and her painting is titled Bulbs. Her piece is part of a juried group exhibit that will run from Feb. 19 through March 9 with an opening reception on Feb. 21. Schuman has exhibited her work both locally and in New York City. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142043 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142043 Early Dismissal 2/12/2019 Good morning . This is Superintendent Paul Casciano with an important message from the Port Jefferson School District. There will be an early dismissal from school today because of the weather emergency. The high school and middle school dismissal will begin at 11:30. The elementary school will follow at approximately 12:30. All after-school and evening programs are cancelled, including the Board of Education meeting. The Board meeting has been rescheduled for February 26th. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142049 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142049 100th Victory for Rick D’Elia To be a wrestler takes a different level of dedication. Early morning runs, balancing a social life in order to train, staying in shape and competing are just a few things that Port Jefferson senior Rick D’Elia has done every winter since he began wrestling for Port Jefferson as a seventh-grader. The dedication, discipline and desire he demonstrates each day are helping him reach his goal of being the best he can be. All of this hard work has paid off for Rick as he is a three-time Suffolk County finalist, two-time Suffolk County champion and one of only 13 wrestlers in the history of Port Jefferson to win more than 100 matches. “Winning 100 matches is an awesome achievement,” coach Mike Maletta said. “It takes consistency. In wresting, as in life, you must show up and compete every day. Rick has done that at such a high level for the past four years.” Read more about Rick and his brother and teammate Anthony here: https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/wrestling/suffolk-division-ii-wresting-championships-1.27079446?utm_source=tw_sp https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142042 Mon, 11 Feb 2019 17:00:00 GMT false142042 A Night on Broadway For an opportunity to experience a world-renowned theatrical performance, members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Drama Club attended Come from Away, the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Based on the true story of thousands of travelers stranded in Canada after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the students along with their drama club director Tony Butera, observed the stage acts of kindness of humanity during this dark time. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142041 Mon, 11 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142041 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE The February 12, 2019 regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has been rescheduled to February 26, 2019, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142048 Mon, 11 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142048 Candidates for Board of Education Candidates for Board of Education Residents of Port Jefferson School District interested in running for the Board of Education, please contact the District Clerk at(631)791-4221 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141866 Fri, 08 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false141866 Airing their Accomplishments Eight Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students shared stories of their academic, athletic and community service accomplishments and activities when they were guests on the Spotlight on Long Island Schools show on LI News Radio. Hosted by Robert Vecchio, the question-and-answer format, 30-minute show highlighted the varied accomplishments of students Cole Fortier, Peyton Ginas, Shane Hartig, Emily Hearney, Kate Sommerstad, Kyra Sommerstad, Annalisa Welinder and Lucas Welinder. They were joined by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano, High School Principal Christine Austen and English teacher Michael Augello. Tune in to LI News Radio 103.9 FM to hear their impressive stories of balancing academics and other achievements on Saturday, February 9, at 10:30 a.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142497 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142497 A World of Pure Imagination! The Port Jefferson Middle School Drama Club will present Roald Dahl’s “Willy Wonka JR.” based on the beloved classic story. Showtimes are Friday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School auditorium. According to Mary LaSita, the middle school/high school librarian who serves as the club’s adviser, the production is a combined effort of close to 60 students – middle schoolers involved in the Drama Club, who make up the cast and stage crew, as well as student volunteers from the high school. Admission to the performance is available for a suggested donation of $5 per ticket or $10 per family. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142040 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142040 Superintendent Search Update 2/5/19 The Port Jefferson Board of Education has been very active in its search for the next Superintendent of Schools. The Board has contracted with Eastern Suffolk Board of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES) to assist with the search and selection process. As of this date, a number of steps have been completed: a recruitment brochure and advertisements were developed and distributed; interested parties were sent packets which included an application; and employees and community members were asked for input on the desired qualities of the next Superintendent. Applicants were prescreened by Eastern Suffolk BOCES and completed applications were forwarded to the Board to review. This week, the Board of Education will begin interviewing candidates they have selected from the initial screening. The Board of Education is grateful to the school community for participating in the survey and community forum and for providing such valuable input for the Board to consider in the selection process. View the results of the community survey below. Thank you for your continued interest and support. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142038 Tue, 05 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142038 Draft 2019-20 School District Budget Based on Town/LIPA Settlement The Port Jefferson School District presented the first draft of the 2019-20 school budget, which is the first school budget in the post Town of Brookhaven and Long Island Power Authority property tax reassessment settlement. Presentations were made at the January 22 Board of Education Work Session and the January 24 School-Community Connection session (see attachments). Additional presentations and discussions will be held throughout the budget development process. Through meetings, emails, letters, and phone calls with Brookhaven Town officials, school leaders learned how the details of the Town’s settlement would impact the school district. The Town of Brookhaven and LIPA property tax reassessment settlement represents a 50 percent reduction in the Port Jefferson’s main power plant’s assessment over a nine-year glide path beginning in 2018-19. As a result, 2019-20 represents the first and second years for the district and a six percent reduction in LIPA’s assessment. The first draft of the school budget stays within the estimated tax levy cap. It represents one of the lowest increases in the property tax levy since the tax levy cap was enacted in the 2013-14 school year. The estimated cap for the 2019-20 school year is 1.18 percent. The draft budget represents a budget reduction of approximately -$230,000. Information about the targeted reductions will be shared as we progress through budget development. The district is prepared for the challenge of scrutinizing discretionary spending as we continue to provide an outstanding educational program for students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142037 Mon, 04 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142037 District Hosts Mid-Island Band Festival Earl L. Vandermeulen High School band students, along with students from Hauppauge, Miller Place, Patchogue-Medford, Sayville, and West Islip high schools participated in the 61st Annual Mid-Island Band Festival on Jan. 25 and 26. Hosted by the Port Jefferson School District, the festival included a performance conducted by Michael Gianetta, a veteran Long Island music teacher from the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District. Congratulations to all participating students! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142036 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142036 PUBLIC NOTICE PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE VOTERS OF UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 6, TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK, ON BEHALF OF THE PORT JEFFERSON FREE LIBRARY: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a special meeting of qualified voters of Union Free School District No. 6, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, will be held in the Port Jefferson Free Library located at 100 Thompson Street, Port Jefferson, New York, on Tuesday, April 2, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., prevailing time for the purpose of voting by paper ballot upon the following items: To adopt the annual Port Jefferson Free Library budget for the fiscal year 2019-2020 and that the Board of Education of School District No. 6 be authorized and directed to raise by taxation the necessary moneys on the taxable property of the district. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that for the purpose of voting at such meeting on Tuesday, April 2, 2019 the polls will be opened between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. prevailing time, and the voting will be held in the Port Jefferson Free Library Building. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for the Port Jefferson Free Library’s purposes, exclusive of public moneys, may be seen by any taxpayer in the School District during the seven days immediately preceding said meeting, except holidays, at the Library: 100 Thompson Street, Port Jefferson, New York during regular library hours of service, between 9:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday; 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Saturday; 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, prevailing time. A Budget Information Meeting will be held on Monday, March 25 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library Meeting Room. By order of the Board of Education Union Free School District No. 6 Janice Baisley, District Clerk 2/14/19, 2/28/19, 3/14/19, 3/28/19 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142035 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142035 Heading to State Competitions! Congratulations to the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Science Olympiad team for placing fourth out of 52 teams who competed at the Eastern Long Island Regional Science Olympiad, recently held at Ward Melville High School. Their ranking allows them to compete against the best teams across New York State on March 15 and 16 at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. The students competed in categories including genetics, earth science, chemistry, anatomy, physics, geology, mechanical engineering and technology in active, hands-on group participation – a required skill in their future scientific careers. Coached by advisers and science teachers Amanda Brideson and Adam Bouchard, the students cross-trained for a variety of events in their skill set and have practiced and prepared for months for the competition. Congratulations to our medal winners: 1st place – David Rotunno and Peggy Yin for Sound of Music 2nd place – Aaron Held and Grant Samara for Fossils 3rd place – Chloe Andriani and Peggy Yin for Designer Genes 4th place – Sinan Ates and Peggy Yin for Anatomy and Physiology 4th place – Aaron Held and Kyle Onghai for Circuit Lab 5th place – Sinan Ates and Liam Gameng for Chemistry Lab 5th place – Gavin Barrett and Eadan McSweeney for Forensics 5th place – Chloe Andriani, Sinan Ates and Kyle Onghai for Protein Modeling 5th place – Sinan Ates and Eadan McSweeney for Thermodynamics 5th place –Reid Biondo and Aaron Held for Watery Quality 7th place – Liam Gameng and David Rotunno for Geological Mapping 8th place – Gani Ates and Liam Gameng for Astronomy 8th place – Grant Samara for Mission Possible 9th place – Grant Samara and Gil Zaltsman for Disease Detectives https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142034 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142034 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 6:30 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at 1:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142033 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142033 Community Swim Program and Fitness Center Closed Today The Port Jefferson Community Swim program and Community Fitness Center are closed today, Wednesday, Jan. 30. The Community Fitness Center will be open on Thursday, Jan. 31 and Community Swim will resume on Monday, Feb. 4th. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142032 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142032 Science Joins to Create Artistic Pieces Third-graders were introduced to the art of marbleizing through science. The students discussed the properties of oil and water and why they don’t mix together. As they discovered that oil is less dense than the water, it causes it to float on the surface and they were able to use this to their advantage when creating marbleized paper. They poured oil paints into a water bath and used a tool to give it the marbleized or swirled design. They then placed paper across the top of the water bath and watched as it quickly absorbed the oil pigments before promptly lifting it off of the water and letting it dry on a flat surface. “We use this paper as a background in a lesson about silhouettes and discovering positive and negative space,” art teacher Meghan McCarthy said. “This marbleized paper adds a little something special to our backgrounds and students love to create them!” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142496 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 17:00:00 GMT false142496 Alumnus Acapella Many college students visit home during the winter holidays and Port Jefferson students were fortunate to have one of their one own alumni return to the school for an acapella performance. Abby Bossert, a 2018 graduate, and a freshman at Binghamton University is part of the university’s No Strings Attached, a co-ed acapella group that brings the best of Broadway and Disney tunes to school audiences during their winter break. The passionate and musical performance was punctuated with members speaking about their experiences with musical theater, New York’s Broadway scene and recently animated classics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142495 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142495 Masters of Math Students in Port Jefferson Middle School math teacher Matt Garofola’s Algebra 1 class have been involved in the Mathematical Association of America’s American Mathematics 8 Competition for close to a decade. With no formal preparation for the test, just some sample questions provided by Garofola, students applied classroom skills to unique mathematical challenges in a 25 question, multiple choice format. The exam helps to promote the development of problem-solving skills and an enjoyment and lifelong appreciation for the study of mathematics. “I have seen more and more students embrace this challenge each year,” Mr. Garofola said. “Many of the students are eager to participate and challenge themselves to not only become our school and/or class champion, but to continue on in their studies of mathematical concepts and confidence in analytical thinking.” The Port Jefferson Middle School is proud of its school participants and congratulates seventh-grader Michael Melikyan for correctly solving 14 out of the 25 questions and eighth-grader Teppei Fukuto for correctly answering 13 out of 25. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142494 Fri, 25 Jan 2019 17:00:00 GMT false142494 Makerspace Creativity and Collaboration Port Jefferson Middle School students are engaging in the new Makerspace in the Middle School/High School library. Here, sixth-graders Alice Snyder and Emily Snyder are working on simple machines and will apply their own ideas and creativity to create other simple, maker-inspired projects. They also gain the skills of communication, collaboration and problem-solving, important requirements for working in Makerspaces. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142493 Fri, 25 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142493 Honored for Vision of Success Port Jefferson School District Special Education teachers Gina Fedler, Michelle Landetta and Christina Marino were recognized by Director of Special Education Dr. Jodi Cahill at a recent Board of Education meeting for their role in the development and enhancement of the 8:1:1 program (eight students, one teacher one teaching assistant) for middle school and high school students. Dr. Cahill mentioned their tireless work as well as their compassion, patience, skills and vision of success for the students as they prepare to become indepenedent members of the community as adults. Dr. Cahill then presented an overview of the district’s secondary 8:1:1 special education program, which highlighted the evolution of the program that meets the specific needs of students who are New York State Alternately Assessed and are working towards a Skills and Achievement Commencement Credential. Both middle school and high school students are now taught in one larger, organized classroom space that is physically accessible for all students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142492 Thu, 24 Jan 2019 18:00:00 GMT false142492 Lifting Spirits at LISFA High school string students recently performed in the Secondary Long Island String Festival on Jan. 11 at St. John the Baptist High School. The students, Monica Alexander, Ju-Eun Ha, Rachel Park, Jack Reilly and Ava Schully were selected based on a competitive basis with New York State School Music Association scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142491 Thu, 24 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142491 Artist on Display Elementary school third-grader Emily Snyder is the second Port Jefferson student to have her artwork selected for showcase at the Long Island Museum’s “Colors of Long Island” exhibit. Her piece will be on display on March 13 from 2-4 p.m. Emily’s mixed media collage was based on the work of artists Hannah Hoch, Henri Matisse and Man Ray, as well as incorporated artistic concepts she learned in art class. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144517 Sat, 19 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false144517 Read All About it! Port Jefferson Middle School students in Nancy Bachety’s Home and Career Skills classes spent time outside of class working on dozens of articles for Newsday’s Kidsday. As part of the project, students Ana Kelly, Hailey Sorell, Matthew Wengatz and Sean Wilson had a unique opportunity to interview comedian Sebastian Maniscalco in New York’s Four Seasons Hotel Downtown. “Our team of reporters worked hard preparing for the event which led to an amazing interview,” Principal Dr. Robert Neidig said. Read their interview and save the dates for their other exciting stories, March 2-8. https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/kidsday/sebastian-maniscalco-comedians-madison-square-garden-1.26053762 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142490 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142490 12,000 miles apart, excellence in education brings them together A delegate of educators from the Chinese Province of Anhui were welcomed to the Port Jefferson School District to experience and learn about the educationalopportunities in an American school. Port Jefferson was selected as one of only two districts for its reputation as a highly successful school district. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano welcomed the visitors in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School library and introduced them to district administrators during a welcome reception that included Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusic performed by the middle school orchestra students under the direction of teacher Christian Neubert. Dr. Casciano’s remarks included a mention of the high school’s national Blue Ribbon status, the numerous graduates of the district who go on to attend some of the most competitive universities in the country and the diverse backgrounds of the students who attend the schools. “Our education is well-rounded with many courses of study to meet the varied individual needs of our students,” Dr. Casciano said to the visitors. He also thanked them for visiting the schools and encouraging Port Jefferson’s educators to be reflective and constant in improving educational opportunities for students. Student leaders and administrators then guided the educators on a comprehensive tour of the high school, middle school and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Organized by Stony Brook University, three Mandarin language translators joined the educators as they witnessed interactive lessons, learned about mindfulness activities, listened to chorus members sing, tried out physical education equipment, watched students involved in art projects and, through the translators, asked thoughtful questions about reading, writing, life skills, and the high school’s numerous Advanced Placement classes in world history, statistics and physics. The visit culminated with a lunch and discussion on their educational perspectives and goals with the school district’s personnel. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142489 Wed, 16 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142489 VIDEO: Realistic Fiction https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142488 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142488 Hometown Talent Heads to Stony Brook University Aidan Kaminska has committed to the Stony Brook Seawolves and becomes the first Division I lacrosse commit to hail from Port Jefferson. Aidan, a junior, has been a two-year starter for Port Jefferson and plays for a highly competitive club team. His experiences have helped pave the way to a bright future both athletically and academically. Port Jefferson’s varsity head coach Taylor Forstell sees this commitment as a great fit for both Aidan and the Stony Brook lacrosse program. “Aidan has been a special player for our program for many years,” Mr. Forstell said. “He is visible all off-season putting in the extra time to improve his game. Morning workouts, late night training sessions and countless weekends at tournaments and prospect camps, he has earned his position at Stony Brook and we are proud of him representing Port Jefferson at such a high level of lacrosse.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142487 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 19:00:00 GMT false142487 Teddy Bear Clinic! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students each brought a special stuffed animal guest from home when they took part in a teddy bear clinic, an injury prevention program for children sponsored by the Trauma Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Learning safety topics such as using a seatbelt as a passenger in a car and wearing a helmet while biking or roller skating, the fun and interactive visit was well received by the students. Taught by Kristi Ladowski, outreach coordinator at the hospital, the students then donned scrubs, masks and surgical gloves to take care of their injured stuffed animals. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142485 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142485 District Embarks on Salute to Military The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to officially announce the creation of an Armed Forces Tribute that will recognize former Port Jefferson School District students and staff who served our nation in the Armed Forces. A brick campaign is currently underway with the cost of each brick at $100. The bricks will be set at the selected Tribute site in front of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. They will be placed on the Court of Courage and the Path of Honor surrounding the Tribute. Each purchased brick will be engraved with a special message to honor past and current service members, family members, community members or friends. The brick fundraising campaign will run until March 1 and a dedication ceremony will be held on Thursday, May 30. Please contact Kathy Hanley in the Office of the Superintendent at (631)791.4221 with any questions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142486 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142486 Port Jeff Peer Leadership Training Dozens of Earl. L Vandermeulen High School students took part in a full day of training about the health effects of vaping and nicotine. Taught by Bonnie Anderson and John Martin, educators from the Suffolk County Department of Health’s Office of Health Education, the peer education, interactive format will help these student leaders share the lessons they learned to other students in both the high school and Port Jefferson Middle School. The students viewed a Powerpoint presentation, were educated on the negative effects of electronic cigarettes, refusal skill development, learned about resources they can share and worked together to create improvisational vignettes, which they will continue to practice and refine to be ready to present to their peers. “The more we educate our students, the more empowered they are to make positive decisions,” school social worker Kristin Britt said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142484 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 17:00:00 GMT false142484 Music Students Attend Concert at Lincoln Center More than fifty Port Jefferson elementary, middle and high school string students and families attended an evening performance of the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center. Attendees enjoyed the orchestra’s performance featuring world-renowned cellist Gautier Capicon. The students were accompanied by music teacher Christian Neubert and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142483 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142483 School-Community Connection Series The topic for our January 24th School-Community Connection session has been changed to “The 2019-20 District Budget and the Impact of the Town Settlement with LIPA.” The change in topic was made as a result of the Town of Brookhaven’s agreement announcement last month. The session will be held on Thursday, January 24th at 6:30 pm in the High School Library. We hope that you can join us. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142228 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142228 More than Crimes and Misdemeanors Bringing textbook lessons to life was part of the crime scene-processing lesson for students in the high school’s forensics class. Taught by teacher Amanda Brideson, the three-week, hands-on activities included writing a mock crime scene story and then creating a detailed crime scene in a shoebox. The creative juices were flowing as students used materials including Legos, Barbie Dolls, clay and incorporated local venues including supermarkets, beaches and theaters as part of their stories. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142482 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142482 Royal Talent Congratulations to the Royals varsity field hockey team on an exceptional season. The talents of six players were recognized at the Section XI awards ceremony held in December. Student Phalina Sciara was named All-County; Taylor Corallo, Sydney Fallon and Katelynn Johnston were named All- Division; Farrah Ghaleb received an Unsung Hero award and Charlotte Kujawski was named All-Tournament. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142481 Tue, 08 Jan 2019 06:00:00 GMT false142481 An Alumnus Among Us Earl L. Vandermeulen High School alumnus Marguerite Jones recently spoke with the high school music ensembles to discuss potential college and career opportunities in music performance and administration. A 2009 graduate of the high school, Marguerite is presently working in Julliard’s Pre-College Division. She explained how her high school and college music experiences prepared her for a career in the field of music and offered advice for those seeking to follow a similar path. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142480 Tue, 08 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142480 Fitness Center is Open! The Fitness Center at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is open Monday through Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. when school is in session. The Fitness Center underwent some changes last summer and now includes equipment additions such as the Deck 2.0 workout platform, which can be set up around its three modes: Step, Bench and Ramp, Corebags, and Kettlebells and Medicine Balls, all of which can be used for fundamental movements such as squatting, bending, lunging and pushing. According to Adam Sherrard, Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, in addition to the power lifting equipment the room is designed to facilitate functional fitness exercises to help improve core strength, balance, and cardiovascular health, as well as promote relaxation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142479 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 15:00:00 GMT false142479 Winter Newsletter now Available https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142478 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142478 Important January Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142477 Wed, 02 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142477 Feburary BOE Meetings https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142031 Tue, 01 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142031 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District board of Education will be held on January 22, 2019, 7:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, for a first draft presentation of the 2019-2020 school year budget; and, any other business as may be needed. The meeting will be live-streamed via the school district website. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, January 29, 2019, 6:30 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142227 Tue, 01 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false142227 Happy Holidays! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142475 Fri, 21 Dec 2018 22:00:00 GMT false142475 Compassion and Carols Throughout the District Students and staff members throughout the Port Jefferson schools helped spread holiday cheer through festive concerts, toy and food collections and seasonal carol-grams. The elementary, middle school and high school winter concerts were joyful celebrations throughout December. Members of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s chorus delivered holiday carol-grams to the delight of recipients and onlookers. Their songs of the season surprised and delighted classmates, teachers, staff members and administrators. With the generosity of so many in the schools and community and various clubs and school organizations, 17 families in the Port Jefferson school community were gifted with food baskets and other needed items. Members of the National Honor Society, along with advisers Mary Lacita and Kathi Galvin, hosted a food fundraiser, which was all donated to the program run by social worker Kristin Britt. The high school Student Organization, under the leadership of adviser Gina Fedler, joined in the giving by creating breakfast baskets for all of the families also. Along with Port Jefferson Middle School teachers Christina Marino and Kayleen Everitt, the National Junior Honor Society collected gifts to donate to children in need as part of a toy drive for the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. “Our goal was to make a difference and bring some holiday cheer to the families in need,” Ms. Marino said. The students and staff donated a total of 60 gifts to the coalition. At Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, under the leadership of guidance counselor Jessica Peterson, staff, students and parents collected toys, gift cards and other items and worked along with members of the Port Jefferson Library and Port Jefferson Fire Department to ensure a happy holiday for eight families with 17 Port Jefferson children in total. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142476 Fri, 21 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142476 Superintendent Search As many of you know, the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education is conducting a search to hire a new superintendent. The Board is seeking input from all members of the Port Jefferson School District community. Please complete the online survey, links below in English or Spanish, by Friday, December 21. Your input is appreciated by the Board of Education as we select our district’s new superintendent. English version https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ptjeffeng Spanish version https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/ptjeffspan https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142474 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 19:00:00 GMT false142474 Town of Brookhaven/LIPA Settlement - Dec. 20 Update The Port Jefferson School District has been made aware of a settlement in the tax assessment case between the Town of Brookhaven and the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA). We have been in discussions with Town of Brookhaven officials to learn more about the specific details of the settlement and how it impacts the District. The timing of the Town’s settlement is helpful because the District is at the front end of our budget development process for the 2019-20 school year. When we have a more complete picture of the agreement that was reached, we will share that information with our school-community. Now that a settlement has been reached, we can begin moving forward with informed decisions based on real facts and less speculation. A change was expected and looming over the community and school district for quite a few years. The District will work tirelessly to make the adjustments necessary to continue our responsibility of educating the children of our community. We have confidence that we’ll be able to meet this challenge successfully as long as we work together. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142229 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142229 ‘Partners in Science’ with BNL Four high school students recently visited Brookhaven National Laboratory for the Partners in Science program. Hana Ali, Dylan Dugourd, Ameen Khan and Peggy Yin applied to be a part of the program that grants high school students who are working on approved science projects access to the vast BNL scientific database of reference and research materials. Sponsored by the Eastern Suffolk BOCES School Library System and the internationally renowned research facility, the students were accompanied by Middle School/High School library media specialist Mary LaSita. While at BNL, the students toured the National Synchrotron Light Source II with BNL scientist Kara Laasch, attended a lecture on the synchrotron, used the research library and attended a lunch with several scientists and LaSita. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142224 Tue, 18 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142224 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018, 6:30 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a legal matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142226 Tue, 18 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142226 Student-musicians Spread Holiday Cheer! The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education’s December 11 meeting was filled with the sounds of the season as student-musicians performed several holiday classics before being recognized for their contributions to the school and community during the holiday season. Leading up to the winter holidays, students participated in community events, including the Port Jefferson Village’s annual Dicken’s Festival, performing at local churches and the public library in addition to their winter concert at the high school. Dr. Michael Caravello, Director of Music and Fine Arts, introduced music teachers Maria Diaz and Edward Pisano and students Katherine Ambrozy, Grace Crugnale, Cole Fortier, Katherine Kirsch, Mattea Rabeno, Jack Reilly, Hannah Skula and Peggy Yin, who were each presented with a certificate of appreciation for their musical efforts. “One of the core missions of our department is going out in the community and spreading music and art because that’s what real artists and musicians do, they give back to their community,” said Dr. Caravello. “Our students really bring that mission to life.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142225 Mon, 17 Dec 2018 06:00:00 GMT false142225 Ready, Set, Cook! Growing up in a family in the culinary field, Vitto Lombardi started cooking at the age of eight. “My mom was not the best cook, so I thought if I could do it and put good food on the table, why not?” he said. His love of experimenting with recipes and sharing his cuisine with family and friends led the high school junior to attend the Culinary Arts program through Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology. He recently participated in the American Culinary Federation “Ready, Set, Cook” competition hosted at the Milliken Technical Center. He was paired up with three other students and a professional chef advisor. He had one hour to prepare an entrée, starch and vegetable using only the mystery ingredients provided to them. As a result of his efforts, Vitto was awarded a $12,000 scholarship for future studies at the Culinary Institute of New York at Monroe College. Congratulations Vitto! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142223 Mon, 17 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142223 Potato latkes and dreidel lessons Amy Castaldo’s third-grade class welcomed two parents who shared a celebration of Hanukkah with them. Stacey York and Natalie Litman taught the students about the history of the dreidel and the meaning of its letters. The students then tried their hand at the traditional game. They also learned about some of the symbols and traditions of the holiday and enjoyed potato latkes with applesauce. Mrs. York then read the book “How the Kvetch Stole Hanukkah,” a fun story with rhyming patterns and a story structure similar to “The Grinch.” “The story gave the students a little background knowledge of the history of Hanukkah, and helps them understand the true meaning behind the traditions,” said Mrs. Castaldo. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142222 Sat, 15 Dec 2018 02:00:00 GMT false142222 Field Hockey Team Reach Playoffs The girls varsity field hockey team had a great 2018 season. With an overall record of 7-7, they reached the playoffs and went up against Pierson for the Suffolk County Class C championship. Under the coaching leadership of Kristen Bagley and Deb Brown, the Royals played their hearts out until the final seconds of the game but were defeated 1-0. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142220 Wed, 12 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142220 Wrapped with love from the Interact Club Fifteen students from the high school’s Interact Club have helped to make spirits bright by taking part in the annual gift-wrapping event along with members of the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson. The annual project - a collection of clothing and other necessities, toys, books and games – resulted in approximately 2,750 gifts for 100 local children. A special thanks to students Monica Alexander, Olivia Alvarez, Morgan Bullis, Asher Calayag, Holly D'Accordo, Lucy DeWitt, Christine Iasso, Farrell Johnston, Sophia Knapp, Charlotte Kujawski, Michelle Parsick, Victoria Poten, Camryn Spiller, Annika Wakefield and Maggie Zhou, along with adviser Deirdre Filippi for this massive undertaking. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142219 Tue, 11 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142219 All-state honors for Hailey Hearney! Congratulations to student-athlete Hailey Hearney who was awarded the honor of Class B, third team All-State for girls soccer. She is ranked as the No. 33 girls soccer player in New York State for Class B schools. “Being represented at the state level is a great honor for any student-athlete and Hailey is well deserving,” coach Taylor Forstell said. The recognition comes on the heels of a tremendous season for Hailey, in which she led Suffolk County in goals at 21 and helped lead Port Jefferson to the brink of a playoff spot. “Girls soccer in New York State is highly competitive and it takes a special player to receive All-State honors,” Forstell continued. “Hailey proves day in and day out why she was named as an All-State player. She is the type of player that coaches can build winning traditions around and we are glad to have her leading the way for the Port Jefferson girls soccer program.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142217 Mon, 10 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142217 Superintendent’s Search Update - Survey and Community Meeting Information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142218 Mon, 10 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142218 Student-musicians perform at the Charles Dickens Festival Members of the entire Port Jefferson School District’s music department performed during the 23rd Annual Charles Dickens Festival’s Victorian Tea held at the First Presbyterian Church in Port Jefferson Village. Musical ensembles including the elementary fifth-grade select choir, the elementary/middle school chamber orchestra, the middle and high school orchestras, the high school chamber choir, and the high school jazz ensemble performed holiday favorites throughout the weekend’s event. Following these concerts, students from the middle and high school orchestras performed chamber music at the Port Jefferson Public Library. A special thank you to all of the student musicians for sharing their holiday music with the community as well as their music teachers Maria Diaz, Christian Neubert, Danielle Post, Vanessa Salzman, Edward Pisano and Director of Music and Fine Arts, Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142216 Fri, 07 Dec 2018 16:00:00 GMT false142216 Face-off skills pay off for senior Senior student-athlete Jonathan Moshe is considered by his coach as one of the best lacrosse face-off specialists to ever come through Port Jefferson. His commitment to sport and excellent academic record have led him to sign to attend Gettysburg College as a 2019 lacrosse commit. He will play for coach Hank Janczyk who ranks second among all college coaches with 453 wins and joins a Gettysburg team that ranked No. 3 in the nation last year. Beyond holding a 96+ GPA and taking on a heavy course load that includes numerous AP courses throughout his high school career, Jonathan is also a Presidential Scholar recipient and a member of various clubs including the National Honor Society, Sources of Strength, Peer Leadership and the Varsity Club. “Jonathan encapsulates what a coach looks for in a student-athlete,” coach Taylor Forstell said. “He holds himself to a high standard and puts in the extra time and effort to separate himself from others both on and off the field. He spreads his knowledge of the game to our local community by volunteering as a coach and training young boys in the craft of facing-off. Gettysburg and coach Janczyk will not be disappointed with the leader heading their way next fall.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142213 Fri, 07 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142213 Royal Compassion Ten high school students along with school social worker Kristin Britt and guidance counselor Kerri Neligon recently attended the annual Compassion Without Borders conference. Chloe Andriani, Lia Desmond, Jonathan Kelsch, Ameen Khan, Emmett Maier, James Marci, Ava Schully, Nicole Schully, Sabrina Schully and Rohan Singh worked with their peers across Suffolk County to further develop their social and emotional leadership skills and help make a difference in their school communities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142212 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 19:00:00 GMT false142212 Possibilities and Patterns for Port Jeff Art Students Elementary art teacher Meghan McCarthy is always on the lookout for ways to keep her students creatively engaged. She recently purchased Perler beads, which are commonly called melty beads for her fourth-graders to experiment with while in the art classroom’s makerspace. They’ve created mandala inspired designs, cars, motorcycles and helicopters. The make-and-take activity takes the students longer then they anticipate, which gets the creative juices flowing. “I've found it encourages them to use their fine motor skills, visual perceptual skills and social skills when working with a partner,” McCarthy said. “It's a wonderful focusing activity that they really enjoy.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142211 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142211 Duo Honored for Leadership and Community Contributions Seniors Grant Calendrille and Andrianna Monzon were each named a 2018 Suffolk Zone award winner by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. This award is presented annually to the top female and male senior physical education leaders in each Suffolk County high school. According to Adam Sherrard, the district’s Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, the pair were chosen by their physical education teachers for their outstanding character, leadership skills in schoolwide as well as physical education and health class activities, positive attitude toward instructional activities, scholastic achievements and being role models for their peers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142210 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 19:00:00 GMT false142210 Score for Port Jeff Soccer Players! Congratulations to star soccer players Hailey Hearney and Morgan Bullis, who were named All-County and All-Division, respectively, and honored at the recent All-County dinner. Hailey finished the season leading Suffolk County in goals, scoring 21 while adding another two assists. “Hailey has a knack for finding the back of the net as she is an intelligent player who often puts herself in position to score,” said coach Taylor Forstell. Morgan finished the season with five goals and two assists and, according to Forstell, was the heart and soul of the middle of the field playing the center midfield position. “Her on-field energy helped to turn over many opposing team's possessions and she was a force both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142209 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142209 Port Jefferson Poets Five Port Jefferson Middle School students and one Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student raised their voices at the annual Port Jefferson Charles Dickens Festival when they read their original poems during the Friday evening lantern lighting dedication ceremony. Sixth-graders Izzie Chen (Wintertime), Alice Snyder (A Snowy Night), Ava Tuccillo (Winter) and Devon Welsch (Snowflakes) and seventh-grader Vivian Kim (First Snow) took center stage for the yearly tradition around the village as each lantern was dedicated with a plaque for the weekend festival. Eighth-grader Ruby Ray read her poem (The Village Dickens Plan) at the Festivals’ Saturday morning opening ceremony. Senior Jonathan Kelsch recited a memorial piece he wrote to his friend Dylan, a former Port Jefferson student, in front of the lantern that was dedicated to his life. “We are so proud of the efforts that not only did these students put into the creative process, but to be so well-spoken and poised in front of a large crowd of people,” Monica Consalvo, who organized the students’ participation in the event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142215 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 23:00:00 GMT false142215 Math Lessons and Menorah Making Students in Melissa Martin’s kindergarten class began a recent morning with a geometry lesson. After learning about triangles, hexagon, rectangles and squares and listening to “Sammy Spider’s First Hannukah,” they created their own paper menorahs. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142221 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 22:00:00 GMT false142221 Goodwill on the Ground at Camp Paquatuck Eighteen student volunteers from the high school’s Interact Club and Port Jefferson Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society visited Camp Paquatuck in Center Moriches as part of an annual fall cleanup. They united with the Port Jefferson Rotary Club and several other organizations to help with the upkeep of the property by raking the grounds and cleaning up the bunks. “In the spring, we will return to plant flowers and get everything ready for the campers with special needs who attend the camp throughout the summer months,” said Interact adviser Deirdre Filippi, who attended along with NJHS adviser Kayleen Everitt. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142208 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 19:00:00 GMT false142208 BOE Accolades for Annalisa Welinder Senior Annalisa Welinder was commended for her many accomplishments at a recent Board of Education meeting. Introduced by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano as a truly exceptional student both in the classroom and in the concert hall, Annalisa stood with pride as Principal Christine Austen spoke glowingly of her many accomplishments throughout her educational career in Port Jefferson schools. In addition to being named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, Annalisa has challenged herself by taking 13 Advanced Placement courses at the high school and takes an applied linear algebra class through Suffolk County Community College. An avid reader, poet and athlete, she has a talent and passion for music and has attended Julliard’s pre-college division music program since childhood to perfect her exceptional violin skills. She also recently served as concertmaster for Julliard's Pre-College Centennial Gala at Lincoln Center, alongside world-renowned classical musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142207 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142207 Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE Port Jeff LiveStream Account WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 5TH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 7:00 P.M.HSAUDITORIUM THURSDAYDECEMBER 6TH MIDDLE SCHOOL GRADES 7 & 8 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM WEDNESDAYDECEMBER 12THMIDDLE SCHOOL GRADE 6 7:00 P.M.HSAUDITORIUM THURSDAYDECEMBER 13THHIGH SCHOOL 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142214 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142214 Swimming Sisters Significant Successes The Port Jefferson School District is proud to recognize Kyra Sommerstad and Kate Sommerstad for their achievements at the recent New York State Swim Championships. In addition to their commitment to academics, the sisters are independent swimmers for Port Jefferson who both have been swimming competitively for seven years with the Three Village Swim Club. Kyra, a junior, started swimming at the high school level when she was in 8th grade. She is a seven-time Suffolk County champion and has qualified at the state level four times in multiple events. She won the 200-individual medley and placed 2nd in the 100-backstroke at the 2018 state championship, was named a 2017-18 Scholastic All-America team member, a competitive accomplishment with high academic requirements to swim at the national level. This is the first year for freshman Kate to swim at the high school level. She placed 2nd in the 500-freestyle and 7th in the 100-backstroke at the 2018 Suffolk County Championships, which qualified her for the state level. There, she qualified for the 500-freestyle and made it to the finals and placed 21st in the 100-backstroke. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142206 Mon, 03 Dec 2018 17:00:00 GMT false142206 Important December Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142205 Mon, 03 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142205 Students Embrace Chamber Music In a continued partnership with Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, Port Jefferson music students had the opportunity to experience world-class musicians when they attended a performance of the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra recently. Accompanied by Edna Louise Spear Elementary School orchestra teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School choral teacher Maria Diaz, the close-to-home collaboration engages students with innovative performances, as this concert highlighted two artists who brought a transformation to their time-honored instruments: Latvia’s Ksenija Sidorova on the accordion and Israel’s Avi Avital on the mandolin. Arranged by Dr. Salzman and Paul Newland, outreach coordinator at Stony Brook University, Port Jefferson orchestra students and their families are invited to attend concerts each year at the university. Tickets are provided courtesy of Staller Center Outreach Endowment. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142204 Fri, 30 Nov 2018 18:00:00 GMT false142204 Embodying Teamwork Middle School teacher Christina Carlson was browsing Facebook when she came across a posting by a parent commending the camaraderie of the middle school cross-country team. The public announcement told of her son’s first time on a team and the support and encouragement he received by his teammates. Coached by middle school social studies teacher Philip Giannusa, the team really flourished this year because the students all worked hard every day and continuously helped each other get better. “We tried to build a family environment from the first day and the students really adopted this idea and made sure to pick each other up and encourage each other to finish the race even when they were ready to give up,” Giannusa said. “Our success this year was because we had a great deal of care for each other and we all wanted each other to succeed.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142203 Fri, 30 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142203 Senior to Run for Big Red Earl L. Vandermeulen senior Aileen Schretzmayer was awarded a scholarship recognizing her academic achievement and leadership potential to attend Denison University in September 2019. Aileen will compete for the Big Red’s women’s cross-country and track and field teams at the university, which competes in the North Coast Athletic Division III Conference. Aileen has an impressive academic and athletic career taking numerous Honors, college-level and Advanced Placement courses and has an interest in the arts, which led her to attend a pre-college portfolio development program at the Art League of Long Island this past summer. Her running career includes many highlights starting in seventh-grade including MVP honors, a coach’s award, All-League, All- Division, a state meet qualifier and undefeated in league meets in both 800m and 1500m as a junior. The school community commends her for her hard work and dedication in representing the high school's cross-country and track and field teams. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142202 Thu, 29 Nov 2018 18:00:00 GMT false142202 Tennis Triumph Members of the varsity tennis team were lauded along with coach Dennis Christofor at the Suffolk County Tennis Coaches Association Awards Dinner for an exceptional season. They made the playoffs losing a close match to Half Hollow Hills West. Seniors Annalisa Welinder and Devin Rotunno and eighth-grader Nicolina Giannola all celebrated wins at singles play. The girls are looking forward to next year with leadership by future senior Hana Ali in the doubles lineup and Nicolina Giannola as the first singles player. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142201 Thu, 29 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142201 A Cold Endeavor Warms Hearts A record number of 55 members of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Varsity Club attended the Town of Brookhaven’s annual Polar Plunge recently held at Cedar Beach in Mt. Sinai to benefit the Special Olympics. They collectively raised $9,450 through their fundraising efforts. The Varsity Club members and their advisers, teachers Jesse Rosen and Deirdre Filippi, engage in projects centered around athletics and also run school-organized events and activities that help to raise money for various service-minded organizations. “We are so incredibly proud of the student’s efforts,” Mrs. Filippi said of the students continued interest in positively helping and influencing people around them while challenging themselves in the process. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142200 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142200 Gravitating toward Gratefulness Although Port Jefferson School District students work to spread kindness every day, they took some extra steps to celebrate World Kindness Day with one another and in the community. Working with special education teacher Monica Consalvo and librarian Mary LaSita, numerous high school and middle school students collected non-perishable food items, toiletries and cold weather clothing items for the Northport Veterans Home and local charities. Other fun activities included creating kindness hashtag sprinkles such as #begrateful, #youarespecial and #celebrateyou that were shared in their ELA classes, posting kindness messages on all lockers in both schools, making kindness announcements over the PA system during the change of classes and placing inspirational cards in student lockers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142199 Tue, 27 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142199 Four Decades of Frost Valley This year’s annual trip to Frost Valley for sixth-graders marked 40 years that students have participated in nature hikes, science exploration, outdoor living skills, trust-building activities, and teamwork. The two days of adventures included orienteering, visiting waterfalls, observing animals, learning to read maps and use a compass and crossing cable bridges. Frost Valley educators introduced the students to a variety of animals and reptiles and helped them understand how these species spend their days both in captivity and in the wild. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142198 Mon, 26 Nov 2018 22:00:00 GMT false142198 Senior Performs at Juilliard Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Annalisa Welinder recently served as concertmaster for Juilliard's Pre-College Centennial Gala at Lincoln Center. This special event, including musical works by Bernstein, Beethoven, and Rimsky-Korsakov, featured Annalisa performing alongside guest conductor Robert Spano and world-renowned pianist Emanuel Ax. The performance was attended by her proud parents, Port Jefferson faculty members Anne Algieri, Dennis Christopher and Kerri Neligon, high school principal Christine Austen and Director of Music and fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142197 Mon, 26 Nov 2018 17:00:00 GMT false142197 These students are Wellfit Getting ready for the traditional Thanksgiving meals has a different twist for students at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Along with health/physical education teacher Dinarae Camarda students once again hosted a Wellfit Feast. The physical education elective course encourages students to take traditional Thanksgiving recipes and modify them with healthier alternatives to lower the sugar and fat content. The students submitted their recipes to the Wellfit Google classroom and then brought their culinary creations in to share on the day of the feast. “The students get to see that creating healthier versions of their favorite traditional recipes doesn’t mean compromising on taste,” Ms. Camarda said. “We’ve had the feast for six years now and every year it gets bigger and better than the year before!” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142196 Mon, 26 Nov 2018 06:00:00 GMT false142196 Showcasing musical talents at SCMEA Day of Tuba Festival Five Port Jefferson School District students band students recently participated in the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s 38th Annual Day of Tuba Festival at Central Islip High School. Eighth-grader Frank Andriani, sophomore Gani Ates, junior Sinan Ates, sixth-grader Max Joyner and eighth-grader Christopher Mark joined more than 200 exceptional tuba students from across Suffolk County. Their talents were showcased on one stage during a remarkable performance alongside professional musicians including renowned tuba guest artist Velvet Brown. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142195 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142195 Vocalists Perform at Walk for Beauty Six members of the high school’s chamber choir – Grace Crugnale, Cole Fortier, Kitty Kirsch, Mattea Rabeno, Hannah Skula and Peggy Yin – along with music director, Maria Diaz, performed at the Stony Brook Village Walk for Beauty and Hercules on the Harbor 10K on Oct. 21st. Sponsored by Suffolk County Leg. Kara Hahn, the event helped raise money for breast cancer research at Stony Brook Medicine. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142190 Fri, 16 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142190 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on December 11, 2018, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142194 Fri, 16 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142194 Drama Production - Fools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142193 Thu, 15 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142193 Unique Celebration of Music Fourth-grade music students Jonah Boerboom, Allie Blumenthal, Iris Park and Julie Friedman recently attended the SCMEA PEAK Festival. The PEAK Festival (Parents, Educators and Kids), is a unique celebration of elementary classroom music. Port Jefferson’s students performed music alongside their parents and music teacher Danielle Post. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142189 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142189 Eating the Colors of the Rainbow In a collaborative effort with St. Charles Hospital, registered dietician Alyssa Morando visited Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and spoke to students about nutrition and healthy lunch choices. Ms. Morando also handed out forms for the students to help pick out the name of the hospital’s new surgical Davinci robot. The choices - Chip, Edison, Dr. Charles, Dr. Roboto and Surg-io are in the running and the most votes for a particular name will be unveiled in December, based solely on the student’s votes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142188 Tue, 13 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142188 NEW Elementary School Report Card Meeting Thursday November 15th at 5:30 p.m. in the Elementary Library More Information Sample Report Cards https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142192 Tue, 13 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142192 Good Luck at States! The Port Jefferson Boys varsity cross-country team was undefeated in the League season winning the Division IV championship. They also won the Suffolk County Class C title. Brian Veit was the county champion and Cooper Schoch finished second. Five of the runners were All-League athletes. The team also had five of the ten top finishers in the county race. “The team was dedicated and tough,” coach Rod Cawley said. “They worked as a unit and overwhelmed most of our competition. We are also very young: five sophomores, one freshman and a senior. We are looking forward to the next two years!” Senior Aileen Schretzmayer finished 5th in Suffolk County and has also qualified for the New York State meet. “Aileen has been our MVP for cross-country for the past two years,” coach Don Slingerland said. She has also been first team All-League and All-Division and served as the team captain. Eli Joyner, Royce Perera, Grant Samara, Brian Veit, Aileen Schretzmayer Cooper Schoch, Gray Joyner and Owen Okst are to be commended their hard work and dedication in representing Port Jefferson’s successful cross-country teams at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association state meet hosted by Section XI at Sunken Meadow State Park in Kings Park, NY on Saturday, Nov. 10. Good luck! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142191 Fri, 09 Nov 2018 17:00:00 GMT false142191 Golf Glory! Senior Shane DeVincenzo was crowned Suffolk County Golf Individual Champion for the second time, a rare accomplishment. A four-time state qualifier, he shot 73-70 over two days at Rock Hill Golf Course and won by seven shots over his closest competitor. All-County honors were also bestowed on senior Josh Gelfond, who according to Ruoff, has worked hard to develop a very solid golf game. Congratulations to the Port Jefferson golf team took third place in all of Suffolk County. A great achievement for Shane, Josh and Billy Alter, Jeff Alter, Alex DiCarlo and Charlie Rolfe. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142187 Fri, 09 Nov 2018 07:00:00 GMT false142187 Honoring a Classmate’s Memory The Port Jefferson School community was out in full force at the Out of the Darkness walk, held recently at Jones Beach. Dozens of students and staff members walked as part of Team Dylan, which honors the memory of Port Jefferson student Dylan Berger. Collectively, the school community raised $2,490 through the school’s Gay Straight Alliance, the International Club and a staff dress-down day. The funds will directly benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “We are proud of the many students who step up to help raise awareness on suicide and depression,” Kristin Britt, adviser to the GSA said. “When they foster a better understanding of themselves and their friends and classmates, they gain the capacity for empowerment and help in sharing the fact that there are always safe outlets, supportive environments and always someone to talk to.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142186 Fri, 09 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142186 Students Read in a Neutral Zone Perseverance and teamwork were the name of the game when Earl L. Vandermeulen High School varsity football players visited Gina Santini’s fourth-grade class as part of a community service project. The football players – Jonathan Bachmann, Sam Caltagirone, Nathan DiGregorio, Ryan Holmes, Patrick Kleaka, Bryce Lewis, Michael McGuire, Matt Murphy, Daniel Shaughnessy, Jordan Suarez, Eric Zimmermann and Gabe Zoda – participated in the event along with cheer captain Katie Ambrozy, in the event organized by the team’s booster club, parent Holly Caltagirone and coach Andrew Cosci. After reading “Game Day” by Tiki and Ronde Barber, the players took turns answering questions from students from how they balance their schoolwork and sports to plans for the future. The reading session culminated with the athletes taking the fourth-graders outside to teach them how to throw a football. “The camaraderie of these athletes is inspiring,” Mr. Cosci said, adding that the event is something he looks forward to having the students participate in, as they serve as role models and encourage the younger students to form and maintain friendships throughout their school years. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142185 Thu, 08 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142185 Special Education Parent Teacher Association The District’s newly formed Special Education Parent Teacher Association encouraged memberships and are pleased to announce that Edna Louise Spear Elementary School came in with the most teacher/aid memberships. They beat the Port Jefferson Middle School by a little over a half of a percent. Because this contest was so close, SEPTA is thanking both schools with a bagel breakfast on Nov. 9. Port Jefferson SEPTA, a group of parents and educators coming together to support, inform, and advocate for the needs of our special education students, appreciates the enthusiasm and support from the school community and looks forward to a successful year. SEPTA meetings are held in the Elementary School Large Group Room, the next one is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 29 at 7 p.m. With a host of meetings, guest speakers and special topics, keep informed by visiting the SEPTA website at https://portjeffersonsepta.com https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142184 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 21:00:00 GMT false142184 November Meeting Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142963 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142963 Environmental Experiential Lessons Taking a school field trip is often an enhancement to classroom studies and high school students had an opportunity to do just that when they climbed aboard an actual research vessel in Shinnecock Bay. Students from Marine Biology, AP Environmental Science, and Living Environment classes, along with science teacher Jonathan Maletta, spent a recent day with scientists from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University. The SoMAS scientists provided a wealth of information during the unique voyage. Students learned about water quality parameters, such as dissolved oxygen content and turbidity, in the bay and the Atlantic Ocean. They also sampled marine sediment to understand the geologic features of the bay. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142960 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142960 Undefeated! The Port Jefferson Middle School football team capped off an undefeated 2018 season. “The attitude and effort of this group of athletes made for a special experience,” coach Jesse Rosen said. “We look forward to seeing them progress as student athletes.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142962 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 16:00:00 GMT false142962 Community Service Award for Senior Senior Lia Desmond was nominated and recognized with the Thomas Cutinella Foundation Service Award for her work in helping to make a positive impact in the local community. Lia was honored during a varsity football game halftime ceremony by the Long Island Radio Broadcasting’s Tour For 54, which honors local high school students with the award to help raise awareness for the Thomas Cutinella Foundation, named in memory of the athlete and working to inspire and share the fundamental beliefs and values that defined his life. Clocking in more than 880 community service in her high school career, Lia is a member of the Section XI Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, secretary of the Peer Leadership Club, a member of the Varsity Club and the varsity volleyball team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142959 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142959 School-Community Connection Series Please join us for our School-Community Connection Series, providing information and conversation about the Port Jefferson School District community. Our next open discussion – School Safety and Security – will be held on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School library. We welcome your participation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142961 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142961 Art Students Paint the Town Districtwide art students and teachers participated in this year’s Harvest Festival Window Painting Contest, sponsored by the Port Jefferson Harbor Education & Arts Conservancy. To participate, student teams were assigned a storefront window in the village to paint in a Halloween or autumn theme. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142958 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142958 Promoting Unity Members of the high school Gay Straight Alliance shared the mission of the organization to seventh-grade students at Port Jefferson Middle School during National Coming Out Day. Dozens of students from both schools are involved in the student-led organization, which works to bring awareness for a safer, more supportive school environment, free from bullying and harassment, not only for the LGBT community but for all students. The students also hosted a bake sale with proceeds earmarked for the Out of the Darkness Walk for suicide awareness and prevention that they will participate in on Oct. 28 at Jones Beach along with advisers Kristin Britt and Dinarae Camarda. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142957 Tue, 30 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142957 Port Jeff Proud! Thank you to the Port Jefferson School District community for the input provided on the new logo for all district athletic teams. Seen here, the votes were for this one, which will be consistent regardless of the team or sport. It will appear on apparel that student-athletes, faculty, parents and team supporters purchase for their personal use. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142956 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 17:00:00 GMT false142956 Information and entertainment from ‘The Morning Show’ A new collaboration at the high school has students excited to get to the classroom to start the day’s work – producing “The Morning Show,” a joint effort between the technology and English departments. According to English teacher Michael Augello, the initial goal was to produce a show that both informs and entertains. Each show allows collaboration and creative input from the student anchors and a spot interview that highlights teachers, students, teams, programs, events and other things going on in the school and community. On the technical side, students are learning from technology teacher Brian Chalmers how to shoot and edit their own stories, which includes setting up a shot with proper lighting, arranging and connecting microphones, framing the subject within the shot and editing during post-production. They also learn how to manage and operate cameras, the control room, the teleprompter and other equipment necessary in producing the show. With Mr. Augello, the students learn how to find and create stories and determine not only how the story affects their audience, but how best to engage their audience in telling the story. During interviews, students must frame their questions in an order that makes sense and in a way that gives their subject room to discuss and explain – a real flowing, conversational interview, not just simple yes or no answers. Being an anchor is a great educational challenge for the students by developing and enhancing their organizational and public speaking skills. They are responsible for writing the script and developing transitions between segments all while speaking clearly and conversationally toward the camera. The first successful air date was early October and the students work to produce each program just one day in advance. It is broadcast throughout the building during homeroom so everyone has a chance to stay involved in the happenings of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142952 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142952 Promoting Wellness In a partnership with the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, the Port Jefferson School District recently hosted the first of its Promoting Wellness – Community Forum Series. Adam Birkenstock, a licensed clinical social worker and a representative from LICADD, was the guest speaker. His program, “Helping Our Children Manage Stress in the 21st Century,” addressed the important health and well-being issues that affect many students. The interactive evening helped parents/guardians understand their essential roles in how to assist teens in managing and reducing stress and anxiety. His topics included academic and social stress, stress management, mindfulness and the impact of technology on stress. “We are grateful for Mr. Birkenstock’s shared expertise with our school community,” Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal Christine Austen said. “As many of our students recognize that knowledge is power, this partnership is an opportunity for further community engagement in their well-being.” The next event in the proactive series will be “The Ugly Truth,” a powerful presentation about the opioid epidemic presented by the Suffolk County Police Department. It will be held on Monday, Nov. 26 in the Port Jefferson Middle School Multipurpose Room at 6:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142955 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142955 VIDEO: Fire Safety https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142954 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 10:00:00 GMT false142954 Inspiring Change with ‘Ryan’s Story’ Middle school students were introduced to a powerful speaker who began his presentation by letting them know that the story they would hear would be sad, but his intention was to have them all think and act differently about the issue of bullying. He succeeded. A voice of hope in the suicide prevention movement, John Halligan who lost his thirteen-year-old son Ryan to suicide, shared a video montage of his child and spoke of his life and challenges before his death in 2003. According to English teacher Allison Giannusa who coordinated the presentation, many of the 6-8 grade students took away several positive messages including optimism, as well as learning from mistakes and, most importantly, that they are loved. As a follow-up to the presentation, the students reflected on what could have been done differently to prevent Ryan’s death. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142953 Fri, 26 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142953 Encouraging Unity When students, peers and adults recognize and respond to bullying behavior, a powerful message is sent that it is not acceptable. To share in that message, middle schoolers wore orange to signify their stance on Unity Day on Oct. 24. The theme of the day was to unite against bullying and all social studies classes in the school viewed a Powerpoint and video presentation, detailing the nationally recognized event that promotes kindness, acceptance and inclusion. Seventh-grade teacher Monica Consalvo, who annually coordinates the schoolwide campaign, helps to reinforce the strong message of anti-bullying programs. “We want students to embrace Unity Day’s message and make the commitment to be accepting of people’s differences,” she said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142951 Thu, 25 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142951 Girls Soccer Team Kicks for Cancer The girls varsity soccer team held their annual Pink Game in support of Kicks for Cancer, a local initiative that combines athletics with fundraising for cancer research. With a bake sale and gift cards and high-end raffle prizes the girls raised more than $1,000 to support the cause in a winning game against Amityville. Along with coach Taylor Forstell, the school community congratulates team members Francesca Antonelli, Heidi Biedenkapp, Paige Bruno, Morgan Bullis, Alexandra Carlson, Kate Carlson, Holly D’Accordo, Kailey D’Accordo, Madison Feinstein, Hailey Hearney, Kerrigan Hurney, Farrell Johnston, Sophia Knapp, Reese Koban, Jacqueline Lambe, Gina Lucero, Beverly Ann Maier, Lena McFarland and Abigail Rolfe on this outstanding achievement. “We are so proud of the efforts of our athletes to not only play the game but understand how to help make a difference in the lives of others,” Port Jefferson School District’s Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Adam Sherrard said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142947 Wed, 24 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142947 Elementary Educator Makes History for District Fifth-grade teacher Megan Roth-Ueno is making history for the Port Jefferson School District. After a rigorous application and selection process she has been named a New York State Master Teacher, the first for the district. She will join a reputable group of innovators and leaders in STEM education who bring a unique perspective to enhancing their students’ education. According to Roth-Ueno, as a classroom teacher it is often difficult to learn firsthand what is happening in other schools and programs. It generally requires being out of a teacher’s own classroom in order to visit other schools. The New York State Master Teacher Program will enable her to learn about other programs outside of the school day and help her become more aware of her cohort’s schoolwide programs and eventually work to create and plan curriculum together. “The NYSMTP is an opportunity for me to collaborate with and learn about what other educators are doing in their classrooms,” she said. With a realigned New York State science curriculum in the process, her enthusiasm for collaboration also sparked an idea to create short instructional science videos with her new colleagues. Teaching since 1995 and in the Port Jefferson schools since 2000, Roth-Ueno co-founded the Suffolk County Elementary Math Tournament just over 10 years ago as there was no elementary opportunity in Suffolk County. Its growth and annual tournament at Stony Brook University, is supported by the Institute for STEM Education, where Roth-Ueno is excited to be in a room of several hundred students who are enthusiastic about math. “We are extremely proud of Mrs. Roth-Ueno,” said Port Jefferson School District’s Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Jessica Schmettan. “It is a testament to her dedication and hard work.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142948 Wed, 24 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142948 Welcoming Cultural Diversity The district’s ENL department welcomed newcomers and current students and their families to a festive celebration of food and fun at the elementary school. With a multicultural menu and handmade sushi rolls shaped as the popular Minion character, the families had an opportunity to learn about the Port Jefferson School District community and tips and resources on how to participate in their child’s education. Welcomed by ENL teachers Mary Lyons, Christina Marino, Regina Paquette and Jennifer Walling, and with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano, high school Principal Christine Austen, middle school Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and Assistant Principal Claudia Smith present, it was an informative evening. A representative from the Port Jefferson Public Library also conducted a presentation about the resources it offers. The K-12 students enjoyed their time together both at the dinner and in the gymnasium for some friendly and sociable activities and the newcomers were gifted with Port Jefferson sweatshirts courtesy of the high school’s International Club. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142946 Tue, 23 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142946 COLLEGE ATHLETICS “RECRUITING” PRESENTATION FOR PARENTS & STUDENTS https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142945 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142945 First-graders learn to Stop, drop and roll First-graders learned about fire safety and prevention tips during National Fire Prevention Week Oct. 7-13. The students were excited to see a red fire truck arrive at the school and more excited to learn that music teacher Christian Neubert, who is a volunteer firefighter, was at the steering wheel. Mr. Neubert introduced two members of the Port Jefferson Fire Department, Andrew Altamirano and Paul Penske, a 2018 graduate of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Together, the trio demonstrated the life-saving tools used by firefighters, shared safety tips and showed the students their fire gear before each one had an opportunity to take a look at the inside of the fire truck. The students then had classroom discussions and created posters with their newly acquired knowledge of fire safety. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142950 Fri, 19 Oct 2018 18:00:00 GMT false142950 Top Performer on the Field! Congratulations to Royals quarterback Sam Florio, who was chosen as a Newsday Gridiron Great! He was recognized for completing 9 out of 14 passes for 237 yards and five touchdowns in a 35-7 win over Hampton Bays. He is the third Royal to be selected for the achievement. Great job Sam! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142944 Fri, 19 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142944 Senior to Represent Music Program at State Conference Congratulations to senior Ava Schully who was selected to participate in the New York State School Music Association All-State Winter Conference in Rochester, NY from Nov. 29-Dec. 2. Ava will perform on cello with the All-State String Orchestra. She will sit among the finest student-musicians across New York State. The rigorous process for selecting an All-State musician includes teacher recommendations, audition scores at the NYSSMA solo evaluation festival during the prior spring and participation in other performing organizations. “Congratulations to Ava for representing the Port Jefferson School District’s music program with pride,” said Michael Caravello, the district’s director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142941 Thu, 18 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142941 Port Jefferson School District Armed Forces Tribute Project Fundraiser This fundraiser is sponsored by the New York Jets football team to support the Port Jefferson School District. For every 300 level seat sold, the district receives $5. For every seat 200 level seat or lower, the district receives $10. The funds this season will be used to support the PJSD Armed Forces Tribute project. https://nyjets.spinzo.com/?group=school-offer-6vz4&affiliate=port-jefferson-union-free-school-district--fshh&bundle=school-offer-program-2018 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142943 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142943 Combining Athletics and Altruism to Spike Out Cancer High school students combined athletics and altruism when the girls varsity and junior varsity volleyball teams hosted a Dig Pink breast cancer awareness fundraiser on Oct. 5. The team members sold paper volleyballs to decorate a large poster adorned with pink ribbons and titled Spiking Out Cancer. Their efforts raised more than $1,500, which will benefit the Side-Out Foundation, an organization that unites high school volleyball players and coaches as they work to help further breast cancer awareness, education and patient services. A royal thanks to coach Douglas VonBargen and the girls volleyball teams: varsity members, seniors Ashley Catoggio, Taylor Catoggio, Lia Desmond, Brett Dooley and Samantha Miceli; juniors Samantha Ayotte, Kelli Booker, Emily Bossert, Kylie Melzer, Ava Napoli and Chloe Simunek and sophomore Evelyn Walker; and junior varsity players, sophomores Emily Brown, Calli Saieva, Selena Ueno and Peggy Yin; and freshmen Olivia Alvarez, Lucy DeWitt, Emily Hearney, Kasumi Layne-Stasik and Payton Melzer. The team set up an online fundraising platform, for those who may want to contribute: https://giving.side-out.org/campaigns/14985#/ https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142940 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142940 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on November 13, 2018, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142949 Wed, 17 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142949 Honored for a Commitment to Learning Seventh-grader Michael Melikyan’s motivation, hard work and dedication paved his way to earn a student of the month award and recognition by the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson. Michael’s conscientious commitment to the learning process is a primary reason why he was nominated by English teacher Deirdre Filippi and unanimously selected by the entire seventh grade faculty for the honor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142939 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142939 County honors for notable musical achievements Four high school students will represent the district’s music program when they participate in the New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education All-County Music Festival. Sinan Ates, Rachel Park, Ryan Robertson and David Rotunno will take part in the festival at Connetquot and Half Hollow Hills East High Schools on Nov. 7th, 15th and 16th. They were selected along with other student-musicians from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with New York State School Music Association scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142938 Mon, 15 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142938 School-Community Connection Series We invite you to join us for our School-Community Connection Series, providing information and conversation about the Port Jefferson School District community. These open discussions are an opportunity to engage with some of the important components that are integral to the educational success of our students and the future of our district. Our first topic will be LIPA and the Impact on Port Jeff Schools and takes place Wednesday, Oct.17, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School library. Please join us. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142942 Mon, 15 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142942 Wall of Fame inductees honored for integrity, compassion and community service A ceremony was held to celebrate the newest inductees into the school’s Wall of Fame on Oct. 5. The three honorees – Honor Gracey Kopcienski, David Okst and Heather West-Serignese were recognized for their extraordinary achievements in the local community. The intimate ceremony, held in the school’s library, was followed by a tour of the building led by the school’s Student Organization. Introduced by Principal Christine Austen, who thanked them for their generosity and spirit and reiterated the importance of giving back to community, each honoree was lauded by a member of the Student Organization. They were presented with plaques to take home, enjoyed lunch and an unveiling of the plaques on the Wall of Fame. Honor Gracey Kopcienski, Class of 1950, who died in 2016, was honored posthumously. Her son Matthew (Class of 1989), daughter Elizabeth Schwartz (Class of 1972), and son-in-law Joseph Schwartz (Class of 1971) represented her – her husband was in St. Maarten helping with hurricane relief efforts. Elizabeth Schwartz spoke of her mother and father as people who understood the struggles of others and were the kind of people who always did something to help. She hoped her mother’s plaque on the wall would be inspiration to the students who walked past to also become the kind of people who do something to help others. David Okst, Class of 1985, who enjoyed a successful high school and college career as a scholar-athlete, is a coach for the Port Jefferson boys varsity cross country and winter and spring track teams. He was introduced by senior Reid Biondo and recognized for his extensive kindness, compassion, community service and altruism. Heather West-Serignese, Class of 1999, now a resident of Nashville, TN, was recognized for public service, school/community service. She was nominated by her business partner Emily Ciancarelli for her local contributions as well as her exceptional life accomplishments. In addition to being an accomplished chef and working in many cities around the country, she started the non-profit organ East End Play Dates, which now has multiple chapters, to support mothers and their children. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142936 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142936 It’s all about that bass! Sophomore Jack Reilly had an exceptional musical experience when he attended the School of Orchestral Studies of the New York State Summer School of the Arts. Jack, who plays bass, was part of a group of approximately 80 students with outstanding talent in instrumental music who were selected through a rigorous statewide audition process to participate in the prestigious program held at Skidmore College and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center. During the four week program, he spent approximately 40 hours per week in rehearsals and performance and worked with instructors on developing his skills. He was coached in musicology and ensemble performance and attended seminars, lectures and concerts. Jack began his musical studies at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and credits music teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello with his continued interest in perfecting his musical skills throughout his high school career. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142934 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142934 Gymnasium Floor Replacement As a result of the significant water damage caused by the September storm, the gymnasium floor at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has begun to buckle. To ensure the safety of our students and staff, the district has begun to remove the damaged flooring and will be installing a new floor in the coming weeks. As such, the gymnasium will be closed and physical education classes will be relocated. The project, which is expected to take 4-6 weeks, will be covered by the district’s insurance policy. It is our hope that the work will be complete in time for the start of the winter sports season. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142937 Thu, 11 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142937 National Merit Honors for 5 Seniors Noted for demonstrating exceptional academic promise, five students have been named Commended Students in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Seniors Joshua Gelfond, Ju Eun Ha, Ryan Robertson, David Rotunno and Ava Schully, have been recognized for their outstanding performance on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The students are among approximately 34,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the distinction by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. Congratulations on this achievement! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142933 Wed, 10 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142933 A Homecoming Win for the Royals Capping off a week of school-spirited events and a parade complete with floats from each grade level, the Royals football team took the homecoming win against Bayport-Blue Point 34-16 on Saturday, Oct. 6. Many spectators were in town to celebrate their 40-year high school reunion and joined in the festivities by riding in the parade and cheering on the Royals. Others lined the streets of Port Jefferson Village as the students and Disney-themed floats, student-musicians led by music teacher Mark Abbonizio, families, Board of Education members, teachers and administrators shared their royal pride. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142935 Tue, 09 Oct 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142935 Ace in Academics and on the Green Congratulations to senior Shane DeVincenzo, who has received a scholarship to attend Fairfield University as a member of its golf team for the 2019-20 school year. He intends to major in Business. Shane’s numerous accolades as a student in Port Jefferson extend beyond his GPA of 95.33, his senior class load – which includes Advanced Placement macroeconomics and AP calculus, Honors English, College statistics, physics, physical education and ceramics – his National Honor Society membership, his above average SAT scores and as a member of the varsity wrestling team. He has been a five-year varsity starter, four time All League, three time All County, three time state qualifier, two time All Long Island and two time All State winner. Shane also qualified for the Federation Cup in 2017 and was the individual Suffolk County champion in the 2017-18 season, winning the title by six shots over the second place finisher. He made a hole-in-one in match when he was a sophomore and shot 33 on nine holes. Shane holds an individual record of 28-3-1 over the last three years prior to the start of this season which he is now 4-0. “Shane is the hardest working kid I’ve ever been around in my career coaching and working in golf,” Charles Ruoff, Port Jefferson boys varsity golf coach said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142932 Tue, 09 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142932 LIPA Update - Oct. 9 The Port Jefferson School District’s Board of Education has voted to move forward with an appeal of New York State Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Emerson’s decision to dismiss the district’s third-party litigation against LIPA. This suit was brought to enforce a promise given by LIPA not to reduce our tax revenue while also giving us a voice in a matter that has a significant impact on the school district. The decision against the district removed our right to have a voice in the negotiations. Please be assured that the district’s decision to begin the appeal process was made after considerable deliberation. Weighing all options and past efforts, the Board unanimously decided that it was incumbent upon the district to continue to fight to have a voice in this matter to ensure that the voices of Port Jefferson residents were properly heard. The district will work to finalize its appeal over the next six months, after which LIPA will be afforded a chance to prepare counterarguments. According to our legal team, this process could take more than a year to complete. The Board does have the option of withdrawing from the appeal process if they so choose. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142931 Tue, 09 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142931 Promoting Wellness - Community Forum Series The first event of our Port Jefferson School District's Promoting Wellness - Community Forum Series will take place on Tuesday, Oct. 16. We are partnering with the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence on a special program entitled “Helping Our Children Manage Stress in the 21st Century.” To address this important issue, Adam Birkenstock, a licensed clinical social worker, will visit Port Jefferson to speak to parents and community members about this topic and share valuable resources with the audience. The presentation will take place in the High School Auditorium and begin promptly at 6:30 p.m. We hope to see you there. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142930 Tue, 09 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142930 Senior Named Rensselaer Medal Winner Congratulations to high school senior Annalisa Welinder who has been named a Rensselaer Medal winner for her excellence in math and science. She was nominated for the award by science teacher Michel Krivosta who retired in June after 40 years of teaching in Port Jefferson. The merit scholarship has a value of $100,000, guaranteed for four years of study at the institution, determined by her application and ultimate acceptance. Its goal is to motivate the next generation of leaders, scientists, innovators, scholars and humanitarians, among others. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142929 Fri, 05 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142929 Students Come Together in Unity Students in the Port Jefferson School District took time during a recent Saturday to work on a mural in the district’s English as a New Language classroom. Not only adding color but a sense of unity was the goal when students and ENL teacher Jennifer Walling brainstormed ideas for the project. The undertaking was all designed, painted and completed by the students, with student-artist Gabriela Sanchez managing the design of the globe and selecting the word “hello” in various languages that she wrote by hand. “We were inspired by a photo that we saw online and loved the multi-cultural hands as not only does it represent the world and bring us all together but it signifies who we are as an ENL community,” said Ms. Walling. The languages represent the diverse cultural backgrounds of the students and the room’s festive artwork is an invitation to a mini haven for the students before or after school and during study halls and lunch periods. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142924 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142924 A Royal Homecoming Share our Port Jeff pride on Saturday, Oct. 6 with our homecoming parade that features the creative floats of our four high school classes Cheer on our student-musicians as they perform throughout the village streets and march alongside teachers, families, administrators and other spectators starting at 11 a.m. as you make your way to the game starting at 2 p.m. against Bayport-Blue Point. Come out and show your royal pride! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142923 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142923 A Look Inside our Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142928 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142928 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142927 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 09:00:00 GMT false142927 Peace in Port Jefferson The Port Jefferson School District celebrated the International Day of Peace through activities sponsored by the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Student Organization. As part of the observance, Student Organization members decorated school hallways, lockers and classrooms with messages of peace and shared music with positive, peaceful themes that was broadcast over the loudspeaker between classes. Visual arts students districtwide worked collaboratively to create artwork centered around the idea of togetherness and world peace. They worked in a variety of mediums including acrylics, watercolors, colored pencils, pastels and ink to depict Tibetan mandala designs, pin wheels for peace, sunflowers from observation, and symbols representative of peace. With an opportunity to be selected for display at the Suffolk County Executive Offices, some of the students’ works were submitted to the annual Shanti Fund Peace Art competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142922 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142922 Sharing a Carnegie Hall Experience Students in Maria Diaz’ seventh- and eighth-grade chorus class at Port Jefferson Middle School enjoyed a musical lesson when classmate Chloe Pipia shared with them her experience at the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York concert at Carnegie Hall. She spoke to them about her favorite song, Rollo Dilworth’s “Ain’t Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around.” Listening to a recording of the song and highlighting the piece’s energetic rhythms and great melody, she and the students discussed what they appreciated about the piece of music. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142921 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 18:00:00 GMT false142921 ELA Extravaganza Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students had an interesting culmination to their summer reading project. After reading Franz Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis,” they came together to discuss the famed piece of literary work. “We wanted to give students frequent, informal and meaningful opportunities to test the waters of literary analysis and hone their skills,” said English teacher Eva Grasso. The process gave students a new understanding of the piece of literature being examined, as well as the process of literary analysis.” The in-class discussions for the students were opportunities to ask questions, clarify confusions and share observations before taking part in a grade 9-12 inter-class discussion to hear different viewpoints on the story’s character development, structure, style, symbolism and other content issues. According to Ms. Grasso, these discussions left more students engaged and more questions addressed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142920 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142920 District Buildings Suffer Flood Damage The torrential rain last Tuesday evening, September 25th, created flooding conditions throughout Port Jefferson Village. Our school district was not spared. The elementary school and middle school/high school experienced some flooding in various areas of the buildings. We are in the process of assessing the damage and pursuing applicable insurance coverage. We will provide updated information when it is available. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142926 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142926 Homecoming Bonfire Update In advance of this weekend’s homecoming, the District recently received some inquiries as to why a Homecoming Bonfire was not included in this year’s activities. While at one time these events were common among high schools throughout Suffolk County, this is no longer true for many reasons and there were many factors the District considered when making the decision to eliminate the event this year. First and foremost was our concern for students’ safety and security. When parents drop their children off at the Bonfire, there is an assumption that the event provides an environment that is both safe and secure. In reality, the Bonfire event is one that can create a potentially dangerous situation. It is attended mainly by younger students who gravitate to the areas of the “Bowl” where there is a cover of darkness. There is no record of the students who attend. There is no accounting for students who choose to leave the school grounds on their own. There have been adults and other students attending the Bonfire or parked in the parking area who have no affiliation with the school or district. The school employees and security personnel at the Bonfire are challenged to manage and control those who attend. This concern has been heightened because of the world in which we live ­ – one challenged by the ongoing potential for school violence. Concerns have also been expressed about having a huge fire on school grounds with only a plastic caution tape between the fire and those who attend. Furthermore, our high school’s Bonfire has been sparsely attended in recent years. Very few high school students attend the event. The varsity football team is required to attend to be introduced, which is the only planned activity during the evening besides the lighting and extinguishing of the Bonfire. This pales in comparison to the Pep Rally, which is held earlier toward the end of the school day, during which all teams are introduced to all students in grades 6-12. Student-Athletes are warmly greeted and encouraged by all of their secondary schoolmates during that event and a sense of school spirit is fostered. To be clear, the choice to not hold this event is a District decision. The Port Jefferson Fire Department has been and continues to be very willing to assist the District in conducting the Bonfire and we are very appreciative of their partnership. We understand that there are some parents and students who are disappointed by this decision. If there is to be an evening Homecoming event in the future, greater planning for the attendance and active participation of our students in enjoyable, safe, and engaging activities with appropriate supervision is recommended. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142925 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142925 Vote on a New Athletic Logo The Port Jefferson School District is looking to create a unified logo for all district athletic teams. By creating a unified logo, we hope to build on our school environment, school culture and school pride. To cast your vote, please visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PJSDAthleticLogo Voting will be open until Oct. 12. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142919 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142919 Accolades for 22 AP Scholars As a result of their scholastic dedication and performance, 22 of our high school students have been recognized by the College Board as AP Scholars. The designation was given in recognition of each student’s demonstration of exceptional college-level achievement through their performance on national AP exams. Of the 22 students, five were named AP Scholars, eight earned the recognition of AP Scholar with Honor, nine were named as an AP Scholar with Distinction and two were named National AP Scholars. The students recognized are: AP Scholar Monica Alexander, Arda Ates, Phoenix Jampol, Jillian Lawler and Olivia Weldon. AP Scholar with Honor Katherine Ambrozy, Joseph Cangemi, Gavin Chambers, Tianna Couch, Ju Eun Ha, Ryan Kim, Kyle Onghai and Giuseppina Than. AP Scholar with Distinction Gavin Barrett, Reid Biondo, Cameron Cohen, Joshua Gelfond, Eadan McSweeney, David Rotunno, Ava Schully, Annalisa Welinder and Robert Zeidler. National AP Scholar David Rotunno and Annalisa Welinder. On behalf of the entire school community, congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142918 Wed, 26 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142918 Annalisa Welinder Named National Merit Semifinalist The Port Jefferson School District community congratulates senior Annalisa Welinder who has qualified as a semifinalist in the 64th annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Annalisa’s love of learning and outstanding academic talent extend beyond the advanced courses she takes in school. She is a member of the Academic Team, the Latin Club and Mathletes. She also competes on behalf of the school on both the tennis and track teams. In addition to her impressive academic accomplishments, Annalisa has attended Julliard’s pre-college division music program since fifth grade to perfect her exceptional violin skills. She also takes an applied linear algebra class through Suffolk County Community College. Reading, graphic design and writing poetry round out her varied interests. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142917 Tue, 25 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142917 The Voice of Her Peers Senior Chloe Andriani will serve as the voice of her peers as a student representative to the Board of Education in the 2018-19 school year. Chloe’s role will be to report on student activities and upcoming events at the Board’s monthly meetings. She was elected to the position by her classmates at the end of the last school year. In addition to serving as a nonvoting Board of Education representative and being a successful, well-rounded student, Chloe is a member of the Environmental Club, Interact Club, Latin Club, Leo Club, National Honor Society, Science Olympiad and varsity cheer team. She is also senior class president of the Student Organization, on the softball team, performs in the school’s orchestra and has been involved in dance for the past 14 years. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142916 Mon, 24 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142916 We Look Forward to Welcoming You! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142302 Mon, 24 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142302 Lessons in Empathy Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students started the academic year on a positive note of learning to understand decision-making skills and a popular book had a starring role in their discussion. Assistant Principal Claudia Smith read Ryan T. Higgins’ popular “We Don't Eat Our Classmates” to all the kindergarten and first grade classes. After reading the story about forming friendships and good choices in regards to behavior, they had the opportunity to share instances of making mistakes and learning from them. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142915 Fri, 21 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142915 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 9, 2018, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. Regular business meetings of the Board of Education are live-streamed via the school district website. Business meeting agendas are available on the district’s website the day prior to the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142914 Fri, 21 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142914 Community Connections We invite you to join us for our School-Community Connection Series, providing information and conversation about the Port Jefferson School District community. These open discussions are an opportunity to engage with some of the important components that are integral to the educational success of our students and the future of our district. Wednesday, October 17, 2018 LIPA and the Impact on Port Jeff Schools Thursday, November 8, 2018 School Safety and Security Thursday, January 24, 2019 Traditions and Progress: Can They Coexist? Thursday, March 21, 2019 Instructional Programs: Setting Priorities Wednesday, May 29, 2019 To Be Determined Meetings will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School library. We welcome your participation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142913 Thu, 20 Sep 2018 23:00:00 GMT false142913 LIFEGUARDS NEEDED LIFEGUARDS NEEDED for Community Swim at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Monday and Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:30 pm. CPR certification, first aid certification and lifeguard certification required. Experience preferred. Please download and complete the school district application and mail it to Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Athletic Department, 350 Old Post Road, Port Jefferson, NY 11777, or email it to: asherrar@portjeffschools.org<mailto:asherrar@portjeffschools.org>. The application is located at: http://portjeffschools.org/departments/human_resources</mailto:asherrar@portjeffschools.org> https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142140 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142140 We Look Forward to Welcoming You! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142301 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142301 Perspective on the LIPA Challenge Facing Port Jefferson Legal actions taken by the Town, Village and School District to generate an equitable solution to the LIPA tax assessment challenges are intended to protect its residents and children against exorbitant property tax increases; especially in a very short interval of time. The Mayor and the Village of Port Jefferson Trustees, the Supervisor and the Brookhaven Town Council, and the Superintendent and the Port Jefferson Board of Education are all pursuing what they believe is best for their constituents. The Port Jefferson School District is not a tax assessing entity like the Town of Brookhaven or the Village of Port Jefferson, although it does receive school tax revenue collected by the Town. Despite this fact, the District was criticized by some residents for not being more active in the LIPA legal battle back in 2010. After a few years of contributing to the Village’s research studies and legal fees to challenge LIPA’s claims, the District began its own course of action. The District’s legal battle is based on the premise that it has a vested interest in the tax assessment challenge because, although it does not assess or receive taxes directly, it can be significantly impacted financially should the court rule in favor of LIPA. Please know, that the District fully understands that the decision about engaging legal counsel is one to be made with great care, as it always carries a financial implication while never guaranteeing a verdict in one’s favor. Therefore, as a District, we needed to consider if not being involved in a legal battle to protect those with whom we are entrusted is actually more costly than risking a court ruling that may not be in our favor. It was the District’s decision, after carefully weighing all options, that it was our obligation to our taxpayers to fight for our right to take part in the negotiation process – to at least attempt to allow our voices to be heard during the litigation process. With the support and encouragement of our residents, we worked to advocate for this chance instead of idling sitting by and waiting for a decision – one in which we had no input – to be made. We are disappointed that Justice Emerson did not rule in our favor in August with regard to our pursuit of having a third party interest in the legal issue with LIPA. On a positive note, our legal action may have contributed to a delay in the process of reaching a tax assessment settlement. This delay could very well have saved our district millions of dollars from the point we initiated legal action. This setback does not define how this lawsuit may influence the ultimate outcome of the Town’s negotiations with LIPA and may help to contribute to a more equitable resolution in the long-term. The Port Jefferson Board of Education is discussing whether or not to appeal the recent Judge’s decision. We have heard rumors that there may be a resolution to the LIPA issue this school year and that revenue from property taxes may not continue in its present form in the future. However, the details of which are not clear nor are they finalized. But the reality is, no matter what the resolution is, the status quo we are accustomed to in Port Jefferson is bound to be altered. As a School District, the real challenge for us moving forward will be to balance the impact of any reduction in LIPA’s assessment between our responsibility to maintain an outstanding educational program for the children of our community and our concern for the financial impact on our community residents’ property taxes. We believe the impact should be shared. We have a deep sense of belief in our district and in our community. We are strong and resilient. We can handle adversity and emerge stronger and wiser as a result. We are committed to working together to persevere and continue to provide an outstanding education to the children of the Port Jefferson school community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142304 Thu, 13 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142304 PJ September Meeting Date https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142297 Thu, 13 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142297 Important Safety Message from Suffolk Police https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142303 Wed, 12 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142303 A Musical Message of Remembrance Members of the middle school’s seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra paid tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001, by giving a moving performance during the Port Jefferson Fire Department’s annual 9/11 memorial service. Led by music teacher and Port Jefferson volunteer fireman Christian Neubert, students Alexa Ayotte, Tabitha Schully, Olivia Schlegel, Anna Rebic and Teppei Fukuto performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142300 Wed, 12 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142300 Sunflowers Shine in Student Artwork Students in Meghan McCarthy’s second-grade art class brought the exuberant brilliance of sunflowers into their first assignments of the school year. They are learning the elements of design in art simply by observing the late summer flower in the organic line drawing unit of study. “They are recognizing the visual components of color, form, line and shape before even putting pencil to paper,” said Mrs. McCarthy. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142299 Tue, 11 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142299 Middle School Students Recognize 9/11 As Port Jefferson Middle School students settled into the first week of school, they also took time to pause in honor of those affected by the events of September 11. Students were encouraged to share their patriotism by wearing the colors of the American flag to recognize the courage of the first responders, the ordinary people who became heroes and the families of those who lost their lives on the day that is now part of our history. “We want our students to understand the spirit of unity that occurred after that tragic day,” said teacher Monica Consalvo. “As they were not even born in 2001, it is important to know that the American vitality still prevails.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142298 Tue, 11 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142298 Middle School Sports Information Night Please join Port Jefferson School District’s Athletic Director Adam Sherrard and the Port Jefferson Middle School fall sports coaches on Thursday, September 13 at 5:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium for an overview of the fall sports season. Parents/guardians of all middle school student-athletes are encouraged to attend. The evening will conclude at 6:30 pm. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142296 Mon, 10 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142296 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on September 17, 2018, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141962 Fri, 07 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141962 We look forward to seeing you! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142295 Fri, 07 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142295 New BOE Member Sworn In The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has appointed Ryan Biedenkapp to the Board seat vacated by Adam DeWitt, who served the district for two full terms and resigned on Aug 1. to commit to other professional and personal obligations. The Board discussed several options including leaving the seat open, holding a special election or appointing someone to fill the seat until the May 2019 vote. Biedenkapp was the fourth highest vote getter at the May election. He swore the oath of office administered by District Clerk Janice Baisley on Sept. 4. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141961 Wed, 05 Sep 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141961 Port Jefferson District Plans and Prepares for 2018-19 School Year Proactive measures and protocols were on the agenda for the faculty, staff and administrators during Superintendent’s Conference Days. After a welcome by Superintendent Dr. Paul Casciano and Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan, staff members took part in numerous workshops that reflected on the theme of “Keeping Our Students and Staff Safe.” Guest speakers from the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, the Port Jefferson Volunteer Ambulance Corps and the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence were in attendance to lead the Port Jefferson educational community in procedures and actions to enhance the security and protection of all who enter the district buildings. The two-day conference also featured a mindfulness lesson with high school teacher Dawn DeLeonardis, as well as planning and collaboration among faculty members and administrators. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141960 Wed, 05 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141960 Recharged and Ready for a New School Year Ready for an academic year filled with educational opportunities and achievements, hundreds of students were welcomed back to school in the Port Jefferson School District on Sept. 4. Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students got right to work, getting to know their teachers, becoming familiar with their new schedules and navigating the routes to their classrooms as they settle into the autumn routine of school days. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141959 Tue, 04 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141959 Incoming Class of 2031 experience bus ride to school Incoming kindergarten students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School had an opportunity to experience their new routine to school with a bus ride before the start of classes on Sept. 4. The traditional event helps to prepare students for their entry into kindergarten and become familiar with their school and new classmates. Parent volunteers were on hand to greet them with cookies and drinks before they enjoyed the playground and Gaga ball pit. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141958 Fri, 31 Aug 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141958 New Staff Learn the essentials of Our Educational Community The district welcomed new members to its educational community during a new staff orientation, setting a positive tone for expectations of professionalism and instruction. Covering a wide range of topics, the detailed program helped to ensure a smooth transition into their new roles in the district. From becoming familiar with the district’s technology and resources, to taking a bus tour throughout the district and Port Jefferson Village, led by Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Thomas Meehan, the new staff members learned the Port Jefferson School District’s goal of creating a rigorous learning environment for students that encourages individual interests, talents and potential. New to the district are Lauren Berry, speech teacher; Maria Garcia, music leave replacement; Melissa Garcia, science; Charles Hafner, science; Dannie Holland Jr., teaching assistant; Omar Karasu, teaching assistant; Kristin Laudicina, clerical; Jessica Meaney, teaching assistant; Cassandra Meehan,teaching assistant; Jennifer Mezzatesta,teaching assistant; Melissa Mott,teaching assistant; Valeria O’Brien, teacher of LOTE; Alexandra Peskin,teaching assistant; Danielle Post, music leave replacement; Amy Serr, physical education and health; and Kathleen Thrash,teaching assistant. Both Holland and Meehan began their careers in Port Jefferson during the middle of the 2017-18 school year and were welcomed during the staff orientation days. “We are pleased to welcome these new members to our school community,” said Jessica Schmettan, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. “We look forward to a successful year of their talents in helping to stimulate the academic successes of all our students.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141957 Fri, 31 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141957 Important Message Regarding the Superintendent At yesterday’s Board of Education meeting, the Port Jefferson School Board accepted a letter of resignation from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano, effective June 30, 2019. The District thanks Dr. Casciano for his unwavering leadership since 2016 and his commitment to serve the district beyond the initial interim role. This departure was one that Dr. Casciano and the Board serving at that time agreed upon before the extended contract was ratified in 2016, at which point Dr. Casciano agreed to an extended two school years of service through the 2018-2019 school year. “I thank Dr. Casciano for his service to Port Jefferson,” said Board President Kathleen Brennan. “Dr. Casciano did not come looking for Port Jefferson, Port Jefferson went looking for Dr. Casciano when we were looking for an interim superintendent. He will be a tough act to follow.” The Board will be meeting in the coming weeks to discuss the next steps to search for a new superintendent of schools. A copy of the letter Dr. Casciano submitted to the Board of Education is attached below. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141956 Thu, 30 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141956 Honoring the next generation of community leaders 2018 graduates Samantha Acampora and Cezanne Lojeski were presented with scholarships by the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson for their collective community service projects. Samantha was honored with the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson Community Service Scholarship. In September, she will begin her post-high school studies at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Cezanne received the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson Interact Recognition Award. She will start her college career at the University of Pennsylvania. Principal Christine Austen commended the students for their extraordinary service to the community and wished them well on their higher education goals. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141955 Tue, 28 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141955 Hello Sixth-graders! Incoming middle school students became acquainted with their new school at the sixth-grade back-to-school social on Aug. 22. The annual welcome event helps to prepare students for their entry into middle school, familiarize them with the layout of the building and is an opportunity to catch up with classmates and seek new friendships for the upcoming academic year. The festive atmosphere was the backdrop for the PTSA-sponsored pizza, beverages and flavored ices served by parent volunteers. Students were met by Principal Dr. Robert Neidig, who presented each of them a welcome gift of earbuds, which are a necessity for the school’s Google classroom features. Dr. Neidig then spoke about the independence that comes from being in middle school as well as the responsibilities, including cultivating the characteristics of good citizenship. Assistant Principal Claudia Smith and numerous teachers were on hand to greet the students, who also toured the school, worked on opening their assigned lockers, picked up their school supplies and were given their class schedules. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141954 Mon, 27 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141954 Fall Sports Overview Please join Port Jeff’s new Athletic Director Adam Sherrard and the fall sports coaches on Monday, August 27 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium for an overview of the fall sports season. Parents/guardians of all varsity and junior varsity student-athletes are encouraged to attend. Frank McCoy of Advanced S.P.O.R.T.S. Physical Therapy will be the guest speaker. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141953 Fri, 24 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141953 Spotless audit commends district’s efficiency The Port Jefferson School District received an audit report from the Office of the New York State Comptroller’s Division of Local Government and School Accountability that lauded its continued commitment to fiscal responsibility. The goal of the audit is to provide objective analysis to assist those governing and overseeing payment performance and operations and initiate corrective actions if needed. The audit reviewed dozens of both general fund and extra-classroom activity claims totaling more than $300,000 and found that the district’s voucher system has been properly established and implemented by the Board of Education. “This report reflects proper oversight by the Board of Education and the stringent controls put in place and carried out by our Business Office personnel,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano said. “The carefully conducted examination and positive results are a testament to the district’s comprehensive policies and procedures for claims payments.” The report, which included comprehensive information from the audit period conducted between July 2016 and September 2017, highlighted the criteria for an effective claims process and noted that Port Jefferson’s thorough review and adequate procedures and segregation of duties were properly executed. “The examination reviews all district processes and then thoroughly focuses on one particular area for detail testing,” Deputy Superintendent Sean Leister said. “Given that there were no negative findings indicates the district’s claims process has an overall well-designed system. As our district places a strong emphasis on ensuring tax dollars are spent effectively and efficiently, we are pleased with the outcome of this auditing process, as it reinforces from an external perspective.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141952 Wed, 22 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141952 Track Project Complete The resurfacing of the Port Jefferson High School track is now complete! The track is open to the public when not in use by the athletic program or during normal school hours. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141951 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141951 Legal Notice - Comptrollers Report NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the fiscal affairs of the Port Jefferson Union FreeSchool District for the period beginning on July 1, 2016 and ending on September30, 2017 have been examined by the Office of the State Comptroller and that theReport of Examination prepared by the Office of the State Comptroller has beenfiled in my office where it is available as a public record for inspection by allinterested persons. Pursuant to Section 35 of the General Municipal Law, theGoverning Board of the Port Jefferson Union Free School District prepared awritten response to the Report of Examination by the Office of the StateComptroller and said response is appended to the Report of Examination. Janice Baisley, District Clerk Port Jefferson Union Free School District 8/23/18 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141950 Fri, 17 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141950 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on September 17, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141949 Wed, 15 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141949 August Meeting Date https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141947 Wed, 08 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141947 High Rankings on Best School District List In recognition of its exceptional educational program, the district has received high rankings in Niche.com’s annual list of best elementary, middle and high schools, and school districts. The district has been ranked No. 2 in Suffolk County, with the high school, middle school and elementary school receiving rankings of No. 10, No. 5 and No. 6, respectively. It also received a ranking at No. 29 in New York State and No. 144 nationally. Port Jefferson’s academics, administrative leadership, college preparation, attention to health and safety, quality of teaching, resources and facilities for students, clubs and activities, and sports programs received an overall grade of A+ from the organization. Rankings are based on comprehensive school data from the U.S. Department of Education, as well as school reviews and online survey responses. According to Niche.com, public school districts are carefully selected, with ranking criteria representing a healthy balance between statistical rigor and practical relevance. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141948 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141948 District welcomes new athletic director The district has named Adam Sherrard the new Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, effective July 25, 2018. Mr. Sherrard possesses an extensive background in educational leadership, teaching and coaching in Prince George County, MD, as well as locally in Smithtown and Huntington. He holds New York State professional certifications in school district and school building leadership, physical education, health and as an attendance teacher. He is also certified in crisis prevention intervention, CPR, first aid and AED (Automated External Defibrillation). Throughout his professional career, Mr. Sherrard has taught physical education at all grade levels, most recently at the Jack Abrams STEM Intermediate School in the Huntington Union Free School District. His diverse undertakings include implementing and ensuring the knowledge and compliance of New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Section XI and Department of Health regulations, securing grant funds to support student wellness – including a filtered water fountain and fitness equipment for an adaptive physical education program, collaborating on and implementing a district student wellness policy, and leading professional development to physical education teachers on incorporating technology into the curriculum. “The energy and enthusiasm that Mr. Sherrard exudes will serve our district well,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano. “We look forward to his leadership and progressive ideas in building on the many successes of our athletic program. Mr. Sherrard will continue to move us in the positive direction of our physical education and health education programs. This includes social and emotional growth opportunities to ensure our students have the support systems needed to succeed.” Mr. Sherrard, a resident of Farmingville, earned an advanced graduate certificate in educational leadership from SUNY Stony Brook and a Master of Arts in educational leadership and administration from Touro University International. He holds a Bachelor of Science in physical education from Cortland University. “I’m eager to work with the students, staff, nurses, administrators, coaches and parents in the district,” Mr. Sherrard said. “Since I first arrived here, I noticed the commitment to the well-being of students is profound and I look forward to continuing to strengthen the positive environment in the Port Jefferson School District.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141946 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141946 Strummer fun for music students Numerous Port Jefferson students take advantage of the musical offerings to keep up their skills on their respective instruments at the annual Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson. From beginner woodwind and string lessons and jump-start programs to prepare for New York State School Music Association solo performances during the academic year, the camp is an opportunity for students to learn from music teachers Mark Abbonizio and Christian Neubert and share in an enjoyable and positive educational experience. The beginner ukulele class is one of the favored choices for students to master the many chords, measured strumming patterns and popular songs in a foot-tapping and rhythmic environment. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141944 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141944 Two selected for athletic leadership roles Two students from the high school have been selected to serve as Suffolk County representatives for the Section XI Student-Athlete Advisory Council. Samantha Ayotte, a sophomore and Lia Desmond, a junior, will both serve in this leadership role with approximately 22 selected students throughout Suffolk County who will work together to help enhance the high school student-athlete experience. Athletic Department representatives from each school from the 130+ member schools in Section XI were asked to nominate three students, making it unique that two from Port Jefferson were selected. Congratulations to Samantha and Lia for their dedication in helping to promote sportsmanship and positive relationships with other student-athletes, coaches, spectators, families and administrators. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141943 Mon, 23 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141943 Summer Newsletter Now Available https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141945 Mon, 23 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141945 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 19, 2018, 4:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The Board may enter general session to take action on said matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141942 Tue, 17 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141942 State athletic distinction for high school To culminate a successful year of athletic accomplishments, the high school was officially named a 2018 School of Distinction by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association on July 12. The high school joins nine other schools in NYSPHAA’s Section XI and only 30 across the state to be recognized with the honor. The School of Distinction awards were established to help unite varsity coaches in challenging their teams to achieve a statewide honor. To earn the distinction, a school must have 100 percent of its varsity teams qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award during their respective sports seasons. All of Port Jefferson’s 22 varsity teams for the 2017-18 school year were awarded Scholar-Athlete recognition, in which the average GPA for 75 percent of the roster was greater than or equal to 90. Congratulations to the student-athletes, coaches, teachers and administration for a continued focus on excellence in the classroom as well as the individual accomplishments and teamwork in their respective sports. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141941 Thu, 12 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141941 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 14, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141940 Thu, 12 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141940 Board members sworn in at reorganization meeting Three members of the district’s Board of Education took the oath of office at the annual reorganization meeting on July 10. Renee Tidwell and Ryan Walker each raised their right hand and swore the oath administered by District Clerk Janice Baisley to commence their first three-year terms as trustees. Re-elected incumbent Tracy Zamek was also sworn in by Mrs. Baisley to begin her second term. The board reinstalled Kathleen Brennan as president and elected to appoint Mrs. Zamek as vice president. Mrs. Baisley was then sworn in by Mrs. Brennan to serve the 2018-19 school year as district clerk. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141939 Wed, 11 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141939 Important Message - Caithness II Power Plant The Board of Education and District Administration are concerned about the Caithness II power plant request for approval being considered by the Brookhaven Town Council on Thursday evening, July 12th. We are concerned with the potential long term negative fiscal impact of the construction of this power plant on our students, residents, School District and Village. A copy of the letter that we have sent to the Town Supervisor expressing our opposition is below. We encourage all residents to review this letter as well as the material posted on the Village of Port Jefferson's website www.portjeff.com. There you will find critical information on their Power - Up Post Jefferson page under Village Government, which includes a sample letter for residents. Please consider getting involved if you haven't already. All letters must arrive by Tuesday, July 10th. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141938 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141938 Summer Message from Superintendent Dr. Paul Casciano Summer 2018 As we end another academic year in the Port Jefferson School District, we are proud and pleased of the many successes of our students, teachers and events happening in our schools. The 89 young men and women of the Class of 2018 epitomize the excellence and success we expect of our students, who represent all that is good about Port Jefferson. As our graduates move on to new challenges and exciting opportunities, we continue in our efforts to keep our district a safe, nurturing, top-notch educational environment for all. This year, our Board of Education and administrators have been progressive and steadfast in working together, taking bold steps to strengthen current security practices throughout all district buildings. We have completed numerous security improvements, commencing with a complete audit by the Suffolk County Police Department Homeland Security Section. We have been proactive with measures that allow staff and students to practice more complex safety drills, have placed additional security personnel in each building and have expanded our visitor management system at the elementary school. As approved by the members of the community, our 2018-19 budget includes infrastructure investments such as installing vestibules in each building to screen all who enter the facilities and relocating the middle school main office to the front of the stairwell on the second floor. Other improvements include a school emergency notification system project with the Suffolk County Police Department, which automatically bypasses normal communication channels and immediately dials the 911 center supervisor. Additional initiatives are being developed in cooperation with the SCPD to generate necessary and potentially lifesaving measures in our district buildings. Staff members will meet throughout the year to ensure preparedness and diligence in emergency events. In early spring, the New York State Senate passed a comprehensive school safety plan to improve school security throughout the state and protect students, teachers and administrators. The Port Jefferson School District will continue to champion the cause for safety, security and mental health support and advocate for funding for additional security technologies and equipment with our state representatives. Our commitment to the enhancement of the safety and security of all who enter our school buildings goes hand in hand with our goal to continue to teach students who are as bright, confident, cultured and educated as the Class of 2018. Paul Casciano, Ed.D. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141937 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141937 Take a Look Inside This Year’s Prom Links to Newsday’s coverage of the event are below: • Story • Video • Photos https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141936 Thu, 05 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141936 Congratulations to the Class of 2018 The 124th high school graduation took place on June 22. The ceremony began with the processional and national anthem performed by the high school concert band under the direction of Christine Creighton and the traditional Color Guard presented by members of the Port Jefferson Fire Department. Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano and Principal Christine Austen offered encouraging words to the 89 graduates. Seniors Billy Scannell and Ben Zaltsman addressed their peers and Joseph Collins, father of twin graduates Joey Collins and Jack Collins, presented the parent speech in addition to valedictorian Ibuki Iwasaki and salutatorian Eli Doyle, who both reflected on the past and celebrated the future with their fellow graduates. The festive ceremony ended with the release of a huge banner from the school’s rooftop created by retired art teacher Carrie Morgan to celebrate the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2018. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141935 Mon, 25 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141935 Onward and upward for middle school graduates Port Jefferson Middle School eighth-grade students were honored at the annual moving up ceremony on June 21 at the high school. With welcome remarks by Principal Dr. Robert Neidig, the 83 students of the Class of 2022 were recognized for their academic and athletic achievements and several special recognitions, Presidential Awards for Academic Excellence and certificates to signify their move to high school. Eighth-grade Student Council President Emily Hearney then addressed her classmates with reflection on their academic years together. Jessica Schmettan, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction, then presented congratulatory remarks and assisted Dr. Neidig with awarding diplomas. Schmettan offered words of encouragement to the students and commended the school community, friends, classmates and family members for the structured village of support to help the students succeed in high school and beyond. “The independence and maturity that you have begun to develop in middle school will continue to shape you as young adults ready to take on the world,” she said to the graduates. “Your village will be there [to support you.]” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141934 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 19:00:00 GMT false141934 Fifth-graders share kindness 1.5K miles away As part of the fifth-grade social studies curriculum, students held a charity drive to help children in Haiti. Mrs. Kari Costanzo’s class conducted a schoolwide recycling effort to raise funds for food and supplies for those in need. They also brought in clothing and shoes. Students learned that for just 10 cents, which is the recycling of two water bottles, a child can eat for a day in Haiti. One student remarked about how thankful she is when realizing how different it is to live in Port Jefferson. “The students are proud of their accomplishments and understand how they can make a difference in other people’s lives with efforts of kindness and giving,” Mrs. Costanzo said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141933 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141933 A celebration of a primary educational journey Eighty-seven students from the elementary school were celebrated for their advancement to Port Jefferson Middle School at the annual Grade 5 Moving Up Ceremony on June 20. Members of the Class of 2025 were honored with achievement and classroom awards, safety patrol and principal recognitions, as well as certificates to signify their promotion to middle school. Deputy Superintendent Sean Leister, Assistant Principal Claudia Smith, fifth-grade teachers and Pauline Spiller, mother of graduate Cristyn Spiller, addressed the students with words of congratulations and pride. Principal Thomas Meehan ended the ceremony with closing remarks that highlighted the students’ journey from pre-K through grade 5. To much applause and laughter, he quoted Ellen DeGeneres: “Follow your passion, stay true to yourself, never follow someone else’s path unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path — then, by all means, you should follow that.” The traditional class gift — a bench with the school logo for the courtyard at the elementary school — was presented by Caroline Orofino, mother of Angela Orofino, and Lisa Becherer, mother of Molly Becherer. The event culminated with the students singing “This Is Me,” the anthem from “The Greatest Showman” and an ice cream social for graduates and their guests. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141932 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 21:00:00 GMT false141932 Four participate in National History Bee Four students from the district qualified and participated in the National History Bee, which took place recently in Atlanta. Eighth-grader Andrew Patterson, fifth-graders Aoife Hogan and Jack Snyder and fourth-grader Christopher Nam competed with students from across the country. After succeeding in the classroom level competition, the students attended the regional finals before being invited to compete at the national level. On behalf of the entire school community, congratulations to Andrew, Jack, Aoife and Christopher on their continuing pursuit of knowledge. Their motivation and enthusiasm for learning will serve them well in their academic career. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141929 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 20:00:00 GMT false141929 A triumphant season for JV baseball Members of the district’s baseball program were recognized for their impressive accomplishments at the Suffolk County Baseball Awards Banquet, held at Villa Lombardi of Holbrook on June 13. Brothers Hunter Ginas and Peyton Ginas, a senior and a sophomore, respectively, were honored as All-League 9 All-Stars for the 2018 season; this is Hunter’s third consecutive year receiving such honors. Jordan Suarez, a junior, was honored as an All-League player for the 2018 season. Also, Coach Ryan McCormick was bestowed with Junior Varsity Coach of the Year honors, as Port Jeff’s JV team went undefeated in league play this year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141931 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 18:00:00 GMT false141931 Educators and Administrators Honored The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education honored district educators and administrators who were granted tenure in the 2017-18 academic year. They were recognized at a recent Board of Education meeting and each received a plaque for their achievement. Congratulations to the following district professionals on receiving tenure this year: Christine Austen, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School principal; Kevin Bernier, high school assistant principal; Dr. Jodi Cahill, the district’s director of special education; Mary Lyons, ESOL instructor; Dr. Robert Neidig, Port Jefferson Middle School principal; Steven Orlowski, special education teacher; Jessica Schmettan, assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction; and Claudia Smith, assistant principal of Port Jefferson Middle School and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Also at the meeting, Board members Dr. Mark Doyle and Vincent Ruggiero were recognized for their service to the school community, as was senior Max Okst, who served this year as the student representative. They were each presented with a plaque. Board President Kathleen Brennan commended Doyle and Ruggiero for their tremendous amount of work and consistent participation in Board activities over the years, and she wished Max well in his educational journey. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141928 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 16:00:00 GMT false141928 Fifty-two students honored with Presidential Volunteer Service Award Fifty-two students were honored with the Presidential Volunteer Service Award. Coordinated by Port Jefferson resident Jackie Hull, the recognition is given to each student for their active volunteer service of between 50 and 100 hours in the community. They were presented with a certificate at a ceremony attended by members of the Board of Education, school community and families for their sustained commitment to civic participation throughout the year. The district has participated in the PVSA since 2010 when it started with one student earning the award. This year’s honorees were recognized with a combined total of more than 7,300 volunteer hours for the 2017-18 school year. “These same students typically are very involved in school as well at the community and participate in honors classes, music programs and sports,” said Hull. “The fact that they take time out of their very busy days to help others in [the] community should be commended. I’m glad to have the PVSA to show our appreciation for all their hard work.” The students are: Chloe Andriani, Aiden Barrett, Ella Kate Barrett, Lexi Becker, Jessica Boswell, Emma Byrne, Giancarlo Caltagirone, Sam Caltagirone, Conor Daily, Kayla Daily, Carley Davidson, Lia Desmond, Lucy DeWitt, Dylan Dugourd, Kayla Fox, Atticus Furjanic, Emily Hearney, Hailey Hearney, Sarah Hull, Grace Keegan, Joshua Kelson, Ameen Khan, Jedd Kronberg, Beverly Ann Maier, Emmett Maier, Aidan Malinowski, Colin Malinowski, Ryan Parmegiani, Skylar Pine, Fiona Reichers, Jack Reilly, David Rotunno, Sarah Ruggiero, Lily Russell, Chloe Savino, Mia Savino, Brianna Scarda, Andrew Scott, Christine Scott, Pratham Sethia, Rishabh Pratap Singh, Rohan Pratap Singh, Camryn Spiller, Jillian Sullivan, Luigia Than, Pina Than, Ava Timpanaro, Kayla Timpanaro, Annalisa Welinder, Lucas Welinder, Peggy Yin and Brooke Zamek. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141927 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 14:00:00 GMT false141927 A celebration of African cultures Third-grade students in Doreen Marullo’s and Jacqueline Gandolfo’s class culminated their yearlong social studies curriculum with a festive event – MoMA (Museum of Marullo’s/Gandolfo’s Authors). Through their studies on communities around the world, the students compared the two African countries of Kenya and Egypt. They researched the culture, geography, history, government and economy of each country. They also read numerous books, took extensive notes to write research books with informational paragraphs, created art projects, composed songs, wrote poetry and presented information about specific topics in a skit. Other grade levels and classes were invited to visit MoMA, while the third-graders acted as tour guides giving information about different aspects of the museum.​ https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141926 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 12:00:00 GMT false141926 Teacher honored for three decades of scientific influence Earl L. Vandermeulen High School teacher Michel Krivosta was honored by the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education for her three-plus decades of teaching students in the district. She will retire at the end of the school year. With a generous tribute by Principal Christine Austen, Krivosta was commended for being a tremendous resource and an outstanding science educator who always held her students to the highest standards of academic achievement and integrity in her classroom. Austen added that Krivosta’s passion, commitment and selfless dedication for teaching and her daily interactions with students were a testament to her influence as an educator and mentor. Under her guidance and leadership, numerous innovative and creative learning experiments and summer research opportunities at Stony Brook University’s research facilities motivated students to explore and expand their scientific knowledge. The entire Port Jefferson School District community extends good wishes on her next ventures. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141925 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 19:00:00 GMT false141925 Class of 2018 visits elementary school Students and teachers filled the halls of Edna Louise Spear Elementary School to cheer on and offer best wishes to Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Class of 2018 during its Senior Walk. The inspirational event served to encourage the kindergarteners through fifth-graders to continue to be motivated by a commitment to their academic studies, knowing where their dedication to school will lead them. The younger students made congratulatory signs and offered handshakes and high-fives as they watched the seniors connect with former teachers, visit classrooms and reminisce about their days at their alma mater. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141924 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 18:00:00 GMT false141924 Teacher assistant honored for 21 years of service The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education honored Patricia Gang for her more than two decades of service to the children of the district. Gang was lauded by Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Tom Meehan, who had kind words to share about her work with the students. Gang started her career in Port Jefferson with the school lunch program and became affectionately known as the “snack lady” by the students, making her the most popular person in the school. She later became a teacher assistant and will retire at the end of the school year. “She will be missed and we all wish her well,” Meehan said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141923 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 16:00:00 GMT false141923 Second-graders celebrate ELA skills As a culmination to their English Language Arts curriculum, second-graders held a Hollywood Ending Celebration. The students in Darlene Wells’ class wrote a fractured fairy tale based on the “The Three Little Pigs,” titled “The Three Little Flamingos and the Big Bad Crocodile,” and “Goldilocks,” their version being “The True Story of Goldilocks.” Other fables that had their point of view, characters or plot development modified included “Cinderella” and “Little Red Riding Hood.” Once they shared their stories, the students walked down the red carpet. They were each announced by their chosen nickname and posed in front of a Hollywood sign that they created with art teacher Richard Anderson. The festive event included a concession stand with candy and popcorn, a viewing of a collection of photos from the class events throughout the school year, a sharing of memories and the “Classy Awards,” a special award selected for each student. According to Wells, the students worked on different end-of-the-year projects with the Hollywood Ending theme. Some made a memory book, while others created clapperboards inspired by real-life film production and drew their favorite “scene” to help create the ambiance for the event. In addition, each child was presented with an autograph book that was signed by their classmates. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143045 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 15:00:00 GMT false143045 Celebrating unique qualities Students at Port Jefferson Middle School spent weeks learning about autism and individuals with the developmental disability. A parent of one of the students presented an idea to Principal Dr. Robert Neidig to create a bulletin board that celebrates the unique qualities of all people. With the centerpiece title of “We Are All Unique,” each student created a paper puzzle piece showcasing their individuality and gave them to special education teacher Christina Carlson. She, in turn, presented the pieces to seventh-grader Ryan Whiffen who created the bulletin board on his own. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143044 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 14:00:00 GMT false143044 Student selected for 2018 National Lacrosse Classic Middle School student Emily Ambrozy has been named a 2018 Maverik National Lacrosse Classic All-Star. A sixth-grader, Emily will attend the Maverik National Lacrosse Academy and National Lacrosse Classic to be held July 16-19 in Frederica, Delaware. Emily was chosen to play on the Long Island/Metro New York team along with 18 other athletes from the region. The Academy works to provide a curriculum focused on developing young lacrosse players’ skills to compete at a top high school and collegiate lacrosse program. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143043 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:00:00 GMT false143043 Summer Electrical Upgrade Information – Relocation of Offices This summer, the district will finish the second phase of an important electrical upgrade at the joint campus of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School. As many in the community are aware, the upgrade began earlier this spring when preliminary steps were taken to prepare for the summer switch of this main power line. Because these projects may cause intermittent power disruptions at both schools, several offices and district personnel will be temporarily relocated for a portion of the summer. From July 2 through July 13, the athletics office and middle school main office staff will be operating out of the district office. Our driver’s education program, which traditionally runs at the high school, will operate out of Room 512 at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School on June 27 and 28, as well as July 3, 5, 10, 11 and 12. Lastly, the high school main office, attendance office, guidance department, principal’s office, assistant principal’s office and music office will also operate out of the elementary school. There will be no access to the buildings (either the high school or middle school) while this work is under way. All current phone numbers for these departments and offices will be unchanged and email addresses will remain operational. Please note that all schools and offices in the district will operate on summer hours throughout the entire summer. Hours will be 8 a.m.-2 p.m. We expect that our personnel, offices and driver’s education program will return to their original locations after Friday, July 13. The district will provide an update on this work once it is complete. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141930 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141930 Royal pride! The Port Jefferson school community congratulates junior Shane DeVincenzo on his successful spring season of high school boys’ golf. Shane finished tied for 13th in New York State, was the individual Suffolk County champion and was named All-State and to the Newsday All-Long Island golf team, both for the second consecutive year. Coached by Chuck Ruoff, Shane’s continued hard work and dedication to his sport are to be commended. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143042 Tue, 19 Jun 2018 21:00:00 GMT false143042 Seniors nominated for elite Dellecave Award Seniors Isabelle Love and Thomas Mark were each nominated for the Dellecave Award. The two students were the nominees from the high school – each district in Suffolk County nominates one female and one male graduating senior – for the award, which is named after longtime Suffolk County basketball official and founder of the Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame Butch Dellecave. In addition to being outstanding athletes, both students were selected for their exceptional character and integrity. They were recognized along with nominees from other Suffolk County high schools at a recent breakfast ceremony. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143041 Tue, 19 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMT false143041 A Colorful Celebration of Autism Strength building, coordination and navigating a series of challenging obstacles were some of the benefits of the PTSA-sponsored Autism Awareness Obstacle Color Course Challenge. As a culmination to learning about autism and the strengths and differences of individuals on the spectrum, dozens of students and their families took part in the event that helped to create awareness and acceptance for autism. Spearheaded by parent Karen Sproul, sunglasses and bandanas were supplied to participants to protect their faces while being doused with a rainbow of cornstarch-based powder, and raffle baskets were auctioned to help raise funds for the PTSA and autism awareness. “This was a fun and engaging activity for families,” said Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig. “To promote inclusion and friendship while challenging themselves physically was a rewarding learning opportunity for our students.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143037 Tue, 19 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143037 Ensembles perform at NYSSMA Majors Festival Music students from the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra and chamber ensemble performed at the recent New York State School Music Association Major Organization Festival at Sachem East High School. Conducted by music teacher Christian Neubert, both ensembles performed several pieces for a panel of adjudicators, who evaluated them on quality of performance and level of musicianship. The district congratulates the orchestra on its outstanding musical performance! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143039 Mon, 18 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMT false143039 Art Students Explore Creativity at LongHouse Reserve Students from the high school connected classroom learning into the community when they had the opportunity to explore LongHouse Reserve, 16 acres of landscapes and a contemporary sculpture garden in East Hampton. Coordinated by high school art teacher Nancy Randazzo, the students explored various modes of creativity on the spectacular grounds. Featuring art works by Buckminster Fuller, Dale Chihuly, Yoko Ono and William de Kooning, the Reserve’s exceptional integration of nature, art and design was an engaging educational experience for them. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143036 Mon, 18 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143036 Young Chefs Enhance Culinary Skills Teamwork was the catchphrase of the day for members of the Cooking Club on a recent field trip to Sur La Table in Lake Grove. The 19 students in the program took part in a workshop with a professional chef where they were taught to make pasta from scratch, rolling it, shaping it and feeding it into a pasta machine. They also made a Caesar salad and dessert before sitting down to share their meal together. “As hands-on learning opportunities are always a valuable aspect of the educational process, the students were successful in creating the meal and enjoying it together,” said school social worker Kristin Britt, who leads the program in coordination with the district’s speech language pathologist Stacia Schoen. According to Britt, the focus of the club is social learning, which includes good communication, flexible thinking and cooperation. It also gives students an opportunity to interact with one another, giving them an active voice within their peer groups to become healthier and happier by taking the time to work together over the meals they create. The Cooking Club is funded by the Royal Educational Foundation of Port Jefferson, which works to strengthen community participation in school programs and provide funds for projects to help assure educational excellence for all students in the Port Jefferson School District. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143035 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143035 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The annual reorganization meeting and regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 10, 2018, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session, the reorganization meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., and the business meeting will commence at 7:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143040 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143040 Five track stars named All-League Five of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School girls track and field team members were named All-League for the spring track and field season. Amanda Brosnan (discus), Jacqueline Poten (shot put), Rachel Russ (100 meters), Aileen Schretzmayer (1,500 meters) and Sabrina Schully (long jump), along with coach Don Slingerland, are to be commended for their hard work and dedication in representing the high school varsity track and field team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143038 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 06:00:00 GMT false143038 Investment principles turn real In addition to learning about how capital markets function and the fundamentals of investing, students in the high school Investment Club participate in several stock market competitions and discuss current events and stock ideas. A recent visit by Congressman Lee Zeldin reinforced the importance of investing and the benefits of learning how to invest at a young age. The students represented Congressman Lee Zeldin and Congressional District 1 in a national stock market competition against thousands of other students. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association’s Capitol Hill Challenge presents high school investment teams with a hypothetical portfolio of $100,000 to invest. Last year was Port Jefferson’s first year in the competition, placing fifth in the nation. The students visited Congressman Zeldin in his Washington, D.C., office last year, then he in turn visited Port Jefferson students to thank them for their work and representation this year. Arranged by high school language teacher and club adviser Robert Farenga, Rep. Zeldin spoke to the students about his work as a congressman, his background and issues facing our country. He also fielded questions from several students on an assortment of economic issues. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143032 Thu, 14 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143032 Exemplary skills earn senior National Merit scholarship High school senior Luigia Than has been named a recipient of a corporate-sponsored scholarship in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. She is one of only five Suffolk County and 32 throughout the state of the 1,000 high school seniors nationwide who received the honor. Luigia is the recipient of the National Merit Battelle Scholarship. A global research and development organization, Battelle company officials “believe that a quality education prepares individuals to contribute effectively to their communities and workplaces.” Luigia, an accomplished, academically talented and well-rounded student, will enter Stony Brook University in September with an eye on a career in the engineering field. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143033 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMT false143033 Honored for sharing student musical pleasures When the Port Jefferson Lions Club members hold their monthly meetings to plan out their projects for the dozen or so local charities they raise funds for, they are often met with some music when they stand for the Pledge of Allegiance. The songs are provided by the talented students of our school district. To thank them for bringing these musical measures to their meeting and for his support of the service organization, the Lions members recently honored Dr. Michael Caravello, the district’s director of music and fine arts, with a certificate of appreciation. He is shown here with Port Jefferson Lions Club President Dean T. Jenkins https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143030 Wed, 13 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143030 Fifth-graders raise awareness and funds for ALS When Chris Pendergast visited the elementary school a few months ago to share a message of strength and determination, his words left an imprint on several of the students. His story of living with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s Disease for more than 20 years inspired four fifth-grade girls to host a fundraiser. Gwenivere Connelly, Julia Fife, Alice Snyder and Emily Snyder sold small stuffed animals, loom bracelets, pencils, erasers, notepads and more to raise $334.35 for the ALS Ride for Life Campaign. “We are very proud of them for taking this initiative to help out this worthy cause,” said Principal Thomas Meehan. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143016 Tue, 12 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143016 High academic standards lead to National Merit Scholarship Senior Ibuki Iwasaki has been named a National Merit Scholarship winner in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. Ibuki was chosen from more than 15,000 outstanding students across the nation – and only 15 in Suffolk County – who will receive the $2,500 scholarship. She is among the winners across the country who were selected because of their strong combination of exceptional academic accomplishments, skills and potential for success in rigorous college courses. Ibuki is the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2018 valedictorian. She is headed to MIT to study physics in the fall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143034 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMT false143034 Robotics team honored by Board of Education Members of the high school robotics team were honored by the Board of Education during a recent meeting. Technology teacher Brian Chalmers introduced the team members present and thanked the mentors who worked with the students during the build season and competition before the students showcased the capabilities of their robot. His overview emphasized how learning about robotics in a classroom connects to real-world engineering challenges. “They always give us a really interesting demonstration,” said BOE President Kathleen Brennan of the students’ presentation of the complex robotic system, the design modifications and the obstacles they face during qualifying competitions. “It’s nice to see firsthand the work that they do.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143015 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143015 VIDEO: PJ Val & Sal 2018 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143031 Fri, 08 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMT false143031 Middle School musicians selected for prestigious ensembles Four middle school students who benefit from the school’s music program were accepted for the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York. They performed recently on one of the world’s most well-known stages: Carnegie Hall. Sixth-grader Chloe Pipia was selected to the Suffolk Treble Choir, seventh-grader Sophie Blumenthal and eighth-grader David Lawler were selected to the Suffolk Concert Orchestra on oboe and viola, respectively, and seventh-grader Kenneth Dixon-Lanza was selected to the Suffolk Concert Choir. Sophie and David had to audition for the orchestra with a New York State School Music Association level 4 or 5 solo on their instruments and Chloe and Kenneth auditioned for the choirs by demonstrating vocal technique and range with their NYSSMA solos. “It was a beautiful theater,” Sophie said, “and an exciting opportunity to be a part of the experience.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143012 Fri, 08 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143012 Seven seniors commit to colleges With coaches, parents, peers and administrators in attendance, seven high school seniors were honored at the 2018 College Athletic Signing Ceremony. Hosted by the Port Jefferson Athletic Department and introduced by Dr. Danielle Turner, director of health, physical education and athletics, each student committed to playing their respective sports at the collegiate level in the fall. During the ceremony, varsity head coaches Rod Cawley (track), Andrew Cosci (football), Taylor Forstell (lacrosse) and Mike Maletta (wrestling) commended each student, spoke of their career highlights at Port Jefferson and wished them all well at the next level of their education and athletic endeavors. The students who will continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level are: Jacky Chen: Pace University, Football Jack Collins: University of Rochester, Football Marquis Feldman: LIU Post, Football Connor Kaminska: MIT, Lacrosse Thomas Mark: Christopher Newport University, Lacrosse Vincent Miceli: Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania, Wrestling Samuel Walker: Providence College, Track and Field https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143029 Thu, 07 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMT false143029 Port Jefferson vocalist sings national anthem for the Lions Ninth-grader Mattea Rabeno had the honor of being invited to sing the national anthem at a recent Port Jefferson Lions Club meeting. Mattea was accompanied by music teacher Katherine Butera and Dr. Michael Caravello, Port Jefferson School District director of music and fine arts. After her performance, she was presented with a certificate of appreciation for her efforts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143014 Thu, 07 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143014 STEM and skating: unique lessons for Port Jeff students Middle school students had a unique educational experience in which they learned how the concepts of science, technology, engineering and math connect to many parts of everyday life. Sixth-graders took a STEM field trip to the United Skates of America in Seaford and attended a lesson and hands-on activities that directly related to what they are learning in their classroom. Following the lesson, they roller skated and continued to grasp laws of motion and other aspects of physics. The students also measured and calculated speeds of themselves running and skating and also used mean, median and mode to compare their roller skate sizes. “I was really impressed with the students’ knowledge of the different STEM ‘superstars,’” said math teacher Megan Ryan, referring to historic and contemporary dignitaries in the STEM field such as Albert Einstein, Bill Gates, Stephen Hawking and Steve Jobs. “The lessons we participated in were great ways to connect math to real life; and [of the roller skating] it was fun to watch so many students do something they had never done before!” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143011 Wed, 06 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143011 June Meeting Date https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143021 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 09:00:00 GMT false143021 Student honored for outstanding achievement in chemistry Sophomore Sinan Ates was among the best and the brightest high school chemistry students who were honored by the American Chemical Society. His honor for outstanding scholastic achievement was presented at a dinner and reception at Nassau Community College and recognized students from Nassau, Queens and Suffolk counties. After a presentation by Dr. Gene Hall of Rutgers University on forensic analytical chemistry, Sinan was presented with a plaque by Dr. Joseph Serafin, chair of the American Chemical Society’s New York section and Dr. Adejare Adeniran, chair of the American Chemical Society’s Long Island subsection. For his accolades, Sinan had kind words to share about his high school teacher Michel Krivosta, noting that she is a great chemistry teacher; taking a subject and making it interesting so that the whole class pays full attention. She, in turn, had this to say: “Sinan is one of those students who really grasps the concepts of what he learns in the classroom. He is very deserving of the honor.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143010 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143010 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on June 12, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143020 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143020 Gaining intrinsic rewards for community service project Goodwill and compassion are just two of the traits of student volunteers who took part in a camp cleanup on a recent weekend. The 11 students from the high school’s Interact Club and seven students from the middle school joined members of the Rotary Club to help maintain the grounds and ready the buildings for campers with special-needs who attend Center Moriches’ Camp Paquatuck over the summer months. The students raked leaves, planted flowers and cleaned bunks in preparation for the upcoming camp season. According to adviser Deirdre Filippi, the endeavor is always a success and the student volunteers always have a great time. During this visit, two of the student volunteers inquired about returning back to the camp on their own on the weekends to continue assisting the directors with any help they may need to get ready for the summer programs. “I think their initiative speaks volumes of the kinds of things we do and the intrinsic rewards that are gained when people work together for the greater good of our community,” Filippi said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143018 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMT false143018 Port Jeff students take their musical talents to Carnegie Hall Five high school student-musicians had the opportunity to rehearse and perform at Carnegie Hall with other highly talented Long Island students. The students were accepted as part of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of New York. They are junior Katie Ambrozy, selected to the Symphonic Choir, juniors Jillian Lawler and David Rotunno, selected to the Symphony Orchestra and freshmen Nicole Schully and Ava Schully, selected to the Symphonic Orchestra and Principal Orchestra, respectively. They had to audition in a competitive selection process based on a New York State School Music Association Level 4 or 5 solo on their instruments or voice. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143008 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143008 Music students perform national anthem Elementary and middle school band students showcased their patriotism when they performed the national anthem at Bethpage Ballpark to kick off a Long Island Ducks game during the Memorial Day weekend. Organized by the district’s PTA and elementary school music teacher Mark Abbonizio, the event doubled as a fundraiser for the Class of 2025. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143017 Sat, 02 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143017 School librarian is shaping the next generation of innovators Knowing that students need the skills to be prepared for the future in a technology-driven world, elementary school librarian Selinda Stout set out on a mission to introduce all K-5 students to block coding in the school library. For her efforts, she has been named a Sunburst Digital Innovator. Ms. Stout wrote a case study for the educational curriculum software company on the implementation of the Dot and Dash robots in the school library. She first discussed with her students many different types of robots. Her next step was a collaborative project with music teacher Lisa Scrom, where students wrote their own compositions and then used iPads to program the robots in the library to perform their original songs. Her culminating project was a March Madness Basketball Challenge. Using coding concepts the students learned, they investigated how distance and energy affected the launchers’ aim and competed against one another where the robots actually shot hoops. She also created surveys for the students to share their experience with these powerful and playful tools that served as an introduction to computer science. “We are so proud of Ms. Stout for the work she has accomplished with robotics and coding for our elementary students,” said Jessica Schmettan, the district’s assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction. “These type of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) opportunities help our students develop critical 21st-century skills which directly align with the district’s digital literacy goals.” To read more about the project, click below http://wonderworkshop.sunburst.com/ww_case-study_stout.pdf https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143007 Fri, 01 Jun 2018 05:00:00 GMT false143007 Two honored for superior mathematical abilities Congratulations to eighth-grader William Wu and ninth-grader Grant Samara for placing first and second, respectively, in the district and third and fourth, respectively, in the county on the Suffolk County Math Contest. They were honored at the recent Suffolk County Math Teachers’ Association awards dinner and are pictured here with high school math teacher Dennis Christofor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143019 Fri, 01 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143019 A celebration of mathematical accomplishments Students from the high school and middle school have acquired numerous awards through Suffolk County Math Teachers Association contests. Accomplishments this year in which students earned awards include a one-hour math contest, administered by Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig. Congratulations to the following Suffolk County Math Teachers’ Association contest winners: Sixth-grader Eric Chen: First place in PJMS, first place in Suffolk County. Seventh-grader Michael Melikyan: First place in PJMS, first place in Suffolk County. Algebra: Eighth-graders Arik Sen and Stefano Rabeno – first place in PJMS. Geometry: 10th-grader Julia Hennessy – first place in ELVHS. Algebra 2: Ninth-grader Grant Samara – first place in ELVHS, third place in Suffolk County. Algebra 2: Eighth-grader William Wu – second place in ELVHS, fourth place in Suffolk County. Pre-Calculus: Ninth-grader Peggy Yin – first place in ELVHS. Pre-Calculus: 11th-grader Ryan Kim – second place in ELVHS. Calculus: 11th-grader Joseph Cangemi and ninth-grader Sinan Ates – first place in ELVHS. Calculus Plus: 11th-grader Annalisa Welinder – first place in ELVHS. The American Mathematics Competition, a national exam, tests problem-solving skills and mathematical knowledge in students. The 75-minute exam was held after school and administered by high school math teacher Dennis Christofor. Congratulations to: AMC 10: First Place – Grant Samara, ninth grade. Second Place – Sinan Ates, ninth grade. Third Place – Hugo Onghai, eighth grade. AMC 12: First Place – Annalisa Welinder, 11th grade. Second Place – Luigia Than, 12th grade. Third Place – Eli Doyle, 12th grade. The Port Jefferson School District is proud to recognize the accomplishments of these students in working to strengthen their mathematical capabilities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143013 Thu, 31 May 2018 17:00:00 GMT false143013 All-County Mathletes honors for high school trio The high school Mathletes team earned third place in the small school division this year and three of the top performers were recognized at the recent Suffolk County Math Teachers’ Association awards dinner. Annalisa Welinder, who placed 12th in Suffolk County, scoring 20 out of 30 correct, and Eli Doyle and Ibuki Iwasaki, who placed 29th in the county, scoring 17 out of 30 correct, received All-County Mathletes honors. Coached by high school math teacher Dennis Christofor, they competed in five competitions with six challenging questions each throughout the winter, along with more than 800 other students who participate in high school Mathletes in Suffolk. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143009 Thu, 31 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143009 Students shine at Suffolk County Math Competition With a combination of intellect and camaraderie, Port Jefferson Middle School students took part in the 2018 Suffolk County Elementary Mathematics Tournament and ranked fifth overall for the sixth-grade teams. Michael Melikyan ranked ninth overall out of all of the individual sixth-graders across the county who came together for the event, held at Stony Brook University. Port Jefferson’s team, consisting of Eric Chen, Michael Melikyan, Pratham Sethia, Nicholas Smirnov and Carman Stanton, competed against 300 students on 60 teams from Suffolk County schools. “The competition consists of individual and team Olympiad-style questions that challenge the students, encourage their love of math and foster working together,” Megan Ryan, sixth-grade math teacher said. “They had a blast!” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143005 Wed, 30 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143005 Excellence on National Latin Exam Students enrolled in Latin earned exceptional marks in the 2018 National Latin Exam. To recognize their success, each student was praised for their achievements at a ceremony in the high school library. The students, who were among 143,000 students from across the nation and 24 countries to take the annual exam, were presented with certificates of accomplishment by Latin teacher Anne Algieri. Seventh-grade students enrolled in Latin IA took the Introduction to Latin Exam. At this level three awards are given for outstanding performance on the exam: Perfect Paper Certificate plus a purple ribbon for a perfect score of 40, an Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a purple ribbon for a score of 35-39, and an Achievement Certificate for a score of 31-34. Teppei Fukuto Perfect Paper Certificate plus a purple ribbon Benjamin Perez-Flesler Perfect Paper Certificate plus a purple ribbon Olivia Schlegel Perfect Paper Certificate plus a purple ribbon Brendan Capodanno Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Luke Dickhuth Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Kenneth Dixon-Lanza Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Jack Keegan Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Sooah Kwak Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Tabitha Schully Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Giancarlo Caltagirone Achievement Certificate The following students received awards for their outstanding performance on the Latin I Exam. David Lawler gold medal, summa cum laude Kasumi Layne-Stasik gold medal, summa cum laude Beverly (Annie) Maier gold medal, summa cum laude Hugo Onghai gold medal, summa cum laude Andrew Patterson gold medal, summa cum laude Stefano Rabeno gold medal, summa cum laude Kate Sommerstad gold medal, summa cum laude Caelan Schretzmayer magna cum laude Hunter Volpi cum laude Andrew Patterson and Hugo Onghai each achieved a perfect score on this exam. The following students received awards for their outstanding performance on the Latin II Exam. Liam Gameng gold medal, summa cum laude Grace Keegan gold medal, summa cum laude Ameen Khan gold medal, summa cum laude Royce Perera gold medal, summa cum laude Mattea Rabeno gold medal, summa cum laude Michela Rabeno gold medal, summa cum laude Grant Samara gold medal, summa cum laude Nicole Schully gold medal, summa cum laude Peggy Yin gold medal, summa cum laude Aaron Held silver medal, maxima cum laude Veronique Velazquez silver medal, maxima cum laude Lucas Welinder silver medal, maxima cum laude Sapphire Perera magna cum laude The following students were recognized for outstanding performance on the Latin III Exam: Kyle Onghai gold medal, summa cum laude Giuseppina Than gold medal, summa cum laude Felicity Hyams cum laude The following students were recognized for outstanding performance on the Latin IV Exam: Katherine Ambrozy gold medal, summa cum laude Ava Schully gold medal, summa cum laude Annalisa Welinder gold medal, summa cum laude Gavin Barrett silver medal, maxima cum laude David Rotunno silver medal, maxima cum laude Cameron Cohen magna cum laude This is the fourth consecutive year that Ava Schully and Annalisa Welinder have received gold medals. These students were recognized for outstanding performance on the Advanced Latin Exam: Ibuki Iwasaki gold medal, summa cum laude Luigia Than silver medal, maxima cum laude Emma Gutmann magna cum laude Joseph Samara magna cum laude On behalf of the school community, congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143003 Tue, 29 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143003 Turning imagination into creativity at student art shows Students throughout the district – inspired by their respective art teachers and the masters – showcased their artistic skills at the three schools’ art shows throughout the month of May. Photography, pointillism, crafts, sculpture and graffiti were just some of the subjects students touched upon in turning their imaginative ideas into reality. Under the direction of elementary art teachers Richard Anderson and Meghan Hallock, middle school art teacher Stacey Schuman and high school art teachers Lynne Edsall and Nancy Randazzo, students have learned to flex their artistic intelligence throughout the school year, culminating in a must-see springtime event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143006 Thu, 24 May 2018 06:00:00 GMT false143006 Flexing their math muscle at Math Olympiad Competition Ten students from the SEAL program took part in the 2018 Suffolk County Math Olympiad Competition recently held at Stony Brook University. The competition for the top five fourth-grade and the top five fifth-grade Olympiad students from Port Jefferson was an opportunity to learn important strategies for problem-solving. Student Jinah Kwak won third place in the fifth-grade division, Max Kronberg won third place in the fourth-grade division, Tucker Stanton won second place in the fourth-grade division, and the fourth-grade team won third place in the fourth-grade team competition. The fourth-grade team members are Matthew Cadicamo, Anbang Jiang, Max Kronberg, Evan Raymond and Tucker Stanton, and the fifth-grade team members are Isabelle Chen, Aoife Hogan, Jinah Kwak, Alice Snyder and Emily Snyder. “These top Math Olympians showcased their problem-solving skills with dedication and determination,” said SEAL teacher Kate Zvokel. “I applaud their efforts and hard work to make Port Jefferson proud. We all had a great time at the competition.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142998 Thu, 24 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142998 Presenting musical prowess at ‘Petting Zoo’ Springtime is a musical time in our schools and an opportunity for high school students to share their talents and instruments with elementary students. The annual Instrument Petting Zoo was recently held at the elementary school, where members of the high school instrumental ensembles gave third-grade students a chance to get an up-close look at the instruments of the band and orchestra. Under the direction of band teacher Christine Creighton, the high school students came well-prepared and encouraged the younger ones to ask questions about how the instruments work as they performed. For many of the younger students, this was a chance to experience the excitement of holding the instruments correctly, some of them for the first time. The third-graders had a worksheet to indicate their top three choices and in the coming weeks will select the instrument they would like to begin learning in the fall. Elementary band teacher Mark Abbonizio even got the kindergarten students involved in the festive event. While some listened attentively to the music and high school students’ instruction, several of them helped hold the signage at each station that introduced the instrument. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143004 Wed, 23 May 2018 17:00:00 GMT false143004 ‘Ab ovo usque ad mala’ at Latin Club’s Roman Banquet In a feast fit for a king, the high school and middle school Latin Club members, along with adviser Anne Algieri, hosted a Roman Banquet at the Port Jefferson Village Center. More than 50 students and their family members were in attendance at the ninth annual event. To recognize ancient Roman culture, students dressed in togas and tunicas, recited ancient Latin poems, performed traditional songs and feasted on traditional Roman foods. Modeled on an ancient Roman banquet, the menu’s theme was “Ab ovo usque ad mala” (from eggs to apples), the equivalent of the modern expression “from soup to nuts.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143002 Wed, 23 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143002 Quick-thinking Quiz Bowl participants earn Port Jeff third place The Junior Varsity Academic Team took home a third-place trophy after competing in the final tournament of the Regional Quiz Bowl at Plainview-Old Bethpage High School. Competing against more than 50 of the top academic teams from Nassau and Suffolk counties, the students took part in the “Jeopardy”-like competition which covered a variety of academic disciplines and topics including art, history, poetry, literature and science. The teamwork and motivation of Cameron Cohen, a junior, Kyle Onghai, a sophomore and seniors Eric Tischer and Ben Zaltsman is to be commended. “These students truly amaze me with the base of knowledge they possess,” teacher and coach Michel Krivosta said. “Their individual quick-thinking skills and collaboration are admirable.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142997 Tue, 22 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142997 ‘School of Distinction’ designation for High School athletics The high school’s athletic program has another reason to be proud: All spring varsity teams have been named Scholar-Athlete teams by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. The news is even more impressive because all of the district’s varsity teams for the 2017-18 school year have been awarded Scholar-Athlete recognition. To receive this honor, a sports team’s average GPA for 75 percent of the roster must be greater than or equal to 90. The culmination of both honors means that Earl L. Vandermeulen will be named a 2018 School of Distinction by the NYSPHSAA. Across the state, only about 20 schools are given this honor, and in Section XI only four schools were recognized as a School of Distinction last year. “This honor clearly demonstrates the ability of all of our student-athletes to show tremendous dedication to their academics, while balancing a busy athletic schedule,” said Dr. Danielle Turner, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics. “This is a direct reflection of the commitment and support of our district administration, teachers, coaches and community as a whole.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142999 Mon, 21 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142999 A melodious introduction to musical instruments Third-grade students experienced an informative lesson on string, brass and woodwind instruments at the school’s recent Instrumental Recruitment Meeting. From the soft vibrations of a violin to the baritone-voiced euphonium, the students were introduced to the instruments by the current fourth-graders, who were eager to demonstrate the instrument they each play. The annual event is a collaborative effort of Dr. Vanessa Salzman, the 4-6 grade orchestra teacher, who organizes the event and band teacher Mark Abbonizio, who runs the meeting with the students. “Our annual recruitment events are an exciting time to introduce the incoming fourth-graders to all the instruments we teach at the elementary school,” said Dr. Salzman. “Listening and watching demonstrations by their peers not only showcases the talents of our current musicians, but is a powerful and effective tool to inspire our newest members of the band and orchestra.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142993 Fri, 18 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142993 Spring Newsletter Now Available https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143000 Fri, 18 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143000 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The May 22, 2018 tentatively scheduled work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has been changed to a special meeting of the Board for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. Call to order will be 4:30 p.m. at the District Office. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=143001 Fri, 18 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false143001 Varsity Club honored for community service efforts The high school’s Varsity Club was recognized at a recent Board of Education meeting for its volunteer efforts for the League of Yes, an organization that creates baseball programs for people with disabilities. Cheri Fox, Suffolk County field director and executive board member for League of Yes, commended the students on their efforts in not only volunteering their time, but in developing friendships with the players on the league as they were each presented with a certificate. The school also received a “Buddy of the Year” plaque for its commitment to the organization. The Varsity Club members and their advisers, teachers Jesse Rosen and Deirdre Filippi, engage in projects centered around athletics and also run school-organized events, including volleyball tournaments and the schoolwide Olympic games, activities that help to raise money for various service-minded organizations. These activities help to establish a sense of community within the high school building and teach club members that they can positively help and influence people around them while challenging themselves in the process. Congratulations to all the Varsity Club members: Chloe Andriani Alexa Ayotte Jack Collins Taylor Corallo Anthony D'Elia Lea Desmond Kayla Fox Nick Gertz Phoenix Jampol Isabella Love Jonathan Moshe Charlie Rolfe Brianna Scarda Jordan Suarez Joshua Tesser John Tsunis Colton VanOverberghe Lexi VanOverberghe Gabe Zoda https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142991 Thu, 17 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142991 Port Jeff student excels in state competition Senior Tatum Hurney was recognized as a first-place winner in the SkillsUSA state competition, recently held in Syracuse, New York. Tatum competed in the Restaurant Service competition, where she was judged on her professionalism, courtesy, and technical and verbal skills. She also excelled in “front of the house” skills, including reservation procedures, greeting customers, explaining menu choices, and preparation and presentation of the customer’s check. Tatum, a student in the Culinary Arts program at the Wilson Technical Center in Oakdale, said, “I am so proud that I accomplished this. I am happy that Ms. Galvin [high school guidance counselor] steered me toward this program and plans for the future.” Tatum is looking to continue her education in the culinary arts and hopes to attend Johnson & Wales University to earn a bachelor degree. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142990 Wed, 16 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142990 Budget Passes - Thank You! Budget Results: Yes – 774 No – 362 Proposition 2: Use of Capital Reserve Funds Yes – 874 No – 257 Board Election: (Elect 3) Ryan Biedenkapp - 481 Mia Farina - 276 Jason Kronberg - 369 Rene Tidwell – 649 * Tracy Zamek – 604 * Ryan Walker – 660 * *Elected https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142995 Tue, 15 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142995 Remember to Vote! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142994 Tue, 15 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142994 Port Jefferson Budget Passes Thank you to all residents who participated in the 2018-19 budget vote and trustee election. Proposition No. 1, the School District Budget, passed by a vote of 774 to 362. Proposition No. 2, Renovations and Upgrades Using Capital Reserve Funds, passed by a vote of 874 to 257. In addition to voting on the budget, residents cast their ballots for three seats on the Board of Education. Rene Tidwell, Tracy Zamek and Ryan Walker were elected. The trustee vote was as follows: Ryan Biedenkapp - 481 Mia Farina - 276 Jason Kronberg - 369 Rene Tidwell - 649 Tracy Zamek - 604 Ryan Walker - 660 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142996 Tue, 15 May 2018 01:00:00 GMT false142996 Port Jeff athletes share essential lacrosse skills with younger players The boys and girls varsity lacrosse teams held a youth clinic for the Port Jefferson boys and girls lacrosse teams to help train athletes in a variety of skill-based drills and specialized training for specific field positions. More than 75 students in grades K-6 attended the weekend event held at Scraggy Fields alongside their coaches and parents. “The event was highly rewarding, not just for the athletes involved, but also the varsity athletes who helped run the event,” said Taylor Forstell, head coach for the boys varsity lacrosse team. Boys varsity lacrosse captains Connor Kaminska, Thomas Mark and Billy Scannell echoed the same message. Being the first generation of youth lacrosse members in Port Jefferson, they did not have the older kids to look up to for advice. Now as varsity players, the trio find it to be fulfilling to give back to the youth programs and to have a positive impact on the growth of the lacrosse programs in Port Jefferson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142989 Mon, 14 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142989 Empowering a community of leaders and advocates Ten students from the high school attended the 22nd annual Long Island LGBT Conference at Stony Brook University. Accompanied by co-advisers Kristin Britt and Dinarae Camarda, members of the school’s Gay Straight Alliance spent the day attending workshops on topics including LGBT history, community and youth organizing, health and social justice. “This event is a stronghold for student leaders,” Britt said. “In addition to learning and sharing in a safe and supportive environment, it empowers them to navigate and advocate for positive social and health-related choices.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142987 Mon, 14 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142987 Port Jeff students welcome a military visitor Students in Steve Orlowski’s class at the elementary school have been studying maps and continents and had a special visitor who was able to put geography in perspective for them. Stationed for the past two years in Japan as a member of the United State Navy, Chief David Orlowski, their teacher’s brother, had business to attend to in Washington, DC and took some time to visit his family and the students in Port Jefferson. Chief Orlowski shared his experiences about living abroad, daily life on a ship and the job of a military person. Students asked questions about what he eats in Japan, how he is able to speak with people there and what he does on a daily basis. They also learned that the military is not always at war, and that the majority of their time is spent patrolling foreign waters and maintaining equipment. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142985 Fri, 11 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142985 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 15, 2018, 9:00 p.m., in the cafeteria at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, for the purpose of accepting the tabulation of votes and any other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142992 Fri, 11 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142992 High School named Gold Medal School In recognition of its success in educating students across a range of performance indicators, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has been named a top high school by U.S. News & World Report and earned the news organization’s highest ranking of Gold. It was one of only 2.4 percent of eligible schools across the country who received the designation. The multi-step ranking process included ensuring that the eligible schools serve all of their students well, using state proficiency tests results and their graduation rates as benchmarks and assessing how well-prepared students are for college-level work. Based on the evaluation, ELVHS was ranked 55th in New York State and 482th of the nation’s 20,582 eligible schools. “We are honored to receive this distinction,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano said. “In addition to the determination of our high school administrators and educators in leading our students in a high-quality education, they are committed to preparing them for continued academic successes in the future.” The designation is the fourth honor for the school this academic year. On the national level, it was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education, honored with its sixth consecutive Reward School designation by the New York State Education Department and Principal Christine Austen was named a Person of the Year by TBR News Media for her leadership and steadfast efforts in improving the academic programs offered. The school annually boasts numerous AP Scholars, and National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students, in addition to the many athletic, musical, civic and volunteer accomplishments of its students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142988 Thu, 10 May 2018 06:00:00 GMT false142988 Eighth-grader Honored for Contributions to School Community Eighth-grader Emily Hearney was honored by the Board of Education for her initiative and fortitude in spearheading a campaign to show solidarity among the students of Port Jefferson and Stoneman Douglas High School, where her cousin is a junior. Emily solicited the help of teacher Allison Giannusa, Student Government adviser, and mobilized her peers to create T-shirts for a 17-minute event where students engaged in civic action and paused to remember and honor those who lost their lives. “Emily was driven to action because of the amazing person and leader that she is,” Principal Dr. Robert Neidig said. “Her exemplary efforts are a testament to her character and her willingness to contribute to her school and community.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142984 Thu, 10 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142984 Five students honored for physical education leadership Five students from the School District were named Elementary and Middle School Suffolk Zone Award honorees by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. They were honored at a ceremony at Bay Shore High School. Fifth-graders Joseph Aronica, Julia Fite and Olivia Masino and eighth-graders Lucy DeWitt and Richard Melucci were chosen by their physical education teachers for demonstrating strong leadership and character traits in physical education as well as a commitment to academics. “These students exemplify the core leadership values of our school and athletic community,” said Dr. Danielle Turner, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics. “This honor recognizes their collective commitment to physical education and serving as role models for their peers.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142983 Wed, 09 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142983 Science Olympiad rank in state competition! The Port Jefferson Middle School Science Olympiad team placed eighth overall in the New York State Science Olympiad Competition, held recently in Syracuse, NY. The ranking is the second highest for the team in almost two decades. The team, which includes students from grades 6-9, achieved 12 medals in various events. During the awards ceremony, the top 10 finishers were announced and recognized and the team received a plaque for their accomplishment. According to coach and middle school science teacher Adam Bouchard, the students were successful by their hard work in studying scientific principles and engineering devices to complete the various tasks. “Congratulations to our Science Olympiad Team,” said middle school principal Robert Neidig. “I am so proud of Mr. Bouchard and our tremendous science students on a job well done.” Medal Winners First Place, Rocks and Minerals – Aaron Held, Grant Samara Second Place, Potions and Poisons – Gani Ates, Grant Samara Third Place, Fast Facts – Aaron Held, Peggy Yin Fourth Place, Anatomy – Gani Ates, Peggy Yin Fourth Place, Microbe Mission – Hugo Onghai, Peggy Yin Fourth Place, Optics – William Wu, Peggy Yin Fourth Place, Solar System – Liam Gameng, Kasumi Layne-Stasik Fifth Place, Herpetology – Andrew Patterson, Kasumi Layne-Stasik Fifth Place, Science Quiz Bowl – Michael Melikyan, Andrew Patterson, Max Paulus Sixth Place, Meteorology – Liam Gameng, William Wu Seventh Place, Disease Detectives – Hugo Onghai, Grant Samara Seventh Place, Ecology – Teppei Fukuto, Andrew Patterson https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142982 Tue, 08 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142982 District receives superior credit rating As a result of diligent financial planning and a strong commitment to fiscal accountability, the district has received a very high quality credit rating from Moody’s Investors Service. The Aa2 rating the district received is determined based on the assessment of its fund balance, financial management, a strong wealth and income profile and tax base wealth. It is an important measure that is used by prospective lenders to determine the credit worthiness of school districts and other public entities. “This report from an outside and independent financial institute is a clear indication of the current financial health of the district,” said Sean Leister, deputy superintendent of the Port Jefferson School District. “It reflects the district’s meticulous and mindful financial planning and will ensure lower interest rates for borrowing funds and significant financial savings for our residents for any funds borrowed.” According to the report, and in comparison to other Moody’s rated school districts, Port Jefferson’s Aa2 rating is stronger than the median rating of nationwide districts. The cash balance as a percent of operating revenues (53.1 percent) is noted as superior and saw an impressive increase between 2013 and 2017. The fund balance as a percent of operating revenues (37.5 percent) is also stronger. The district’s debt burden is negligible and favorable and the 0.2 percent net direct debt to full value is significantly below the nationwide median and stayed flat between 2013 and 2017. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142986 Tue, 08 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142986 SCMEA Day of Percussion for Cezanne Lojeski Senior Cezanne Lojeski participated in the Suffolk County Music Educators' Association's Day of Percussion at SUNY Stony Brook's Staller Center on April 20th. As a participant of the percussion ensemble, Cezanne had an opportunity to perform alongside world-renowned guest artists, Jonathan Singer and Greg Bissonette. She was accompanied by music teacher Christine Creighton. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142979 Mon, 07 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142979 Sixth-grader does know much about history! Challenged by questions that shaped our country, sixth-grader Carman Stanton was invited to the regional competition of the National History Bee and qualified for the National Finals. Carman excelled in the multiple-choice questions at the elementary division of New York South schools at the East Brunswick, New Jersey competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141695 Fri, 04 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141695 Student ‘Guest Artist’ shares creative problem-solving skills Students in Stacey Schuman’s sixth-grade art class welcomed a special guest visitor during their study of Native American architectural landscape design. Connor Liolo, a seventh-grader at the school, visited his younger schoolmates to assist with the student’s creation of a two-dimensional Adobe Pueblo bottle design. Creating his own lesson plan, Connor demonstrated how he found a way to use rope and hot glue to attach a makeshift bottle closure that could swing open and still remain attached to the container. When he first "invented" this procedure last year, Shuman thought it was quite clever and a great way to problem-solve. “Having a student who was eager to share his artistic and ingenuous creation was a powerful way to engage with his younger peers,” Schuman said. “I am grateful for Connor’s enthusiasm in contributing to the lesson.” The students also learned about the sculpted horizons of America’s Four Corners – Arizona, New Mexico, Utah and Colorado – and color mixing theory during the lesson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141694 Thu, 03 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141694 Music students celebrated! Performing, leading and serving the community are just part of what the newly inducted students accomplish as part of the high school’s Chapter 2172 of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. At its 11th annual honors recital and induction ceremony, six students joined their peers in the National Association for Music Education’s program that focuses on creating future leaders in music education and music advocacy. This year's inductees are Katie Ambrozy, Chloe Andriani, Emily Bossert, Grace Crugnale, David Rotunno and Pina Than. In addition to showcasing the exceptional music program in Port Jefferson, these students met the high academic and musical standards necessary for induction into the honor society’s chapter. “These students will assist in inspiring and recognizing musical achievement in the school music department and the community,” Dr. Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts said. “Through the society’s five points of distinction: scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership, and service, they’ll continue to develop confidence, creativity and other skills that will benefit them in school and beyond.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141693 Wed, 02 May 2018 17:00:00 GMT false141693 Support staff honored for contributions to school The Board of Education recognized two Port Jefferson Middle School’s staff members for their positive and productive contributions to the school and their high level of service for students and their families. Cited as the school’s dream team by Principal Dr. Robert Neidig, Kathy Hanley and Rosalie Loizos were honored for their devotion to the school and community. “They are very much involved in all of the successes at the Middle School,” Neidig said of the heightened level of professionalism, work ethic and commitment of both women. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141993 Tue, 01 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141993 Important May Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142981 Tue, 01 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142981 Spring Concerts Broadcast LIVE Spring Concerts Broadcast LIVE Port Jeff LiveStream Account THURSDAY MAY 3 HIGH SCHOOL 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM WEDNESDAY MAY 9 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRADE 4 7:00 P.M. ES GYM THURSDAY MAY 10 MS GRADE 6 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM WEDNESDAY MAY 16 ES GRADE 5 7:00 P.M. ES OUTDOOR THURSDAY MAY 17 MS GRADE 7 AND 8 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142980 Tue, 01 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142980 Proposed Budget Presentation/LIPA Information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141692 Mon, 30 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141692 Wrestling League Champions! The High School wrestling team were recognized as League Champions for the 2017-2018 season. They were honored at the recent Suffolk County Coaches Association awards ceremony. All 9 of the Royals wrestling squad were there to accept All-County Honors. They are Harry Cona, Rick D'Elia, Joe Evangelista, Chris Lepore, Joe Longo, Vin Miceli, Matt Murphy, Matt Spyrou and Robert Williams. P.J. Nation Wrestling was well represented and took home numerous awards including coaches Mike Maletta and Jesse Meaney who were recognized as League Coaches of the Year. Senior Joey Collins was recognized as the Rohan Murphy Inspirational Wrestler and Vin Miceli was recognized for being a State Finalist at 126 lbs. finishing the season with a 38-3 record. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141691 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 17:00:00 GMT false141691 Power of One Award Recipient Music teacher Mr. Christian Neubert has been named the Royal Educational Foundation’s Power of One award recipient! Please join us in honoring him at the 5th Annual Family Fun Run on Saturday, April 28. The run begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Village Center, continues through the streets of Port Jefferson Village, and ends at the High School Bowl and the Health and Wellness Fest sponsored by the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141992 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141992 Best Community for Music Education! As a testament to the dedication of music education in the Port Jefferson School District, it has been ranked among the NAMM Foundation’s 2018 “Best Communities for Music Education” in America. The honor acknowledges schools and districts across the country for their commitment to and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. This is the 12th consecutive year the district has received the prestigious recognition. “This honor recognizes the collaborative efforts and dedication to music education among our teachers, students, administrators and parents,” said Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. “We are honored by the recognition and the valuable support of our school community.” The Port Jefferson School District boasts multiple vocal, band and orchestral performing groups for students and each group is provided with the opportunity to perform within the community. Additionally, through partnerships with Stony Brook University and other community groups, students have the opportunity to learn from renowned professional musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141991 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 17:00:00 GMT false141991 Junior Lifeguarding Program The American Red Cross is offering a Junior Lifeguarding Course to Port Jefferson Middle School students, age 11-14, who aspire to one day become a certified lifeguard. The program’s cost is $100 per student. Classes will be held June 25-29 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. each day at the Edna Louise Elementary School pool. Please contact Dr. Danielle Turner, director of health, physical education and athletics in the Athletic Office for additional details at 631.791.4441. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141990 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141990 Class of 2018 Top Two – Congratulations Ibuki & Eli! After 13 years of dedication and perseverance to academics, extracurricular activities and community outreach, seniors Ibuki Iwasaki and Eli Doyle have been designated valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Class of 2018. “I’m extremely honored,” Ibuki said, “especially because some of the valedictorians and salutations in the past were people whom I really looked up to both in and outside of school. I’ve always aimed for good grades…becoming valedictorian was definitely a goal of mine.” Ibuki has earned a 101.40 GPA. She is president of the high school National Honor Society, a member of the Mathletes team, Science Olympiad and Latin Club. She has been on the varsity tennis team since eighth-grade and was undefeated individually in the league this year. Her list of awards is comprehensive and include being a National Merit Scholarship recipient, AP Scholar with Distinction, a gold medalist for three years and a silver medalist for one year on the National Latin Exam, and a first-place and third-place winner in Science Olympiad individual events. Her musical talents include having a perfect score for three years at the Level VI New York State School Music Association Festival and being selected for All-County, Long Island String Festival and Suffolk County Music Educators Associations festivals. Ibuki’s community involvement revolve around playing violin; she has been a concert mistress in a youth orchestra and the school orchestra; has performed chamber music at the pre-college program at Stony Brook University and has volunteered to perform at the village library and local daycare and nursing home. She is also tutors Japanese-speaking people the English language. Last summer, Ibuki interned at Brookhaven National Laboratory in her first official research experience. Before that, she spent time at a laboratory at Stony Brook University where her mother is a research scientist. As the salutatorian, Eli will graduate with a 100.85 GPA. Like Ibuki, he challenged himself by enrolling in many Advanced Placement, college-level and honors courses. Beyond the classroom, he excelled on the field, playing tennis since ninth-grade and participating as part of the stage crew for school plays, musical and concerts. “One of the perks of being in a small school is that there is a very cooperative attitude, even among the most competitive of the students,” Eli said. “This is something we all take for granted, but I wouldn’t have achieved this honor without help and support of my awesome classmates and dedicated teachers.” Eli has been a member of Science Olympiad since sixth-grade, on the Mathletes team, the Academic Team, and a member and officer of the Student Organization for all four years of his high school career. He also had the unique opportunity to take part in the prestigious Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University where he studied ferroelectric materialism the physics lab. Eli has received honors from the Suffolk County Junior Tennis League, a Coach’s Award for Team Sportsmanship and the American Math Competition Level 10 in 2015. He was also a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award in 2015 and The Robert A. Belfer Family Fellowship Award for Travel and Study in Israel in 2016. “Ibuki and Eli are two exceptional students,” Principal Christine Austen said. “In addition to being at the top of their class, they are both well-rounded, very involved in extracurricular activities and each of them has received numerous accolades to date. They are on to great things in the future and I wish them continued success.” Although she is awaiting word from several colleges and looks to major in physics, Ibuki has been accepted to MIT, where she is considering attending. Her post college plans include working in a STEM-related career. Eli plans to major in Applied Physics at Brown University and is already considering graduate school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141986 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141986 Jazz Musicians Participate in HS All-County Festival High School student jazz musicians Cole Fortier and Trey Pisano recently participated in the Suffolk County Music Educators' Association All-County Jazz Festival at Miller Place High School. Cole, a member of the All-County vocal jazz ensemble and Trey, a member of the All-County instrumental jazz ensemble, both performed a program of contemporary jazz standards led by world-renowned guest conductors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141985 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141985 Students compete in Latin Certamen Knowing that “Et tu, Brute?” were Julius Caesar’s famous last words in Latin was helpful to the students who recently took part in the Latin Certamen at Stony Brook University. Five of the district’s teams made the finals and carried away awards. Port Jefferson competed against students from 14 schools across Nassau and Suffolk counties in the fast-paced, academic contest that poses questions about Latin grammar, vocabulary, word derivations, Roman life, history, mythology and literature. Students compete on the level of Latin in which they are enrolled. Two eighth-grade teams competed on Level I, two ninth-grade teams competed on Level II, one tenth-grade team competed on Level III and three teams competed on the Advanced Level. Coached by Latin teacher Anne Algieri, the Port Jefferson teams who placed at this year’s Certamen included: First Place - Level IA team Kasumi Layne-Stasik Andrew Patterson Stefano Rabeno Caelan Schretzmayer Second Place - Level IB team Hugo Onghai Annie Maier Kate Sommerstad Hunter Volpi First Place - Level II team Aaron Held Mattea Rabeno Grant Samara Peggy Yin First Place - Advanced Level A team Emma Gutmann Ibuki Iwasaki Cezanne Lojeski Luigia Than Third Place - Advanced Level B team Katie Ambrozy Ava Schully Sabrina Schully Annalisa Welinder https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141984 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141984 Good Luck! High School junior Natalya Patriquin will join nearly 400 of the nation’s leading middle school and high school equestrians this weekend to compete for top honors in the Interscholastic Equestrian Association National Finals. On behalf of your school community, we wish you great luck! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141989 Fri, 20 Apr 2018 19:00:00 GMT false141989 VIDEO: After-School Yoga For Port Jeff Athletes https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141981 Fri, 20 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141981 The wonderful world of reading In a continuing effort to promote literacy, students at the elementary school were treated to a special guest performance by magician Tommy James. The high-energy combination of music, sound effects, jokes and an overall message of the importance of reading and the valuable resources a library has to offer was a learning opportunity for the K-5 students. At the end of his performance, all the students were asked to stand and take the “Readers Oath” to read each and every day. He then surprised them with the magical appearance of a live bunny on stage. “As always, we want students to know that reading can be fun, educational and relaxing all at the same time,” said librarian Selinda Stout. “The experience taught them that books help us to discover the world around us.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141976 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141976 April Meeting Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141972 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 19:00:00 GMT false141972 A poetic tribute to a Holocaust survivor Students in Kayleen Everitt’s eighth-grade English classes took a unique route in using their intellectual skills to examine and understand world history: before welcoming Werner Reich, a Holocaust survivor, as a guest speaker, they honored him with a poetic tribute of their own inspiring thoughts. After an introduction by student Kyle Johnson, who thanked Reich for sharing his firsthand account of the events of the Nazi Germany genocide, student Kasumi Layne-Stasik read German theologian Martin Niemöller’s well-known poem “First they came…” and explained that the students rephrased it in their own writings to correspond with issues of today including among other topics gun violence, conservation and equality between men and women in hopes of inspiring change. Student Sofia Ulinski then introduced Ella Barrett, Jordyn Capone, Kate Carlson, Zoe Intardanado, Andrew Patterson and Abigail Rolfe who read their own poems before Reich shared his compelling story of survival and message of tolerance and acceptance. “They did an incredible job and were courageous and brave for sharing their creative work in front of the entire grade,” Everitt said. “I am most proud of their creativity, civic awareness and leadership.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141965 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 17:00:00 GMT false141965 Sixth-graders participate in Mathematics League Port Jefferson Middle School students had an educationally enriching experience when they participated for the first time in the New York Mathematics League. Sixth-graders Emily Ambrozy, Eric Chen, Viviane Kim, Nicholas Smirnov and Carman Stanton worked as a team and ranked 20 out of 71 schools in the state on the academically oriented competition, which consisted of a variety of math topics, including algebra, geometry and problem-solving. According to math teacher Megan Ryan, the students were excited to participate and be recognized for their mathematical achievements. “They enjoyed the challenge and are encouraged to continue to develop their exploration of mathematical ideas,” Ryan said. “It was a positive experience for them to decipher some of the difficult math solutions.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141983 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141983 PTSA/PTA/SEPTA Meet the Candidates Night https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141987 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141987 A bird’s eye view of student artwork at Village Center Students from the District are showcasing their creative works through the month of April at the Port Jefferson Village Center’s Spring Art Show. The third-floor colorful display features artwork from the district’s K-12 art students as instructed by Port Jefferson art teachers: Richard Anderson, Meghan Hallock and Nancy Randazzo at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, Stacey Schuman at Port Jefferson Middle School and Lynne Edsall at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The artwork is available for view from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m. daily. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141982 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 18:00:00 GMT false141982 Middle Schoolers shares artistic talents for a good cause A cold winter’s evening didn’t stop the determined students, their families and faculty and staff who participated in the middle school’s paint night event to raise money for the North Shore Animal League's Bianca's Furry Friends Campaign. Arranged by middle school English teacher Allison Giannusa and principal’s secretary Kathleen Hanley, the festive fundraiser featured raffle baskets and artistic talents as participants created three cats under a full moon on their individual canvasses. The event raised $1,650 for the feline adoption center. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141974 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141974 National art award for Dylan Dugourd High School sophomore Dylan Dugourd has been named a national medalist in the 2018 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards. Less than 1 percent of the nearly 350,000 works of art and writing submitted to the competition, sponsored by The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, earn a national medal. Dugourd’s video game design was selected by creative professionals as the most accomplished in the nation and recognized with a silver medal. He is invited to attend the national ceremony at Carnegie Hall in June where he will receive a certificate commemorating his achievement and participate in a series of student showcase events. “Receiving the award is motivating,” Dylan said. “To be able to share my creation on this level is exciting. It shows me that my hard work is paying off.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141968 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141968 Bee participants honored by Board of Education Fourth- and fifth-graders put their knowledge of the world, the past and the written word to the test as participants of school’s National Geographic Bee, National History Bee and Scripps Spelling Bee. Although they took the tests already, Principal Thomas Meehan continued to pose questions in those academic areas to the numerous students who were named champions in the school’s Bees as they were honored at a recent Board of Education meeting. “We are so proud of their accomplishments and the opportunities offered through our SEAL program,” said Meehan, of the school’s Studies Enriching Academic Learning program for students in grade 3-5, headed by Dr. Kate Zvokel. School Spelling Bee champions are fifth-graders Isabelle Chen and runner-up Sara Freitas. National History Bee School Champions took a multiple-choice test, which qualified them to move forward to both the regional exam and the regional finals. Those students are fifth-graders Jan Goldgaber, Aoife Hogan, Max Joyner, Ana Kelly, Leo Marsala, Evan Monaghan, Jack Snyder and Christian Urea; and fourth-graders Christopher Nam and Max Kronberg. In the SEAL National Geographic Bee, five winners from each grades’ SEAL class competed against one another. The first-place winner took an online exam to qualify for the state bee. Those students are fourth-graders Christopher Nam and Mari Fukuto and fifth-grader Emily Snyder who won first, second and third, respectively. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141980 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 17:00:00 GMT false141980 Elementary students embrace the power of literacy To promote the importance of literacy, the elementary school has named five “Star Students” from each grade level as part of the school’s version of the American Library Association Celebrity READ Campaign, which takes place several times per year. Star Students Myla Kelly – grade 1, Clara Pearce – grade 2, Allie Blumenthal – grade 3, Madison Testa– grade 4 and Cassidy Worrell – grade 5 were selected by librarian Selinda Stout for their excellent attitude, behavior and work ethic in the library. In honor of their achievement, the students’ photos were displayed on the bulletin board outside of the library along with a summary of their favorite book. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141967 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141967 Middle school Science Olympiad qualifies for state competition Teamwork, cooperation and an engaging interest in science, technology, engineering and math helped bring the Middle School Science Olympiad team to third place at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad competition, recently held at Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills. Coached by science teacher Adam Bouchard and assisted by science teacher Deborah Hagmeyer, students in grades 6-9 competed against 32 teams in events which tested their skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. Team members received medals in 20 events. They will compete at the state competition at East Syracuse-Minoa High School in Syracuse, New York, on April 13-14. Medal Winners: Second Place, Anatomy – Grant Samara and Peggy Yin Seventh Place, Anatomy – Gani Ates and Sapphire Perera Fifth Place, Crime Busters – Hugo Onghai and Kasumi Layne-Stasik Fourth Place, Disease Detectives – Grant Samara and Hugo Onghai Second Place, Dynamic Planet – William Wu and Liam Gameng Fifth Place, Ecology – Teppei Fukuto and Andrew Patterson First Place, Fast Facts – Aaron Held and Peggy Yin Third Place, Herpetology – Andrew Patterson and Kasumi Layne-Stasik Second Place, Hovercraft – Grant Samara and Arik Sen Second Place, Meteorology – William Wu and Liam Gameng Fourth Place, Microbe Mission – Hugo Onghai and Peggy Yin Fifth Place, Optics – Selena Ueno and William Wu Fourth Place, Potions and Poisons – Gani Ates and Pratham Sethia Eighth Place, Road Scholar – Aaron Held and Arik Sen Second Place, Rocks and Minerals – Grant Samara and Aaron Held Eighth Place, Roller Coaster – Teppei Fukuto and Sooah Kwak Second Place, Science Quiz Bowl – Aaron Held, Andrew Patterson and Peggy Yin Fourth Place, Wright Stuff – Andrew Patterson and Stefano Rabeno Fifth Place, Wright Stuff – Michael Melikyan and Max Paulus Fourth Place, Write It Do It – William Wu and Selena Ueno https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141973 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 17:00:00 GMT false141973 Empowering Port Jeff students with wellness seminars Port Jefferson School District’s partnership with the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence continues to serve as a valuable resource in educating students about the importance of making good decisions. The Student Wellness Seminar Series, coordinated by Dr. Danielle Turner, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics, and two social workers from LICAAD, is held after school approximately once per month. High school and middle school students are encouraged to take part in the seminars that focus on topics that may affect their lives, including self-esteem, stress management, anxieties, drug and alcohol use, and social media behavior. The most recent one, presented by Lauren Navarra, LICAAD’s student assistant program coordinator, not only highlighted emerging drug trends, but emphasized ways for students to put healthy coping skills in place. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141966 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141966 VIDEO: PJ Robotics https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141979 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141979 A plus for Port Jefferson Mathletes! The high school’s Mathletes team enjoyed another successful season, with the A team – consisting of the top five math students at the school –placing third in the Small School Division and seventh overall in the Suffolk County Mathematics Teachers Association contest. Coached by high school math teacher Dennis Christofor, 25 students in grades 9-12 competed in five competitions with six challenging questions throughout the winter. Among the A team, Annalisa Welinder placed 12th in Suffolk County, scoring 20 out of 30 correct. Eli Doyle and Ibuki Iwasaki placed 29th in the county, scoring 17 out of 30 correct. They competed with more than 800 students who participate in high school Mathletes in Suffolk. In May, the students will be recognized at the SCMTA awards dinner at the Watermill in Smithtown. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141975 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141975 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A budget hearing of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 8, 2018, 7:00 p.m., at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The regular monthly business meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. following the budget hearing. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141978 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141978 Honoring an educational role model The Port Jefferson Board of Education recently recognized Dr. Jodi Cahill, the district’s director of special education, for earning her education doctorate degree. In honor of this achievement, the district presented her with a commemorative certificate at a recent Board of Education meeting. Dr. Cahill’s work of providing a meaningful and rewarding education for Port Jefferson School District students has been enhanced by her work in defending her doctoral dissertation. It also sends a positive message and sets an encouraging example for all students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141964 Tue, 10 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141964 District hosts celebrated music festival The sounds of music were a welcome sign of the spring season as the Port Jefferson School District hosted the New York State School Music Association Solo and Ensemble Evaluation Festival. In addition to students from the district, more than 800 music students from neighboring communities converged to participate in the NYSSMA event. Students from Comsewogue, Middle Country, Sachem, Smithtown and Three Village school districts and the private institutions The Laurel Hill School and The Stony Brook School, performed for a NYSSMA adjudicator who provided constructive feedback and a score to each participant. As a host for the event, Port Jefferson music faculty and student volunteers helped guide visitors throughout the building, monitored evaluation rooms and worked closely with state NYSSMA representatives to make sure that the festival ran efficiently. “Special congratulations to all participating student-musicians, volunteers and our entire Port Jefferson staff for creating a positive and memorable musical experience for students across Suffolk County,” the district’s Director of Music and Fine Arts and festival chairperson, Dr. Michael Caravello said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141963 Mon, 09 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141963 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 10, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141971 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141971 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE An emergency meeting of the Port Jefferson School Board of Education will be held on April 5, 2018, at the District Office. Call to order will be at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss pending litigation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141970 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141970 District Reaction to Town's LIPA Announcement The School District is deeply troubled by the announcement issued by the Town of Brookhaven at its State of the Town speech today concerning the “agreement in principle” the Town has reached with LIPA regarding the assessment of the Port Jefferson Power Plant. The Town of Brookhaven has swiftly and unilaterally made this decision without any input from the School District and in complete disregard of the impact that its decision will have on the School District, its educational operations, staff, students, taxpayers and community. This decision does not take into account the promise that LIPA and the State made when LIPA took over LILCO to never to seek a reduction in the taxes it paid. While the Town may be the “first” of the affected municipalities to reach settlement as reported today, we do not believe that this should be regarded as a victory. This decision will imminently place the School District in harm’s way. When the terms are finally revealed to the School District, the School District will consider all available options to protect the School District, its students and taxpayers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141969 Tue, 03 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141969 Port Jefferson students share musical talents at SCMEA Festival Thirty-three students from our schools were selected to participate in this year’s Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County Festival. Paige Braile, Grace Brown, Isabelle Chen, Alexa Eichinger, Jared Furjanic, Viviane Kim, Jinah Kwak, Nathaniel Lawler, Alexander Layne-Stasik, Abigail Levine, Rose Meliker-Hammock, Gavin Onghai, Kay Ranjbar, Andrew Schretzmayer, Nicholas Smirnov, Jack Snyder, Carman Stanton, Devon Welsch, Alexa Wonderland and Cassidy Worrell were selected to perform with other Suffolk County fifth- and sixth-graders in Division I. Middle School seventh- and eighth-graders selected for Division II were Alexa Ayotte, Sophie Blumenthal, Luke Dickuth, Teppei Fukuto, Nicolina Giannola, Kasumi Layne-Stasik, Natalie McGuigan, Andrew Patterson and Ruby Ray. High School ninth- and tenth-graders selected for Division III were Sinan Ates, Rachel Park, Jack Reilly and Nicole Schully. After three days of rehearsals, the students participated in a final performance at Central Islip High School in early March. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141739 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141739 NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141988 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141988 Celebrated music scholarship for Port Jefferson student Port Jefferson Middle School student Hugo Onghai has received a scholarship for study at the Young Artist Program at SUNY Stony Brook. The eighth-grader was nominated by his orchestra teacher, Christian Neubert, and was selected for a $500 Suffolk County Music Educators Association Joseph R. Herbison Summer Scholarship. Hugo, a cellist in the school’s 7/8 orchestra as well as a pianist, will have the opportunity to broaden his musical horizons by working with other talented young musicians under the guidance of faculty members at Stony Brook University. He was presented with the award at the start of the recent SCMEA Division II concert, for which he was accompanied by Dr. Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts for the Port Jefferson School District. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141738 Fri, 30 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141738 ‘Shining Above the Rest’ at Port Jefferson Schools Five individuals from the school district community were honored with Educational Service Awards at the 17th Annual SCOPE School District Awards Dinner. With the theme “Shining Above the Rest,” the recipients were honored in categories that recognized their leadership, fiscal responsibility, dedication and countless hours of service in improving the educational experiences of all district students. The recipients who were honored are Dr. Mark Doyle, Board of Education member for School Board Service; Elisa Scott, PTSA treasurer for Community Service; Michel Krivosta, high school science teacher for Teacher Service; Maureen Griffin, elementary school principal’s office for Support Staff Service and Fred Koelbel, plant facilities administrator for Administrator Service. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141735 Thu, 29 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141735 Connecting with community through song Port Jefferson Middle School musician Alexa Eichinger performed the national anthem at a recent Port Jefferson Lions Club meeting. The honor for the sixth-grader was an opportunity to showcase her growth and self-discipline as a musician and meets some of the challenges of the district’s academic standards for music. She was accompanied to the meeting by her parent and Dr. Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141734 Wed, 28 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141734 Simons Research Program fellowship for David Rotunno With an interest in machine learning and equipped with letters of recommendation from teachers Dennis Christofor, Kyle Dunlop and nominated by science teacher Michel Krivosta, high school junior David Rotunno will spend his summer at the prestigious Simons Research Fellowship Program. The program, housed at Stony Brook University for 6.5 weeks from June through August, is a prestigious honor for some of the best science students from all over the country. Rotunno will work in the Department of Computer Science with Dr. Minh Nguyen, whose interests are in computer vision, machine learning and time series analysis, and Dr. Roy Shilkrot whose research focus is in human computer interaction, computer graphics and computer vision and augmented reality. “I’ve worked hard and am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to work alongside such brilliant computer scientists,” said David, who would like to study applied mathematics and computer science in college. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141733 Tue, 27 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141733 2017-18 Calendar Update – Reminder to Parents Port Jefferson Schools will be in session for students on Thursday, March 29, 2018. Schools will be closed on Friday, March 30, 2018. Schools will reopen on Monday, April 9, 2018. In addition: Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students will attend a full day of school on June 7, 2018 which will serve as the last day of classes and “Senior Day”. The last day of classes had originally been planned for June 6th. Port Jefferson Middle School students will attend a full day of school on June 12, 2018 which will serve as the last day of classes. The Algebra I Regents will also be administered that day. The last day of classes had originally been planned for June 11th. Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students will attend a full day of school on June 21, 2018 which will serve as the last full day of school. The student day had originally been planned for early dismissal after 2 hours. There are no further modifications to our 2017-18 school calendar. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding. Enjoy the Spring break! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141741 Tue, 27 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141741 Reid Biondo presents research at eminent science fair Junior Reid Biondo recently attended the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair, a competition for the most advanced high school projects. His research, “Convolutional Neural Network Classifier for Antarctic Seals,” was based upon a long-standing association with Dr. Heather Lynch, an associate professor of ecology and evolution at Stony Brook University’s School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. Reid conducted research in the Lynch Lab for Quantitative Ecology during his freshman and sophomore years of high school. He wrote code to take geotagged images from the internet and analyze them to gain a better understanding of specific Antarctic seal distribution. Reid had the unique opportunity to be the only student from the school to attend the eminent event and present and explain his work to experts in their subject areas from local universities, scientific institutions, professionals and peers from other high schools. He was accompanied by science teacher Michel Krivosta. “The LISEF competition was a great opportunity to be around other students with similar interests in research,” Reid said. “I look forward to continuing my research efforts at Stony Brook University this summer.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141732 Mon, 26 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141732 Young authors celebrated Students at the elementary school had the opportunity to share their writings with their families, teachers, administrators and Board of Education members during a recent Young Authors Celebration. Students from grades K-5 had their published works available for reading and comments, and the many subjects they wrote about was a clear indication of the school’s achievements in this academic discipline. Following the celebration, many of the parents attended the Board of Education meeting where Claudia Smith, pre-K-grade 8 assistant principal, conducted a presentation on the students’ progress with the structured writing program of Fundations and Columbia Teachers College Reading and Writing Project. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141737 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141737 Encouraging kindness at the middle school Thoughtfulness and understanding were at the forefront of the recent middle school Random Acts of Kindness initiative. Along with teacher Monica Consalvo, students decorated the school bulletin boards to display the message, “Be SOMEBODY who makes EVERYBODY feel like a SOMEBODY.” There were also quotations about being kind and festive student-designed heart posters. One day was designated Smile Day, when student volunteers handed out “smile stickers” to each student as they entered school. The event was to promote the idea that “today is going to be a great day – SMILE.” Students extended their compassion into the community by collecting toiletries that were distributed to the Welcome Friends of Greater Port Jefferson, a community organization that provides meals for people in need. “Although small, these endeavors helped to show students that through the power of one, we can make a difference in the lives of others,” Consalvo said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142790 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142790 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The March 27, 2018 work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has been changed to a special meeting for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel matters. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. at the District Office. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141736 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141736 Second-graders analyze and interpret artwork Through studying the work of several Abstract Expressionist artists such as Franz Klein, Lee Krasner, Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko and Cy Twombly, second-graders in Meghan Hallock’s art classes have discovered how to select a feeling or emotion and achieve that mood using color, line and shape in their own works. “I think it’s so important to teach young artists how to analyze and interpret art,” Hallock said. “Students are learning how art can convey meaning and not just be a pretty picture on a wall.” As part of the state learning standards for the arts, analyzing and interpreting artwork by engaging in the process of art criticism is a valuable tool for students to learn, allowing them to gain insight into the works’ meaning. Hallock provided each student a template to use for the critiquing process which asked them to describe the painting using the art elements, think about what the artwork was about and what feelings they experienced, ask the artist questions and give a compliment. Students worked with a partner and critiqued each other’s paintings. When they finished, they shared what they wrote and answered each other’s questions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142789 Thu, 22 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142789 VIDEO: Middle School Drama Club https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142788 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142788 Rave reviews for ‘Me and My Girl’ The high school Drama Club’s production of “Me and My Girl” was a resounding success, based on the remarkable talents of all involved. Based on the popular musical set in the late 1930s, the production engaged many students who took part in all aspects of its final stage performance – actors, pit orchestra, stage construction crew, makeup crew and those running the front of the house. The months of planning and rehearsing under the leadership of director Tony Butera helped to create another audience favorite for the Port Jefferson school community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141731 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141731 Letter from the Superintendent regarding Weather Make Up Days https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141740 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false141740 Community Forum - Budget Planning 2018-19: Priorities for Capital Improvement https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142787 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142787 Drama Club presents ‘Me and My Girl’ The High School Drama Club will present its production of “Me and My Girl” based on the popular musical set in the late 1930s. Showtimes are Friday, March 16, and Saturday, March 17, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 18, at 2 p.m., at the high school auditorium. After months of rehearsals and approximately 60 students involved in the production from backstage crews (lighting, sound, prop building, set building) to the orchestra pit and in the cast, the show will certainly be another successful hit for the drama club. “This is truly a community effort as teachers, parents of current students, parents of students who have long since graduated and community members voluntarily contribute to the productions,” said adviser Tony Butera, who is grateful for the ongoing support of these people as well as alumni who come back to play in the pit, help create props and assist on make-up crews. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142786 Thu, 15 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142786 Notice of Community Forum: Priorities for Capital Improvement - March 22 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142785 Wed, 14 Mar 2018 17:00:00 GMT false142785 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The March 13, 2018 Board of Education meeting has been rescheduled to March 15, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142784 Wed, 14 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142784 District to host community forum on budget planning for capital needs The district invites all community members to attend a budget planning meeting on Thursday, March 22 at 6:30 p.m. in the large group room at the elementary school to discuss the capital improvement needs of the district and develop a priority list of projects to be funded through the 2018-19 school budget. An overview list of identified projects will be discussed and attendees will then be invited to comment on which projects should be given priority for inclusion within next year's budget. At this meeting, interested community members will be invited to participate in facilities planning meetings to continue the conversation about the district’s future capital needs. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142783 Tue, 13 Mar 2018 06:00:00 GMT false142783 March Meeting Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142775 Tue, 13 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142775 Showcasing their skills at Port Jeff’s PTA Talent Show The talents of the students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School rivaled some well-known television variety shows during the recent PTA Talent Show. “Ode to Joy,” “Hot Cross Buns” and “It’s a Hard Knock Life” brought much delight to the audience. Other musical performances including piano, recorder, ukulele and a rollicking rockabilly rendition, graced the stage along with dance and gymnastics routines. Giant tagboard masks featuring the face of school principal Tom Meehan and some favorite teachers were certainly an audience favorite. The evening of entertainment brought out families, school staff and community members to the annual PTA-sponsored event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142782 Tue, 13 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142782 ‘Oh, the places they’ll go’: Port Jeff students celebrate Dr. Seuss The hallways and library of the elementary school were a colorful celebration of Dr. Seuss’ birthday and the nationally recognized Read Across America Day. Organized by school librarian Selinda Stout, students at all grade levels served as guest readers and recited their favorite Dr. Seuss stories to their classmates. Stout commended each student for their courage in expressing the rhythm and cadence of their selected stories. “The guest readers amazed me with their ability to stand up in front of their friends and read,” said Stout of the rewarding experience in promoting literacy and encouraging the practice of independent reading. Pre-K-5 grade readers were: Deia Colosi Joseph Curley Avery Eisaman Myla Kelly Evangeline Kozlowsky Kristin Lucero Thea Mangels Sienna McCabe Austin Nam Jake Owens Brianna Russo Charlie Severin Ava Sexton Dylan Sproul Gianna Viviano Alexa Wonderland Jay Yeon Marley York The school recognized the dual events by encouraging students to participate in Dr. Seuss-inspired trivia questions throughout the week with the opportunity to win coupons donated by Applebee’s, Panera Bread and Port Jeff Bowl. The faculty lounge was also decorated with balloons donated by Party Hardy in Miller Place, a cake donated by Port Jeff’s La Bonne Boulangerie and Dr. Seuss-themed snacks for the staff. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142779 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142779 Senior Trey Pisano shares musical talents in Albany Senior Trey Pisano performed with the New York State School Music Association All-State Instrumental Jazz Ensemble in Albany as part of Music in our Schools Month. The month of March is designated each year as Music in Our Schools Month and serves as an opportunity for students and teachers from around the state to meet with government officials in support of music education and perform at the state capitol building. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142781 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false142781 Middle school students raise the curtains and funds for charity Dance routines, songs, violin and ukulele performances, and a piano sonata written by one student’s mother were part of the entertaining Port Jefferson Middle School 12th Annual Talent Show on March 2. Dozens of students participated either as performers or part of the stage crew to the applause of the delighted audience. Student announcers Farzana Shakeri and Kiersten Parmegiani also gave a nod to Dr. Seuss’s birthday as they dressed as his beloved characters Thing 1 and Thing 2. Under the direction of teacher Allison Giannusa, the event was also an opportunity to collect canned goods for local food pantries and raised $867 for Friends of Karen, an organization that assists families with a child diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142777 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142777 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on March 13, 2018, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142780 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142780 A magical evening of music at Port Jeff’s Tri-M Cabaret Night The first evening of March was the inaugural Cabaret Night at the high school. Organized by the members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, guests listened to a wide variety of musical selections performed by the students while enjoying hors d’oeuvres and desserts. The event, under the leadership of music teacher Christine Creighton, served as a fundraiser for the Tri-M music honor society’s annual scholarship. The Tri-M Music Honor Society is a program of the National Association for Music Education, designed to recognize secondary music students for their musical ability, academic excellence, school involvement and community service. Throughout the year, Port Jefferson students work to broaden the musical horizons of fellow students and community members. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142776 Thu, 08 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142776 Is it science or art? Fifth-graders explore kinetic connections Fifth-graders learned about the interconnection of science and art in a recent kinetic art project in Richard Anderson’s and Meghan Hallock’s after-school Art Club. After answering questions to figure out what materials to use for their sculpture, how to balance it and how it would transform when it moved, each of the students used their imaginations and some skills for their constructions. Joined by Karen Levitov, director and curator for the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, and Stony Brook University art students, the fifth-graders wrote art words and science words and learned their relationship as they each created a piece of artwork that depended on movement for its effect. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142773 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142773 School Walk Out Letter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142778 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142778 Two seniors named National Merit Finalists Seniors Ibuki Iwasaki and Luigia Than have advanced to Finalist standing in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The two academically talented students took the qualifying test as juniors and are now among approximately 15,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the distinction. In the next several months approximately half of those students will be selected to receive a Merit Scholarship award, which is based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments. Both Ibuki and Luigia are accomplished and well-rounded students. Their Finalist designation exemplifies the district’s high level of student achievement and academically rigorous program for all students. National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142772 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142772 Twins honored by BOE for athletic accomplishments Seniors Jack Collins and Joey Collins were recognized by the Board of Education for their contributions to the district’s athletic program throughout their high school and middle school years. In an uplifting tribute by Dr. Danielle Turner, the district’s athletic director, the twin brothers were praised for their individual commitment, character, leadership and ability to overcome challenges that stand in the way of success. Jack, the senior quarterback for the football team, was a two-time Newsday grid-iron great; named All-County and third team All-State; set school records including completions (143), yards passing (2261, second in Suffolk County) and 18 touchdown passes; and was the first Port Jefferson football player to be named the Most Valuable Player in Suffolk County Division 4 football. He is looking at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology or Case Western to continue his football career next year. Turner also read words of praise for Jack from football coach Andrew Cosci and baseball coach Jess Rosen, and for Joey from wrestling coach Mike Maletta for his successes on the wrestling mat during his high school career. “Jack and Joey have changed the way many of their peers, teammates and teachers view the world,” Turner said. “Their character, commitment and dedication to Port Jefferson athletics and to their community is without equal.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142770 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142770 Non-Credible Threat - Alert from Suffolk County School Superintendents https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142774 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142774 Port Jefferson students featured on LI News Radio program What do a seventh-grade varsity tennis player, a peer tutor and a three-sport participant have in common? They are just a few of the exceptional students from our district who will be featured on the Spotlight on Long Island Schools show on LI News Radio, 103.9 FM, to air on Saturday, March 3, at 10:30 a.m. High school students Samantha Acampora, Jack Collins, Shane DeVincenzo, Max Okst and Kyra Sommerstad; middle schoolers Benjamin Perez-Flesler and Nicolina Giannola; and elementary school student Lucy Sarlo shared stories of their academic, athletic and community service accomplishments and activities. They were joined by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano, Athletic Director Dr. Danielle Turner, High School Principal Christine Austen and Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig. Hosted by Robert Vecchio, the question-and-answer format, 30-minute show highlighted the varied accomplishments of these students as well as mentioned the high school’s designation as a Blue Ribbon School this academic year. Tune in to hear their impressive stories of balancing academics and other achievements on March 3. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142769 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142769 Reward School accolades from BOE During its mid-February meeting, the Board of Education made a special recognition to members of the high school for their collective efforts in having the building named a Reward School by the New York State Education Department, an honor that it has achieved consecutively since the 2012-13 academic year. During the meeting, Vice President Mark Doyle spoke on behalf of the entire Board of Education, and congratulated the administration, staff and students of the high school for its commitment to educational excellence and outstanding student performance. The school was one of only 155 schools across New York State to receive the Reward School recognition this year. The high school annually boasts numerous Advanced Placement Scholars, and National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students, in addition to many athletic, musical, civic and volunteer accomplishments of its students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142768 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142768 Administrators Give Back to Community In an effort to give back to the local community, Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan and district administrators recently teamed up to participate in the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson’s Winter Golf Fundraiser. The cold weekend activity in early February was an opportunity for them to collaborate with other Rotary members through purposeful action. The proceeds from the event not only encouraged civic engagement but was a way to help benefit local charities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142767 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142767 Putting STEAM into the Arts Music teacher Lisa Scrom teamed up with librarian Selinda Stout to offer second-graders a unique interdisciplinary lesson. Students in Laura Kelly’s and Carleen Parmegiani’s classes worked with Ms. Scrom on a musical composition unit and as a culmination, they connected it with science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The students composed their own songs using rhythms they learned and the pitches do mi sol. They notated them on staff paper, added lyrics and learned how to play the songs on the instruments in class, and then used iPads to program the robots in the library to perform their original compositions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142766 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142766 Middle School mindfulness presentation to BOE Sixth-grade students participated in a mindfulness pilot program this past fall and three students had the opportunity to share some of the skills they learned at a recent Board of Education meeting. Middle school Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and English teacher Alison Giannusa, who was instrumental in the success of the program, presented on the feedback from students and staff. They were followed by students Kiersten Parmegiani, Noelle Eckart and Alexa Eichinger, who instructed the Board members, school administrators and community members in attendance in a cooling breath and the half sun salutation, two of the many strategies they learned in the eight-week program. Their calming voices and guidance were well received by all who took part in the exercises. The forward-thinking approach to the middle school’s focus on character-building skills in students was a collaboration with the district and Diane MacDonald, a holistic educator and the founder of Port Jefferson-based It Takes a Village. The program’s strategies helped participants to recognize symptoms of anger, stress, anxiety and frustration and how to alleviate reactive behaviors to them. It also helped to cultivate self-esteem, confidence and an awareness of their emotional health and well-being. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142765 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142765 Vin Miceli & Joe Evangelista head to state wrestling tournament Senior Vin Miceli won the 126-pound title at the Section XI 2018 Division II Wrestling Championships, recently held at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood. He will head to the state tournament at the Times Union Center in Albany tomorrow. Miceli’s outstanding record consists of being a five-time All-County wrestler, two-time Suffolk County champion, four-time West Islip champion, a three-time Armstrong Cup champion, a three-time Huntington champion and a three-time Harborfields champion. “Vin Miceli is impressive,” said coach Michael Maletta. “He is committed to his sport year-round and has accumulated over 90 off season matches this year. After every loss he rededicates himself and moves forward. I am so proud of him, Port Jefferson should be proud of him.” Joining Miceli in Albany will be Joe Evangelista, who received a wild card to gain entrance to the state tournament. The Wild Card is reserved for the top wrestlers in the state who do not win their sectional tournament. Evangelista has over 100 career victories and is a five-time All-County wrestler as well as a County champion. He was a two-time Armstrong champion, two-time LuHi champion, and a Huntington champion, Bellport champion and West Islip champion. The Port Jefferson wrestling team placed third at the County tournament with a score of 210. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142763 Thu, 22 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142763 Important Message for Parents and Our School Community There will be a meeting on Monday, February 26th at 6:30 pm in the high school auditorium to discuss community questions and concerns about student and staff safety. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142764 Tue, 20 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142764 Surpassing a fundraising goal at the Middle School In early January, the Middle School Student Council set out to help children diagnosed with life-threatening illnesses when they established a goal to raise $2,018 to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Pennies for Patients” campaign. As a result of the students and staff members overwhelming support, the Student Council not only met but surpassed their goal with a total amount raised of $2,766. To achieve this goal, the students held various fundraisers, including afterschool bake sales and Pajama Friday, when staff and students paid up to five dollars to wear their pjs to school. They also created posters and sold blood drop stickers to cover a “Make Cancer Disappear” wall in the school. “It’s such a pleasure to not only see our students engage in helping others but our whole school community come together to support their efforts,” said adviser Allison Giannusa. The social studies classes also held their own competition and Philip Giannusa’s eighth-period class raised the most money with a total of $575. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142760 Mon, 19 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142760 Emerging writers at the Elementary School A celebration of literacy was recently held in Carleen Parmegiani’s second-grade class where the students have been learning about non-fiction writing as part of their English Language Arts curriculum. Family members, administrators, teachers and other students in the school stopped by to hear the stories and see the illustrations that the class members created. Prior to the event, the students wrote and illustrated their own fact-based books, choosing a topic that was important to them and decorating their desks with props to complement their creative works. These included such diverse interests as dinosaurs, Manhattan, snakes, Brazil, butterflies and one student’s Ukrainian heritage. The books also contained an organized table of contents, researched facts, events, history and even a comments page for guests to sign and thank each student for sharing their stories and encourage them to continue on their writing paths. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141873 Fri, 16 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141873 Summer 2018 Music Camp Registration Now Open https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142761 Fri, 16 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142761 VIDEO: Valentine's Day https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142762 Fri, 16 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142762 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on February 27, 2018, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The work session will include an update on development of the 2018-2019 budget, as well as future facility projects https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142771 Fri, 16 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142771 Middle School proves it’s a ‘Big, Bright Beautiful World’ The Middle School’s production of “Shrek The Musical JR.” was a resounding success based on the exceptional talents of the cast and stage crew. The musical, an adaptation of the popular movie and Broadway show, engaged both the 44 members of the middle school Drama Club and numerous student volunteers from the High School. The dedication and fun that the students experienced was under the leadership of co-advisers Mary LaSita, the middle school/high school librarian and music teacher Lisa Scrom. The months of planning, rehearsing and working together culminated in another successful stage performance and glowing reviews from the audience. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141872 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141872 New musical adventures for fifth-graders A new sound is emerging from the music classrooms at the Elementary School, where fifth-grade students are learning to play the ukulele under the leadership of music teacher Lisa Scrom. The students are learning about chord progressions and strumming patterns to play along with a variety of pop and folk songs. Aligned with the New York State learning standards, the lessons also include how to read tablature, music theory, chord and song structure and improvisation. “All the students really enjoy learning to play the ukulele and many families have purchased their own so the children can continue their learning at home, which is really exciting,” said Scrom. “They are all actively involved during each lesson, collaborating with each other to learn a variety of songs.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141871 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141871 Students share musical flair at Band Festival Six high school students participated in the 60th annual Mid-Island Band Festival, which was recently held at West Islip High School. The concert brought students Josh Ecker, Cole Fortier, Leland Held, Jillian Lawler, Cole Swensen, and Jack Worrell together on stage with student-musicians from Miller Place, Sayville, Patchogue-Medford, Hauppauge and West Islip school districts. “Congratulations to all participating students for their exceptional efforts,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, the district director of music and fine arts. “These experiences continue to advance their creative expressions in music.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141870 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141870 Service Academy nomination for senior Connor Kaminska In addition to the academic and athletic accomplishments of senior Connor Kaminska, his resume now boasts not one, but three, 2018 Service Academy nominations. Sen. Chuck Schumer, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Rep. Lee Zeldin each wrote a letter of recommendation for Connor for entry into the United States Naval Academy, where he hopes to continue his post high school education. The competitive nomination process was an opportunity to shine a light on Connor’s competence, character and compassion. He was touted for his academic performance through his SAT and ACT scores, athletic abilities as a member of the lacrosse and football teams, and ambitious accomplishments as part of the school’s Mathletes and Science Olympiad team. He praised the many opportunities offered during his educational career in the Port Jefferson School District. Connor’s academic and leadership skills were also noted when earlier this year, he was honored by the College Board as an AP Scholar with Distinction, and named a Suffolk Zone award winner by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141868 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141868 Teaming up to ensure student well-being As research continues to be conducted on the health risks associated with electronic cigarettes, the District is proactively engaged in preventing its use among students. A collaboration with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services and educator Stephanie Sloan, is one of the approaches that is teaching students the dangers of e-cigarettes. Sloan is conducting informational presentations to all physical education classes in the High School, where students are learning peer-to-peer prevention strategies. “Education is key,” said Danielle Turner, the district’s director of physical education, health and athletics, who along with district administrators is working to educate students to make healthy decisions. “The more our students understand and accept the associated risk factors, the more they will make positive choices.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141867 Fri, 09 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141867 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on February 13, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141869 Fri, 09 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141869 Science Olympiad students compete The High School’s Science Olympiad team participated and placed in the Science Olympiad Division C Regional Competition along with 47 other teams from Eastern Long Island. Port Jefferson came in seventh place overall and won a total of 14 medals, which are awarded to the top 10 teams of students in each event category. The categories and students who won medals are: 1st place - Eli Doyle and Louis Martin for Astronomy 2nd place - Sinan Ates and Eadan McSweeney for Anatomy and Physiology 2nd place - Hana Ali, Eli Doyle and Kyle Onghai for Quiz Bowl 3rd place - Ben Zaltsman and Reid Biondo for Game On 4th place - Joe Samara and Connor Kaminska for Rocks and Minerals 4th place - Joe Samara and Liam McSweeney for Fermi 6th place - Connor Kaminska and Ben Zaltsman for Helicopters 6th place - Rachel Park and David Rotunno for Fermi 7th place- Chris Scott and Cezanne Lojeski for Write it, Do it 7th place - Gavin Barrett and Liam McSweeney for Remote Sensing 8th place- Sinan Ates and Kyle Onghai for Thermodynamics 8th place - Reid Biondo and Eric Tischer for Parasitology 8th place - Cezanne Lojeski and Chloe Andriani for Ecology 10th place - Rachel Park and Chris Scott for Duct Tape Challenge “We are proud of our student participants and congratulate them on their hard work,” said science teacher Amanda Brideson. She, along with science teacher Michel Krivosta – who also serves on the Science Olympiad regional planning committee – are the team co-advisers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141865 Thu, 08 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141865 Middle School presents ‘Shrek The Musical JR.’ The Middle School Drama Club will present its adaptation of “Shrek The Musical JR.” based on the hit movie and Broadway show. Showtimes are Friday, Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. at the High School auditorium. “We are so proud of the level of dedication to this year’s production,” said Mary LaSita, the middle school/high school librarian who serves as the club’s co-adviser along with music teacher Lisa Scrom. The production is a combined effort of the 44 middle school students involved in the Drama Club, who make up the cast and stage crew, as well as student volunteers from the High School. “This is our largest show thus far and the dancing, set design and singing is outstanding,” LaSita said. “We have over 20 high school volunteers, many of whom have come up through the program, who have worked tirelessly with the middle school students. This has been a wonderful experience.” Admission to the performance is available for a suggested donation of $5 per ticket or $10 per family. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141864 Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141864 University Gallery visit for art club students As an extension to their studies, students from the fifth-grade art club had the chance to view unique works of art during a recent visit to the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts. During the field trip, Karen Levitov, director and curator for the gallery, spoke with the students about the current “Double Portrait” exhibit that featured the work of Charley Friedman and Nancy Friedemann-Sanchez. Ms. Levitov spoke about the techniques and inspiration behind the artists’ works, which included quirky sculptures, drawings, video and photographs. “The students had the opportunity to examine and discuss artwork that appeared visually different but upon further investigation, had similar content,” elementary art teacher Meghan Hallock, who accompanied the students on the trip along with art teacher Richard Anderson. “Through these artists they've come to understand that a self-portrait can be nonrepresentational and look forward to making their own.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141863 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141863 High School named Reward School In recognition of its commitment to educational excellence and outstanding student performance, the High School has again been named a Reward School by the New York State Education Department. It has achieved the honor consecutively since the 2012-13 academic year. The SED presents the award annually to schools that have made the most progress or have the highest performance in the state with no significant gaps in student achievement. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was one of only 155 schools across New York State to receive the recognition this year. “This prestigious designation is a testament to the tireless efforts of our administrators and educators,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano. “That, coupled with students who embrace learning, their exceptional accomplishments, and the engagement of parents and our school community, allow us to continue to meet and exceed high standards.” The designation is the third honor for the school this academic year. On the national level, it was named a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education in September, and Principal Christine Austen was named a Person of the Year by TBR News Media in December for her leadership and steadfast efforts in improving the academic programs offered. The school annually boasts numerous AP Scholars, and National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students, in addition to the many athletic, musical, civic and volunteer accomplishments of its students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141862 Mon, 05 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141862 Showcasing musical talents at Long Island String Festival Eight students from both the elementary school and middle school showcased their exceptional talents at the Long Island String Festival Association concert on Jan. 28 at Northport High School. Fifth-graders Caitlin Dickhuth, Jinah Kwak and Jack Snyder, sixth-graders Gavin Onghai, Kay Ranjbar, Andrew Schretzmayer and Nicholas Smirnov, and seventh-grader Alexa Ayotte were selected to perform in the Intermediate Long Island String Festival. These students were selected for this honor along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with New York State School Music Association scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. “On behalf of the Port Jefferson School District, we congratulate all these accomplished musicians,” said Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141861 Fri, 02 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141861 February Meeting Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141860 Thu, 01 Feb 2018 06:00:00 GMT false141860 ‘Pennies for Patients’ at Middle School The Port Jefferson Middle School Student Council started the new year with a goal to raise $2,018 to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Pennies for Patients” campaign. They are well on their way and encourage others to help them reach their goal by Feb. 9th. The students are conducting afterschool bake sales in the school lobby and Pajama Friday, when staff and students can pay up to five dollars to wear their pjs to school that day. The students have also created posters and a “Make Cancer Disappear” wall in the school. Blood drop stickers are being sold for one dollar each and the goal is to cover the word “cancer” on the wall with the stickers. Collections are also taking place during grades 6-8 social studies classes and online at http://events.lls.org/pages/li/PortJeffersonMiddleSchool-2018 “Our students are not only learning to work together for a common cause but how this organization works to find a cure for blood cancers in children,” said Giannusa. For more information on how to assist in the fundraiser, please contact Mrs. Giannusa at agiannus@portjeffschools.org https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141859 Thu, 01 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141859 ‘Tickling the Ivories’ at the Elementary School A new generation of pianists — some of whom may become as famous as Mozart, Billy Joel or Art Tatum — are learning basic technical skills at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. As part of their music curriculum, students in Lisa Scrom’s and Christian Neubert’s first-grade music classes have begun their piano unit. They will learn basic fingerings and hand positions as well as note names and their location on the piano. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141858 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141858 Middle School ‘dynamic duo’ honored by Board of Education Teaching assistants Tracy Gray and Bonnie Kelsch were honored by the Board of Education for their continued contributions to the Middle School. Known as the school’s “dynamic duo,” Principal Dr. Robert Neidig prepared a heartfelt tribute to the long-time staff members who have made a significant impact on the lives of the students, families and staff. “Their commitment to helping children succeed and the support they provide to ensure their academic, social, and emotional growth is a model for all others to follow,” said Dr. Neidig. “Their positive spirit, along with their huge hearts, have helped countless scores of children thrive during this time of their lives. These two play such an instrumental role in the successes of the middle school.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141857 Fri, 26 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141857 Musical accolades for High School students Seven High School students attended the Long Island String Festival held recently at West Islip High School. Senior Ibuki Iwasaki, juniors Ju-Eun Ha and Ava Shully, sophomore Rachel Park and freshmen Jack Reilly, Grant Samara and Nicole Schully were selected to perform along with students from across Suffolk County. The talented students took part on a competitive basis with New York State School Music Association scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. “Congratulations to all the selected string students,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, the district’s Director of Music and Fine Arts. “We are all proud of their musical achievements.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141856 Thu, 25 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false141856 Fifth-grader heads to regional Spelling Bee Fifth-grade student Isabelle Chen took the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School title of top speller after correctly spelling “massacres.” She will now compete in the 2018 Hofstra Long Island Regional Scripps Spelling Bee on Feb. 4. Isabelle, who was the school’s second place winner last year, studied a variety of words and definitions to be competition-ready. She will represent the district at Hofstra on Feb. 4 with a written test and if she is one of the top scorers, will be invited back the following week for the traditional oral spell down. From there, winners move on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which takes place in Washington D.C. later in the spring. “We’re all proud of her accomplishment,” said her teacher Christine Wicks. “We wish her the best of luck at the next step of the competition.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142711 Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142711 Cooking Club serves up food for thought The district’s Cooking Club held a Gingerbread Holiday contest in the library at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, where dozens of Middle School and High School students created their festive, sugary masterpieces. With piped royal icing, pretzels and candies, the high-spirited event was an occasion that allowed student participants to work together with their peers. Coordinated by school social worker Kristin Britt and speech pathologist Stacia Schoen, the focus of the club is social learning, which includes good communication, flexible thinking, teamwork and cooperation. According to Britt, the club gives students an opportunity to interact with one another, giving them an active voice within their peer groups to become healthier and happier by taking the time to work together and share a meal. “I enjoy being a part of the club,” said seventh-grader Grace Chambers. “They come up with fun ideas and then let us choose what we want to create. We all get a chance to socialize and meet new friends too.” The Cooking Club is funded by the Royal Educational Foundation of Port Jefferson, which works to strengthen community participation in school programs and provide funds for projects to help assure educational excellence for all students in the Port Jefferson School District. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142710 Tue, 23 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142710 Eighth-grader honored for hundreds of hours of community service Port Jefferson Middle School eighth-grader Ryan Parmegiani was honored by the district’s Board of Education for accruing 850 hours of community service. His selfless acts are consistent with the beliefs of the district, which include the idea that “an individual has a responsibility to self, family and community.” Some of the initiatives Ryan has been involved in have been helping with the high school prom, back-to-school nights, middle school and high school drama productions and concerts, working at the elementary school after school, Camp Paquatuck cleanups and Scraggy Olympics, among others. “Throughout his tenure as a middle school student, Ryan has devoted a great deal of energy to making a difference in the lives of so many,” said Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig. “His exemplary efforts have contributed to countless people and events, and I am proud of his devotion to the students and staff of the district and inspired by his spirit of volunteerism.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142709 Thu, 18 Jan 2018 18:00:00 GMT false142709 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 23, 2018, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, for a presentation of the first draft of the 2018-2019 budget, and any other business as may be needed. Call to order will be at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142708 Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142708 Music students attend concert at Lincoln Center As an extension of their classroom lessons, more than 50 students from the school district attended an evening performance of the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center. Accompanied by family members, Michael Caravello, Port Jefferson School District Director of Music and Fine Arts, and and music teacher Christian Neubert, the elementary, middle and high school string students enjoyed the orchestra's performance featuring world-renowned violinist Baiba Skride. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142707 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142707 Stranger Safety Concepts at the Elementary School Officers from the Suffolk County Police Department’s Community Oriented Police Enforcement unit visited Edna Louise Spear Elementary School for a program on the dangers of strangers. The officers were invited as volunteer educational partners by the Rose Brucia Educational Foundation, an organization that works to educate and empower children with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. The program’s theme was “If I Don’t Know, I Don’t Go!” which helped to reinforce stranger safety concepts. Using puppets and simple self-defense techniques, the students role-played and acted out scenarios about the danger of strangers. “The students loved the assembly,” said Assistant Principal Claudia Smith. “It was extremely informative.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142706 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142706 Entrepreneurship skills take the lead at the High School Students at the High School are gaining valuable skills in leadership, communication and problem-solving as part of the LaunchX program. The students are learning everything they need to know about creating and growing their own business in the entrepreneurship club and competition that motivates them to solve a real need in a different way. They are supported by mentors and the detailed programs and resources of LaunchX. “LaunchX is not a business plan competition,” said High School English teacher and club adviser Michael Augello. “The students are expected to actually create, test and sell their ideas.” The theme for this year is “Environmental Sustainability.” Open to students in grades 9-12, the high school has four teams in the program working on a way to filter out CO2 emissions from cars; creating a chip bag that is better for the environment; producing a self-sustaining gym and generating a platform that connects people with local opportunities to volunteer. Each group is encouraged to start in a small market and works with a mentor who has experience in the field and can help the first-time entrepreneurs work through some of the challenges they will encounter. It is truly impressive to see not only how creative and bright these students are, but how confident and professional they are becoming,” Augello said. “They are gaining skills that go well beyond entrepreneurship and will help them well beyond high school.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142705 Fri, 12 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142705 Leo Club members assemble Blizzard Bags Members of the High School’s Leo Club completed their annual Blizzard Bags event for the Three Village Meals on Wheels program. Club members purchased the food items and assembled the bags before the December holidays. The items were sent to the Three Village Meals on Wheels program, which then delivers them to senior citizens who receive their services. Each package contains four meals for seniors to have in their home to use when their daily Meals on Wheels delivery is canceled due to poor weather conditions. The meals consist of boxed or canned nonperishable items that can be stored for a later date. The Leo Club raises funds through bake sales at the school and uses the proceeds to purchase the needed food items. “The Leo Club members recognize the real need for this program,” said technology teacher and Leo Club adviser Brian Chalmers. “Delivering food to the Three Village Meals on Wheels clients is a true community outreach event.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142704 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142704 Unique ‘Partners in Science’ opportunity for two High School students Two students from the high school visited Brookhaven National Laboratory in December for the Partners in Science program. Junior Reid Biondo and sophomore Hana Ali applied to be a part of the program that grants select high school students who are working on approved science projects access to the vast BNL scientific database of reference and research materials. Sponsored by the Eastern Suffolk BOCES School Library System and the internationally renowned research facility, they were accompanied by Middle School/High School library media specialist Mary LaSita. Both students have independent research projects under the leadership of science teacher Michel Krivosta. LaSita and Krivosta have collaborated and attended the program with students for the past three years. While at BNL, the students toured the electron storage ring, the National Synchrotron Light Source II and attended a lunch with an environmental scientist and LaSita. The highlight of their visit was the opportunity to speak with a BNL research librarian about the research process, culling through extensive academic materials and the facility’s scientific databases. The students now have the opportunity to access the lab on school breaks and after school to continue their research. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142703 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142703 Elementary School recognizes ‘Star Students’ Five students from the elementary Sschool were named “Star Students” by librarian Selinda Stout to promote the importance of literacy. The school’s version of the American Library Association Celebrity READ Campaign takes place several times per year. The students were chosen for their excellent attitude, behavior and work ethic in the library. To recognize their achievement, their photos are displayed on the bulletin board outside of the library along with a summary of their favorite book. A printed version of each child’s poster is also sent home for their families to enjoy. “When students experience the pleasures of independent reading, it encourages them to become lifelong learners,” said Stout. Star students are Dean Zaltsman – grade 1, Nina Gnatenko – grade 2, Jack Krause – grade 3, Lillianna Swift – grade 4 and Christopher Lotten – grade 5. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142702 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142702 January Meeting Dates https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142701 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142701 Port Jefferson Music Students Deliver Holiday Cheer The stages, classrooms and hallways of the Port Jefferson School District were filled with the melodies and rhythms of music at the most festive time of year. The elementary, middle school and high school winter concerts were joyful celebrations for the community, staff, families and friends throughout December. Members of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Tri-M Music Honor Society delivered holiday carol-grams to the delight of recipients and onlookers. Organized by music teacher and adviser Christine Creighton, students surprised and charmed school staff, including Principal Christine Austen, and friends with a holiday carol, tinsel and garland. High school students, under the leadership of Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts, and music teachers Edward Pisano and Katherine Butera, entertained the Board of Education and community members with select seasonal songs at the December meeting. The Board honored them with certificates for spreading holiday cheer in the community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142700 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142700 Port Jefferson School Community Wraps Up Kindness Students of the Port Jefferson School District take part in many charitable endeavors throughout the year and the winter holiday season is no exception. After engaging in Thanksgiving charitable giving drives, students were back in action in early December with lists of specific gifts for local children, organizing bake sales and other fundraisers. The students volunteered during their lunch periods and after school to assemble care packages, using their artistic skills to wrap presents and ready them for delivery to bring joy to local children. At Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, under the leadership of guidance counselor Jessica Peterson, staff, students and parents collected toys and other items and worked along with members of the Port Jefferson Library and The United Methodist Church of Port Jefferson to ensure a happy holiday for 18 Port Jefferson children. They credit the high school student organization for donating gifts for three of the children. The Middle School National Junior Honor Society, along with advisor and teacher Philip Giannusa held a festive wrapping event. They and the members of the student council and advisor Allison Giannusa purchased gifts with money they raised from bake sales and also donated gift cards to local families in need. Their efforts benefited local children and their packages were delivered to the families just before the holidays. For more than a decade Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has partnered with the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson, whose members fundraise throughout the year to purchase toys and clothing for a local charity. They then bring the hundreds of items to the high school where they are sorted, labeled and organized by members of the school’s Interact Club under the direction of adviser Deirdre Filippi. “It’s a nice feeling to be a part of a community that cares so much about each other,” said student Billy Scannel, as he wrapped gifts one day after school with fellow students, Rotary members and school administrators. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142699 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false142699 Elementary students write and illustrate Realistic Fiction As part of their English language arts curriculum, students in Carleen Parmegiani’s second-grade class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School in the Port Jefferson School District have written and illustrated Realistic Fiction books. They have been learning about the genre, in which stories may resemble real-life occurrences and fictional characters may act or react similarly to actual people. To celebrate their published pieces, they hosted a Holiday Book Shop to read and answer questions about their writing process. As guests stopped by their desks, they fluently read their stories and followed up by asking two questions such as – “how did you like my book?” or “what was your favorite part?” – to help them with feedback on their work. They also shared their creative process including why they chose a character’s name or if they mirrored their setting or plots on real-life events. Student Nina Gnatenko used some exceptional language in her story including “mechanic,” “unsure,” “excitedly” and “demanded,” words she learned by listening closely to conversations as research for her story. Family members were encouraged to attend the Holiday Book Shop where each student had 10 copies of their books printed that could be “purchased” for holiday gift giving with coupons presented to the guests. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142698 Wed, 27 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142698 History comes to life for Port Jefferson Middle School students History came to life for Port Jefferson Middle School seventh-grade students when they learned how Port Jefferson played an integral role in a Revolutionary War spy ring working for George Washington. Historian and curator Georgette Grier-Key and Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margo Garant engaged the students in the rich history of the Village, only yards away from their school’s entrance. Throughout their conversations, the pair shared how Main Street was officially designated by New York State as part of the Washington Spy Trail – well-known locally as the Culper Spy Ring – and considered America’s first espionage group. Additionally, they shared information about the centuries-old Roe House, which displays a letter from Washington thanking the members of the Spy Ring and a map that details the trail they traveled to send messages from Connecticut across the Long Island Sound into Port Jefferson and then into Manhattan. “The students are learning about this time period during class and had the unique opportunity to connect textbook learning to an authentic, interactive experience allowing for the synthesis of knowledge,” said seventh-grade teacher Monica Consalvo, who organized the learning program. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142697 Tue, 26 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142697 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 9, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held onJanuary 9, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at6:00 p.m.for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held onJanuary 9, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at6:00 p.m.for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held onJanuary 9, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at6:00 p.m.for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held onJanuary 9, 2018, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at6:00 p.m.for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142696 Fri, 22 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142696 Port Jefferson seniors named 2017 Suffolk Zone Winners Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors Connor Kaminska and Luigia Than were each named 2017 Suffolk Zone award winners by the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. This award is presented annually to the top female and male senior physical education leaders in each Suffolk County high school. According to Dr. Danielle Turner, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics, the pair were chosen by their physical education teachers for their outstanding character, leadership skills in schoolwide as well as physical education and health class activities, positive attitude toward instructional activities, scholastic achievements and being role models for their peers. “These students were chosen by the physical education staff not only because of their performance and leadership in class, but also because of their academic accomplishments and their contributions to their community,” said Turner. “Connor and Luigia represent the best of the best, and we couldn’t be prouder of their accomplishments.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142695 Thu, 21 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142695 Dual approach to learning with Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s Buddy Program As part of a cross-grade level initiative called the Buddy Program, fifth-grade students in Christine Wicks’ class have been sharing their love of learning with the kindergarten students in Melissa Martin’s class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Most recently, they combined their English Language Arts skills to draft letters to Santa as part of the Macy’s Make-A-Wish letter campaign, which donates one dollar to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for every letter it receives. The older students made a template of a letter and encouraged the younger ones to fill in the words, helping them to sound out letters and assisting them with spelling and ideas for the content. The two teachers have partnered for close to a decade on having their classes work together and have both seen growth in the school’s program with other classes partnering and more importantly the friendships that are formed and endure throughout the school year. According to Wicks, together the students experience the skills of communication as the older students learn patience and perseverance and the younger ones are being helped with spelling and sentence structure, a twofold positive outcome for learning. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142694 Wed, 20 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142694 Inquisitive minds with an ‘Hour of Code’ Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students took part in the national Computer Science Education Week’s “Hour of Code,” an initiative to encourage them to spend one hour to learn to program with an ultimate goal of wanting to learn more advanced coding. Students in Kim Pelkonen’s fourth-grade class were introduced to Flappy Bird, a simple, popular game in which the user controls the bird through narrow passageways without hitting the pipes on the screen. They used their Chromebooks to access the educational site Khan Academy, which uses detailed, step-by-step instructional videos to teach code. According to Pelkonen, the program makes it possible for advanced students to move ahead and manages to assist others by filling in the gaps if they missed any concepts. “They really enjoyed it,” said Pelkonen. “The game was a fun introduction and got them excited. Many students asked me to assign a new project so that they could try it at home.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142693 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142693 Powerful message of strength and determination shared at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Edna Louise Elementary School students learned about amyotrophic lateral sclerosis commonly referred to as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, as they welcomed special guest speaker Chris Pendergast who has been living with the illness for more than 20 years. In addition to sharing the history of the progressive, neurodegenerative disease and his personal journey from diagnosis to founding the ALS Ride for Life Campaign to raising awareness and funds for research to find a cure, Pendergast engaged the students with inspirational words of hope and encouragement in meeting any of life’s challenges. Using an augmentative communication device — an alphabet board to spell out his thoughts — Pendergast was assisted by his volunteers in “speaking” with the students, sharing in language that was age-appropriate for the elementary grade levels, his positive messages of strength and determination. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142692 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142692 World-class musical experience for Port Jefferson students Students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and Port Jefferson Middle School have had a unique opportunity to experience world-class musicians close to home at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts. Through a partnership between music teacher Vanessa Salzman and Paul Newland, outreach coordinator at Stony Brook University, Port Jefferson orchestra students and their families are invited to attend concerts each year at the university. Tickets are provided courtesy of Staller Center Outreach Endowment. Recent musical treats included Colin Carr, virtuoso cellist and artist-in-residence at Stony Brook. He performed all six Bach cello suites and “Starry Night,” an evening of both classical and jazz selections during which students witnessed improvisation, spontaneity and invention. “We are so grateful to the foundation and Mr. Newland for this unique opportunity to engage our students with professional musicians and first-rate performances in our neighboring community,” said Salzman. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142691 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142691 Elementary School’s ‘Giving Tree’ lights up the Port Jefferson Village Center Sharing in the spirit of the holiday season, the staff at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School sponsored a holiday tree in the annual Port Jefferson Village Festival of Trees. Set up in the Port Jefferson Village Center, the tree’s empty green branches were soon filled with new hats, gloves, scarves and mittens, generously donated by students, staff and families in the school to create a colorful “Giving Tree.” Kindergarten teacher Melissa Martin came up with the idea to help individuals in the community by making it a schoolwide effort that can be viewed in a public setting. Since the trees are on display throughout the holiday season, it was the perfect venue. The items, earmarked for donation to a local charity, will be distributed to children after the seasonal exhibit. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142690 Wed, 13 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142690 Compassion abounds at Port Jefferson Middle School The month of November was a busy one at Port Jefferson Middle School as student council members gathered and organized canned goods, nonperishable food items and monetary donations for Long Island Cares, an organization that provides humanitarian needs in local communities. The entire school population took part in the collection efforts, amassing 1,460 items to donate and approximately $50 in cash. Dr. Tara Sladek-Maharg's social studies class accumulated the most goods with a total of 358 items and were honored with a pizza party for their efforts. “I am overwhelmed and sincerely touched that so many students and staff were willing to donate to this important cause,” said student council adviser Allison Giannusa. “Their generosity will definitely make a positive impact on many local families.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142689 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142689 Port Jefferson’s Vince Miceli named ‘Most Outstanding Wrestler’ Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniorVince Miceli was voted Most Outstanding Wrestler at the 47th annual Huntington holiday tournament. The honor came on the heels of his commitment to wrestle Division I at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. A returning county champion for the Port Jefferson team, Miceli is a four-time All-County wrestler, won the Suffolk County tournament in 2015 and is a three-time finalist. He is a member of the Port Jefferson Century Club with 106 wins to date. “Vince is a leader for our wrestling team and we are lucky to have him,” said Port Jefferson’s varsity wrestling head coach Michael Maletta. “The coaching staff is excited to be in his corner this year and look forward to watching him compete at Bloomsburg.” Miceli will be the second in his family to wrestle at the college level. His older brother Nick competed for Port Jefferson and while a student at the Milwaukee School of Engineering. Thirteen additional Royal wrestlers placed in the tournament in their respective weight classes: 2nd place - Rick D’Elia and Joe Evangelista 3rd place - Jack Niederberger, Ryan Robertson and Brendan Rogers 4th place - Harry Cona, ChrisLepore and Joe Longo 5th place - Geoff Grove, James Laffey, Matt Murphy, Rob Williams and Will Williams https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142687 Thu, 07 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142687 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on December 12, 2017, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142688 Thu, 07 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142688 Public reading of poetry for Port Jefferson Middle School students Two Port Jefferson Middle School students shared a unique opportunity when they read their poetry to hundreds of spectators during the opening ceremony of the 22nd annual Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson. Eighth-grade student Heather Quiggle wrote “Winter in Port Jefferson,” which highlights the enjoyment of the festival’s crowds, music and cheer, while seventh-grader Sophie Blumenthal’s “A Magical Night” shares the happiness of a family celebrating its holiday traditions. The students were inspired to create their literary pieces as a component of the middle school English curriculum and selected to read their poetry by a school committee. According to English teacher Kayleen Everitt, the public reading is an effective way for students to enhance their oral communication skills. Seventh-grade teacher Monica Consalvo arranged for the reading during the festive outdoor ceremony. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142685 Wed, 06 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142685 Bond Results The proposed bond was defeated. Vote totals are below: No – 1,355 Yes – 374 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142686 Wed, 06 Dec 2017 01:00:00 GMT false142686 Remember to Vote! Click here for more details https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142683 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 12:00:00 GMT false142683 Port Jefferson music students perform at Annual Charles Dickens Festival Members of the Port Jefferson School District music department entertained hundreds of spectators with seasonal music during various performances at the 22nd Annual Charles Dickens Festival in Port Jefferson Village on Dec. 2nd and 3rd. Musical ensembles included the elementary fifth grade select choir, the elementary/middle school chamber orchestra, the middle and high school orchestras, and the high school chamber choir; performing holiday favorites throughout the weekend. Students from the middle and high school orchestras also performed chamber music at the Port Jefferson Public Library. This special and unique opportunity highlights the District Music and Fine Arts Department’s mission to facilitate the exploration and discovery of arts education for students by fostering the tools of imaginative self-expression and meaningful social interaction. “We are so pleased to showcase our music at this exciting event,” said Director of Music and Fine Arts, Michael Caravello. “A special thank you to all of the student musicians for sharing their holiday music with the community as well as their teachers, Katherine Butera, Christian Neubert, Vanessa Salzman and Lisa Scrom.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142684 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142684 Village mayor visits second-graders at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Second-graders at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School had a special visitor when Village of Port Jefferson Mayor Margo Garant came to their classes to share information on the local community. As part of the second-grade curriculum, students learned about urban, suburban and rural regions and started to gain an understanding of civic involvement, economics, geography and history of their own neighborhood to be able to compare these aspects to people of long ago. According to teacher Carleen Parmegiani, Port Jefferson students have the unique advantage to learn about these concepts firsthand living in an incorporated village that boasts many restaurants, a theater, locally-owned boutiques, parks and private beaches. Through their conversations with Mayor Garant, the students were also taught about the importance of government and how taxes and the parking meters help to pay for services. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142682 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142682 Port Jefferson students take the plunge Twenty-seven students from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School recently braved the cold waters of Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai to take part in the eighth annual Polar Plunge for Special Olympics. Accompanied by teachers Deirdre Filippi and Jesse Rosen, members of the high school’s varsity club participated in the event that is sponsored by the Town of Brookhaven. They were among the hundreds of people out to support the sports organization for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Their fundraising efforts helped secure nearly $1,500, which will sponsor four athletes for a year. “We chose the Polar Plunge because as a community service-minded group, we thought that it would be a great way for our students to see how their combined efforts could have such a wonderful impact upon the greater community,” said Filippi. “Since our club is centered around student athletes, we couldn't have picked a better organization (Special Olympics) to help raise money for.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142681 Wed, 29 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142681 Rotary’s ‘Student of the Month’ for sixth-grader Julia Perrotta Port Jefferson Middle School sixth-grader Julia Perrotta was named the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson’s “Student of the Month” for October. A dedicated and exceptional scholar, Julia participates in school clubs, is a member of the student council and is often found to be helping others while upholding her own impressive work standard. She was nominated by her teachers, who touted her as the type of student who can be looked upon as a role model. Principal Robert Neidig congratulated Julia and challenged her “to continue to take risks and step out of her comfort zone when it comes to her learning” and to continue excelling and accomplishing great things. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142427 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142427 Experiential learning for sixth-graders The annual trip to Frost Valley for sixth-grade students was filled with science exploration, trust-building activities, teamwork, outdoor living skills and nature hikes. According to Principal Robert Neidig, the two days of adventures included crossing cable bridges, visiting waterfalls and observing animals. Frost Valley educators introduced the students to a variety of birds — an owl, a falcon, a turkey vulture, a python, an alligator and a turtle — and helped them understand how these species spend their days both in captivity and in the wild. Students also learned orienteering and how to use a compass and read a map. Rounding out the environmental education experience for them were a water ecology lesson and a low ropes course, where they worked on trust-building skills. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142424 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142424 Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE Port Jeff LiveStream Account WEDNESDAY DEC 6 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 7:00 P.M. ES GYM ** NOTE LOCATION CHANGE THURSDAY DEC 7MS GRADES 7 AND 8 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM WEDNESDAY DEC 13MS GRADE 6 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM THURSDAY DEC 14HIGH SCHOOL 7:00 P.M. HSAUDITORIUM https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142442 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142442 Important information regarding updated tax calculator The Port Jefferson School District, like many school districts throughout Long Island, contracts with Munistat Services Inc. for advisement and estimates on school district borrowing and debt management. Munistat provides services to several hundred school districts, nonprofit organizations and local governments as a financial advisor specializing in debt management and securities offerings. At our request, Munistat provided an estimate of state aid for our proposed capital bond project in September, and the district used this figure in bond presentations and the development of the estimated tax calculator for residents. However, late last week, Munistat advised the district that current bond sales have come in at a lower interest rate than initially estimated and that they had overestimated the district’s state aid by $400,000 per year. Given this update, the district’s estimated tax calculator has been redeveloped to reflect these new projections. The original tax estimates, which ranged from $198 to $997 per year, have changed to $239 to $1,185 per year. Information on Munistat's revised schedule indicating more accurate estimated amounts for interest rates, state aid and the tax rate has also been posted to the district’s website. Needless to say, the district is disappointed that this inaccuracy occurred but is thankful that this information became available to share with residents before our scheduled bond vote. The district believes that the updated tax calculator will provide residents with a more accurate estimate of what the proposed bond will cost their households. Throughout our correspondence, Munistat has apologized for this inaccuracy, which is captured in their letter to the district: "Unfortunately, the last estimated debt service schedule that I provided to you contained an inadvertent inaccuracy pertaining to the state aid amount. The inaccuracy caused the estimated average tax rate to be understated. We apologize for the oversight in the estimated schedule." https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142426 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142426 Empowering students to help their peers at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Students at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School recently took part in Sources of Strength, a peer leadership program designed to engage teens through the power of connection, hope, help and strength. In its second year at the high school, the program is designed to harness the power of peer social networks to change unhealthy habits and relationships. The students learned that relying on many sources of strength is more powerful than relying on just one. They broke up into groups, discussing eight key categories: mental health, medical access, spirituality, generosity, healthy activities, mentors, positive friends and family support. They then shared stories and learned skills to strengthen these sources of protection so that when times get hard they can rely on them. The daylong program was facilitated by two energetic trainers, a representative from Response Crisis Center and social worker Kristin Britt, who advises the program throughout the year and works along with the high school’s two guidance counselors, Kerri Neligon and Kathi Galvin, and school psychologist, Kristen Wendel, who serve as mentors to the students. According to Janell Anema, a national trainer for the organization, during times of strife students will generally listen more to their friends than to their parents, teachers or other adults and the skills the attendees acquired during the training will aid them in becoming change agents for promoting positive peer relationships. The students will work on projects throughout the year that will include powerful messages for poster campaigns, cafeteria activities and videos for social media. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142423 Fri, 24 Nov 2017 18:00:00 GMT false142423 Fundations training for teachers at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School In an effort to share best practices and enrich teachers’ understanding of new educational strategies, Port Jefferson’s Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s pre-kindergarten, kindergarten and first-grade teachers recently took part in a Fundations training workshop with Kerry Leo from Da Vinci Education and Research Center. Fundations helps to lay the groundwork for lifelong literacy as students learn to gain enjoyment from reading. The program emphasizes phonemic awareness, reading fluency, vocabulary and comprehension among other strategies. Pre-K through second-graders at the school are engaged in Fundations activities and lessons within their classrooms daily. During the workshop, the teachers shared their ideas on the diagnostic-prescriptive instructional approach, which focuses directly on the student and helps to establish a teaching method for each child. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142422 Fri, 24 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142422 ‘Antigone’ Astounds Audiences in Port Jefferson After weeks of rehearsal, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s drama club members took to the stage this November to perform a flawless rendition of Jean Anouilh’s “Antigone” before fascinated audiences. Dozens of students took part in the fall production as actors, chorus members and as part of the lighting, audio, stage construction, painting and refreshments crews. Collaborating together, the students worked under the direction of Tony Butera to bring the story to life. The show, adapted by Lewis Galantiere and inspired by Sophocles’ work of the same name, provided a unique experience for the cast, crew and the audience, as it was presented in a small black box theater setting. The cast performed the entire show within a 16 foot by 16 foot area, while the audience sat right in front of them and to their sides. "We wanted to introduce the students to this type of stage setting because they will most certainly experience it in college,” said Butera. “It's a different style of acting. The students get to see what it feels like to be that close to the audience and the audience gains a whole new perspective of what it feels like to be part of the play." After two of the performances, the cast held question and answer periods with the audience, where topics such as music selections, character choices, acting styles and the unique feelings of being situated so close to each other were discussed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142425 Thu, 23 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142425 Annual food drive a success at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School The students, staff and families helped to make the annual food drive at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School another triumphant endeavor. Under the leadership of elementary guidance counselor Jessica Peterson, the school community once again showed its generosity in aiding others with 27 boxes of food collected that will benefit eight local families. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142421 Wed, 22 Nov 2017 18:00:00 GMT false142421 Giving thanks at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School In the spirit of the Thanksgiving holiday, the second-grade classrooms of Carleen Parmegiani and Darlene Wells at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School were filled with gratitude as students participated in a festive autumn-inspired event with family and friends. Through a PowerPoint presentation and songs, the children shared what being grateful means to them. Family members then helped them to create a unique holiday craft in which they wrote on strips of orange paper what they are thankful for, attached them together to form a pumpkin shape, added leaves and vines in green paper for a finished product of a table centerpiece for their home’s celebration of Thanksgiving. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142420 Wed, 22 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142420 Fellowship and food at Port Jefferson MS senior citizen luncheon More than two dozen local seniors received a warm welcome from students and staff as they took part in the annual Port Jefferson Middle School senior citizen luncheon, a spirited afternoon of festive surroundings, friends and seasonal music. Organized by members of the student council under the leadership of adviser Allison Giannusa, students volunteered throughout the event as servers and greeters and visited with the attendees socially. Students enthusiastically asked questions about the seniors’ families and interests and share their own stories in the hopes of creating new friendships. The senior guests were also treated to two preview scenes from “Antigone,” the high school’s fall drama, and several musical selections. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142419 Tue, 21 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142419 Port Jefferson music student participates in 37th Annual Howard Hovey Tuba Day Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomore Sinan Ates joined the top high school tuba players from across Suffolk County to showcase his talents during this year’s Howard Hovey Tuba Day at Northport High School on Nov. 3. During this remarkable event sponsored by the Suffolk County Music Educators Association, Sinan joined over 200 tuba students on one stage to perform alongside professional musicians including the renowned tuba ensemble, FivE Euphonium Quartet. Music teacher Christine Creighton and Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello accompanied him to the event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142417 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142417 FITNESS CENTER IS NOW OPEN The fitness center, located at the HS/MS (350 Old Post Road, Port Jefferson) is open from 5 – 7 p.m., Monday – Thursday (school days only). It is available for all residents from November 20, 2017 until May 3, 2018. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142418 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142418 The power of reading at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Independent reading, shared reading and interactive writing are part of the literacy approach at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and students were excited to participate in several activities surrounding these topics during the annual PARP event and Scholastic Book Fair in November. Family members of students in Maureen Zajac’s second-grade class lined the hallways with books and blankets and met with students in small groups to share favorite books. The class enjoyed hearing the wide range of stories, including the entertaining poems of Shel Siverstein and the fairy tale story, “The Gingerbread Man,” among others. Fourth-grade students in Dana St. Pierre’s and Michele Smith’s class were immersed in a reading and writing assignment, encouraging them to look for clues and cues by answering questions, searching for story titles and writing about themes of chapter and picture books. First-graders visited the library to share stories and identify books they are looking to read while readying for the PTA-sponsored Book Fair. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142416 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142416 Fall Production: ‘Antigone’ Limited seating, not intended for children under 13 years of age The drama club at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School will present the classic tragedy “Antigone,” on Friday, Nov. 17, Saturday, Nov. 18 and Sunday, Nov. 19 in the High School’s auditorium. Sophocles’ updated version of the well-regarded Greek classic drama is the story of Antigone who must decide if she will follow the law of the land or follow divine and religious justice. Performances are scheduled for both Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. There will be a brief Question and Answer session following both the Saturday and Sunday performances. This play is being produced in a limited seating setting and is not intended for children under 13 years old. Suggested donation is $5.00 per person and $20.00 per family. Please show your support for the students of Port Jefferson and the experience of live theater in the community. Click here for more information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142412 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 06:00:00 GMT false142412 ‘Service Above Self’ for High School Interact Club Cold weekend weather didn’t deter the High School’s Interact Club from taking part in cleanup efforts at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck in Center Moriches. The students, rakes in hands, worked collaboratively to help ready the facilities and grounds for next year’s participants. The camp’s mission is to enable children and young adults with physical or developmental disabilities to enjoy a safe and quality program of summertime camping, recreation and education. The Interact Club students were accompanied by adviser Deidre Filippi and members of the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson and Rocky Point Rotarians in their annual efforts to assist the greater community through service projects. “This community service activity offers students the opportunity to see how combining their effort with their peers and members of the community can result in very positive outcomes,” said Filippi. “Interact Club members are learning at an early age that they can positively influence people around them and that is truly rewarding to see.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142415 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142415 Celebrating Blue Ribbon status in Washington, D.C. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School educators attend national ceremony Earlier this year, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was named a National Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education and district staff members traveled to Washington D.C. this November to officially receive the coveted award. Present for the ceremony was Principal Christine Austen as well as teachers Jesse Rosen and Eva Grasso. The event served as an opportunity for Blue Ribbon school educators to network, share best practices within and among schools and encourage dialogue about excellence in education. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142414 Wed, 15 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142414 Port Jefferson School District honors veterans on Dress Down Day Students, faculty and staff members of the Port Jefferson School District helped to honor veterans during their GI GO Fund Nationwide Dress Down Day on Nov. 8. Coordinated by the middle school’s student council, the entire school community was encouraged to remember those who have served our country by wearing jeans and donating $5 to GI GO Fund’s Jeans for Troops program. The program provides assistance to military veterans by helping them find employment and training, access housing, and secure their educational and health benefits. Students were also asked to donate $1 to their homeroom teachers at the middle school, with funds designated for the GI GO Fund. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142413 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142413 Port Jefferson girls tennis team named League VI Champions The Port Jefferson School District is proud to congratulate the girls tennis team for being named League VI Champions. They were recognized at the 2017 Suffolk County Girls Varsity Girls Tennis Awards Dinner at Villa Lombardi with more than 500 high school tennis players, coaches and families in attendance. In addition to the team honor, students Ibuki Iwasaki, Devin Rotunno, Jillian Lawler and Nicolina Giannola were named All League and Aamna Ali received the Team Sportsmanship Award. After an exciting season for the team, the evening served to praise and award the student-athletes for their efforts both on and off the court. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142411 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142411 Royal Educational Foundation Provides for New School Initiatives With the support of the Royal Educational Foundation of Port Jefferson, students and staff throughout the district have access to a number of new educational resources. Helping to build connections between the science curriculum and the outside world, the district has created a raised garden bed for students in grades 3-5 with the funds provided by the Foundation. This space, which is being used by life skills classes and the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s Garden Club, is allowing students to experience firsthand the lessons learned in the classroom – particular those on the life cycles of plants – and the opportunity to sample an array of locally grown produce. One activity that is promoting teamwork, encouraging new friendships and has been met with enthusiasm during recess at the elementary school is the GaGa Ball Pit, which was constructed thanks to the support of the Foundation. Similar to dodgeball, the fast-paced game provides students with a safe and supportive environment. “I have seen how inclusive and fun this game is for all students,” said Amy McClelland, speech and language teacher at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. “It gives the non-traditional athlete an equal chance of winning, does wonders for students’ self-esteem and many children who were at first reluctant to try it have become the most eager players.” In addition to these donations, the Foundation has historically supported a number of programs designed to enrich the educational experience of all students. These included helping to facilitate “food for thought” lessons which foster a sense of security by sharing meals and helping sixth- through eighth-grade students develop into healthy adults; a Google Expeditions grant which is used in Spanish and Foreign Language sixth-grade classes where students can take virtual field trips using Google cardboard viewers; and making fifth grade curriculum instructional videos available 24 hours per day, especially important when a student is absent from school. As part of their goal to encourage excellence through creative learning, grants were also awarded for a Chess Club grant to purchase chess sets and a chess clock for students in the middle school. The Foundation has awarded more than $10,000 in grants since the 2016-17 school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142410 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 18:00:00 GMT false142410 Earl L. Vandermuelen High School senior honored with Thomas Cutinella Foundation Service Award Helping to make a positive impact in his community is something Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Max Okst does on a regular basis and being nominated and recognized with the Thomas Cutinella Foundation Service Award for his natural gifts is a significant achievement. Okst was honored during a varsity football game halftime ceremony by the Long Island Radio Broadcasting’s Tour For 54, which honors local high school students with the award to help raise awareness for the Thomas Cutinella Foundation, named in memory of the athlete and working to inspire and share the fundamental beliefs and values that defined his life. A well-rounded young man – a member of the varsity track team, the student representative to the Board of Education, involved in the drama club and the district’s Sources of Strength program, among other interests – Okst has a genuine concern for helping others and is pleased to help promote a lasting legacy for Cutinella. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142409 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142409 Port Jefferson boys cross-country team named Suffolk County champions After winding their way through the wooded course at Sunken Meadow State Park, the Earl L. Vandermuelen High School’s boys cross-country team crossed the finish line as Suffolk County Class C Champions. The team ran an average of 18:48.21 in the Class C 5,000-meter run. The seven members – Sam Walker, Grant Samara, Cooper Schoch, Michael Ruggiero, Brian Veit, Alex Rebic and Owen Okst ­– are now qualified and gearing up for the 2017 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross Country Championships on Nov. 11. “This is another wonderful achievement for this team,” said Danielle Turner, Port Jefferson School District’s athletic director. “We wish them great luck at the state level.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142408 Wed, 08 Nov 2017 06:00:00 GMT false142408 A swimming success for Port Jefferson sophomore Kyra Sommerstad Earl L. Vandermuelen High School sophomore Kyra Sommerstad placed first in the 200-meter Individual Medley and the 100-meter backstroke at the Section XI Swimming Championships held at Suffolk County Community College’s Brentwood campus. Sommerstad, who swims with the Three Village Swim Club, came away with times of 2:04.73 in the medley and 56.61 in the backstroke to earn her a spot at the New York State swimming championships to be held later this month at Ithaca College. “We are so proud of this accomplishment for Kyra,” said Danielle Turner, Port Jefferson School District’s athletic director. “We all wish her great luck at the state level.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142407 Wed, 08 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142407 A season of giving in full force at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School As part of their commitment to community service, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students have created several initiatives this November to give back to their local community and aid those in need this holiday season. Students are working together to collect and organize food for donation to 10 Port Jefferson families in time for Thanksgiving. Organized since 2002 by school counselor Jessica Peterson, the goal is to bring students, teachers and administrators together to make a difference for local families. Donated items as well as food cards to local supermarkets will be accepted until Nov. 15 and delivered to the recipients in time for a festive and healthy holiday meal. “It’s a great school project and the students and their families look forward to sharing their generosity with others,” said Ms. Peterson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142120 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 06:00:00 GMT false142120 Port Jefferson students celebrate music at annual PEAK Festival Four students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School attended the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association PEAK Festival, a unique celebration of elementary classroom music where children perform music alongside their parents and music teachers. Fourth-graders Sophia Bonura, Marco Puopolo, Sadie Salzman and Sadie Tafuro along with teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman, spent the day at PEAK – Parents, Educators and Kids – learning, experiencing and performing music. They had the opportunity to attend workshops that featured various musical instruments and general music practices. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142119 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142119 Star students shine at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School READ: a simple but powerful word is all the encouragement students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School need to hear to inspire them to become lifelong learners. Five students from the school were named “Star Students” by librarian Selinda Stout to promote the importance of literacy and independent reading. The school’s campaign, created by Stout, takes place several times per year and is a takeoff of the American Library Association Celebrity READ Campaign. The students were chosen for their excellent attitude, behavior and work ethic in the library. As a reward, they have their photos displayed on the bulletin board outside of the library along with a summary of their favorite book. Stout also sends home a printed version of the poster for families to enjoy. “It’s a pleasure to recognize these students for their motivation for the program and to embrace reading books,” said Stout. Star students are Kieran Browne – grade 1, Katherine Snaden – grade 2, Violet Carmon – grade 3, Kristina Shterengas – grade 4 and Savannah Florio – grade 5. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142118 Mon, 06 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142118 Earl L. Vandermuelen High School students attend Long Island Dreamers’ Conference Nine students from Earl L. Vandermuelen High School attended the Long Island Dreamers’ Conference, an annual event for high school and college immigrant students recently held at Nassau Community College. Along with ENL teacher Jennifer Walling, the students listened to keynote speaker Tereza Lee, known as the “Original DREAMer.” She was an undocumented immigrant who inspired the DREAM Act, which works to give undocumented students an opportunity to become permanent residents. The event also offered the students the chance to interact with current college students and other DREAMers who achieved their higher education goals and are now leaders in their work and communities. The goal of the event is to motivate and equip the teenagers with the skills needed to reach and succeed in college as well as help educators better understand how to guide their students in next steps after completing high school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142117 Wed, 01 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142117 Unity is strength at Port Jefferson Middle School When students, peers and adults respond quickly and consistently to bullying behavior a strong message is sent that it is not acceptable. To share in that missive, Port Jefferson Middle School students wore orange to signify their stance on Unity Day on Oct. 25. Uniting against bullying was the theme of the day as all social studies classes viewed a Powerpoint and video presentation, detailing the nationally recognized event that promotes kindness, acceptance and inclusion. According to seventh-grade teacher Monica Consalvo, one of the coordinators of the schoolwide campaign, a key factor to encouraging anti-bullying programs in schools is that it is effectively reduced by 50 percent. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142116 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 17:00:00 GMT false142116 Building tours set for Port Jefferson School District bond proposal A number of building tours and informational meetings will be held in the Port Jefferson School District for residents to gain insight into the Dec. 5 bond proposal. A visit to Sayville High School will be held on Wed., Nov. 1 at 6:15 p.m. to view the athletic field lights. The focus of the visit is to experience field lighting similar to the proposed lighting of the Scraggy Road fields and its impact on the surrounding community. Additional tours of all facilities in the project are slated for: * Saturday, Oct. 28, at 10 a.m. Walk-through of all facilities in the project, starts at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School * Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 6:30 p.m. Edna Louise Elementary School and District Office * Monday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m. Middle and High School Campus/Tech Center * Monday, Nov. 27, at 7 p.m. Informational Meeting Edna Louise Elementary School Each of these meetings will include question and answer periods with members of the district’s administration. Community members are encouraged to learn more about the proposed bond projects before the Dec. 5 vote. For up-to-date information on the above listed events, please visit: http://www.portjeffschools.org/our_district/bond_information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142115 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142115 Bond Video 2017 Please view the below video to learn more about the projects being proposed through the bond referendum slated for Dec. 5. Additional information is available by clicking on the Quick Links/2017 Bond Information link at www.portjeffschools.org https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142114 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 15:00:00 GMT false142114 Winter Sports Start Soon! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142113 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142113 A colorful display of seasonal artwork Students and teachers throughout the Port Jefferson School District put their creative thoughts into action when they took part in Port Jefferson Village’s first Harvest Fest Window Painting Contest. To participate, student teams worked through the planning, designing and painting processes under the guidance of their teachers and were assigned a storefront to paint in a Halloween or autumn theme where they recreated their designs on the windows. Organized by the Port Jefferson Conservancy, the displays are a festive addition to the village. Based on their artistry and creativity, the following students took the top prizes at the event: Caitlin Dickhuth (grade 5) -1st place Aoife Hogan (grade 5) -1st place Hannah Skula (grade 9) - 1st place Farrah Ghaleb (grade 9) - 2nd place Victoria Snaden (grade 4) - 2nd place Eve McCabe (grade 3) - 3rd place Ava Sexton (grade 3) - 3rd place Ella Barrett (grade 8) - honorable mention Grace Chambers (grade 7) - honorable mention Sara Freitas (grade 5) - honorable mention Thanks to all of our creative students for making this project such a success! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142112 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142112 A Royal Homecoming Blue skies and a sea of purple were the background for the festive weekend of homecoming activities at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Capping off a week of school-spirited events, the traditional pre-game bonfire on Friday night, and a parade complete with floats from each grade level, was a win for the Port Jeff Royals against Southampton 42-13. A half-time ceremony took place to celebrate the newest inductees into the school’s Wall of Fame. Margo Garant, Class of 1982; Michael Lee, Class of 1962 and Susan Kretschmer-Leining, Class of 1975, were all recognized for extraordinary achievement. Garant, recognized for public service, school/community service and career accomplishments, was nominated by Port Jefferson Middle School teacher Monica Consalvo. A center on the 1963 Port Jefferson High School football team was honoree Michael Lee, nominated by Edna Louise Spear Elementary School principal Thomas Meehan. His selected categories of recognition were business, public service, school/community service and military service. Kretschmer-Leining, now a resident of Texas, was nominated in the school/community service category for her numerous altruistic endeavors by board of education trustee Ellen Boehm. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142111 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142111 Safety first and always at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Students at Port Jefferson School District’s Edna Louise Spear Elementary School learned about fire safety and prevention tips during National Fire Prevention week Oct. 8-14. They were excited to see the red fire truck at the school and to welcome members of the Port Jefferson Fire Department. Throughout the program, the students learned about life-saving tools used by firefighters and checked out fire gear and air masks during this important safety lesson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142108 Thu, 19 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142108 Lessons on the recorder at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Ms. Lisa Scrom's third-grade music classes at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School had a special visitor when retired music teacher Donna Basile presented a workshop on the recorder to them. All third-graders perform on the recorder and this was an opportunity to be introduced to the various sized musical instruments. A longtime educator and an executive board member of the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association, Ms. Basile shared both the musical and historical significance of this early woodwind instrument, dating back to the Middle Ages. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142110 Thu, 19 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142110 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on November 14, 2017, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142107 Wed, 18 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142107 Get Ready for Homecoming! This week’s homecoming festivities include the pep rally on Friday, Oct. 20 with a 7 p.m. bonfire, weather permitting. Saturday, Oct. 21 will feature a parade at 11 a.m. and the game against Southampton at 2 p.m. During half-time, three Wall of Fame honorees will be recognized for extraordinary achievement in their respective categories: * Margo Garant, Class of 1982 * Michael Lee, Class of 1962 * Susan Kretschmer-Leining, Class of 1975 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142106 Tue, 17 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142106 National Merit Semifinalist Honored at BOE Meeting Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Luigia Than was honored by the Board of Education at their Oct. 10 meeting. She, along with student Ibuki Iwasaki, were recognized for qualifying as semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. These academically talented students represent the top 1 percent of students from across the country with the highest scores on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test along with approximately 1.6 million other juniors from across the country. They are now in the running for scholarships worth more than $32 million. Here, Luigia is congratulated by Board of Education trustee Adam DeWitt, High School Principal Christine Austen and Superintendent of Schools Paul Casciano. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142105 Mon, 16 Oct 2017 05:00:00 GMT false142105 Port Jefferson Middle School Goes Pink! Students in the Port Jefferson School District’s Middle School are working in conjunction with Port Jefferson Village in the Paint Port Pink initiative for the Fortunato Breast Health Center at Mather Hospital. As part of the October community outreach of raising awareness about breast cancer, Monica Consalvo, a teacher at the school and seventh-grade students Ellery Tafuro and Tamara Scully created a poster that hangs in the hallway to showcase ways that others can become involved in the community activities. Some of the local businesses involved in the campaign have special offers for the month and students, families and school staff members are encouraged to visit the shops to help with the awareness efforts. As concerned community partners, the students and staff will each write their name on a pink ribbon sticker and all the stickers will be colorfully displayed within a larger ribbon outline showing that they are all engaged in the endeavor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142103 Mon, 16 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142103 Student brings voice of his peers to Port Jefferson School Board Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Max Okst serves as a voice of his peers as a student representative to the seven-member Port Jefferson School District Board of Education. Okst, who was elected to the position by his classmates at the end of the last school year, reports on student activities and upcoming events at the Board’s monthly meetings. With an interest in pursuing a college degree in theater design and technology and his involvement in the drama club throughout his educational career, Okst is motivated by his growing awareness of the importance of communication skills in his role. “Being involved in theater for the past four years and now having this responsibility have both definitely increased my leadership skills,” said Okst. “It’s also important for students to understand the role of our Board of Education and I like being that connection.” In addition to serving as a nonvoting Board of Education representative and being a successful, well-rounded student, Okst is a member of the district’s Sources of Strength program and is a shot put and discus thrower for the varsity track team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142102 Fri, 13 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142102 High School students selected for NYSCAME All-County Festival Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students Ibuki Iwasaki, Jillian Lawler, Cezanne Lojeski and David Rotunno were selected to participate in the New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education All-County Music Festival, a three-day event with a culminating concert to be held at Hauppauge High School on Nov. 17. The musically-talented teens were chosen to perform with other students from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with their New York State School Music Association scores as the primary criteria along with teacher recommendations. NYSCAME works to promote high standards of administrative leadership and improve music education programs in Suffolk County among other endeavors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142101 Thu, 12 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142101 NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING PORT JEFFERSON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, IN THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, NEW YORK DECEMBER 5, 2017 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142100 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142100 International Day of Peace activities at Port Jefferson Schools International Day of Peace was celebrated throughout the district with activities organized by the High School Student Organization. As part of the observance, Student Organization members decorated school hallways, lockers and classrooms with messages of peace. They also produced a short film featuring middle and high school students speaking about what peace means to them. The video was viewed throughout the day in the school’s hallways. To add to the theme of global unity and serenity, songs with messages of peace were played over the high schools’ public address system. At the elementary school, art students designed pinwheels for display in the courtyard, Picasso-inspired doves, Tibetan mandala designs, and a peace “quilt.” Established in 1981 by a unanimous United Nations resolution, Peace Day is observed around the world to provide a time for all humanity to commit to contributing to building a culture of peace. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142097 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false142097 High School Named Blue Ribbon School Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has been named a 2017 National Blue Ribbon School, which was announced by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos today. As part of the U.S. Department of Education, the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program represents the full diversity of American schools, recognizing those that exemplify excellence, turnaround stories and closing achievement gaps among student groups. “This distinction is a result of the value our community places on education and our schools,” said Superintendent Paul Casciano. “Our tradition of excellence is sustained through the tireless efforts of our staff, teachers, administrators, parents, and entire school-community of the Port Jefferson School District.” Annually, the school boasts numerous AP Scholars, National Merit Semifinalists and Commended Students, who all demonstrate exceptional college-level achievement through their performance on national qualifying exams, in addition to the many athletic, musical, civic and volunteer accomplishments of its students. “Our students, staff, parents and community members are to be commended for their collective efforts in achieving this honor,” said Principal Christine Austen. “The Blue Ribbon distinction recognizes our efforts to support our students academically, emotionally and socially and we will continue to build upon our success in the future.” The National Blue Ribbon School Program was created in 1982 to bring public attention to the best schools in the country and to facilitate communication and sharing of best practices within and among schools. Port Jefferson Middle School is celebrating its 30th anniversary of Blue Ribbon status. It was known as Port Jefferson Junior High School in 1987 when it received the honor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141783 Thu, 28 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141783 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education is anticipated to be held on October 2, 2017, at the District Office, immediately following the public bond information meeting. The purpose of the meeting will be to enter executive session to discuss a legal matter. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 10, 2017, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141782 Wed, 27 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141782 Two Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists Seniors Ibuki Iwasaki and Luigia Than have qualified as semifinalists in the 63rd annual National Merit Scholarship Program. The students, who have shown outstanding academic talent, are among 16,000 high school students nationwide who were awarded the distinction by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. They represent the top 1 percent of students from across the country with the highest scores on the qualifying Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. These academically talented students took the qualifying test in 2016 along with approximately 1.6 million other juniors from across the country. They are now in the running for scholarships worth more than $32 million. Both young ladies are accomplished and well-rounded students. Than plays cello, Iwasaki plays violin – and each are proud of the scientific research experiences they took part in over the summer. Than learned coding as part of her work at the Garcia Center for Polymers at Stony Brook University and Iwasaki analyzed data on cosmic rays at Brookhaven National Laboratory. An additional four seniors from the high school were recognized by the NMSC as Commended Students for their performance on the qualifying test and their exceptional academic promise. They are Eli Doyle, Matthew Pitko, Joseph Samara and Michael Smith. National Merit Scholarship winners will be announced in the spring of 2018. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141781 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141781 25 AP Scholars from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School As a result of their scholastic dedication and performance, 25 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students have been honored by the College Board as AP Scholars. The designation was given in recognition of each students' demonstration of exceptional college-level achievement through their performance on national AP exams. Of the 25 students, five were named AP Scholars, 10 earned the recognition of AP Scholar with Honor, and 10 were named as an AP Scholar with Distinction. To earn a Scholar recognition, students are required to score a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams; to be recognized as a Scholar with Honor, students must earn a 3.25 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of those exams; and for a Scholar with Distinction award, students must receive an average score of 3.5 on all AP exams and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of these exams. The students recognized are: AP Scholar Allison Abbonizio, Gavin Barrett, Abigail Bossert, Jack Collins and Emma Gutmann. AP Scholar with Honor Joshua Gelfond, Tamara Idir, Cezanne Lojeski, Matthew Pifko, David Rotunno, Joseph Samara, William Scannell, Brianna Scarda, Dylan Valev and Ben Zaltsman. AP Scholar with Distinction Eli Doyle, Leland Held, Ibuki Iwasaki, Connor Kaminska, Louis Martin-Duprez, Liam McSweeney, Michael Smith, Luigia Than, Eric Tischer and Annalisa Welinder. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141779 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141779 Port Jefferson High School Junior Attends Science and Technology Leaders Academy Port Jefferson High School junior Joseph Cangemi had the opportunity to join and learn from elite gathering of scientific minds when he attended The National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. The three-day Boston-based event with award-winning inventors, scientists, technology entrepreneurs and other mentors allowed him and his fellow attendees to come away with a greater understanding of the science and technology field. “It was interesting to see and listen to the speakers,” he said. “To understand their motivation and how they contributed to society really sparked an interest in me.” The Academy is dedicated to inspiring and developing strong leaders through its compelling educational content and stimulating guest speakers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141780 Mon, 25 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141780 Undefeated League VI Streak Congratulations to the girls tennis team for their undefeated League VI streak!! READ ALL ABOUT IT: http://tbrnewsmedia.com/port-jeff-tennis-still-undefeated-crosstown-win/ https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141778 Wed, 20 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141778 Community Bond Survey Any resident who has not yet completed our community bond survey is encouraged to do so by following the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PJBond The deadline for submissions has been extended to provide additional time for community input. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141777 Thu, 14 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141777 Focused on Civic Engagement Port Jefferson Middle School’s English language arts department is encouraging students to create a community of heroes as part of their studies on civics and in recognition of the anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. “While English classes read and discussed events related to the 9/11 attacks, we felt it was important to acknowledge how our country comes together in times of need, like the country is doing to rebuild after the catastrophic hurricane in Texas,” said teacher Allison Giannusa, who is helping to spearhead the districtwide efforts to assist people affected by Hurricane Harvey. Students and staff are encouraged to donate money to their respective English classes or in the main office through Friday, Sept. 15. All money raised will be donated to the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund. Created by the company’s CEO, Howard Lutnick, in 2001, the organization’s mission is to support victims of terrorism, emergencies and natural disasters, including the recent victims of Hurricane Harvey. According to the Relief Fund’s website, 100 percent of the contributions will go as direct financial aid to those in need and they will match up to $5 million of donations made. Many staff members at the Middle School wore jeans to school on Patriot Day and each made a $5 donation. The ELA department also hosted a bake sale on Sept. 11 and proceeds will be sent to the Relief Fund. To help out in the fundraising efforts of the Middle School, please contact Kayleen Everitt at keveritt@portjeffschools.orgor Deirdre Filippi at dfilippi@portjeffschools.org. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141776 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141776 Elementary School Back to School Nights Pre-K – Grade 2 Wednesday 9/13 at 7 p.m. Grade 3 –5 Thursday 9/14 at 7 p.m. Select special area teachers will be in their rooms from 6:15 - 7 p.m. to discuss their programs. A list will be posted in the main lobby each evening to provide further details. Please take this opportunity to meet these specialists and learn more about their programs. At 7 p.m. we will gather in the gymnasium for a general meeting, after which you will proceed to your child’s classroom. The evening will conclude at 8 p.m. We look forward to seeing you! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141775 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141775 Bond Proposal Meeting Tonight - September 12, 2017 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141774 Tue, 12 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141774 Port Jefferson Middle School Students and Staff Commemorate Patriot Day Members of the Middle School's 7th and 8th grade orchestra paid tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 by giving a moving performance during the Port Jefferson Fire Department’s annual 9/11 memorial service. The students, led by music teacher and Port Jefferson volunteer firefighter Christian Neubert, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “America the Beautiful.” Here, Mr. Neubert poses with students Alexa Ayotte, Olivia Schlegel, Tabitha Schully, Teppei Fukuto, Hugo Onghai, Andrew Patterson, Anna Rebic and Kasumi Layne-Stasik. Other students and staff commemorated the 16th anniversary of the terrorist attacks by wearing the colors of the American flag. Sixth graders showed their patriotism by wearing red, 7th grade students wore white and 8th grade students dressed in blue. Here, some students are shown with teacher Monica Consalvo. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141773 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141773 Football Players Named to ‘Ones to Watch’ List Port Jeff Royal fans have some exciting players to pay attention this fall season as seniors Jack Collins and Joey Evangelista were named to Newsday's 100 High School Players in Suffolk County to Watch for the 2017 football season. Jack was an All-League player for Port Jefferson as a junior and has been a varsity player for the team since his sophomore year. Last year, he passed for 750 yards and threw 14 touchdown passes. He is the team’s coach on the field and is also hoping to play on the college level next year. Joey, who serves as a team captain, was an All-County selection for Port Jefferson as a junior. According to coach Andrew Cosci, Joey is one of the toughest players that he has ever coached. He ended up rushing for 850 yards last year, averaging 5.6 yards per carry. He was also a leader on defense, making plenty of big hits throughout the season. He plans to play college football when his high school carrier is over. “Having two young men like Jack and Joey makes a head coach’s job a little easier,” said Cosci. “They have embraced their leadership roles and are continuously pushing themselves and the other players to get better every day. We look forward to a great season!” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141772 Fri, 08 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141772 September 12 - Special Bond Presentation The Port Jefferson Board of Education invites the community to join them for a special bond presentation/workshop on Tuesday, Sept. 12, at 7 p.m., preceding the regular board meeting at 7:30 p.m., in the large group room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The presentation will focus on district facility improvements. The community is encouraged to participate in discussions and provide input on the development of potential capital projects to be included in the bond. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141771 Wed, 06 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141771 Schools Are Open Smooth sailing was the catchphrase of the day as the Port Jefferson School District welcomed back students for the first day of classes on Tuesday, September 5. Take a peek at some of the smiling scholars – seeing old friends and meeting new ones - ready and eager to get the academic year off to a great start! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141770 Tue, 05 Sep 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141770 Port Jefferson School District Welcomes Nine New Staff Members The Port Jefferson School District recently welcomed nine new members to its educational community with a detailed orientation program to ensure a smooth transition into their new professional positions. The two-day induction was designed to familiarize new staff with the Port Jefferson School District’s mission and goals of providing students with a personalized, rigorous education and encouraging responsible, independent and adaptable lifelong learners. New to our schools this year (from left): Meghan Hallock (elementary art); Kimberly Vareles (middle school teaching assistant); Nicole Sklar (high school special education); Melissa Harms (elementary school teaching assistant); AnnMarie Anderson (elementary school teaching assistant); Katherine Butera (middle school/high school music teacher); Tara Grover (elementary school teaching assistant); Christine Benanti (psychologist) and Gina Scafidi (middle school/high school foreign language teacher) during a summer orientation program. Also pictured is Mr. Steven Orlowski, special education teacher at Edna Louise Elementary School, who helped organize the day. “We are so excited to welcome nine new members to the royal family!” said Jessica Schmettan, the district’s executive director of curriculum and instruction. “They are a wonderful group of talented professionals, and we wish them the best this year.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141769 Tue, 05 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141769 Community Input Needed – Capital Projects The Board of Education and district leadership team are seeking community input regarding the future of our school district and its ongoing discussion about a possible capital project bond referendum in the near future. Please click the link below to take our community survey on this topic. Responses will be accepted until September 15, 2017. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PJBond For more information about the committee’s findings, scope of work, costs and other pertinent information, please visit the bond information Quick Links tab on district’s website, http://portjeffschools.org/our_district/bond_information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141768 Fri, 01 Sep 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141768 Back To School https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141767 Fri, 01 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141767 Fundamentals of Football at Port Jeff Purple/White Day Saturday’s successful Purple/White Day brought together the Port Jeff Royals youth football and the varsity football team for an afternoon of fellowship and learning the skills and essentials of the fall sport in a clinic setting. More than 15 youngsters and 35 varsity and JV players signed up for the August 26th special event, which, according to Ms. Danielle Turner, director of health, physical education and athletics, is slated to become an annual event because of the initial turnout. "This is what sports are all about,” said Turner. “For our current players, it gave them a sense of what a special time this is in their lives. They may not remember every play of every game in 10 years, but they'll remember this. It encouraged them to work hard and stay involved. Sports bring out the best in kids and [this event] was a great example of that.” There were many spectactors in the stands to watch the younger players learn from their newly formed friends – the Port Jeff Royals varsity football team. Read more about the day here: http://tbrnewsmedia.com/port-jeff-youth-learn-from-todays-football-leaders/ https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141766 Thu, 31 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141766 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School Board of Education will be held on September 12, 2017, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. At 7:00 p.m., a capital projects bond presentation will be made in the Large Group Room, followed by the business meeting at 7:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141765 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141765 Port Jeff Varsity Football Team Hosts Purple/White Day Working to turn Port Jeff Royals youth football into a powerhouse program, the players will join the varsity football team for Purple/White Day tomorrow, Saturday, Aug. 26, from 5-7 p.m. on the high school football field. This special event will give the younger players an opportunity to learn from the varsity team members in a small clinic setting. “The goal is to engage the younger students and help them improve their skills,” said Danielle Turner, director of health, physical education and athletics. “We want them to transition from youth football to competitive interscholastic sports by encouraging their working together with the varsity team.” The community is invited to come down for this end-of-summer event that helps kick off the fall season. The varsity team’s first game of the season is away, against Miller Place on Friday, Sept. 8 at 7 p.m. To view the schedule for the season, click here: Schedule for the Season https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141764 Fri, 25 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141764 Welcome Back Letter to Parents and Community Members from the Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141763 Thu, 24 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141763 Sixth-graders welcomed to Port Jeff Middle School Incoming Port Jefferson Middle School students became acquainted with their new school at the sixth-grade back-to-school pizza party. Students met Middle School Principal Robert Neidig, Assistant Principal Claudia Smith and numerous teachers before taking a tour of the school and receiving their locker assignments. The festive atmosphere was the backdrop for the PTSA-sponsored pizza, beverages and flavored ices served by parent volunteers. The annual welcome event helps to prepare students for their entry into the middle school, familiarize them with the layout of the school and is an opportunity to catch up with classmates from the elementary school and seek out new friendships for the upcoming year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141762 Fri, 18 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141762 District Ranked Among Finest in NYS In recognition of its exceptional educational program, the Port Jefferson School District has been ranked No. 84 in Niche.com’s annual list of best elementary, middle and high schools as well as school districts. It also received a ranking at No. 66 of districts with the best teachers in the state. The study factored in Port Jefferson’s academics, administrative leadership, college readiness, clubs and activities, attention to health and safety, resources and facilities for students, sports programs and quality of teaching. A total of 670 public school districts in New York State were ranked in the annual study, which according to Niche.com carefully selects ranking criteria to represent a healthy balance between statistical rigor and practical relevance. The organization uses comprehensive school data from the U.S. Department of Education as well as school reviews and online survey responses. To read more on the ranking, click here: https://www.niche.com/k12/d/port-jefferson-union-free-school-district-ny/ https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141761 Mon, 14 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141761 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 8, 2017, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m., for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141760 Thu, 03 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141760 Learning in Harmony at the Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson The annual Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson brought the sweet sounds of music to the air as elementary and middle school students honed their creative skills. For beginning and intermediate band and string students, the camp provided an enjoyable and positive way to begin learning an instrument or continuing their studies. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141918 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141918 Special Education Post-Review Announcement – July 24, 2017 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141917 Mon, 24 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141917 Superintendent's Report - Summer 2017 It’s hard for me to believe that my first school year in Port Jefferson is over and that we are already busy preparing for a successful start to the 2017-18 school year. This past year was a very rewarding experience as I had the privilege of working with our students, staff, parents, and community. We wish our 97 graduates of the Class of 2017 well and look forward to hearing about their future accomplishments. I know that they will continue to make us proud. The past school year resulted in many noteworthy accomplishments. Students excelled in all academic disciplines, the arts, and athletics. Students took advantage of the many opportunities that our school-community has to offer by participating in many clubs, competitions, and organizations, supporting many worthy causes, and being good citizens of our schools and community. With the start of the 2017-18 school year just weeks away, administrators, teachers and staff are busy working to prepare our buildings, enhance and strengthen curriculum and develop new programs and courses. All of us in Port Jefferson are looking forward to watching students flourish in the new school year under the instruction, guidance and support of our talented educators. While we prepare to strengthen the educational experience for our students, our Board of Education has commenced discussions on a bond proposal focused on improving our district’s facilities. In the near future, community residents will be invited to participate in conversations regarding potential capital improvements to be included in the bond and to provide input on the development of the project. We expect our first meeting to be held sometime in August. I would like to thank the community for your continued support of our students and the Port Jefferson School District. Have a safe and enjoyable summer! Paul Casciano, Ed.D. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141916 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141916 Student Musician to Serve as Concertmaster Annalisa Welinder, a violinist from Port Jefferson’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has been selected as one of two concertmasters for the prestigious National Youth Orchestra of the USA as part of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. As a concertmaster, Welinder will represent Port Jefferson as a musical ambassador and travel around the world to play at some of the most famous concert halls, including Carnegie Hall on July 21. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Annalisa Welinder on her outstanding musical achievement. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141915 Fri, 14 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141915 Investors Head to Washington The members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School investment team were recently presented with recognition awards at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. The team earned the accolades after becoming the only team from New York State to place in the top 10 in the nation as part of the 14th annual SIFMA Foundation’s educational Stock Market Game. During their visit to Washington, D.C., the students visited the White House and met with Sen. Chuck Schumer and Congressman Lee Zeldin. To earn their fifth-place spot, the team, comprised of students Joseph Cangemi, Alex DiCarlo and John DiCarlo, invested a hypothetical $100,000, during a 14-week period, in listed stocks, bonds and mutual funds to maximize the return on their portfolios. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141911 Fri, 14 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141911 What a Year It Has Been! The 2016-2017 school year was filled with numerous accomplishments, exciting educational events and community service projects. This video highlights a few of those amazing achievements and milestones. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141910 Thu, 13 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141910 Port Jefferson BOE Members Sworn In; President, Vice President Re-Elected During the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education’s annual reorganization meeting on July 11, the board unanimously re-elected Kathleen Brennan as board president and Mark Doyle as vice president. District Clerk Janice Baisley also swore in board member Adam DeWitt who was re-elected by the community in May. Newly-elected board member David Keegan was sworn in earlier in the week. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141913 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141913 Moving up to High School The academic achievements of Port Jefferson Middle School eighth-graders were recognized at a moving up ceremony on June 22 at Earl. L. Vandermeulen High School. During the event, the students received several special classroom recognitions, Presidential Awards for Academic Excellence and certificates to signify their move to high school. “You are an amazing group of eighth-graders,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano. “Embrace all that the high school has to offer and continue to make us proud.” Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and eighth-grade Student Council President Hailey Hearney also spoke during the ceremony. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141909 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141909 Attention: Pesticide Application Notification The Port Jefferson UFSD will be applying Roundup ProMax® to the tennis courts curb line and cracks, track curb line and under the bleachers at the Port Jefferson HS for the control of poison ivy and unwanted weeds on Friday, July 21and 22, from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. If a second application is necessary it will be made on July 24 and 25 from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. as needed and only if necessary due to weather or residual plants. For further information contact the Port Jefferson UFSD Operations and Maintenance Office at 631-791-4261. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141914 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141914 All-County Honors Earl L. Vandermeulen High School junior Thomas Mark was named an All-County lacrosse player for the 2017 spring season at an awards ceremony, held at Villa Lombardi’s in June 14. Mark, who has been playing lacrosse since elementary school, received the honor after leading his team in points, explained coach Taylor Forstell. “Thomas exhibits all the qualities you look for in a player, from his physical play and leadership, to his exceptional vision on the field,” Forstell said. “He is truly the quarterback of our offense and we look forward to having him back for his senior season.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141908 Tue, 11 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141908 American Wax Museum Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fourth-graders brought history to life recently when they successfully created their own American wax museum in their classroom. For the project, each student researched an American historical figure from the Revolutionary War time period, wrote about the figure and created caricatures and timelines. They then performed as wax figures, dressed as their figure for fellow students who visited their classroom. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141907 Mon, 10 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141907 Setting an Example The Port Jefferson Board of Education recently recognized district administrators Danielle Turner, Ed.D., director of physical education, health and athletics, and Michael Caravello, Ed.D., director of music and fine arts, for setting a positive example to students by earning their doctorates this year. Pictured, from left, are Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano, Dr. Turner, Dr. Caravello and BOE member Ellen Boehm. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141904 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141904 Heading to Middle School The future Port Jefferson Class of 2024, celebrated their moving up to middle school at a ceremony on June 21 at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. During the event, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students, received special classroom, safety patrol and principal recognitions, as well as certificates to signify their promotion to middle school. Speaking to the students during the ceremony was Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano. He said, “This is a milestone in your education. It is your first significant accomplishment and I have no doubt that you will shine in sixth grade.” Also, speaking at the ceremony was parent Jennifer Cobb. She said, “You should be proud of yourselves. This is an ending and a beginning.” In her remarks to students, pre-K teacher Jennifer Guerrazzi offered the following advice to students: “Stay positive, try new things and reach for the stars.” The ceremony also included the presentation of a class gift — two new garbage cans for the playground and special surprise gifts for the incoming fifth-grade class that will include messages from the outgoing fifth-graders. The event culminated with the students singing, “How Far I’ll Go” by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Principal Thomas Meehan left students with his words of wisdom. “Always help out someone who needs it,” he said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141905 Fri, 07 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141905 Port Jefferson names tenured educators; bids farewell to retirees, board member At its June 13 meeting, the Port Jefferson Board of Education bid a farewell to three retiring employees and congratulated three educators on receiving tenure. District administrators stood to speak highly of retirees Lorraine Novellino, an elementary school teacher; Carrie Morgan, a high school art teacher, and Maureen Colin, a teacher aide. “We wish each of you the very best in the next phase of your lives,” said Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan. After heartfelt goodbyes, the district approved tenure for Caitlin Terrell, a teaching assistant; Selinda Moore, a library media specialist, and Paige Lohmann, a special education teacher. In addressing the newly tenured employees, Ms. Brennan said, “We hope you each continue to the promise we have seen in you and you have a long and successful career here in Port Jefferson.” Additionally, the board of education took a moment to recognize retiring member Robert Ramus, who has served on the board since 2008. “He has been a dedicated board member and has even served on three committees at a time,” said Ms. Brennan. “He has provided very valuable insights throughout his tenure and we wish him well. The board additionally thanked student board member Kyra Becker for her service and wished her well on her future. Kyra will be attending Liberty College in the fall to pursue studies in finance and cyber security. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141903 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141903 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The annual reorganization meeting and regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 11, 2017, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The reorganization meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m., followed by the business meeting at 7:30 p.m. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m., for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141912 Fri, 30 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141912 Fifth Place for Golfer Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomore Shane DeVincenzo took fifth place at the NYS Federation Golf Tournament held at Bethpage State Park on June 11. During the highly competitive game, Shane, faced off against 24 top public and private school players from around the state on Bethpage black, a 71-par course that is considered one of the toughest on the pro-circuit. He finished with an impressive score of 79. He earned the chance to compete at the tournament after capping off a tremendous season with a sixth-place finish at the NYSPHAA high school golf tournament. “Shane just may be one of the best golf players in the school’s history,” said Danielle Turner, Ed.D.., director of health, physical education and athletics. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Shane DeVincenzo. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141900 Thu, 29 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141900 Student Musicians Participate in Master Class Port Jefferson Middle School orchestra students participated in a master class with two members of the Three Village Chamber Players on June 9. During the session, violinist Natalie Kress and bassist Jonathan Davies performed excerpts from Reinhold Gliere and then worked with the student-musicians to polish their concert performances pieces. Students also learned about leadership within the orchestra and differentiating articulation and dynamics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141899 Wed, 28 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141899 Artists win art competition Earl L. Vandermeulen High School junior Tatum Hurney and Port Jefferson Middle School eighth-graders Jacqueline Poten and Hannah Skulla were finalists in the “Park a Day in May” art competition, sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn. For the competition, the students visited a local park and then drew their favorite Suffolk County landmark or scenic view. From left, is Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn, Jacqueline Poten, Hannah Skula and middle school art teacher Stacey Shuman. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141898 Tue, 27 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141898 Class of 2017 Joins Ranks of Port Jeff Alumni Dressed in purple and white caps and gowns, the 2017 Earl. L. Vandermeulen High School graduating class was presented with diplomas at a ceremony on June 23. During the commencement, speakers offered congratulations and words of wisdom. Among those addressing the students were Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano, High School principal Christine Austen and valedictorian Chiara Rabeno and salutatorian Xinyi Hong gave a unique unison address. The district extends its congratulations to the Class of 2017 and wishes them a successful future. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141906 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141906 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Named Reward School In recognition of its excellent educational program and stellar student performance, Port Jefferson’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has once again earned the prestigious New York State Department of Education Reward School designation. “This award would not have been possible without all of the significant contributions made by our teachers, staff, administration, parents and students,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano. “We congratulate all of them for ensuring that Port Jefferson continues its path of excellence in education.” The New York State Department of Education presents the award annually to schools that have made the most progress or have the highest performance in the state with no significant gaps in student achievement. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was one of only 185 schools across New York State to receive the recognition this year. This is not the first time that the Port Jefferson School District has been recognized with a Reward School Designation. The district’s high school has earned the honor consistently since the 2012-2013 school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141896 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141896 History Knowledge Pays Off Port Jefferson Middle School student Andrew Patterson recently showed off his history smarts at the National History Bee National Championship in Atlanta, Georgia. During the two-day competition, he participated in several buzzer and test rounds and placed in the top 60 out of 285 competitors. Andrew earned his spot in the national competition after competing in the regional competition, held in Connecticut in April. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Andrew Patterson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141895 Wed, 21 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141895 Student Golfer Ends on a High Note Earl L. Vandermeulen High School golf team member Shane DeVincenzo capped off a tremendous season with a sixth-place finish in the NYSPHAA high school golf championship, held at Cornell University. During the competition, Shane battled through tough weather conditions to end the day with a total 151. In addition to his sixth placement, he secured All-State honors and a chance to play in the Federation Cup at Bethpage Black. “Shane’s success is a direct result of a tireless work ethic and desire to be the best. He handled himself like a pro and I couldn’t be prouder,” said coach Charles Ruoff. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141897 Tue, 20 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141897 Promoting Wellness in Schools The Port Jefferson School District in conjunction with It Takes a Village Wellness/Education Alive recently presented a community presentation, called “Promoting Wellness in Our Schools and Community. The presentation focused on tools for effective management of stress and anxiety through simple movement and breathing techniques, mindfulness practices and the importance of good nutrition. It also featured a student activity area for school-age children. To watch a livestream of the presentation, visit https://livestream.com/accounts/18260106/events/7479281. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141902 Tue, 20 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141902 An Evening to Remember The members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2018 recently attended their junior prom at Danfords Hotel in the Village of Port Jefferson. The students, dressed in their best, spent the evening enjoying each other’s company while dancing and taking candid photos in a surprise photo booth. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141884 Tue, 20 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141884 Softball standouts Two Earl L. Vandermeulen High School softball players were recognized with awards at the Suffolk County Softball Awards Dinner, held at Villa Lombardi’s on June 13. During the ceremony, senior Jackie Brown was presented with an All-County award and sophomore Taylor Catoggio earned an All-League title. “Once again, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the successes of our student-athletes,” said Danielle Turner, director of health, physical education and athletics. “Jackie and Taylor continue to prove themselves as exceptional in the classroom and on the field.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141901 Mon, 19 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141901 Latin Students Earn High Marks Latin students at Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School recently took the 2017 National Latin Exam and earned some of the highest marks in the country and world. To celebrate their success, each student was awarded for their accomplishments at a luncheon on June 2 in the high school library. During the event, the students, who were among 149,000 students from 50 states and 16 foreign countries to take the annual exam, were presented with certificates of achievement as their parents looked on. Notably, Hugo Onghai, earned a perfect score on the Intro to Latin exam. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following students for earning medals: Intro to Latin Hugo Onghai Perfect Score Certificate plus a ribbon Kasumi Layne-Stasik Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Andrew Patterson Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Kate Sommerstad Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Stefano Rabeno Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon David Lawler Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Annie Maier Achievement Certificate Caelan Schretzmayer Achievement Certificate Latin I Peggy Yin gold medal, summa cum laude Mattea Rabeno gold medal, summa cum laude Grant Samara gold medal, summa cum laude Lucas Welinder gold medal, summa cum laude Sapphire Perera gold medal, summa cum laude Liam Gameng gold medal, summa cum laude Royce Perera gold medal, summa cum laude Nicole Schully gold medal, summa cum laude Michela Rabeno gold medal, summa cum laude Aaron Held silver medal, maxima cum laude Grace Keegan silver medal, maxima cum laude Ameen Khan silver medal, maxima cum laude Atticus Furjanic silver medal, maxima cum laude Selena Ueno magna cum laude Faye Held magna cum laude Valentina Velazquez magna cum laude Latin II Giuseppina Than gold medal, summa cum laude Kyle Onghai gold medal, summa cum laude Felicity Hyams gold medal, summa cum laude Carmella Moran gold medal, summa cum laude Lucas Rohman cum laude Latin III Annalisa Welinder gold medal, summa cum laude Ava Schully gold medal, summa cum laude David Rotunno gold medal, summa cum laude Katherine Ambrozy gold medal, summa cum laude Gavin Barrett silver medal, maxima cum laude Sabrina Schully silver medal, maxima cum laude Sarah Hull silver medal, maxima cum laude Taylor Corallo magna cum laude Ryan Kim magna cum laude Cameron Cohen magna cum laude Latin IV Prose Joseph Samara silver medal, maxima cum laude Ibuki Iwasaki silver medal, maxima cum laude Cezanne Lojeski silver medal, maxima cum laude Emma Gutmann silver medal, maxima cum laude Latin V Advanced Level Luigia Than silver medal, maxima cum laude Anita Rescia silver medal, maxima cum laude Chiara Rabeno magna cum laude Matthew Pifko magna cum laude Xinyi Hong magna cum laude https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141892 Fri, 16 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141892 A night on Broadway Members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Drama Club recently traveled to Broadway to see “A Bronx Tale” at the Longacre Theatre. Following the performance, the students met with members of the cast, who graciously took photos with the students and gave them insight into their respective careers and shared behind-the-scenes stories with them. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141891 Thu, 15 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141891 Student Athletes Commit to Colleges Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior athletes, who have chosen to continue their athletic journeys at some of the nation’s top colleges in the fall, were honored at a mock signing on May 31. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following students: Jillian Colucci – Marist College Jackie Brown – Adelphi University Brittany Fazin – LIU Post Clare O’Connor – William Smith College Chris Cheslock – SUNY Oneonta Courtney Lewis – Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141888 Wed, 14 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141888 Student-Musicians Featured at Memorial Concert The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School choir performed at the annual St. Charles Hospital Memorial Concert on June 2. The vocalists, under the direction of Lisa Scrom, performed several selections along with the renowned Sound Symphony Orchestra. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141889 Tue, 13 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141889 Fifth in the Nation The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School investment team has become the only team from New York State to place in the top 10 in the nation as part of the 14th annual SIFMA Foundation’s educational Stock Market Game. To earn their fifth-place placement, the team, made up of students Joseph Cangemi, Alex DiCarlo and John DiCarlo, invested a hypothetical $100,000, over a 14-week period, in listed stocks, bonds and mutual funds to maximize the return on their portfolios. Showing a large hypothetical profit, the team will now head to Washington, D.C. on June 21 to be recognized at an awards reception on Capitol Hill. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141890 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141890 Abstract Artist Field Trip Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth-grade art students recently visited the East Hampton home and art studio of famous abstract artists Jackson Pollock and Lee Krasner. While on the field trip, they also toured the LongHouse Reserve, a 16-acre reserve and sculpture garden, featuring the works of Buckminster Fuller, Dale Chihuly, Yoko Ono and Willem de Kooning. The trip, coordinated by elementary art teachers Richard Anderson and Nancy Randazzo, allowed the students to not only explore art, but their own creativity. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141886 Mon, 12 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141886 Second-Graders Pen Fairy Tales Edna Louise Spear Elementary School second-graders in Carleen Parmegiani’s class recently wrote and illustrated their own fairy tales as part of a reading and writing unit on fairy tales. To culminate the unit of study, they shared their works with their parents and fellow students during a fairy tale celebration on June 2. In addition to writing their own fairy tales, the students, created an informational video about fairy tale writing and kept logs on the progress of their writing in the form of a classroom newsletter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141887 Fri, 09 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141887 Strength is Key In an effort to continue a mission to spread hope, help and strength through the halls of the Earl L Vandermeulen High School, seven members of the high school Sources of Strength group trained incoming freshman as peer leaders. During the 90-minute training, held on May 26, 22 eighth-graders participated in group activities that were planned by the high school students and included powerful messages. Corrine Scannell, Billy Scannell, Samantha Acampora, Ava Schully, Matt Pifko, David Moir and Alexa Wakefield were the peer leaders. “The seven Sources of Strength students spent a lot of thoughtful time and energy designing inclusive activities that made the eighth-graders feel comfortable to share while also creating an environment of trust and openness,” said Port Jefferson School District social worker Kristin Britt. Ms. Britt advises the program along with guidance counselors Kerri Neligon and Kathi Galvin and school psychologist Kristen Wendel. The eighth-grade participants were nominated for the training by their teachers. Nominations were based on which students could provide support to their peers should they need support during difficult times. “They are considered the connectors between their peers and trusted adults within the school,” said Britt. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141885 Fri, 09 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141885 Track Stars Qualify for States Six Earl L. Vandermeulen High School spring track and field stars have qualified for the state competition to be held at Union-Endicott High School on June 9 and 10. The student athletes, Liam McSweeney, Alex Rebic, Grant Samara, Cooper Schoch, Sabrina Schully and Sam Walker and earned their spots in the NYSPHSAA state competition after competing in the state qualifier held at Stony Brook University on June 3 and 4. At the state competition, Sam Walker will compete in the 1600, 3200 and 4x800; Alex Rebic, Cooper Schoch and Liam McSweeney in the 4x800; Grant Samara in the 3000 Steeplechase; and Sabrina Schully in the outdoor pentathlon for girls track and field. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the student athletes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141894 Thu, 08 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141894 Learning the dangers of distracted driving Over the course of three sessions, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School seniors learned about the dangers of distracted driving through a Stony Brook University program. During the sessions, the students heard from speakers, watched an informational video and took part in interactive activities, including attempting to walk while distracted by their phones and driving using a driving simulator. “The goal of the program is to emphasize to students the importance of paying attention to the road while driving and to recognize the danger that exists when distracted,” said Danielle Turner, director of health, physical education and athletics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141882 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141882 Student Musicians and Artists Create Digital Portfolios Port Jefferson School District middle school and high school music and fine arts students have been designing digital portfolios using Google Classroom technology. As part of the project, they are uploading video and photos of the musical performances or artwork along with reflections of their progress throughout the school year. “Moving forward, these students will continue to add to their portfolios each year, creating a long-range digital record of their progress from year to year,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141883 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141883 Varsity Teams Earn Distinguished Award The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has recognized all of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s spring varsity teams with Scholar/Athlete Team Awards. To earn the awards, each team met the criteria of maintaining a group GPA of 90 percent during the spring season. “The Athletic Department is extremely proud of our athletes. This designation shows that they are not only dedicated to their sport(s), but to their studies,” said Danielle Turner, director of physical education, health and athletics. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the members of the spring varsity teams, including softball, baseball, girls and boys lacrosse, boys and girls track and field and boys tennis. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141881 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141881 Summer Research Earl L. Vandermeulen High School sophomore Josh Gelfond will be spending his summer researching alternative energy at Stony Brook University as part of the Reuter Research Group. Josh was selected for the program following a recommendation from a Stony Brook graduate student who he has been working with as part of his regular studies. “I am really looking forward to applying what I have been learning in class to the real world,” said Josh. “It will be a great experience.” Through the Stony Brook program, Josh will work closely with Stony Brook professor Dr. Mathew Reuter of the Institute for Advanced Computational Science at Stony Brook, and graduate students and Ph.D. students in a lab setting. As the only high school student accepted to the program, Josh will assist in developing mathematical modeling and computational and statistical analysis of experimental research data related to the conductivity and movements of molecules and electrons through matter. When not studying, Josh plays varsity tennis where he has earned an All-County title and golf. He is also a member of his school’s Mathletes team. He intends to study applied mathematics in college. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141880 Sat, 03 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141880 Ensembles Perform at NYSSMA Majors Festival Port Jefferson Middle School’s seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra and Earl L. Vandermeulen Concert Band performed at the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival at Connetquot High School on May 23. The ensembles, conducted by music teachers Christine Creighton and Christian Neubert, performed several pieces for a panel of adjudicators, who evaluated them on quality of performance and level of musicianship. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the student-musicians on their outstanding performances. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141879 Fri, 02 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141879 Summer Music Camp Registration The Port Jefferson School District Music and Fine Arts Department is still accepting registration for the Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson and will be doing so through July 1. The summer music camp provides a unique opportunity for beginning and advanced students to start or continue their musical training while meeting new friends and playing music together. The camp offers several levels of musical training classes, including ones for beginning band and string that allow students to start their musical experience prior to the upcoming school year. There are more advanced classes for current elementary and middle school band and string instrumentalists and a Little Maestros program for students in grades 1 and 2. The camp operates for three weeks from July 10-27 with times varying depending on experience levels. The fee is $100 per student for the Little Maestros program and $175 for all other students. To enroll, complete the registration form and return it to your child’s music teacher. For more information, please contact Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello at 631-791-4450. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141878 Thu, 01 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141878 Students Showcase Musical Talents During the month of May, Port Jefferson School District music students showcased their musical abilities at various concerts for parents and friends. The concerts featured music practiced by students since December. “The music department is proud of the hard work and dedication the students put in to make this year’s spring concert series a success,” said Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141877 Wed, 31 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141877 Celebrating differences Port Jefferson Middle School students learned to embrace and celebrate their individual differences during an assembly-featuring speaker Dylan Brady on May 19. During the assembly, Dylan performed original music and explained that while he has Tourette syndrome, he is an accomplished athlete, singer, attends college and teaches acceptance and tolerance about Tourette syndrome. Dylan’s message resonated with many of the students and they spoke about Dylan’s performance after the assembly. “This presentation gave me a lot of knowledge about Tourette syndrome. It’s amazing how it doesn’t impact Dylan while he is performing,” said seventh-grader Kate Sommerstad. “I learned, from Dylan, that we can all do what we love, no matter what setbacks we may face,” said sixth-grader Amy Whitman. Seventh-grader Michael Scannell agreed with his classmates and said, “I learned, that although Dylan struggled in high school, he was able to find his passion and become successful.” Livestream Recording https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141876 Tue, 30 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141876 Promoting Wellness in Our Schools & Community The Port Jefferson School District in conjunction with It Takes a Village Wellness/Education Alive will present a community presentation, titled “Promoting Wellness in Our Schools and Community” on June 7, from 6:30-8 p.m., in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School library. The presentation will focus on tools for effective management of stress and anxiety through simple movement and breathing techniques, mindfulness practices and the importance of good nutrition. It will also feature a student activity area for school-age children. For those who are unable to attend, the program will be streamed live on the district’s website at www.portjeffschools.org. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141875 Fri, 26 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141875 Mathematicians in Action Port Jefferson Middle School sixth-graders took part in the 10th annual Suffolk County Elementary Math Tournament, held on May 11 at Stony Brook University. During the competition, the students excelled at answering difficult questions and Luke Dickhuth participated in a nail-biting tie-breaker to earn fourth place out of 75 sixth-graders. “Overall, we had a great day!” said math teacher Megan Ryan. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141176 Wed, 24 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141176 Service Excellence Earl L. Vandermeulen High School junior Luigia Than has earned the Young Adult Services Division of the Suffolk County Library Association’s Bringing Excellence in Service by Teens (B.E.S.T award). Luigia earned the honor after being nominated by the Port Jefferson Free Library for making significant contributions. She frequently volunteers in the library’s children’s department and works closely with elementary and middle school students. In addition to volunteering at the library, Luigia is captain of her school’s Academic Team and member of the Latin Club and Mathletes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141174 Wed, 24 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141174 Writing Contest Winner Port Jefferson Middle School student Peggy Yin has won first place in the 2017 Social Harmony Writing Contest (middle school division) organized by the Asian American Advisory Board and the Suffolk County Executive Office. She was recognized at a ceremony on May 13 at Stony Brook University. The Port Jefferson School district extends its congratulations to Peggy Yin. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141173 Tue, 23 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141173 Students Awarded for Athletic Leadership For displaying outstanding leadership and character in physical education classes several Port Jefferson School District students were recognized with awards from the Suffolk Zone of the New York Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The students earned their awards based upon recommendations from their physical education teachers. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to eighth-graders, Katelynn Johnston and Cooper Schoch, and fifth-graders, Madeline Matvya, Elia Jaden Katsaros and Danielle Bown. The students earned their awards based upon recommendations from their physical education teachers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141172 Mon, 22 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141172 Careers in Music In addition to their regular music studies, Port Jefferson Middle School student musicians are learning various careers in music through the music department’s “Careers in Music” series. Most recently, students heard from members of the Three Village Chamber Players, who were invited by music teacher Vanessa Salzman to speak about their music careers and perform for the students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141171 Fri, 19 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141171 Robotics Team Honored At its regular meeting on May 9, the Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized the efforts of the Earl. L. Vandermeulen High School Robotics team during the 2017 build and competition season. The students each received certificates and participated in a presentation in which they showed off their robot to the board of education and audience members. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141168 Thu, 18 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141168 Mathematicians honored On May 9, the Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School students for their participation in various math contests and events, including the Suffolk County Math Teacher’s Association Contest, the AMC-American Math Competition and the high school Mathletes League. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following students: Suffolk County Math Contest 6th grade, Level E Sooah Kwak, PJMS high scorer, and 3rd in Suffolk County Teppei Fukuto 4th in Suffolk County 7th grade Level J David Lawler, PJMS high scorer, and 5th in Suffolk County 8th grade Level I Algebra Liam Gameng PJMS high scorer 9th grade Level 2 Geometry Christine Iasso, PJHS high scorer, and 4th in Suffolk County 10th grade Level 3 Algebra2 Peggy Yin PJHS high scorer 11th grade Level 4 Pre-calculus Eli Doyle, PJHS high scorer, and 3rd in Suffolk County 12th grade Level C Calculus Annalisa Welinder PJHS high scorer AMC-American Math Competition Grant Samara and Lucas Welinder, PJMS winners for AMC 8 Annalisa Welinder and Eli Doyle, PJHS winners for AMC 10 & 12 High School Mathletes League Annalisa Welinder earned high scorer in Suffolk County by competing in five meets and answering 22 out of 30 problems correct. She placed 13th out of the nearly 800 students that participate in the league across Suffolk County. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141169 Wed, 17 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141169 Port Jefferson Budget Passes Thank you to all residents who participated in the 2017-18 budget vote and trustee election. Proposition No. 1, the School District Budget, passed by a vote of 338 to 74. Proposition No. 2, Renovations and Upgrades Using Capital Reserve Funds, passed by a vote of 368 to 43. In addition to voting on the budget, residents cast their ballots for two seats on the Board of Education. Adam DeWitt and David Keegan were elected. The trustee vote was as follows: Adam DeWitt – 357 David Keegan - 356 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141175 Tue, 16 May 2017 06:00:00 GMT false141175 A Mayoral Award Port Jefferson Middle School eighth-grader Sabrina Floria was recently presented with an honorary certificate and pin from Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant for participating in the New York State Conference of Mayors “If I were mayor” essay contest. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141166 Tue, 16 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141166 Every Student Succeeds Act The New York State Department of Education has released a draft of its Every Student Succeeds Act and is seeking feedback before it is formally adopted. Feedback will be accepted through Friday, June 16 via public hearings, e-mail and in writing. In person at: ESSA Public Hearing Via e-mail to: ESSAComments@nysed.gov Via writing to the: New York State Education Department ATTN: Lisa Long Office of Accountability, Rm 400 55 Hanson Place Brooklyn, New York 11217 For more information, please visit http://www.p12.nysed.gov/accountability/documents/draft-ny-essa-plan-may-2017.pdf. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141167 Thu, 11 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141167 Paint Night, Fundraisers Help Furry Friends Port Jefferson Middle School Student Council members recently held several fundraisers, raising a total of $1,240 for the North Shore Animal League’s Bianca’s Furry Friends. Among the fundraisers held during April was a paint night, several bake sales, classroom donations and an after-school challenge. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141162 Thu, 11 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141162 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on June 13, 2017, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m., for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141170 Thu, 11 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141170 National Anthem Performance Edna Louise Spear Elementary School band students performed the national anthem at the Bethpage Ballpark to kick off the April 29th Long Island Ducks Game. The event, organized by the Port Jefferson PTA and elementary school music teacher Mark Abbonizio, doubled as a fundraiser for the Class of 2024. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141161 Wed, 10 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141161 Celebrating College Commitments To celebrate their commitment to continue their education at an institute of higher learning in the fall, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2017 recently wore apparel to show off their college of choice. “We are very proud of the Class of 2017 and their accomplishments. They have distinguished themselves as leaders in the classroom and in their co-curricular activities,” said Principal Christine Austen. “We look forward to hearing about their successes in their future endeavors.” This fall, members the Class of 2017 will be headed to study at schools including Duke University, Northeastern University, Stony Brook University and Boston University. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141160 Tue, 09 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141160 Lap and Family Swimming is canceled for May 15 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141165 Tue, 09 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141165 Best High School Port Jefferson School District’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has been ranked as one of New York State’s Best High Schools on U.S. News and World Report’s annual list of “Best High Schools.” Earl L. Vandermeulen High School earned a state ranking of 41 and was ranked 344 in the nation based on students’ performances on college-level exams and graduation rates. Additionally, the high school was ranked among the nation’s best STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) schools in the nation. Out of 500 top ranking STEM schools, Earl L. Vandermeulen was listed 115th. The ranking was based on Advanced Placement science and math tests. “The high school’s ranking is a testament of the hard work and dedication of our students, teachers, staff and administration, and the support of our parents and community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141159 Mon, 08 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141159 Revised NYSED Learning Standards Released The New York State Education Department has released revised learning standards for English and Mathematics, which are open for public comments and will be presented to the Board of Regents for discussion on May 9. To learn more about the standards, please visit the below links. Public comments on the revised standards will be accepted through June 2. Read the official press release here. The standards can be found here and are open for public comments. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141164 Mon, 08 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141164 Apraxia Awareness Day Apraxia Awareness Day is May 14. What is Apraxia? Click here to learn more. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141163 Mon, 08 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141163 Port Jefferson Seeking Wall of Fame Nominations The Port Jefferson School District is seeking nominations for its Wall of Fame that honors former students and faculty members for extraordinary achievements in academics, school and community service, public service, fine arts, business and athletics. To date, the Wall of Fame, which was created in 1996, has recognized more than 40 individuals for their contributions and accomplishments. The district intends to add to that list by commemorating new honorees in perpetuity on the Wall of Fame, located at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Wall of Fame honorees are chosen based on a set of selection criteria by a volunteer committee comprised of members of the administration, board of education, faculty, student body, parent community and residents. To be considered a candidate for induction: • The nominee must have shown extraordinary achievement in academics, school and community service, public service, fine arts, business and athletics. • The nominee must have been affiliated with the Port Jefferson School District as a student or employee for a minimum of four years. • The student or employee may not be nominated until five years after he/she has left the school. To recommend an individual for the Port Jefferson Wall of Fame, please click here for nomination form. Completed forms can be e-mailed to Janice Baisley at jbaisley@portjeff.k12.ny.us. Deadline for nominations is June 1. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140803 Fri, 05 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140803 Musicians Perform at Health & Wellness Expo High school musicians Amanda Day and Cole Fortier recently performed at the Village of Port Jefferson’s Health and Wellness Expo. The students, accompanied by music teacher Lisa Scrom, performed popular and original songs for attendees. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140801 Thu, 04 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140801 Successful Robotics Season During the 2016-17-competition season, the high school Robotics Team in the Port Jefferson School District proved they have some serious robotic skills. The team ranked 20th overall out of a field off 55 competitive high school teams from around Long Island. To earn the ranking, the 16-member team worked to build a robot from scratch and write and program it. “This year’s successful robotics season is due to the young, ambitious high school students who worked tirelessly nearly every day for six straight weeks during the build season,” said adviser Brian Chalmers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140800 Wed, 03 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140800 Earth Day Celebration The middle school celebrated Earth Day on April 19 with a visit from a representative of the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, who gave a presentation on birds of prey. The presentation was followed with an outdoor picnic sponsored by the school’s Environmental Club. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140798 Tue, 02 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140798 Essayist Recognized The Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized Edna Louise Spear Elementary School student Emily Ambrozy for winning second place in the New York State for the Daughters of the American Revolution history contest for an essay she penned about Yellowstone National Park. This is the first year that the elementary school has taken part in the contest. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140797 Mon, 01 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140797 Top Spellers Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students Michelle Wu and Isabella Chen were recognized during the Port Jefferson Board of Education meeting on April 18 for winning the elementary school’s schoolwide Scripps Spelling Bee challenge. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140796 Fri, 28 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140796 Geography Bee Winner Named Elementary school student Viviane Kim was presented with a certificate at the Port Jefferson Board of Education’s April 18 meeting for taking first place in the elementary school’s National Geographic Geography Bee. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140795 Thu, 27 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140795 Extraordinary Mathematicians Ten elementary school fourth- and fifth-graders were honored by the Port Jefferson Board of Education on April 18 for the work they have accomplished so far in preparing for an upcoming Math Olympiad competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140799 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140799 NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION Please read the attachedNOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140802 Wed, 26 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140802 Students Recognized by the American Library Association Six elementary school students in the Port Jefferson School District have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. The students, chosen as April Star Students, are Kris Kozikowski, kindergarten; Samuel Perez-Flesler, first grade; Benjamin Batter, second grade; Marija Garue, third grade; Siena Cipriano, fourth grade; and Fiona Reichers, fifth grade. As a reward for being named a Star Student, each of these Port Jefferson scholars will have their photo displayed on the bulletin board outside the school’s library, along with a summary of their favorite book. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140794 Tue, 25 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140794 Port Jefferson Honors community member At its meeting on April 18, the Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized community member Arnold Lustig with a plaque for his service to the district over the past several decades through his Drive It Right Program. “Through his Drive It Right program and advocacy of a closed campus, Mr. Lustig has saved countless lives and we would like to thank him for that,” said Kathleen Brennan, BOE president. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140793 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140793 Instrument Petting Zoo Third-graders at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School in the Port Jefferson School District participated in an annual Instrument Petting Zoo on April 19. During the event, the future musicians tried out instruments played by Earl L. Vandermeulen High School musicians. The high school performers introduced the third-graders to the many band and string instruments that they can select to play when they enter the fourth grade, including the violin, cello, saxophone and flute. Students were able to hear and touch each of the instruments represented. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140792 Fri, 21 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140792 Science Olympiads Qualify for State Competition The middle school Science Olympiad Team has earned a spot at the state competition after winning third place and 14 medals at the Suffolk County Regional Division competition, held at Candlewood Middle School. To earn their placement, the students in grades 6-9, competed against 38 teams in events that tested their skills in earth science, biology, chemistry and physical engineering. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the team for their accomplishment and wishes them the best at the state competition, which will be held on April 7 and 8 at East Syracuse-Minoa High School in Syracuse, New York. Top Medal Winners First Place Aaron Held and Gil Zaltsman, Fast Facts Third Place Sinan Ates and Gavin Chambers, Anatomy Andrew Patterson and Kasumi Layne-Stasik, Herpetology Grant Samara and Michela Rabeno, rocks and minerals Fourth Place Sinan Ates and Mattea Rabeno, Crime busters Gil Zaltsman and Grant Samara, Disease Detectives Kyle Onghai and Hugo Onghai, Hovercraft Aaron Held and Sapphire Perera, Probe Mission Gavin Chambers and Aaron Held, Road Scholar Kasumi Layne-Stasik and Hugo Onghai, Write it do it https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140782 Thu, 20 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140782 Music School of Excellence The Edna Louise Spear Elementary School has been designated as an Elementary School of Excellence by the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association (SCMEA). The school is one of only two schools in Suffolk County to have earned the distinction for its robust programs in music education, including outstanding performing ensembles, co-curricular clubs, community performances and interdisciplinary opportunities. “Anyone who’s attended our elementary school’s many performances, including our concerts, drama productions, interdisciplinary events like the Music Around the World program or the countless community performances, such as the Charles Dickens and Go Green Festivals, can see why Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s music teachers and students deserve such recognition as a School of Excellence,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, director of Music & Fine Arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140790 Wed, 19 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140790 Student-Musicians Inducted As a result of their exceptional musical talents and dedication, eight Earl L. Vandermeulen student-musicians were inducted into the school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter at a ceremony on April 5. During the tenth annual event, the new inductees promised to uphold the Tri-M’s five points of distinction – scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership and service – and participated in a performance for those in attendance. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the Tri-M Music Society’s newest members: Ju Eun Ha, Ibuki Iwasaki, Trey Pisano, Arunima Roy, Ava Schully, Luigia Than, Samuel Walker, Olivia Weldon and Annalisa Welinder. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140789 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140789 Port Jefferson Named Best Community For Music Education The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that for the 11th consecutive year it has been ranked among the NAMM Foundation’s “Best Communities for Music Education” in America, an honor that acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. The 2017 award specifically recognizes the collaborate efforts between teachers, administrators, students, parents and the community, who work in tandem to keep comprehensive music education an integral part of the core curriculum in Port Jefferson. “The Port Jefferson School District is once again honored to be selected as one of the best communities for music education,” said Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. “It is a testament to the dedication of our students and music teachers and support of our community.” The Port Jefferson School District boasts multiple vocal, band and orchestral performing groups for students and each group is provided with the opportunity to perform within the community. Additionally, through partnerships and relationships with Stony Brook University and the Staller Center many groups regularly have the chance to learn from renowned professional musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140788 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140788 Student Artists Exhibit Artwork The community recently had the opportunity to view artwork created by students in the Port Jefferson School District. During the month of March, the students’ work was on display at the Gallery of the Village Center in Port Jefferson. All of the work displayed was curated by Port Jefferson art teachers Richard Anderson, Lynne Edsall, Carrie Morgan, Nancy Randazzo and Stacey Schuman. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140781 Tue, 11 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140781 Register Now: Power of One Family Fun Run The Royal Educational Foundation is now accepting registration for its Power of One Family Fun Run, which will take place on Saturday, April 22 at 8:30 a.m. starting at the Village Center. Fees associated with the run, which will honor teacher Jesse Rosen for his significant positive impact on the village and school community, will help enhance the quality of education in the Port Jefferson School District. Those looking to participate in the two-mile run can register by visiting www.pjref.com/fun-run at a cost of $15 per runner or $50 per family. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140791 Mon, 10 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140791 State Science Winners High school Science Olympiad team members Joe Samara and Xinyi Hong earned a third-place medal at the New York State Science Olympiad competition, held in Syracuse. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to both students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140783 Mon, 10 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140783 Student-Musicians Perform at NYSSMA More than 250 Port Jefferson student-musicians performed at the annual New York State School Music Association Solo and Ensemble Festival at Sachem High School East on March 24 and 25. During the festival, each student performed a solo selection and scales for a NYSSMA adjudicator, who assessed them on their performance based on technique, precision and musicality. The Port Jefferson school District extends its congratulations to the student musicians for their hard work and dedication. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140785 Fri, 07 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140785 A Fairy Tale Production More than 50 members of the elementary school drama club put on a one-of-a-kind theatrical production for their peers and friends and family on March 23. The entertaining show, which was based on fairy tales, featured acting, singing and dancing. The young Port Jefferson thespians spent hours perfecting their show and learning the art of performance and teamwork. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140786 Thu, 06 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140786 Students Win at Latin Certamen High school Latin studies students showcased their skills as they competed in the fast-paced Latin Certamen contest held on March 21 at Stony Brook University. During the event, the participating students took home top medals in all four levels of the competition that tested their knowledge of Latin grammar, vocabulary, word derivations, Roman life, history, mythology and literature. To earn the awards, the students competed against students from 15 schools in Nassau and Suffolk counties. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following students: Advanced Level, first place: Anita Rescia, Luigia Than, Zinyi Hong and Arunima Roy Level Two, first place: Guiseppina Than, Kyle Onghai, Felicity Hyams and Carmella Moran Level Three, first place: Ava Schully, Annalisa Welinder, Katie Amrozy and Gavin Barett Level One, second place: Peggy Yin, Aaron Held, Ameen Khan and Michela Rabeno https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140787 Wed, 05 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140787 Valedictorian and Salutatorian Named The high school has announced Chiara Rabeno and Xinyi Hong as the Class of 2017 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Rabeno and Hong have earned the top spots in their class through their impressive and outstanding commitment to academics. Valedictorian Chiara Rabeno has earned a number of academic accomplishments throughout her high school career. She earned a gold award three years in a row on the National Latin Exam, is an AP Scholar with Honor and received a National Merit Scholar letter of accommodation. Throughout high school, she has participated in sports, including softball and field hockey where she earned an All-Conference title two years in a row and is a member of the Interact Club, Environmental Club, Science Olympiad and participates in the STEM program. She is also president of the National Honor Society. Chiara plans to study either biological sciences or biochemistry in college in the fall. Salutatorian Xinyi Hong has also received a number of academic accolades. She is a National Merit Finalist, received a gold award for three years in a row on the National Latin Exam, earned the American Chemical Society Award and is an AP Scholar with Distinction. In high school, she has served as co-caption of the Science Olympiad team, and treasurer of the Environmental Club. She also sits as first chair viola in the school’s orchestra and also plays the violin. In college, Xinyi plans to pursue study in a field related to science. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140784 Tue, 04 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140784 Student Enters ‘If I Were Mayor’ Contest Middle school eighth-grader Sabrina Floria is testing her writing skills in entering the New York State Conference of Mayors’ “If I were mayor contest.” Her essay, which is sponsored by Port Jefferson Mayor Margot Garant, will go before a panel of judges in April. The Port Jefferson School District wishes her the best of luck. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140780 Mon, 03 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140780 Middle School Teacher Honored The Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized middle school teacher Christine Carlson with a certificate on March 21. Ms. Carlson, who is also the environmental club advisor, was applauded for her dedication to the middle school and students, the impact she has made on her students and for going above and beyond. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140775 Fri, 31 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140775 Honored for Sharing Knowledge Middle school sixth-grader Farzana Shakeri was recognized by the Port Jefferson Board of Education on March 21 for sharing her knowledge of Dubai with her peers as part of an architectural lesson on the Ottoman Empire. Farzana who recently moved to the area from Dubai, presented photos that helped her fellow students better visualize Dubai’s architecture. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140774 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140774 Notice of Budget Hearing and Vote Please read the attachedNotice of Budget Hearing and Vote: https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140777 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140777 Candidates for Board of Education Candidates for Board of Education Residents of Port Jefferson School District interested in running for the Board of Education, please contact the District Clerk at(631)791-4221 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140778 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140778 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 18, 2017, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m., for the purpose of entering executive session. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 19, 2017, 4:15 p.m., at the District Office for the purpose of voting on the Eastern Suffolk BOCES 2017-2018 Budget and Trustees. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140779 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140779 ‘Leprechaun’s Luck’ Math Challenge To engage students in their studies of mathematics, the middle school and high school library held an Escape Room challenge, called Leprechaun’s Luck. As part of the activity, 139 students worked in pairs and groups to solve a variety of math problems and other riddles to get their gold back from the leprechaun. To date, nine students have completed the challenge, earning a spot on the winners’ March Mathness Wall of Fame. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140773 Tue, 28 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140773 Girls Basketball Team Makes History Despite a tough loss during the Class C championship game, the high school girls basketball varsity team will be remembered for making it to the state competition for the first time in Port Jefferson’s history. The team earned the spot after winning the Long Island and regional championship titles. Their winning streak ended with a buzzer beating 65-63 loss to Watkins Glen at Hudson Valley Community College on March 19. “They fell just short, but they have changed the basketball culture here in Port Jefferson,” said Danielle Turner, director of physical education, health and athletics. “What they have done as a team and for our community is something that will be talked about for years to come in Port Jefferson.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140772 Mon, 27 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140772 SCOPE Awards Four Port Jefferson School District educational professionals were recognized by SCOPE Education Services as premier leaders in their fields and were presented with 2017 SCOPE Awards of Excellence. The awardees were among a group of over 100 educators, support staff and volunteers throughout Suffolk County who were honored at SCOPE’s Educational Excellence Awards ceremony, held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook on March 20. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Jennifer Cob, who was recognized for community service; Jessica Peterson, who earned a teacher service award; Ryan Walker, who was presented with a support staff service award; and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal Christine Austen, who earned an administrator service award. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140770 Fri, 24 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140770 Newsday Athlete of the Week Congratulations to Courtney Lewis for being named Newsday’s Athlete of the Week! Click here to read the story. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140776 Thu, 23 Mar 2017 17:00:00 GMT false140776 ‘Into the Woods’ Performance The high school recently impressed audiences with a production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical “Into the Woods.” The performance featured more than 50 students who worked together as cast members, musicians and on the technical crew. Past graduates also returned to assist in the orchestra and backstage. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140769 Thu, 23 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140769 Student’s Volunteerism Recognized High school senior Eve Milusich has earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award for dedicating 320 hours of volunteer service to the Save-a-Pet Animal Shelter in Port Jefferson Station. Eve completed the required volunteer hours over the course of three years. During that time, she helped clean out the cat area and train other volunteers. “It’s important to volunteer to engage in the community and help others,” she said. In addition to volunteering her time, Eve is a member of her school’s Leo Club, president of the Interact Club, vice president of the Gay/Straight Alliance, a member of the Tri-M Music Society and National Honor Society. Eve plans to attend Scripps College in California in the fall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140765 Wed, 22 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140765 Students’ Art Pieces are on Display Artwork created by students in the Port Jefferson School District is now on display till the end of the month at the Gallery of the Village Center, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson. The community is invited to view the works between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. during the week and on weekends. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140771 Wed, 22 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140771 Student Musicians Perform at SCMEA Thirty-seven student musicians in the Port Jefferson School District participated in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County Festival, held March 11 and 12 at Longwood High School. The students were selected to participate based on their NYSSMA scores and teacher recommendations. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the students: Division 1 (grades 5/6) Alexa Ayotte, Sophie Blumenthal, Lauren Calendrille, Luke Dickuth, Kenny Dixon-Lanza, Alexa Eichinger, Teppei Fukoto, Nicholina Giannola, Lola Idi, Viviane Kim, Madeline Matvya, Gavin Onghai, Kay Ranjbar, Olivia Ross, Alana Samara, Olivia Schlegel, Andrew Schretzmayer, Tabitha Schully, Nicholas Smirnov, Sophia Wennerod and Michelle Wu. Division 2 (grades 7/8) Jack Reilly, Nicole Schully, Logan Shaffer, Kate Sommerstad, Noah Teaney, Brennyn Veit and Jack Worrell. Division 3 (grades 9/10) Samuel Florio, Cole Fortier, Ju Eun Ha, Phoenix Jampol, Jillian Lawler, Ryan Robertson, Charles Rolfe, David Rotunno and Ava Schully. In addition, eighth-grader, Noah Teaney, was the recipient of the Joseph R. Nerbison SCMEA Scholarship for summer music study in piano. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140764 Tue, 21 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140764 A Seussical Celebration The elementary school celebrated Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2 with a plethora of reading-related activities. Port Jefferson students, dressed as Dr. Seuss characters, listened to stories read by guest readers; participated in a bookmark contest and shared their favorite books as part of a photo showcase in the school library. There was also a guest appearance by the Cat in the Hat. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140762 Mon, 20 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140762 Artist Recognized High school student Chloe Dugourd was recognized with an honorable mention in the art portfolio category in the 2017 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards Contest presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers. Her piece, titled “Water Works,” was adjudicated along with 333,000 other works from young artists. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Chloe Dugourd. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141690 Fri, 17 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141690 Don’t Miss It: ‘Into the Woods’ The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in the Port Jefferson School District will present “Into the Woods” on Friday, March 17, and Saturday, March 18, at 7 p.m. and on Sunday, March 19, at 2 p.m. The musical will be sure to delight audiences with its colorful set, talented actors, actresses and musicians. Tickets are a suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per family and will be available at the door. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140768 Thu, 16 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140768 College Fair Offers Students Choices High school students explored more than 90 colleges at a mini-college day on March 7 in the school’s gymnasium. Students spoke with college representatives and learned more about each college’s offerings, student life and extracurricular activities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141689 Thu, 16 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141689 Learning Forgiveness High school students recently learned about the power of forgiveness through an inspirational assembly presented by Victoria Ruvolo. During the assembly, Ms. Ruvolo spoke to the students about her decision to forgive teenagers whose prank left her with life threating injuries. The assembly was sponsored by a grant from the Royal Educational Foundation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141688 Wed, 15 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141688 Musicians Honored by Town Port Jefferson musicians Annalisa Welinder (grade 10) and Lucas Welinder (grade 8) were recognized by Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Valerie Cartright for their outstanding musical achievements and strong commitment to the community at a ceremony at Brookhaven Town Hall on March 2. The ceremony was attended by their parents, middle school principal Dr. Robert Neidig and Director of Music and Fine Arts Dr. Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141684 Tue, 14 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141684 Paint Night Fundraiser for: NSAL Bianca's Furry Friends Please read the attached flyer regarding thePaint Night Fundraiser for: NSAL Bianca's Furry Friends https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140767 Tue, 14 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140767 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE The March 14, 2017 regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has been rescheduled toMarch 21, 2017, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be6:00 p.m., for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140766 Tue, 14 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140766 Student Musician Named to National Orchestra Annalisa Welinder, a sophomore violinist has been accepted into the prestigious National Youth Orchestra of the United States of America as part of Carnegie Hall’s Weill Music Institute. As a member of the NYO-USA, Welinder will represent Port Jefferson as a musical ambassador and travel around the world to play at some of the most famous concert halls. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Annalisa Welinder on her outstanding musical achievement. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141683 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false141683 National Grid Public Hearing Notice https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140763 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false140763 Royals Win Regional Championship! The high school girls basketball team made history on March 9 when they won the regional championship game against Haldane at SUNY Old Westbury. The Royals, who ended the game with a final score of 43-30, will now head to the state Final Four Championship on March 17-19 in Troy. The win comes after the girls clinched the Long Island Championship on March 6. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the athletes and wishes them the best at the state championships. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140760 Fri, 10 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false140760 Summer Music Camp Registration The Port Jefferson School District Music and Fine Arts Department is thrilled to announce that registration for the Summer Music Camp at Port Jefferson is now open. The summer music camp provides a unique opportunity for beginning and advanced students to start or continue their musical training while meeting new friends and playing music together. The camp offers several levels of musical training classes, including ones for beginning band and string that allow students to start their musical experience prior to the upcoming school year. There are more advanced classes for current elementary and middle school band and string instrumentalists and a Little Maestros program for students in grades 1 and 2. The camp operates for three weeks from July 10-27 with times varying depending on experience levels. The fee is $100 per student for the Little Maestros program and $175 for all other students. To enroll, complete the registration form and return it to your child’s music teacher. For more information, please contact Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello at 631-791-4450. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140761 Fri, 10 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false140761 Recycled Guitar Art Inspired by the artwork of Harriet Segal and the Society of American Mosaic Artists, fifth-grade members of the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School art club created unique mosaics in the style of guitars. To forge their projects, the young artists, led by teacher Richard Anderson, used repurposed or old, discarded guitars. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141682 Fri, 10 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141682 Upcoming State Assessments Please read the attached letter from the Superintendent of Schools regarding the upcoming NY State Assessments: https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140759 Fri, 10 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false140759 A Lesson in Diversity To teach seventh-graders about diversity, teachers Monica Consalvo and Deirdre Filippi created a lesson to engage students in the topic. As part of the lesson, students read a selection of four articles centered around the idea, a mile in our shoes. The articles focused on different perspectives, experiences and included people of varying backgrounds. Students then reflected on the readings by forming talking points that they shared with their classmates. The lesson culminated with students designing hands that showcased their own uniqueness. The hands will be displayed on the school’s bulletin board with the theme, “We are all one, different, but the same.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141681 Thu, 09 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141681 Student Qualifies for State Geo Bee Middle school eighth-grader Aaron Held has qualified to compete in the state level of the National Geographic Bee on March 31. He earned the placement after taking a regional online qualifying test and winning first place in his school’s challenge. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Aaron Held and wishes him continued success in the competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141680 Wed, 08 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141680 Long Island Champions! The varsity girls basketball team clinched the Long Island championship title on March 6 at SUNY Old Westbury. To earn the title, the Royals took an 18-point lead over East Rockaway, ending the game with a final score of 67-49. The win puts the team in the regional final on Thursday, March 9. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the athletes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141686 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 18:00:00 GMT false141686 Port Jefferson Schools Now on Facebook In addition to keeping the community informed through its website and Twitter feeds, the Port Jefferson School District has expanded its reach by launching a new Facebook page. The district’s page will provide posts about school happenings, events, accomplishments and other pertinent school-related information. Parents, caregivers and community members are encouraged to follow the Port Jefferson School District to stay up-to-date on the latest by visiting the district’s Facebook page here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141687 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 16:00:00 GMT false141687 Sports Accomplishments Recognized The Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized the athletic accomplishments of two high school athletes at its meeting on Feb. 14. The students recognized with certificates, included varsity basketball player Courtney Lewis for scoring her 2000th point and Richard D’Elia for earning the Suffolk County Division II wrestling title at 106 pounds. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141677 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141677 Science Olympiad Team to Take on State Competition The high school Science Olympiad Team will be competing at the state competition on March 10-11 in Syracuse, New York. The team secured its placement in the competition after winning several medals at the Suffolk County Regional tournament. During the event, the Port Jefferson competitors took home several medals in events that tested their skills in chemistry, herpetology, optics, forensics and astronomy. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the Science Olympiad Team and the following medal winners: 1st Place Helicopter- Connor Kaminska and Chandler Sciara Optics- Eli Doyle and Ibuki Iwasaki 3rd Place Chemistry Lab- Chiara Rabeno and Xinyi Hong Herpetology- Chiara Rabeno and Ibuki Iwasaki Material Science- Liam McSweeney and Connor Kaminska Rocks and Minerals- Connor Kaminska and Joe Samara 4th Place Optics- Louis Martin Invasive Species- Arunima Roy and Xinyi Hong 5th Place Astronomy- Liam McSweeney and Eli Doyle 6th Place Forensics- Isabella Koutstantanou and Cezanne Lojeski Hydrogeology- Ben Zaltsman and Eli Doyle 9th Place Write It Do It- Isabella Koutstantanou and Cezanne Lojeski Forensics- Eadan McSweeney and 10th Place Remote Sensing- Liam McSweeney and Ben Zaltsman https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141679 Tue, 07 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141679 Young Authors Publish Books As part of a nonfiction writing unit, second-graders penned their own nonfiction books that included information researched by students. To celebrate the publication of their works, the students held an expert fair for first-grade classes. During the fair, the young authors shared their books and research. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141676 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141676 Early Financial Planning for College Workshop Please read the attached flier regarding the upcoming workshop: Early Financial Planning for College https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141685 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141685 Celebrating 100 Days of School The elementary school celebrated the 100th day of school on Feb. 13. Throughout the day, students participated in a variety of 100-themed activities. Pictured are pre-K students dressed as 100-year-olds as part of the milestone celebration. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141675 Fri, 03 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141675 School Unity Promoted Through Spirit Week To promote academic, social and emotional growth and development within the school, members of the high school’s Sources of Strength program held a spirit week for their peers. Throughout the week of Feb. 13, students were encouraged to take part in spirit activities that focused on taking care of one’s self, recognizing support systems and personal strengths and unity. Each day carried a theme and students were encouraged to dress to match themes, including mental health day, positive friends day, healthy activities day, mentors day and family day. The school’s new Sources of Strength Program is a made up of a diverse group of students and adults who work to serve as a support system for the school’s study body. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141673 Thu, 02 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141673 International Day Elementary school second-graders celebrated their vast heritages during the school’s first annual International Day, held on Feb. 17. During the event, the students presented research projects that featured interesting facts about the countries their families hail from. Students reported on countries, including England, Ireland, Slovakia and Israel. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141674 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141674 Seniors Advance to National Merit Finals The National Merit Scholarship Program has named high school seniors Xinyi Hong and Richard Liebert as finalists in its 2017 scholarship contest. Xinyi and Richard are among 15,000 students to advance from a field of 16,000 candidates based on their high PSAT scores. They now have the opportunity to compete for one of 7,600 National Merit scholarships, which will be offered in the spring. Xinyi is a member of her school’s Science Olympiad team, Environmental Club and National Honor Society. She is also a violist. Richard is also a member of the National Honor Society and Science Olympiad Team. He is additionally a member of the Robotics team, a violinist and a dancer. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Xinyi Hong and Richard Liebert. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141672 Wed, 01 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141672 2000th Point! Courtney Lewis’ goal to score 2000 career points became a reality for the high school senior on Feb. 11 during a game against Pierson-Bridgehampton. Prior to the game, Courtney was just 34 points shy of reaching her goal, but as the game continued, she realized she was close to attaining the goal. “I couldn’t have done it without the support of my teammates,” said Courtney. In scoring her 2000th career point, Courtney became the 22nd player in Suffolk County girls basketball to reach the milestone and 32nd of all boys and girls to attain the benchmark Courtney has been playing basketball since she was in the fourth grade and has been a member of the Royals varsity team since the seventh grade. In addition to playing basketball, she also runs spring track. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141671 Tue, 28 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141671 Soccer Player Signs With LIU Brooklyn With her family by her side, high school senior Brittany Fazin recently penned her name to a Long Island University Brooklyn letter of intent. Brittany, a soccer player, said she selected Long Island University for its physical therapy program, as well as its soccer team. “I am looking forward to working with the soccer coach,” she said. In addition to playing soccer for the last seven years, Fazin is also a singer in her school’s chorus. “We are thrilled for Brittany,” said Danielle Turner, director of physical education, health and athletics. “She is well-deserving.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141670 Mon, 27 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141670 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on March 14, 2017, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m., for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141678 Mon, 27 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141678 A Valentine’s Day Surprise To show kindheartedness on Valentine’s Day, two groups of middle school students surprised their peers with art and special notes. Ms. Stacey Schuman’s Art Club members hand-designed valentines featuring flowers while students involved in teacher Monica Consalvo’s kindness project wrote smiley face notes. Both groups sprinkled the special sentiments on their fellow students’ lockers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141668 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141668 2017-18 Calendar Now Available The Port Jefferson School District’s 2017-18 calendar is now available for download. To access the calendar, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141669 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141669 Thespians Perform ‘Peter Pan Jr.’ Members of the middle school Drama Club presented an outstanding performance of “Peter Pan Jr.” on Feb. 11 and 12 before an audience of family, friends and community members. The exciting production featured a dedicated cast and crew who learned all aspects of the theater from Lisa Scrom and Mary LaSita, co-advisers of the drama club, as well as from members of the high school drama club who assisted with choreography and set design. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141667 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141667 Students Recognized by the American Library Association Six Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students in the Port Jefferson School District have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. The students, chosen as February Star Students, are Gracie Fraser, kindergarten; Jake Owens, first grade; Ava Reilly, second grade; Cayden Veit, third grade; Jamie Kozikowski, fourth grade; and Noelle Eckart, fifth grade. As a reward for being named a Star Student, each of these Port Jefferson scholars will have their photo displayed on the bulletin board outside the school’s library, along with a summary of their favorite book. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141666 Wed, 15 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141666 Students Learn from World Traveler Middle school students gained insight into different cultures at a recent hands-on workshop presented by world traveler Mike Harrold. During the event, the students learned about the history, culture and geography of counties that Mr. Harrold has visited. They were also able to explore a variety of trinkets, collectables and souvenirs that Mr. Harrold brought back from his travels. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141664 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141664 String Students Perform at LISFA High school sting students recently performed in the Secondary Long Island String Festival on Jan. 29 at Ward Melville High School. The students, Ju-Eun Ha, Phoenix Jampol, Ava Schully and Michael Smith were selected based on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141658 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141658 New Schedule: Peter Pan Jr. Due to the weather and school closings, the Port Jefferson Middle School Drama Club will now present “Peter Pan Jr.” on Sat. Feb. 11 and Sunday, Feb. 12 at 2 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School auditorium. Tickets are a suggested donation of $2 per person or $5 per family and will be available at the door. The exciting production features a dedicated cast and crew who have been learning all aspects of the theater from Lisa Scrom and Mary LaSita, co-advisors of the drama club, as well as from members of the high school drama club who assisted with choreography and set design. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141665 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 06:00:00 GMT false141665 Special Author Visit Elementary school students participated in an assembly with award-winning author and elementary school counselor Julia Cook on Feb. 2. During the event, Ms. Cook read from her children’s books that address topics, including bullying, organization and study skills. Through her interactive presentation, she also inspired students to always be kind to each other. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141663 Fri, 10 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141663 ¡Cuba! As part of their studies on Spanish culture and history, high school junior and senior Spanish classes visited the American Museum of Natural History on Jan. 11 to see the ¡Cuba! exhibit in the Halls of Mexico, Central America and South American Peoples. Students explored exhibits that included a vintage 1955 car, a giant Olmec head, an Aztec sun stone calendar, ceramic and gold artifacts and objects from indigenous cultures. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141662 Thu, 09 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141662 Student Shares Her Culture as Part of Art Lesson An art unit about the architecture of the Ottoman Empire was brought to life for Port Jefferson Middle School students recently with the assistance of one of their peers. Farzana Shakeri, a sixth-grader, who recently moved to the area from Dubai, presented her photos of buildings from Dubai and Afghanistan during class. The images helped her fellow students to better visualize the area’s architecture. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141661 Wed, 08 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141661 Soccer Player Signs with Marist With her parents standing beside her, high school senior Jillian Colucci signed a letter of intent to attend Marist College in the fall on a full soccer scholarship at a signing ceremony on Feb. 1. Jillian, an accomplished athlete, holds a number of titles. She is an All-Long Island Soccer Player, Suffolk County Soccer Player of the Year and has been named an All-American soccer player by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. She also recently helped lead her school’s varsity soccer team to two back-to-back Class C State Championships. In addition to playing varsity soccer since the seventh grade, Jillian is a member of her school’s varsity basketball team, president of the Varsity Club, a member of the National Honor Society and treasurer of the Interact Club. “We couldn’t be more proud of Jillian,” said Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics Danielle Turner. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141660 Tue, 07 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141660 Band Students Perform at Mid-Island Band Festival High school band students Sinan Ates, Josh Ecker, Leland Held, Jillian Lawler, David Moir, David Rotunno, Amanda Sarubbi and Dylan Valev participated in the 59th annual Mid-Island Band Festival, held on Jan. 28 at Miller Place High School. The student-musicians performed alongside students from Miller Place, Sayville, Patchogue-Medford, Hauppauge and West Islip high schools. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141657 Mon, 06 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141657 Random Acts of Kindness Throughout the month of February, middle school students are participating in the school’s second annual Random Acts of Kindness initiative, which aims to promote kindness within the school. During the month, students will be participating in kindness activities surrounding a theme of “The Power of 1: How one person can make a huge impact for their local community.” Activities planned by teacher Monica Consalvo include a food drive, locker decorating and a smile day where students will share smile stickers with each other. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141659 Fri, 03 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141659 Percussionist Named to All-County Ensemble High school percussionist Cezanne Lojeski has been selected to perform in the SCMEA All-County Percussion Ensemble’s “Day of Percussion” concert on Feb. 10 at Mount Sinai High School. The junior, who is one of only 14 Suffolk County percussionists selected to perform, was chosen based on an audition and teacher recommendations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141656 Thu, 02 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141656 Latin Students Tour Museum On Jan. 10, students from the high school’s Latin class visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. During the trip, the students, who are studying Greek and Roman culture as part of their Latin courses, took part in a guided tour of the museum’s Greek and Roman Art gallery. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141655 Tue, 31 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141655 Jazz Musician Named to All-County Jazz Ensemble High school music student Trey Pisano has been selected to perform with the SCMEA All-County Instrumental Jazz Ensemble on March 23 at Miller Place High School. He will perform alongside jazz musicians from across Suffolk County at the “Evening of Jazz” concert, which will feature world-acclaimed guest artist James Burton III. The junior double bass player was selected based on an audition and teacher recommendations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141654 Fri, 27 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141654 Top Speller Moves on to Regionals Fifth-grader Michelle Wu has the opportunity to compete in the semifinal round of the Hofstra Long Island Regional Scripps Spelling Bee after recently winning her school’s spelling bee on Jan. 13. Michelle, who will compete at Hofstra on Feb. 5, became her school’s spelling champion after competing against 16 of her peers, including fellow top speller Isabelle Chen, a fourth-grader, who took second place. Michelle, won by correctly spelling the word, “mahogany.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141653 Thu, 26 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141653 Musicians Attend String Festival Eleven elementary and middle school string students performed at the Elementary/Middle School Long Island String Festival, held on Jan. 14 at Smithtown High School West. The students were selected to perform alongside other musicians from across Suffolk County based on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. The Port Jefferson School District extends is congratulations to Alexa Ayotte (grade 6), Teppei Fukuto (grade 6), Gavin Onghai (grade 5), Kay Ranjbar (grade 5), Jack Reilly (grade 8), Alana Samara (grade 5), Grant Samara (grade 8), Olivia Schlegel (grade 6), Nicole Schully (grade 7), Tabitha Schully (grade 6) and Lucas Welinder (grade 8). https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141651 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141651 NEW YORK STATE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OFFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION - REVIEW ANNOUNCEMENT The New York State Education Department’s Office of Special Education has initiated a Special Education Programs and Services Focused Review in the Port Jefferson School District during the 2016-17 school year. The purpose of this review is to assess the district’s compliance with selected federal and State laws and regulations governing the education of students with disabilities. The review will be conducted by the Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) Long Island Regional Office. The review process will involve a review of school records of a representative sample of students with disabilities, classroom visitations and surveys. In addition, meetings of the committee on special education will be observed. Further information may be obtained by contacting the SEQA Long Island Regional Office at (631)952-3352 and/or by contacting the Port Jefferson School District at (631)791-4241. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141652 Tue, 24 Jan 2017 21:00:00 GMT false141652 Geography Bee Champ For the third year in a row, middle school eighth-grader Aaron Held has won his school’s National Geographic Geography Bee. Aaron took first place after spending his recess period competing against over 30 of his fellow students during the week of Jan. 9. He placed just ahead of sixth-graders Ben Perez-Flesler, Teppei Fukuto, Olivia Ross and Amy Whitman. Aaron now has the opportunity to qualify for the state geography bee by taking a regional online qualifying test. The results of that exam will be made available in early March. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Aaron and wishes him continued success in the competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141730 Tue, 24 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141730 Port Jefferson is a Top School District Port Jefferson School District has been named as one of the best school districts in New York State. Niche.com recently ranked the school district 55th in the state and eighth in Suffolk County as part of its 2017 best schools review. The district was among 670 school districts across New York State, which were rated based on academics, culture and diversity, health and safety, teachers, resources, clubs and activities, and overall experiences by parents and students. “We are proud that our district was ranked as one of the best in the state,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano. “It is a tribute to our students, teachers, staff and administrators.” Niche.com was founded in 2002 by Carnegie Mellon University students and frequently provides educational reviews and insights based on data provided by the U.S. Department of Education. To view a list of all New York State School District rankings, visit https://k12.niche.com/rankings/public-school-districts/best-overall/s/new-york/ https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141729 Mon, 23 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141729 Wrestlers Get Army Lesson The Royals wrestling team learned from some of the best on Jan. 9 as representatives of the Army Olympic Training program held a clinic for them at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. During the clinic, the wrestlers worked on advanced wrestling skills and honed in on basic training techniques. “It was a great experience. The wrestlers learned a lot,” said Athletic Director Danielle Turner. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141728 Fri, 20 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141728 Student Creates Study Guide Website for Peers Middle school sixth-grader Benjamin Perez-Flesler was honored by the board of education at its Jan. 10 meeting for “demonstrating tremendous initiative” by creating a sixth-grade study guide website for his peers. The website, designed by Perez-Flesler, includes test calendars, daily homework assignments for sixth-grade classes, study guides and links to education games. It also provides options for extra help from himself and fellow students who are volunteering their time during their lunch period. Additionally, Perez-Flesler collaborated with teachers to include additional information. “I am so proud of Benjamin’s commitment to assisting his fellow students with their academic success,” said Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig. “His actions demonstrate his selflessness and compassionate nature.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141727 Thu, 19 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141727 Writer Recognized The Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized middle school student Sapphire Perera on Jan. 10 for an article she wrote titled “We Enjoy Holiday Lights, But Do the Trees.” The researched article appeared in the Dec. 15 edition of the Port Times Record after Perera submitted it for publication. The article focuses on the potential dangers holiday lights are to trees and migratory birds. “Sapphire is an inspiration for standing up for what she believes in,” said Dr. Robert Neidig, middle school principal. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141726 Wed, 18 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141726 Math Scholars Named The Institute of Create Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY College at Old Westbury has named two middle school students as Long Island Young Scholars of Mathematics. Teppei Fukuto and William Wu were among 86 students selected for the honor out of a field of 600 top ranking students nominated from school districts across Long Island. As part of the honor, the students will participate in 60 hours of classes at SUNY Old Westbury, ranging in mathematical topics from algebra, geometry, discrete math and number theory. The pair were recognized for their accomplishment with certificates from the Port Jefferson Board of Education during their regular meeting on Jan. 10. “We are enormously proud of these two young men,” said Dr. Robert Neidig, middle school principal. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141725 Tue, 17 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141725 You Sunk My H2O To engage sixth-grade science students in learning about the chemical elements, middle school science teacher Janelle Bellotti created a lesson that asked students to build battleship game boards based on the periodic table of elements. Students played their games with a goal to “sink” their opponent’s element ship. “The activity helped students to learn chemistry in a fun way,” said Ms. Bellotti. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141724 Thu, 12 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141724 Music Students Attend Lincoln Center Concert More than 50 Port Jefferson School District student-musicians and their families attended an evening performance of the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center on Jan. 5. Attendees enjoyed the orchestra’s performance that featured word-renowned pianist Emanuel Ax and maestro Alan Gilbert. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141722 Tue, 10 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141722 History Comes Alive Port Jefferson’s role in the American Revolution and its relation to the Culper Spy Ring was brought to life for middle school history students during an assembly on Dec. 22 — the actual date on the letter that links the village to the Culper Spy Ring. During the event, seventh-graders listened as Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant, Historian Georgette Grier-Key and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School alumnus, Michael Tessler, present an 18th-century letter confirming Port Jefferson’s role in the Culper Spy Ring, which carried secret messages written in invisible ink to Gen. George Washington. Students also watched a short video outlining the significance of the historical document, which was written by a suspected British spy four years after colonists declared independence from Great Britain. Prior to the assembly, teachers Monica Consalvo and Deirdre Filippi had the students engage is a series of learning centers where they gained a glimpse into the village’s connection to the American Revolution. Among the activities, were deciphering a spy code and tracing the spy ring’s movements through an authentic map. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141720 Mon, 09 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141720 Navigating the College Recruiting Process Rick Cole, Jr., Director of Athletics at the Division I Iona College, and Bill Kropp, St. Joseph’s College men’s volleyball coach, will be speaking to all interested students, parents and coaches on Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017 at 7:00 p.m. in the high school auditorium. See the attached PDF for more information. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141723 Mon, 09 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141723 Leos Hold Holiday Food Drive To help those in need in the community during the holiday season, members of the high school’s Leo Club spent Dec. 11 collecting food donations at the Stop & Shop in Miller Place. All donations were delivered to Grace Care Outreach. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141719 Fri, 06 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141719 Potluck Holiday Dinner Port Jefferson School District ENL families recently celebrated the holiday season at an annual international potluck dinner, held at the high school. During the festive event, families made crafts while feasting on a wide range of ethnic food. Students also made presentations that showcased their heritages. The evening culminated with a traditional Hispanic dance performed by students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141718 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141718 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 10, 2017, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:30 p.m., for the purpose of entering executive session. A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 24, 2017, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, for a presentation on the first draft of the 2017-18 budget, and any other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141721 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141721 A Tuba Christmas Two high school band students, David Moir and Paul Penske, recently participated in New York City’s 43rd annual Tuba Christmas performance at Rockefeller Center. The Port Jefferson students performed holiday music alongside tuba players of all ages for tourists and city residents. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141717 Wed, 04 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141717 Officer Offers Words of Wisdom Middle school sixth-graders in Alison Giannusa’s class recently heard from Suffolk County Police Officer George Lynagh, who spoke to the students about violence and bullying. He previously visited the class in October and discussed with students good decision-making in regards to alcohol and tobacco. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141716 Tue, 03 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false141716 Holiday Help Huge Success The elementary school recently held a holiday gift drive that resulted in the donation of enough gifts to make the holidays bright for 21 local children. The gifts were collected as part of the school’s annual Holiday Help gift drive, which is run by Jessica Peterson, school counselor, in collaboration with Port Jefferson parents, school district staff and the Port Jefferson Fire Department. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141715 Fri, 23 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141715 Artist Visit Fifth-graders in Richard Anderson’s art class in the Port Jefferson School District recently visited the Paul W. Zuccaire Gallery at SUNY Stony Brook’s Staller Center for the Arts to view the Lorna Bieber “Traces” exhibit. The students also met with the artist and learned more about a career in the arts and the technique of photo manipulation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141713 Thu, 22 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141713 Holiday Blankets To provide those in need with some extra warmth this winter, members of middle school Environmental Club recently purchased and gift-wrapped blankets for 15 local families in need. To buy the blankets, the club members used funds they raised through bake and ornament sales. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141710 Wed, 21 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141710 Wrapping Up Cheer Members of the high school Interact Club helped wrap holiday gifts for families in need on Dec. 13. All of the gifts were purchased by the Port Jefferson Rotary Club and will be distributed by the Infant Jesus Parish in Port Jefferson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141711 Tue, 20 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141711 Honored for Spreading Cheer At its meeting on Dec. 13, the Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized members of the high school chamber choir and high school orchestra for spreading cheer in the Village of Port Jefferson this holiday season. Throughout the month of December, the musicians performed holiday classics at community events, including the Dicken’s Festival and the tree lighting at Danfords Hotel and Marina. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141709 Mon, 19 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141709 Port Jefferson Appoints Dr. Paul Casciano as Superintendent The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education is pleased to announce that Dr. Paul Casciano has been appointed the district’s superintendent of schools during its December 13 business meeting. Dr. Casciano has been serving as the district’s interim superintendent since July 1. Effective January 2, 2017, Dr. Casciano’s term as superintendent will run through January 1, 2020. “Dr. Casciano brings a wealth of experience to the district and we are extremely pleased that he has agreed to stay,” said Board President Kathleen Brennan. “We are very happy and look forward to his time here in Port Jefferson.” Prior to accepting the interim superintendent position in Port Jefferson, Dr. Casciano was employed by the William Floyd School District for 41 years, including nine years as superintendent. The Stony Brook resident holds degrees from Central Connecticut State University (BS), Southampton College (MS) and C.W. Post (PD in Educational Leadership). He earned his doctoral degree in educational administration from New York University. Dr. Casciano is also a community leader, serving as co-chair of Congressman Lee Zeldin’s Education Advisory Committee, past president of the Rotary Club of Shirley & the Mastics, on the board of directors of the William Floyd Alumni Association and on the board of directors of OCEAN Arts. “I thank the Board for this opportunity to serve,” said Dr. Casciano. “I am looking forward to working together with our Board of Education, leadership team, faculty, staff, parents and community to achieve amazing things for the children of Port Jefferson.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141714 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141714 Book Fairies The middle school’s National Junior Honor Society recently held a successful book drive. During the first two weeks of December, society members collected new and gently used books, e-readers and magazines from their peers and school staff to donate to the nonprofit Book Fairies organization. All of the items collected will be distributed to high-poverty areas in metropolitan New York. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141707 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141707 Spreading Holiday Cheer To brighten the holiday season for staff and visitors at St. Charles Hospital, high school chamber choir singers, under the direction of Lisa Scrom, recently performed traditional and modern carols in the hospital’s lobby. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141706 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141706 OPWDD’s Key to the Front Door Please Join Us for a General Information Session about OPWDD’s Front Door This presentation is offered to the parents of all students receiving Special Education Services through an Individualized Education Plan grades K-12. Thursday, January 19, 2017 6:00-8:00p.m. (Q&A until 8:30) Port Jefferson School District Earl L. Vandermeulen High School 350 Old Post Road, Port Jefferson https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141712 Thu, 15 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141712 Scholar Awards for Football Player The Suffolk County Football Coaches Association recently recognized high school senior varsity football player Brian Mark with two academic scholar awards. Among the prestigious awards Mark received was the Golden Eleven Award, which is presented to the top 11 academic scholars in Suffolk County and the LaBue Award, which is presented to the top academic scholar. “We are so unbelievably proud of Brian,” said Danielle Turner, athletic director. In addition to his participation on the football team, Mark is also the captain of the varsity basketball team and a member of the varsity lacrosse team. When not on the field, he is working as a member of his school’s Varsity Club and serving as president of the Investment Club. He is also a peer leader for Sources of Strength. “It was an honor to receive the Golden Eleven and the LaBue awards,” Mark said. “It is a privilege to be part of a group of such great football players and athletes.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141705 Wed, 14 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141705 Virtual Art Gallery Throughout the school year, students in grades K-12 work in a variety of mediums to design works of art. The district’s Music & Art Department is pleased to announce that it is now featuring some of the many pieces of art that students have created in a virtual art gallery. Please visit the new gallery by clicking here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141708 Tue, 13 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141708 Seniors Honored for Leadership High school student-athletes Brian Mark and Corinne Scannell were honored by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance as Suffolk Zone Student Leadership award winners at a ceremony on Dec. 7. The seniors were selected based upon their excellence in physical education, leadership ability and service to community. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Brian and Corinne. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141704 Tue, 13 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141704 Crime Scene Shoeboxes High school forensics students recently participated in a three-week hands-on, crime scene-processing lesson. For the unit, teacher Amanda Brideson asked students to write a mock crime scene story and then use a shoebox to depict the crime scene in detail within a shoebox. To culminate the lesson, students heard from Suffolk County Deputy Inspector Bill Doherty. Inspector Doherty provided students with a wealth of knowledge about how homicides and crime scenes are property documented. He also shared first-hand experiences. “This lesson helped to bring the information they were learning from their textbooks to life,” said Brideson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141703 Mon, 12 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141703 Score for Field Hockey Player High school senior Jackie Brown has been named as a member of the All-Long Island field hockey team as part of Newsday’s All-Long Island Sports Awards. Jackie, who will play field hockey in the fall of 2017 at Adelphi University, has been involved in the sport since the age of 6. She has been a member of the high school’s varsity field hockey team since the eighth grade and holds the leading goal scorer title for Long Island. She has also been named as an All-State and All-Tournament player. In addition to playing field hockey, Jackie is a member of her school’s softball and basketball teams. She is also the vice president of the Student Organization, co-president of the Varsity Club and a member of the Yearbook Club and National Honor Society. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141702 Fri, 09 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141702 Suffolk Soccer Player of the Year High school senior Jillian Colucci has been named as part of Newsday’s All-Long Island Sports Awards as Suffolk County’s Soccer Player of the Year and as a member of the All-Long Island soccer team. Jillian, who helped lead the varsity soccer team two back-to-back Class C State Championships, has been a member of the varsity team since the seventh grade. She has played the sport since the age of 4. “I watched my brother play soccer since I was a baby. It was natural to follow in his path,” said Jillian. In addition to playing soccer, Jillian is also a basketball player, president of her school’s Varsity Club, a member of the National Honor Society and treasurer of the Interact Club. Jillian plans to attend Marist College in the fall. She has not yet declared a major. “It was so wonderful and such an honor to have received the Suffolk Soccer player of the year title,” said Jillian. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141701 Thu, 08 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141701 Careers in Law Enforcement High school students enrolled in Amanda Brideson’s forensic science class in Port Jefferson School District were introduced to multiple fields within law enforcement during a presentation by Ms. Brideson’s father, Robert Brideson on Dec. 2. During the session, Mr. Brideson, a retired NYPD sergeant, homeland security instructor and crime scene clean up technician, answered questions and spoke about his career. He also allowed students to try-on basic equipment that they would wear if they entered law enforcement, including cleanup suits, masks and standard police office gear. “Students expressed that it was nice to be able to meet someone in the field and try on real life equipment,” said Ms. Brideson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141699 Wed, 07 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141699 Students Perform at Dickens Festival Members of the entire Port Jefferson School District music department shared their musical talents at the 21st annual Charles Dickens Festival’s Victorian Tea held at the First Presbyterian Church in the Village of Port Jefferson Village on Dec. 3 and 4. Musical ensembles that performed holiday favorites included the fifth-grade select choir, the high school jazz combination, the middle and high school orchestras and the high school chamber choir. In addition to performing at the Victorian Tea, the middle and high school orchestras played chamber music at the Port Jefferson Library. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141700 Tue, 06 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141700 Food for Those in Need The middle school annual food drive was once again a huge success. Run by the student council, the drive, held during the month of November, resulted in the collection of nearly 1,500 items. All the donations will be delivered to Long Island Cares and local families in need. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141698 Mon, 05 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141698 Students Recognized by the American Library Association Six Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students in the Port Jefferson School District have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. The students, chosen as November Star Students, are Megan Becherer, kindergarten; Peyton Barrett, first grade; Michael Cormier, second grade; Talin Bajaj, third grade; Rose Meliker-Hammond, fourth grade; and Michelle Wu, fifth grade. As a reward for being named a Star Student, each of these Port Jefferson scholars will have their photo displayed on the bulletin board outside the school’s library, along with a summary of their favorite book. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141697 Fri, 02 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141697 Chamber Singers Kick Off Holiday Season Members of the high school chamber choir helped to kick off the holiday season at Danfords Hotel and Marina’s first annual tree lighting ceremony on Nov. 26. The vocalists entertained Port Jefferson Village guests with Christmas carols. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141696 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141696 Holiday Gift Tree To make the holiday season bright for those in need, the elementary school guidance office in Port Jefferson School District has kicked off an annual Holiday Help program. Through Dec. 16, students and their families are donating wrapped items that are needed by local families. Prior to the start of the initiative, requested wish items were written on mittens that adorn the school’s holiday tree in the main lobby. Students and their families have the option to pick a mitten and purchase the item requested. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141248 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141248 Students Honor Heroes In learning about the meaning of Veterans Day, second-grade students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School in Port Jefferson School District recently created a Hero Wall in their school. The display features photos of local heroes and written blurbs about their heroism. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141249 Wed, 30 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141249 Thanksgiving Food Drive To help those in need within their community, elementary school students held a Thanksgiving food drive. The annual food drive, which is organized through the Port Jefferson School District’s guidance department, resulted in the collection of enough nonperishable goods to help 10 local families. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141247 Tue, 29 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141247 ‘A Groovy Midsummer Night’s Dream’ The high school presented an entertaining production of “A Groovy Midsummer Night’s Dream” from Nov 18-20. The clever comedy, set in Washington Square Park in the 1960s, featured a cast of talented actors, who worked for several weeks to perfect their performances. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141246 Mon, 28 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141246 Students Attend Peer Leadership Summit A group of high school peer leaders attended an inaugural Peer Education Leadership Summit along with 70 of their peers from across Suffolk County on Nov. 16 at the Port Jefferson Community Center. During the summit, which was sponsored by the Neighborhood House and the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying, the trained peer leaders participated in a variety of activities that prepare them to use their positive influence to promote anti-bullying and suicide prevention within their respective schools. Activities the 16 Port Jefferson students took part in included group improve and discussions on how to handle conversations related to suicide and bullying. Students also heard from speakers, including Joe Salamone of the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying, Michelle Virga of the Neighborhood House, and Laura Campbell, of the Crisis Center of Long Island. “These awesome young people shared their time, compassion and courage so that they can bring incredibly important messages back to their schools and communities,” said Kristin Britt, summit organizer and a social worker with the Port Jefferson School District. Also attending the summit with the students were teachers Dinarae Camarade and Jesse Rosen. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142912 Wed, 23 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142912 Student Performs with University Musicians Middle school cellist, Lucas Welinder, recently had the opportunity to perform with the Stony Brook University Orchestra, directed by Dr. Susan Deaver. Alongside university students, the eighth-grader played works by Sibelius, Tchaikovsky and Franck. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142911 Tue, 22 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142911 Students Serve Up a Thanksgiving Lunch The middle school Student Council held its annual Thanksgiving lunch for senior citizens from the Port Jefferson Senior Center on Nov. 16. During the event, students served lunch and desserts to the seniors and took time to speak with them about their studies. Several student musical groups also showcased their talents to the seniors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142910 Mon, 21 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142910 Tuba Players Unite High school freshman Sinan Ates recently participated in the 36th annual Howard Hovey Tuba Day, held at Smithtown High School East. During the event, Ates performed alongside 200 tuba students from across Suffolk County on one stage. Several professional musicians, including renowned guest artist Michael Milnarik, also attended the event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142909 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142909 Mock Book Election To teach students about the presidential voting process, the elementary school held a mock election where the Animal Party went head-to-head with the People Party. Prior to a Nov. 8 election, students participated in a primary vote where they nominated a presidential and vice presidential candidate from each party based off books that they checked out between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2. Candidates included Fancy Nancy, Bad Kitty, Fly Guy, Junie B. Jones, Harry Potter, Pigeon, Captain Underpants and Aslan from “Chronicles of Narnia.” Winning the primary were Pigeon and Aslan for the Animal Party and Harry Potter and Captain Underpants for the People Party. On Election Day, students cast their ballots for their favorite book characters, and elected Pigeon and Aslan. “Students really enjoyed learning about the election process through book characters,” said librarian Selinda Moore, who spearheaded the lesson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142906 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142906 Students Showcase Talents at Go Green Festival Port Jefferson School District students showed off their musical and artistic talents at the ninth annual Port Jefferson Go Green Festival, held on Nov. 5 at the Village Center. During the event, the Port Jefferson Elementary school’s select choir performed several songs and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School singer-songwriter Cole Fortier performed two original works. Festival attendees also viewed artwork created by high school students in Lynne Edsall’s Studio in Art classes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142904 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142904 Don’t Miss It: “A Groovy Midsummer Night’s Dream” The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in the Port Jefferson School District will present “A Groovy Midsummer Night’s Dream” on Friday, Nov. 18 and Saturday, Nov. 19, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 20, at 2 p.m. The clever comedy, which is set in Washington Square Park in the 1960s, features a cast of talented actors and will be sure to entertain audiences. Tickets are a suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per family and will be available at the door. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142908 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 06:00:00 GMT false142908 Field hockey player signs with Adelphi Before her family, high school coaches and administrators, high school senior Jackie Brown penned her name to a National Letter of Intent with Adelphi University at a signing ceremony on Nov. 9. Jackie, who will play field hockey in the fall of 2017, has been involved in the sport since the age of 6. She has been a member of the high school’s varsity field hockey team since the eighth grade and holds the leading goal scorer title for Long Island. She has also been named as an All-State and All-Tournament player. In addition to playing field hockey, Jackie is a member of her school’s softball and basketball teams. She is also the vice president of the Student Organization, co-president of the Varsity Club and a member of the Yearbook Club and National Honor Society. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142903 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142903 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on November 29, 2016, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, for a presentation on possible capital projects, and any other business as may be needed. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on December 13, 2016, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 6:00 p.m., for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142907 Tue, 15 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142907 2016 New York State Soccer Champions For the second year in a row, the high school girls’ varsity soccer team in the Port Jefferson School District claimed the New York State Class C championship title. The team secured the win by defeating Geneseo with a final score of 4-1 during playoffs, held in Cortland on Nov. 13. “This is truly a special group of girls,” explained Athletic Director Danielle Turner. “They are a team in every sense of the word. There is no other group more deserving of a state championship. I am so proud of them, our coaches and the entire Port Jefferson Community.” The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the entire team and coaching staff. Click here for highlights from the girls varsity soccer 2016 NYS Class C Semi-Final & Final games. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142905 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142905 BOE honors National Merit semifinalists The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education recognized two high school seniors on Nov. 8 for being selected as semifinalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. Xinyi Hong and Richard Liebert were both presented with certificates of recognition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142900 Mon, 14 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142900 Long Island Soccer Champs! The varsity soccer team has done it again — they now hold the Long Island Championship title. The girls secured the title after defeating Haldane High School at Sleepy Hollow High School on Nov. 5 with a final score of 3-0. The team will head to Courtland on Nov. 12 to compete in the New York State soccer championships and defend their state title. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142902 Fri, 11 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142902 Pipe-Cleaner Pins Raise Awareness In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, fourth- and fifth-grade students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School donated their time to create pipe cleaner pins and cards for breast cancer patients at Mather Hospital’s Fortunato Breast Health Center. The pins and cards were made after school with the help of teachers Deanna Lilimpakis and Kristen Newbert. Last year, the students made breast cancer awareness key chains. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142899 Thu, 10 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142899 Swimmer Earns County Titles Kyra Sommerstad, a high school swimmer, will head to the state championship after earning two county titles at the Suffolk County Championships, held on Nov. 5 at Suffolk County Community College. The freshman swimmer took first place in both the 200-meter medley and the 100-meter backstroke. Her times were 2:07:88 and 57.16 respectively. Sommerstad will compete at Ithaca on Nov. 12. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142901 Thu, 10 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142901 Mock Presidential Vote To teach students about the voting and election process, the middle and high schools held a mock presidential vote through the National Student/Parent Mock Election organization. Prior to using laptops to cast their votes for president and representatives in local elections, students learned about the importance of making informed decisions within their social studies classes. They were also encouraged to research the issues affecting people and communities prior to the vote. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142898 Wed, 09 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142898 Students Perform at PEAK Festival Elementary fourth-graders had the unique opportunity to perform songs they learned in their music classrooms at the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s Parents, Educators and Kids Festival on Oct. 29. The students sang alongside their parents and music teacher Jessica Pastor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142897 Tue, 08 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142897 Middle School Goes Pink Middle school students raised over $200 for Mather Hospital’s Fortunato Breast Health Center’s “Paint Port Pink” community outreach program. The students raised the funds through in-school sales of pink Frisbees, pencils, boas and shoelaces. They also sold rocks to decorate during their lunch periods To raise additional awareness about breast cancer, the students decorated classroom doors in pink. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142896 Mon, 07 Nov 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142896 Star Students Recognized Six Edna Louise Spear elementary students have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. The students, chosen as October Star Students, are Cecilia Barden, kindergarten; Sara Puopolo, first grade; Thea Mangels, second grade; Isabela Thomsen, third grade; Cristyn Spiller, fourth grade; and Alexa Eichinger, fifth grade. As a reward for being named a Star Student, each of these Port Jefferson scholars will have their photo displayed on the bulletin board outside the school’s library, along with a summary of their favorite book. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142895 Fri, 04 Nov 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142895 Students Earn Hispanic Excellence Award Two high school seniors have earned academic excellence awards as part of the Town of Brookhaven’s third annual Hispanic Heritage Celebration. The students, Raquel Accardo and Nick Andriani, were recognized at a ceremony on Oct. 7 at Brookhaven Town Hall for earning grade point averages of 92.09 and 95.57, respectively. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142893 Thu, 03 Nov 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142893 Students Visit Ellis Island High school students visited the Ellis Island National Monument on Oct. 20 as part of a lesson related to the immigration of Italians to America. During the trip, the students in Nicole Pennino-Costa’s Italian class took a tour of the national monument and learned more about the impact of the mass exodus from Italy between 1880 and 1914. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142889 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142889 League Golf Champs The high school varsity golf team ended the season as the new League VI Champions. To earn the title, the Port Jefferson golfers maintained a 10-0 winning streak throughout the season. “I am so proud of these students and how hard they work,” said Danielle Turner, athletic director. “They aren’t just great golfers, they are great kids.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142890 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142890 Suffolk County Champs! The high school girls varsity soccer team is the newest Suffolk County “Class C” champion. The girls earned the title after winning a game against Southold on Oct. 28 at St. Joseph’s College. The 8-0 win allowed the girls to end their season with a 13-0-1 record. The soccer team will head to Westchester on Nov. 5 to play in the regional champi https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142894 Mon, 31 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142894 Cross-Country Team Displays Top Speeds Members of the middle school cross-country team exhibited outstanding athletic abilities at the Section XI meet held at Sunken Meadow State Park on Oct. 20. During the meet, eighth-grader Brian Veit showed extreme skill by taking first place overall against 200 competitors with a time of 8:37.77. Teammate Owen Okst placed 14th with a time of 9:14.08. The girls also held their own, with team members Anastasia Geelan finishing 52nd with a time of 11:04.12 and Evelyn Walker placing 61st with a time of 11:19.43. Also running was Heidi Beidenkapp, who placed 67th, and Kate Sommerstand, who finished 69th. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142888 Mon, 31 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142888 A Show of Unity To celebrate Unity Day and stand together against bullying, middle school students wore orange to school on Oct. 19. The students also participated in discussions and watched a video and slideshow about bullying in their social studies classes. Pictured with the students is teacher Monica Consalvo, who organized the day’s activities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142886 Fri, 28 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142886 Port Jeff Teacher Recognized The Port Jefferson School District recognized the efforts of middle school English teacher Allison Giannusa at its regular meeting on Oct. 18. Ms. Giannusa was acknowledged for serving as a role model to students and coordinating numerous events, activities, fundraisers and special lessons for students. She also serves as the advisor of a number of clubs and works tirelessly on the school’s yearbook. “Because of [Allison], student participation in clubs and activities has increased tremendously,” said Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig. “She truly gives it her all.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142885 Thu, 27 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142885 Students Recognized for Showing Compassion The Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized two Port Jefferson Middle School students, Natalie McGuigan and Rachel Perez, on Oct. 18 with certificates of achievement for showing compassion to new students. The middle schoolers, who speak Chinese and Spanish, respectively, were specifically acknowledged for the initiative they took to welcome non-English-speaking students into the school and assist in their transition by communicating important information to them in their native language. “These two students showed tremendous kindness and compassion by helping two other students acclimate to their new school,” said Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142884 Wed, 26 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142884 Students Walk to Save Lives Port Jefferson School District students stepped up to raise money for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention through an Out of the Darkness Walk, held at Jones Beach on Oct. 23. More than 40 students participated in the walk under the banner of Team Dylan, in memory of Port Jefferson student Dylan Berger. They raised $4,565 through sponsorships, T-shirt and bake sales. “We had a tremendous show of support,” said Principal Christine Austin. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142891 Wed, 26 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142891 Community Swimming is canceled for this evening, Oct. 26. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142892 Wed, 26 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142892 America’s Top High School Recognition On Oct. 18, the Port Jefferson School Board recognized the accomplishments of administrators, staff and students that led to Earl L. Vandermeulen High School being named by Newsweek magazine as one of 500 top high schools in America in 2016. The news organization ranked the high school earlier this school year based on academic achievement on the 2014-15 state assessments in reading and mathematics, as well as other factors related to college readiness. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142883 Tue, 25 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142883 Spotlight on Port Jeff Schools High school students were recently featured on LI News Radio’s “Spotlight on Schools” segment, hosted by Robert Vecchio. During the segment, which will air on Nov. 5, the students spoke about two of the district’s programs of pride: music and science. Both student-musicians and members of the Science Olympiad team shared some of the unique experiences they have had. Spotlight on LI Schools Part I Spotlight on LI Schools Part II https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142881 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142881 The Port Jefferson School District Community Swimming Pool is closed tonight - 10/24/16. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142887 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142887 Students Help Launch Rocketship Park Members of the high school orchestra contributed their musical talents to a recent ceremony for the Village of Port Jefferson’s rebuilding of Rocketship Park. Students Xinyi Hong, Ibuki Iwasaki, Ava Schully, Luigia Than and Annalisa Welinder performed a selection of pieces for an audience of village residents and local dignitaries, including Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant, who led the ceremony. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142880 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142880 News 12 Scholar Athlete Senior Jillian Colucci was named a News 12 Scholar Athlete. To see the story, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142882 Thu, 20 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142882 Fire Safety In an effort to promote fire safety and prevention, middle school orchestra teacher and volunteer firefighter Christian Neubert arrived to school on Oct. 11 in a fire truck. Surrounded by intrigued students, Neubert took the opportunity to provide students with safety tips before allowing them to try on his fire gear and air mask. Students also learned about life-saving tools that firefighters use, including the Jaws of Life. “Students were genuinely excited about this important safety lesson,” said Principal Dr. Robert Neidig. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142879 Wed, 19 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142879 Students Selected for All-County Festival Three high school students have been selected to participate in the prestigious New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education All-County Music Festival. The instrumentalists — Leland Held, Ibuki Iwasaki and Trey Pisano — will perform along with students from across Suffolk County in November at Connetquot and Northport-East Northport high schools. The students were chosen based on their New York State School Music Association scores and teacher recommendations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142878 Mon, 17 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142878 Community Forum - The Adolescent Brain - Preventing High- Risk Behaviors Please join us on Wednesday, October 19, at 7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium for an Educational Forum entitled, "The Adolescent Brain, Preventing High - Risk Behaviors." This presentation, hosted by the Bridge of Hope Resource Center, will address topics such as basic brain function and how drugs can affect the adolescent’s brain, potential risk factors and how to help families communicate openly about the subject. Middle school and high school students will receive two hours of community service when their parents attend the presentation. We hope you will join us for this informative program. Please join us onWednesday, October 19, at7 p.m.in the High School Auditorium for an Educational Forum entitled, "The Adolescent Brain, Preventing High - Risk Behaviors." This presentation, hosted by the Bridge of Hope Resource Center, will address topics such as basic brain function and how drugs can affect the adolescent’s brain, potential risk factors and how to help families communicate openly about the subject. Middle school and high school students will receive two hours of community service when their parents attend the presentation. We hope you will join us for this informative program. Please join us onWednesday, October 19, at7 p.m.in the High School Auditorium for an Educational Forum entitled, "The Adolescent Brain, Preventing High - Risk Behaviors." This presentation, hosted by the Bridge of Hope Resource Center, will address topics such as basic brain function and how drugs can affect the adolescent’s brain, potential risk factors and how to help families communicate openly about the subject. Middle school and high school students will receive two hours of community service when their parents attend the presentation. We hope you will join us for this informative program. Please join us onWednesday, October 19, at7 p.m.in the High School Auditorium for an Educational Forum entitled, "The Adolescent Brain, Preventing High - Risk Behaviors." This presentation, hosted by the Bridge of Hope Resource Center, will address topics such as basic brain function and how drugs can affect the adolescent’s brain, potential risk factors and how to help families communicate openly about the subject. Middle school and high school students will receive two hours of community service when their parents attend the presentation. We hope you will join us for this informative program. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142877 Thu, 13 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142877 Rain Didn’t Dampen Port Jefferson Homecoming It was a week jam-packed with school spirit as the Port Jefferson School District came together to share in the homecoming festivities. Starting with spirit week, followed by a pep rally and bonfire, the celebration culminated at the football game on Oct. 8 at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Spirit week kicked off on Oct. 5, with students showing their school pride by wearing school colors. At the pep rally, Ji-Won Woo and Brian Mark were crowned homecoming queen and king. Prior to the Royals taking on the Center Moriches Red Devils, the four high school classes showed off their creative sides at the homecoming parade, displaying floats that represented the different elements – earth, wind, fire and water – as they marched down Barnum Avenue and Main Street. The rainy conditions didn’t dampen the spirit of the Royals football team as they took an early lead and never let it go. With an eight-point lead going into halftime, the Royals remained strong and won the game 36-20. After a performance by the Port Jefferson youth cheerleaders, a Wall of Fame induction ceremony was held on the track. This year’s inductees were Irving Wilson Ritch Jr., Class of 1904 and Charles Wilson, Class of 1977. Ritch was a corporal in the U.S. Army during World War I who made the ultimate sacrifice on the battlefields of France in 1918. He was the first Port Jefferson alumnus killed in action. The American Legion Post 432 is named in honor of him. Wilson, a police officer and sergeant, was a 9/11 responder who saved many lives by displaying unwavering courage during the tragic events. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142876 Wed, 12 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142876 Seniors Commended in National Merit Competition Three high school seniors — Anita Rescia, Chiara Rabeno and Amanda Sarubbi — have been named Commended Students in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program as a result of their outstanding scores on the qualifying exam. The seniors are among approximately 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation recognized for their exceptional academic promise. To earn the title, they placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the competition by taking the PSAT. Anita is a member of the high school’s Latin Club, Environmental Club and National Honor Society and intends to study languages in college. Chiara, who plays field hockey, softball and basketball and is a member of the school’s Latin Club, Environmental Club and Science Olympiad Team, plans to begin a pre-med tract next fall. Amanda, who also plans to study pre-med, is a captain of the school’s Mathletes team, captain of the varsity swim team and secretary of the jazz band. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142875 Fri, 07 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142875 Vocalist Attends Summer Choral Program High school senior Chris Mannarino experienced a college-level music program offered through SUNY Fredonia’s Summer School for the Arts Program. To gain entrance into the prestigious program, Chris was required to participate in a challenging vocal audition process. Through the four-week program, he studied music theory and learned intensive vocal techniques while singing in the program’s choir. “This program was a great experience,” said Chris. “I learned a lot and made many new connections.” Chris, who has been singing since the age of 7, also plays the drums, keyboard, guitar and bass. In addition, he participates in theater productions at the Smithtown Performing Arts Center. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142874 Wed, 05 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142874 Celebrating Peace The Port Jefferson School District celebrated the International Day of Peace on Sept. 28 through activities sponsored by the high school Student Organization. As part of the observance, Student Organization members produced a peace video featuring elementary, middle and high school students speaking about what peace means to them. The video was viewed by all students during their homeroom periods. The Student Organization decorated school hallways, lockers and classrooms with messages of peace written on sticky notes. The day’s activities also included songs of peace performed by the high school chamber choir during lunch periods, and instead of bells to mark the end of periods, peace songs played over the schools’ public address system. To further the message of peace, all teachers led discussions on the United Nations’ peace goals and art students participated in the Shanti Fund’s annual peace calendar art contest. To watch the Student Organization's peace video, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142873 Fri, 30 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142873 Window to the World Elementary students can now view live scenes of Yellowstone National Park, the San Diego Zoo, the Monterey Bay Aquarium and other sites, through a new school library project, called Scraggy’s Window to the World. The initiative, organized by librarian Selinda Moore and funded by a Royal Education Foundation grant, aims to bring lessons to life by enabling students to observe the places they are studying. For example, second-graders studying American symbols can watch live video of the Washington, DC bald eagle nest. The live video feed is featured on a large screen television outside the school’s library and can be viewed by students throughout the day. “Whether the live video is from another country, a distant city, sporting event or national park, these cyber field trips will enhance our students’ educational experience,” said Moore. “Students will gain a broader perspective of the world that they might not otherwise have.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142871 Wed, 28 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142871 Going Above and Beyond To recognize the efforts of elementary school custodial worker Danny Holland, two former students of the school, Maggie Johnston and Morgan Hurney, each penned essays about his service and ongoing mission to raise money for school fundraisers by recycling empty water bottles. Danny the Custodian By Maggie Johnston, 6th grade Do you every wonder who cleans the school? Who takes out the trash? Who sweeps the classrooms? These are not just your everyday people. The custodians do more for this school than you can imagine. Today, I would like to point out a very special custodian, Danny. Every day, after school, Danny donates his time to collect all the empty water bottles, turn them in for money, which goes back to the school. Danny doesn’t have to do this, he chooses to because that’s the kind of person he is. On top of all the other stuff he has going on, he manages to put us first — put the school first. So, next time you see him, remember to give him a thank you because he has made such a difference in our district and community. By Morgan Hurney, 6th grade Danny the custodian is an amazing person in our school district. Some of the great things he has done are unknown to a lot of people. Did you know that when we have fundraisers and other things, he donates to them? How? He collects the bottles from the 500 wing, turns them in, and gives the money back to the school. For example, this week he put $24 in the breast cancer bin. Danny will, most likely, contribute to all those fundraisers and more to come. Last year, Danny collected enough bottles to raise about $50 for ALS. This year, some of the students in Mrs. Krieg’s 5th grade class have been helping Danny and the school by bringing in bottles for him to recycle. The more bottles we recycle, the more we can do to help the school. Danny is a sweet and kind person. Last year, our class warmly welcomed him. I think everyone else should welcome him too. He doesn’t just contribute to fundraisers. All custodians like Danny clean the floors and do everything they can to keep the school fresh. Sometimes they repair things and clean up items from events. In September, when you come to school, notice how all the floors and windows are nice. This is because our custodians clean it. Like Danny, they all pitch in to do what they can to help. The school should recognize Danny’s kindness and generosity. As sixth-graders now, many kids still remember him and how kind he was. He has made a big impact on our school and we should recognize it. Next time you see him in the hallway or cleaning, be sure to thank him and smile. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142872 Tue, 27 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142872 Brothers Attend National Academy High school seniors Brandon Kafeiti and Nicholas Kafeiti participated in the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists in Boston, Massachusetts, over the summer. Through the prestigious program, the brothers heard from distinguished speakers within the fields they intend to study in college — economics and biology, respectively. They were also mentored and inspired to pursue their dreams and goals. Brandon, who plays varsity football, is a member of the high school’s Investment Club, Environmental Club and Leo Club. Nicholas plays both football and tennis and is a member of the school’s STEM club, Interact Club, Leo Club, International Club and Environmental Club. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142870 Fri, 23 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142870 Seniors Named National Merit Semifinalists The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that two high school seniors, Xinyi Hong and Richard Liebert, have been selected as semifinalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. The seniors are among the approximately 16,000 semifinalists nationwide who qualified for the honor based on their high PSAT scores. They will continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $33 million. Xinyi, who intends to study within the field of sciences in college, is a member of the high school’s STEM club, Science Olympiad Team, Environmental Club and National Honor Society. She also plays the viola and participates in the International Omega program. Richard, whose goal is to become an engineer, is a member of the high school’s robotics club, STEM club, Science Olympiad Team and National Honor Society. He is also a dancer. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142869 Thu, 22 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142869 A Student Voice High school senior Kyra Becker will serve as the voice of her peers this year, as she joins the Port Jefferson Board of Education in the role of student representative. Kyra, who was appointed by Principal Christine Austen at the end of the 2015-16 school year, will serve as a liaison between students and the Board during the Board’s monthly meetings. “Kyra is a perfect fit for this position,” said Austen. “She is responsible, displays leadership and is very involved in school activities.” In addition to serving as a non-voting Board of Education student representative, Kyra is captain of the varsity tennis team, class historian and a leader in her church youth group. Additionally, this winter, she will be participating in a church mission to Africa, where she will help administer medication to AIDS victims. In the past, she assisted in the construction of a home for a family in Mexico. Kyra, who intends to study business in college next fall, said this new position will further hone her public speaking and communication skills. “I think this will be a good experience,” she said. “I am very excited.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142868 Fri, 16 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142868 29 AP Scholars Named in Port Jefferson In recognition of their exceptional achievement on Advanced Placement exams, several high school students have earned the title of Advanced Placement Scholar. In total, 11 students were named AP Scholars, nine earned the recognition of AP Scholar with Honor and nine were named AP Scholars with Distinction. To earn AP Scholar recognition, students are required to score a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams; to be recognized as an AP Scholar with Honor, students must earn a 3.25 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of those exams; and to be named an AP Scholar with Distinction, students must receive an average score of 3.5 on all AP exams and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of those exams. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following students: AP Scholars Nicholas Andriana, Anthony Buono, Gillian Kenah, Louis Martin-Duprez, Eve Milusich, Thomas Mungioli, Siobhan Petracca, Vanessa Rubenstein, Chandler Sciara, Victoria Sund and Ji Won Woo AP Scholars with Honor Jillian Colucci, Piper Heide, Courtney Lewis, Richard Liebert, Brian Mark, Chiara Rabeno, Arunima Roy, Paul Simmerling and Elisa Ueno AP Scholars with Distinction Lev Bershadsky, Erin Burke, Nicole Callahan, Edward Finkelstein, Xinyi Hong, Anita Rescia, Corinne Scannell, Emma Schoepflin and Charles Scott https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142867 Thu, 15 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142867 Red, White and Blue To mark the 15th anniversary of Sept. 11, Port Jefferson Middle School students wore the colors of the American flag to school on Sept. 12. The young patriots also stood for a moment of silence to show their respect and vow to “Never Forget.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142866 Wed, 14 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142866 9/11 Tribute Five seventh- and eighth-grade students from the middle school paid musical tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11 by giving a moving performance during the Port Jefferson Fire Department’s annual 9/11 memorial service. The students, Jack Reilly, Grant Samara, Nicole Schully, Noah Teaney and Lucas Welinder, led by music teacher and volunteer firefighter Christian Neubert, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America” at the somber ceremony. The event was attended by members of the community and the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education and administration. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142865 Tue, 13 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142865 Advisory: Athletic Time Changes Due to a full heat alert issued by Section XI for Sept. 9 until 5 p.m., the Port Jefferson School District Athletic Department has postponed a scheduled girls varsity field hockey game and tennis practice. The girls varsity field hockey game will now take place at 5 p.m. at Sayville High School, and the home girls varsity tennis meet against Stony Brook will commence at 5 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142864 Fri, 09 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142864 Ready to Learn Carrying new backpacks and books, elementary, middle and high school students in the Port Jefferson School District arrived for their first day of the 2016-17 school year on Sept. 6. At all three schools, students were welcomed by teachers, administrators and support staff as they made their way to their classrooms, and quickly became acclimated to their new schedules and routines. This school year brings about several new initiatives for student learning. At the elementary school, a co-teaching special education program has kicked off; at the high school, an AP computer science course has been added and Google Classroom is being integrated at all levels. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142863 Thu, 08 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142863 Superintendent Meet-and-Greet The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education extends an invitation to community members to meet Interim Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano on Sept. 13 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The event will take place in the large group instruction room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, 500 Scraggy Hill Road, Port Jefferson. The superintendent meet-and-greet will provide an opportunity for residents to introduce themselves and get to know Dr. Casciano in an informal setting. On June 14, the Board of Education appointed Dr. Casciano to serve a one-year term while a superintendent search is undertaken. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142862 Wed, 07 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142862 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on September 13, 2016, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 5:30 p.m., for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142861 Tue, 06 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142861 First Bus Ride To prepare kindergartners for their first day, the elementary School held a bus orientation on Sept. 1. During the annual event, the students and their parents rode a school bus from their designated bus stop to the Port Jefferson school. Upon arriving, the children learned about proper bus behavior and were given the opportunity to meet their new teachers and play games in the gym. They were also treated to a snack before boarding the bus to head home. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141922 Fri, 02 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141922 Ready to Teach As part of the district’s Superintendent’s Conference Day, held Sept. 1, teachers met with administrators, took courses, including CPR, and returned to their classrooms to prepare for the new school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141921 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141921 Port Jefferson Appoints Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education is pleased to announce that it has appointed Jessica Schmettan as the district’s new executive director of curriculum and instruction. She will officially take the helm on Sept. 19, 2016. “The district is delighted to welcome Ms. Schmettan to Port Jefferson,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul Casciano. “Her extensive educational background will be an asset to our students, staff and district.” Prior to accepting this appointment, Ms. Schmettan spent seven years in the Sachem Central School District. She served for four years as the district’s assistant superintendent for elementary curriculum and instruction, during which time she worked closely with administrators to facilitate and enhance curriculum and program development. Her preceding role was as administrative assistant for instructional support and programming. Ms. Schmettan also worked in the Three Village CSD as both a district and intermediate literacy coordinator at Arrowhead Elementary School. She began her career in the district as an elementary school teacher. She also taught special education in the Roosevelt Union Free School District and special education kindergarten students at United Cerebral Palsy of Long Island. Ms. Schmettan holds a Bachelor of Science in special education from Long Island University, a master’s degree in instructional technology from the New York Institute of Technology, and School District Leader certification from the College of New Rochelle. “I am very much looking forward to beginning my new position in the Port Jefferson School District,” said Ms. Schmettan. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141920 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141920 Port Jeff Alumnus update James Murphy, a graduate of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Class of 2015, has completed Cadet Basic Training at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point. During the six-week training, Murphy participated in courses related to first aid, mountaineering, marksmanship, and nuclear, biological and chemical training. He will now begin work toward his bachelor degree, with a graduation date of 2020. Following graduation, he will be commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141919 Wed, 31 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141919 Information Regarding Lead Water Testing Dear Port Jefferson Community, As part of a proactive effort to safeguard students and staff, the Port Jefferson School District’s Board of Education and administration contracted with Environscience, an environmental consulting and testing firm, to collect and test water samples for lead. Following Environmental Protection Agency protocols, water samples from 126 drinking water sources were collected on June 29 using a first draw method. First draw includes gathering samples without letting the water run prior to testing. While the EPA recommends remediation of samples that exceed 20 ppb, the districted opted to use a more stringent guideline of 15 ppb. Nine samples that demonstrated a concentration of lead in excess of 15 ppb went through two additional testing processes. For these tests, samples were gathered after water was run for both 15 seconds and 60 seconds. The results of the second and third water tests indicated decreased levels of lead; however, all sites that tested above 15 ppb were immediately disconnected and remediation plans drawn up. Under the remediation plan faucet on the lab tables in middle school rooms A206 and A102 and high school room 405 will be replaced. A middle school water fountain near room A111 and another in the high school’s wood shop will be replaced with new drinking fountains that meet the EPA standard for lead free products. Additionally, a third-floor high school faculty bathroom sink faucet will be replaced. Already, the district has removed a spigot in the high school boys’ team coaches’ bathroom due to non-use over the past decade. The district also replaced faucets attached to the middle school kitchen hand wash station and high school boys’ team coach’s bathroom. These faucets will be retested for lead. The health and safety of our students and staff remain a top priority. If you wish to review the complete report, please contact the superintendent’s office. Sincerely, Dr. Paul Casciano Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141650 Fri, 26 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141650 Newsweek Names Earl L. Vandermeulen a Top High School Newsweek has named Earl L. Vandermeulen High School as one of the top 500 high schools in America in 2016. The news organization ranked the high school based on academic achievement on 2014-2015 state assessments in reading and mathematics, as well as other factors related to college readiness. Based on the evaluation, Earl L. Vandermeulen was one of 20 Long Island high schools selected. Of the distinction, Superintendent of Schools Paul Casciano said, "I would like to thank and congratulate everyone who contributed to this outstanding designation.” To read the full Newsweek article, visit: www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/new-york?int=9abb08. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141649 Wed, 24 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141649 Welcome Back Pizza Social Incoming middle school sixth-graders were introduced to their new school at a Welcome Back to School Pizza Social, held on Aug. 18. During the gathering, students met Principal Robert Neidig, Assistant Principal Claudia Smith and several middle school teachers. They also toured the school and received their locker assignments. The annual event, which is organized by the PTSA, aims to help students become acclimated with their classmates and school while also celebrating the start of the school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141648 Fri, 19 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141648 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 23, 2016, 5:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter, and for any other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141647 Wed, 17 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141647 The Sounds of Summer Over the summer, elementary and middle school students in the Port Jefferson School District participated in the district’s annual summer music camp. The three-week camp gave beginning and intermediate band and string students the opportunity to make new friends while advancing their musical abilities in a positive and enjoyable environment. Also, for the first time, the camp offered a “Little Maestros” violin class to first- and second-graders, enabling young students to begin their musical studies prior to participating in the district’s formal fourth-grade instrument program. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141646 Tue, 16 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141646 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Monday, August 8, 2016, 5:30 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141645 Thu, 04 Aug 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141645 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 16, 2016, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be 4:30 p.m., at the District Office for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141644 Fri, 22 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141644 What a Year It Has Been! The 2015-2016 school year was filled with numerous accomplishments, exciting educational events and community service projects. This video highlights a few of those amazing achievements and milestones. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141643 Thu, 21 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141643 Letter from Danielle Turner, director of health, physical education and athletics https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141642 Thu, 07 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141642 BOE Members, Super Sworn In; President, Vice President Re-elected During the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education’s annual reorganization meeting on July 5, the Board unanimously re-elected Kathleen Brennan as Board president and Mark Doyle as vice president. District Clerk Janice Baisley also swore in Board members Ellen Boehm and Kathleen Brennan, who were both re-elected by the community in May. In addition, the district’s new interim superintendent, Dr. Paul Casciano, took the oath of office and was welcomed by the Board and those in attendance. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141641 Wed, 06 Jul 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141641 Class of 2016 Joins Ranks of Port Jeff Alumni Dressed in purple and white caps and gowns, the 2016 Earl. L. Vandermeulen High School graduating class was presented with diplomas at a ceremony on June 24. During the commencement, speakers offered congratulations and words of wisdom. Among those addressing the students were Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, High School principal Christine Austen, Valedictorian Shannon Christ and Salutatorian Marianna Spentzos. The district extends its deepest congratulations to the Class of 2016 and wishes them a successful future. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141637 Mon, 27 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141637 Off to High School The academic achievements of middle school eighth-graders were recognized at a moving up ceremony on June 23 at the high school. During the event, the students received several special classroom recognitions, Presidential Awards for Academic Excellence and certificates to signify their move to high school. “You have grown mentally and physically and have a very bright future ahead,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “Now is the time to decide what role you will play in high school and what contributions you will make to your school and community.” Also speaking during the ceremony was Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig and eighth-grade Student Council President Felicity Hyams. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141638 Sun, 26 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141638 Native Beautification Project To help beautify the community, the elementary school’s Green Team club members recently worked alongside middle school and high school environmental club members to plant Long Island native plant species in the Village of Port Jefferson. The planting initiative was completed in conjunction with the village. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141640 Sat, 25 Jun 2016 06:00:00 GMT false141640 National Anthem Performance Band students performed the national anthem at Bethpage Ballpark to kick off the June 18 Long Island Ducks game. The event, organized by the Port Jefferson PTA and elementary school music teacher Mark Abbonizio, doubled as a fundraiser for the Class of 2023. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141639 Sat, 25 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141639 A Homerun for Port Jeff The Suffolk County Baseball Coaches Association recognized Earl L. Vandermeulen varsity baseball players Jack Collins, Mike DiCalogero, Hunter Ginas, Sean Griffin and Kris Cheslock for their outstanding achievements on the field at its annual awards dinner on June 15. Additionally, coach Jesse Rosen was honored as the League 8 Suffolk County Coach of the Year. He attended the event along with the student-athletes and coach Ian Schneider. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141632 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141632 Garden Across the Centuries Elementary School fourth-graders recently planted a new garden at their school as part of a history lesson on the contributions of various cultures to the development of Long Island and New York. As part of the hands-on lesson, the students in Kari Costanzo’s class researched plants used by Native Americans, colonists and workers for medicinal purposes and cooking, and then sowed them in the school’s courtyard. Varies planted included juniper, blueberry, coneflower, phlox, comfrey, thyme and dianthus. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141634 Fri, 24 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141634 Moving Up to Middle School The Port Jefferson Class of 2023 celebrated their advancement to middle school with a moving up ceremony on June 22 at the high school. During the event, the fifth-graders received special classroom, safety patrol and principal recognitions, as well as certificates to signify their promotion to middle school. “It has been a pleasure to watch you learn and grow,” Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert said. “I encourage you to take advantage of all the opportunities available in middle school and get involved in new things. It is by expanding your horizons that you will be able to discover what you want to do in the future.” Also speaking at the ceremony were Principal Thomas Meehan, who expressed his pride in the graduating class, and parent Kristen Wennerod. In keeping with tradition, the ceremony also included the presentation of a class gift — a new welcome mat for the elementary school. The event culminated with the students singing “We’re All in This Together” from “High School Musical” and an ice cream social. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141635 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141635 Director Returns Retired Port Jefferson music director Paul Sulkin recently taught several master classes to middle school students in preparation for their performances at the NYSSMA Majors Festival. Through the classes, the students learned new techniques to perfect the selections and worked to sharpen their music skills. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141633 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141633 Presidential Service Awards On June 14, the Port Jefferson Board of Education presented 40 high school and middle school students with the Presidential Service Award. To earn the recognition, the students each volunteered between 50 and 100 hours of their time to the Port Jefferson community. The volunteer program is directed by parent volunteer Jackie Hull. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141629 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141629 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The annual reorganization meeting and July business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 5, 2016, in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The reorganization meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m., and the business meeting will commence at 7:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141636 Thu, 23 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141636 Port Jeff Names Tenured Educators; Bids Farewell to Retirees, Superintendent At its June 14 meeting, the Port Jefferson Board of Education bid a warm farewell to three retiring employees and congratulated three educators on receiving tenure. During the meeting, district administrators stood to speak highly of science teacher Peter Burawa, custodian supervisor Gene Holland and teaching assistant Ann Famiano, each of whom will be retiring this June. “You have all left your mark on the district and you will be a tough act to follow,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. After heartfelt goodbyes, the district approved tenure for special education teacher Michelle Landetta, science teacher Greg Gorniok and teaching assistant Sonia Pinero. In addressing the newly tenured employees, Dr. Bossert said, “Each of you represent the core values of our school district and we are confident that you will continue to serve our community and students well in the future.” Additionally, the Board of Education took a moment to recognize Dr. Bossert, who will be stepping down from his position to join the Elwood School District at the end of the school year. “It is safe to say that you are leaving Port Jefferson in a much better place than when you arrived,” said Mark Doyle, Board of Education vice president. “You have cultivated relationships, represented us well and our district is in a strong financial situation. Thank you.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141628 Wed, 22 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141628 A House Fit for a Bird As part of an interdisciplinary project, high school Advanced Placement Environmental Science students in Jonathan Maletta’s class investigated native bird species and then constructed birdhouses for the local fowl. The students took further steps to understand the population dynamics of birds by registering their birdhouses with Cornell’s NestWatch program, which tracks trends in the reproductive biology of birds. Among the native species studied were black-capped chickadees and house wrens. Through the activity, and with the help of technology teachers Brian Chalmers and Robert Dunlop, the students also learned about the proper use of power tools and how to properly design the houses to keep out invasive species. “I really enjoyed participating in this collaborative project,” said student Bella Mungioli. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141626 Tue, 21 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141626 Top Score Times Two High school senior Eric Kilgore and freshman Annalisa Welinder were presented with mathematics awards at the Suffolk County Math Teachers Association dinner held this spring. The young mathematicians were recognized for demonstrating their mastery in mathematics at the Suffolk County Math contest by leading their teammates to a third-place finish in Division 1. Eric, captain of the team and repeat champion, finished the season with a score of 24 out of 30. Annalisa ended her first season with a score of 17 and earned a first-place award with the highest score in the pre-calculus event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141625 Mon, 20 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141625 Grand Slam for Tennis Players High school tennis players were recognized for their skills on the court at the Suffolk County Tennis Awards Dinner, held at Lombardi’s on the Sound this spring. Freshman first singles player Josh Gelfond was awarded All-Division recognition and sophomore second singles player Eli Doyle earned a team sportsmanship award. Also acknowledged were seniors and first doubles players Max Famularo and Dallas Brett, both of whom were bestowed All-League honors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141624 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141624 Dr. Paul Casciano Named Interim Superintendent At its meeting on June 14, the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education appointed Dr. Paul Casciano to serve as the district’s interim superintendent, effective July 1, 2016. “Dr. Casciano brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Port Jefferson School District, and the Board looks forward to working with him,” said Board President Kathleen Brennan. Dr. Casciano will serve as interim superintendent while the Board continues an extensive superintendent search with the assistance of Eastern Suffolk BOCES. “Information about the search process, as well as opportunities for input, will be shared with the staff and community in the near future,” said Brennan. Prior to accepting this interim role in Port Jefferson, Dr. Casciano served his entire 41-year educational career within the William Floyd School District, including eight years as superintendent of schools. The Stony Brook resident holds a bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University, a Master of Science in education from Southampton College and a professional diploma in educational leadership and administration from LIU Post. He earned his doctorate in educational administration from New York University. Dr. Casciano is also a community leader, serving as co-chair of Congressman Lee Zeldin’s Education Advisory Committee, past president of the Rotary Club of Shirley and the Mastics, a member of the board of directors for the William Floyd Alumni Association, and a member of the New York Rising Community Reconstruction Program. Additionally, he serves with the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, the Long Island Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, and the New York State Council of School Superintendents. “I have always held the Port Jefferson School District in high regard, and I am looking forward to working with the school community and making whatever contributions I can during my term,” said Dr. Casciano. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141627 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141627 Letter from the Board of Education Please read the attached letter from the Board of Education Regarding the appointment of an Interim Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141630 Fri, 17 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141630 First Annual ‘Senior Walk’ Wearing white and purple caps and gowns, the high school’s Class of 2016 participated in an inaugural “senior walk” at the elementary school on June 9. During the inspirational event, elementary school students, holding signs they made, cheered the graduating seniors as they marched through each hallway to the music of “Pomp and Circumstance.” The walk helped to serve as a visual reminder for the kindergarten through fifth-grade students where hard work and dedication to academics will lead. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141623 Thu, 16 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141623 String Players Strike Gold Hard work and dedication paid off for the middle school’s sixth- and combined seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra students as they earned gold medals at the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival at Newfield High School on May 25. To earn the distinctions, the orchestras each performed several musical pieces for a panel of adjudicators, who evaluated them on quality of performance and level of musicianship. The sixth-grade orchestra, conducted by Vanessa Salzman, earned a gold medal with distinction and the combined seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra, led by Christian Neubert, secured a gold medal. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the students on their outstanding musical performances. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141620 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141620 Seniors Recognized More than 50 high school seniors were recognized for their academic and athletic accomplishments at an awards ceremony on June 8 in the high school auditorium. During the event, the outstanding seniors were presented with citizenship, athletic and academic achievement awards. Officers and members of the Class of 2016 Student Organization were also acknowledged for their hard work and dedication. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following seniors: AP Scholars Nicholas Caltagirone, Parris Garant, Elisabeth Gwydir, Calla Kelley-Renda, Jefferson Koutsantanou, Isabella Mungiolo and Ryan Walsh AP Scholar With Honor Kathleen Christ AP Scholars With Distinction Casey Africano, Shannon Christ, Rachel Collins, Eric Kilgore, Marianna Spentzos and William Witrock National AP Scholar Eric Kilgore Long Island Coalition Against Bullying Emma Martin Outstanding Service to the Drama Club Karin Thomassen Outstanding Film and Photo Contribution Calla Kelley-Renda Distinguished Citizen/Scholar Calla Kelley-Renda/Eric Kilgore Extraordinary Service Award Maxwell Famularo and Karin Thomassen NSDC Award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning Award Casey Africano and Nicholas Hartmann Outstanding School Citizenship Award Hunter Buehler and Noelle Zimmerman President’s Volunteer Service Award Nicholas Fedler Principal’s Leadership Award Kathleen Christ Prominent Citizen Award Emma Martin Spirit of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Award Nicholas Fedler and Liane Russell Senior Athletic Awards Samantha Bellois, Michelle Bourguignon, Dallas Brett, Daniel Brown, Shane Bruno, Nicholas Caltagirone, Rita Chen, Taylor Chiarelli, Kathleen Christ, Shannon Christ, Rachel Collins, Rebecca Crandle, Robert Delman, Matteo DeVincenzo, Michael DiCalogero, Megan Dick, Maxwell Famularo, Nicholas Fedler, Connor Fitterer, Alexander Frohnen, Parris Garant, Danielle Goldstein, Bill Govits, John Guerra, Nicholas Hartmann, Andreya Harvey, Sarah Hildreth, Garret Hiz, Justin Julich, Eric Kilgore, Allison Kochman, Jefferson Koutsantanou, Andrew Lioio, Rebekah London, Olivia Love, Isabella Mungioli, Sterling Nenninger, Pedro Nobrega, Victoria Raso, Leslye Rosario, Maxwell Scandale, Marco Scarda, Marianna Spentzos, Michael Spyrou, Swathi Sridevan, Ryan Walsh, Stacy Warm, William Witrock, Spencer Woolley and Noelle Zimmerman https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141621 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141621 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, June 21, 2016, 6:30 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141622 Wed, 15 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141622 ‘Toad’-ally Froggy A science lesson on amphibians came to life for Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fourth-graders through an interactive frog workshop taught by two elementary parents on May 26. During the workshop, Dr. Gerald Thomsen, a professor of biochemistry and cell biology, and Julia Todorov Thomsen, a marine environmental scientist, shared their expertise and provided several hands-on activities for the students. The young scientists were able to view frog eggs, embryos and tadpoles through a fluorescent microscope and handle adult African clawed frogs. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141619 Tue, 14 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141619 Meet the Class of 2016 Valedictorian and Salutatorian The Port Jefferson School District is proud to announce the class of 2016 valedictorian and salutatorian, Shannon Christ and Marianna Spentzos. Learn more in this video. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141617 Mon, 13 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141617 Royals Commit to Colleges Royal Pride was in the air as the Port Jefferson School District’s athletic department hosted a college commitment ceremony on May 31 for student-athletes who have chosen to continue their athletic journeys at some of the nation’s top colleges this fall. During the program, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students penned their names to college commitment letters as proud parents, coaches and school administrators watched. “We are very proud of these student-athletes and wish them success,” said Edward Cinelli, district interim director of physical education, health and athletics. The school district extends its congratulations to the following seniors: Rita Chen, University of Maine (Swimming) Michael DiCalogero, Alfred University (Football) Matteo DeVincenzo, Princeton University (Wrestling) Olivia Love, State University of New York at Plattsburgh (Soccer) Leslye Rosario, Alfred University (Volleyball) Max Scandale, Pace University (Lacrosse) William Witrock, Tufts University (Track) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141616 Fri, 10 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141616 Track Star High School senior Billy Witrock came home from the recent prestigious Eddy Games in Schenectady, New York a track star. During the competition, he not only took first place in the 400 intermediate hurdles, but also set a new school record with his time of 55.27. “I am really happy about it,” said Billy, who runs cross-country, winter and spring track. The previous school record — 55.49 — was held by Danny Gross and set in 2014. “He really did an excellent job in a difficult race,” said coach Rod Cawley. Aside from being a student-athlete, Witrock also serves as class president. He will be attending Tufts University in the fall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141614 Thu, 09 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141614 “An American in Paris” The high school International Club and several French classes enjoyed a Broadway performance of “An American in Paris” during a May field trip to New York City. The show culminated their studies on World War II, particularly life in France, as the performance highlighted the American and French cultures of the 1940s. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141613 Wed, 08 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141613 Latin Students Earn High Marks Middle and high school Latin students recently took the 2016 National Latin Exam and earned some of the highest marks in the country and world. To celebrate their success, each of the 46 students were honored for their accomplishments and presented with certificates of achievement at a luncheon on May 20 in the high school library. Notably, Kyle Onghai earned a perfect score on the Latin I exam and Annalisa Welinder achieved a perfect score on the Latin II exam. According to the exam administrators, 154,000 students from 50 states and 19 foreign countries take the annual exam. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following students for earning medals: Latin I Carmella Moran: gold medal, summa cum laude Kyle Onghai: gold medal, summa cum laude Giuseppina Than: gold medal, summa cum laude Felicity Hyams: silver medal, maxima cum laude Jane Murphy: silver medal, maxima cum laude David Bershadsky: magna cum laude Latin II Gavin Barrett: gold medal, summa cum laude David Rotunno: gold medal, summa cum laude Ava Schully: gold medal, summa cum laude Annalisa Welinder: gold medal, summa cum laude Katherine Ambrozy: silver medal, maxima cum laude Cameron Cohen: silver medal, maxima cum laude Sarah Hull: silver medal, maxima cum laude Miles Kaming-Thanassi: silver medal, maxima cum laude Ryan Robertson: silver medal, maxima cum laude Taylor Corallo: magna cum laude Ryan Kim: magna cum laude Sabrina Schully: magna cum laude Chloe Andriani: cum laude Latin III Ibuki Iwasaki: gold medal, summa cum laude Emma Gutmann: gold medal, summa cum laude Cezanne Lojeski: silver medal, maxima cum laude Joseph Samara: silver medal, maxima cum laude Latin IV Xinyi Hong: gold medal, summa cum laude Matthew Pifko: gold medal, summa cum laude Chiara Rabeno: gold medal, summa cum laude Luigia Than: gold medal, summa cum laude Connor Kaminska: silver medal, maxima cum laude Isabella Koutsantanou: silver medal, maxima cum laude Arunima Roy: silver medal, maxima cum laude Edward Finkelstein: magna cum laude Latin V Eric Kilgore: gold medal, summa cum laude https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141612 Tue, 07 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141612 Prestigious Scholarship Earned In honor of her efforts to create a proactive district policy regarding transgender youth, high school senior Emma Martin earned a $1,000 scholarship from the law firm of Goldstein and Bashner. The award was presented as part of the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying’s first Anti-Bullying essay scholarship contest. Emma, who worked on the policy as a president of her school’s Gay Straight Alliance, was thrilled to have earned the scholarship in response to her work to help make a difference in her school. Emma will be attending Adelphi University in the fall to study social work. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141611 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141611 String Performance To highlight the benefits of a music education, high school and middle school string students were invited to a workshop with the Harborfront Trio. Students enjoyed a musical rendition of Tchaikovsky’s Quartet No. 1 and were able to ask questions of trio members. The event was organized by the district’s music department and took place on June 2. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141618 Mon, 06 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141618 Freshman Golfer Heads to States High school freshman Shane DeVincenzo has accomplished something he didn’t previously think possible – qualified to represent the Port Jefferson School District during the 2016 New York State Golf Championship at Cornell University on June 4-5. “Growing up, I was always a football player and wrestler – I never thought I would play golf,” said Shane. The young athlete began playing golf in the sixth grade when he picked up a set of clubs during a summer camp. Shortly there after, his natural talent for the sport began to shine through and he joined the varsity golf team as an eighth-grader. In order to advance to the state competition, Shane competed in the Suffolk County tournament, where he scored 76-76 and finished seventh. “He plays incredible golf and has had much success,” said coach Charles Ruoff. “He is extremely talented, especially at such a young age.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141615 Fri, 03 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141615 Cupcake Wars Middle school students recently competed in a cooking competition designed to emulate the Food Network’s series “Cupcake Wars” as part of the school’s two-year-old cooking club. During the competition, student audience members cheered on four students as they rivaled each other in a timed cupcake decorating event. The competition aimed to provide an opportunity for the students to practice a variety of skills, including how to deal with high-pressure situations. The in-school cooking club is funded through a Royal Educational Foundation grant and pairs cooking with social skills training. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141610 Thu, 02 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141610 In Roman Times To celebrate ancient Roman culture, Port Jefferson School District’s high school and middle school Latin Club members and their families recently participated in the annual Roman Banquet, held at the Port Jefferson Village Center. During the event, students dressed in togas and coordinated several themed activities. These included reading Latin poems, challenging their parents on etymologies, as well as performing traditional songs and dances. In addition, all in attendance feasted on traditional Roman foods. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141609 Wed, 01 Jun 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141609 Standing Room Only After reading that there are numerous benefits to providing students with an option to stand while learning, Port Jefferson Middle School sixth-grade special education teacher Christina Carlson decided to transform her classroom with standing desks. “I work with some students with ADHD/ADD, and sitting for long periods of time can become a struggle for them,” said Carlson. “A number of articles that I read pointed out that standing desks can help.” To outfit her classroom, Carlson procured a $1,000 grant from the Royal Education Foundation to purchase two standing desks that can be converted into sitting desks. Already, Carlson has seen an improvement among her students. “The desks are helping some of my students remain focused in class,” she said. Seeing the positive benefits of the standing desks, the district is in the process of exploring the possibility of using them in general education classrooms next school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141607 Thu, 26 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141607 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 31, 2016, 4:30 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141608 Thu, 26 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141608 Lady Liberty Trip High school Italian and French students visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum on May 16. They learned how their ancestors entered the United States over a century ago and enjoyed breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141606 Wed, 25 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141606 Students Volunteer to Ready Camp Grounds Members of the high school Interact Club and middle school National Junior Honor Society teamed up to help prepare Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck for the summer. The volunteers came together on May 15 to clean cabin screens, rake leaves, mulch and set up picnic benches at the Center Moriches camp, which provides special needs children and young adults with camping experiences. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141157 Tue, 24 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141157 16th Annual Scraggy Walk/Run Wearing class T-shirts and sporting sneakers, more than 600 Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students completed a 1.1-mile course through Scraggy Hill Park during the annual Scraggy Hill Run/Walk on May 13. The challenging course took participants across Scraggy Hill Road, down rolling hills, through a wooded trail and across the finish line, where they were met with cheers from spectators, teachers and administrators. The annual race aims to promote physical fitness and culminates a several-week training period where students walk, run and swim in their physical education classes to get ready for the big run. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141154 Mon, 23 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141154 Robotics Team Honored by BOE During its regular meeting on May 10, the Board of Education recognized the high school robotics team for designing and constructing a complex robot over a six-week period. In a recognition ceremony, team members provided a demonstration of their robot, which was engineered to scale a wall and maneuver over obstacles in a competition setting. The team most recently participated in the 17th annual Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition alongside more than 2,000 students from 50 high schools. The event was held at Hofstra University. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141153 Fri, 20 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141153 Designer Genes Freshmen and sophomores in Jonathan Maletta’s Living Environment Regents class investigated DNA replication during a lab session, using DNA models to synthesize a sequence of DNA called a gene. “Students learned that humans possess a multitude of genes that code for the production of proteins (polypeptides), including enzymes and hormones,” said Maletta. The lesson helped the students to better grasp concepts in gene sequencing and molecular biology. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141152 Thu, 19 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141152 Career Exploration To educate fourth- and fifth-graders about a variety of career paths, the elementary school held its second annual Career Day on May 6. During the event, organized by teachers Paige Lohmann and Kristi Krieg, 14 community volunteers spoke to the students about their professions. Careers represented included those related to education, medicine, law enforcement, science and carpentry. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142445 Thu, 19 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142445 Social Media Threat https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141605 Thu, 19 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141605 Zoning in on Athletic Leadership As a result of displaying outstanding leadership and character in physical education classes, three Port Jefferson Middle School eighth-graders were recognized with awards from the Suffolk Zone of the New York Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The Port Jefferson students, Michael Brown, Farrell Johnston and Aiden Kaminska, earned their awards based upon recommendations from their physical education teachers. “These students have proven themselves with exceptional physical performance, scholastic ability and leadership qualities,” said Edward Cinelli, interim director of physical education, health & athletics. “They are each well-deserving of this recognition.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142444 Wed, 18 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142444 Don't Feed the Instruments Third-graders recently participated in the school’s annual Instrument Petting Zoo. Watch this short video to learn more about the program. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141149 Wed, 18 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141149 Notice of Pesticide Application The Port Jefferson UFSD will be applying Roundup ProMax® to the perimeter and interior edges of the track and to joints on and around the High School Tennis Courts for the control of weeds on Saturday May 21, 2016 , from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. If a second application is necessary it will be made on Saturday, June 11, 2016 from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. as needed and only if necessary due to weather. For further information contact the Port Jefferson UFSD Operations and Maintenance Office at 631-791-4261. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141158 Wed, 18 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141158 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School named a Reward School In recognition of its stellar educational program and superlative student performance, Port Jefferson’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has once again earned the prestigious designation of Reward School by the New York State Education Department. “The district is extremely proud to have our high school maintain its status as a New York State Reward School,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “The recognition demonstrates the district’s commitment to educational excellence and our students’ commitment to high academic performance.” NYSED presents the award annually to schools that have made the most progress or have the highest performance in the state with no significant gaps in student achievement. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was one of only 220 schools across New York State to receive the recognition for 2016-2017. The district’s high school has earned the designation consistently since the 2012-2013 school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141155 Tue, 17 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141155 Senior is Business Wise High school senior Antonio Camoglino recently proved that he has what it takes to run a business. During spring break, he earned a first-place medal at the SkillsUSA Entrepreneurship Competition, held in Syracuse, N.Y. Antonio won the award along with his three Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology teammates for a business plan they created for a mock restaurant, called Melted. Antonio, who has been studying culinary arts at the Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology since his junior year, plans to attend Johnson & Wales University in the fall. He intends to major in human resource management. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142446 Tue, 17 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142446 Port Jefferson Budget Passes Thank you to all residents who participated in the 2016-17 budget vote and trustee election. Proposition No. 1, the School District Budget, passed by a vote of 353 to 55. In addition to voting on the budget, residents cast their ballots for two seats on the Board of Education. Ellen Boehm and Kathleen Brennan were reelected. The trustee vote was as follows: Ellen Boehm - 347 Kathleen Brennan - 348 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141156 Tue, 17 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141156 Math-Tastic The middle school sixth-grade math team took home a fourth-place medal from the Suffolk County Elementary Math Tournament, held on May 2. To earn the award, the team competed against 56 teams from across the county, answering numerous mathematic questions correctly. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to sixth-graders Hugo Onghai, Arik Sen, Jake Rohman, Kasumi Layne-Stasik and William Wu. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142441 Mon, 16 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142441 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Tuesday, May 17, 2016, 8:00 p.m., at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141151 Mon, 16 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141151 Math Olympiads Add Up to Winners Two elementary school Math Olympiad teams, made up of 10 fourth- and fifth-graders, displayed their math smarts at the ninth annual Suffolk County Elementary Math Tournament on May 2 at Stony Brook University. During the tournament, the students answered a series of difficult math questions and competed against other top scholars from across the region. For their hard work, fifth-grade team members Nick Bruckner, Alana Samara, Michael Melikyan, Teppei Fukuto and Luke Dickhuth earned a third-place trophy. Additionally, fourth-grader Michael Melikyan won a third-place trophy in the fourth-grade individual competition. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the Math Olympiads. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142440 Fri, 13 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142440 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 17, 2016, 9:15 p.m., at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, for the purpose of acting on the vote tabulation of the 2016-17 budget and board member election. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141150 Fri, 13 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141150 Historically Speaking The history knowledge that two elementary school students have acquired has earned them a chance to compete in the National History Bee Finals in Illinois in June. Fourth-grader Viviane Kim and fifth-grader Teppei Fukuto will compete at the national level after qualifying in the regional competition, held in Connecticut on April 19. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to both students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142438 Thu, 12 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142438 Student-Musicians Inducted As a result of their exceptional musical talents and dedication, 18 high school student-musicians were inducted into the school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society chapter at a ceremony on April 13. During the ninth annual event, the new inductees promised to uphold the Tri-M’s five points of distinction – scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership and service – and participated in a performance for those in attendance. Also recognized during the ceremony were senior members of the society, including Gin Albinson, Shannon Christ, Rachel Collins, Parris Garant, Danielle Goldstein, Jessie Gray, Andreya Harvey, Calla Kelley-Renda and Marianna Spentzos. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the Tri-M Music Society’s newest members Allison Abbonizio, Gin Albinson, Abigail Bossert, Anthony Buono, Xinyi Hong, Cezanne Lojeski, David Moir, Louis Martin-Deprez, Matthew Pifko, Anita Rescia, Michael Ruggiero, Brianna Scarda, Timothy Skula, Michael Smith, Dylan Valev, Ryan Worrell, Bridget Yost and Zoe Zeniou. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142437 Wed, 11 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142437 One Drop at a Time Students fundraise for clean water After reading “A Long Walk to Water’” by Linda Sue Park, seventh-graders were inspired to raise money to supply clean water to those in need. With the assistance of their teachers, Monica Consalvo and Deirdre Filippi, the students sold MudLOVE hope bracelets through the Water for Good organization. They raised enough money to supply two years of clean water to individuals living in the Central Republic of Africa. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142436 Tue, 10 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142436 In the Zone As a result of showing outstanding leadership and character in physical education classes, two elementary school students were recognized with awards from the Suffolk Zone of the New York Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The Port Jefferson fifth-graders, Lola Idir and Eric Friedman, earned their awards based upon recommendations from their physical education teachers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142435 Mon, 09 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142435 Performers Selected to Attend Theatrical Program Middle school drama students Saoirse Cohen and Chris Parsick have been accepted into the iTheatrics Summer Broadway Academy program in New York City. Through the program, the thespians will have the opportunity to sharpen their acting skills and also participate in a musical production. The eighth-graders were selected based on a competitive audition process. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142428 Fri, 06 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142428 Students Name Beth Stern’s Cat A middle school seventh-grade social studies class won the chance to name one of Beth Stern’s foster cats by raising the most money during a student council fundraiser for Bianca’s Furry Friends. The students, who are in Philip Giannusa’s class, secured the win after raising $403 and named the cat Petey. The name was selected as a tribute to science teacher Pete Burawa, who will be retiring at the end of the school year. In total, the school raised $1,767 for the cause, which aims to create a state-of-the-art feline adoption center at North Shore Animal League America in Port Washington. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142434 Fri, 06 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142434 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The Budget Hearing of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 10, 2016, 7:00 p.m., at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The regular monthly business meeting will commence following the Budget Hearing at 7:30 p.m. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 14, 2016, 9:00 a.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142443 Fri, 06 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142443 Top Scores Three middle school students, Aaron Held, Arik Sen and Peggy Yin, earned certificates for high scores they received as part of the annual Suffolk County Math Teacher’s Association Math Competition, held on March 16 at the middle school. The students respectively obtained impressive grades on the Math 7, Math 6 and Algebra 1 written tests. The Port Jefferson School District extends it congratulations to the young mathematicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142432 Thu, 05 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142432 Elementary Students Recognized by BOE Elementary school students received recognition from the Port Jefferson School District’s Board of Education during a meeting on April 12. Among the students presented with certificates were fifth-grader and double bassist Alexa Ayotte, who earned a Dr. Joel Ratner Memorial SCMEA music scholarship; Sophie Blumenthal, a fifth-grader who competed at the Long Island Regional Scripps Spelling Bee at Hofstra University; and six students, Amy Whitman, Kenneth Dixon-Lanza, Teppei Fukuto, Benjamin Perez-Flesler, Viviane Kim and Michael Melikyan, who will be participating in the National History Bee finals on April 20 in Connecticut. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142096 Thu, 05 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142096 '‘Be True to Yourself’ The high school Gay Straight Alliance has been inspired to foster the message, ‘be true to yourself’ to their peers after enjoying a performance of the award-winning musical “Kinky Boots” at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre in New York City on March 23. “The show, based on a true story, highlights the importance of being true to yourself and that when you choose to be accepting, you can truly change the world,” said alliance co-advisor Dinarae Camarda. “The GSA hopes to foster and share this message within our own school and community.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142095 Wed, 04 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142095 Crime Solvers The high school’s CSI Club participated in a hands-on forensic lab technique workshop at Stony Brook University on April 19. During the field trip, the students worked to solve a mock crime while performing DNA gel electrophoresis, chromatography, fingerprinting, sediment comparison and a footprint analysis. The club is advised by Amanda Brideson and Adam Bouchard. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142431 Wed, 04 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142431 Newest National Honor Society Inductees During a ‘tapping ceremony,’ on April 12, 59 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students learned they have been accepted into the National Honor Society and were invited to take part in a formal, candlelighting ceremony on April 21. As part of the annual ritual, each student was ‘tapped’ on the shoulder by a current National Honor Society member and led to the multipurpose room, where they were greeted by family and friends for a celebration. During the ceremony later this month, the new inductees will officially be inducted after they each pledge to uphold the purpose and principles of the society, including scholarship, leadership, service and character. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142429 Tue, 03 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142429 Vote for the Students This year, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Student Organization raised awareness and funds for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation through an annual dodgeball tournament. Team up for Community has recognized their efforts and entered the student group into the Team Up for Community Long Island Spring Challenge for the chance to win one of the scholarships or grants provided by the challenge’s sponsors. As part of the challenge, community members are being asked to vote online for a student group that they feel has made a large impact on the community. To vote for the Royals, click here. Voting ends May 7. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142439 Tue, 03 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142439 Musicians Perform at NYSSMA Festival Nearly 250 Port Jefferson musicians performed at the annual New York State School Music Association Solo and Ensemble Festival, held at Smithtown High School East on April 8 and 9. The students each performed a solo selection and scales for a NYSSMA adjudicator, who assessed their performance based on technique, precision and musicality. The Port Jefferson School District applauds the music students for their hard work and dedication. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142094 Mon, 02 May 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142094 Cooking Up a Spanish Lesson As part of their Spanish studies, high school students visited A La Carte Culinary School on April 7 to learn about Spanish and Latin American cooking from professional chefs. During the field trip, students were taught to prepare dishes including paella, pupusas, tortilla Espanola and arroz con leche. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142091 Fri, 22 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142091 Star Students Recognized The American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign has named six elementary school students Star Students. The young readers chosen as March Star Students are Gianna DeLeo, kindergarten; Hudson Philbrick, first grade; Marco Puopolo, second grade; Sofia Freitas, third grade; Jadie Hernandez, fourth grade; and Olivia Ross, fifth grade. As a reward for being named Star Students, the Port Jefferson scholars will have their photo displayed on the bulletin board outside the school’s library, along with a summary of their favorite book. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142089 Thu, 21 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142089 U.S. News Names Port Jefferson a Top High School Earl. L. Vandermeulen High School has been named a top high school in America in 2016 by U.S. News & World Report and earned the association’s highest ranking of Gold. The news organization ranked the high school based on several factors, including, but not limited to, enrollment in advanced coursework, graduation rates and student performance on tests. Based on the evaluation, U.S. News ranked the educational institution 45th in New York State and 367th in the nation. Of the distinction, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert said, "We are pleased to be included within this list of high performing schools. We take great pride in the educational experiences that we provide to our students and will continue our commitment to further enhance our programs and services.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142430 Wed, 20 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142430 Fundraising for Furry Friends The middle school Student Council recently concluded a successful fundraiser for Beth Stern’s Bianca’s Furry Friends. Together, the students worked to raise $1,787 for the feline adoption center by hosting several fundraising activities throughout the month of March. To raise the money, the Student Council held a naming contest for one of Stern’s Foster kittens, hosted a bake sale, sold raffle tickets for a chance to win one of 10 signed copies of “Yoda Gets a Buddy,” by Stern and organized an Amazing Race, featuring minute to win it-style activities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142087 Wed, 20 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142087 Leading the Way High school senior Jessie Gray has earned a Principal’s Leadership Award and a $1,000 scholarship from the Suffolk County High School Principals Association. To earn the accolade, Jessie was nominated by Principal Christine Austen, who touts the senior as an outstanding student leader. “She doesn’t just lead from the top down – she works to build consensus and find what’s best for her fellow students,” said Austen. Jessie has proven her management skills not as the leader of just one student organization, but several. She is president of the Student Organization, National Honor Society, Drama Club and Interact Club, as well as secretary of the Leo Club and treasurer of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. In each of her roles, Jessie has worked to bring pride to the Port Jefferson School District while unifying students and giving back to the community. Most recently, she helped organize a dodgeball tournament that benefited the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and began a new senior tradition this year of watching the sunrise on the first day of school and the sunset on the last day. “Leading is something I really love to do,” said Jessie. “I take pride in our school.” Jessie is undecided on which college she will attend in the fall, but looks forward to majoring in math and sciences. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142071 Tue, 19 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142071 Art Students Visit MoMA High school students in Carrie Morgan’s art classes recently took an educational field trip to the Museum of Modern Art. During the trip, the student-artists explored gallery works that they have been studying in class. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142084 Mon, 18 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142084 Careers in Law Enforcement High school CSI Club members recently learned about the diversity of careers in law enforcement from guest speaker Robert Brideson. During the session, Mr. Brideson, a retired NYPD sergeant, homeland security instructor and crime scene clean up technician, answered questions and spoke about his career. He also allowed students to try-out basic equipment that they would wear if they enter law enforcement, including cleanup gear. “Students enjoyed the experience of meeting with Mr. Brideson and getting a true sense of the profession,” said Amada Brideson, who serves as a co-advisor of the club with Adam Bouchard. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142083 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142083 World War II History Out of the Textbooks Middle school students in Kayleen Everitt’s classes learned in-depth details about World War II and the Holocaust when Holocaust survivor Werner Reich visited on March 18. The students, who have been studying the genocide in their ELA class, sat in awe as Mr. Reich provided his compelling account of the Holocaust. Through his words, he offered messages of tolerance and acceptance and explained that “bad things happen when good people do nothing.” To thank Mr. Reich, the ELA students will be hosting a bake sale fundraiser, in conjunction with the National Junior Honor Society, for the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County. All proceeds will be donated in Mr. Reich’s name. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142073 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142073 ‘All Shook Up’ The high school presented “All Shook Up,” a musical celebration featuring the works of Elvis Presley, on March 18 and 19. The production showcased the talents of 50 Port Jefferson high school students who worked over the past several months to perfect their performances. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142078 Thu, 14 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142078 Students Top at Latin Certamen High school and middle school Latin studies students showcased their linguistic skills as they competed in the fast-paced Latin Certamen contest held on March 15 at Stony Brook University. During the event, the participating students took home top medals in all four levels of the competition. To earn the awards, the students competed against 16 schools in Nassau and Suffolk counties by showcasing their knowledge of Latin grammar, vocabulary, translation, word derivations, Roman Life, history, mythology and literature. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following students: Advanced Level, first-place: Gin Albinson, Eric Kilgore, Courtney Lewis and Anita Rescia Level One, first-place: Felicity Hyams, Carmella Moran, Kyle Onghae and Giuseppina Than Level Two, first-place: Katie Ambrozy, Gavin Barrett, Sarah Hull and Annalisa Welinder Level Three, second-place: Emma Gutmann, Ibuki Iwasaki, Cezanne Lojeski and Joseph Samara https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142075 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142075 Royals Welcome New Athletic Director After an extensive search, the Port Jefferson School Board appointed Danielle Turner as the new director of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics on April 12. Ms. Turner, who will take the helm on July 1, will replace Edward Cinelli, who has served as the interim director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics since December. “We are excited to welcome Ms. Turner to our Royal family,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “We are confident that her experience and knowledge will be a great asset to our students, staff and district.” “I am more than thrilled to join the Port Jefferson School District, and I am looking forward to July 1,” Turner said. Turner has served in several administrative capacities. Currently, she is the assistant principal at North Country Road Middle School in the Miller Place School District. She previously held the same position at Eastern Suffolk BOCES’ Sayville Academic Center and Premm Learning Center. Her experience as an instructor includes teaching physical education and serving as a coach at Longwood Middle School from 2008-2012 and working in the same capacity prior to that in the Patchogue-Medford and Sachem school districts. Turner holds a Bachelor of Science in physical education from SUNY Cortland, a master’s degree in athletic administration and coaching from Stony Brook University, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Educational Administration and Supervision degree from St. John’s University. She also holds certification in the areas of the Dignity for All Students Act, crisis prevention intervention and first aid, and is a certified personal trainer. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142093 Wed, 13 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142093 Student Earns Music Scholarship For her dedication to music, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School double bassist Alexa Ayotte was awarded the Dr. Joel Ratner Memorial Scholarship to pursue her music studies over the summer. Ayotte, a fifth-grader, received the award at the Division 1 East SCMEA concert. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142074 Tue, 12 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142074 Parent Workshop Dear Parents/ Guardians, We recently shared with you the sad news of the death of one of our high school students, Dylan Berger. We recognize that parents/ guardians may have questions about how to best support your child in the coming weeks. For this reason, we will be offering parents the opportunity to speak with social workers, counselors, and our school psychologist on Thursday, April 14, 2016, at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. We hope you will join us on Thursday night, together we will provide the support and assistance our students need to cope with the devastating loss of one of their classmates. Regards, Christine Austen and Robert Neidig https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142092 Tue, 12 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142092 Science Olympiad Team Amasses Medals Hard work and dedication paid off for the middle school Science Olympiad team as they took home several medals from the state Science Olympiad Competition, held on April 9 and 10 at East Syracuse Minoa High School. The team, which ranked 17th out of 232 schools from across the state, advanced to the state competition after participating in the Suffolk County Regional Division Tournament on Feb. 27. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the Science Olympiad team and the following students, who earned medals: Grant Samara and David Bershadsky – Bottle Rocket, second place Sinan Ates and Josh Ecker – Anatomy, fourth place Sinan Ates and Peggy Yin – Bio Process Lab, fourth place Grant Samara and Andrew Patterson –Fossils, fourth place Aaron Held and Peggy Yin – Microbe Mission, sixth place David Rotunno and Reid Biondo –Meteorology, eighth place Aaron Held and Peggy Yin – Crave the Wave, ninth place https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142433 Sat, 09 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142433 No. 1 School for Homebuyers Port Jefferson Middle School has been ranked as the No. 1 middle school in Suffolk County by Cruvita.com, a website that assists homebuyers by providing statistical information regarding schools across the country. The school received its top ranking based on data compiled by Cruvita. Under the ranking system, the middle school was awarded a silver Cruvita Medal of Excellence. Edna Louise Spear Elementary School also received accolades and ranks among the top 40 elementary schools across the county. “We are very proud of the education we offer at each of our buildings,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “This ranking is a direct result of the dedication of our students, staff and community.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142090 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142090 Port Jeff Musicians Bound for All-County Festival More than 40 Port Jefferson student-musicians performed in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County Music Festival at Ward Melville High School on March 13. The students were selected to participate based on teacher recommendations and their New York State School Music Association solo evaluation scores. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following student performers: Grades 5-6 Alexa Ayotte, Giancarlo Caltagirone, Brady DeWitt, Lucy DeWitt, Luke Dickhuth, Kenny Dixon-Lanza, Justin Garcia, Jack Hennessy, David Lawler, Annie Maier, Hugo Onghai, Andrew Patterson, Stefano Rabeno, Anna Rebic, Kiera Reale, Peter Rizzo, Isabelle Roberts, Logan Schaffer, Olivia Schlegel, Caelan Schretzmayer, Tabitha Schully, Michael Tessler, Brennyn Veit and Sophia Wennero Grades 7-8 Sinan Ates, Massimo Cipriano, Saiorse Cohen, Samuel Florio, Felicity Hyams, Jack Reilly, Grant Samara and Peggy Yin Grades 9-10 Cole Fortier, Ju Eun Ha, Miles Kaming-Thanassi, Cezanne Lojeski, Trey Pisano, David Rotunno, Michael Ruggiero, Ava Schully and Michael Smith https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142072 Fri, 08 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142072 Science Olympiad Team to Take on State Competition The middle school Science Olympiad Team will be competing at the New York State competition held at East Syracuse Minoa Central High School from April 8-9. The team secured its bid to advance after competing at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Tournament, held at Candlewood Middle School on Feb. 27. During the regional event, the Port Jefferson scholars took home seven medals in events that tested their skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the Science Olympiad Team and the following medal winners: • Gil Zaltsman and Grant Samara ¬– Second Place, Disease Detectives • Jill Lawler and David Rotunno – Second Place, Write It Do It • Peggy Yin and Aaron Held – Third Place, Optics • Andrew Patterson – Third Place, Fossils • Sarah Hull and Ju Eun Ha – Fourth Place, Crime Busters • Grant Samara and Peggy Yin – Fourth Place, Fossils • Andrew Patterson – Sixth Place, Green Generation https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142086 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142086 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE – TIME CHANGE The time of the call to order of the April 12, 2016 meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter has been changed to 5:30 p.m. The time of the monthly business meeting remains at 7:30 p.m. at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142088 Thu, 07 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142088 Students Break It Down Jazz-Style Student-musicians in the elementary school’s fifth-grade band learned several new jazz techniques during an improvisational workshop on March 14. During the program, professional musicians Tom Manuel (trumpet) and Ed Balsamo (drums) taught the students how to express themselves through music and create their own sounds. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142070 Wed, 06 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142070 Port Jeff Educators Earn SCOPE Awards Four Port Jefferson School District educational professionals were recognized by SCOPE Education Services as premier leaders in their fields and presented with 2016 SCOPE Awards of Excellence. The awardees were among a group of 123 educators, support staff and volunteers throughout Suffolk County who were honored at SCOPE’s Educational Excellence Awards ceremony, held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook on March 14. The district extends its congratulations to Peter Burara, who was recognized with a Service to Teaching award; Jason Carella, who received a Support Staff award; Sean Leister, who was honored with an Administrative Service award; and Naomi Solo, who earned a Community Service award. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142069 Tue, 05 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142069 Violin Performance High school violinist Annalisa Welinder kicked off the Stony Brook University men’s basketball America East Championship opening game on March 12 by performing a classical rendition of the national anthem. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142068 Mon, 04 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142068 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 5, 2016, 7:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss the Superintendent search. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142085 Mon, 04 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142085 Violin Performance High school violinist Annalisa Welinder kicked off the Stony Brook University men’s basketball America East Championship opening game on March 12 by performing a classical rendition of the national anthem. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144521 Mon, 04 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false144521 Announcement from the Superintendent Please read the attached letter from the Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142082 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 10:00:00 GMT false142082 Talent Show Benefits Friends of Karen For the 11th year in a row, middle school students showcased their talents to raise money for the Port Jefferson-based charity, Friends of Karen. The students raised $1,020 for the organization, which assists families who have a child with a life-threating illness. This year’s winter talent show featured a number of acts, including gymnastics, comedy, piano and ukulele playing. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142067 Fri, 01 Apr 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142067 A ‘Purrrrfect’ Author Visit Elementary school kindergartners in Allison Coppi’s class had the chance to learn about the work of a published author when Beth Stern visited their classroom on March 14. During the event, Ms. Stern read her new book, “Yoda Gets a Buddy,” and, as an extra-special surprise, presented each student with a stuffed cat resembling the main character in her book. The students also had the opportunity to ask Ms. Stern questions and learn about animal adoption and proper pet care. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142081 Thu, 31 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142081 Spell-Tastic After a successful win in the schoolwide contest, elementary school fifth-grader Sophie Blumenthal qualified to compete in the Long Island Regional Scripps Spelling Bee at Hofstra University on March 13. Vying against Long Island’s 132 top spellers, Blumenthal made her school community proud by finishing in the top 20. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142064 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142064 Beginning to Master Keyboard Skills As part of a new music initiative at the elementary school, students are learning to play the keyboard in a lab setting. Throughout the unit of study, taught by music teacher Jessica Pastor, the students are learning about melodies, composing and improvising. The kindergarten through second-grade budding musicians are also encouraged to practice and perform at home using either a piano or electronic keyboard, or a piano app on their smart devices. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142061 Wed, 30 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142061 Port Jefferson Seeks Wall of Fame Nominations The Port Jefferson School District is seeking nominations for its Wall of Fame that honors former students and faculty members for extraordinary achievements in academics, school and community service, public service, fine arts, business and athletics. To date, the Wall of Fame, which was created in 1996, has recognized more than 40 individuals for their contributions and accomplishments. The district intends to add to that list by commemorating new honorees in perpetuity on the Wall of Fame, located at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Wall of Fame honorees are chosen based on a set of selection criteria by a volunteer committee comprised of members of the administration, board of education, faculty, student body, parent community and residents. To be considered a candidate for induction: • The nominee must have shown extraordinary achievement in academics, school and community service, public service, fine arts, business and athletics. • The nominee must have been affiliated with the Port Jefferson School District as a student or employee for a minimum of four years. • The student or employee may not be nominated until five years after he/she has left the school. To recommend an individual for the Port Jefferson Wall of Fame, please click here to download a nomination form. Completed forms can be e-mailed to Janice Baisley at jbaisley@portjeff.k12.ny.us. Community members interested in serving on the volunteer selection committee may also e-mail Ms. Baisley. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142060 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142060 Port Jeff Named Best Community for Music Education The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that for the 10th consecutive year it has been ranked among the NAMM Foundation’s “Best Communities for Music Education” in America, an honor that acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. The 2016 award specifically recognizes the collaborate efforts between teachers, administrators, students, parents and the community, who work in tandem to keep comprehensive music education an integral part of the core curriculum in Port Jefferson. “To receive this award – one that is shared by our entire community – signifies Port Jefferson’s strong commitment to the support of the arts and our students’ musical development. We are truly fortunate,” said Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. The Port Jefferson School District boasts multiple vocal, band and orchestral performing groups for students and each group is provided with the opportunity to perform within the community. Additionally, through partnerships and relationships with Stony Brook University and the Staller Center many groups regularly have the chance to learn from renowned professional musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144518 Tue, 29 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false144518 Port Jeff Named Best Community for Music Education The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that for the 10th consecutive year it has been ranked among the NAMM Foundation’s “Best Communities for Music Education” in America, an honor that acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support for music education as part of the core curriculum. The 2016 award specifically recognizes the collaborate efforts between teachers, administrators, students, parents and the community, who work in tandem to keep comprehensive music education an integral part of the core curriculum in Port Jefferson. “To receive this award – one that is shared by our entire community – signifies Port Jefferson’s strong commitment to the support of the arts and our students’ musical development. We are truly fortunate,” said Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. The Port Jefferson School District boasts multiple vocal, band and orchestral performing groups for students and each group is provided with the opportunity to perform within the community. Additionally, through partnerships and relationships with Stony Brook University and the Staller Center many groups regularly have the chance to learn from renowned professional musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142080 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142080 NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142077 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142077 Port Jeff BOE Honors Wrestling Champion The Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized the accomplishments of state wrestling champion Matteo DeVincenzo during its meeting on March 8. Matteo, a senior at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, clinched the New York State championship title on Feb. 27 after defeating his opponent 2-1, giving him a perfect season record and an overall career record of 148-4. He is the second Port Jefferson wrestler to win big at two state championships. As a junior, Matteo earned the Eastern States crown before moving on to the state tournament, where he earned the bronze medal. Earlier this year, he won the Section XI Division II Championship and was named Champion of Champions. “Matteo accomplished all this while also maintaining a strong commitment to his academics,” said coach Mike Maletta. “He will leave Port Jefferson as a legend and a shining example of sportsmanship and scholastic achievement.” Matteo will be attending Princeton University to study business and finance in the fall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142059 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142059 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 19, 2016, 5:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of voting on the Eastern Suffolk BOCES 2016-2017 budget and trustee election. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142079 Mon, 28 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142079 Students Invent New Holidays After a library lesson on holidays and cultures from around the world, third-graders invented new holidays. The students drew inspiration from the book “Palapalooza” by Daphne Skinner, which tells the story of five friends who set out to create the perfect holiday. Using library resources, the Port Jefferson students originated holidays, including a cookie-inspired Trefoil Day and literary-based Harry Potter and Authors days. Students then shared their new holidays with their peers by creating posters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142057 Fri, 25 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142057 Dodge to Cure Diabetes To assist in finding a cure for juvenile diabetes, the high school’s Student Organization held its fifth annual Dodge to Cure Diabetes event on March 4. The pay-to-play event, led by senior Matteo DeVincenzo and freshman Phoenix Jampol, raised $320 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and an additional $320 to support future Student Organization events. “It was a wonderful event for a great cause,” said advisor Sarah Ogden, who extended special thanks to students and teachers who volunteered as referees during the event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142058 Thu, 24 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142058 Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss To mark Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day, students and staff at the elementary school participated in a number of celebratory activities on March 2. Throughout the day, students, wearing Cat in the Hat hats and striped clothing, listened to Dr. Seuss books read by guest readers, including News 12 meteorologist Rich Hoffman and Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant. Students also donated books, met with representatives from the Port Jefferson Public Library and took part in special classroom activities. For example, fifth-graders worked on writing a poem with kindergarteners and special education students made oobleck after reading, “Bartholomeu and the Oobleck.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142053 Wed, 23 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142053 Science Olympiads Advance to States The high school Science Olympiad team has earned a chance to compete at the state competition in Syracuse on March 11 and 12. The team procured the spot after placing sixth at the regional competition, held at Brentwood High School. Several team members also won medals in ten events, including Eric Kilgore and Lev Bershadsky, who took first place in the optics event; Xinyi Hong and Chiara Rabeno, who won first place in the chemistry lap match; and Eric Kilgore and Joseph Samara, who placed first in the geologic mapping challenge. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the high school Science Olympiad team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141515 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141515 Royal Ed. Family Fun Run Please read the attached flyer regarding theRoyal Educational Foundation Family Fun Run and the Power of One Award Recipient Family Fun Run Flyer Power Of One Award https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142076 Tue, 22 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142076 National Honor Society Holds Food Drive The high school National Honor Society worked to fulfill one of its core values – service – by coordinating a food drive at Stop & Shop this winter. As part of the initiative, the students collected bags filled with hundreds of nonperishable food and personal items. All of the items were donated to the food pantry at St. James Church in Setauket. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142052 Mon, 21 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142052 Students Raise Funds for Heart Association It was a day filled with jump roping and tossing basketballs for students at the elementary school, as Port Jefferson students participated in the school’s annual Jump Rope & Hoops for Heart fundraising event for the American Heart Association. In addition to working on their own cardiovascular health, the second- through fifth-grade students raised more than $4,900 for the worthy organization. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141516 Fri, 18 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141516 HS Musical Production Schedule UPDATE Due to the expected weather for Sunday, we will be canceling the Sunday Matinee performance. The revised schedule is as follows: Friday March 18th, 7 p.m. Saturday March 19th, 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sunday Canceled https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142065 Fri, 18 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142065 Happening This Weekend: ‘All Shook Up’ Earl L. Vandermeulen High School will present “All Shook Up,” a musical celebration featuring the works of Elvis Presley, this weekend, March 18-20. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School auditorium, 350 Old Post Road, Port Jefferson. The production will showcase the talents of 50 high school students who have been working over the past few months to perfect their performances. “This production allows the talent of our students to truly shine through,” said director Anthony Butera. “The students really enjoyed learning the music and about the decade it was produced.” Tickets will be available at the door and are a suggested donation of $5 for adults, $2 for students/children and $10 per family. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142066 Fri, 18 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142066 STEM Live on the Air Two students participating in the high school’s after-school science, technology, engineering and mathematics initiative spoke live on the air on Feb. 23 about the three-year-old program and its benefits. The students, junior Chloe Dugourd and freshman David Rotunno, took turns answering questions about the program during the 11-minute segment, which will air on L.I. News Radio 103.9 FM on March 19 at 10:30 a.m. They were joined by Port Jefferson teacher Jon Maletta, who co-advises the program with fellow teacher Pete Burawa. Also in attendance were the students’ counterparts from the Mount Sinai School District. The unique educational opportunity, which is a collaborative effort between Port Jefferson Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert and Mount Sinai Superintendent Gordon Brosdal, gives both Port Jefferson and Mount Sinai students the opportunity to take a diverse array of advanced, hands-on workshops taught by professors and graduate students at Stony Brook University’s Center for Science and Mathematics Education. Through the program, which runs in four sessions throughout the school year, the students are actively engaged in STEM lessons at the university. Previous projects included topics related to computer modeling and coding, electrical engineering, botany, biotechnology and genetics. The program is funded through a New York State grant secured by Sen. Kenneth LaValle. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141513 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141513 Community Forum Series - Suffolk County Social Host Law Please read the attached flyer regarding the upcoming Community Forum Series - Suffolk County Social Host Law Community Forum Series Social Host Law https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142063 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142063 Wrestling Champion The high school’s Matteo DeVincenzo has once again claimed a state wrestling championship title. On Feb. 27, the senior won the 126-pound state Division II wrestling title at the NYSPHSAA State Championships, held at the Times Union Center in Albany. Matteo captured the title after defeating his opponent 2-1, giving him a perfect season record and an overall career record of 148-4. He is the second Port Jefferson wrestler to win big at two state championships. “Matteo has had an incredible season,” said coach Mike Maletta. “He prevailed and won on Long Island against a formidable opponent.” As a junior, Matteo earned the Eastern States crown before moving on to the state tournament, where he took the bronze. Earlier this year, he won the Section XI Division II Championship and was named Champion of Champions. Matteo will be attending Princeton University to study business and finance in the fall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141514 Wed, 16 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141514 Donations Pile Up The middle school collected more than 500 personal care and food items for Port Jefferson’s Welcome INN, a local establishment that provides food and other essentials to individuals in need. The donations were counted and grouped by grade level, with the seventh-graders donating the most items — 250. Seventh-graders in Monica Consalvo’s class delivered all of the donations to the Welcome INN on Feb. 26. The schoolwide collection drive culminated the school’s Random Acts of Kindness Week, where students learned how small acts of kindness can make a big difference. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141511 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141511 Senior Earns President’s Volunteer Service Award For his dedication to helping others, high school senior Nick Fedler was recognized with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Nick, who received the award in February, has logged more than 202 volunteer hours at his school. “Nick is always willing to help out,” said high school Principal Christine Austen. “He is an all-around great kid.” Throughout the school year, Nick has volunteered as a senior counselor for the sixth-grade Frost Valley trip, an assistant director for the middle school drama club and a special assistant to the boys varsity baseball team. He has also participated in events organized by the Miracle League, which provides sporting opportunities for disabled children. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141507 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141507 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE The work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education scheduled for March 22, 2016, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School has been changed to a special meeting/work session. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:30 p.m. to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142062 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false142062 Beginning to Master Keyboard Skills As part of a new music initiative at the elementary school, students are learning to play the keyboard in a lab setting. Throughout the unit of study, taught by music teacher Jessica Pastor, the students are learning about melodies, composing and improvising. The kindergarten through second-grade budding musicians are also encouraged to practice and perform at home using either a piano or electronic keyboard, or a piano app on their smart devices. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=144520 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false144520 Students Recognized for Raising Awareness The Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized high school juniors Jiwon Woo and Emma Schoepflin on Feb. 23 for working for the past three years to raise awareness about juvenile diabetes within their school. To date, the pair has raised $500 for the American Diabetes Association through several bake sales and teacher jean days, as well as held awareness days where they decorated their school in blue. The girls kicked off the effort as freshmen after learning that not many of their peers had an understanding of juvenile diabetes. The initiative was near and dear to the pair, as Jiwon herself has had diabetes since the age of 6. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141510 Mon, 14 Mar 2016 04:00:00 GMT false141510 All-American Recognized by BOE At its meeting on Feb. 23, the Port Jefferson Board of Education celebrated high school junior Jillian Colucci’s accomplishment of being named an All-American soccer player. Her coach, Allyson Wolf, gave a brief speech about Jillian, who was presented with a certificate. “Jillian is dedicated and a true leader who inspires her teammates,” Wolf said. “We are lucky to have her in Port Jefferson, as she exemplifies what it means to be an athlete on a daily basis.” In addition to this honor, Jillian holds several regional and state titles, including League Player of the Year, All-State, All-Region, All-Long Island Team and New York State Player of the Year. She is also a two-season athlete, as she is a member of the school’s varsity basketball team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141509 Fri, 11 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141509 Information Regarding the NYS 3-8 Testing Program Please read the attached letter from the Superintendent of Schools Regarding https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141826 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141826 Saving Lives One Organ at a Time At a powerful morning assembly on Feb. 24, high school juniors and seniors learned that they have the potential to save lives by registering with the New York State Organ Donor Registry. Students heard from Cathy Ryan, the mother of an organ donor, and her daughter, Megan Ryan, who teaches at the school and organized the assembly. Also sending a heartening message was teacher Jesse Rosen, who donated a portion of his liver to his mother last December. Dr. Lewis Teperman of New York University also spoke about the donor process and accompanying surgery. Enlightening students further was David Rodgers of the Long Island Transplant Recipients International Organization, who stressed the importance of having a family conversation about donor registration. “Out of all 50 states, New York is ranked No. 50, meaning it has the lowest number of registered organ donors,” said Megan Ryan. “Right now, there are more than enough people waiting for an organ to fill more than two football stadiums. Just one donor can save eight lives with their organs and improve the lives of up to 50 people with tissue and corneas.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141508 Thu, 10 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141508 Candidates for Board of Education Candidates for Board of Education Residents of Port Jefferson School District interested in running for the Board of Education, please contact the District Clerk at (631)791-4221 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142056 Wed, 09 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142056 Artist on Display Elementary school third-grader Emily Snyder is the second Port Jefferson student to have her artwork selected for showcase at the Long Island Museum’s “Colors of Long Island” exhibit. Her piece will be on display on March 13 from 2-4 p.m. Emily’s mixed media collage was based on the work of artists Hannah Hoch, Henri Matisse and Man Ray, as well as incorporated artistic concepts she learned in art class. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141506 Wed, 09 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141506 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2016, 9:00 a.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a matter of personnel. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142055 Wed, 09 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142055 Aulos Ensemble Performance Members of the elementary school orchestra and their families had the opportunity to hear the sounds of professional musicians during a special concert at the Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University on Feb. 21. The one-hour performance, billed “An Afternoon with the Bach Family,” featured the Aulos Ensemble, whose members impersonated Bach family members while playing selected pieces. Tickets to the performance were provided courtesy of the Staller Center Outreach Endowment and coordinator Paul Newland. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141504 Tue, 08 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141504 History Bee Winners Headed to Regionals Ten middle school students have qualified to compete at the regional level of the National History Bee, which will be held in Darien, Connecticut, on April 20. The students — Aaron Held, Ameen Khan, Andrew Patterson, Sapphire Perada, Mattea Rabeno, Micheala Rabeno, Grant Samara, Pina Than, Lucas Welinder and Peggy Yin — were selected to advance based on their scores on the online qualifying exam. Seventh-grader Welinder also earned the title of schoolwide bee champion, and this will be his second time at the regional competition. As a sixth-grader, he advanced to the national round. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to all of the National History Bee regional qualifiers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141503 Mon, 07 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141503 Girls B-Ball Players Win League Championship The girls varsity basketball team became league co-champions with Mattituck High School after defeating Pierson High School on Feb. 6. The team secured the win following junior Courtney Lewis’ three-point shot with just 19 seconds left on the clock. “I am so proud of this great group of girls,” said coach Ed Duddy. “They came together, worked hard and earned this win.” In addition to the league championship, the young team, consisting entirely of underclassmen, ended the season with three members — Jillian Colucci, Gillian Kenah and Courtney Lewis — named All-League players. Lewis was also designated an All-County player and Suffolk County’s leading scorer by averaging 24 points per game. Additionally, eighth-grader Samantha Ayotte was named Rookie of the Year. While the team lost its bid to the states after a seed game against Pierson, Coach Duddy has high hopes for next season. “We are looking forward to next year, when we hopefully have a number of returning and veteran players,” he said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141505 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141505 Leading by Example in The New York Times A creative persuasive writing unit of study designed by eighth-grade English teacher Kayleen Everitt was featured in the March 2 issue of The New York Times. The piece, which appears in the Learning Network section, discusses in detail how Ms. Everitt is using the newspaper’s annual editorial contest to engage students in hands-on learning. As part of the unit, students are asked to brainstorm a topic, conduct research and participate in a writing and blind editing process before submitting their pieces to the contest. “By providing students with this authentic experience, their writing skills are greatly enhanced,” said Ms. Everitt. To read The New York Times piece, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142054 Fri, 04 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142054 Port Jeff Ranked #16 For Best Teacher Support The Port Jefferson School District is proud to announce that it has been named one of the best districts for teacher support in New York State by Teacher.org. The district received the classification based on several factors, including class size, administrator and support staff availability, and student proficiency levels. Port Jefferson was one of 50 school districts to receive the distinction out of 383 school districts in New York analyzed by Teacher.org. “We are proud to have been named as a district that supports its teachers,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “We consistently strive to ensure that all of our educators have the tools they need to provide a sound education to all students.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141512 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141512 Junior Wins Golden Key High school junior Chloe Dugourd has earned a Golden Key as part of the annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for the Northeast Region. Selection for this honor is based on the judges’ criteria, including originality, technical skill and sense of vision. Chloe won the award for a photograph she took. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates Chloe on this artistic achievement. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141825 Thu, 03 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141825 Virtual Concert Musician and teaching artist Dave Ruch treated third-grade students to a virtual “World Music” concert on Feb. 12. The concert, arranged by music teacher Jessica Pastor, allowed students to hear songs, stories and musical instruments from places around the world, including Africa, Russia, Ireland, Japan and India, in “real time.” The concert aligns with the students’ unit on music from around the world and is a prelude to the annual third-grade “Music Around the World” performance, which will take place in April. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142139 Wed, 02 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false142139 Random Acts of Kindness Week To mark Random Acts of Kindness Week, students at the middle school participated in kindness activities. During the week of Feb. 9, the middle schoolers watched videos about the initiative and focused on how they could make a difference by simply being kind. They were encouraged to become “secret agents” and post kind quotes on their peers’ lockers throughout the week. They were also emboldened to post kind words and compliments on a “Kindness Begins with You” bulletin board in the school’s main hallway, as well as create kindness posters and hand out paper smiles. Students also collected toiletries for the homeless throughout the week. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141829 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141829 Senior Advances to National Merit Finals The National Merit Scholarship Program has named high school senior Eric Kilgore as a finalist in its 2016 scholarship contest. Eric is among 15,000 students to advance from a field of 16,000 candidates based on his high PSAT score. He now has the opportunity to compete for one of 7,600 National Merit scholarships, which will be offered in the spring. Eric is a member of his school’s Science Olympiad, Academic and Mathlete teams. He is also a member of the Latin Club and earned a perfect score on his last two National Latin exams. Outside of the classroom, Kilgore is an avid swimmer and competes on the Three Village Swim Club team. He intends to study physics in college in the fall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141828 Mon, 29 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141828 Soccer Team Honored with Proclamations To help celebrate the high school girls’ varsity soccer team’s Class C state championship, New York State Senator Kenneth LaValle presented each player with a proclamation during a ceremony on Feb. 11. “Saying that you ladies did a spectacular job may be an understatement,” said Senator LaValle. “Use your winning experience to catapult you to wherever you want to go in life.” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert echoed the senator’s congratulations and challenged the team of mostly underclassmen to do it again in 2016. “You brought a lot of pride to Port Jefferson and I know you can do it again,” said Dr. Bossert. The girls clinched the state championship on Nov. 15, 2015 after defeating Elmira Notre Dame 3-1. It was the first time in the school’s history that the girls’ varsity soccer team has taken the state title. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141827 Fri, 26 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141827 Wrestlers Advance to State Championship Three high school wrestlers have advanced to the New York State Public High School Wrestling Championships, set to take place on Feb. 26 and 27 at the Times Union Center in Albany. The student-athletes, Rick DeLia, Matteo DeVincenzo and Joe Evangelista, earned the chance to compete at the state level after finishing first in their respective weight divisions at the Section XI Division II Wrestling Championship held at Center Moriches High School on Feb. 13. At the same competition, DeVincenzo was named Champion of Champions, which is the most prestigious award one can earn at the Section XI Division II Wrestling Championship. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to all of the wrestlers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141501 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141501 Children’s Classic Celebrated Middle school thespians celebrated the 150th anniversary of the children’s classic “Alice in Wonderland” on Feb. 6 by staging a drama based on the Lewis Carroll book. The show, performed on the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School auditorium stage before friends and family, showcased the talents of the students, who worked for the past few months to perfect their performances. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141824 Wed, 24 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141824 Talent Show to Benefit Friends of Karen Community members are invited to a night of entertainment on Friday, Feb. 26 featuring the district’s talented middle school students. The event, the 11th annual middle school talent show, will showcase a myriad of acts, and proceeds will once again benefit the Port Jefferson-based charity Friends of Karen. Over the years, the talent show has raised more than $12,000 for Friends of Karen, which assists families of children with life-threatening illnesses. The organization provides emotional, financial and advocacy support. The show will begin at 7 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School auditorium. Tickets are $5 or $4 plus a canned good. All are welcome. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141502 Wed, 24 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141502 Colors of Long Island Elementary school fifth-grader Dante Cangemi will have his artwork displayed in the Long Island Museum’s “Colors of Long Island” exhibit on Sunday, March 13 from 2-4 p.m. Dante’s unique crayon painting was created in the style of artist Don Marco. He incorporated artistic concepts he learned from pre-K to fifth grade. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Dante on his artistic achievement. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141821 Tue, 23 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141821 Geo Bee Winner Middle school student Aaron Held recently took first place in his school’s National Geographic Bee. To earn the title, the seventh-grader competed against 25 of his peers, placing just ahead of Massimo Cipriano and Mattea Rabeno, who captured second and third place, respectively. Aaron now has the opportunity to qualify for the state geography bee. On Jan. 29, he took the regional online qualifying test. The results of that exam will be made available in early March. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Aaron and wishes him continued success in the competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141820 Mon, 22 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141820 Star Students Recognized Six elementary school students have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. Those chosen as Star Students for January are Anneliese Rago (kindergarten), Lina DeLeo (first grade), Sadie Tafuro (second grade), Abigail Levine (third grade), Michael Melikyan (fourth grade) and Matthew Buonomo (fifth grade). As a reward for being named Star Students, each of the Port Jefferson scholars will have their photo displayed on the bulletin board outside the school’s library, along with a summary of their favorite book. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141819 Fri, 12 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141819 Violinist Hits a High Note High school ninth-grader Annalisa Welinder shone in the spotlight on Jan. 31 as she performed a violin solo with the Massapequa Philharmonic Orchestra at Massapequa’s Berner Middle School. Welinder, who earned the solo after a rigorous audition process, performed Camille Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso, Op. 28. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Welinder on this outstanding musical achievement. To view Welinder’s performance visit, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARFT_jZ7gcc. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141818 Thu, 11 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141818 Community Forum Series - Internet Awareness for Parents Archived Video from theCommunity Forum Series -Internet Awareness for Parents Real Media Format - MP4 Format Please read the attached flyer regarding the upcoming Community Forum Series -Internet Awareness for Parents Community Forum Series Internet Awareness For Parents https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141822 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141822 String Students Shine at Festival String students showcased their musical talents at the Secondary Long Island String Festival, held on Jan. 31 at Ward Melville High School. The middle and high school student-musicians were selected to perform on a competitive basis based on their NYSSMA scores and teacher recommendations. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to David Bershadsky (grade 8), Danielle Goldstein (grade 12), Ibuki Iwasaki (grade 10), Phoenix Jampol (grade 9), Trey Pisano (grade 9) and Ava Schully (grade 9). https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141816 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141816 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on March 8, 2016, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141823 Wed, 10 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141823 Wrestlers Top; DeVincenzo Takes State Title This season, the high school wrestling team is consistently proving that it has what it takes to capture first-place titles. On Jan. 9, the team took first place by outscoring 14 opponents at the David Sorenson Memorial Invitational held at Long Island Lutheran in Brookville. At the same tournament, three teammates, Matteo DeVincenzo, Joe Evangelista and Vin Miceli, took first-place wins in their individual weight classes. “This win was a total team effort,” said coach Mike Maletta. “We couldn’t be prouder.” A week later, Matteo took his second first- place crown at the Eastern States Classic, held at Sullivan County Community College in Loch Sheldrake, New York. To earn his latest title, Matteo defeated three other state champions from a field of 60 wrestlers. Simultaneously, he was voted Champion of Champions by his peers. Matteo’s winning season continued when the graduating senior, who will be attending Princeton University in the fall, set a school record of 141 career wins at the Armstrong Cup, held in Port Jefferson on Jan. 30. The team will next compete at the Section XI, Division II Championships on Feb. 13 at Center Moriches High School. That meet will be followed by the NYSPHSAA Championships in Albany on Feb. 26 and 27. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141815 Tue, 09 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141815 Students Learn from World Traveler Middle school sixth-graders gained insight into Egyptian culture during a special hands-on workshop on Jan. 28. During the event, the students, who are studying Egypt in their history classes, were introduced to world traveler Mike Harrold. Mr. Harrold spoke to the students about his travels to Egypt and about the country’s history, culture and geography. Students were then invited to explore a variety of trinkets, collectables and souvenirs that Mr. Harrold brought back from his trips. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141814 Mon, 08 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141814 Student-Musicians Perform at Mid-Island Band Festival High school student-musicians had the honor of participating in the 58th annual Mid-Island Band Festival at Sayville High School on Jan. 30. These student-musicians – Miles Kaming-Thanassi, Jillian Lawler, David Moir, David Rotunno, Amanda Sarubbi and Timothy Skula – were selected to participate based on teacher recommendations and NYSSMA scores. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to all six performers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141813 Fri, 05 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141813 Don’t Miss It: ‘Alice in Wonderland’ Tomorrow afternoon, the middle school Drama Club will present Disney’s “Alice in Wonderland, Jr.” at 2:00 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School auditorium, 350 Old Post Road, Port Jefferson. The production will showcase the talents of our middle school students, who have been working over the past few months to perfect their performances. Tickets are a suggested donation of $5 for adults, $2 for students/children and $10 per family. Tickets will be available at the door. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141817 Fri, 05 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141817 An Introduction to the Future In an effort to have Port Jefferson Middle School students thinking about their futures earlier, the Port Jefferson School District launched a new postsecondary program on Jan. 29. Using a computer-based program, Naviance, students’ strengths and interests are matched with their postsecondary goals. Naviance, which is already available to Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students, aims to fully prepare the middle school students for the postsecondary planning process that awaits them in high school. During the launch, school guidance counselors helped students register with the program and complete interest and career surveys. “The transition from middle school to high school can be an overwhelming experience for all involved,” said Claudia Smith, K-8 assistant principal. “It is our goal to provide students and parents with information and resources, such as Naviance, to ensure that this process proceeds smoothly.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141812 Thu, 04 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141812 Pennies Add Up For Charity The middle school Student Council recently completed a successful “Pennies for Patients” fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. During the month of January, the students raised funds through an online campaign, organizing several in school bake sales and hosting a “pay to play” fundraiser, where they sold passes to peers to play computer games during their lunch periods. Additionally, the council held Pajama Friday, which enabled teachers to wear their pajamas to school for a $5 donation. The Student Council’s efforts yielded a $1,672 contribution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which surpassed their initial goal of $1,200. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141811 Wed, 03 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141811 Drama Students Head to Broadway High school Drama Club members attended an evening performance of the Broadway production “Something Rotten” on Jan. 14. The Port Jefferson students were accompanied to the performance at the St. James Theater in New York City by Drama Club advisors Mary LaSita and Tony Butera. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141810 Tue, 02 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141810 Speller Heads to Regionals Fifth-grader Sophie Blumenthal has secured a spot in the Scripps Regional Spelling Bee, to be held at Hofstra University on March 13. Sophie won the chance to compete after participating in her school’s fourth- and fifth-grade spelling bee on Jan. 25. She took the top spot after correctly spelling “excursion.” Runners-up in the competition were fifth-grader Benjamin Perez-Fletcher and fourth-grader Michelle Wu. The district extends its congratulations to Sophie and wishes her luck in the next round of competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141809 Mon, 01 Feb 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141809 All-County Jazz Musicians Two Port Jefferson School District musicians were recently selected to participate in the prestigious SCMEA All-County Instrumental Jazz Ensemble. Trey Pisano, a 10th-grader who plays double bass, and Samuel Florio, an eighth-grader who plays trombone, were both named to the ensemble after a highly selective audition process. Both students will perform at Centereach High School on Feb. 6. Pisano will also travel with the ensemble to Albany on March 8 to perform for the New York State Legislature at the capitol building as part of a “Music in Our Schools Month” celebration. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141808 Fri, 29 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141808 Junior Named All-American High school junior Jillian Colucci has been named an All-American soccer player by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. She received her prestigious award at a luncheon at the Baltimore Conventions Center on Jan. 16. “Jillian is an amazing student-athlete whose hard work, dedication and leadership do not go unnoticed,” said coach Allyson Wolff. “This award is well-deserved.” This is not the first award Jillian has received as a student-athlete. She also holds several regional and state titles, including League Player of the Year, All-State, All-Region, All-Long Island Team and New York State Player of the Year. In addition, she is a two-season athlete, as she is a member of the school’s varsity basketball team. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Jillian on her latest accomplishment. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141807 Thu, 28 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141807 Student-Musicians Attend String Festival Ten student-musicians from Edna Louise Spear Elementary and Port Jefferson Middle School participated in the Long Island String Festival Association’s Suffolk Elementary Festival, held on Jan. 17 at Smithtown High School West. The fifth-, sixth- and seventh-graders were selected based on their New York State School Music Association scores, coupled with teacher recommendations. The district extends its congratulations to fifth-graders Alexa Ayotte, Teppei Fukuto, Anna Rebic, Olivia Schlegel and Tabitha Schully; sixth-grader Kasumi Layne-Stasik; and seventh-graders Jack Reilly, Grant Samara, Noah Teaney and Lucas Welinder. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141806 Wed, 27 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141806 Binghamtonics Perform To show high school music students how their love of music can continue after they graduate, chorus teacher Lisa Scrom invited Binghamton University’s a cappella group, the Binghamtonics, to perform and speak with students on Jan. 13. During the session, the Binghamtonics performed a variety of songs across all genres, from current top 40 hits to pop and hip-hop. They also encouraged the Port Jefferson students to continue their love of music in college, regardless of their major. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141805 Tue, 26 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141805 Students Show Off History Smarts Ten elementary students have proven that they have what it takes to succeed in the National History Bee. After taking a 50-question qualifying exam in December, the fourth- and fifth-graders learned that they had each qualified to compete in the online regional qualifying exam for the National History Bee. The round will take place in late January. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to fourth-graders Viviane Kim, Michael Melikyan, Key Ranjbar and Alana Samara and fifth-graders Luke Dickhuth, Kenny Dixon-Lanza, Teppei Fukuto, Ben Perez-Flesler, Tabitha Shully and Amy Whitman. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141804 Mon, 25 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141804 Port Jefferson Village declares a State of Emergency The Mayor of Port Jefferson Village declares a State of Emergency due to the blizzard watch beginning at 6:00 pm, Friday Jan 22nd through 12 midnight on Sunday, January 24th, 2016. All residents are asked to stay home and not be on the roads for any reason unless it is an emergency on Saturday and Sunday morning till noon, as we expect coastal flooding, blinding snow and very high winds to cause extremely hazardous and life threatening conditions. Cars parked on marked snow emergency routes will be ticketed and/or towed beginning Friday at 6:00 pm. Please maintain your sidewalks with salt so we can open for business as soon as possible. Enforcement will commence Monday morning in sidewalks. In the event of an emergency, please call 911. If it is a fire emergency please call 473-3232. For a PSE&G emergency, call 1-800-490-0075. Be safe, be warm, stay home! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141803 Fri, 22 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141803 Joint Letter to Secretary of Education John King Regarding Testing Enforcement https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141801 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141801 Port Jefferson School District Assigned Favorable Bond Rating Receives Moody’s Rating of Aa2 The Port Jefferson School District has received notice from Moody’s Investors Service that it has been assigned a rating of Aa2. The rating has been assigned to the district’s $3.8 million in School District Refunding Serial Bonds for 2016. It also affirms the district’s $4.9 million of outstanding general obligation parity debt. According to Moody’s, the Aa2 rating “reflects the district’s moderately-sized wealthy tax base with significant taxpayer concentration, well-managed financial position with ample reserves and liquidity, and low debt profile.” “The Board of Education and administration have been diligent in their joint efforts to be fiscally responsible,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “We take great pride in our financial stability and will continue to work to ensure that Port Jefferson remains a fiscally sound district.” Dr. Bossert noted: “The five year period of budgetary stability and fiscal surpluses cited within the report coincide with the stewardship of the Assistant Superintendent for Business, Sean Leister. Mr. Leister and his staff deserve a great deal of credit for this excellent rating.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141802 Thu, 21 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141802 ‘Good Morning’ As part of its character education program, the elementary school has introduced a new initiative called Morning Greeters. Each day, coordinating teachers Carleen Parmegiani and Doreen Marullo select four students to serve as the following day’s Morning Greeters. Those individuals are then encouraged to welcome fellow students as they enter the school by simply saying “good morning.” The program is aimed at sparking added friendliness within the school’s walls. “Since we started the program, we have noticed that more people are saying good morning and starting off their day in a friendly manner,” said Ms. Parmegiani. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141799 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141799 BOE Recognitions The Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized three individuals during its meeting on Jan. 12. Among those honored were eighth-grader Lucas Rohman, special education teacher Monica Consalvo and elementary school Principal Thomas Meehan. Each individual was presented with a certificate of recognition. Lucas was honored for being named one of Johns Hopkins University’s Brightest Young Students in the World. As an awardee, he qualified to attend a Center for Talented Youth residential summer program and participate in online classes and several family programs. Ms. Consalvo was acknowledged for her work ethic, initiative and dedication. Prior to being presented with a certificate of recognition, Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig said, “It is clear that Ms. Consalvo loves what she does and makes everyone around her better, including myself.” He noted that aside from attending many school activities outside the school day, Ms. Consalvo frequently goes above and beyond her duties to forward the mission of the school district. Mr. Meehan was commended for being named a 2015 Person of the Year by the Port Times Record. In recognition of this honor, he was presented with a plaque that will be hung in the elementary school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141800 Wed, 20 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141800 12 Days of Kindness To inspire kindness within their school, second-graders in Carleen Parmegiani’s class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School participated in a “12 days of kindness” initiative. As part of this effort, the students, along with their “buddies” in Doreen Marullo’s class, carried out 12 good deeds for 12 days in a row. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141798 Tue, 19 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141798 Students Listen to Music Greats at Lincoln Center As a complement to their music curriculum, more than 50 string students and their parents recently attended an evening performance of the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall in Lincoln Center. Attendees enjoyed the orchestra’s renditions of Wagner’s epic “Ride of the Valkyries” and “Die Walkure,” Sibelius’ “En Saga,” as well as selected songs by Strauss, featuring soloists Eric Owens and Heidi Melton. The trip, which was coordinated by Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello, provided the opportunity for the student-musicians to take in the sights and sounds of professional musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141797 Fri, 15 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141797 Students Raise Funds to ‘Adopt’ Chimps High school Environmental Club members have reached their goal to “adopt” two chimpanzees through various fundraising projects. Over the holiday break, the club members adopted chimps Thabu and Zac, who reside at the Jane Goodall Institute South Africa Chimpanzee Sanctuary. “The students were determined to adopt the chimps by the holidays,” said club advisor Dawn DeLeonardis-Moody. “This is a cause near and dear to them, especially our Club President Arunima Roy, who is a Roots & Shoots National Youth Leader.” To raise the $100 needed to adopt the animals, the club members sold reusable water bottles and held healthy bake sales and plant sales. They also hosted an Optimum Charity Challenge, where participants learned how to make repurposed arts and crafts. With the adoption, the students will receive periodic updates on the chimps’ well-being. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141795 Thu, 14 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141795 Student’s Poem Published A poem penned by Kailey D’Accordo, a seventh-grader at the middle school, was recently published in the Port Times Record’s “Kids Times” section. The poem, titled “A Snowy Winter’s Night,” was written as part of an ELA class assignment that tied into Port Jefferson Village’s annual Dickens Festival Lantern Dedication. The district extends its congratulations to Kailey. To read the poem, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141794 Wed, 13 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141794 History Brought to Life Port Jefferson’s role in the American Revolution was brought to life during an assembly at the middle school on Dec. 22. Seventh-graders listened as Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant and Historian Georgette Grier-Key presented an 18th-century letter confirming Port Jefferson’s role in the Culper Spy Ring, which carried secret messages written in invisible ink to General George Washington. Students also watched a short video outlining the significance of the historical document, which was written by a suspected British spy four years after Colonists declared independence from Great Britain. The program complemented the grade level’s history curriculum, which is currently focused on the American Revolution. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141793 Tue, 12 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141793 A Joint Letter to Gov. Cuomo Regarding the Education Task Force https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141796 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141796 Swimmingly Perfect Impressions As part of an interdisciplinary lesson, high school students used the ancient Japanese printmaking technique of gyotaku to create impressions of fish while also learning about the external anatomy of this marine life. Over the course of the three-day lesson, the students, who are in Jonathan Maletta’s marine science class and Carrie Morgan’s art course, had their science unit reinforced as they used washed fish carcasses, sumi ink and rice paper to make the life-sized fish impressions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141792 Mon, 11 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141792 Mini Master Class Middle school student-musicians expanded their orchestral knowledge as they enjoyed a mini master class taught by the Harbor Front Trio on Dec. 21. During the session, the professionals provided feedback and tips to the sixth-grade orchestra on their concert piece, “Salsa Verde.” The trio, made up of Natalie Kress (violin), Phuc Phan (cello) and Ofir Tomer (viola), also performed for the students, including pieces written by W.A. Mozart’s father, Leopold Mozart. The musical group is familiar to many in the community, as they frequently hold free concerts at the Port Jefferson Village Center and are the founding members of the Harbor Front Chamber Music Festival. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141791 Fri, 08 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141791 Hockey Players Recognized Four high school varsity field hockey players were recognized for their talents at the annual Suffolk County Field Hockey Coaches Association dinner, held at Villa Lombardi’s. Among the athletes recognized were seniors Andreya Harvey (All-Tournament) and Michelle Bourguignon (All-Division), as well as juniors Chiara Rabeno (All-Conference) and Jackie Brown (All-State). The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to these outstanding student-athletes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141790 Thu, 07 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141790 Students Spread Holiday Magic Student groups across the district spread holiday joy through gift drives during the month of December. At the high school, the Student Organization sponsored the annual Holiday Magic Gift Drive. The program resulted in the donation of toys to 58 local children. To celebrate the success of the drive, the Student Organization held its third annual Ugly Sweater Contest, of which student Joe Bardram was declared the winner. The elementary school’s guidance department also held a successful gift drive. The annual Holiday Help program yielded donations of coats, boots and toys for 24 Port Jefferson children. Also assisting in the effort was the Port Jefferson Fire Department, which donated funds to help purchase additional wish list items. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141788 Wed, 06 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141788 Principal Lauded as a Person of the Year The Port Times Record has recognized Thomas Meehan, principal of Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, as a 2015 Person of the Year. Mr. Meehan was applauded in the paper’s Dec. 30 issue for his “dedication to Port Jefferson’s kids and the greater community.” “On behalf of the entire school district, I extend my deepest congratulations to Mr. Meehan and thank him for the dedication and commitment he exhibits daily,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. To read the full article in the Port Times Record, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141789 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141789 Backstage at ‘H2O’ Drama students at the high school recently had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at a Broadway show. Drama department advisors Tony Butera and John Worrell accompanied the students to a matinee performance of “H2O” on Dec. 12, after which they were treated to a backstage tour by Port Jefferson alumnus and stage director Sean Swords. While in New York City, the students also visited Rockefeller Center. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141787 Tue, 05 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141787 Star Students Recognized The American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign has named six elementary school students Star Students. The students, chosen as December Star Students, are Olivia Andriani, kindergarten; Vanessa Nunez, first grade; Kevin Hong, second grade; Olivia Duckworth, third grade; Kiersten Parmegiani, fourth grade; and Luke Dickhuth, fifth grade. As a reward for being named Star Students, the Port Jefferson scholars will have their photo displayed on the bulletin board outside the school’s library, along with a summary of their favorite book. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141427 Mon, 04 Jan 2016 05:00:00 GMT false141427 Seniors Honored for Leadership High school student-athletes Elisabeth Gwydir and Matteo DeVincenzo were honored by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance as Suffolk Zone Student Leadership award winners at a ceremony on Dec. 2 at the Hyatt Regency Wind Watch in Hauppauge. The seniors were selected based upon their excellence in physical education, leadership ability and service to the community. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Elisabeth and Matteo. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141425 Wed, 23 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141425 A Message of Hope Middle school students gained insight into smart decision-making and the benefits of hard work, perseverance and self-discipline after participating in an assembly called “Given a Second Chance” on Dec. 11. During the assembly, students met Robert Aliano, who was left for dead when he was hit by a car after a night of partying in his senior year in college. Mr. Aliano, who was in a coma for six weeks and rehab for several months, was thought to never walk again. However, with the help of Jerry Figgiani, owner of East Coast Black Belt Academy in Middle Island, he persevered. Now, the pair travel to schools across Long Island, sharing their story and powerful messages of hope. Mr. Aliano’s message to the students was to never give up, even if something bad happens. “Obstacles can be overcome by hard work,” he said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141424 Tue, 22 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141424 BOE Honors Student-Musicians High school student-musicians were honored by the Board of Education for their dedication to the arts at the Board’s Dec. 8 meeting. Prior to being presented with recognition certificates, the honorees performed several selections for those in attendance at the meeting. The students celebrated are members of the high school’s vocal ensemble and chamber orchestra. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141422 Mon, 21 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141422 Community Forum - Introduction to the New Regents Exam in English Language Arts (ELA), Common Core Please read the attached information regarding the upcoming Community Forum Series -Introduction to the New Regents Exam in English Language Arts (ELA), Common Core https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141786 Mon, 21 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141786 Facing the Ugly Truth The Port Jefferson community became more informed about the dangers of overdose from prescription opioid medications by attending the Suffolk County Police Department’s powerful presentation, “The Ugly Truth.” Hosted by the Port Jefferson School District, the Suffolk County Police Department, the Port Jefferson Village Board and the Port Jefferson Village Alliance, the evening of presentations by experts in the field disclosed the issues regarding opioid use and overdose, signs of a drug overdose and the potential life-saving method of administering intranasal Naloxone (Narcan). According to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, the goal of the forum was to give the community a better understanding of the issue. Jason Spiller, who brought the program to the district, explained that the end game is to break the cycle of drug use and overdose by being more informed. Karen Sullivan, who assisted Spiller, said her goal was for the community to be “proactive and not reactive,” as seen in the large attendance at the forum. SCPD Deputy Commissioner Tim Sini said the county is in the middle of an epidemic, but that this is an opportunity to prevent future deaths due to overdoses and medication abuse. “We are not going to arrest ourselves out of this epidemic,” Sini said. “Early education is the best solution.” Chief Police Surgeon Scott Coyne noted that all SCPD officers have received Narcan training, while police officer George Lynagh talked about heroin use and packaging, and medical examiner Dr. Ruth Kohlmeier discussed the trend of “polypharmacy,” the mixing of drugs. Jason Byron from the Emergency Medical Training Unit of the Suffolk County Police Academy described the signs of an overdose and led training on how to administer Narcan. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141421 Fri, 18 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141421 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 12, 2016, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 26, 2016, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise spear Elementary School. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141426 Thu, 17 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141426 Students Raise Over $6,000 for Breast Health Center Port Jefferson students presented the Fortunato Breast Health Center at Mather Hospital with a check for $6,486.33 as part of Mather Hospital’s Paint Port Pink initiative. To raise the money, the students participated in a variety of fundraising activities throughout the month of October. At the elementary school, students collected donations in an hourglass jar; middle school students secured donations through the sale of baked goods, shoelaces and Frisbees; and high school varsity cheerleaders and student organization members held a “flocking fundraiser” in which community members paid representatives from either group to flock the yards of their neighbors with pink flamingos. “The students did a tremendous job raising funds,” said Debra Ferry, director of physical education, health and athletics. “We are very proud of them.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141417 Thu, 17 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141417 Holiday Letter from the Superintendent Please read the attached Letter from the Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141785 Thu, 17 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141785 Music Students Perform at Dickens Festival Port Jefferson student-musicians showcased their talents during the 20th annual Charles Dickens Festival, held in the Village of Port Jefferson on Dec. 5 and 6. During the event, musical ensembles from the district, including the elementary school’s fifth-grade select choir and string chamber ensemble, as well as the high school and middle school jazz ensembles, orchestras and chamber choirs, performed holiday favorites for attendees. The music department extends a special thank-you to all of the student-musicians for performing during the festival, as well as to their teachers for their dedication. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141416 Wed, 16 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141416 Students Join Forces to Plant Native Garden High school, middle school and elementary school students in the Port Jefferson School District teamed up to build a new native species garden in front of the BOCES building on High Street in Port Jefferson. The students, who are all members of their schools’ environmental clubs, worked throughout the day to prepare the garden bed in an environmentally friendly way and distribute mulch. The students plan to return in the spring to plant a multitude of native plant species. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141414 Tue, 15 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141414 Varsity Club Holds Fundraisers for Cancer Research The high school Varsity Club raised more than $1,000 for cancer research through two fundraisers during the month of November. For the first fundraiser, the Port Jefferson students organized a “pink” volleyball tournament in which they and teachers donated funds to participate in a friendly students-versus-staff volleyball tournament after school. The tournament ended with the teachers ousting the students 23-21. The Varsity Club also spearheaded No Shave November, which challenged administrators, teachers and support staff to not shave for the entire month and make donations for participating. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141420 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141420 Port Jeff Middle School Students Hold Food Drive To give back to the community, members of the middle school student council held an annual food drive in November. During the monthlong drive, the school’s students and staff members generously donated 1,338 nonperishable goods. All donations will be distributed to those in need by Long Island Cares. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141413 Mon, 14 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141413 Students Feeding Students Leo Club members donated their time to stand in front of Stop and Shop in Miller Place and collect canned goods for local children in need on Nov. 15. Throughout the day, the high school students, with the assistance of advisors Brian Chalmers and Kristine Vaccaro, collected 50 boxes of food and $250 in cash and gift cards. The donations will be distributed to families in need by Island Harvest as part of the organization’s Students Feeding Students Challenge. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141412 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141412 District Taxpayers to Receive Rebates The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that taxpayers within the district’s boundaries will soon be receiving a tax rebate check through the state’s Property Tax Freeze Credit program. To ensure that taxpayers receive rebate checks this year, the district was required to meet several state requirements, including staying within the confines of the state tax cap and submitting a government efficiency plan. “We are pleased to have been able to meet the state requirements to provide a savings to our community,” said Sean Leister, assistant superintendent for business. In addition to the district remaining under the cap and submitting the efficiency plan, in order to receive the credit for 2015, taxpayers must also receive the STAR property tax exemption, which requires the property to be the homeowner’s primary residence and the total household income to be under $500,000. For more information on the property tax freeze, visit http://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/property_tax_freeze.htm. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141419 Fri, 11 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141419 District Appoints Interim Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that the Board of Education appointed Edward A. Cinelli as interim director of health, physical education and athletics at its Dec. 8 meeting. Mr. Cinelli will officially take the helm of the department following the December holiday break and assist in the search for a permanent director this spring. “We are very excited to have Mr. Cinelli serve in this position while the search for a new director commences,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert said. “His vast experience and wealth of knowledge within the areas of health, physical education and athletics will be a great asset to our students, staff and district.” Prior to accepting this role with Port Jefferson, Mr. Cinelli served for 11 years as the executive director of Section XI sports in Suffolk County, a position in which he coordinated, facilitated, supervised and provided the communications network for all matters relative to interscholastic athletics in Section XI throughout the county. Before that, he worked in the Patchogue-Medford School District for 30 years, serving as director of interscholastic athletics and physical education for more than 18 of those years. He began his educational career as a physical education and social studies teacher at Tekonsha High School in Michigan. Mr. Cinelli holds a Bachelor of Arts in physical education from Hilldale College, a Master of Arts in physical education from Adelphi University and a School District Administrator Professional Diploma from Long Island University. He also holds New York State School District Administrator and New York State Physical Education Recreation certificates. Throughout the years, Mr. Cinelli has earned several awards and accolades. He was inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame, received the New York State Athletic Administrators Association Apple Award, and was designated Suffolk County Athletic Director of the Year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141418 Thu, 10 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141418 Gov. Cuomo Announces Recommendations from Common Core Task Force Click here to read the report. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141423 Thu, 10 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141423 Students Showcase Talents at Go Green Festival Elementary and high school students showed off their musical and artistic talents at the eighth annual Port Jefferson Go Green Festival, held on Nov. 7 at the Village Center. During the event, the elementary school’s select choir, under the direction of music teachers Jessica Pastor and Lisa Scrom, performed several songs. Festival attendees also viewed artwork created by high school students enrolled in Lynne Edsall’s Studio in Art class. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142027 Thu, 10 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142027 Siblings Perform at Tuba Day Two middle school tuba players had the opportunity to perform at the 35th annual Howard Hovey Day of Tuba and Euphonium, held recently at Smithtown High School East. During the event, siblings Gani Ates and Sinan Ates performed alongside 200 student-musicians from across Suffolk County on one stage. Also performing with the students were professional musicians, including renowned guest artist Mike Roylance, who is the principal tuba player with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142026 Wed, 09 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142026 Students Serve Up a Thanksgiving Lunch The middle school student council held a Thanksgiving lunch for residents from the Port Jefferson Senior Center on Nov. 18. Students served lunch to the seniors and took time to speak with them about their studies. Several student musical groups, including the jazz band and chamber choir, showcased their talents during the event. In addition, actors from the high school’s fall play, “The Dining Room” performed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142025 Tue, 08 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142025 Viola Workshop The Port Jefferson School District Music Department recently hosted a musical workshop with violist Kenneth Martinson. During the event, Martinson spoke with high school students about the careers available to those with a passion for music and shared some of his practice tips. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142024 Mon, 07 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142024 Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE over the Internet Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE over the Internet All of our Winter Concerts are being broadcast live over the internet. You will need the Real Player if you are using your computer to view the LIVE video stream. All iPods/iPhones/iPads will launch automatically. It can be downloaded by following the link below: Click HERE for the Real Player Download Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad Archived video will be available the morning after the concerts on each of the building's home pages under the announcements section. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141415 Mon, 07 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141415 ‘Key’ to Increasing Awareness In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, 25 fourth- and fifth-grade elementary school students donated their time to create more than 200 breast cancer awareness key chains. The pink and white beaded items were donated to the Fortunato Breast Health Center at Mather Hospital. The key chains were made after school with the help of event organizers Andrea Earland, Deanna Lilimpakis, Kristen Neubert and Carleen Parmegiani. Last year, the students made flower pens for the same cause. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142023 Fri, 04 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142023 Student Recognized for Academic Excellence The Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth has named Lucas Rohman, a middle school eighth-grader, as one of the brightest middle school students in the world. Lucas earned this designation based on his exceptional performance as a middle school student on the college SAT and ACT. He is one of only 1,175 students to be recognized out of nearly 31,000 students who participated in the 2014-15 CTY Talent Search. As one of Johns Hopkins’ Brightest in the World awardees, Lucas qualified to attend a CTY residential summer program, online classes and several family programs. Lucas, who is a member of his school’s National Junior Honor Society and Science Olympiad Team, said he was honored to be named. “It has opened up a lot of opportunities to further my studies,” he said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142022 Thu, 03 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142022 Students Volunteer at Local Camp Members of the middle school National Junior Honor Society and the high school Interact club teamed up with the local Rotary Club on Nov. 15 to help ready Camp Pa-qua-tuck for the winter. The volunteers worked together to bag leaves, store picnic benches and clean bunk areas at the camp, which provides special needs children and young adults with camping experiences. “The event was a great success, and our students look forward to returning to the camp in the spring to help plant flowers and prepare the grounds for the summer,” said Interact advisor Deirdre Filippi. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142021 Wed, 02 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142021 Vote for the Royals This fall, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School varsity football team supported the local community by hosting a food drive for Island Harvest and a blood drive for New York Blood Services. Their efforts were recently recognized and the team is now entered into the Team Up for Community Long Island Holiday Sports Heroes Video Challenge, with a chance to win one of the scholarships or grants provided by the challenge’s sponsors. As part of the challenge, community members are being asked to vote online for a sports team that they feel has made a large impact on the community. To vote for the Royals, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141411 Tue, 01 Dec 2015 07:00:00 GMT false141411 Senior Performs with All-County Choir High school senior Parris Garant performed with the All-County Choir in the 2015 Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County Music Festival, held Nov. 19-21. Parris and other students throughout Suffolk County were selected through a competitive application process that included a review of the students’ New York State School Music Association scores and teacher recommendations. Parris also sings with the school’s choir and chamber choir, and was recently named a Scholar-Artist by the Long Island Arts Alliance for her vocal talents. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142020 Tue, 01 Dec 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142020 Handball Fun Members of the middle school National Junior Honor Society recently volunteered to play European-style handball with members of Team Landetta for their Athletics for All event. Held after school on Nov. 12, the students enjoyed each other’s company while playing several friendly matches. The event culminated with the awarding of the MVP award to Team Landetta member Mikey Bellavia. “We would like to thank all those who volunteered their time to join us,” said Team Landetta advisor Michelle Landetta. “The event was a huge success.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142018 Mon, 30 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142018 Special Performance Elementary school orchestra students enjoyed the sounds of the Arcanum String Quartet during a special in-school performance on Nov. 12. The quartet, made up of Chris Ferrara, Johnathan Spence, Andrew Minguez and Jesse Smith, performed W.A. Mozart’s String Quartet No. 23 in F Major, mvt. 1; Felix Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 13, mvt. 1; and Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 7 in F-sharp minor, Op. 108. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142017 Wed, 25 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142017 SCSSA Letter to Gov. Cuomo on Education Reform https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142029 Wed, 25 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142029 State Soccer Champions For the first time in school history, the high school’s varsity girls soccer team captured the New York State Class C Championship after defeating Elmira Notre Dame 3-1 on Nov. 15. The win came after an upsetting 2014 season, where the Lady Royals lost the state championship following a three-goal defeat by Bronxville. Using the loss as motivation, the team resolved to win in 2015. “Our goal from the beginning of the season was to bring home the state title after losing in the finals last year,” said coach Allyson Wolff. “The girls were determined and more confident this season. I’m so proud of them for this amazing accomplishment.” Over the past season, the team worked hard to build their playing skills, as well as synergy among teammates. They even adopted a new team motto: “Strong alone, unstoppable together.” Their hard work shined through as they took the field at SUNY Cortland. Throughout the game, the girls made a number of power plays, including Brittany Fazin scoring a goal from 20 yards and goalkeeper Brianna Scarda. The district extends its congratulations to the entire team and coaching staff. • NYS Class C Final vs. Notre Dame • Photos • A Royal Homecoming • Semifinals vs. Caledonia-Mumford • Photos https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142016 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142016 Board of Education Joins Lawsuit Against LIPA At a special meeting on November 24, the Port Jefferson UFSD Board of Education voted to join a breach of contract lawsuit filed by the Northport-East Northport UFSD against LIPA (Long Island Power Authority). This lawsuit is a challenge to LIPA’s attempt to reduce the tax assessment on the National Grid power plant located in that community. Our district has joined that effort, as we agree that LIPA’s attempt to break a promise not to challenge taxes on the power plants violates the formal and informal guarantees made to the school districts (including ours), which could cause significant financial harm. Recent state appellate court decisions have ruled that the case could move forward. John Gross, the attorney for the school districts of both Northport-East Northport and Port Jefferson, has said that that this was a favorable decision in the legal effort to prevent LIPA from reneging on its financial commitments. The Port Jefferson UFSD Board of Education believes our decision to join this lawsuit is a necessary step to protect the resources of our school district and the the financial stability of our taxpayers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142028 Tue, 24 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142028 Applause for ‘The Dining Room’ Applause resounded off the auditorium walls as the talented student-actors at the high school presented the play “The Dining Room” by A. R. Gurney on Nov. 13-15. Directed by Tony Butera, the production centered on family dynamics and American culture and how the two have changed over the past 70 years. During the show, 15 students portrayed more than 60 different characters in 18 vignettes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142015 Mon, 23 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142015 Students Make a Difference Elementary school students are doing their part to make a difference in the community through a food drive to benefit those in need. The annual food drive, organized by the school’s guidance department, began on Nov. 2 and will run through Nov. 20. In just the first few days of the initiative, the Port Jefferson students collected several boxes of nonperishable goods that will help fill local pantry shelves. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142013 Fri, 20 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142013 Students Raise Money for Childhood Cancer Organization The Port Jefferson School Board honored six middle school students on Nov. 10 for a fundraiser they held for the American Childhood Cancer Organization. The students were recognized for organizing an after-school bake sale with the assistance of their teacher, Deirdre Filippi. Through the sale, they raised $225 for the ACCO. “We are very proud of these students, who are upholding the ideals of the Port Jefferson School District, including responsibility to self, family and community,” said Middle School Principal Dr. Robert Neidig. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Charlotte Ambrozy, Sarah Moshe, Abigail Muffly, Meghan Penske, Jacqueline Poten and Nicole Schully. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142009 Thu, 19 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142009 Important Letter from the Superintendent re: Substance Abuse Prevention https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142019 Thu, 19 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142019 Starry Nights Concert Classical orchestral music reverberated in the ears of elementary school orchestra students when they attended a performance at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center on Nov. 6. During the event, billed as the annual Starry Nights Concert, the students heard renditions of Haydn’s String Quartet in F Minor, Op. 20, No. 5; Brahms’ Sextet in B Flat Major, Op. 18; “Our Delight” by Tadd Dameron; “Tres Palabras” by Osvaldo Farrés; and “September in the Rain” by Harry Warren. The pieces were performed by Stony Brook University music faculty and members of the Emerson String Quartet, the university’s artists-in-residence performing group. The field trip was made possible through a partnership with the Staller Center Outreach Endowment and Coordinator Paul Newland. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142008 Wed, 18 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142008 Music Master Class To assist middle school orchestra students in fine-tuning their performance skills, the district’s music department invited Stony Brook University’s Calidore String Quartet to conduct a master class on Nov. 2. During the workshop, the professional musicians provided the orchestra members with feedback after listening to them play, which helped the student-musicians refine various technical and musical aspects of their performance. Additionally, the Calidore String Quartet performed pieces for the students, including Webern’s Langsamer Satz and the second movement of Mendelssohn’s String Quartet No. 6 in E Flat Major, op. 80. The event was funded through the Staller Center Outreach Endowment, which is overseen by Outreach Director Paul Newland. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141604 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141604 Letter Regarding Inappropriate Sharing of Images Please read the attached Letter Regarding Inappropriate Sharing of Images https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142014 Tue, 17 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142014 Students Flourish in Latin Program The high school Latin program offers students a unique opportunity to not only learn a second language and about the culture and history that surrounds it, but also form friendships and advance their educational careers. Learn more about the program in this short video. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142007 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142007 Icons of Freedom As part of a lesson in their government class, high school seniors had the opportunity to participate in the Icons of Freedom Conference held recently at Stony Brook University. During the conference, the Port Jefferson students learned about historical Supreme Court cases and met several individuals involved in the cases, including Mary Beth Tinker, an American free speech activist involved in the 1969 case Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District. Students also heard from civil rights activist Fred Korematsu, the central figure in the 1944 Korematsu v. the United States case, where the Supreme Court ruled that the wartime internment of American citizens of Japanese descent was constitutional. “I love history, and interacting with Ms. Tinker and Mr. Korematsu was a great experience,” said senior Karin Thomassen. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141599 Mon, 16 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141599 Bottle Cap Art Over the course of three days, elementary school students recycled colorful bottle caps to craft a large mural that will be prominently displayed in the school. The hands-on project was spearheaded by the school’s student-run Green Team in an effort to teach their peers about the importance of recycling. To bring the project to fruition, the Green Team held a schoolwide collection drive for bottle caps and worked with visiting artist Leslie Slatter of Green Earth Craft of Plainview to design the mural. The mural features a water-themed design around the word “SAIL,” which stands for the school’s values — Safety, Acceptance, Independence and Learning. Each bottle cap in the mural is adorned by a student’s name and initials. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141601 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141601 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE The work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education scheduled for November 24, 2015, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, has been changed to a special meeting of the Board. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142012 Fri, 13 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142012 Football Players Tackle Community Service High school varsity football players recently scored two touchdowns in the name of community service. On Nov. 1, the team held a successful food drive to benefit Long Island Harvest. The following day, the athletes sponsored a blood drive in conjunction with New York Blood Services. Players, coaches, faculty, administrators and community members donated enough blood to help as many as 120 patients. The team says the community service initiatives are a way of giving back to the community, which has always supported Port Jefferson football. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141602 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141602 Public Forum - The Ugly Truth Please read the attached flyer regarding the upcoming Public Forum. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142011 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142011 Don’t Miss It: The Dining Room The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School will present The Dining Room by A.R. Gurney on Friday, Nov. 13 and Saturday, Nov. 14 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2:00 p.m. The comedy is set in a single dining room and spans generations as it takes a look inside the households of different families who have each come to own the same dining room furniture set originally manufactured in 1898. Tickets are a suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per family and will be available at the door. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142010 Thu, 12 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false142010 Tennis Players Are Ace Three varsity girls tennis team athletes competed at the Suffolk County tennis individual championships, held on Oct. 17 at William Floyd High School in Shirley. The students earned their way into the competition after defeating some tough teams during the season. The Port Jefferson doubles team, comprised of Danielle Goldstein and Rebekah London, was one of 16 doubles teams to make it to the championship game, and first singles player Rachel Collins returned to the championship for the third year in a row as one of the top 16 singles players in the county. The three seniors also led their entire team, coached by Dennis Christofor, to the Suffolk County team playoffs as the ninth seeded team of the 53 participating schools countywide. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141600 Tue, 10 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141600 Google Classrooms Help Students Succeed This school year, the district introduced Google Classrooms to students to promote learning at all levels. Learn more about the initiative in this short video. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141603 Mon, 09 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141603 Music Inspires Students to Be Good Citizens Elementary school students were energized to stand up, clap and dance while popular children’s singer Brady Rymer performed on Oct. 28 as part of the kickoff to a new schoolwide character education program. Through his music, the two-time Grammy nominee and his band inspired students to be kind and respectful of one another. He sang songs with lyrics such as, “Jump up, it’s a good day” and “You never know until you say hi.” The school’s character education program supports proactive strategies for reinforcing positive student behavior. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141598 Fri, 06 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141598 Student-Athletes Donate Time to Miracle League For the fifth year in a row, high school student-athletes offered their time and friendship to the athletes of the Miracle League of Long Island. The members of the Varsity Club, as well as the girls and boys basketball, soccer and volleyball teams, served as buddies to the Miracle League athletes while they played several games of baseball on Oct. 17. They helped them bat, provided them with tips and taught them good sportsmanship. “We are very proud of our student-athletes and the efforts they put in to ensure that the Miracle League athletes had a wonderful experience,” said Debra Ferry, the district’s director of health, physical education and athletics. The Miracle League is a nonprofit organization that provides special needs children with an opportunity to play structured baseball games. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141597 Thu, 05 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141597 Students Read Easy with E-Books With the help of computer literacy class teacher Nancy Bachety, middle school students are tapping into learning and expanding their educational resources by downloading e-books and audiobooks from the Port Jefferson Public Library. During a recent in-school demonstration, the students used iPads and Chromebooks to explore the local library’s online resources and endless supply of digital texts. They were assisted in this venture by Port Jefferson Public Library teen department librarians, Eric Schaarschmidt and Andrew Bliss. Ms. Bachety noted the lesson demonstrated how these digital and local resources could be used for future research assignments and leisure reading. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141596 Wed, 04 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141596 Mets Jersey Fundraiser Is a Home Run To help the local community and celebrate the Mets making it into the World Series, the elementary school is holding a Thanksgiving raffle, where the grand prize is a jersey signed by Mets starting pitcher Steven Matz. The raffle kicked off earlier this month after Matz donated his signed jersey to the school through his aunt, an assistant teacher in the elementary school. So far, parents and staff have donated $500 toward the raffle. All of the money will be used to purchase food items and supplies for those in need this Thanksgiving. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141595 Tue, 03 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141595 College Admissions Panel Held To help students prepare for the college admissions process, the district hosted a college admissions panel at the high school on Oct. 21. During the event, admissions representatives from Fordham University, Queens College, Suffolk County Community College and Stony Brook University discussed various aspects of the college preparation and application process. The panel focused on topics such as the college essay, submission of the application, the college visit, college entrance exams and academic credentials. The panel was held in conjunction with a range of other college preparation initiatives at the high school, including a mini-college fair and the release of a new district college-planning handbook. The handbook provides foundational information on postsecondary planning for students and families. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141594 Mon, 02 Nov 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141594 Student Helps Paint Port Pink To do his part for John T. Mather Memorial Hospital’s breast cancer initiative, Paint Port Pink, fifth-grader Dennis Bonlarron made and sold rubber band loom bracelets to family, friends and teachers. Through his fundraiser, Dennis raised $250, which he donated to his school’s Paint Port Pink hourglass collection. At the end of the October fundraiser, all of the hourglass money will be donated to the hospital’s cause. Dennis said he decided to start his own fundraiser because he wanted to do something special in honor of his late grandmother. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141593 Fri, 30 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141593 Senior Wrestler Commits to Princeton High school senior and wrestling champion Matteo DeVincenzo has committed to attend Princeton University and join the school’s athletic program next fall. “I found the school’s wrestling and strong academic offerings to be a good fit for me,” said Matteo. “University representatives were very welcoming to me during my visits, and I am looking forward to working with the coach.” Matteo said he intends to study business and finance, while also wrestling for the Tigers. As a junior, Matteo earned the Eastern States crown before moving on to the state tournament, where he took the bronze. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Matteo and is confident he will continue to bring the Royals pride through his future achievements. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141592 Thu, 29 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141592 Paving Future Pathways to Success As part of its effort to ensure that every student has a postsecondary plan upon graduation, the high school guidance department has developed a planning guide for students in grades 9-12. The handbook, which was distributed to students during the week of Oct. 19, provides foundational information on postsecondary planning. Included in the 73-page guide are chapters on self-assessment, postsecondary options, the college experience, the admissions process, planning timelines and college financial information. “This bound volume is both attractive and informative,” said Principal Christine Austen. “I am confident that Port Jefferson students will be using this handbook for years to come.” “It truly is an impressive document that will assist our students in postsecondary plans,” added Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. The new handbook supports an already comprehensive planning support system for students, which includes interactive workshops, one-on-one counseling sessions, college fairs, and meet and greets with college and university representatives. In addition to providing students with a hard copy of the handbook, the district will also make the document available on its website. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141591 Mon, 26 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141591 An Important Message About Character To demonstrate to high school and middle school students the importance of making positive choices, Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello invited Motivational Media to host a character-building assembly on Oct. 16. Motivational Media’s program, which is viewed annually by more than 51 million students across the United States, Canada, Australia and Taiwan, uses popular movies, music videos and sports clips to show students that the choices they make, both positive and negative, can have a powerful impact within their schools, homes and communities. “Students learned that they must look after each other and recognize that together, they can make great contributions to their school and local community,” said Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141589 Fri, 23 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141589 Senior Named Scholar-Artist High school senior Parris Garant has been named a Scholar-Artist by the Long Island Arts Alliance for her vocal talents. To earn the title, which is bestowed annually to just 21 students from across Long Island, the Port Jefferson native participated in a highly competitive selection process. As part of that process, she was required to submit a video of herself singing in English and Italian, as well as compose an essay. “I was very surprised when I learned that I was recognized,” said Parris. “I hope that this honor will help me to further my goals and dreams.” Parris, who sings in the All-County Choir and her school’s choir and chamber choir, has hopes of studying general music at Boston’s Berklee College of Music or Northeastern University in the fall. In addition to singing, Parris is a violinist and sits second chair in the school’s orchestra. She is also vice president of the school’s Tri-M Music Honor Society. To watch a performance by Parris, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141587 Thu, 22 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141587 Runners Excel at Disney Cross-Country Classic The high school varsity cross-country team had a great run at the Disney Cross-Country Classic, held on Oct. 9 in Disney World. During the competition, Port Jefferson’s Justin Julich took first place overall in the Peter Pan Division, a varsity boys 5K race that featured 187 national runners. Julich, a senior, finished with a time of 16:24.60. Justin’s win, along with teammates Sam Walker placing third and Alex Rebec placing in the top 25, put Port Jefferson in third place in the Peter Pan Division. “This team truly achieved greatness,” said Debra Ferry, Port Jefferson’s director of health, physical education and athletics. “We are very proud of them.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141586 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141586 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 27, 2015, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held November 10, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141590 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141590 Students Paint Port Pink Across the district, students are doing their part to help raise awareness and funds for John T. Mather Memorial Hospital’s breast cancer outreach project, “Paint Port Pink.” Throughout the month of October, students are building on the outreach campaign by raising awareness in their respective schools through fundraising efforts. Elementary school students are collecting monetary donations in a large hourglass; the middle school student council members are selling pink shoelaces and Frisbees; and the high school’s varsity cheerleaders and student organization members are participating in a pink flamingo “flocking” fundraiser, where community members provide a monetary donation to have the students place a flock of pink, plastic flamingos in a neighbor’s yard. “Through their involvement in this community event, our students are being exposed to valuable lessons in community service and character education, as well as learning the importance of giving back,” said Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Debra Ferry, who helped organize the district’s participation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141585 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141585 Save the Date – Football Blood Drive In an effort to give back to the community, the high school varsity football team will be hosting a blood drive on Monday, Nov. 2, from 2-8 p.m. in the high school gym. Walk-ins are welcome and appointments are also available by calling Holly at 631- 875-0158. Participants must have a valid ID, weigh at least 110 pounds, be between the ages of 16 and 76 years old, and not have had a tattoo in the last 12 months. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141588 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141588 Scraggy Chefs To enhance students’ reading experience, elementary school librarian Selinda Moore has whipped up a new reading incentive program called Scraggy Chefs. Through the program, students are motivated to borrow cookbooks and, with the help of their families, create the dishes they’ve read about. They have made everything from cupcakes and pizza to more exotic dishes such as sushi. They are also encouraged to celebrate their culinary successes by submitting photos of their dishes for prominent display in the school library. “This program boosts students’ reading skills while honing in on other interdisciplinary skills, such as math and science,” said Moore. “Students are learning to follow directions, as well as the importance of sequencing, while strengthening their fine motor skills.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141584 Mon, 19 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141584 Students Inspired by Chainsaw Carving The sounds of a chainsaw echoed through the Edna Louise Elementary School playground on Oct. 7 as Port Jefferson art teacher Richard Anderson transformed a piece of wood into a work of art while his students watched in awe behind a safety perimeter. Throughout the demonstration, Mr. Anderson, who has been chainsaw carving since the age of 7 and professionally for the past 22 years, explained to students that art comes in many forms. He further enlightened students about artistic concepts such as texture, form, shape and color. He also showed them how art can tell a story as he created a variety of images, including an eagle, a bear and an owl. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141583 Fri, 16 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141583 Hole-in-One It was one for the record books, as freshman Shane DeVincenzo recorded his first hole-in-one during a game against Mt. Sinai at the Port Jefferson Country Club on Oct. 8. “Not many people can say they’ve made a hole-in-one, particularly during a competition,” said coach Charles Ruoff. “Shane has quickly become one of the strongest players in our league as a ninth-grader.” Shane, who has been playing golf for the past two seasons, took the hole-in-one shot with a six iron on Hole #2, playing 166 yards. He went on to shoot 33 for nine holes, barely missing a 15-foot putt for 32. “We are all very proud of Shane. He works really hard,” said Athletic Director Debra Ferry. With Shane’s hole-in-one, the Port Jefferson varsity golf team went on to win the League VI game against Mt. Sinai with a final score of 8-1. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141582 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141582 College Admissions Panel On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the district will host a college admissions panel at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. Beginning at 7 p.m., admissions representatives from Fordham University, Queens College, Suffolk County Community College and SUNY Stony Brook will discuss topics including the college essay, submission of the application, the college visit, college entrance exams and academic credentials. Scheduled to speak at the panel are Richard P. Alvarez - Vice President for Enrollment and Student Retention at Queens College, Patricia Peek, Ph.D., Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Fordham University, Robert Pertusati, Undergraduate Admissions representative from SUNY Stony Brook and Theresa Saladino, Director of Admissions of Suffolk County Community College. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141581 Tue, 13 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141581 Interesting Information Regarding Education on Long Island SCSSA GEA and Foundation Aid Information 2015-16 SCSSA Legislative Priorities 2015-16 LIEC 2015-16 School Budget Impact Survey Newsday Opinion “Reasons for hope as schools reopen" https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141579 Thu, 08 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141579 Port Jeff Featured in Newsday for Helmet Safety In response to the death of local high school football player, who died as a result of a helmet-to-helmet hit last school year, Port Jefferson decided to purchase new, top safety rated helmets. In its recent coverage on helmet safety, Newsday featured the district. To read the article, please click below. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141580 Thu, 08 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141580 Royals Show Off School Spirit Despite a chill in the air and drizzles of rain, Port Jefferson students displayed school spirit at their annual homecoming parade and football game on Oct. 3. The homecoming events kicked off with Spirit Week, which began Sept. 28. Students wore school colors and ended the week with a pep rally, where Earl L. Vandermeulen seniors Sterling Nenninger and Andreya Havey were named homecoming king and queen. The festivities continued on Oct. 3 with a parade down Barnum Avenue and Main Street. Featured in the parade were cheerleaders, junior football players, the middle school band, the homecoming court and class floats, each designed around a different branch of the military. The events culminated with a football game in which the Royals defeated Wyandanch, 36-8. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141578 Mon, 05 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141578 Important Information Regarding Homecoming Hello Port Jefferson Community, Homecoming is always an exciting time for our students and community! This week our students have been participating in "Spirit Week" to bring school spirit and show off our ROYAL Pride. However, in preparation of the severe weather, we would like to inform you of our plan for our Homecoming festivities. * Friday Night Bonfire: Due to the high winds and the rain we have already received, the Bonfire scheduled for Friday night has been canceled. * Saturday Morning Parade (11:00 a.m.): We anticipate the parade will run as scheduled at 11:00 a.m. Floats should assemble in the Faculty Parking Lot at 10:00 a.m. In the event of severe weather, the community will be notified via School Messenger and the District Website by 9:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. If the parade is canceled, we will have the class floats on display in front of the high school from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. for viewing and voting. * Football Game (2:00 p.m.) Port Jefferson Royals vs The Wyandanch Warrriors: We will play in rain and non-severe wind. We will use the guidance of Section XI for this event. If the game must be rescheduled, the community will be notified by School Messenger by 12:00 p.m. We are all hoping that the storm goes out to sea and never visits us. However, we would like to be prepared and communicate any changes with our community. Stay safe, and we hope to see you at our Homecoming Festivities!!! Regards, Mrs. Austen & Ms. Ferry https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141577 Fri, 02 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141577 Scoring a Reading Touchdown Wearing their purple and white jerseys, eight seniors on the varsity football team volunteered to share their love of literacy by reading to first-graders at the elementary school this fall. The football players – Shane Bruno, Nick Caltagirone, Mike DiCalogero, Bill Govits, John Guerra, Garret Hiz, Jefferson Koutsantanou and Spencer Wooley – participated in the event as part of a community outreach program organized by the team’s booster club. “The high school athletes were very exited about this opportunity to give back,” said coach Andrew Cosci. After reading “Fall Mixed Up” by Bob Raczka, “If You Take a Mouse to School” by Laura Numeroff and “A Bad Case of Stripes” by David Shannon, the players took turns answering questions from students. The reading session culminated with the athletes taking the first-graders outside to teach them how to throw a football. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141575 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141575 Click Here to Read Dr. Bossert’s October Message to the Community Click here for more information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141576 Thu, 01 Oct 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141576 A Quilt for Heroes To honor the heroes of 9/11, Port Jefferson Middle School students worked together to create a hero quilt during their English classes. The completed quilt, which is displayed in the second-floor hallway of the school, features students’ thoughts on heroism and showcases those whom they consider everyday heroes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141574 Wed, 30 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141574 Senior Commended in National Merit Competition High school senior Rachel Collins has earned the title of National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Student as a result of her outstanding score on the qualifying exam. Rachel is one of about 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation recognized for their “exceptional academic promise.” To earn the title, she placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the PSAT. Rachel, who is exploring colleges in the Northeast, intends to major in a STEM-related field. In addition to her commitment to academics, she is a dedicated athlete. She plays tennis both outside of school and on Port Jefferson’s varsity team and participates in the school’s winter and spring track programs. She is also a member of the school’s Latin Club and Science Olympiad Team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141573 Tue, 29 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141573 Singer Shines at Dragon Boat Race Middle school seventh-grader Peggy Yin showcased her talents by performing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at Port Jefferson Village’s second annual Dragon Boat Race Festival on Sept. 19. In addition to helping to open the festival, Peggy played the Chinese flute and performed an original composition written by her father, Weiguo Yin, called “The Starry Harbor.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141572 Mon, 28 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141572 A Student Voice on Port Jefferson’s Board Nick Caltagirone will serve as a voice of his peers this year as he joins the Port Jefferson Board of Education in the role of student representative. The high school senior was elected by his peers at the end of 2014-15 school year to serve as a liaison between students and the Board during the Board’s monthly meetings. “I hope to be able to express students’ points of view and any concerns they may have,” he said of his position. In addition to serving as a non-voting Board of Education student representative, Nick is a member of the high school’s student government and plays varsity football, wrestling and lacrosse. He was also named a Scholar/Athlete by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141570 Fri, 25 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141570 District Partners with Mather Hospital to "Paint Port Pink” Dear Parents, I am excited to announce that for the month of October, the Port Jefferson School District will be partnering with John T. Mather Memorial Hospital and participating in its “Paint Port Pink” breast cancer awareness outreach program. Students throughout the district will be organizing various community service outreach programs to help spread awareness and raise funds. The funds raised throughout the campaign will be donated directly to Mather’s Fortunato Breast Health Center. Students at the elementary school will launch their “Your Change Can Make Change” promotion; middle school students will be wearing and selling pink shoelaces and Frisbees; and our high school cheerleaders and Student Organization will begin their “Flamingo Flocking” fundraising campaign. The pink plastic suburban icons will be placed on the lawns of friends and supporters along with a note explaining that friends or family paid to have them “flocked,” and that if they make a donation, the flock will migrate to the yard of any relative or friend they choose. Additionally, many of our students will participate in the Paint Port Pink kickoff event scheduled for Oct. 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Port Jefferson Village Hall. Through their participation in this community event, our students will be exposed to valuable lessons in community service and character education, as well as learn the importance of giving back. Warm regards, Debra Ferry, C.A.A. Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141571 Thu, 24 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141571 Port Jeff Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that high school senior Eric Kilgore has been named a 2016 National Merit Semifinalist. Eric is among the 16,000 semifinalists included on the 61st annual National Merit Scholarship Program’s list who qualified for the honor based on their high PSAT scores. He now has the opportunity to compete for one of 7,600 National Merit scholarships, which will be offered in the spring of 2016. Eric is a member of his school’s Science Olympiad, Academic and Mathlete teams. He also belongs to the Latin Club and earned a perfect score on his last two National Latin exams. In addition, he is an avid swimmer and competes on the Three Village Swim Club team. He has his sights set on Stanford University next fall and intends to study math and physics. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141569 Wed, 23 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141569 AP Scholars Named in Port Jefferson In recognition of their exceptional achievement on Advanced Placement exams, several high school students have earned the title of Advanced Placement Scholar. In total, 23 students were named AP Scholars, seven earned the recognition of AP Scholar with Honor, 25 were named as AP Scholars with Distinction, five were ranked as National AP Scholars and one was recognized with an AP International Diploma. To earn AP Scholar recognition, students are required to score a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams; to be recognized as an AP Scholar with Honor, students must earn a 3.25 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of those exams; for an AP Scholar with Distinction Award, students must receive an average score of 3.5 on all AP exams and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of those exams; and to be named a National AP Scholar, students must earn an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and grades of 4 or higher on eight or more of those exams. Students must score a 3 or higher on five or more AP exams in four or more subject areas in order to receive an AP International Diploma. The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following students: AP Scholar Nicole Callahan, Nicholas Caltagirone, Morgan Campbell*, Carly Cherches*, Janella Damaskos*, Olivia Desmond*, Tristin DeVincenzo*, Edward Finkelstein, Parris Garant, Rachel Geiser*, Elisabeth Gwydir, Richard Hoey*, Calla Kelley-Renda, Jefferson Koutsantanou, Christopher McLaughlin*, Isabella Mungioli, Charles Pillus*, Anita Rescia, Robert Righi*, Arunima Roy, Yuuki Shibutani*, Ryan Walsh and Dylan Wennerod* AP Scholar with Honor Lev Bershadsky, Ryan Burgert*, Kathleen Christ, Aliza Doyle*, Steven Geiser*, Alexander Koller* and Thomas Pon* AP Scholar with Distinction Casey Africano, Caroline Biondo*, Ryan Burke*, Paul Capobianco*, Gaspar Cello*, Shannon Christ, Rachel Collins, Noah Davis*, Allison Dombroski*, Allegra Fils-Aime*, Andie Fortier*, Ju Mi Ha*, Dunia Karzai*, Julia Kharzeev*, Eric Kilgore, Margo Martin-Deprez*, Donal McSweeney*, Kayley Okst*, Lara Sarubbi*, Daniel Scarda*, Ryan Scott*, Marianna Spentzos, Caroline Strauss*, William Witrock and Natalia Zaliznyak* National AP Scholar Ryan Burke*, Noah Davis*, Julia Kharzeev*, Eric Kilgore, Natalia Zaliznyak* AP International Diploma Margo Martin-Deprez* *Students who graduated in 2015 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141568 Mon, 21 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141568 Port Jefferson Earns Athletic Distinction Award For the third year in a row, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association has presented a Scholar/Athlete Team School of Distinction Award to the high school. To earn the award, all 25 Port Jefferson varsity teams met the criteria of holding an above 90 percent team GPA for the 2014-2015 school year. “It is a tremendous credit to the student-athletes, parents, teachers and coaches for stressing the importance of hard work in the classroom, as well as on the fields,” said Athletic Director Debra Ferry. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141567 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141567 Students Perform a Moving Tribute The Elementary School’s select choir paid tribute to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 by giving a moving performance during the Port Jefferson Fire Department’s annual 9/11 memorial service. The fifth-graders, led by music teacher Jessica Pastor, performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless the USA” during the somber ceremony. The event was attended by members of the community, the Port Jefferson School District’s administration and Board of Education, and Sen. Kenneth LaValle. The district commends students Alexa Ayotte, Regan Byrne, Samantha DiCarlo, Maggie Johnston, Olivia Schlegel and Sophia Wennerod for their musical tribute. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141566 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141566 High School Named Reward School For its educational excellence and student performance, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has once again earned the prestigious designation of Reward School by the New York State Education Department. “We are delighted to have been named a Reward School,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “This award demonstrates the district’s commitment to educational excellence and our students’ standout academic accolades.” NYSED presents the award annually to schools that have made the most progress or have the highest performance in the state with no significant gaps in student achievement. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was one of only 364 schools across New York State to receive the recognition for 2015-2016. This is not the first time that the Port Jefferson School District has been recognized with a Reward School designation; the district’s high school and middle school both earned the award in the past three school years. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141565 Fri, 11 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141565 Statement from the Board of Education and Superintendent regarding the Educational Reform Agenda Statement from the Board of Education and Superintendent regarding the Educational Reform Agenda https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141563 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141563 Tech Team Recognized In its effort to recognize the hard work by staff and students, the school board honored members of the district’s technology department at a meeting on Sept. 8. The five district employees and two student interns who comprise the technology team were honored for the numerous hours of work they put in over the summer to prepare for the new school year. “The work they performed over the summer was extensive,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. According to Network and Systems Administrator Brian Sandak, district technicians worked alongside student interns Max Okst, a sophomore, and Maxwell Famularo, a senior, to set up Smart Boards, computers and printers throughout the district. The district extends its congratulations on a job well done to the entire technology team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141564 Thu, 10 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141564 Letter to Parents Regarding Students Sharing Lunch ID Numbers https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141562 Wed, 09 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141562 Dr. Bossert's Editorial on APPR (3012-d) The following editorial statement appeared in the Sunday edition of Newsday on 9-6-15. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141560 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141560 A Successful Start to the School Year Under warm and sunny skies, students throughout the district eagerly arrived to school on Sept. 8 ready to begin a new year of learning. Upon arrival at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, students were greeted by balloons and smiling staff members who assisted them to their classrooms. At Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, students were welcomed back with an array of purple decorations that adorned the schools’ hallways. Students at all buildings quickly became acclimated to their new schedules and routines. “We are looking forward to another successful school year,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141561 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141561 Important Letter Regarding Newsday's Sunday Coverage Dear Parents and Community Members, Having had the opportunity to visit each of our classrooms today, I am pleased to report the smooth start to our first instructional day. Despite the challenging temperatures, our students, faculty and staff focused on starting the instructional year on a positive note. It was great to see all of our returning students as well as those new to Port Jefferson. This past Sunday, Newsday’s LI Life section ran a story on the activity of parkour. Accompanying the story were several photos that featured a man demonstrating dangerous parkour moves utilizing district facilities. Please know that these photographs were not sanctioned by the district, nor were the photographer and the man featured in the images ever granted permission to be on school grounds. Furthermore, the district had no prior knowledge of their intent of being on campus. Please know that the district would never approve such actions/behaviors that could not only jeopardize the safety of any individual, but also posed such a liability risk to district taxpayers. Additionally, when confronted by security on the day the photos were taken, they misrepresented their reason for being on district property. With school beginning, it is important for us to reiterate that we do not allow our students to use school buildings and related infrastructure as places for this kind of activity and have previously warned students not to attempt these types of risky tricks. The health and safety of our children is the district’s top priority. Participating in dangerous activities on school property not only puts themselves at risk of injury, but also the district and community taxpayers at risk for liability. During the first few days of school, we will be reviewing many different safety protocols and procedures with our students. We request that you also take a few moments to speak with your children on making smart decisions when it comes to their safety. I thank you for your time and look forward to a great school year ahead. Warm regards, 

Dr. Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D.
 Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141113 Tue, 08 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141113 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held September 8, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141112 Mon, 07 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141112 First Bus Ride for Kindergartners To help ease first-day jitters, the elementary school invited incoming kindergartners to take a practice bus ride during an orientation program on Sept. 3. The students and their parents rode a school bus from their designated bus stop to their new school. After arriving, the students were treated to a snack before once again boarding the bus to head home. The annual program aims to help students adjust to taking a bus on a daily basis to school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141110 Fri, 04 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141110 Regent Tilles speaks to Port Jefferson Educators https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141111 Thu, 03 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141111 Regent Tilles Speaks to Staff at Conference Day https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141108 Thu, 03 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141108 First Bus Ride for Kindergartners To help ease first-day jitters, the elementary school invited incoming kindergartners to take a practice bus ride during an orientation program on Sept. 3. The students and their parents rode a school bus from their designated bus stop to their new school. After arriving, the students were treated to a snack before once again boarding the bus to head home. The annual program aims to help students adjust to taking a bus on a daily basis to school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141109 Thu, 03 Sep 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141109 New Face in Business Office The district has appointed Karen Horoszewski as the new assistant to the assistant superintendent of business, effective Sept. 9. “Mrs. Horoszewski’s experience and knowledge, coupled with her enthusiasm, will enable her to hit the ground running and positively impact the business office’s operations,” said Assistant Superintendent of Business Sean Leister. Prior to joining the Port Jefferson School District, Horoszewski was employed by the South Country Central School District for seven years. She rose through the ranks to become the business office manager and purchasing agent. Her professional background also includes experience as a senior account clerk for the North Babylon Union Free School District. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, Horoszewski holds an MBA and a School District Business Leader Advanced Certificate from Dowling College. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141107 Fri, 28 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141107 Students Welcomed into Middle School Incoming sixth-graders were introduced to their new school at the Welcome Back to School Barbecue on Aug. 20. During the annual barbecue, students met Principal Robert Neidig, Assistant Principal Claudia Smith and several middle school teachers. They also toured the school and received their locker assignments. Parent volunteers were on hand to serve a tasty dinner of hot dogs and hamburgers to all attendees. The barbecue is an opportunity for students to socialize with their classmates and become acclimated to the school while celebrating the start of the school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141874 Fri, 21 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141874 High School Tops in Newsweek Study Newsweek has named Earl L. Vandermeulen High School as a 2015 top American high school. The national magazine ranked the district’s high school No. 1 in Suffolk County, No. 38 in New York State and No. 276 in the nation when it comes to preparing students for college. The school has a 100 percent graduation rate, with 96.9 percent of students moving on to higher education. Of the distinction, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert said, “We are pleased to be recognized for our commitment to students’ continuing education. It is a testament to the dedication of our teachers, administrators and support staff. ” More than 16,000 schools were considered in the ranking based on a broad range of data, including enrollment and graduation rates and AP, SAT and ACT scores, among other factors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141383 Thu, 20 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141383 High School Assistant Principal Appointed The district is pleased to announce that the Board of Education unanimously appointed Kevin J. Bernier as Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s new assistant principal during a meeting on August 11. Mr. Bernier will officially begin his work in the district on August 24. “We are certain that Mr. Bernier, who comes to us with years of administrative experience, will serve our district well and help to ensure that all of our students receive the personalized, rigorous education that our community has come to expect,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. Prior to joining the Port Jefferson School District, Mr. Bernier was employed by the William Floyd School District, where he has worked since 2001. Most recently, he served as the assistant principal at William Floyd High School and a district CTE administrator. His professional background also includes 12 years of teaching experience in the area of English on the secondary level. Mr. Bernier holds a Bachelors Degree from Long Island University and a professional diploma for educational administration and a Masters in English from Dowling College. He is a member of the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and the National Council for the Teachers of English. In his new role, Mr. Bernier will serve along side high school Principal Christine Austen, who previously served the district as the Pre-K-12 assistant principal. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141382 Wed, 12 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141382 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 25, 2015, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held September 8, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141381 Wed, 12 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141381 Welcome Back Letter from Superintendent Dr. Bossert https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141380 Mon, 10 Aug 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141380 Three Administrators Appointed to Leadership Team It is the mission of the Port Jefferson School District to provide a personalized, rigorous education that develops responsible, independent and adaptable lifelong learners. In order to provide our students with all available opportunities for success, the district must employ administrators that inspire, encourage and support all students, staff and faculty alike. To that end, during its July 28 meeting, the Board of Education unanimously appointed veteran educators Robert Neidig, Ed.D., Jodi Cahill and Claudia Smith as Port Jefferson Middle School principal, director of special education and pre-K-8 assistant principal, respectively. “This is an exciting time in the Port Jefferson School District,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “[It is] a time filled with opportunities for growth and development as new leaders join the team. Each was selected based upon outstanding vision, strong content knowledge and the ability to collaborate with all stakeholders in an effective manner.” Following eight successful years as assistant principal of North Country Road Middle School in the Miller Place School District, Dr. Robert Neidig will now lead the Port Jefferson Middle School as principal. During his time as assistant principal, Dr. Neidig fostered a positive relationship between the school and community, initiated character education programs to improve the school climate, facilitated the implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards and served as chairperson for four academic departments. Prior to his years as an administrator, he began his educational career as a secondary social studies teacher in the Babylon School District. Dr. Neidig holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education with a concentration in social studies from the University of Scranton, two master’s degrees – one in liberal studies and another in school district administration – from Stony Brook University, and an educational doctorate in educational administration from Dowling College. He will begin his new role in Port Jefferson on Aug. 17. Jodi Cahill will begin her tenure as director of special education on Aug. 10. She joins the Royal family from the Brentwood School District, where she began her career in education and has worked for 20 years. Since 2002, Mrs. Cahill served as Brentwood’s department head for speech and hearing, as well as chairperson for the district’s Committee on Special Education. She coordinated the implementation of Individualized Education Programs for approximately 1,000 students in grades pre-K through 12 receiving speech therapy, created and implemented professional development programs for department staff and supervised 24 speech language pathologists. Mrs. Cahill holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech language pathology from SUNY Cortland and LIU Post, respectively, and certification as a school district administrator from Stony Brook University. Claudia Smith will replace Christine Austen, who was appointed as high school principal, in a restructured position as pre-K-8 assistant principal, working with both the staff and students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and Port Jefferson Middle School. Mrs. Smith joins Port Jefferson from the Middle Country Central School District, where she worked as a regular and integrated elementary school teacher for 18 years. As a classroom teacher, she consistently differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all students, utilized both qualitative and quantitative means of assessment, and prepared students to master formal assessments through the use of curricula aligned to the Common Core Learning Standards. Mrs. Smith holds a bachelor’s degree in child studies (pre-K-6) from St. Joseph’s College, a master’s degree in reading, language and cognition (K-12), and professional diplomas in school district and school building leadership from Dowling College. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141379 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141379 Letter from the Superintendent re: New Administrators https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141378 Wed, 29 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141378 The Sounds of Summer Elementary and middle school students honed their musical abilities during a three-week summer music camp that ran through July 23. During the annual camp, beginner and intermediate band and string students practiced their musical studies while interacting with their peers. “The camp provided an enjoyable and positive way for students to either begin learning an instrument or continue their musical studies,” said Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141377 Fri, 24 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141377 What a Year It Has Been! The 2014-2015 school year was filled with numerous accomplishments, exciting educational events and community service projects. This video highlights a few of those amazing achievements and milestones. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141375 Tue, 21 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141375 Senior Athletes Recognized More than 65 student-athletes from the Class of 2015 were recognized for their athletic accomplishments at an awards presentation held during the annual Senior Day celebration. Each athlete was presented with a certificate acknowledging their dedication, hard work and sportsmanship during their athletic career in high school. The district extends its congratulations to the following senior athletes: Mark Accardo David Altamirano Neil Alvarez Caroline Biondo Kristin Booker Ryan Burgert James Burke Ryan Burke Kristin Callahan Paul Capobianco Nicole Carlacci Corey Carnahan Gaspar Cello Lillian Concepcion Douglas Crawford Matthew Crawford Janella Marie Damaskos Meghan Dambeck Noah Davis Corey deGroot Olivia Desmond Tristin DeVincenzo Allison Dombroski Deanna Eichinger Ali Ertugrul Jacqueline Fabian Shannon Fee Allegra Fils-Aime Joshua Forgione Rachel Geiser Martin Genao Kareem Ghaleb John Giannusa Devin Ginas JuMi Ha Emilie Harrington Richard Hoey Tyler Holmes John Howell Richard Hoey Tyler Holmes John Howell Matthew Keresztes Callan Evelyn Klasek Benjamin Kluender Sascha Koller Devon Koban Maureen Laffey Courtney Loehr Gregory Markarian Margo Martin-Deprez Lauren McGuirk Donal Michael McSweeney Alden Mohacsi Brigitte Murphy James Murphy Jake Myhre Adam Nieves Ralph Joseph Parillo Dimas Perez Thomas Pon Emily Rubenbauer Lara Sarubbi Daniel Scarda Parker Schoch Tammy Serabian Joseph Sottile III Gordon Sund Annie Warm Dylan Wennerod https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141376 Tue, 21 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141376 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 28, 2015, 6:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School for the purpose of taking action on personnel items. Call to order will be at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 11, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141374 Thu, 16 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141374 Board Members Sworn in at Reorganization Meeting Three members of the district’s Board of Education — one newly elected trustee and two re-elected incumbents — took the oath of office at the annual reorganization meeting on July 13. Tracy Zamek raised her right hand and swore the oath administered by District Clerk Janice Baisley to commence her first term as trustee. Vincent Ruggiero and Mark Doyle were also sworn in by Baisley to begin their new terms. The Board reinstalled President Kathleen Brennan to her title role and elected to appoint Mark Doyle as vice president. After the oaths, the Board commenced with the meeting agenda, which included Executive Director for Curriculum and Instruction Maureen Hull’s presentation of the Spring 2015 School Report Card. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141373 Tue, 14 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141373 Scholarships Awarded to Class of 2015 In acknowledgment of the hard work and dedication they had displayed throughout their high school careers, members of the Class of 2015 were awarded college scholarships during the annual Senior Day prior to graduation. The students were presented with more than $47,000 scholarships, sponsored by 39 local organizations, businesses, memorial funds and school organizations, for their academic successes, athletic achievements, and community service and citizenship. The district extends its congratulations to the following students: Academic Excellence Award Ryan Burgert, Noah Davis, Lara Sarubbi and Natalia Zaliznyak Amy Tyler School of Dance – Fine Arts Scholarship Carly Cherches Bill Flanagan Memorial “Books from Billy” Scholarship Callan Klasek Brookhaven Cluster of Superintendents Scholarship Kayley Okst Denise Dougherty Abelson Memorial Scholarship Douglas Crawford and Matthew Crawford Drs. Goldman, Taynor, Sabo and Rienecker Orthodontics Health Sciences Scholarship Parker Schoch and Yuuki Shibutani Firefighter Thomas J. Kennedy Memorial Scholarship Ellen Fox Fran Cook Memorial Scholarship (BOCES) Amanda D’Auria Frey Family Foundation Courage Scholarship Allison Dombroski and Paul Han Frey Family Foundation Renaissance Scholarship Noah Davis and Morgan Campbell Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Amanda D’Auria Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson Scholarship Thomas Pon In Memory of Kathleen, Edmund, Philip and Christopher Mallory Scholarship Alden Mohacsi James Gerard Butera Memorial Scholarship Joseph Iasso Jim Smith Memorial Scholarship James Burke and Lillian Concepcion Joseph John Devine Foundation Scholarship Richard Hoey Long Island Teachers Benevolent Fund Len Motisi Memorial Scholarship Ryan Burke, Rachel Geiser, Steven Geiser and Maureen Laffey Michael Edward Anderson Scholarship Dimas Perez and Paige Swift Michael Fallacaro Memorial Music Scholarship Alden Mohacsi MSG Varsity Scholarship Tammy Serabian Port Jefferson Administrators Association Scholarship Benjamin Kluender Port Jefferson Facility and Technology Supervisors Association Scholarship Ryan Burgert and Meghan Dambeck Port Jefferson Fire Department Scholarship Tyler Holmes and Joseph Sottile Port Jefferson Lions Club Scholarship Corey de Groot and Sydney Fowora Port Jefferson Office Staff Association Scholarship Joseph Iasso Port Jefferson PTSA Scholarship Paul Han Port Jefferson Retired Teachers Association Scholarship Tammy Serabian Port Jefferson Teachers Association Scholarship Ryan Burke, Kristin Callahan, Shannon Fee and Christopher McLaughlin Rotary Club of Port Jefferson Interact Recognition Award Caroline Biondo and Andie Fortier Rotary Club of Port Jefferson Scholarship Joseph Sottile SCOPE Scholarship Paul Capobianco Ruggiero Family Scholarship Rachel Geiser Suffolk County Chapter NYS Association for Superintendents of School Buildings and Grounds Scholarship Robert Righi and Daniel Scarda Suffolk County Transportation Service Scholarship Carly Cherches Suwassett Garden Club of Port Jefferson Scholarship Aliza Doyle Theatre Three Scholarship Paige Swift Tri-M Music Eliana Dorf Honor Society Scholarship Andie Fortier United Paraprofessionals Association of Port Jefferson Scholarship Matthew Crawford and Tammy Serabian Velazquez Family Scholarship Eliana Dorf https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141372 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141372 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE The annual reorganization meeting and July business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 13, 2015, in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 5:15 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session, the reorganization meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m., and the business meeting will commence at 7:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141371 Fri, 10 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141371 Interim MS Principal and Special Education Director Named The Port Jefferson Board of Education has named Leonard Bozza as the middle school’s interim principal while the district conducts a search for a new principal. Mr. Bozza previously served as both an interim secondary assistant principal and interim high school principal for Port Jefferson following his retirement from the Longwood School District, where he served for many years as the high school principal. “We are fortunate to have Mr. Bozza’s experience and knowledge base available to us as we conduct our process to identify an exemplary candidate to recommend to the Board for permanent appointment,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. In addition, the Board has named Carmen Iannotti as interim director of special education while it searches for a permanent appointment. Like Mr. Bozza, Mr. Iannotti previously worked in the district, having served in the same capacity in the 2012-2013 school year. “Mr. Iannotti’s extensive experience and insight into our students and programs will be an asset to all during this time of transition,” said Dr. Bossert. Mr. Bozza can be reached at 631-791-4431 and Mr. Iannotti can be reached at 631-791-4241. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141370 Tue, 07 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141370 Senior Competes in New Balance Championship High school senior Allegra Fils-Aime recently competed at the 2015 New Balance National Outdoor Championship from June 19-21 in North Carolina. During the event, Allegra competed against 37 athletes in the triple jump. She jumped 38’2” finishing in 22nd place. The competition culminated her career as a high school athlete. During her time in the Port Jefferson School District, she earned All-League in the triple jump and holds second place in the county title. She also medaled at the NYS track meet, finishing fifth. Allegra will attend Wesleyan University in the fall, where she will continue to participate in track. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141368 Thu, 02 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141368 Parent Portal Open Dates The grading portion of the Parent Portal will be open from July 2nd through July 16th and will reopen again in late August. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141369 Thu, 02 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141369 Class of 2015 Joins Ranks of Port Jeff Alumni Dressed in purple and white caps and gowns, the 2015 Earl. L. Vandermeulen High School graduating class was celebrated at a graduation ceremony on June 26. During the commencement, speakers rose to congratulate the students and offer words of wisdom. Among those addressing the students were Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, Valedictorian Noah Davis and Salutatorian Natalia Zaliznyak and parent speaker Peter Capobianco, who is the owner of Cappy’s Carpets. In his speech, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bosert echoed sentiments that he delivered to the class when they graduated eighth grade. He said, “Take advantage of all the opportunities presented to you over the next four years. Be involved, find your niche. Be a scholar, be an athlete, be an artist, be a musician…most of all make us proud.” Congratulations to the Class of 2015, and best wishes for a successful future. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141367 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 09:00:00 GMT false141367 Living Biography Museum Dressed in period costumes, third-graders recently participated in a Living Biography Museum. The museum culminated a month-long project in which the students in Nancy Winkler-Brogan’s class each selected a figure to research. The students then brought the figures to life during the Living Biography Museum, which was attended by the student’s peers, friends and family. Each third-grader presented a five-minute speech in front of poster boards describing their figure. Among the figures the students presented information on were Elvis, Blackbeard, Dr. Seuss and Michelle Obama. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141351 Wed, 01 Jul 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141351 Ducks Visit Fourth-grader Amy Whitman was one of four winners in the annual “Take a Duck to Class” essay contest, sponsored by the Long Island Ducks and TD Bank. Per contest rules, Amy submitted an essay of less than 250 words that answered the question, “Who is a hero in your community and why?” Her winning essay focused on her cousin Justin Vogt, a U.S. Marine. She won a $50 Visa gift card from TD Bank and a visit to the school from QuackerJack. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140889 Tue, 30 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140889 Off to High School School officials, parents and friends acknowledged the accomplishments of middle school eighth-graders at a ceremony on June 25 at the high school. During the event, the students received several special classroom recognitions and Presidential Awards for Academic Excellence, as well as certificates to signify their move to high school. “While you have reached an important milestone in your educational journey, you have many more opportunities to make us proud,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “As you head to high school, always trust your instincts and let them serve as a guide to shape your future.” Also speaking during the ceremony was Middle School Principal Antonio Santana and eighth-grade Student Council President Phoenix Jampol. The event culminated with a performance of the theme from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony by the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141366 Mon, 29 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141366 Moving Up to Middle School The future Class of 2022 celebrated their moving up to middle school at a ceremony on June 24 at the high school. During the event, the elementary school students received special classroom, safety patrol and principal recognitions, as well as certificates to signify their move to middle school. “Today, we celebrate a milestone in your educational journey,” Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert said. “Take the lessons you’ve learned in elementary school to the middle school and seek out activities that inspire you.” Also speaking at the ceremony were parent Jill Russell, retiring teacher’s aide Loraine Serabian and elementary Principal Thomas Meehan. The event culminated with the students singing “The Best Day of My Life” by American Authors and an ice cream social. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141365 Fri, 26 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141365 Math-tastic Several students recently proved their smarts when it comes to correctly answering math questions. Among them was eighth-grader Annalisa Welinder, who earned fifth place for her score in the Level 3 Algebra/Trig Suffolk County Math Contest. Fellow eighth-grader Mayu Takeuchi also demonstrated her mathematical prowess with a score of 106 out of 120 on the AMC10 test, which is designed for high school students. Mayu’s score was the highest in her school. Additionally, high school senior Ryan Burke qualified to take the prestigious American Invitational Mathematics Examination after earning a score of 106.5 on the AMC12 test. Ryan’s high score was in the top 5 percent nationally. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141348 Fri, 26 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141348 Students Help Build a Home With hammers and nails in hand, members of the high school Interact Club helped build a home in Mastic Beach as part of the Habitat for Humanity Student Build program. The students spent the day installing windows on the first floor of the home and hammering in the front porch. They also raised $1,500 for the project through a fundraiser. “This was truly a rewarding experience for the girls, who learned about Habitat’s organization and helped get a deserving family a step closer to moving into their new home,” said club advisor Deirdre Filippi. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141347 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141347 Dancing the Night Away To celebrate their completion of middle school, 92 eighth-graders enjoyed an evening of dancing on June 23 at Lombardi’s on the Sound. The annual eighth-grade dance was coordinated by Allison Giannusa, Student Council advisor and allowed the students to spend some quality time together before moving to the high school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141363 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141363 Summer School Opportunities for Parents and Students Click here for more information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141364 Thu, 25 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141364 Mosaic Winners Middle school students Erica Graci and Lucas Welinder were selected to have their artwork displayed at Rocketship Park in the Village of Port Jefferson as part of a beautification project fundraiser organized by the Village. As part of the fundraiser, the middle school purchased two tiles and held a schoolwide contest calling for artwork to decorate the tiles. The winning images submitted by Erica and Lucas will be screened onto the mosaic tiles and installed at the park once a renovation project gets underway. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141360 Wed, 24 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141360 Valedictorian Honored Port Jefferson Class of 2015 valedictorian Noah Davis was honored during the annual Suffolk County School Superintendents Association Valedictorians Luncheon at the Hyatt Regency in Hauppauge in May. During the event, Noah and the other valedictorians in attendance were honored for their achievements, dedication and commitment. Noah was joined by his parents, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert and Principal Dr. Matthew Murphy. Regent Roger Tilles, a member of the New York State Education Department Board of Regents, served as keynote speaker and extended his congratulations to the soon-to-be graduates. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141346 Wed, 24 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141346 Athletes Commit to Colleges Royal Pride shined through as the athletic department hosted a college-commitment ceremony on June 3 for student-athletes who have chosen to continue their athletic journeys at some of the nation’s top colleges this fall. During the ceremony, six high school seniors penned their names to college commitment letters as proud parents, coaches and school administrators watched. “These athletes have all made an enormous impact on the Port Jefferson athletic community by either being on championship teams or by setting school, state and personal records,” said Debra Ferry, Port Jefferson athletic director. “They each have what it takes to succeed as college athletes. I wish them the best of luck.” The school district congratulates the following students: James Burke, Georgetown University (Track) Tristin DeVincenzo, University of Pennsylvania (Wrestling) Shannon Fee, SUNY New Paltz (Softball) Allegra Fils-Aime, Wesleyan University (Track) Emilie Harrington, Hunter College (Volleyball) Alden Mohacsi, Dickinson College (Track) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141345 Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141345 Port Jefferson Teams Earn Accolades Three high school varsity athletic teams were recently recognized with prestigious honors during end-of-year sports dinners. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following teams: Lacrosse The varsity lacrosse team capped off their inaugural season with several awards at a recent ceremony. During the event, Connor Fitterrer, Brian Mark and Max Scandale were named members of the League IV All-League team, and Max was recognized for making the All-County team. Brian was also named the League IV Rookie of the Year. Senior Jake Myhre was recognized as the first recipient of the $1,000 “Stick with a Goal” scholarship, granted by the Port Jefferson Village Lacrosse Association. Jake will attend the University of Pittsburgh in the fall. As a team, the boys earned the Suffolk County Lacrosse Coaches Association Crosse Award, which recognizes teams that are most improved. “I couldn’t be more proud of what this team accomplished this past season,” said head coach Taylor Forstell. Baseball Seven varsity baseball players scored top honors at the Suffolk County All-League/All-County Dinner. They included All-League Players Neil Alvarez, Noah Davis, Sean Griffin, Matt Keresztes, Ben Kluender and James Murphy, and All-Academic Player Tristin DeVincenzo. The team reached the Suffolk County Class B Semifinals. Tennis At the Suffolk County Boys Tennis Awards Dinner, five senior varsity tennis players were recognized. Sascha Koller earned a top 16 in the county award, Paul Capobianco and Corey deGroot received an All-League Doubles recognition, Adam Nieves was awarded with an All-League Singles honor and Gaspar Cello received a sportsmanship award. Additionally, eighth-grader Josh Gelfond earned the No. 1 USTA boys 14-year-old player award and will be leading Port Jefferson’s tennis team next year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141359 Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141359 Moving up and Graduation Ceremonies will be Broadcast LIVE over the Internet All of our Moving up and Graduation Ceremonies are being broadcast live over the internet. You will need the Real Player to view the LIVE video stream on your computer. It can be downloaded by following the link below: Click HERE for the Real Player Download Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad Archived video will be available the morning after the event on each of the building's home pages under the announcements section. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141361 Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141361 Letter from The Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141362 Tue, 23 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141362 Elementary Math Tournament A team of sixth-graders scored big at the eighth annual Suffolk County Elementary Math Tournament at Stony Brook University. The team placed 10th out of 52 teams, and team member Aaron Held placed fourth in the individual competition out of 260 students. To earn the recognitions, the students were required to answer challenging Math Olympiad-style problems in a timed tournament. “The kids had a blast competing and spending the day on a college campus,” said math teacher Megan Ryan. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141358 Mon, 22 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141358 Star Students Recognized Six Port Jefferson elementary students have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. The students chosen as June Star Students are Brianna Russo, kindergarten; Alexa Jacobs, first grade; Kyle DiCarlo, second grade; Anneliese Byrne, third grade; Sophia Wennerod, fourth grade; and Emily Hearney, fifth grade. For being named Star Students, the children have their photos displayed on the bulletin board outside the library along with a summary of their favorite books. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141344 Mon, 22 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141344 Buddy Bench Unveiled To encourage inclusion and kindness on the playground, the elementary school cut the ribbon on a new playground buddy bench during the school’s first Friendship Day. The buddy bench, purchased through a Royal Education Foundation grant, aims to ensure that every student who may feel isolated or left out has someone to play with during recess. All students are encouraged to invite those sitting on the bench to play. During the ribbon-cutting, students, wearing yellow as a symbol of friendship, read poems and sang about friendship. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141343 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141343 Club Raises Money for Wounded Warriors To conclude their inaugural school year as an official high school club, the Varsity Club worked together to raise $400 for the Wounded Warrior Project. To garner the funds, Port Jefferson students James Murphy and Dylan Wennerod, with the help of advisor Jesse Rosen, organized a well-attended, after-school, donation-based speedball tournament for students and staff. The club members hope to build on the success of the event next year and raise even more money for the Wounded Warrior Project. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141356 Fri, 19 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141356 Community Read Students, teachers and parents recently came together for a Community Read event at the high school. Upperclassmen led discussion groups in which participants discussed the book “Freak the Mighty” by Rodman Philbrock. Participants were able to ask the author questions through a Skype session, set up by teacher Paige MacLeod. The purpose of Community Read events is to encourage and promote literacy in students, as well as to facilitate shared reading between the students and their parents. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141357 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141357 Latin Students Earn High Marks Fifty high school and middle school Latin students recently earned some of the highest marks in the world after taking the 2015 National Latin. In celebration of their success, each student was awarded for his or her accomplishments at a luncheon on May 21 in the high school library. The Port Jefferson students were among 154,000 students from 49 states and 17 foreign countries to take the annual exam. They were presented with certificates of achievement as their parents watched. Notably, three middle school students – Francine Leung, Mayu Takeuchi and Annalisa Welinder – received additional honors for earning a perfect score on the Latin I exam. “I am always astonished by our Latin students,” said Middle School Principal Antonio Santana. “They do a fantastic job. Congratulations to all of them.” The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to the following students: Introduction to Latin Exam Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a purple ribbon: Giuseppina Than Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Lucas Rohman Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Carmella Moran Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Kyle Onghai Outstanding Achievement Certificate plus a ribbon Quinn McGorry Achievement Certificate Felicity Hyams Achievement Certificate Jane Murphy Achievement Certificate Latin I Exam Mayu Takeuchi gold medal, summa cum laude Annalisa Welinder gold medal, summa cum laude Francine Leung gold medal, summa cum laude Ava Schully gold medal, summa cum laude Hyun Jin Lee gold medal, summa cum laude Katherine Ambrozy gold medal, summa cum laude David Rotunno silver medal, maxima cum laude Miles Kaming-Thanassi silver medal, maxima cum laude Gavin Barrett silver medal, maxima cum laude Sarah Hull silver medal, maxima cum laude Ju Eun Ha silver medal, maxima cum laude Ryan Kim silver medal, maxima cum laude Sabrina Schully magna cum laude Ryan Robertson magna cum laude Taylor Corallo cum laude Cameron Cohen cum laude Latin II Exam Ibuki Iwasaki gold medal, summa cum laude Emma Gutmann gold medal, summa cum laude Joseph Samara silver medal, maxima cum laude Cezanne Lojeski silver medal, maxima cum laude Leland Held magna cum laude John O’Connor cum laude Latin III Exam Chiara Rabeno gold medal, summa cum laude Xinyi Hong gold medal, summa cum laude Luigia Than gold medal, summa cum laude Matthew Pifko silver medal, maxima cum laude Arunima Roy silver medal, maxima cum laude Louis Martin-Deprez silver medal, maxima cum laude Paul Simmerling silver medal, maxima cum laude Isabella Koutsantanou silver medal, maxima cum laude Connor Kaminska silver medal, maxima cum laude Edward Finkelstein magna cum laude John Collins cum laude Latin IV Poetry Exam Eric Kilgore gold medal, summa cum laude Anita Rescia gold medal, summa cum laude Elisa Ueno magna cum laude Rachel Collins magna cum laude Billy Witrock magna cum laude Courtney Lewis cum laude Virginia Albinson cum laude Latin V Advanced Level Exam Noah Davis gold medal, summa cum laude Natasha Zaliznyak gold medal, summa cum laude Ryan Burke silver medal, maxima cum laude https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140885 Thu, 18 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140885 Major Organization Festival Musicians from the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra earned a silver award for their performance at the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival, held on May 28 at Patchogue-Medford High School. During the event, the musicians, led by music teacher Christian Neubert, performed several pieces for adjudicators, who evaluated them on quality of performance and level of musicianship. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141342 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141342 Students Recognized for Volunteer Efforts Students were recognized at the June 9 Board of Education meeting for earning the Presidential Service Award. The 50 students, each of whom volunteered between 50 and 100 hours of their time to the Port Jefferson community, received a certificate and medal. This year, under the direction of parent volunteer Jackie Hull, the students logged 6,000 volunteer hours with the majority of students recording an average of 188 hours of service. “It is wonderful to recognize these very civic-minded students, who have gone above and beyond,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following students: Chloe Andriani, Nicholas Thomas Andriani, Gavin Barrett, Reid Biondo, Kyra Becker, Lexi Becker, Nicholas Caltagirone, Sam Caltagirone, Ashley Catoggio, Taylor Catoggio, Kathleen Christ, Shannon Christ, Jillian Colucci, Lia Desmond, Olivia Desmond, Robert Delman, Eli Doyle, Chloe Brooke Dugourd, Dylan Serge Dugourd, Kayla Jade Fox, Hailey Hearney, Sarah Elizabeth Hull, Thomas Henry Hull, Grace Keegan, James P. Kennedy, Michael L. Kennedy, Claudia Koutsantanou, Hyun Jin Lee, Joseph Luca, Matthew Luca, Aidan Malinowski, Max Okst, Fiona Petracca, Siobhan Petracca, Skylar Marylin Pine, David Rotunno, Devin Rotunno, Jordan Suarez, Jillian Sullivan, Mayu Takeuchi, Luigia Than, Pina Than, Karin Thomassen, Kayla Timpanaro, Andrew Tursi, Robert Williams, Peggy Yin, Brooke Zamek, Eric Zimmermann and Noelle Zimmermann. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141355 Wed, 17 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141355 Cooking Club Gets “Chopped" You’ve read the story and seen the pictures, now enjoy the video. Produced and edited by Earl L. Vandermeulen senior Julia Durfee in Brian Chalmers’ broadcast/journalism class, the video takes viewers behind the scenes of the Port Jefferson Middle School “Chopped” competition held in May. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141354 Tue, 16 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141354 Organic Smoothie Making As part of a wellness lesson, high school students made organic smoothies using a “fender blender” bicycle. The students in Dinarae Camarda’s Well-Fit Physical Education classes took turns blending smoothies with the bicycle-powered blender, which was provided to the class by Whole Foods of Lake Grove. In addition to blending nutritious smoothies, the students learned about organic farming and the importance of pollinators. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141341 Tue, 16 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141341 Student Cellist Earns Scholarship Port Jefferson Middle School sixth-grader Lucas Welinder has been awarded a full scholarship as a cellist to the fourth annual Oyster Bay Music Festival, scheduled for June 28–July 6. During the weeklong festival, Lucas will have the opportunity to perform and learn technique alongside talented music students from across Long Island. In addition to the scholarship, Lucas’ hard work and dedication to music also earned him a Suffolk County Long Island String Festival Association scholarship for private study this summer. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140892 Mon, 15 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140892 Tenured Educators & Farewell to Retirees The Port Jefferson School District Board bid farewell to six retiring employees and congratulated five educators on receiving tenure at its June 9 meeting. During the meeting, administrators shared kind words about the retiring teachers and office staff, who worked tirelessly for the students and could never truly be replaced. The district extends its best wishes for a happy and healthy retirement to: Louise Cash, teaching assistant; MaryJane Fleckenstein, lifeguard; Vicky Herman, teaching assistant; Marianne McFadden, teacher; Loraine Serabian, teaching assistant; and Carole Udovich, office applications specialist. The Board also congratulated tenured employees Taylor Forstell, special education teacher; Celiana Gandolfo, foreign language teacher; Maureen Hull, executive director of curriculum and instruction; Stacia Schoen, speech teacher; and Kelly Spencer, special education teacher. “You have reached a milestone in your careers, and we hope that you continue to serve as an inspiration to students over the next 20 to 30 years,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. Additionally, Board Vice President James Laffey was recognized for his years of service as a Board member, serving on three committees. “Mr. Laffey really stepped up to the plate,” said BOE President Kathleen Brennan. “He takes his work on the BOE very seriously, and we will miss him.” The Board rounded out the evening by thanking high school senior Paul Capobianco for serving as the student representative to the Board. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141353 Fri, 12 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141353 When in Rome To celebrate ancient Roman culture, 50 of the district’s Latin Club members and their families participated in the seventh annual Roman Banquet. The event was held at the Port Jefferson Village Center on the date traditionally recognized for the founding of Rome, April 21. Dressed in togas, the students read Latin poetry, challenged their parents on word origins, watched a student performance of Mendelssohn’s Octet in E-flat Major and enjoyed a feast fit for an emperor. “The banquet is modeled on an ancient banquet using only foods that existed during that time period,” said Latin teacher Anne Algieri. Items enjoyed at the banquet included eggs and apples. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140891 Fri, 12 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140891 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on June 16, 2015, 6:00 p.m. at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss the Superintendent’s Evaluation. A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on June 23, 2015, 6:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room at the elementary school for the purpose of taking action on business items and entering executive session to discuss the Superintendent’s Evaluation. The annual reorganization meeting and July business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 13, 2015, in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m., the reorganization meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m., and the business meeting will commence at 7:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141352 Thu, 11 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141352 Students Exhibit Art Students across the district showed off their artistic skills at several art shows throughout the month of May. From painting to sketching to sculpture, the students worked with art teachers Richard Anderson, Lynne Edsall, Carrie Morgan, Nancy Randazzo and Stacey Schuman to perfect their pieces. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140890 Thu, 11 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140890 First Annual Career Day On June 3, fourth and fifth graders learned about various careers from parent volunteers. Find out more about the new program by watching the accompanying video. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141350 Wed, 10 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141350 Athlete Scholarship Awarded High school All-American wrestler Tristin DeVincenzo is the recipient of the prestigious National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association’s Student Athletic Scholarship, presented to him by the Suffolk County Athletic Directors Association. To earn the scholarship, Tristin wrote an essay about how high school athletics have impacted his life. The scholarship recognizes Tristin as a distinguished scholastic athlete with leadership and sportsmanship qualities. Tristin, who will be attending the University of Pennsylvania this fall, was recently named an All-American athlete. He also holds county and state wrestling titles and has a 137-19 career record. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140888 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140888 Middle School yearbooks are on sale in the Middle School Main Office Middle School yearbooks are on sale in the Middle School main office starting tomorrow, 6/10 until the end of the year while supplies last. The cost is $32 cash or check. Check made out to Port Jefferson Middle School. If any questions, please contact Mrs. Giannusa at agiannus@portjeff.k12.ny.us https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141349 Tue, 09 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141349 Culinary Student Heading to Nationals High school and BOCES student JessieJayne Clancy served up a first-place win at the Skills USA New York State Leadership Conference and Competition in Syracuse, New York. With this win, JessieJayne will take her skills to the national competition. To earn the top spot, JessieJayne competed against students throughout New York State in the culinary service category, where she was required to perform restaurant/service-related tasks in front of a panel of judges. JessieJayne will represent New York at the national level of the contest on June 24-28 in Louisville, Kentucky. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140886 Mon, 08 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140886 Mathletes Are Tops It was a successful season for the high school Mathletes team, as they placed first in Division 1 for Small Schools. Coached by high school math teacher Dennis Christofor, the team defended their title after competing in five meets, each featuring six challenging questions. In addition to the team win, team captain Ryan Burke and junior Eric Kilgore both earned top scorer awards for Suffolk County. Out of more than 800 participating students across Suffolk County, Ryan placed fifth, and Eric placed eighth. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140884 Thu, 04 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140884 Meet the New HS Principal The Port Jefferson School District has named Christine Austen as the new principal of Earl L. Vandemeulen High School. “We are extremely pleased to welcome Ms. Austen as our new high school principal,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “Her strong educational background will help her as she takes the helm at our high school and continues our tradition of educational excellence and Royal Pride.” Ms. Austen is equally excited to take on the role of principal at the school from which she graduated. “It is wonderful to be given this opportunity to come home and give back to the community this way,” she said. As principal, Ms. Austen said, she plans to continue to maintain the important connection the school district has with the community and ensure that every student is college- and career-ready through individualized learning opportunities. She also intends to enhance the high school experience for students through the introduction of new technology-related courses and the institution of Google Classrooms. “Our goal is to prepare our students with skills that will last a lifetime,” she said. Ms. Austen previously served in the district as dean of students, technology integration specialist and library media specialist. She is a member of the district’s Safety Committee, Code of Conduct Committee and Professional Development Committee, among others. Ms. Austen, who is a mother of three, holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Stony Brook University and a Master of Library Science from LIU Post. She also holds an advanced certificate in educational computing and administration from Stony Brook University and is the recipient of the 2008 C.W. Post Educator of the Year Award. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141340 Wed, 03 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141340 Senior Wins at Math Fair Ryan Burgert took top honors at the annual Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair at Hofstra University on May 2. Ryan earned a silver medal at the fair after competing against top math students from across Long Island. This is not the first time Ryan has successfully competed in the math fair. As a junior, he took home a gold medal and as a sophomore, he earned a silver medal. Ryan is also a member of his school’s Mathletes and Science Olympiad teams. He plans to attend Stony Brook University in the fall and study engineering. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140883 Tue, 02 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140883 Musicians Perform at NYSSMA Festival Nearly 250 Port Jefferson student-musicians performed at the annual New York State School Music Association Solo and Ensemble Festival at Centereach High School on May 15 and 16. The students each performed a solo selection and scales for a NYSSMA adjudicator, who assessed them on their performance based on technique, precision and musicality. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the student-musicians for their hard work and dedication. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140882 Tue, 02 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140882 Learning About the United Nations Using technology to expand their learning outside of the classroom, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School French language students recently participated in a Skype session with United Nations Political Affairs Officer Curtis J. Raynold. During the session, the Port Jefferson students learned the importance of the international peacekeeping organization and talked about cultures and languages from around the globe. Mr. Raynold spoke to the students about his experiences on several peacekeeping missions along with his extensive experience in political outreach, facilitation and analysis. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140881 Mon, 01 Jun 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140881 In the Zone As a result of their outstanding leadership and character in physical education classes, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth-graders Annie Maier and Michael Scannell were recognized with awards from the Suffolk Zone of the New York Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. The students earned their awards based on the recommendation of their physical education teachers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140880 Fri, 29 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140880 Robotics Team Honored by BOE The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education recognized the high school Robotics Team for their hard work during the Board’s regular meeting on May 12. During the recognition ceremony, team members provided a demonstration of their robot, which was constructed to maneuver garbage cans in a competition setting. The team most recently competed in the 16th annual Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition against more than 2,000 students from 50 high schools at Hofstra University. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140874 Fri, 29 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140874 Fall Sports Start Dates Varsity/JV Football begins on Monday, August 17th All other Varsity/JV Sports begin on Monday, August 24th Middle School Sports begin on Tuesday, September 8th https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141339 Thu, 28 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141339 Second Place for Academic Team The high school Academic Team took home a second-place trophy after competing in the final tournament of the regional quiz bowl on April 22 at Plainview Old Bethpage High School. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the team, which competed against the top academic teams on Long Island for the second-place win. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140873 Thu, 28 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140873 Festival Concert Student-musicians in the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School orchestra had the opportunity to attend a performance by Stony Brook University graduate music students and the Emerson String Quartet on May 7 at SBU’s Staller Center. During the event, billed as the annual Chamber Festival Concert, the students enjoyed performances of Johannes Brahms’ Trio for Piano, Violin and Horn and Gyorgy Ligeti’s Trio for Violin. Students also heard from Michael Hershkowtiz, director of concerts and community music programs for Stony Brook University. The field trip was made possible through a partnership with the Staller Center Outreach Endowment and coordinator Paul Newland. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140878 Thu, 28 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140878 Essay Winner High school sophomore Arunima Roy was recently recognized for an essay she penned for the Asian American Cultural Awareness Essay Contest sponsored by Chit Yoga. Arunima, an honors student in Kristyn Anumolu’s English class, was one of only two student-essayists honored at the May 9 ceremony at Stony Brook University’s Wang Center. According to the contest’s official rules, “The purpose of the writing contest is to provide a platform for youth, encouraging them to think outside the box for harmonious coexistence among diverse ethnic groups using the media of an art and culture.” The Port Jefferson School District extends its congratulations to Arunima. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140877 Wed, 27 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140877 Motivated Student Recognized For his commitment to academics, Port Jefferson Middle School sixth-grader Massimo Cipriani was recognized by the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson as its Most Motivated Student for May. During its May 12 meeting, the Rotary presented Massimo with a certificate as his father, Giovanni, younger sister, Bianca, Principal Antonio Santana and teacher Chuck Ruoff stood by his side. “Massimo is kind-hearted, interested, respectful and academically-talented,” said Mr. Ruoff. Mr. Santana added that Massimo is also a “conscientious, independent and mature student.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140872 Wed, 27 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140872 Family Fun Run a Success The Royal Education Foundation’s second annual Power of One Family Fun Run was once again deemed a success as more than 200 participants ran or walked a 2-mile course through the streets of Port Jefferson Village on May 9. The event was designed to encourage physical activity and celebrate the positive influence community members have on each other, while also raising money to enhance the quality of education in the Port Jefferson School District. During the event, community members selected Richard Anderson to receive the Power of One Award, which recognizes community members for making a “world of difference” in the community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140871 Tue, 26 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140871 Don’t Miss It: Green and Clean 2015 The high school Environmental Club invites the community to attend a Green and Clean family-friendly fundraiser on Saturday, May 30, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Port Jefferson Village Center. The event will feature eco-friendly crafts, nature-themed yoga, book readings, healthy snacks and more. Participants are asked to bring an old shoe to create a recycled planter or an empty gallon carton to make a bird feeder. The event is being sponsored by the Environmental Club as part of an Optimum Charity grant. All funds raised will be donated to Conservation International and the Long Island Native Plant Initiative. The cost is $5 per person or $15 per family. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140887 Tue, 26 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140887 BOE Recognizes Elementary Students Following months of academic successes, several elementary school students were recognized by the Port Jefferson Board of Education at their regular meeting on May 12. The students were each presented with certificates for their respective achievements as part of their participation in the National History Bee, the National Geography Bee and the annual science fair. The Port Jefferson School Districts congratulates all the student participants. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140875 Mon, 25 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140875 CSI Club Takes Home Award The high school’s CSI Club members proved they have what it takes to solve a crime, as they participated in the 15th annual CSI Challenge. Following their performance during the April 24 event, the club received the Best Computer Forensics prize. To earn the award, the team was required to solve a crime that would lead to the arrest of the correct suspect. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates CSI Club members Sarah Buck, Eli Doyle, Maxwell Famularo, Xinyi Hong, Adam Nieves, Thomas Pon, Robert Righi, Arunima Roy and Ji Won Woo. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140870 Fri, 22 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140870 ‘Chopped’ Cooking Teaches Coping Skills Middle school students recently competed in a cooking competition designed to emulate the Food Network’s “Chopped” series as part of the school’s new Cooking Club. During the competition, student audience members cheered on four students as they rivaled each other in timed cake decorating and smoothie making events. The creations, made using a broad range of ingredients — including fruit loops, baby food and frosting — were judged based on taste and presentation by a panel of judges. The competition aimed to provide an opportunity for the students to practice their coping skills, including how to deal with high-pressure situations. The in-school Cooking Club is funded through a Royal Educational Foundation grant and pairs cooking with social skills training. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140869 Thu, 21 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140869 Brothers Named Academic All-Americans Matteo DeVincenzo and Tristin DeVincenzo, members of the high school wrestling team, have been named to the 2015 High School Academic All-American team by the National High School Coaches Association. Matteo and Tristin are among only five students from New York who will be recognized in the National High School Sports Hall of Fame along with 114 athletes from 32 states. To qualify, the students had to carry a 3.4 grade point average on a scale of 4.0 and be a state tournament place winner or selected as All-State at least once during their high school career. Both brothers hold county and state wrestling titles. Matteo, a junior, is a three-time state placer and holds a 2014 championship state title and a 112-4 career record. Tristin, a senior, has also placed at the state level and has a 137-19 career record. He will be attending the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. “These two brothers are getting it done on the mat and in the classroom,” said Port Jefferson wrestling coach Mike Maletta. “The sport of wrestling is highly demanding and to be successful one must be disciplined. Tristin and Matteo have set high standards for themselves in wrestling and academics.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140868 Wed, 20 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140868 15th Annual Scraggy Walk/Run Wearing class T-shirts and sneakers, more than 600 elementary students did their best to complete a 1.1-mile course through Scraggy Hill Park’s fields during the annual Scraggy Hill Run/Walk on May 15. The challenging course took participants across Scraggy Hill Road, down rolling hills, through a wooded trail and across the finish line, where they were met with cheers from spectators, teachers and administrators. Following their completion of the course, the students were treated to ice pops. The annual race aims to promote physical fitness and culminates a several-week training period where students walked, ran and swam in their physical education classes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140867 Tue, 19 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140867 Budget Passes Thank you to all residents who participated in the 2015-16 budget vote and trustee election. Proposition No. 1, the School District Budget, passed by a vote of 491 to 130. Proposition 2, the creation of a capital reserve fund, also passed in a vote of 467 to 122. In addition to voting on the budget, residents cast their ballots for three seats on the Board of Education. Vincent Ruggiero was reelected and Mark Doyle and Tracy Zamek were elected through write-in campaigns. The trustee vote was as follows: Vincent Ruggiero: 468 Mark Doyle: 178 Tracy Zamek: 246 Dennis Kahn: 58 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140879 Tue, 19 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140879 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be meeting on May 19, 2015, in the cafeteria at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, immediately following the vote and board member election, for the purpose of accepting the tabulation of votes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140876 Mon, 18 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140876 Performing for Health and Wellness Student-musicians in the district showcased their talents when they provided background music at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s annual Health and Wellness Expo on May 9. During the fair, which featured booths dedicated to all levels of health, wellness and fitness, the Port Jefferson jazz band and high school choir, led by music teachers Katie Bernius, Christine Creighton and Edward Pisano, performed a number of popular musical selections. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140865 Fri, 15 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140865 Introducing the Class of 2015 Valedictorian and Salutatorian The high school has named Noah Davis as valedictorian and Natalia Zaliznyak as salutatorian. To learn more about both students, enjoy the accompanying video. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140866 Thu, 14 May 2015 09:00:00 GMT false140866 Math Student Recognized by Town Following her perfect score in the 2014 AMC 8 math contest, Port Jefferson Middle School eighth-grader Mayu Takeuchi was recently recognized by the Brookhaven Town Board. Takeuchi was one of only 214 students in the United States, out of 130,000 participants, to earn a perfect score. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140863 Thu, 14 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140863 History Bee Winners Head to Nationals Three Port Jefferson School District students have qualified to compete in the National History Bee, which will be held in Kentucky on Memorial Day weekend. The students – fifth-grader Andrew Patterson, sixth-grader Lucas Welinder and eighth-grader Annalisa Welinder – won their spots following their successful participation in the regional finals in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The students, along with eighth-grader Cameran Cohen and sixth-grader Aaron Held, received high scores on the online ORQE exam, which qualified them for the regional competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140864 Wed, 13 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140864 Students Create Bird Illustrations As part of a recent study on the birds of America, middle school students designed their own bird illustrations. Eighth-grade students in Stacey Schuman’s class based their artwork on the works of ornithological artist James Audubon and applied their knowledge of color blending to create depictions of the birds in their natural habitats. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140862 Tue, 12 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140862 Learning from a Professional To help his Advanced Placement Environmental Science students prepare for an upcoming exam, high school teacher Jonathan Maletta invited Tomas P. Fox, vice president of D&B Engineers and Architects, to speak with them about various aspects of his career. During his presentation, Mr. Fox educated students about natural gas formation and extraction methods associated with hydraulic fracturing or “fracking.” Additionally, Mr. Fox outlined a cost-benefit analysis in relation to fossil fuel energy demand and potential adverse impacts on groundwater aquifer systems. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140859 Mon, 11 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140859 Star Students Recognized Six elementary students have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. The students chosen as April Star Students are Giovanna Ciullo, kindergarten; Isadora Moran, first grade; Anna Matvya, second grade; Cooper Reale, third grade; Eric Friedman, fourth grade; and Natalie McGuigan, fifth grade. As a reward, the students’ photos are displayed on the bulletin board outside the library along with a summary of their favorite books. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140860 Fri, 08 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140860 A Career in Music Therapy In an ongoing effort to educate students about the many careers available to them post-graduation, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School music students were introduced to a music therapist on April 24. Elizabeth Schwarts, music therapist supervisor at Alternatives for Children in East Setauket, spoke to Port Jefferson students about her career in music therapy and how it can help patients improve their cognitive, social, physical, psychological and communicative functioning. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140858 Thu, 07 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140858 Science Olympiad Wins Medals After vying against schools across 11 regions at the New York State Science Olympiad competition on April 17 and 18, the middle school’s team returned home with two top 10 medals and ranked 18th overall. “The students worked hard and learned scientific concepts on a high school and college level,” said coach Adam Bouchard. “Everyone enjoyed being in Syracuse, and we hope to return next year and build upon our team’s successes.” The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the entire team and medal winners, Grant Samara and Hyun Jin Lee, who placed fifth for fossils, and Leland Held and Ben Zaltsman, who placed sixth for the bio process lab. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140857 Wed, 06 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140857 Musicians Inducted Into Tri-M Society The high school chapter of the Tri-M Music Society inducted six new members at its eighth annual honors recital and induction ceremony on April 15. Inductees included musicians Shannon Christ, Rachel Collins, Parris Garant, Danielle Goldstein, Tammy Serabian and Marianna Spentzos. Membership to the Tri-M Music Society is based on five points of distinction: scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership and service. “A Tri-M member is one who sets a good example, is always willing to assist those students who are striving to better themselves in the music department and always remembers it is a real honor to carry these responsibilities,” said Tri-M advisor Christine Creighton. Also honored during the ceremony were senior Tri-M members Taylor Carley, Janella Damaskos, Andie Fortier, Rachel Geiser, Steven Geiser, Dunia Karzai, Margo Martin-Deprez, Ju Mi Ha, Alden Mohaci, Adam Nieves, Kayley Okst, Laura Sarubbi and Serabian. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140852 Tue, 05 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140852 Second in the County Following a vigorous competition season and through the use of their reasoning, deduction and mathematics skills, the middle school Mathletes ninth-grade team A placed second in Suffolk County. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates David Rotunno, Mayu Takeuchi and Annalisa Welinder. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140851 Mon, 04 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140851 Students Learn Art of Silk Screening During a two-day hands-on artist-in-residency program, students in Carrie Morgan’s high school art classes learned the art of silk screening from renowned Long Island artist Dan Kudreyko. Using the drawing and painting techniques learned in classes, the students made silk-screened shirts, pillows and handbags with the help of Kudreyko. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140850 Fri, 01 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140850 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be meeting on May 12, 2015, at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, 7:00 p.m. for the annual budget hearing, and 7:30 p.m. for the regular monthly business meeting. Call to order will be at 5:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss matters related to personnel. A special business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 26, 2015, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Library. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140861 Fri, 01 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140861 Spring Concerts Broadcast LIVE over the Internet Spring Concerts Broadcast LIVE over the Internet All of our Spring Concerts are being broadcast live over the internet. You will need the Real Player if you are using your computer to view the LIVE video stream. All iPods/iPhones/iPads will launch automatically. It can be downloaded by following the link below: ClickHEREfor the Real Player Download ClickHEREto start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player ClickHEREto start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad Archived video will be available the morning after the concerts on each of the building's home pages under the announcements section. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140856 Fri, 01 May 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140856 Musicians Attend Open Rehearsal As part of the district’s partnership with Stony Brook University’s Staller Center, student-musicians and their families had the opportunity to attend the Emerson String quartet’s open rehearsal on April 14. During the rehearsal, the critically-acclaimed quartet interacted with the music students while they practiced two pieces — Lowell Liebermann’s String Quartet No. 5 and Shostakovich Op. 108 No. 7 — prior to their last concert at the Staller Center. “Our Port Jefferson families and students were fortunate to have experienced this renowned quartet,” said Port Jefferson orchestra teacher Vanessa Salzman. “We are grateful to the Emerson’s and Paul Newland of the Staller Center Outreach Center for this opportunity.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140849 Thu, 30 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140849 Sportsmanship Teamwork, sportsmanship and Royal pride were on display recently as members of Team Landetta, Port Jefferson Middle School’s Athletics for All program, were joined by student volunteers to participate in friendly games of soccer and basketball. “All players had a great time,” said Athletics for All advisor Michelle Landetta. “It was yet another wonderful and rewarding experience for both Team Landetta and the middle school student volunteers.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140848 Wed, 29 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140848 Piano Duo Entertains at Fashion Show Port Jefferson sisters Luigia Than and Giuseppia Than showcased their musical skills as they entertained guests at the Port Jefferson Conservancy Fashion Show on April 19 with their piano playing. During their performance, Luigia, a ninth-grader, and Giuseppia, a seventh-grader, performed an entire set of piano pieces composed for four hands. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140847 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140847 Meet the Candidates Night Cancelled The Port Jefferson PTA has elected to cancel the Meet the Candidates Night scheduled for Monday, May 4. This is due to the lack of petitioned candidates seeking election. The PTA will instead hold their regular monthly meeting on May 4 at 7 p.m. in the Elementary Large Group Room. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140855 Tue, 28 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140855 Student-Musicians Win Scholarship Two Port Jefferson Middle School musicians, Jack Reilly, a string bassist, and Lucas Welinder, a cellist, have each been awarded with a Suffolk County Long Island String Festival Association scholarship for private study. The scholarships were awarded to the sixth-graders after an application process, which included a teacher recommendation and a letter written by the students. “The LISFA scholarship is a prestigious award, and we are honored to have two of our extraordinary students be recipients of this competitive scholarship,” said Vanessa Salzman, music teacher. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141105 Mon, 27 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141105 Athletes recognized During their meeting on April 14, the Port Jefferson Board of Education honored a track star and two outstanding varsity wrestlers for their academic and athletic accomplishments. At the meeting, the high school student-athletes, James Burke and Tristan and Matteo DeVincenzo were each presented with certificates of recognition after their coaches spoke of their accomplishments. James holds a number of school track records, the Suffolk County mile record, and has several county, state and national titles under his belt. Equally, wrestling brothers Tristan and Matteo each hold county and state titles. “The accomplishments of these athletes bring so much pride to our school,” said Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “Our deepest congratulations to them.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141104 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141104 Volunteers Needed The Port Jefferson School District is involved in search processes to identify new district administrators. In an effort to involve the community in the hiring process, the District is seeking community volunteers to serve on interview committees currently being formed. If you are interested in participating, please contact the District Clerk, Janice Baisley, at 791-4221. Please note: Parent representatives to serve on the interview committees will be selected by the PTA and PTSA. Thank you in advance. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140854 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140854 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 28, 2015, 6:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel matters; and other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140853 Fri, 24 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140853 Student-Musicians Honored by BOE For their hard work and dedication to fine tuning their craft, several Port Jefferson Middle School musicians were recognized by the Board of Education with certificates on April 14. The seventh- and eighth-grade musicians participated in the annual SCMEA Festival on March 14 and 15 after receiving high marks at the New York State School Music Association Solo Evaluation Festivals, along with recommendations from their music teachers. “These students are musical leaders and make us very proud,” said Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141102 Thu, 23 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141102 Jelly Bean Fundraiser A mathematical estimation game held during lunchtime helped Port Jefferson Middle School Student Council members raise $100 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society. During a two-week period, the students held a contest where their peers could pay $1 to guess how many jellybeans were in a jar. At the conclusion of the contest, the winner received the jar of jellybeans along with a $10 iTunes gift card. The fundraiser was just one of several the Student Council held this year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141101 Wed, 22 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141101 Lessons in Compassion Eleven high school students learned to inspire their peers using compassion during a full-day workshop at Bay Shore High School on April 1. Throughout the sixth annual Suffolk County High School Principals Association seminar, “Compassion Without Borders,” the Port Jefferson students were introduced to several speakers and made many new friends. The event brought together students designated as leaders from 30 high schools across Long Island. Port Jefferson participants included Lexi Alfeo, Abigail Bossert, Tatum Hurney, Emma Martin, Sterling Nenninger, Liane Russel, Corinne Scannell, Emma Schoepflin, Billy Witrock, JiWon Woo and Emily Zygula. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141099 Tue, 21 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141099 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 22, 2015, 4:30 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose voting on the Eastern Suffolk BOCES budget and Board trustees. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141106 Mon, 20 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141106 Students Raise Funds for AHA It was a marathon of jump roping and basketball for elementary students as they participated in the school’s annual Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart fundraising event for the American Heart Association on March 19. Following an hour of working on their cardiovascular health, the second- through fifth-grade students raised more than $9,500 for the AHA. In addition to raising funds for the AHA, the collaborative effort by the PTA and physical education department aimed to raise awareness about heart disease. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141098 Fri, 17 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141098 Students Top at Latin Certamen High school Latin students displayed their skills as they competed in the fast-paced Latin Certamen contest held recently at Stony Brook University. The Port Jefferson students took home medals in all four levels of the competition. To earn the awards, the 40 students competed against 14 other schools in Nassau and Suffolk counties, showing off their knowledge of Latin grammar, vocabulary, translation, word derivations, Roman life, history, mythology and literature. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following students: Advanced Level, second place: Rachel Collins, Eric Kilgore, Anita Rescia and William Witrock Level One, Team B, second place: Katherine Ambrozy, Gavin Barrett, David Rotunno and Ava Schully Level One, Team A, third place: Hyun Jin Lee, Francine Leung, Mayu Takeuchi and Annalisa Welinder Level Two Team, first place: Emma Gutmann, Leland Held, Ibuki Iwasaki and Cezanne Lojeski Level Three Team, second place: Xinyi Hong, Chiara Rabeno, Arunima Roy and Luigia Than https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141103 Thu, 16 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141103 Science Olympiad Team Earns Medals The high school Science Olympiad team took home four medals and placed 16th out of 50 teams at the New York State Science Olympiad Competition at Le Moyne College in Syracuse on March 13 and 14. The team secured a spot at states after placing fifth at the Suffolk County Regional Division C Science Olympiad competition. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the team and the following medal winners: First Place Compound Machines: Ryan Burke and Eric Kilgore Mission Possible: Ryan Burgert and Brandon Hoffman Fifth Place It’s About Time: Ryan Burke and Julia Kharzeev 10th Place Geologic Mapping: Noah Davis and Eric Kilgore https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141097 Wed, 15 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141097 Statement from the Board of Education - Issues Regarding Public Education https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141100 Wed, 15 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141100 Science Fair Winners Named More than 200 elementary students showed off their smarts at their school’s fourth annual Science Fair on March 25. The fair spotlighted numerous science projects, with topics focusing on paper planes, pop rocks and caffeine. It also featured a Kids’ Choice Award, where students voted on their favorite projects in each grade. Six students were also selected to compete in the Brookhaven National Lab Science Fair on May 2. Those who will move on and compete in the event are: Nicholas Rodriguez, kindergarten; Sadie Salzman, first grade; Julia Fite, second grade; Olivia Bianco, third grade; Sophie Blumenthal, fourth grade; and Kasumi Layne-Stasik, fifth grade. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141096 Tue, 14 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141096 Science Olympiad Team Heading to States Following a fourth-place finish at the Suffolk County Regional Science Olympiad Competition, the middle school Science Olympiad team has secured a spot at the state competition, set for April 14 at East Syracuse-Minoa High School. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the team, as well as the following medal recipients: Second Place Fossils: Grant Samara, Joseph Samara Green Generation: Cezanne Lojeski, Connor Kaminska Wheeled Vehicle: Harry Cona, Eli Doyle Third Place Dynamic Planet: Gavin Barrett, David Rotunno Crave the Wave: Aaron Held, Peggy Yin Fourth Place Crime Busters: Ju Eun Ha, Sarah Hull Road Scholar: Eli Doyle, Leland Held Wheeled Vehicle: Spencer Cona, Joseph Samara Fifth Place Elastic Glider: Max Okst, Gil Zaltsman https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141095 Mon, 13 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141095 Legal Notice - Budget Hearing/Vote/Election https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141094 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141094 Discussion Explores Impacts of Technology In keeping with the Port Jefferson School District’s Focus on Best Practice, Port Jefferson teachers and teaching assistants recently engaged in a collegial discussion centered on the book, “The App Generation: How Today’s Youth Navigate Identity, Intimacy, and Imagination in a Digital World,” written by Harvard professors Howard Gardener and Katie Davis. The book grapples with the notion that today’s children are deeply, and maybe even totally, involved with digital media and that the use of technology and apps can either provide enormous potential in various academic areas or limit potential. In their discussion, facilitated by middle school Principal Antonio Santana, the faculty members explored what they could do in their professional practice to limit the adverse effects of technology and heighten the positive effects of its appropriate use. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141092 Wed, 01 Apr 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141092 Best Community for Music Education For the ninth consecutive year, the district has been ranked among the NAMM Foundation’s “Best Communities for Music Education” in America, an honor which acknowledges schools and districts across the U.S. for their commitment to and support of music education as part of the core curriculum. The award specifically recognizes the collaborative efforts between teachers, administrators, students, parents and the community, who all work together to keep comprehensive music education an integral part of the core curriculum in Port Jefferson. The district boasts multiple musical performing groups for students, from orchestra to choral ensembles to its bands, with each group provided the opportunity to perform within the community and learn through partnerships and relationships with Stony Brook University and the Staller Center. “This award should be shared by the entire Port Jefferson community, which has always fully supported our music program,” said Michael Caravello, director of Port Jefferson’s music and fine arts department. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141090 Tue, 31 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141090 PowerSchool Parent Portal Maintenence Our PowerSchool System will be down for maintenance this afternoon starting at 4 pm. There will be no access to the Parent Portal for the entire evening. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141093 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 16:00:00 GMT false141093 Port Jeff Educators Earn SCOPE Awards Several district administrators, teachers and support staff were recognized by the Suffolk County Organization for the Promotion of Education as recipients of the 2015 SCOPE Awards of Educational Excellence. They were among a group of educators, support staff and volunteers from Suffolk County who were honored at the SCOPE Educational Excellence Awards ceremony at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook on March 23. Port Jefferson’s honorees were John and Nikki Poulianos for community service, Dennis Christofor for teacher service, Gene Holland for support staff service, and Michael Caravello for administrator service. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141089 Mon, 30 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141089 Music Students Participate in SCMEA Festival Following exceptional performances at New York State School Music Association Solo Evaluation Festivals, along with recommendations from their music teachers, 34 student-musicians in grades 5-10 performed at the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s All-County Music Festival on March 14 and 15 at Comsewogue High School. Additionally, the music department hosted rehearsals for the festival on March 7, 13 and 14 at the high school. “To host a festival is truly a community event,” said Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. “In every aspect of the rehearsals, you saw students, music teachers, custodial staff and parents working together to make this event a success.” The Port Jefferson School District congratulates the following band, orchestra and chorus students: Division 1 (grades 5/6): Gani Ates, Emily Hearney, Owen Okst, Ella Parker, Benjamin Procaccini, Mattea Rabeno, Michela Rabeno, Stefano Rabeno, Jack Reilly, Grant Samara, Caelan Schretzmayer, Nicole Schully, Hannah Skula, Kate Sommerstad, Kasumi Layne Stasik, Noah Teaney, Lily Tener, Brennyn Veit, Jack Worrell and Peggy Yin; Division 2 (grades 7/8): Grace Crugnale, Cole Fortier, Phoenix Jampol, Hyun Jin Lee, Francine Leung, Ryan Robertson, Ava Schully, Mayu Takeuchi and Miles Kaming Thanassi; Division 3 (grades 9/10): Ibuki Iwasaki, Trey Pisano, Anita Rescia, Joseph Kaming Thanassi and Ryan Worrell. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141087 Fri, 27 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141087 Students Create New Holidays Following a library lesson on holidays and cultures around the word, third-graders were inspired to create their own holidays. The students drew inspiration from the book “Palapalooza” by Daphne Skinner, which tells the story of five friends who set out to create the perfect holiday, and from their library teacher Selinda Moore, who taught the students about family traditions using a PowerPoint presentation. Among the holidays the students created were Italian Day, National Pasta Day, Harry Potter Day, Family Get Together Day and Puppy Day. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141086 Thu, 26 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141086 High School Presents Urinetown Take a peek inside the making of the high school production of Urinetown by watching the accompanying video. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141091 Thu, 26 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141091 Candidates for Board of Education Candidates for Board of Education Residents of Port Jefferson School District interested in running for the Board of Education, please contact the District Clerk at (631)791-4221 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141084 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 14:00:00 GMT false141084 Star Students Recognized Six elementary students have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. The students chosen as March Star Students are Michael Castro, kindergarten; Max Kronberg, first grade; Julie Fite, second grade; Ottilie Philbrick, third grade; Tabitha Schully, fourth grade; and Luke Filippi, fifth grade. As a reward for being named Star Students, the children have their photos displayed on the bulletin board outside the library along with a summary of their favorite books. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141088 Wed, 25 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141088 Students Learn About ALS Elementary students spent the morning of March 20 learning about ALS, commonly referred to as Lou Gehrig’s disease, as they welcomed Chris Pendergast of Miller Place, who has been battling the disease for more than 20 years. During the assembly, Mr. Pendergast educated the students about ALS, discussed his Ride for Life campaign – a 12-day journey across Long Island that raises awareness and funds for the disease, and informed students on current research to find a cure. “Students were very attentive during the presentation,” said Principal Thomas Meehan. “You could hear a pin drop.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141085 Tue, 24 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141085 Students Try Out Instruments at ‘Petting Zoo’ Third-graders received a taste of musicality as they welcomed high school musicians on March 19 for the annual Instrument Petting Zoo. During the event, the high school musicians introduced the third-graders to the many band and orchestral instruments they can select to play when they enter the fourth grade, including the violin, cello, saxophone and flute. Students were able to hear and touch each of the instruments represented. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141082 Mon, 23 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141082 Afternoon Activities Canceled Today All afternoon and evening activities are canceled for today, March 20. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141083 Fri, 20 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141083 Motivated Student Recognized For her hard work as a diligent student, Port Jefferson Middle School seventh-grader Kyra Sommerstad was recognized by the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson as its Most Motivated Student for March. During its March 10 meeting, the Rotary presented Kyra with a certificate as her father, Ray, Principal Antonio Santana and teacher Phil Giannusa stood by her side. “Kyra possesses an internal drive that persists in seeking to do things better,” said Giannusa. Santana added that teachers often speak positively about Kyra, who is a “fantastic student.” “She strives to keep her grades up and to learn as much as she can,” said Santana. Aside from her academic successes, Kyra plays basketball and is an avid swimmer with the Ward Melville team, breaking team records. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141078 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141078 Students Learn Technique, Civic Virtues With bamboo brushes in hand, Port Jefferson Middle School students recently learned an ancient ideogram brush stroke technique, as well as character education principles dating back to Confucius. While drawing their pandas on rice paper with Sumi ink, the sixth- and eighth-grade art students were taught a number of civic virtues about endangered species, including the panda bear. They also gained an increased awareness of self. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141080 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141080 HS Junior Prom Rescheduled Due to the weather, the HS Junior Prom has been rescheduled to Friday, April 17. Please note that the new time for the event will be from 6 to 10 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141081 Thu, 19 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141081 Student Recognized in Art Competition Caroline Strauss, a senior at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, earned a “Silver Key” at this year’s annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for the Northeast Region. Strauss’s painting, “Self-Portrait,” received the award based on the judge’s criteria including originality, technical skill and sense of vision. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates Caroline on her artistic achievement. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141077 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141077 String Students Treated to Master Class Port Jefferson Middle School sixth-grade orchestra students honed their string-playing skills in a master class conducted by the Calidore Quartet, currently the quartet-in-residence at Stony Brook University. During the Master Class, which was held at the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School on March 9, three members of the quartet worked with the students to fine tune their current music piece, “Air and Caprice” by Larry Clark. The master class was made possible through the district’s partnership with the Staller Center and Stony Brook University. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141073 Wed, 18 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141073 College Fair Offers Students More Choices To get students thinking about college choices, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School guidance department held a spring mini-college fair on March 10 for sophomores and juniors. This year, the annual fair was expanded to accommodate more than 90 college representatives, who set up information booths in the high school gym and answered questions. Prior to meeting the college representatives, students were prepped by the guidance department on questions they should ask and how to make a good impression. “This is a great opportunity for students to meet representatives and discover what types of colleges are out there,” said school counselor Kerry Fallon. Sophomore Jackie Brown said the fair was especially helpful to her since all of the colleges she is interested in were represented. ​ https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141072 Tue, 17 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141072 Happy Birthday, Dr. Seuss To celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday and Read Across America Day on March 2, students and staff at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School participated in a number of activities. “Read Across America Day is our biggest reading party of the year,” said school librarian Selinda Moore. Throughout the day, the Port Jefferson students, wearing their foxiest socks and as many stripes as possible to honor the books “Fox in Socks” and “The Cat in the Hat,” listened to Dr. Seuss books read by guest readers, who included nurses, custodians, administrative assistants and food service personnel. Students also donated books, met representatives from the Port Jefferson Public Library, and received a special treat when the Cat in the Hat himself showed up to take photos with them. During the week leading up to the celebration, students learned about the life of Dr. Seuss and his many characters through books, Smart Board activities, video clips and research on iPads. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140619 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140619 HS Yearbook Deadline Please note: the deadline to purchase a high school yearbook is Friday, March 20. Purchase forms are available in the main office of the high school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141076 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141076 Middle School Yearbook Deadline The Middle School yearbook orders are due Friday, March 20th. Please visit Mrs. Giannusa's eboard to place your order. http://aheron.portjeff.site.eboard.com https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141079 Mon, 16 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141079 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on March 24, 2015, 6:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters; and any other business as may be needed. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 14, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141075 Fri, 13 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141075 Lawmakers Asked for 'Thoughtful Debate' of Governor’s Reform Agenda The Alliance to Save Public Education is a group of (mostly) school superintendents and individuals involved in public education, the vast majority of whom are from Long Island (though the group has now expanded to upstate NY). The group is asking legislators to engage in 'thoughtful debate' over the Governor’s education agenda, which includes a controversial proposal to change the teacher evaluation system, among other major shifts. It has written a letter to lawmakers that you can read here. “The Governor has categorized the majority of the state’s school districts as failing in the context of promoting his reform agenda, even though his own data suggests that here in Suffolk, 99% of the districts are succeeding,” said Superintendent Ken Bossert. “We are encouraging the legislature to carefully review the reform agenda that was not written by educators and may very well have a negative impact on the successful schools of our state." https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141074 Fri, 13 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141074 Talent Show Benefits Friends of Karen For the 10th straight year, Port Jefferson Middle School students showed off their talents in an effort to raise money for the Port Jefferson-based charity Friends of Karen. This year, the students’ efforts yielded close to $1,200 for the organization, which assists families who have a child with a life-threating illness. Over the years, the middle school talent show has raised more than $12,000 for Friends of Karen. “When I first started the show 10 years ago, I never could have imagined that we would have raised over $12,000 for such a wonderful organization,” said talent show coordinator Allison Giannusa. “None of it would be possible if not for the talented students in the Port Jefferson Middle School and the supportive community.” This year’s talent show was held on Feb. 27 and featured 16 performing acts, including singing, dancing and instrument playing. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140618 Fri, 13 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140618 String Players Perform for Seawolves Port Jefferson Middle School orchestra students kicked off the Stony Brook University men’s basketball game on Feb. 25 by performing the national anthem. Among the students performing for Seahawks fans were bassist Jack Kelly, violinists Grant Samara and Noah Teaney and cellists Nichole Schully and Lucas Welinder. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140617 Thu, 12 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140617 Senior Shows Off Math Skills Senior Ryan Burke demonstrated his mathematics mastery after participating in two recent math contests. At the Suffolk Math Tournament at Suffolk Community College, Ryan competed against a few hundred students and placed fifth in the individual round. Ryan also excelled in the American Math Contest, where he scored in the top five percent, qualifying him for the American Invitation Mathematics Exam in March. This is the second year he qualified for the exam. This year, Ryan placed 9th overall individually throughout Suffolk County leading the A-team to a first place finish in the Division 1 (small school) Mathletes League. Ryan serves as captain of the Mathletes team and is a member of the Suffolk Math team, which competes nationally. The Port Jefferson Mathletes advisor is H.S math teacher Dennis Christofor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140616 Wed, 11 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140616 A Lesson in Friendship and Diversity As part of their character education, all students at Edna Louise Spear participated in a workshop about diversity on Feb. 26. The students heard from Alisty Joy Keneth, president of AJK Diversified, who spoke about the meaning and importance of diversity and how they can reach out and become friends with someone who may seem different. “Everyone has feelings, wants to belong, and deserves to be treated equally and with respect,” said Ms. Keneth, who challenged students to go out of their way to be a friend to someone they don’t know in school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140615 Tue, 10 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140615 Schools will now be open on April 1 and April 2 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141071 Tue, 10 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141071 Science Olympiad Team Heading to States The high school’s Science Olympiad team has secured a spot in the New York State Science Olympiad Competition following their success at the Suffolk County Regional Division C Science Olympiad Competition. During the regional competition at Brentwood High School, the Port Jefferson team placed fifth among 50 other teams. Events tested students’ skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. The state competition will be held on March 13 and 14 at Le Moyne College in Syracuse. In addition to the team win, several teammates earned medals. Congratulations to the following Science Olympiad members: Janella Damaskos and Erin Burke – 1st place, Write It Do It Ryan Burgert and Paul Simmerling – 2nd place, Scrambler Chandler Sciara and Paul Simmerling – 2nd place, Wright Stuff Eric Kilgore and Ryan Burke – 2nd place, Compound Machines Caroline Biondo and Aliza Doyle – 4th place, Invasives Julia Kharzeev and Ryan Burke – 5th place, It’s About Time Ryan Burgert and Chandler Sciara – 6th place, Mission Possible Caroline Biondo and Shannon Christ – 7th place, Green Generation Julia Kharzeev and Ryan Burke – 7th place, Disease Detectives Caroline Biondo and Noah Davis – 8th place, Dynamic Planet Natasha Zaliznyak, Paul Simmerling and Shannon Christ – 8th place, Protein Modeling Eric Kilgore and Ryan Burke – 9th place, Chemistry Lab Lev Bershadsky and Brandon Hoffman – 10th place, Mission Possible https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141070 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false141070 Student Violinist Wins Young Performers Competition Eighth-grader and violinist Annalisa Welinder recently placed first in the Island Symphony Orchestra’s Young Performers Competition. Annalisa, who has been playing since the age of 3, now has the opportunity to perform in concert with the Island Symphony Orchestra on May 3 at Suffolk County Community College’s Van Nostrand Theatre. This is not the first time that Annalisa, who has received extensive training at the Meadowmount School of Music, has been recognized for her talents. In 2014, she won first place in the Sound Symphony Orchestra’s annual solo competition. She also took second place in the Long Island Philharmonic’s 26th annual Young Artist Competition. Annalisa is a member of the World Alliance Chamber Orchestra, has served as concertmaster and principal second violin for the Juilliard pre-college string ensemble, and performed at the Oyster Bay Chamber Music Festival. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140613 Mon, 09 Mar 2015 04:00:00 GMT false140613 Student Council Raises Money for Lymphoma Society The Port Jefferson Middle School student council raised more than $1,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society through a “Pennies for Patients” campaign. Throughout January, the students collected money through a combination of an online and in-school fundraiser, including a “Pay to Play” fundraiser where students could buy passes to play computer games during lunch. In addition to collecting money, student council members shared information with their classmates about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140611 Fri, 06 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140611 Acknowledging the Successful Reality of Suffolk's Schools The Suffolk County School Superintendents organization has responded to Governor Cuomo’s identification of ‘failing schools’ in the State of New York. You can read the response here. What is interesting is that by the Governor’s own data, more than 99 percent of Suffolk County’s individual schools are not ‘failing.’ There are, indeed, schools in great need. As identified by the Governor, there are two in Suffolk, and they deserve the attention and support needed to make them successful. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140620 Fri, 06 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140620 Calendar Clarification Parents/Guardians, Due to the number of emergency closings, school will be in session for all students on both Wednesday, April 1 and Thursday, April 2. Don't forget to "spring" your clocks forwards. Perhaps that will help the warm temperatures arrive faster! Regards, Dr. Bossert https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140621 Fri, 06 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140621 Visiting Musician Performs for Music Students The sweet sounds of the viola resounded through the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School music room on Feb. 12 as students listened to a performance by visiting violist Jacob Clewell during their music class. Mr. Clewell, a graduate student at Stony Brook University, aimed to demonstrate through his visit the beauty of the viola and the wonderful sounds it can produce. Following his performance of “Asturias” by Isaac Albeniz, Mr. Clewell performed two pieces, W.A. Mozart’s String Duo No. 1 for Violin and Viola in G Major and Bohuslav Martinu’s Three Madrigals for Violin and Viola, with Vanessa Salzman, the district’s elementary and middle school orchestra teacher, who is also a violinist. In addition to performing for the elementary school students, Mr. Clewell visited the middle school, where he conducted a workshop for sixth-grade orchestra members. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140609 Thu, 05 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140609 Art Students Create Henna Illustrations As part of a recent study on the ancient drawing technique of henna, art students in Stacey Schuman’s class at Port Jefferson Middle School designed their own henna-inspired illustrations. The students were instructed on how to create the designs using drawing materials such as markers and pencils. Aside from learning the art of henna drawing, the students also gained an understanding of the henna plant and its multitude of uses dating back to ancient times. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140605 Tue, 03 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140605 Motivated Students Honored During its Feb. 10 meeting, the Port Jefferson Rotary Club honored two Port Jefferson Middle School students as Most Motivated Students. Sixth-grader Mattea Rabeno received the award for January, while eighth-grader Jillian Lawler was presented with December’s award. According to her math teacher, Meg Ryan, Mattea earned her award for being an extremely hardworking student who is especially thoughtful and kind. She is also a valued member of the Port Jefferson Middle School Student Council. English teacher Kayleen Everitt said of her student Jillian that she earned her award for being a stellar student, especially when it comes to writing and reading. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140604 Mon, 02 Mar 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140604 Students Pack Blizzard Bags for Senior Citizens With the unpredictability of winter weather, members of the high school’s Leo Club recently spent an afternoon filling bags with food for Meals on Wheels recipients. The “Blizzard Bags” will be provided to the recipients of the Meals on Wheels program to have on hand in the event that bad weather prevents their weekly meals from being delivered by the Three Village Meals on Wheels program. Each Blizzard Bag contains four shelf-stable meals for the seniors, including boxed or canned nonperishable items that can be stored and used in the event of bad weather. All of the items were donated by the Leo Club, which raised funds to purchase the food through bake sales. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140603 Fri, 27 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140603 BOE Recognizes Staff While students and staff were snuggled warm in their homes during the last few snowstorms, the Port Jefferson School District’s Operations and Maintenance staff were hard at work ensuring that the district’s parking lots and sidewalks were safe and clear of snow and ice. For their hard work, the Port Jefferson Board of Education paid tribute to the crew by presenting them with certificates during the Feb. 10 Board of Education meeting. “The work has been extensive, with crews working for 36 hours in a row just during the blizzard,” said Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “Some of them even stayed overnight in sleeping bags. We would be remiss if we did not thank them for their efforts.” Speaking to the Operations and Maintenance staff in attendance, BOE President Kathleen Brennan said, “You have been tested by water, wind, snow and repairs. On behalf of the BOE, I thank you.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140602 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140602 Suffolk Superintendents Articulate Concerns to Legislators The Legislative Committee for the Suffolk County Council of School Superintendents has delivered a letter to our local elected representatives in the State Senate and Assembly. Important concerns such as funding, support for English Language Learners, Unfunded Mandates, and other issues were addressed in the letter. Dr. Ken Bossert, Superintendent of Schools, is a member of the committee that drafted the letter. “It’s important for all stakeholders to have a voice in the reform process,” said Dr. Bossert. "The SCSSA firmly believes that educators need to be the primary voice in shaping educational reform, with parents and community members learning about critical issues and advocating for positions that support high-quality instruction and financial stability in local communities." The letter can be read here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140614 Thu, 26 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140614 Celebrating 100 Days of School To celebrate the completion of the first 100 days of school, kindergarten students in Ms. Allison Coppi’s class spoke about everything they learned so far this school year, from learning their letter sounds to counting to life skills, including sharing and making new friends. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140608 Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140608 ‘School House Rock Live!’ Audiences clapped and cheered as the Port Jefferson Middle School’s Drama Club presented “School House Rock Live!” on Feb. 6 and 7. The musical production featured 19 middle school students, as well as high school volunteers and a full orchestra made up of volunteer community members. Highlights of the show included Drama Club president Saoirse Cohen singing “Interplanet Janet,” and Cole Fortier, Drama Club past president, belting out “Conjunction Junction” and “Magic Number.” Equally entertaining was when Katie Ambrozy sang, “I’m Just a Bill” and Ava Schully performed “The Preamble.” “We are very proud of this talented ensemble cast and crew,” said Mary LaSita, middle school Drama Club co-advisor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140598 Wed, 25 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140598 Music Students Learn about Careers in Film During a workshop with Port Jefferson alumna Ja-Ann Wang, music students at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School explored careers in the entertainment industry. At the Feb. 5 workshop, Ja-Ann, who holds a degree from NYU and works as a freelance sound editor and mixer, spoke to the students about her personal experiences and the process of adding sound effects and music soundtracks to film. Additionally, Ja-Ann encouraged the young musicians to follow their dreams and explore the many careers available in music and the entertainment industry. Ja-Ann’s resume includes editing and mixing sound for movies, including “The Conjuring,” “The Giver,” “Mortdecai,” and “Foxcatcher.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140597 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140597 Runner Is Unstoppable Record-breaking runner James Burke has done it again! On Valentine’s Day, he took first place at the 108th Millrose Games. James competed against the top 15 milers in the country at the Armory’s New Balance Track and Field Center in Manhattan. He finished the one-mile race in 4:11.25, just ahead of Greenwich’s Jeremy Spiezio and Northport’s Mike Brannigan. This is not the first time that James, who has been running since the fifth grade, has come out on top. He recently took first in the 1,000-meter race at the Malloy Stanner Games, where he broke a Long Island record. He also holds several championship titles and has not lost a race this season. To watch the race, click here. Photo compliments of the Millrosegames.org. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140612 Tue, 24 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140612 Day in Clay Fourth-graders learned about Native American ceramic art through a visiting artist program on Feb. 10. During the hands-on program, artist-in-residence Cliff Mendelson taught students how to make a multicultural ceramic vessel out of clay. Students were able to mold and paint their creations, which will be fired in a kiln and displayed in school in the coming weeks. The cultural arts enrichment program aims to not only expose the Port Jefferson students to the process and effort involved in creating ceramic pieces, but also teach them appreciation of the skills needed to craft any type of art. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140596 Mon, 23 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140596 Talent Show to Benefit Friends of Karen For the 10th year in a row, Port Jefferson Middle School students will show off their talents at a talent show to benefit the Port Jefferson-based charity Friends of Karen. Over the years, the show has raised more than $12,000 for Friends of Karen, which assists families who have a child with a life-threatening illness by providing emotional, financial and advocacy support. This year’s talent show is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. in the high school auditorium. The event will feature 16 performing acts, including a mixture of singing, dancing and instrument playing. Tickets are $5, or $4 plus a canned good. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140610 Mon, 23 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140610 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on March 10, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140606 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140606 Parent Portal Down for Maintenance Please note, the district has been made aware that Power School will be down for maintenance this weekend (Feb. 20-22) and the Parent Portal will be unavailable until Sunday evening. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140607 Fri, 20 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140607 Art Students Design Valentines for Classmates In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Port Jefferson Middle School art club students designed valentines for their classmates. The personalized valentines, made with the help of art teacher Stacey Schuman, were hung on all student lockers as a Valentine’s Day surprise. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140601 Tue, 17 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140601 Sophomore Earns National Fencing Rating Anthony Buono, a sophomore at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, earned his “E” national rating in men’s sabre after competing in a tournament held in mid-January. To earn the rating, Anthony defeated fencers from Stony Brook, Ward Melville and Shoreham-Wading River high schools. Anthony, who is enrolled at Mission Fencing Center in Rocky Point, is now one of only 13 sabre fencers with an “E” national rating in his age category on Long Island. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140592 Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140592 Girls Basketball Star Scores 1,000th Point On the same night that the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School girls varsity basketball team clinched their league championship title, the team’s shooting guard, Courtney Lewis, marked a milestone in her own career: scoring her 1,000th point. “It felt great,” said Courtney, who noted the role her teammates played in helping her achieve her accomplishment. Courtney started the championship game with 992 points, and with less than two minutes left on the clock in the first quarter, she scored her 1,000th point. “It is an impressive achievement that very few individuals accomplish,” said Debra Ferry, director of physical education, health and athletics. Courtney, who started playing varsity basketball in the seventh grade, is currently one of the top 10 scorers in Suffolk County. She plans to continue to play the game that was introduced to her by her father throughout high school and into college. Courtney also plays soccer, runs spring track and is a member of the varsity club. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140600 Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140600 TONIGHT - Girls Varsity Basketball Team Hosts First Round of Playoffs Following their undefeated season, the girls varsity basketball team will host McGann-Mercy High School tonight in the first round of the playoffs. Tipoff begins at 5 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140599 Fri, 13 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140599 String Students Attend County Music Festival String students of all levels were selected to participate in the Long Island String Festival on Jan. 17 at Smithtown High School West and Feb. 1 at Ward Melville High School. All of the students were selected on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria, along with teacher recommendations. The district congratulates the following students: Kasumi Layne-Stasik (grade 5), Jack Reilly (grade 6), Grant Samara (grade 6), Lucas Welinder (grade 6), David Bershadsky (grade 7), Hyun Jin Lee (grade 8), Mayu Takeuchi (grade 8), Ibuki Iwasaki (grade 9), Trey Pisano (grade 9), Joseph Samara (grade 9), Xinyi Hong (grade 10) and Danielle Goldstein (grade 11). https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140591 Thu, 12 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140591 Watch Burke Run in the Millrose Games Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s record-breaking runner James Burke is set to compete in the New York Road Runners Millrose Games, which will be broadcast live on Saturday, Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. James will race against the top 15 milers in the country at the Armory’s New Balance Track and Field Center, located in Manhattan. The race will be broadcast on Optimum/Cablevision Channel 146, DirecTV Channel 220, Verizon Fios Channel 590 and Dish Channel 159. James, who has been running since the fifth grade, recently won the 1,000-meter race at the Malloy Stanner Games at the Armory, where he broke a Long Island record. He also holds several championship titles and has not lost a race this season. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140595 Thu, 12 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140595 Perfect Season Scores League Championship Following their Feb. 4 win against McGann Mercy High School, the Earl L. Vandermeulen varsity girls basketball team clinched the Suffolk League VIII Championship. Under the leadership of coach Ed Duddy and assistant coach Allyson Wolff, the Port Jefferson team took the title with a final score of 51-31. The win gave the team an undefeated league record of 10-0. Last season, coach Duddy’s first as head coach, featured a young team, and he had to create a whole new program that included hard work and discipline in practices and in games. “Last year, the team had to learn a new defensive and offensive philosophy, which is to be aggressive and execute plans,” said coach Duddy. “They are now reaping the benefits of their hard work and team play. I am very proud of these girls, not just because they are winning, but because they care for one another, which makes them a special group in my eyes.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140590 Wed, 11 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140590 Lego Building Enriches Students For the second year in a row, fourth- and fifth-graders had the opportunity to participate in a Lego enrichment program. On Jan. 29 and 30, the Port Jefferson students, under the direction of SEAL teacher Janelle Bellotti, learned about simple machines and their real-world applications. The applied that knowledge to build a pull-back car, which they tested using various engineering theories. Students also honed their communication, teamwork and visual interpretation skills through the program. At the end of the class, the students were allowed to take their finished products home. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140588 Tue, 10 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140588 HS Students Perform at Mid-Island Band Festival Four high school band students recently participated in the 57th annual Mid-Island Band Festival, held at Patchogue-Medford High School. Students Andreya Harvey, Calla Kelley-Renda, David Moir and Lara Sarubbi performed with musicians from the Miller Place, Sayville, Patchogue-Medford, Hauppauge and West Islip school districts. The evening concluded with a performance led by guest conductor Peter Randazzo, an adjunct instructor at Suffolk County Community College. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140587 Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140587 Community Pool & Fitness Center are canceled for tonight (2/9) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140594 Mon, 09 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140594 Star Students Recognized Six elementary students have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. Those chosen as Star Students for the month of January are, in grades K-5 respectively, Lucas Lotten, Meghan Laffey, Joseph Aronica, Alana Samara, Margaret Johnson and Morgan Bullis. As a reward, the students have their photos displayed on the bulletin board outside the library along with a summary of their favorite books. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140586 Fri, 06 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140586 Community Forum Series - A Conversation on the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts Please read the attached flyer regarding the upcomingCommunity Forum Series - A Conversation on the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140593 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140593 Port Jefferson Junior Takes Wrestling Title Junior Matteo DeVincenzo secured the 113-pound wrestling title while competing at the Eastern States Wrestling Classic, held Jan. 10 and 11 at SUNY Sullivan in Loch Sheldrake. Matteo earned the title after defeating several top competitors from four states, including New York champion Kyle Quinn of Wantagh in a final match that ended 2-1. “This win means a lot,” said Matteo. “It places me higher in the rankings.” This is not the first time that Matteo, who has been wrestling for six years, has found himself in the winner’s circle. He is currently running an undefeated season with a record of 31-0, and at the Armstrong meet on Jan. 24 at the high school, he earned his 100th career win. Matteo is also a two-time state finalist and placed fourth in the sophomore national wrestling competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140585 Thu, 05 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140585 Running into the Record Books High school senior James Burke not only won the 1,000-meter race at the Malloy Stanner Games at the Armory in Manhattan on Jan. 17, but his race time of 2:26.75 broke the Long Island record of 2:27.39 that was set last season. This is not James’ first win or even first broken record. During his running career, he has broken the high school’s record for the 1,000-, 800- and 600-meter races and earned several championship titles on the national, state and county levels. “Breaking records is awesome, but winning a title is equally as awesome, since records can be broken but titles can’t be taken away,” said James, who has his sights set on continuing his running streak through the end of the season. With six out of six wins so far this season, James, who has been running since the fifth grade, now faces several more championship races, with expectations to once again compete in the nationals. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140584 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140584 Snow Closures - Calendar Adjustments Parents/Guardians, The decision to close school is a very difficult one. A balance must be struck between preserving instructional time and insuring the safety of students, faculty and staff. In addition to our outstanding maintenance and grounds crew, we are fortunate to be able to work closely with the Village to prepare roads and facilities after wicked weather comes our way. Please know that we will always err on the side of caution when making final decisions. As any resident knows, the hills of Port Jefferson, and some of the small winding roads present great challenges to bus drivers, parents, and staff. As per our Board of Education approved 2014-15 School Calendar (available on the district website), due to the three emergency closings we have experienced, school will now be in session for all students on: * April 1 (originally designated as a Conference Day) * May 22 * May 26 If one additional emergency day is required, school will be in session on Thursday, April 2. If any additional days are required, I will formulate a recommendation to the Board of Education for their approval. There are several potential scenarios to review; however, we hope we won't have to! First and foremost, please stay safe during these challenging weeks ahead. Please also be prepared, at all times, for the potential of a delayed opening, early dismissal, or school closing. On behalf of the Board and the entire District Administration we greatly appreciate how well prepared students are when these events arise. It truly "takes a village". Warm Regards, Ken Bossert https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140589 Wed, 04 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140589 Learning More About New York During the week of Jan. 19, elementary students learned more about their home state through an interactive program during their physical education classes. The program, “Welcome to New York,” transformed the school’s gymnasium into an information-packed New York State, complete with tour guides. The guides introduced the Port Jefferson students to more than 20 hands-on activity centers where they learned about New York State history, geography, symbols and facts. Activities included fishing for trout in the Finger Lakes and hiking in the Catskill Mountains. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140580 Tue, 03 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140580 Latin Students Explore Old World Art High school students studying Latin had the opportunity to explore the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Jan. 14. During the trip, the students visited the Greek and Roman Art Gallery and took a guided tour of the Egyptian Art Gallery, where they delved into the topic of “Art for Eternity.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141245 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141245 Two-Hour Delayed Opening - Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015 Due to the inclement weather conditions, Port Jefferson Schools will be operating on a two-hour delayed opening on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2015. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140583 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140583 Schools Closed - Monday, Feb. 2 Due to the inclement weather conditions, Port Jefferson Schools will be closed today, Feb. 2, 2015. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140582 Mon, 02 Feb 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140582 The Chart 2015-16 – Now Available for Download THE CHART is intended to help each student plan his/her program through high school, with successful placement in either higher education or in a career vocation. This booklet describes the courses offered in the high school, and outlines graduation requirements. THE CHART is also a resource for parents as they help their children plan for the future. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140581 Fri, 30 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false140581 String Quartet Shines at Chamber Music Festival Middle school string students – Hyun Jin Lee, Francine Leung, Ava Schully and Mayu Takeuchi – showcased their skills in the Long Island String Chamber Music Festival on Jan. 11. During the event, the eighth-graders performed Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,” and attended coaching sessions by members of the Bryant Park String Quartet. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141244 Thu, 29 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141244 Fourth-Grader Tops in Geo Bee Fourth-grader Olivia Schlegel has what it takes to be a Geography Bee winner. After competing with fellow fourth- and fifth-grade SEAL students on Jan. 16, Olivia came out on top, answering the most questions correctly during three rounds of questioning. Haruki Takeuchi placed second in the bee. Olivia now qualifies for the Geography Bee written qualifying exam, which will be administered at the end of January. If successful, she will have the opportunity to participate in the state bee. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141243 Wed, 28 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141243 Schools Closed Wednesday, Jan. 28 All Port Jefferson schools and offices will be closed on Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2015. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140578 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 15:00:00 GMT false140578 Port Jefferson School Board Honors Students The Board of Education recognized the charter members of the high school’s new Investment Club with a certificate of recognition during their Jan. 13 meeting. “These students deserve the highest compliments for their persistence and for attracting 15 percent of the school’s population. They have done a good job,” said Dr. Kenneth Bossert, superintendent. The Investment Club, which has more than 50 members, launched in October 2014 after student Dan Scarda garnered student signatures and BOE approval. The club focuses on the financial industry and participates in mock stock market competitions. Middle school Spanish teacher Bob Ferenga serves as the club adviser. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141242 Tue, 27 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141242 Collegial Circle Focuses on Best Practices As part of the district’s focus on best practices, teachers and staff recently participated in a Collegial Circle, hosted by middle school Principal Antonio Santana. The program focused on how methodologies related to visualizing the learning process can be implemented to optimize student learning in Port Jefferson’s classrooms. Faculty participants engaged in lively discussions revolving around a Harvard University publication, titled “Visible Learners, Promoting Reggio-Inspired Approaches in All Schools.” The publication, which was produced by Project Zero, describes how observing and documenting learning can change the nature of that learning. It features five key principles of learning — namely, that it is purposeful, social, representational, empowering and emotional. “[The publication] asks teachers and educators to look beyond the surface to understand who their students are, what they come to know, and how they come to know it,” said Santana. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141240 Mon, 26 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141240 Serving Up Success The middle school girls volleyball team successfully concluded their season with an undefeated record of 10-0. Coach Amanda DiPietro and the district extend their congratulations to all players. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141239 Fri, 23 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141239 Baking Bread for those in Need As part of their character education and math lessons, students in Nancy Winkler-Brogan’s third-grade class baked bread for those in need. Using skills learned from a Common Core math module, “Place Value and Problem Solving with Units of Measure,” students were able to translate their skills into the real world by measuring ingredients to make 21 loaves of bread. The bread was then delivered by high school staff member Gene Holland to Grace Care Outreach of Medford. Mr. Holland has volunteered at the outreach center for the past 13 years and was grateful for the donation. “The bread fed a lot of people and for some, it was their one and only gift this year,” said Mr. Holland. “During this activity, the students learned many things, but most importantly, how important it is to take the time to help others in need,” said Ms. Winkler-Brogan. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141238 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141238 Field Hockey Players Earn Awards Four high school varsity field hockey players were recognized at the Suffolk County Field Hockey Dinner on Dec. 9 at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. Three seniors - Shannon Fee, Lauren McGuirk and Tammy Serabian – were named All-Division players, while sophomore Jackie Brown was named an All-County player. The district extends its congratulations to these student-athletes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141236 Wed, 21 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141236 Musicians Attend Lincoln Center Performance More than 50 elementary, middle and high school string players had the opportunity to attend an evening performance of the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fischer Hall in Lincoln Center on Jan. 8. Following the performance, the students were greeted by maestro Alan Gilbert, conductor of the Philharmonic Orchestra. “It was an evening these young musicians will remember for years to come,” said Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141237 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141237 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 27, 2015, 6:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters; and any other business as may be needed. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on February 10, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141241 Tue, 20 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141241 Sophomore Named Roots and Shoots Ambassador High school sophomore Arunima Roy has been named as an ambassador for the Roots and Shoots National Youth Council, which was founded by Dr. Jane Goodall and focuses on worldwide environmental issues. Arunima, who is a member of the high school’s Environmental Club, received the honor after an application process, which included two interviews. As an ambassador, Arunima will work to foster fellow ambassadors on their individual environmental projects and look to gain support on an Environmental Club project, which aims to garner funding to protect rainforest wildlife. “I am honored and look forward to bettering the world through projects that support animals and the environment,” said Arunima. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141235 Fri, 16 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141235 Creative Problem-Solving Through Art At the elementary school, the after-school Art Club is not only a place where fifth-graders can express their talents, but also where they can use their problem-solving skills to create “artistic solutions.” Recently, Art Club advisor Richard Anderson tasked students with creating two projects: a functional light sculpture from papier-mâché and decorative clay birdhouses. The students were required to use their problem-solving skills to creatively construct the projects using only the materials provided to them. The club members’ finished sculptures and birdhouses were testament to the problem-solving skills they have acquired. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141234 Thu, 15 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141234 Eighth-grader Earns Perfect Score in Math Contest Eighth-grader Mayu Takeuchi earned a perfect score on the 2014 American Mathematics Contest AMC 8. The score, said math teacher Matt Garofola, is an outstanding accomplishment. Only 214 students in the United States from more than 130,000 participants earned a perfect score. Mayu, who is enrolled in two high school math courses, Geometry and Algebra II/Trigonometry, was thrilled with her score, especially since this was the last opportunity she had to participate in the contest. According to the Mathematical Association of America’s website, “AMC 8 is a 25-question, 40-minute, multiple choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141233 Wed, 14 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141233 Seniors Receive Congressional Service Academy Nominations Two high school seniors have been honored with Congressional Service Academy nominations by former Congressman Timothy Bishop. A Congressional nomination is a necessary first step in gaining acceptance into a military academy and requires students to submit applications and participate in an interview process. The Port Jefferson students, Dylan Wennerod and James Murphy, have both had lifelong dreams of attending a service academy. Dylan intends to apply to the Merchant Marine Academy to study engineering as well as play football, a sport he has been involved in since the third grade. “I have always wanted to serve my country,” said Dylan. “Both of my grandfathers were in the military.” James said he too has always had his eye on attending a military school. His goal is to attend West Point, a school he was exposed to when he competed in gymnastics. Also motivating him is a long line of relatives who have served their country. James said he plans to study engineering or possibly pre-med, as he is considering a future career as a physical therapist. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141231 Tue, 13 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141231 SBU Professor Lectures Students on Climate Change As part of their studies, high school students in Jon Maletta’s Living Environment class heard from Dr. Jessica Gurevitch, a professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University. Dr. Gurevitch spoke to students about key connections found between an increase in anthropogenic pollution in the form of greenhouse gases and average global temperatures. “So much evidence has now accumulated that there is no remaining scientific doubt that rising CO2 is resulting in an increased greenhouse effect,” she said. Dr. Gurevitch laid out historical references and data collection techniques for determining carbon dioxide concentrations in the atmosphere. Among her examples, she described ice core sampling techniques in which small bubbles that trap gases aid in developing a chronological understanding of carbon dioxide concentrations dating back 800,000 years. She also emphasized the importance of understanding projected temperature changes and the impact on vulnerable, low-lying areas such as the New York Metro Area, the Maldives and Myanmar. Mr. Maletta noted that his students were actively engaged in the discussion and appreciated the detailed presentation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141230 Mon, 12 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141230 Royal Singers Entertain Seawolves Members of the high school chamber choir shared their musical talents on Dec. 23 by performing at a Stony Brook University Seawolves basketball game. The Port Jefferson vocalists greeted fans with holiday carols before kicking off the game by singing the national anthem. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141229 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141229 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 13, 2015, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141232 Fri, 09 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141232 Port Jefferson Spelling Champ Named Elementary student William Wu came out on top after participating in the National Scripts Spelling Bee on Dec. 18. William was among 16 contestants from each fourth- and fifth-grade class who competed in the championship round. He took the top spot after successfully spelling “gambol.” William will now move on to the final local spelling bee at Hofstra University on Feb. 8. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141228 Thu, 08 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141228 AP Bio Students Explore DNA Greg Gorniok’s AP Bio students had the opportunity to explore DNA when they took a field trip to Stony Brook University’s technology lab on Dec. 10. During the visit, the students used biological tools to cut and identify segments of DNA in a workshop called Gel Electropharisis, a process by which diseases are identified. The students will take another trip to the lab later this year for a workshop called Bacterial Transformation, in which they will use glowing jellyfish genes to detect water pollutants. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141224 Wed, 07 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141224 Student for a Day In an effort to gain insight into their students’ lives, two high school teachers recently posed as students for a day. The exercise was something Principal Dr. Matthew Murphy advocated for, saying it was an opportunity for the teachers to learn more about their students. According to social studies teacher Jesse Rosen and English teacher Matt Sefick, that is just what happened. Both teachers dressed as students, completed homework assignments, changed for gym, took quizzes and tests, and attended a full day of classes. Mr. Rosen, who spent the day in 10th-grade classes, said the experience was eye-opening and one he will not forget. He said that while teaching, he would often become frustrated when students would start to pack up minutes before the bell would ring. However, after being a student for a day, he now understands why they do it. “I forgot that these students have just three minutes to get from one class to the next,” he said. He also learned it wasn’t easy to stay fully engaged for nine periods a day. Similarly, Mr. Sefick, who spent the day as a senior taking five Advanced Placement classes, said the transition from one class to the next was very challenging. “One moment, I was thinking about the unemployment rate in the United States,” he said. “The next, I was in a dark room trying to develop pictures, and later, I was trying to evaluate the effectiveness of a written argument. To shift my focus from one subject to the next proved difficult.” Mr. Sefick also said he was amazed by how much a mistake in class affected him. “In my first-period class, I made an error in my calculations that I should not have made and I carried that with me for the rest of the day,” he said. “This reminded me of how much students internalize their mistakes and might have trouble sloughing them off and moving on.” Mr. Sefick found the overall experience to be a rewarding one. Based on his day as a senior, he plans to make a few changes in his classroom, such as being more comforting to students who might answer a question wrong and more complimentary to those who answer correctly. Photo Caption: Port Jefferson social student teacher Jesse Rosen posed as a student for a day in an effort to gain insight into his students’ lives. Pictured with him is health teacher Mike Maletta. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141221 Tue, 06 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141221 Student Council to Raise Money for Lymphoma Society The middle school student council has started a “Pennies for Patients” fundraiser in an effort to raise $1,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Throughout January, the students will be collecting money during their seventh period class and online. Also during that time, student council members will share information with their classmates about the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. To raise additional funds, students will be holding after-school bake sales on Jan. 15 and Jan. 22. Student council members are also collecting $5 from classmates for a “Pay to Play” fundraiser to buy a pass to play computer games during lunch. For more information on the student council’s fundraiser, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141222 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141222 Motivated Student Honored At its Dec. 9 meeting, the Port Jefferson Rotary Club honored seventh-grader Dennis Jourdain as November’s Most Motivated Student of the Month. Dennis was nominated for the honor by his English teacher, Deirdre Filippi, who commented on Dennis as being a “super kid,” as well as hardworking and diligent. Fellow teachers, she noted, agree that Dennis is well-deserving of the award. “It is evident that Dennis is on track to repeat this feat before he moves up from middle school to high school,” she said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141218 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 05:00:00 GMT false141218 Ugly Holiday Sweater Winners Named To celebrate National Ugly Sweater Day and promote school spirit, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s Student Organization hosted an ugly sweater contest. On Dec. 12, students and staff wore their most festive holiday sweaters for the second annual school contest. This year’s class winners were: senior Caroline Biondo, junior Shae Gwydir, sophomore Virgina Albinson and freshman Joe Bardram. English teacher Matthew Sefick was the staff winner. In also celebrating the holiday season, the Student Organization held a wear your pajamas to school day on Dec. 19. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141227 Fri, 26 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141227 Spreading Holiday Magic Just in time for the holidays, Earl L. Vandermeulen Student Organization members donated bags of toys to 60 local families in need through their Holiday Magic campaign. In an effort to provide holiday joy to as many children as possible, the Port Jefferson students expanded their drive this year to the entire student body. The outpouring of support was unbelievable, said SO President Carly Cherches. “We had more than 60 staff members and students volunteer to buy toys for a child,” she said. Carly and SO Vice President Kayley Okst said they were more than happy to lead this year’s effort. “It’s nice to be able to help,” said Carly. Kayley agreed, adding, “It’s great to know that we were able to get these children what they wanted this year.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141226 Thu, 25 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141226 Holiday Helpers Make Season Bright Thanks to students and staff at the high school and middle school, eight families in need will have a joyful holiday season. Throughout the month of December, school social worker Kristin Britt has been working with staff, students and the PTSA to collect gifts for the families through the Holiday Helpers adopt-a-family program. The 12-year-old program, said Ms. Britt, not only provides gifts to families within the school district, but also food baskets, Christmas trees, gift cards and other items they may need to make their holiday cheerful and bright. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141225 Wed, 24 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141225 Interact Club Shows Holiday Spirit The high school Interact Club has been busy assisting those in need this holiday season with the help of their adviser Deirdre Filippi. On Dec. 9, club members assisted the Port Jefferson Rotary Club by wrapping hundreds of holiday gifts for children. The gifts were donated by Rotarians for the Social Ministry Program at Infant Jesus. Interact Club members also volunteered their time on Dec. 13 at the Port Jefferson Village Recreation Center, where they helped Janine Cline, owner of the Suffolk Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy, collect hundreds of gifts through a fundraiser for the Social Ministry Program. Club members welcomed guests, ran craft tables, assisted Santa with his delivery of small gifts for those in attendance and helped children get ready for a night of ice skating at the ice rink. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141223 Tue, 23 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141223 Musicians Share their Gift of Music High school music students shared their talents by performing a holiday concert for patients at the Water’s Edge Nursing Home in Port Jefferson on Dec. 12. Performed included the chamber choir, jazz band and chamber orchestra, who entertained patients and nursing home staff with festive renditions of holiday carols and standards. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141220 Mon, 22 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141220 Musicians Perform at 19th Annual Dickens Festival Students from the district’s music department performed at the 19th annual Charles Dickens Festival’s Victorian Tea, held at the First Presbyterian Church in the Village of Port Jefferson on Dec. 6 and 7. The musical groups that performed included the elementary fifth-grade select choir, the high school jazz ensemble, the middle and high school orchestras and the high school chamber choir. The Tri-M Music Honor Society also performed chamber music at various locations across the village. All groups entertained crowds with holiday favorites. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141217 Fri, 19 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141217 Research Program Recognizes Students Brookhaven National Laboratory recognized five students who participated in the lab’s Science School Research Program over the summer. During the ceremony on Dec. 2 at the lab, the hard work of students Ryan Burke, Carly Cherches, Ju Mi Ha, Julia Kharzeev and Eric Kilgore was noted. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141215 Thu, 18 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141215 Skyping in Spanish Spanish students in Nicole Pennino-Costa’s multi-level Spanish class had the opportunity to use their skills via a Skype session with Emma Neiman, a 2012 graduate who is studying Spanish abroad in Chile through Stanford University in California. During the videoconference, Neiman answered questions about her college experience and what she has learned in Chile. The interview, Ms. Pennino-Costa said, was a chance for her students to not only use their Spanish skills, but also learn about education opportunities they can pursue in college. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141214 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141214 Musician Performs Among the Best Senior Danielle Goldstein represented the district at the NYSSMA All-State Winter Conference, held in Rochester during the week of Dec. 4. During the conference, Danielle, a violinist, performed alongside some of the finest high school musicians from across the state. She was selected for the honor based on her perfect score on her All-State audition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141213 Tue, 16 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141213 Language Teachers Secure Book Grant Two high school Spanish/Italian teachers have secured grants for new textbooks for students enrolled in upper- and lower-level language classes. In early October, teachers Nicole Pennino-Costa and Celiana Gandolfo applied for grants through the Italian American Committee on Education. Late last month, they learned they were each awarded a $250 grant to be used toward books. Both Ms. Pennino-Costa and Ms. Gandolfo learned of the grants through the American Association of Teachers of Italian, of which they are members. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141212 Mon, 15 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141212 Tax Freeze Rebate Update The school district has been informed that Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s property tax freeze credit rebate checks should arrive in taxpayer’s mailboxes by the end of the year. The property tax freeze credit is a new two-year tax relief program that reimburses qualifying New York State homeowners for increases in local property taxes on their primary residences. The rebate checks are offered to all taxpayers whose school districts did not pierce the 2 percent tax cap and for residents who receive a STAR property tax exemption. For more information on the rebate, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141219 Mon, 15 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141219 Students Place in Geo Bee Three sixth-graders excelled in the first round of the 2015 National Geographic Geography Bee, held during the week of Dec. 1. The students, who were among 17 middle school students to participate in the contest, were quizzed on their geography knowledge during their lunch and recess periods. The top three finalists were Aaron Held, Lucas Welinder and Asher Calayag. With the highest score, Aaron will move onto the next round, the state-qualifying test. A high score will allow him to then compete on the state level. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141211 Fri, 12 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141211 A Lesson in World Peace Elementary students in grades 3-5 got a lesson in world peace when they were visited by United Nations and UNICEF representative Shehab Chowdhury on Dec. 4. Mr. Chowdhury spoke about the history and purpose of the U.N. to further students’ understanding of the International Day of Peace. Through a PowerPoint presentation, he discussed how children around the world go without clean drinking water, are malnourished, and have their rights stripped away. However, he told the students, they could make a difference in the lives of these children right from their homes in Port Jefferson – for example, by participating in the UNICEF Tap Program, which raises money for clean drinking water. “This was the perfect time of year to have this assembly, as our students are already involved in many different ways with giving back and helping people in need find peace,” said teacher Nancy Winkler-Brogan, who organized the assembly. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141210 Thu, 11 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141210 Seniors Named Zone Recipients High school seniors Caroline Biondo and Paul Capobianco were named the 2014-2015 Suffolk Zone Award recipients at the Suffolk Zone dinner on Dec. 3. “Caroline and Paul have proven themselves to our physical education teachers and their school community as being students with exceptional physical performances, scholastic abilities and leadership qualities,” said Debra Ferry, director of health, physical education and athletics. “Their performance and participation in physical education has earned them this well-deserved recognition.” The award, given by the Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, is presented to one male and one female from each Suffolk County high school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141209 Wed, 10 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141209 String Player Performs for Stony Brook Seawolves Middle school musician Annalisa Welinder had the opportunity to kick off the men’s season opener basketball game at the new arena at the State University of Stony Brook on Nov. 14. At the start of the game, she performed a classical rendition of the national anthem on her violin. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141208 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141208 Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE over the Internet Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE over the Internet All of our Winter Concerts are being broadcast live over the internet. You will need the Real Player if you are using your computer to view the LIVE video stream. All iPods/iPhones/iPads will launch automatically. It can be downloaded by following the link below: ClickHEREfor the Real Player Download ClickHEREto start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player ClickHEREto start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad Archived video will be available the morning after the concerts on each of the building's home pages under the announcements section. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141216 Tue, 09 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141216 Rotary Honors Most Motivated Students Two middle school students were honored by the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson during a luncheon on Nov. 25. The students, Hailey Hearney and Cooper Schoch, were recognized as the Most Motivated Students of the Month for their efforts as members of the middle school student council. As council members, Hailey and Cooper helped raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, led a food drive and helped organize a Thanksgiving luncheon for local senior citizens. In addition to their leadership abilities, both students excel in school sports. Middle school teacher Christine Carlson described Hailey and Cooper as “kind, generous and respectful.” Middle school Principal Antonio Santana acknowledged the two as well, congratulating them and noting they are “wonderful role models.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141206 Mon, 08 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141206 Exploring Science Through Stony Brook’s STEM Program High school students have been presented with a unique opportunity to participate in a diverse array of STEM programs at Stony Brook University’s Center for Science and Mathematics Education. Now in its second year, the program takes place after school and is taught by Stony Brook faculty and staff. A total of 42 students are enrolled this year, after submitting applications. Since Nov. 13, the students have been receiving instruction on water quality testing using the power of biotechnology. During labs, they are actively engaged in a PCR-based detection of waterborne microorganisms, which involves the amplification of DNA. High school teacher and program advisor Jonathan Maletta said the workshops, which end on Dec. 11, are teaching students about an important tool used to safeguard human health and the environment in general. In the spring, the students will have the chance to take a new set of workshops through the program, including one on biostatistics. To learn more, click here to read an article written by Mr. Maletta. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141207 Fri, 05 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141207 Environmental Club Members Go Green Middle school environmental club members attended the Port Jefferson Village Go Green Festival on Nov. 1 to raise awareness and money for various environmental causes. During the event, the students sold home-baked goods to raise money for an environmental cause. In the past, the students adopted sea turtles from the Riverhead Foundation. In addition, students presented their research about the types of pollution found in the wrack line around Port Jefferson Harbor during a recent beach cleanup. They also presented recommendations to the village to help alleviate some of the pollution. An exhibit comparing a healthy wrack line to a polluted one was also part of their research. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141205 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141205 36th Annual Frost Valley Trip Sixth-graders continued their school’s 36-year tradition by venturing to Frost Valley from Nov. 5-7. During the adventure, which was supervised by science teacher Peter Burawa, Principal Antonio Santana, and several other teachers and staff members, students had the opportunity to participate in a number of activities and classes. The students learned about orienteering, reptiles, birds of prey and fresh water ecology, took a historical tour of the mansion and enjoyed a hike through the mountains and watershed. Students also participated in teamwork and project adventure activities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140666 Wed, 03 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140666 Aspiring Musicians Attend Concert More than 30 elementary and middle school orchestra students and their families attended the Starry Nights concert at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center on Nov. 19. The concert, which was made possible through the Staller Center Outreach Endowment and its coordinator, Paul Newland, featured a star-studded ensemble. The musicians, including performers in the Quintet for Clarinet and Strings, played a mix of chamber music during the concert. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140665 Tue, 02 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140665 Star Students Recognized Six elementary students have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s yearlong Read Campaign. Those chosen this month are Sadie LaPresti, kindergarten; Kieran Casey, first grade; Gwenivere Connelly, second grade; Viviane Kim, third grade; Isabella Longo, fourth grade and Kyle Scandale, fifth grade. As a reward, the students have their photos displayed on the bulletin board outside the library along with a summary of their favorite books. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140664 Mon, 01 Dec 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140664 Musicians Named to All-County Festival Four seniors were selected to participate in the New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education All-County Music Festival based on their high New York State School Music Association scores and teacher recommendations. The students – Parris Garant, Danielle Goldstein, Dunia Karzai and Alden Mohacsi – performed at Connetquot and Half Hollow Hills high schools on Nov. 12, 20 and 21. Congratulations to each of these students on their outstanding musical achievement. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140663 Fri, 28 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140663 Council Members Show Goodwill Members of the middle school student council have been very busy showing goodwill toward others this Thanksgiving season. Over the past month, the students, under the direction of adviser Allison Giannusa, worked to collect as much food as possible as part of an annual food drive. The students collected 1,471 items and $100, which were donated to the Ministries to dispense to those in need. In addition to the food drive, the student council held a Thanksgiving lunch for senior citizens from the Port Jefferson Senior Center on Nov. 19. During the event, students served lunch, which they ordered from Zans and desserts brought in from home. As they ate their lunch, the seniors were entertained with performances by a number of student groups, including band and orchestra musicians, as well as actors from the school’s fall play, “You Can’t Take It with You.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140662 Thu, 27 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140662 Students Honor Board of Education In acknowledgment of School Board Recognition Week, students and administrators paid tribute to the seven board members, who volunteer to serve the district, on Nov. 18. During the board meeting, elementary school students, with the help of Principal Thomas Meehan, delivered thanks through a video news report, called Scraggy News. In their broadcast, the students explained what the Board of Education does and said they are lucky to have community members who work as a team for their benefit. Middle school students also expressed gratitude, but instead of using words, the students performed a musical selection for the school board. The quartet played a piece from the opera, “Carmen.” High school students then stood to present each school board member with a photo montage of the district’s schools. Also recognizing the board for their hard work was Brian Snow, president of the Port Jefferson Teachers Association. “The teachers respect and appreciate all that you do,” he said. Speaking on behalf of the board, James Laffey, vice president, thanked all of the students, as well as the administration. “We are all part of a collective group that just want our kids to be successful,” he said. “Thank you for your recognition.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140661 Wed, 26 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140661 Students Volunteer to Ready Camp Grounds More than 40 members of the high school Interact Club and middle school National Junior Honor Society teamed up with the Port Jefferson Rotary Club to help ready Camp Paquatuck for the winter. The volunteers came together on Nov. 9 to rake and bag thousands of leaves and store picnic benches at the Center Moriches camp, which provides special needs children and young adults with camping experiences. The volunteers plan to return in the spring to mulch flower beds, ready cabins and apply fresh paint to the dorm rooms and outer buildings. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140660 Tue, 25 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140660 Food Drive Brings Thanksgiving to Those in Need Elementary school students have been working to collect and organize food for donation to nine Port Jefferson families in need this Thanksgiving. The food drive, in its 13th year, is organized by school counselor Jessica Peterson, and aims to bring students, teachers and administrators together to make a difference for local families. Aside from collecting non-perishable food items from students and turkeys from teachers and administrators, the drive also collects toiletries and cleaning supplies. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140658 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140658 Creatively Showing Gratitude For the second year in a row, elementary school students participated in Sen. Kenneth LaValle’s annual Thanksgiving Day Creative Celebration. Guided by the theme of “What are you thankful for?” students used their imaginations to draw photos and write poems and essays on the subject. All of the students’ submissions will be included in the senator’s Thanksgiving showcase and on his website. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140659 Mon, 24 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140659 Tuba Players Unite Two middle school tuba players had the opportunity to perform at the 34th annual Howard Hovey Tuba Day at Nesaquake Middle School in Smithtown on Nov. 14. During the event, siblings Gani Ates and Sinan Ates performed alongside 200 tuba students from across Suffolk County on one stage. Also performing with the student-musicians were professional musicians, including renowned guest artist Dr. Aaron Tindall from Ithaca College. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140657 Fri, 21 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140657 Students Raise Awareness for Juvenile Diabetes In an effort to raise awareness about juvenile diabetes, 10th-graders Jiwon Woo and Emma Schoepflin held a fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association on Nov. 14. Both girls said they felt that not many of their peers understood what juvenile diabetes is, and they wanted to change that. “I wouldn’t have known what it was either,” said Emma. “The only reason I know is because of Jiwon.” Jiwon, Emma said, has had juvenile diabetes since she was 6 years old. To raise awareness, the two sold gray juvenile diabetes awareness ribbons to teachers and students, held a bake sale and decorated the school with the color blue. Through their campaign, they raised $400. The girls plan to continue their mission, growing their fundraiser over the next few years. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140656 Thu, 20 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140656 The Best That They Can ‘Bee’ Five students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary have advanced past the first round of the National History Bee competition, held on Nov. 12. “The History Bee is an academic competition for students that tests knowledge in a wide range of historical topics,” said Janelle Bellotti, a Studies Enriching Academic Learning teacher for the district. The fourth- and fifth grade students, who qualified based on the results of a 50-question multiple-choice test, now have the opportunity to take an online regional qualifying exam on Jan. 9. If they score within the top 120, they will advance to the regional finals, which will be held in April. Congratulations to Alex Carlson, Peter Murphy, Andrew Patterson, Haruki Takeuchi and Sophia Viens. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140654 Wed, 19 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140654 Musicians Participate in Masterclass Middle and high school string musicians had the opportunity to attend a string bass workshop and master class on Nov. 13. During the class, bassist Zachary Hobin, a graduate of Oberlin Conservatory and Stony Brook University, shared with students practice tips and discussed a variety of careers available to those who have a passion for music. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140653 Tue, 18 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140653 Encouraging Young Musicians With their instruments in hand, high school band and orchestra students, as well as chorus singers, encouraged elementary students to participate in music during a presentation at the Port Jefferson Village Center’s Aftercare Program. During the presentation, the high school students played their instruments and sang for the elementary students. They also spoke candidly about their own musical experiences since elementary school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140651 Mon, 17 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140651 Musicians and Artists Star at Go Green Festival Elementary select choir singers and high school studio art students showed off their talents at the Port Jefferson Go Green Festival, held at the Village Center on Nov. 1. During the festival, the choir performed several musical selections under the direction of music teachers Jessica Pastor and Lisa Scrom, and high school students in Lynne Edsall’s Studio in Art class displayed some of their works. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140649 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140649 Students Feeding Students Despite the chill in the air, 16 Leo Club members stood in front of Stop and Shop in Miller Place on Nov. 2, collecting canned goods for Island Harvest’s Students Feeding Students challenge. Throughout the day, the students collected 35 boxes of food and $200. They hope it is enough to retain their title of Suffolk County collection champions. Last fall, the Leo Club, under the direction of advisers Brian Chalmers and Kristine Vaccaro, collected a few hundred pounds of food, placing them in first place and earning a trophy and visit from a former New York Jets player, who signed autographs. Ms. Vaccaro was also invited to appear on Katie Couric’s talk show. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140650 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140650 Girls Soccer Game Changed for 11/15 Girls Soccer Game Changed for 11/15 to 3:00 pm at Homer HS https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140655 Fri, 14 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140655 Runners Place in Disney Cross Country Classic Cross-country runners achieved great feats at the Disney Cross Country Classic presented by New Balance at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on Oct. 10. Senior cross-country standout James Burke placed second overall in the varsity boys Peter Pan Division race, which featured 178 national runners. Burke, who was the first Royal to win the championship in 2013, finished with time of 16:00.65. Teammate Justin Julich finished sixth with a time of 17:12.94, and Parker Schoch finished 18th with a time of 18:17.32. Also competing were Matthew Keresztes, Jefferson Koutsantanou, Alden Mohacsi and Michael Spyrou, all of whom helped the Royals place third overall in the team results in the Peter Pan Division. The district would like extend its congratulations to the 2014 boys varsity cross-country team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140648 Thu, 13 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140648 Officer George Sends Anti-Bullying Message In an effort to prevent verbal and physical bullying, as well as cyberbullying, the elementary school invited George Lynagh, an officer for 25 years with the Suffolk County Police Department, to talk with students on Oct. 22. Officer George, as the students called him, brought his message to life as he spoke with kindergartners and first-graders about emergencies and strangers, third- and fourth-graders about nonverbal and verbal bullying, and fifth-graders about cyberbullying. “Every single kid was focused on Officer George and what he had to say,” said school psychologist Allyson Carlson. “We plan to bring him back again next year.” Parents were invited for a separate evening presentation in which Officer Lynagh, who works with the SCPD’s Community Outreach Bureau, instructed them on how to deal with and properly report cyberbullying. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140641 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140641 Don’t Miss It: ‘You Can’t Take It with You’ The students of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School will present their fall play, “You Can’t Take It with You” by Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman, Nov. 14-16. The comedic production, which made its Broadway debut in 1936 and won the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for drama, is the story of a young woman from an eccentric, financially pinched clan and a man from a rich, conservative family who want to get married. Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are available at the door and are $5 per person or $20 per family. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140652 Wed, 12 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140652 Athletic Fun for Team Landetta Members of Team Landetta, who are Athletes for All participants, recently took part in some athletic fun with the help of middle school and high school athletes. On a recent rainy afternoon, both the boys and girls high school cross-country teams led Team Landetta in warm-ups and a run through the school. “The students beamed with excitement and pride,” said teacher Michelle Landetta, who explained that aside from participating in athletics within the school district, Team Landetta also travels to other school districts to play various sports. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140644 Tue, 11 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140644 Volleyball Players Spike for Breast Cancer Research Knowing that breast cancer is a disease that hits home for many of their peers, senior varsity volleyball players Emily Rubenbauer and Ally Dombroski decided to do something that would make a difference — raise money for breast cancer research. The friends began working on their project at the start of the school year, and on Oct. 22, they held a successful volleyball tournament fundraiser that brought out students, teachers and administrators, all dressed in pink. A total of 10 student teams and two administrator/teacher teams participated in the tournament, which required a $5 donation from every player. Each team had the opportunity to play two games, with three teams advancing to a final playoff round. In the end, a team made up of junior boys won. The tournament, said the girls, raised more than $1,000, which is being donated to the SideOut Foundation, an organization that supports Stage 4 breast cancer research. Also being donated to the SideOut Foundation are funds raised through Dig Pink, a separate fundraiser in which the entire girls varsity volleyball team participated. Emily and Ally said they now have their sights set on hosting another fundraiser in the spring, possibly a dodgeball tournament. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140643 Mon, 10 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140643 Love Yourself Message Sent During Red Ribbon Week Throughout the week of Oct. 27, middle school students took part in the Red Ribbon Week campaign, exploring the negative effects of drugs and alcohol and learning about making good decisions. With the theme of “Love Yourself,” students were asked to create posters and anti-drug advertisements, which were hung around the school. They also heard from speakers such as Suffolk County Police Officer George Lynagh, who spoke to students about the negative effects of alcohol on the brain, body and nervous system and how to avoid peer pressure. The student council, under the direction of advisor Allison Giannusa, created pledge signs that all middle school students hung on their lockers, and on Oct. 30, students wore red to school for awareness. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140642 Fri, 07 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140642 Students Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF In an effort to help provide basic necessities such as fresh water, food and vaccinations to people in third-world countries, the middle school student council held a trick-or-treat fundraiser for UNICEF. After learning at a council meeting that a single dollar can go a long way in providing a child in need with a 40-day supply of safe drinking water, council members got to work creating a fundraising campaign. The students designed posters and trick-or-treated for donations from their peers during their lunch periods. Between Oct. 20 and Oct. 31, they raised $100 for the cause. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140646 Thu, 06 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140646 Students Walk for Beauty, Donate $1,000 Members of the high school Student Organization, Leo and Interact clubs, along with their advisors and family members, participated in the 21st annual Walk for Beauty color splash and 4K in Stony Brook Village on Oct. 26. The students were splashed with colored powder as they walked the 4K, which started at 9:30 a.m. Prior to the walk, club members led a dance warm-up. Sophomores Emma Schoepflin and JiWon Woo were chosen to serve as Walk for Beauty Ambassadors, meeting with the Ward Melville Heritage Organization to help run and communicate information about the event. Altogether, the students donated close to $1,000 to the walk, which raises money for breast cancer research. The students plan to continue the tradition of participating in the Walk for Beauty event for years to come. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140640 Wed, 05 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140640 Students Perform with World-Renowned Pianist Three student-musicians had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to perform with world-renowned classical pianist Lang Lang at the Tilles Center on Oct. 26 as part of the Lang Lang Foundation’s 101 Pianists program. Senior Ryan Burke, eighth-grader Francine Leung and sixth-grader Noah Teaney were selected along with 97 other gifted piano students from across New York State after a rigorous audition process. Based on her audition, Francine was one of three students awarded honorable mention for her high scores on her audition, and was invited to perform a solo at Lang Lang’s concert pre-show. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140639 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140639 Heading to States Several athletes will be heading to state championships. Among them are the girls varsity soccer team, which defeated Nassau’s Wheatley High School to claim the Class B Long Island and regional championships. The girls will move on to play the Aquinas Institute on Nov. 15 at Cortland HS in the quarterfinal state championship game. Also qualifying for a state championship is Rita Chen, who participates in the Independent Swimming program. Rita finished second in the 100-yard freestyle with a state qualifying time of 53.70. She will swim in the state championship meet on Nov. 21 at Ithaca College. Royal Fall Sports Accomplishments Varsity boys cross-country athletes James Burke Parker Schoch and Justin Julich competed in the NYS Championship race on Nov. 8 and 9. James finished sixth in the Class C championship. • The varsity boys golf team had six players play in the league tournament, with Kris Cheslock, Shane DeVincenzo and Josh Gelfond qualifying for the county tournament that will be held in the spring. • The varsity girls volleyball team played in the Suffolk County Semifinals on Oct. 31 and lost a tight match to Babylon. It was the first time in four years that this team entered postseason play. • Varsity Girls Tennis team athlete Rachel Collins placed third in Division III and was a Top 16 Singles player in Suffolk County. • Varsity Girls Cross Country team athlete Aileen Schretzmayer (8th grade) ran in the Counties on Oct. 31 and missed qualifying for the state meet by two places. Aileen was a top ten finisher. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140647 Tue, 04 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140647 Grant for Green Roof Approved The high school will soon be home to a new green roof, complete with vegetation, thanks to a grant that was awarded to the school district by the New York State Water Quality Improvement Program. According to plant facilities administrator Fred Koelbel, the $206,250 grant will allow the district to construct the new 3,400-square-foot green roof atop an existing flat roof that sits over the boys’ locker room. Not only will the new green roof be aesthetically, but it is also environmentally friendly and includes an educational component. Environmentally, the green roof will be designed to use rainfall to water the vegetation that will be planted, preventing storm water runoff that normally flows into the Port Jefferson Harbor. The project, which will require minimal maintenance once complete, will also allow for an Environmental Club monitoring project. The Environmental Club will be measuring the amount of rainfall absorbed by the foliage, as well as monitoring the temperatures of the classrooms that surround the roof, since the new green roof should keep those classrooms warmer in the winter and cooler in the spring and summer. Mr. Koelbel said he hopes this project will a serve as an example of the green technology that is now available to reduce polluted runoff, improve water quality and restore the habitat of New York’s waterways. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140645 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140645 Students Raise Awareness with Flower Pens In recognition of October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, fourth- and fifth-grade students made flower power pens that will be donated to local breast cancer support centers. The project was put together by special education teachers Kristen Poulos and Deanna Lilimpakis. “Breast cancer has touched both of our lives,” Ms. Poulos said of herself and Lilimpakis. “We wanted to do something to bring a smile to people who are going through treatment and also bring awareness to the student body.” All of the pens were made after school on Oct. 21, with students volunteering their time to participate in the project. Last year, the students made Rainbow Loom bracelets to raise awareness for the same cause. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140638 Mon, 03 Nov 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140638 Learning About the Law High school students in Philip Giannusa’s Experiencing the Law elective class were recently educated on various facets of the law from Suffolk County police officers Mike O’Neill and William Gibaldi. Officers O’Neill and Gibaldi spoke to the class on Oct. 16 about New York State Penal Law, Vehicle and Traffic Law, and Criminal Procedure Law. They also spoke about experiences on the job, views on current events, training on environmental hazards, school violence, weapons use and force, and the future of law enforcement. Mr. Giannusa said the opportunity gave students real-life perspective on what it takes to be a police officer in Suffolk County. “Students learned a great deal,” he said. “They learned that they must think before acting, especially in our society where cameras are everywhere and your actions can easily be caught on tape. Most importantly, the officers stressed not to text and drive, as it leads to many accidents.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140637 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140637 Student Council Raises Money for Wounded Warriors In an effort to give back to the community, the middle school student council has been busy raising money for the Wounded Warrior Project. Advisor Allison Giannusa said the students spent the week of Oct. 14 raising money during their lunch periods. To date, they have raised $105 for the organization. The students got the idea to help Wounded Warrior from the Royals football team, which has been sponsoring the WWP for the past year. “There are so many good causes out there, but I felt Wounded Warrior is one that is often overlooked,” said Coach Andrew Cosci, who said the idea to help the WWP came to him after he saw Syosset High School doing a similar project for the organization. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140633 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140633 Musicians Perform at Danfords With the sounds of their strings, four middle school musicians entertained attendees at the New York School Bus Contractors Association’s 60th annual convention, held on Oct. 17 at Danfords Hotel and Marina. Student-musicians Hyun jin Lee, Mayu Takeuchi, Annalisa Welinder and Lucas Welinder, who call themselves “The Sound Strings,” performed a number of classical selections during the evening. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140634 Wed, 29 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140634 Love Yourself, Be Drug-Free As part of Red Ribbon Week activities, students in Amanda DiPietro’s health class designed posters based on the theme “Love yourself, be drug-free.” The seventh-graders’ posters focused on positive slogans and messages, such as “Hugs, not drugs.” Once the posters were completed, the students shared them with their peers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140636 Tue, 28 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140636 Star Students Named in READ Campaign Six elementary students have been named Star Students in the American Library Association’s year-long Read Campaign. Those chosen this month as Star Students include: Samuel Matvya, kindergarten; Elizabeth Campo, first grade; Colin Veit, second grade; Julia Perrotta, third grade; Jack Speidell, fourth grade; and Huda Jatoi, fifth grade. School librarian Selinda Moore said all of the students were chosen for their excellent attitude, behavior and work ethic in the library. As a reward, the students have their photos displayed on the bulletin board outside the library along with a summary of their favorite books. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140632 Mon, 27 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140632 Senior Wins Tunnel to Towers Run High school senior James Burke, a member of the Royals track and field and cross-country track teams, finished first in the annual New York City Tunnel to Towers run on Sept. 28. James completed the 5K – which spanned from the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to Lower Manhattan – with a time of 17:56.5, putting him ahead of all male runners. The race raises money to construct homes for veterans who are injured in battle. James ran in memory of his late uncle, William F. Burke Jr., who died while rescuing civilians in the North Tower of the World Trade Center on 9/11. This is not the first time James has shown his running strength. He won the Division II state championship in June and is ranked fifth in the nation in the one-mile run. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140631 Fri, 24 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140631 Special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on Monday, October 27, 2014, 5:30 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of taking action on two personnel items, and any other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140635 Fri, 24 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140635 Research Projects Earn Students Distinction Ten high school students were recognized by the Board of Education for research projects they completed over the summer. Those honored were Caroline Biondo, Ryan Burke, Carly Cherches, Noah Davis, Aliza Doyle, Ju Mi Ha, Dunia Karzai, Julia Kharzeev, Donal McSweeney and Natalia Zaliznyak. The students’ projects spanned a wide range of scientific study. Caroline, for example, worked with Dr. Heather Lynch in the Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University to collect data on stone stealing in penguin colonies. Carly worked with Aleksev Bolotnikov at Brookhaven National Laboratory’s Department of Nonproliferation and National Security to test and fabricate CZT crystals to build detectors that are being used to pick up gamma radiation sources. Aliza worked at the University of Pennsylvania under the supervision of Dr. Sigrid Veasey on the behavior of mice with certain sleep disorders. Other research projects included DNA extraction, incremental particle tracking, evaporation of protein drops, mutations contributing to neuropsychiatric disorders and protein crystallography nucleation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140624 Thu, 23 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140624 Royals Show Pride at Homecoming Port Jefferson students displayed school spirit at their annual homecoming parade and football game on Saturday, Oct. 18. Homecoming events kicked off with Spirit Week during the week of Oct. 13 and were followed by a parade down Barnum Avenue and Main Street. The parade featured cheerleaders, junior football players, the middle school band, the homecoming court, and class floats designed around the theme of Dr. Seuss’s “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.” The seniors’ float depicted the Leaning Tower of Pisa; the juniors, a “royal paradise”; the sophomores, New York City; and the freshmen, an igloo. The events culminated with a football game in which Port Jefferson shut out Greenport with a final score of 19-0. Among the game’s highlights, Mike DiCalogero scored a 75-yard touchdown to give Port Jefferson a 13-point lead with 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and Corey Carnahan made a sack on the fourth down to give possession back to Port Jefferson. Also, Nick Caltagirone had 18 carries for 57 yards and a touchdown, and Garret Hiz ran four times for 29 yards and a touchdown. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140630 Wed, 22 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140630 Students Perform for Unsung Heroes During the Welcome Inn’s 25th anniversary celebration, members of the high school’s chamber ensemble performed, paying tribute to 135 active volunteers who have given their time to help their fellow neighbors in need. The ensemble performed a number of classical pieces at the event, which was held at Lombardi’s on the Sound on Oct. 17. The performers included Edward Finkelstein, Danielle Goldstein, Ibuki Iwasaki, Dunia Karzai, Margo Martin-Deprez, Adam Nieves and Anita Rescia. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140628 Tue, 21 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140628 Sundial Dedicated to Memory of Royal Foundation Founder With the help of the elementary school Green Team, the school district dedicated a sundial in memory of Sheldon Katz, a long-time Port Jefferson resident and founding member of the Royal Education Foundation, at a ceremony on Oct. 15 in the elementary school’s new courtyard garden. “My hope and the hope of the board is that the sundial will teach and inform our children for many, many years, just as Shelly has done,” said Scott Zamek, chair of the Royal Educational Foundation. The sundial, which was unveiled during the ceremony, was donated by the Royal Educational Foundation and sits atop a wooden pedestal carved by elementary school art teacher Richard Anderson. Mr. Katz’s wife Audrey pointed out that the sundial is a very fitting tribute, since her husband was an avid sailor. The courtyard garden, which was in the works for the past two years, is the result of teachers, parents and community members working together. The project got underway when teachers and Green Team members Kari Costanzo and Laura Kelly decided to clean up the area, which had become rundown with overgrown bushes and tree roots upheaving the sidewalk. Together, they reached out for help and received donations from Prudential Bank, White’s Nursery, the Peconic Herb Farm, Ace Hardware and Ging’s Nursery. The school district installed new sidewalks, a picnic table and benches, and the Royal Education Foundation donated a water barrel that is being used as a water source for the garden. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140627 Mon, 20 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140627 MS Halloween Dance - Time Change This coming Friday, October 24th, the Middle School is hosting its annual Halloween Dance. Please be advised that the start and end time for the dance have been changed from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m., as noted in the School Calendar, to 6 p.m. until 8 p.m.. I apologize in advance for any inconvenience this may cause. I am encouraging all Middle School students to attend in full costume as there will be a costume contest held during the night. Tickets may be purchased at the door and pizza will be available for purchase at the dance. Details will be provided by the Student Council during school this week. Should you have any questions or concerns, please contact me at your convenience at 631-791-4400. I am very much looking forward to a great time and am hoping to see your child participate. Sincerely, Antonio Santana Antonio Santana Middle School Principal https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140629 Mon, 20 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140629 Students Named LI Scholars of Mathematics The Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY Old Westbury has named middle school students Mayu Takeuchi and Peggy Yin as Long Island Scholars of Mathematics. The title allows them to participate in a free mathematical and science program through the institute. Mayu and Peggy are among 84 students across Long Island to receive the prestigious opportunity this year. To qualify, Mayu and Peggy competed against 600 other top-ranking students. Acceptance was granted on five criteria: nomination, school transcript, teacher recommendation, a statement written by the student and a rigorous entrance exam. Both girls will now spend 60 hours in class over the course of 20 Saturday mornings participating in the institute’s program, which covers topics including algebra, geometry, discrete math and number theory. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140623 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140623 Homecoming 2014 Schedule The Bon-Fire is on Friday night at 7:00 p.m. (weather Permitting) Parade is on Saturday Morning at 11:00 Football Game is at 2:00 vs Greenport!! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140625 Fri, 17 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140625 Community Forum Survey Dear Parents and Community Members, In the past we have hosted several successful community forums on a wide variety of topics. We are committed to continuing this practice over the course of the 2014-15 school year. We hope you are available to join us on October 23 to hear from Dr. Karen Sobel-Lojeski (a Port Jefferson parent and SUNY Stony Brook Professor) on her work with Virtual Distance (additional information can be found on our website). In order to facilitate discussions that meet your needs and interests, we are conducting a survey to help us prioritize topics according to parent/community response. While we have addressed some of these topics in the past, we know that they remain priorities with our school and the community. Please take a moment to rank your interest in the suggested topics listed within the survey. An “other” box has been provided so that you may suggest a topic that may have not been included on the list. Once priority topics are identified, we will identify the most appropriate speaker(s) from within our school district, the community or from outside organizations. Thank you in advance for responding. We hope to see you at future forums and other school events. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8LZJRZD https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140626 Thu, 16 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140626 Students Learn About Careers in Law Enforcement High school students in Philip Giannusa’s Experiencing the Law elective class had the opportunity to hear from a law professional during class on Oct. 1. Mr. Giannusa asked Stephanie Dwyer, a school resource police officer, to speak to students about various careers in the field of law. “I wanted students to hear directly from a law enforcement officer about the law as it applies to the real world,” said Mr. Giannusa. As well as speaking about her role as a resource officer in Suffolk County schools, Officer Dwyer discussed her professional experiences, her perspective on current events within the law, the motivation and steps needed to become a police officer, and the recently legislated Dignity for All Students Act. “Students learned that working in law enforcement is a difficult job with a lot of stresses,” said Mr. Giannusa, “yet it is also a job that can have a lot of rewards when working with and helping young adults and other members of the community.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141410 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141410 MS/HS Afternoon and Evening Activities - Update MS/HS Afternoon and Evening Activities have been canceled for today with the exception of JV and Varsity Athletics. (Please visit the HS Athletics page for specific details.) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140622 Wed, 15 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140622 Origami Project Teaches About Extinction To mark the centennial anniversary of the passenger pigeon’s extinction, Stacy Schuman’s art class at the middle school made more than 500 origami birds that symbolically represent the great flock from 100 years ago. The pigeon project was organized by Ms. Schuman in collaboration with the Lost Bird Project, which aims to assemble a virtual flock of the 1 million passenger pigeons that once accounted for up to 40 percent of all land birds in North America. The students’ origami pigeons were all named Martha, in memory of the last known captive passenger pigeon who died in 1914. “I wanted to both raise student awareness of the environment and also introduce the origami art form,” said Ms. Schuman. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141409 Mon, 13 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141409 Students Get Creative With Cardboard Working in teams, fourth graders in Ms. Kari Costanzo's class created life-size structures on Oct. 8 as part of the Imagination Foundation's Global Cardboard Challenge. Students constructed projects, including castles, towers, haunted houses and mazes out of cardboard boxes and other materials. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141408 Thu, 09 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141408 Students Treated to Concert at Staller Center Elementary and middle school orchestra students and their families were entertained by a cello/piano concert at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center on Oct. 1. The concert, which featured master musicians Colin Carr and Thomas Sauer, was made possible through the Staller Center Outreach Endowment and its coordinator, Paul Newland. The concert allowed music students to observe various techniques of the renowned duo, who performed classical, contemporary and romantic pieces, including Felix Mendelssohn’s Sonata No. 2 in D major and Claude Debussy’s Sonata in D minor for cello and piano. “It was a wonderful gift for our students and families to come together and enjoy beautiful and captivating classical music performed by world-renowned musicians,” said Vanessa Salzman, orchestra teacher for grades 4-6. “Musicianship is not just about learning one’s instrument, but rather developing a lifelong connection to the arts. Opportunities to experience live performances are essential to our students’ growth.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141407 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141407 Community Forum Series - Technology & Kids Please read the attached flier regarding the upcoming Community Forum Series - Technology & Kids - What Parents and Educators Really Need to Know! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141406 Tue, 07 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141406 Students Learn Journalism Skills As part of a year-long lesson on current-event writing, Nancy Winkler-Brogan’s third-grade students had the opportunity to interview a reporter, via Skype, about news writing and reporting. During the interview with Kathy Leon, news anchor and executive producer of WSNN Suncoast News Network in Sarasota, Fla., students asked questions and gained a wealth of information, including how to report on news about their school and how to properly research topics using digital and print sources. The third-graders will be using this information to fact-find and generate current-event reports using graphic organizers. They will then present their findings to their peers. “The students are very excited to bring the news to their classmates and their school,” said Ms. Winkler-Brogan. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141405 Mon, 06 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141405 Tennis Players Rally for Pink Girls varsity tennis players recently helped raise $840 for a local breast cancer charity event, which was coordinated by Suffolk County Junior Tennis League President Joe Arias and golf pro Bruce Moodnik of the Hamlet Golf & Country Club in Commack. Students Rachel Collins, Danielle Goldstein and Rebekah London were among 54 varsity players from across Suffolk who participated in the Play for Pink Tournament, held on Sept. 20 at the Hamlet Golf & Country Club. During the tournament, which was also attended by coach Dennis Christofor, Rachel earned a finalist spot with doubles partner Hanna Niggemier from Sayville. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141404 Fri, 03 Oct 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141404 A Message of Kindness and Respect Motivational speaker David Flood spent the day with students at the middle school and high school on Sept. 24 spreading a message of kindness and reinforcing the importance of dignity and respect for others and oneself. During the program, Mr. Flood captured the students’ attention, identified the issues they are dealing with on a daily basis, and guided them through ways to address a situation, whether it’s for themselves or to assist another. He also addressed the issues faced by individual students at each grade level, emphasizing to them the importance of dignity, respect and understanding. “It is important to provide our students with a consistent message through multiple sources in order to reinforce what we are teaching them in school,” said Middle School Principal Antonio Santana. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141403 Mon, 29 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141403 Students Pen Poems for Peace On Sept. 19, in recognition of both Sept. 11 and the International Day of Peace on Sept. 21, each student in Nancy Winkler-Brogan’s third-grade class read aloud poems they had written about the meaning of peace. The assignment, Ms. Winkler-Brogan said, required students to use their five senses to describe the word “peace.” “Rather than discussing the sadness surrounding 9/11, we decided to teach the students about peace,” said the third-grade teacher, who also read her students “Can You Say Peace,” a book that offers different ways to say “peace” in a variety of languages. Some of the descriptions given in the class presentation, which was delivered before parents, included: “Peace sounds like a calm place in my room.” — Brandon Pina “Peace sounds like playing my piano outside.” — Marina Mauree “Peace tastes like any flavor ice cream.” — Eric Chen “Peace smells like flowers.” — Christian Jensen Also during the event, students pledged to end bullying, and each received a certificate. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141401 Tue, 23 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141401 Good Deeds Commemorate 9/11 Heroes As part of the Good Deed Project, middle school students recently pledged to do something good in honor of all the kind acts done by so many following 9/11. Under the project, which was designed by the English department, students pledged to do a good deed by writing it on a small paper square. The squares were then stitched together to form a quilt, which is now on display in the school’s hallway. Before the students decided on what to pledge, their teachers discussed with them the immense impact that good deeds have and how they can brighten someone else’s day. According to English teacher Deirdre Filippi, the project was modeled after the nationally acclaimed “I Will” campaign, through which people can make pledges on the website www.911day.org. Here are some of the deeds students pledged to do: "Teach my little brother to read." "Give my parents a hug and tell them I love them." "Show I care by helping a friend in need." "Volunteer in the community and say thank you to a police officer or fireman." "Do more chores and donate money to veterans." "Put together a basket for the soldiers." "Plan a food drive." "Think of other people's needs." "Be kind to others and spread positivity." "Participate in community service." "Donate to charity and respect military members." https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141399 Mon, 22 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141399 Guidance Survey Please read the attached letter from the Superintendent of Schools and then complete the survey below. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2J3QRLK The survey will be available until Monday September 29th. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141402 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 21:30:00 GMT false141402 Student-Athletes Volunteer at Miracle League For the fourth year in a row, high school baseball and volleyball players offered their time and friendship to the athletes of the Miracle League of Long Island, which provides special needs children with an opportunity to play structured baseball games. For one such game on Sept. 6, 21 high school students traveled to the Miracle League with coaches Dinarae Camarda, Amanda DiPietro and Jesse Rosen to serve as buddies to the Miracle League athletes. “The event was extremely positive for all parties involved,” said Debra Ferry, the district’s athletic director. “It increased self-confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction for our students and faculty.” Ms. Ferry said her team players will continue to be involved in the Miracle League, remarking, “It is an extraordinary program.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141398 Fri, 19 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141398 Meet Student Representative Paul Capobianco Each month, when the Board of Education sits down to discuss and vote on important matters, they are joined by student representative Paul Capobianco. Paul, a senior, was elected by his peers as a student board representative to serve as a liaison between students and the board. It is a position he is taking very seriously. “I want to accurately communicate to the board what the student body is thinking,” said Paul, who is responsible for providing a student report to board members at the monthly BOE meetings. In addition, he reports back to his peers what issues are being discussed at the meetings. “I have the utmost confidence in Paul,” said high school Principal Dr. Matthew Murphy. Aside from serving as a student board member, Paul plays varsity soccer and tennis, is president of the Leo Club and is a member of the student organization. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141396 Thu, 18 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141396 Senior Named National Merit Semifinalist The district is pleased to announce that high school senior Natalia Zaliznyack has been named a 2015 National Merit Semifinalist. Natalia is among the 16,000 students included on the 60th annual National Merit Scholarship Program’s list, which was released Sept. 10. Qualifying because of her high PSAT score, Natalia now has the opportunity to compete for one of 7,600 National Merit scholarships, which will be offered in the spring of 2015. “I am honored and excited,” said Natalia, who is active in the school’s Science Olympiad, Academic and Mathlete teams, as well as the Latin Club. She also participated in the Simons Summer Research Fellowship at Stony Brook University over the summer and hopes to study biochemistry in college. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141397 Thu, 18 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141397 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session/special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on September 23, 2014, 7:00 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, for a presentation on the New York State Assessments 3-8, and for any other business as may be needed. Call to order will be at 6:00 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and pending litigation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141400 Thu, 18 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141400 AP Scholars Make the Grade A number of students have earned AP Scholar Awards in recognition of their exceptional achievement on AP exams that they took last May. In total, 26 students were named AP Scholars, 20 earned the title of AP Scholar with Distinction, 11 were named AP Scholars with Honor, seven were ranked as National AP Scholars and one student was recognized with an AP International Diploma. To earn Scholar recognition, students are required to score a 3 or higher on three or more AP exams; to be recognized as a Scholar with Honor, students must earn a 3.25 on all AP exams taken; for a Scholar with Distinction award, students must receive an average score of 3.5 on all AP exams; and to be named a National AP Scholar, students must earn an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken. Students who receive an AP International Diploma must score a 3 or higher on five or more AP exams in three or more subject areas. The district has been running its AP program for numerous years as a way of providing students with college-level rigor in a high school setting. The district’s AP program, which caters to about 150 students and proctors 300 AP exams each year, offers students the ability to not only earn college credits, but to also demonstrate to colleges that they are willing to go beyond minimum high school requirements by choosing to take on a more rigorous AP course load. Port Jefferson currently provides 17 AP courses, including popular AP classes such as AP Bio, AP Calculus and AP World. The district also started offering AP Physics this school year. AP Scholars Aaron Accardo*, Cihad Akkaya*, John Albinson*, Megan Augsbach*, Justin Bove*, Morgan Campbell, Katherine Colantuoni*, Kristen Crovello*, Janella Damaskos, Allegra Fils-Aime, Andie Fortier, Christopher Graci*, Evan Kelly*, Eric Kilgore, Maureen Laffey, Evan Lahey*, Gabriella Martinez*, Kayley Okst, Thomas Pon, Robert Righi, Jasper Rubin-Sigler*, Daniel Scarda, Ryan Scott, Maria Simmerling*, Joshua Skula* and Shannon Walsh* AP Scholars with Distinction Caroline Biondo, Ryan Burke, Gaspar Cello, Noah Davis, Richard Finkelstein*, Danielle Grier*, Daniel Gross*, Katherine Gwydir*, Ju Mi Ha, Julia Kharzeev, Leah Neiman*, Romain Popescu*, Hunter Reiter*, Chiara Repetti-Ludlow*, Alberto Rescia*, Steven Rose*, Elijah Sanders*, Lara Sarubbi, Kent Ueno* and Natalia Zaliznyak AP Scholars with Honor Paul Capobianco, Rachel Collins, Joseph Dichiara*, Dunia Karzai, Eric Keresztes*, Alexander Koller, Margo Martin-Deprez, Kyle Schrager*, Caroline Strauss and Andrew White* National AP Scholars Noah Davis, Danielle Grier*, Leah Neiman*, Romain Popescu, Alberto Rescia*, Kent Ueno* and Natalia Zaliznyak AP International Diploma Steven Rose* *Students who graduated in 2014 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141395 Wed, 17 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141395 Students Perform at 9/11 Ceremony The elementary school’s select choir, led by Jessica Pastor, performed at the Port Jefferson Fire Department’s Sept. 11 ceremony, held at the firehouse. During the somber and unifying ceremony, students Emily Hearney, Kasumi Layne-Stasik, Annie Maier, Caelan Schretzmayer and Kate Sommerstad sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless the USA.” Also in attendance were Sen. Kenneth LaValle and members of the district’s administration and Board of Education. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141393 Fri, 12 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141393 Pertussis - Whooping Cough Letter Please read the attached letter regarding Pertussis in the Port Jefferson School District. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141394 Fri, 12 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141394 Newsweek Names Port Jefferson a Top High School Earl. L. Vandermeulen High School has been named a top high school in America in 2014 by Newsweek. The full article can be found at: http://www.newsweek.com/high-schools/americas-top-schools-2014 The news magazine ranked the high school based on several factors, including enrollment and graduation rates, AP, SAT and ACT scores, and the change in student enrollment from 9th to 12th grade, as well as other factors. Based on the evaluation, Newsweek ranked the high school 2nd in Suffolk County, 27th in New York State and 271st in the nation. Of the distinction, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert said: "We are pleased to be included within this list of high performing schools. It does not, however, change our passion, desire and commitment to continued growth and achievement of excellence." https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141391 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141391 Students Craft Hero Quilt In honor of the heroes of Sept. 11, second-grade students at the elementary school crafted a paper hero quilt that will be displayed in the school’s main hallway. As part of the project, students were instructed to design a patch with illustrations and descriptions of a hero in their life. Selections included moms, dads, uncles and grandfathers who served during wartime. “I picked my Papae because he was in the war,” said Mia Cormier, a student in Laura Kelly’s class. Matthew Miele, also a student in Ms. Kelly’s class, said he selected both of his parents as his heroes because “they always help me with stuff.” The day of remembrance included all students participating in a discussion about what a hero is. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141392 Thu, 11 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141392 Update on the status of NYS Individual Student Reports https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141390 Tue, 09 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141390 Students Ready to Learn With books in hand, elementary, middle and high school students arrived for the first day of school on Sept. 2 ready to learn. Teachers and administrators welcomed all middle and high school students back to school as they arrived around 7:15 a.m. and headed off to their classrooms, but not before taking notice of a few changes. Over the summer, the district installed new curbing and speed bumps in the parking lot, replaced the auditorium’s carpet, built a new basketball court and replaced a few ceilings. That work was done with the help of a grant from Sen. Kenneth LaValle. “It is nice to see all the kids back,” said middle school Principal Antonio Santana, who assisted a few students with opening their lockers. “Everyone is smiling and we are ready for another wonderful school year.” At the high school, Principal Dr. Matthew Murphy said everyone is prepared for the new school year and the students are already learning. About two hours later, elementary school teachers and administrators gathered outside to welcome students with balloons and big smiles. Students were eager to meet their teachers and excited to see their friends. “We are very happy to welcome back our students and are ready for a very productive year,” Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert said. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141388 Wed, 03 Sep 2014 13:00:00 GMT false141388 Best Practices Theme of Superintendent’s Conference Day District administrators, staff and teachers gathered on Aug. 27 and 28 for the district’s annual Superintendent’s Conference Day in preparation for the 2014-2015 school year. This year’s conference theme was based on best practices. Delivering the opening address was Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who welcomed the staff back to school and noted the hard work done to ready the district’s schools for the new year. “The faculty and staff have all worked hard over the summer to make the schools something we can be proud of,” said Dr. Bossert, who also urged teachers to make every moment count as a teaching moment. Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan and Vice President James Laffey provided words of encouragement and spoke of the importance of the work everyone in the district does for the students. “Always remember that our students are our most precious commodity,” Mrs. Brennan said. “Thank you for taking care of our children,” Mr. Laffey added. Brian Snow, president of the Port Jefferson Teachers Association, also offered thoughts on best practices for being passionate about having an impact on students’ lives. Presenting grants for the 2014-15 school year was Peter Capobianco, a member of the Royal Educational Foundation of Port Jefferson. Those awarded were: Jonathan Maletta, Trout Conservation Program; Amy McClelland, The Buddy Bench; Megan Roth-Ueno, Forces & Motion with Technology; Gina Santini, Suffolk County Archeological Association Native Life Workshop; and Stacia Schoen, Food for Thought. The district also welcomed new staff members, including Felicia Demsen, office staff member; Camille Doherty, leave replacement for high school math; Merrill Dona, office staff; Cathy Hoffman, office staff member for the physical education and athletics office; Megan Lavin, part-time high school English teacher; Jennifer Rodgers, leave replacement for high school guidance; and Thomas Tomaszewski, part-time physics teacher. In addition, the district recognized staff members who have served for more than 25 years. Among those recognized were Kevin Burr, grounds department; Rich Lautato, grounds department; and Joan Tucci, elementary school nurse. Giving this year’s keynote address was middle school Principal Antonio Santana, who shared some of what he had learned during a workshop he had attended at Harvard University, including how technology relates to education, how students learn, and globalization. Faculty and paraprofessionals then dispersed to report to their respective buildings for meetings and sessions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141389 Wed, 03 Sep 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141389 Port Jefferson School named best in Suffolk County The Daily Beast, an online news magazine, has recognized Port Jefferson’s Earl L. Vandermeulen High School as a 2014 top high school in America. The high school earned the distinction on Aug. 27 after it was evaluated along with 700 other top performing high schools across the country. According to U.S. Department of Education statistics; there are over 36,000 high schools across the United States. Schools were ranked using six key indicators, including ACT/SAT scores, graduation and college attendance rates, rigor and the school’s free/reduced lunch program. Based on the six components, the Daily Beast ranked the high school 127th in the nation, 18th in New York State and first in Suffolk County. It is noted that Earl L. Vandermeulen High School has a graduation rate of 98 percent with 97.80 percent of those students going onto college. The report also stated that the high school has an AP Exam pass rate of 73.90 percent with 40.10 percent of high school students enrolled in AP courses. “The district is proud to be ranked among the best high schools in America, and will continue to aspire to even greater heights.” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141387 Fri, 29 Aug 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141387 Release of NYS Common Core Assessment Scores for Grades 3-8 The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has released the assessment scores for grades 3-8 for ELA and mathematics. These assessments were administered in April and May of 2014. The NYSED memo summarizing the results can be found at: http://www.nysed.gov/news/2014/state-education-department-releases-grades-3-8-assessment-results The 8th grade math results do not include 8th graders who were enrolled in Algebra. Those students were administered both the Integrated Algebra Regents exam and the Common Core Algebra Regents exam instead of the grade 8 math assessment. 100% of 8th graders enrolled in Algebra passed both Regents exams. To view the results for Port Jefferson, click here. The results of the 3-8 Common Core Assessments will be presented at the Board of Education workshop, on September 23, 2014, at 7:00 p.m. Individual Student Reports (ISRs) will be sent home to parents directly from Eastern Suffolk BOCES. The date of the mailing has not yet been released. After you receive your child's scores, please contact your child's Guidance Counselor or Principal, or Mrs. Hull, Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction (tel:631-791-4291) if you have any questions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141386 Tue, 26 Aug 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141386 Welcome Back BBQ Incoming sixth-graders mingled with friends and teachers while enjoying burgers and hot dogs at the district’s welcome-back-to-school barbecue on August 21 at the high school. The annual event, said Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert, gives students a wonderful introduction to the Port Jefferson School District family. Middle School Principal Antonio Santana presented each of the 100 students with a Hawaiian lei as they arrived. Dinner was prepared by parent volunteers. “The barbecue provides students with an opportunity to not only get socially acclimated, but also meet some of their new teachers and find their lockers,” said Mr. Santana. Finding their new lockers was a highlight for many at the barbecue. “I’m looking forward to getting my locker,” said Brooke Zamek. Fellow incoming sixth-grader Sarah Mushe agreed, adding that she is looking forward to the freedom middle school offers. “We won’t have to walk in lines anymore and we get to change classes,” she said. Of the barbecue, student Ameen Khan said, “It’s really nice to see all my friends after a long time.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141385 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141385 Notice Re: MS/HS Driveway Please be advised the driveway to the MS/HS has recently been paved. It will need time to "cure" to enhance the longevity of the paving. Therefore, it will not be passable until Wednesday, August 27th. If you are coming to the MS/HS please park in the side parking lot on Old Post Road and enter through the main entrance in front of the building. If you are dropping your child off or picking them up from an event, please drop them off and pick them up on Old Post Road. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141384 Thu, 21 Aug 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141384 BOE MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 25, 2014, 6:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of taking action on personnel items and other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140981 Wed, 13 Aug 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140981 HS Tennis Courts Closed The tennis courts at the high school are closed until further notice for reconditioning. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140980 Thu, 31 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140980 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A workshop meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education scheduled for August 7, 2014, has been changed to August 11, 2014, 6:00 p.m. at the District Office. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 12, 2014, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m. to discuss legal and personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140979 Tue, 29 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140979 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 23, 2014, 6:30 p.m. at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter; and any other business as may be needed. A workshop meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on August 7, 2014, 6:30 p.m. at the District Office; and any other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140978 Thu, 10 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140978 Class of 2014 Joins Ranks of Port Jeff Alumni Dressed in purple and white caps and gowns, the 2014 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School graduating class was warmly greeted by friends, family, teachers and administrators as they took their places at their graduation ceremony on June 27. Held on the high school’s athletic grounds, the ceremony began with a welcome speech by Student Organization President Kirsten Crovello, who told her classmates that they are set to embark on a new journey where they can reinvent themselves. “We can step out of our comfort zone, take every opportunity [afforded to us] and travel,” she said. In his address, salutatorian Kent Ueno spoke of the cooperation among his fellow students, who, he noted, had always been there to lend a hand. “While each of us has our quirks,” he said, “we all have cooperation and have helped to mold and shape each other over the past four years.” Parent speaker Dominick Famularo, who travels the world as a motivational speaker, gave sage advice to the graduates, but not before first taking a “selfie” with them. In his speech, Famularo told the graduates to always listen, to find their passion, to understand that dreams can change, and to never look at an obstacle as a problem, but rather as a challenge. “You can rise to a challenge,” he said. Dr. Kenneth Bossert, superintendent of schools, reminded students that while they are leaving the Port Jefferson school district, they would “forever be part of our Royal family.” Rather than give a typical graduation speech, valedictorian Danielle Grier chose instead to deliver her words in the form of a thoughtfully worded rhyming poem in which she reflected on the past. In ceremonial tradition, Dr. Bossert presented each member of the graduating class with a diploma, after which Principal Matthew Murphy wished the students well in their future endeavors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140972 Thu, 03 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140972 Junior Digitizes School Logo, Receives BOE Approval During its July 1 meeting, the Board of Education recognized junior Joseph Iasso for his work in redesigning and digitizing the school district’s logo, which the board unanimously supported. According to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, Iasso’s reinvented school logo, originally designed by Chester Davis in 1935, will soon begin to appear on various school documents. Iasso took on the task of redesigning the logo after attempting to use the former one for a project and finding that as he enlarged it, its quality diminished. “I decided I wanted to make it look more artistic,” he said. In his redesign, Iasso added new seahorses, a compass, an anchor and a boat. He also took some artistic liberty in adding a crown to the top. “The crown really represents the school because we are the Royals,” he said. Assistant Principal Christine Austen praised Iasso’s work and said Iasso is a student who always makes things happen behind the scenes, from organizing the school’s junior prom to working on the district’s safety committee. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140977 Wed, 02 Jul 2014 16:00:00 GMT false140977 BOE Members Sworn In; President, Vice President Re-elected During the Board of Education’s annual reorganizational meeting on July 1, board members Adam Dewitt and Robert Ramus, who were both re-elected by the community in May, were sworn in by District Clerk Janice Baisley, who was also sworn in during the meeting. The board also unanimously re-elected Kathleen Brennan as board president and James Laffey as board vice president. The pair were administered the oath of office by Baisley. “I thank the board for their vote of confidence,” Brennan said before being sworn in. “It has been a pleasure to serve and I am confident we will continue to do the same good job that we’ve been doing.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140976 Wed, 02 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140976 Prom 2014 Videos Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140974 Tue, 01 Jul 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140974 Music Students Perform at Bethpage Ballpark Fifth- and sixth-grade music students had the opportunity to perform the national anthem at Bethpage Ballpark on June 30. The performance, which took place at a game where the Long Island Ducks played the Bridgeport Bluefish, doubled as a fundraiser for the Class of 2021. Organized by music teacher Mark Abbonizio, the event was attended by numerous parents and family members in support of the student-musicians. Congratulations to all of the students who performed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140975 Mon, 30 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140975 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The annual reorganization meeting and regular July business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 1, 2014, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The reorganization meeting will begin at 7:00 p.m., the business meeting follows at 7:30 p.m. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss personnel and legal related items. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140971 Mon, 30 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140971 HS Music Students Headed for World Tour This summer, five high school music students are set to travel to France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland as part of American Music Abroad's summer music tour. The students – Raquel Accardo, Julia Durfee, Alden Mohacsi, Adam Nieves and Parker Schoch – were selected to participate in the tour following an audition process. They will depart from JFK Airport after several days of rehearsals at East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania. Their first Europe performance will be in Paris. Congratulations and good luck to all of the Port Jefferson musical ambassadors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140973 Sun, 29 Jun 2014 15:00:00 GMT false140973 Moving Up to High School The 91 members of the eighth-grade class were honored on June 26 at an annual moving up ceremony at the high school. In addition to every graduate receiving their diploma, a number of select scholars were honored for outstanding achievements, receiving academic awards for English, math, social studies, foreign language, art and music. Other awards included the New York State Attorney General’s Triple “C” Award, the New York State Comptroller’s Award, the Principal’s Award, the Rotary Club’s Most Motivated Student Award and spirit awards. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert addressed the class as well. “I am fortunate to have known you over the past 10 years and am overjoyed to see you grow,” he said. “This is certainly not an ending, but a beginning.” Performing under band director Edward Pisano, the seventh/eighth-grade band provided music for the evening, with selections including Pharrell Williams’ “Happy.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140970 Sun, 29 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140970 Fifth-Graders Move Up to Middle School The district celebrated the accomplishments of 98 fifth-graders during a moving up ceremony at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School on June 25. During the ceremony, numerous students were honored with achievement awards, including recognitions from New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and New York State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman. Students were recognized with awards for classroom citizenship and excellence in language arts, math, science and social studies, as well as with the Principal’s Citizenship Award and safety patrol awards. Parents Francine Mosche and Jennifer Skulla addressed the students, with Skulla reminding them that they would always be part of the Port Jefferson school family, which would grow larger when they move on to middle school and high school. After a performance of “My Favorite Things” by students Olivia Ross and Sophie Xu, the students were each handed their certificates. “Watching you mature has brought a smile to my face,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who urged the students to take advantage of the opportunities and friendships that await them in middle school. “Make sure you enjoy every day and the opportunity that is presented to you, and find out what your thing will be.” Also addressing the students were retiring teacher Margaret Moore and Principal Thomas Meehan, who gave the fifth-graders a heartwarming send-off as he spoke of the many positive things they had accomplished over the years. “Continue to be yourselves,” he encouraged them. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140969 Fri, 27 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140969 Music Students Perform at Village Fundraiser Elementary and middle school students did their part to improve Rocketship Park in Port Jefferson by performing classical and popular music at a fundraiser on June 8. The fundraiser was part of the village’s campaign to redesign the park, which is slated for a new playground, walkways and seating. While the students performed, visitors enjoyed treats and other entertainment. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140968 Thu, 26 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140968 Students Send Off Rescued Seal Third-grade students from Port Jefferson Elementary School gave a rescued seal a warm send-off on June 20 at Cedar Beach in Mt. Sinai. The students lined the beach to watch as PJ Liberty, a male gray seal, was released back into the water after the Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research rescued him on April 25. As part of their studies on Port Jefferson history and its waterways, the students adopted, named and kept track of PJ Liberty’s progress. When PJ Liberty was first rescued, it was found that he suffered a laceration on his shoulder and ulcers in his mouth, but after being given antibiotics and tube-fed a liquid diet, he began to heal. He now eats eight pounds of herring a day. As PJ Liberty made his way down the beach to the water, students cheered and waved goodbye. The seal reciprocated by popping his head up after diving into the water as if to say thank you. “I think the seal was very happy to see all the people that cared about him and to finally go home,” said student Amy Whitman. Students Daniel Brosman, Grace Chambers and Olivia Ross agreed that they were very lucky to witness PJ Liberty’s release. “Some kids don’t get to do things like this,” said Ross. “We were very lucky.” After watching PJ Liberty head home, the students worked to clean up the beachfront before heading back to school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140967 Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140967 Moving up and Graduation Ceremonies will be Broadcast LIVE over the Internet All of our Moving up and Graduation Ceremonies are being broadcast live over the internet. You will need the Real Player to view the LIVE video stream on your computer. It can be downloaded by following the link below: Click HERE for the Real Player Download Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad Archived video will be available the morning after the event on each of the building's home pages under the announcements section. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141548 Wed, 25 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141548 Egyptians and Mummies Take Over Third-Grade Classroom Doreen Marullo’s third-grade classroom at Port Jefferson Elementary School was transformed into an Egyptian museum on June 19, complete with a mummy chamber and a giant sphinx. The museum was part of Marullo’s six-week lesson on Egyptian history. The exhibits, which combined technology with students’ writing and artwork, demonstrated what the third-graders had learned. Featured were exhibits on Egyptian dress, cooking, burial, art, writing and geography. Each station included a technology component where viewers could watch a video created by the students on the district’s recently purchased iPads, as well as a QR code allowing visitors to download the videos on their smartphones. In addition to making informational videos, the students also produced their own music videos, changing the lyrics of well-known songs to ones about Egypt. The museum, named MOMA (Museum of Marullo Authors), was open throughout the day to visiting classes. Visitors were greeted by two students, dressed as Egyptian statues, while Marullo’s other students, wearing Egyptian garb, gave tours and shared what they learned. “We really learned a lot about Egyptian culture,” said third-grader Olivia Schlegel. “I especially liked learning about the Great Sphinx and making a sarcophagus out of clay.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140966 Tue, 24 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140966 Students Take Virtual Tour of Barnum Museum Third-graders recently took a virtual tour of the Barnum Museum in Connecticut with the help of technology. A total of 86 students from four classes spoke via Skype to Melissa Houston, who discussed the museum’s history and the legacy of Tom Thumb and P.T. Barnum, whose roots run deep in Port Jefferson. Houston also showed students various artifacts from the museum, including Tom Thumb’s wedding cakes and items Barnum had brought back from his various travels with the circus. Teacher Nancy Winkler-Brogan explained that students normally took field trips to the museum in years past. However, the last several winter storms had severely damaged the historic site, which is currently undergoing renovations. The next best thing, she said, was to create a virtual tour that would culminate students’ recent lessons on Port Jefferson history. Students also learned about Barnum’s link to the Port Jefferson Ferry, founded by Barnum in 1883 under the name Bridgeport-Port Jefferson Steamboat. Despite not being able to go to the museum, student Olivia Ross said she thought the virtual tour was a great way to learn about Barnum. “I think it’s cool that we can Skype the museum,” she said. “I really like learning about P.T. Barnum and knowing that the circus is part of Port Jefferson’s history.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140965 Mon, 23 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140965 Tenured Educators & Farewell to Retirees At its June 10 meeting, the Board of Education bid a warm farewell to six retiring employees and congratulated nine educators on receiving tenure. It was an emotional moment for principals and department heads as they shared kind words about the retiring teachers and secretaries who had worked tirelessly for the students, noting they could never truly be replaced. “All of you touched the lives of students through your acts of kindness,” said Board President Kathleen Brennan. Those retiring are Kathleen Archacki, Donald Butler, Patricia Dowden, Barbara Kolonoski, Margaret Moore and Belinda Rowan. The board also congratulated recently tenured employees Christina Carlson, Arin Hampson, Michelle Lautato, Thomas Meehan, Jessica Pastor, Kristen Poulos, Kristine Vacarro, Mary Jo Zimmermann and Melissa Zinger. Sean Leister, Assistant Superintendent for Business, was also recognized for the tenure he received earlier this year. The principals and department heads spoke of the good work each of the tenured employees have been doing every day in the district. “They’ve earned this, and we look forward to their continued success,” said Brennan. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140964 Fri, 20 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140964 Mathletes Honored at Awards Dinner At the Suffolk County Math Teachers Association awards dinner on May 19, the Port Jefferson Mathletes team was recognized for winning big this year. During the dinner, Mathletes Alberto Rescia and Ryan Burke (team captain) and coach Dennis Christofor accepted the team’s award for placing first in Division 1 of the Suffolk County Math Tournament. Members of the winning team include juniors Burke and Ju Mi Ha and seniors Danielle Grier, Romain Popescu, Rescia and Kent Ueno. In addition to placing first, Burke, a top team scorer, placed 10th individually in the county out of 800 participants. He was awarded a third-place plaque in the SCMTA Calculus Level Math Contest, which was held in March. Burke also participated in the 2014 American Regional Math League at Pennsylvania State University, representing Port Jefferson High School as a member of the Suffolk County ARML team on May 31. While there, he scored in the top 20 percent of students. The Suffolk County ARML team also scored high in the nationwide competition, placing 12th out of 60 teams after competing in a variety of team events and the final round. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140963 Thu, 19 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140963 Students Recognized for Volunteer Efforts At its June 10 meeting, the Board of Education recognized and congratulated 23 high school and middle school students on earning the Presidential Service Award. The students, each of whom volunteered between 50 and 100 hours of their time to the Port Jefferson community, were presented with the award by parent volunteer Jackie Hull. “We are happy to honor some of the best and brightest students in the district who have given back to their community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. The students recognized with the Presidential Service Award were: Virginia Albinson, Chloe Isabella Andriani, Nicholas Thomas Andriani, Nicholas Caltagirone, Sam Caltagirone, Lia Desmond, Olivia Desmond, Eli Doyle, Chloe Brooke Dugourd, Sarah Elizabeth Hull, Thomas Henry Hull, James Kennedy, Michael Kennedy, Joseph Luca, Max Okst, Skylar Pine, Chloe Savino, Jillian Sullivan, Luigia Than, Karin Thomassen, Alexa Williams, Eric Zimmermann and Noelle Zimmermann. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140962 Wed, 18 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140962 Students Enjoy Hands-on Field Trip In their last year as elementary school students, fifth-graders took a field trip to Nassau BOCES’ Outdoor Education Center, known as “Project Adventure,” on June 2. During the trip, which was organized by the district’s PTA, the students were divided into mixed groups and moved through various hands-on activities designed to develop and foster communication, cooperation, trust and problem-solving skills. Teacher Gina Santini, whose class participated in the trip, said her soon-to-be elementary graduates enjoyed their time at the center as well as strengthening their personal and interpersonal skills. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140961 Mon, 16 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140961 Summer Reading Information Click here for more information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140960 Fri, 13 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140960 14th Annual Scraggy Walk/Run More than 600 Edna Louise Spear Elementary students came together on the sunny morning of June 6 for the 14th annual Scraggy Walk/Run. Wearing shirts representing their grade, the students, along with parents, did their best to run a 1.1-mile course through Scraggy Hill Park’s fields and woods, some finishing in as little as seven minutes. All were cheered on by teachers, parents and fellow students as they approached the finish line. They were also treated to cold water and ice pops. According to Debra Ferry, director of health, physical education and athletics, the students began training three weeks prior to the event by walking, running laps, and swimming. “This is a great event that promotes physical fitness in the family,” said Ferry, adding that she hopes the event will turn some of the students on to running track and field when they reach the middle and high school. “We love promoting physical fitness in a way that can be a lifelong activity,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who cheered students on from the starting line. “It is great to see so many parents and community members out here supporting this event.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140959 Thu, 12 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140959 Port Jefferson Athletes Recognized at Awards Night More than 60 high school seniors in the Port Jefferson School District were recognized for their athletic accomplishments at an awards ceremony on June 5 in the high school auditorium. During the evening, the students’ coaches honored every athlete, sharing memories of their accomplishments on the field, during tournaments and in games. All honorees were presented with senior athletic awards, as well as NYSPHSAA Scholar/Athlete Team awards for teams whose members maintained at least a 90 percent GPA during their sports season. One highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Friends of Christine Stoddard scholarship to boys varsity baseball team member Morgan Sakovich and girls varsity soccer player Mairead Swards. The second highlight came as Debra Ferry, the district’s director of physical education, health and athletics, presented this year’s Outstanding Athlete awards to soccer and basketball player Olivia Racanelli and track and field athlete Jasper Rubin-Sigler, who was unable to attend the ceremony, as he was competing at the state championships. Along with Ferry and the coaches, Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Bossert thanked the athletes for their hard work and their parents for supporting them. “I am very proud of our athletic program and am most proud of how you each prioritized athletics, academics and community service,” Bossert said to the athletes. “You should be proud to be part of a team,” Ferry said. “You all have the common bond of being a Port Jefferson athlete. Take pride in what you have done.” Serving as a guest speaker was Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant, who told the students that their time as athletes has given them life skills, including etiquette, sportsmanship, fair play, how to lose gracefully, how to win gracefully, how to be a team player and how to close out a match. “You are all Port Jefferson champions,” Garant said. “May you always move forward with the wind behind your back.” Congratulations to the following senior athletes: Amr Abdel Salam, Casey Abelein, Aaron Accardo, Cihad Akkaya, John Albinson, Corbin Apple, Ashley Aspromonte, Megan Augsbach, Justin Bove, Alexander Bruno, Margaret Butera, Paul Cavanagh, Elisabeth Ciancarelli, Katherine Colantuoni, Harrison Colucco, Kirsten Crovello, Tyler D’Accordo, Melissa Darling, Kiera Elliott, Jesse Fallon, Calvin Fernandez, Kyle Fiske, Teresa Gomes, Cassandra Gray, Danielle Grier, Daniel Gross, Cameron Harvey, Nicholas Heide, Trystan Hoffmann, Patrick Hughes, Victoria Juliano, Christopher Julich, Evan Kelly, Eric Keresztes, Noah Kirchner, Michael Laffey, Evan Lahey, Gabriella Martinez, Naji Nizam, Nathaniel Place, Romain Popescu, Francesca Racanelli, Olivia Racanelli, Hunter Reiter, Chiara Repetti-Ludlow, Vincent Romita, Steven Rose, Jasper Rubin-Sigler, Sydney Ruggiero, Morgan Sakovich, Joshua Skula, Gabrielle Stark, Cody Steiner, Emma Strehle, Mairead Swords, James Tsunis, Kent Ueno, Demitria Ulino, Shannon Walsh, Jill Webb and Ryan Woodward. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140958 Wed, 11 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140958 Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology/Regional STEM High School - Informational Forum If you have a 10thgrade student interested in science, technology, engineering or math, you should consider attending one of two informational forums to learn about the new Regional Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) High School, a public school, located at the Gary D. Bixhorn Technical Center. Representatives from Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology/Regional STEM High School will provide the following information at the forum: The educational advantage that attending and graduating students will have with a clear and supported career path;—Fast Fact—projected growth in jobs in STEM related fields is expected to outpace other occupations in the next four years The opportunities that the school will provide to earn preferred eligibility and/or advanced standing at select colleges and universities; The benefits of the Project Lead the Way curriculum, the nation’s leading provider of STEM programs for over 5,000 schools. I was pleased to be able to secure the initial seed money to establish the Regional STEM High School at the Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology. The STEM High School will open in September, 2014. Who should attend? Anyone interested in learning about an opportunity that will engage students in a high school experience with a focus on hands-on, project based instruction presented through an engineering lens. If you know a student who is curious about how things work, who learns best by doing, and is interested in increasing his/her earning power beyond high school, you won’t want to miss this opportunity. For more information about the STEM High School click onhttp://academyli.org STEM HS Forum – Wednesday, June 11 – Riverhead CSD High School 700 Harrison Avenue Riverhead, NY 11901 7:00 p.m. STEM HS Forum – Thursday, June 12 – Connetquot CSD Administrative Office Board/Conference Room 780 Ocean Ave. Bohemia NY 11716 7:00 p.m. For questions please contact Robert Van Brunt, program administrator(631)-419-1628 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140957 Tue, 10 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140957 Ensembles Perform at NYSSMA The high school wind ensemble and middle school seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra performed at the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival at William Floyd High School on May 30. Both groups performed several pieces for a panel of adjudicators, who evaluated them on quality of performance and level of musicianship. The district congratulates both the wind ensemble and orchestra, along with music teachers Christine Creighton and Christian Neubert, on their outstanding performances. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140956 Mon, 09 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140956 SBU String Quartet Performs for MS Students Orchestra students at Port Jefferson Middle School were treated to a performance by Stony Brook University’s string quartet on May 4 in the Port Jefferson High School auditorium. The event was made possible by the Staller Center Outreach Endowment program, headed by Staller Center outreach coordinator Paul Newland. The quartet, comprised of violinists Anne Sophie Anderson and Andy Bhasin, violists Philip Carter and Brett Walfish, and cellist Kumee Lee, performed works by Brahms, Dvorak, Shostakovich and Piazzolla. Pieces included Dvorak’s String Quartet No. 12 “American,” Shostakovich’s String Quartet No. 8, Piazzolla’s “Liber Tango” and an arrangement of an Avril Lavigne song by Bhasin. In addition to playing for the students, the quartet listened to and critiqued a performance by the sixth-grade orchestra, directed by Dr. Vanessa Salzman. The quartet praised the students’ performance and worked with them on their pizzicato and tone. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140955 Fri, 06 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140955 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The annual reorganization meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 1, 2014, 7:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School; the regular monthly business meeting will commence at 7:30 p.m. The meeting will be called to order at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140954 Tue, 03 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140954 Port Jefferson Musician Hits a High Note Annalisa Welinder, a seventh-grader at Port Jefferson Middle School, took first place in the Sound Symphony Orchestra’s annual solo competition on May 17 for her performance on violin. With the win, Welinder now has the opportunity to be featured as a soloist with the orchestra during its 2014-2015 concert season. A panel of judges ranked Welinder based on overall performance and style. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140953 Mon, 02 Jun 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140953 Students Earn High Marks on National Latin Exam Port Jefferson Middle and High School Latin students recently took the 2014 National Latin Exam, earning some of the highest marks in the country and world. They were awarded for their accomplishments at a luncheon on May 23 in the high school library. During the event, the 54 students, who were among 154,000 students from 49 states and 17 foreign countries to take the annual exam, were presented with certificates of achievement as their parents looked on. Of the students, five were presented with achievement certificates for marks on their Latin I test, 12 with outstanding achievement certificates with a purple ribbon, and four received a certificate of merit for achieving a perfect score on the exam. Students who took the test on the Latin II, IV and V levels scored equally as well: 16 students were awarded gold medals, two of whom received perfect scores; 10 students received silver medals; three students obtained magna cum laude awards; and two were presented with cum laude awards. “It is wonderful to see the Latin program’s scholars continue to achieve,” said Dr. Kenneth R. Bossert, the district’s superintendent of schools. “I am so proud of the success that Ms. Anne Algieri promotes with all her students,” added Dr. Matthew Murphy, principal of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The district congratulates the following students on receiving awards: Achievement Certificate, Latin I: Cameron Cohen, Ryan Kim, John O’Connor, Ryan Robertson, John Tsunis Outstanding Achievement Certificate with Purple Ribbon, Latin I: Katherine Ambrozy, Gavin Barrett, Emma Gutmann, Piper Heide, Sarah Hull, Hyun Jin Lee, Cezanne Lojeski, Brian Mark, David Rotunno, Ava Schully, Sabrina Schully, Mayu Takeuchi Certificate of Merit with Purple Ribbon, Latin I: Ibuki Iwasaki, Francine Leung, Joseph Samara, Annalisa Welinder Outstanding Performance, Latin II: Gold Medal, summa cum laude: Anna Desan, Edward Finkelstein, Xinyi Hong, Isabella Koutsantanou, Matthew Pifko, Chiara Rabeno, Luigia Than Silver Medal, maxima cum laude: John Collins, Connor Kaminska, Arunima Roy, Paul Simmerling Magna cum laude: Louis Martin-Deprez Outstanding Performance, Latin III: Gold Medal, summa cum laude: Virgina Albinson, Rachel Collins, Eric Kilgore, Anita Rescia,William Witrock Silver Medal, maxima cum laude: Courtney Lewis, Troy Lov Magna cum laude: Emma Martin, Elisa Ueno Outstanding Performance, Latin IV Prose Gold Medal, summa cum laude: Noah Davis, Lara Sarubbi, Natalia Zaliznyak Silver Medal, maxima cum laude: Ryan Burke, Carly Cherches, Julia Kharzeev Magna cum laude: Neil Alvarez, Ju Mi Ha Outstanding Performance, Latin V Advanced Gold Medal, summa cum laude: Leah Neiman, Alberto Rescia, Kent Ueno Silver Medal, maxima cum laude: Chiara Repetti-Ludlow https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140952 Fri, 30 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140952 Lending a Helping Hand Members of the Port Jefferson Middle School National Junior Honor Society and Interact Club volunteered their time on May 18 to help clean up Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck in Center Moriches. The students, under the direction of honor society adviser Michelle Landetta and Deirdre Filippi, adviser of the Interact Club, helped prepare the camp’s grounds for summer by raking leaves, planting, painting and mulching. Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck is dedicated to serving mentally and physically disabled children on Long Island. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140950 Thu, 29 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140950 Exams Schedules and Transportation Information The schedules for Final Exams and Regents Exams for Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School can be viewedon the homepageof each building. Please contact your child's teacher if you have any questions. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Port Jefferson Middle School https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140949 Thu, 29 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140949 Graduation Options for Students with Disabilities Graduation Options for Students with Disabilities Presentation from May 28, 2014 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140951 Wed, 28 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140951 Piano Student Shines Francine Leung, a seventh-grader at Port Jefferson Middle School, recently took third place at the Suffolk Piano Teachers Foundation’s ninth annual competition, held at Faust Harrison Pianos in Huntington. For the competition, Leung performed "Le Petit Ane Blanc" by Jacques Ibert. “I was nervous before I began playing, but after I got into the piece, I wasn’t nervous anymore," said Leung. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140948 Tue, 27 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140948 Junior Wins Gold at LI Math Fair High school junior Ryan Burgert recently took home a gold medal from the Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair at Hofstra University. According to his teacher, Christina Morgan, Burgert was required to make a presentation and defend his project before a group of judges in both a preliminary and a final round. He explained that his project, “Controlling Artificial Neural Networks Using Genetic Algorithms,” focused on analyzing images and data through color grading. He plans to continue developing his project over the summer and possibly sell the results. This is not the first time Burgert has placed in the math fair — as a 10th-grader, he was awarded a silver medal for his project “Calculating the Sine and Cosine of Any Angle using Numeric Methods.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140947 Fri, 23 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140947 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Board of Education will be held on May 27, 2014, 6:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss pending litigation and other items as may be necessary. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140946 Fri, 23 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140946 Rotary Names May Student of the Month Members of the Port Jefferson Rotary Club named Port Jefferson sixth-grader Jonathan Cadicamo Most Motivated Student of the Month at an event on May 13. Cadicamo, accompanied by his parents and grandparents, received the designation after being nominated by Chuck Ruoff, a reading specialist in the school district. Rotary member and Middle School Principal Antonio Santana was also in attendance. During the event, Ruoff told Rotary members that Cadicamo is a student who works hard, never complains and never gives up. Ruoff also said Cadicamo is a skilled student, especially with computer graphics and visuals. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140945 Thu, 22 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140945 Port Jefferson Third-Graders Test out Instruments Edna Louise Spear Elementary School third-graders had the opportunity to try out a variety of band and string instruments at the annual “Petting Zoo,” held in the elementary school on May 20. During the event, 30 high school students introduced the third-graders to the many instruments they can select to play when they enter fourth grade, including the violin, cello, saxophone and flute. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140943 Wed, 21 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140943 ES Grades 4 & 5 Picnic Concert - New! Due to rain in tomorrow's forecast, our Elementary School picnic concert will be moved to the Elementary School Gym, beginning at 6:00 PM. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140944 Wed, 21 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140944 Important Summer School Information Please read the attached information regarding Summer School https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140940 Tue, 20 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140940 Enjoying the Sounds of College Strings Port Jefferson School District’s fourth- and fifth-grade orchestra students had the opportunity to hear the sounds of Stony Brook University’s chamber orchestra, which performed select pieces from Kodaly, Mozart and Penderecki, on May 8. The recital to which the students were treated was part of an annual series of concerts performed at the Staller Center, featuring Stony Brook University graduate students and members of the Emerson String Quartet, through the Staller Center’s Outreach Endowment program. Port Jefferson’s music department said the opportunity was a great experience for students to see chamber ensembles in a live performance setting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140941 Tue, 20 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140941 Port Jefferson Budget Passes Thank you to all residents who participated in the 2014-15 budget vote and trustee election. The budget passed by a vote of 374 to 124. In addition, Robert Ramus and Adam DeWitt were re-elected as trustees to the Board of Education. Again, thank you to all who voted! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140942 Tue, 20 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140942 School in Session Friday, May 23 Please recall that due to the number of emergency closing (snow) days that were used during the 2013-14 school year, school will be in session for all students and facultythis Friday, May 23. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140939 Mon, 19 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140939 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Board of Education will be held on May 20, 2014, 9:15 p.m., in the high school cafeteria, for the purpose of accepting the vote tabulation of the budget vote and election of board members held on May 20, 2014. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140938 Fri, 16 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140938 Board of Education Revised Meeting Notice PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE The Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be meeting in executive session on May 13, 2014, 5:30 p.m., at the high school to discuss personnel and legal matters. The budget hearing will commence at 7:00 p.m. and the business meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141148 Tue, 13 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141148 Driving Home the Importance of Safety High school students in Allison Anziano’s ninth-grade English classes entered the Scholastic Drive2Life’s annual contest to promote safer driving by developing an original public service announcement. Honor student Camryn Ward placed in the top 25 of more than 900 applicants from across the country with her public service announcement urging teenagers not to engage in impaired driving. “The opportunity to enter the contest was part of a larger unit on using persuasive techniques to convince an audience to agree with a particular stance,” said Anziano. “Students were given the task of creating an original message about the importance of making safe, conscious decisions regarding driving.” Camryn’s public service announcement encourages teens to “steer clear” of danger by making the right choices about drunk driving. “My message is very realistic,” said Camryn. “Think about what you do and give thought to your actions. Everything you do, no matter how seemingly big or small, can impact your future.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141147 Mon, 12 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141147 Athletes Recognized by New York State Elementary school students Frank Barbera and Evelyn Walker and middle school students Cezanne Lojeski and Thomas Mark have been selected as the 2013-2014 Suffolk Zone Award winners. On May 7, the students were recognized by the Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. “Every elementary and middle school in Suffolk County nominates one male and one female to receive this award,” said Debra Ferry, director of health, physical education and athletics. “These students have proven themselves to our physical education teachers and their school community as being students with exceptional physical performance, scholastic ability and leadership qualities. Their performance and participation in physical education has earned them this well-deserved recognition.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141146 Fri, 09 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141146 Scholarships for Academic Excellence Three high school students have been named recipients of the 2014 Scholarship for Academic Excellence Award by the New York State Education Department. Danielle Grier, Katherine Gwydir and Kent Ueno will each receive financial aid for full-time study in approved programs at schools located in New York State. The scholarship, which must be used within seven years commencing with the 2014-15 academic year, entitles these students to payments for up to five years of full-time study. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141145 Mon, 05 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141145 Student Named Athlete of the Week Newsday has named junior Allegra Fils-Aime a High School Athlete of the Week. Allegra, a member of the varsity track team, won the triple jump, going 34 feet, 10 ½ inches in a 94-47 win over Stony Brook. She also won the 100 meters in 13.3 seconds, the 200 in 27.3 seconds and the long jump, going 15 feet, 3½ inches. To view the Newsday article, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141144 Mon, 05 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141144 PJSD Community Forum Series - LICADD PJSD Community Forum Series - LICADD TOPICS: Underage Drinking/Marijuana it’s not your Parents’ pot/Prescription Drugs/Why our Kids Get High https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141134 Mon, 05 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141134 PJSD Community Forum Series - Graduation May 28, 2014 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium Topic: Graduation Options for Students with Disabilities https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141135 Mon, 05 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141135 View Spring Concerts LIVE on Internet Spring Concerts Broadcast LIVE over the Internet All of our Spring Concerts are being broadcast live over the internet. You will need the Real Player if you are using your computer to view the LIVE video stream. All iPods/iPhones/iPads will launch automatically. It can be downloaded by following the link below: Click HERE for the Real Player Download Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad Archived video will be available the morning after the concerts on each of the building's home pages under the announcements section. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140834 Mon, 05 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140834 New York’s Finest Speaks at Port Jefferson The Port Jefferson School District hosted an Internet safety forum for parents and students, led by retired New York Police Department detective Thomas Grimes of New York’s Finest Speakers, on April 30. NY’s Finest is a law enforcement public speakers bureau that provides public seminars to educate on the topics of Internet awareness, realtor safety, drug awareness, counter terrorism and money laundering. “We felt that it was important to revisit the potential risks surrounding Internet use, particularly social media,” said Port Jefferson pre-K-12 Assistant Principal Christine Austen. “We believe it is smarter to teach a child to use the Internet safely than to block or restrict their use.” During the presentation, Grimes educated attendees on various topics including identity theft, hacking and online predators. “The Internet is not a bad thing,” said Grimes. “Still, we need to be careful. Students have tremendous power when they have a device that provides them with access to social media. It is the responsibility of both the parents and the school to educate children on how to use it safely.” “Tom is a very dynamic speaker who effectively conveys the fact that a momentary lapse in judgment can haunt one for a long time,” said Austen. “We need to come together as a society to show our children what is right and educate them on the standards that we deem acceptable. We must all contribute; our children are too important.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141143 Sun, 04 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141143 Music Students Perform at Maritime Festival Elementary and middle school music students performed at the Third Annual Port Jefferson Boater's Maritime Festival on May 4. While visitors walked about the village enjoying the array of boats, demonstrations and other exhibits along the harbor front, the students, led by music teachers Christian Neubert and Dr. Vanessa Salzman, performed classical music selections. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141141 Sun, 04 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141141 Juniors Qualify for National Merit Scholarship Program After taking the 2013 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/MNSQT), eight high school students have met requirements needed to enter the 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program. With a selection index score of 201 or higher, these juniors have shown outstanding academic potential. With some 1.5 million entries, each of these students is among the 50,000 highest-scoring participants who will be recognized in the fall of their senior year. Of the more than 50,000 high scorers nationwide, about 16,000 will be named National Merit Program Semifinalists, representing the top scorers in each state, and approximately 34,000 others will be commended for their performance on the PSAT/NMSQT. Semifinalists and Commended Students in the 2015 National Merit Program will learn of their standing in September. Semifinalists will be the only students who will have an opportunity to continue in the competition for about 8,000 National Merit Scholarships to be offered in 2015. The 2015 National Merit Scholarship Program qualifiers include: Caroline Biondo, Ryan Burke, Noah Davis, Steven Geiser, Julia Kharzeev, Kayley Okst, Ryan Scott and Natalia Zaliznyak https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141142 Sun, 04 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141142 Valedictorian and Salutatorian Announced The high school has announced the Class of 2014 valedictorian and salutatorian. Danielle Alexa Grier and Kent Toshio Robert Ueno have earned the top two spots in their class, respectively, through their impressive, outstanding commitment to academics. Valedictorian Danielle Grier has a weighted grade point average of 102.28 and will be attending Williams College in the fall, where she will major in history, specifically, anthropology/archaeology and the romance languages. During her time at the high school, Danielle has been actively involved with the varsity soccer, softball and track teams. She is also a member of the National Honor Society, Science Olympiads, Mathletes, president of the Interact Club and an orchestra violinist. Salutatorian Kent Ueno has a weighted grade point average of 101.45 and will be attending Dartmouth College to pursue a career in nuclear physics/chemistry. His expansive high school resume reflects his many talents ranging from academics to athletics. Kent has been a member of the baseball, soccer, tennis, track and wrestling teams. Additionally, he is involved with the Academic Team, jazz band, Mathletes, National Honor Society, Science Olympiads and is president of the Latin Club. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141140 Thu, 01 May 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141140 Continuing a Tradition of Honor On April 24, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 53 new members. The high school chamber orchestra, led by Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello, provided musical accompaniment throughout the evening. The ceremony began with greetings from high school principal Dr. Matthew Murphy and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who both recognized the great accomplishments of the students in attendance. “The National Honor Society is not simply about academic achievement,” said Dr. Murphy. “We are recognizing you for all that you have done to serve our community in addition to being outstanding students.” “The fact that we have 53 student inductees is extraordinary,” said Dr. Bossert. “It’s a reflection of the hard work and dedication that they have exemplified during their years in high school. Looking at this group I see not only academic success, but also athletes, musicians, thespians and those devoted to community service.” Keri Lukin Page, a 1992 Earl L. Vandermeulen High School graduate, delivered the ceremony of the pin address. During her address, Lukin Page encouraged students to keep their minds open to new ideas and opportunities throughout life, even if they are not planned. “It is important that you recognize those turning points in the road that help you to define who you are, despite your own expectations,” she said. ‘That is what makes life interesting and surprising.” “It is important to always know who you are and what you believe in,” said Lukin Page. “It’s also crucial to allow yourself to stray from your plans enough to find the things in life you may not have even realized you wanted.” The induction continued with the ceremony of the emblem, ceremony of the candle-lighting and the roll call of inductees, all led by current honor society members. Five colored candles represented the pillars of the National Honor Society – knowledge, character, scholarship, leadership and service. The ceremony concluded with a reciting of the society’s pledge. Inductees: Mark Accardo, David Altamirano, Neil Alvarez, Caroline Biondo, Ryan Burgert, Ryan Burke, Morgan Campbell, Paul Capobianco, Taylor Carley, Gaspar Cello, Carly Cherches, Lillian Concepcion, Janella Marie Damaskos, Noah Davis, Olivia Desmond, Tristin DeVincenzo, Allison Dombroski, Aliza Doyle, Deanna Eichinger, Allegra Fils-Aime, Andie Fortier, Ellen Fox, Rachel Geiser, Steven Geiser, Ju Mi Ha, Paul Han, Richard Hoey, Piyumi Kankanamalage, Dunia Karzai, Julia Kharzeev, Benjamin Kluender, Alexander Koller, Maureen Laffey, Courtney Loehr, Margo Martin-Deprez, Lauren McGuirk, Christopher McLaughlin, Alden Mohacsi, James Murphy, Kayley Okst, Claudio Perinuzzi, Thomas Pon, Robert Righi, Lara Sarubbi, Daniel Scarda, Parker Schoch, Ryan Scott, Tammy Serabian, Yuuki Shibutani, Caroline Strauss, Annie Warm, Dylan Wennerod and Natalia Zaliznyak. Present Members: Aaron Accardo, John Albinson, Corbin Apple, Megan Augsbach, Justin Bove, Alexander Bruno, Natalie Buck, Elizabeth Ciancarelli, Katherine Colantuoni, Kirsten Crovello, Tyler D’Accordo, Melissa Darling, Kelli DiTomasso, Jonathan Famularo, Richard Finkelstein, Cassandra Gray, Danielle Grier, Daniel Gross, Katherine Gwydir, Ghada Hassan, Nicholas Heide, Evan Kelly, Eric Keresztes, Gabriella Martinez, Leah Neiman, Romain Popescu, Francesca Racanelli, Olivia Racanelli, Hunter Reiter, Chiara Repetti-Ludlow, Alberto Rescia, Steven Rose, Jasper Rubin-Sigler, Elijah Sanders, Maria Simmerling, Joshua Skula, Gabrielle Stark, Mairead Swords, Kent Ueno, Demitria Ulino and Shannon Walsh. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141139 Wed, 30 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141139 Learning About Liberty High school French and Italian language students visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island National Monument. Prior to the trip, students studied the causes, impact and arrival of the immigrants to the New World. “Students learned about the hardships of immigrants arriving in America during the 19th century,” said language teacher Nicole Pennino-Costa. “They were also given background information about the statue and how it was gift of friendship from France to the United States.” While there, students were able to research their family heritage at the Ellis Island garden wall. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141138 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141138 Wrestler Named Fourth in Nation High school student Matteo DeVincenzo competed in the National Wrestling Tournament in Virginia Beach, Va. on March 29. Matteo competed in a weight class with more than 90 participants, taking fourth place in the nation. He was also named an All-American athlete and is the first wrestler in the district’s history to attain this status. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141133 Tue, 29 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141133 Getting a Flavor for Italian Cooking High school language students in Nicole Pennino-Costa’s Italian class attended an “Afternoon in Italy” cooking class at the A la Carte culinary school in Lynbrook on March 25. “The students have been studying a variety of cuisines from the different regions of Italy, and this trip brought their classroom studies to life,” said Pennino-Costa. “They prepared polenta and broccoli rabe, a recipe from Milan, as well as gnocchi with tomato sauce from southern Italy.” Students worked together to create additional dishes, including bruschetta, chicken piccata and tiramisu. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141137 Mon, 28 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141137 PJ Teachers and BOE Approve New Contract Collaborative Effort Helps Create a Sustainable Future for the District and Community The Port Jefferson UFSD Board of Education (BOE) and the Port Jefferson Teachers Association (PJTA) are pleased to announce that they have approved a successor agreement to the labor contract that ended on June 30, 2013, which will run through June 30, 2017. The new agreement calls for a zero percent increase in the salary schedule in year one, followed by a 1 percent annual increase in the salary schedule in years two through four. A step ‘freeze’ is in place for year three, and half-step increases are called for in years two and four (steps are movements ‘up’ the schedule based upon accrued years of service). One-time payments of $650 will be made to all teachers in years two and three, and teachers who are not eligible to move up a step on the salary schedule in year one will receive a one-time payment of $1,300. The net result of the agreement is to slow the rate of total salary growth and save significant sums in the short and long term. The district will realize a savings of approximately $850,000 over the 4-year term of the agreement (as compared to the expired contract language). In addition to the aforementioned provisions, the new agreement calls for an increase in the health care premium contribution by the teachers, a decrease in payment for those teachers who decline health care, a freezing of stipend rates, a new sign-in/sign out procedure mutually agreed upon by the PJTA and the district, and an adjustment to bereavement days. Dr. Kenneth Bossert, superintendent of schools, noted that this agreement is integral to helping the district achieve tax cap-compliant status over the next three years (the proposed budget for the 2014-15 school year is already within the allowable cap). “What it does, more than anything else, is give us the opportunity to preserve the staffing and programs that our community demands,” he said, “and to do so in a way that is mindful of the concerns of all taxpaying residents of the district.” Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan thanked the PJTA for their professionalism and cooperation during the negotiating process. “You have demonstrated an understanding of the situation we all face as a community,” she said at the April 22 board meeting. “In a time of continued financial pressure for public schools and their taxpaying communities, we think it is critical to work together to prevent the erosion of the quality education provided to the students here in Port Jefferson,” said Brian Snow, President of the PJTA. “It is unfortunate that such sacrifices must fall on the middle class worker and taxpayer. It is time for school management and finance to return to local community control.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141136 Wed, 23 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141136 Baseball Players Pitch In Members of the district’s baseball program took part in the Coastal Steward Adopt-A-Beach Program on the Port Jefferson side of Mount Sinai Harbor. The event is part of the International Coastal Cleanup effort that has removed more than 400 tons of debris to date. Players spent the afternoon removing waste from the area while gaining an understanding of how individual actions can impact the greater community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141132 Wed, 23 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141132 Stories that Rock Elementary school students in Deanna Lilimpakis and Amy McClelland’s class created story stones as part of a culminating activity to their lessons about sequential storytelling. Using a variety of pictures, students were encouraged to use their imagination to tell creative tales. “The picture choices were of different story elements, such as characters, settings and events,” said Lilimpakis. “The students will use these stones at home to tell a sequential story, working on vocabulary, sequencing, recall, expressive language skills and turn-taking skills.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141130 Tue, 22 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141130 Robotics Team Delivers Strong Performance The high school robotics team competed in the annual Long Island FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Regional Robotics Competition on April 5-6 at Hofstra University. More than 10,000 spectators cheered on the more than 50 teams competing for a spot in the national championship. “Our students spent six weeks, working up to six days a week, constructing a 130-pound robot from raw materials, such as aluminum and Plexiglas pieces, combined with digital electronic components, electric motors, cameras, transmissions, wheels and a host of other robotic parts,” said group adviser Brian Chalmers. Students and mentors worked together as they built the robot. “The mentors really enjoyed having the opportunity to share their knowledge with other student team members,” he said. The four-student robotics drive team worked together to coordinate robot functions. Tasks included shooting a two-foot-wide workout ball into a goal 11 feet in the air while simultaneously avoiding five other robots on the field. “Our robot did very well and was a strong performer on all assigned tasks,” said Chalmers. “This year, we had all new robot drivers, so it was a true learning experience for all involved.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141129 Mon, 21 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141129 Notice of Budget Hearing, Vote & Election https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141115 Thu, 17 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141115 Experiencing Music Around the World Fourth-graders experienced sounds from around the world including Greece, Japan and South Africa as part of their Music Around the World unit. Led by music teacher Jessica Pastor, students played classroom instruments for their peers and parents in the style of the country they were chosen to represent. They also performed a dance that highlighted the style of each culture’s folk dance tradition. “The students learned how to perform exciting musical pieces using instruments such as the metal xylophones, gongs, tambourines, drums and shakers,” said Pastor. “What is even more impressive is the fact that they learned how to do so in only four classes.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141131 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141131 Tri-M Inducts Newest Members The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Chapter 2172 of the Tri-M Music Honor Society hosted its seventh annual honors recital and induction on April 9. High school principal Dr. Matthew Murphy welcomed guests and was followed by a recital of six instrumental and vocal performances by students, including pieces by César Franck, George Gershwin and John Lennon. Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello thanked parents for supporting and nurturing their children’s music education. “Musicians like the ones here know that being a true musician requires a person to see an end result and work backwards,” he said. “It requires them to analyze, evaluate and to problem solve. They are able to take difficult musical concepts and break them down into smaller components. These skills will not only prepare them for college and global competitiveness, but will also prepare them for whatever they choose to do for the rest of their lives.” Family members looked on as continuing members were recognized and new inductees were honored for their efforts. Requirements needed to become a member of Tri-M are based on the society’s five points of distinction: scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership and service. The induction marks an individual’s successful completion of a term of candidacy. “A Tri-M member is one who sets a good example, is always willing to assist those students who are striving to better themselves in the music department, and is always one who remembers that it is a real honor to carry these responsibilities,” said Tri-M adviser Christine Creighton. “To the graduating seniors – always remember that music is about sharing with friends and family,” said Caravello. “All of you represent what hard work, self-discipline and a lot of practice can do.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141128 Wed, 16 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141128 Latin Students Conquer Certamen High school Latin students participated in a Latin certamen at the State University of New York at Stony Brook on April 8. The group competed against 13 other schools from across Long Island in the fast-paced contest. The certamen is designed to test student knowledge in the areas of Latin grammar, vocabulary, word derivations, Roman life, history, mythology and literature. The Port Jefferson Level Three team – Ginny Albinson, Eric Kilgore, Anita Rescia and Billy Witrock – and Advanced Level team – Leah Neiman, Chiara Repetti-Ludlow, Alberto Rescia and Kent Ueno – took first place in their respective levels. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141126 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141126 Italian Poetry Contest Port Jefferson Italian language students competed against 30 schools from Nassau and Suffolk counties in the 30th annual American Association of Teachers of Italian Poetry contest at the State University of New York at Old Westbury. The mission of the American Association of Teachers of Italian, Long Island Chapter, is to promote the study, teaching and appreciation of Italian culture and language in academic and community settings. The winners were: Ben Zaltsman for level one (first place), Frederick Johs for level three (third place) and Alexander Rebic for participation (honorable mention). https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141127 Tue, 15 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141127 Printmaking Residency Presented to Art Students Long Island artist Dan Kudreyko presented a two-day, hands-on silk screen printing residency to high school students in Carrie Morgan's art classes on April 7 and 10. Using drawing and painting techniques, students were given the opportunity to print their own shirts, pillows, handbags and other fabrics, learning a new art medium while working alongside the renowned artist. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141125 Sun, 13 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141125 Bassist Visits Port Jefferson Bassist Man Wai Che, a graduate of the Juilliard School and Stony Brook University, visited elementary, middle and high school music students on April 8 for a string bass performance and workshop. Che performed works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Fritz Kreisler, Camille Saint-Saens and John Williams as well as a traditional Chinese song titled "Horse Race." “The students were in awe of his ability and had many insightful questions regarding his playing techniques,” said orchestra teacher Vanessa Salzman. Che, who has been playing bass for 16 years, spoke with the students about his passion for performing and sharing his music with others. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141123 Sun, 13 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141123 Students Attend Orchestra Concert Forty Port Jefferson orchestra students and their parents attended the Stony Brook University Graduate Orchestra Concert on March 29. The performances, conducted by Eduardo Leandro, included pieces by Bartók, Debussy and Mozart. Tickets were provided courtesy of the Staller Center Outreach Endowment. “It is so important for young children, especially aspiring musicians, to have exposure to live musical experiences,” said orchestra teacher Vanessa Salzman. “We are grateful for the relationship we have with Stony Brook University, as it allows our families this wonderful opportunity to enjoy the concerts of professional musicians within our own community. We hope to cultivate a lifelong appreciation for music and the arts within each of our students.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141124 Sun, 13 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141124 District Community Forum Series April 30, 2014 7:00 p.m. High School Auditorium Topic: Social Media Please join us on Wednesday, April 30, 2014, 7:00 p.m., as we welcome back Thomas Grimes of “NY Finest” for a presentation on social media for students and parents. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about Internet Safety and the latest trends on Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Instagram. Your comments and questions are welcome and appreciated. “It takes a Village to Raise a Child” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141122 Fri, 11 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141122 Marvelous Map Elementary school students in the second and fourth grades collaborated on a project that took a closer look at the 13 colonies. The grade levels’ combined curricula gave students the opportunity to learn about the colonies and present their findings to their peers. “The second grade worked on putting the map together, giving it a title, a map key and labels,” said teacher Kristen Poulos. “The fourth-grade students researched information about the colonies, including founding date, major city and the date the colony became a state.” To complete the project, students worked together to construct a wall-sized map for display in their hallway. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141121 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141121 PJ Board of Education REVISED Meeting Notice The time of the April 23, 2014 special meeting of the Board of Education has been changed from 3:15 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the District Office for the purpose of voting on the Eastern Suffolk BOCES 2014-2015 Budget and Board Trustees. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141120 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141120 MS Science Olympiad Team Ranks at States The middle school Science Olympiad team placed 23rd out of 140 schools in the New York State Science Olympiad Competition. The event, which was held at Greece Arcadia High School in Rochester, N.Y., consisted of the top schools from 11 regions across New York State. Coach Adam Bouchard and teachers Deborah Hagmeyer and Marianne McFadden accompanied the team. “The students worked hard and learned scientific concepts on a high school and college level,” said Bouchard. “Everyone enjoyed being in Rochester – it was a very worthwhile experience. We hope to return next year to states and build upon our team’s successes.” The team took third place at the Suffolk County regional competition in March to qualify for the state competition. The district has been participating in the Middle School Science Olympiad event for more than 15 years. Medal Winners: Second Place – J.R. Knapp and Chandler Sciara for Helicopter Third Place – Xinyi Hong and Arunima Roy for Invasives Sixth Place – Xinyi Hong and Arunima Roy for Sound of Music Top 20 Finishes: Seventh Place – Isabella Koutsantanou and Cezanne Lojeski for Write It Do It Eighth Place – Eli Doyle and Connor Kaminska for Wheeled Vehicle 13th Place – Xinyi Hong and Arunima Roy for Disease Detectives 15th Place – Eli Doyle and Connor Kaminska for Solar System 16th Place – Leland Held and James Kennedy for Shock Value 16th Place – Cezanne Lojeski and Max Okst for Boomilever 19th Place – Isabella Koutsantanou and Cezanne Lojeski for Anatomy https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141116 Wed, 09 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141116 Rotary Names April Student of the Month For the third year as a middle school student, eighth-grader Ibuki Iwasaki was the recipient of the Port Jefferson Rotary Club’s Most Motivated Student of the Month Award. She attended the Rotary luncheon on April 8, accompanied by her social studies teacher, Dr. Tara Sladek-Maharg, and principal Antonio Santana, who both offered words of praise. “Not only is Ibuki an outstanding student, but she is also as a loyal friend to fellow students,” said Santana. “She is incredibly motivated and responsible.” Ibuki, a violinist in the school orchestra, is looking forward to traveling to Japan this summer to visit with family and friends. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141117 Wed, 09 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141117 Seventh-Grader Places in Philharmonic Competition Middle school student and violinist Annalisa Welinder recently received second prize in the 26th annual Long Island Philharmonic Young Artist Competition on March 26 at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in Greenvale. The annual competition offers young Long Island musicians, like Annalisa, an opportunity to perform for a distinguished panel of judges, including members of the Philharmonic Orchestra. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141118 Wed, 09 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141118 District Hosts Health and Wellness Expo Members of the middle school seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra and high school saxophone quartet performed at the Health and Wellness Expo on April 5 at the high school. The student musicians, led by teachers Christine Creighton and Christian Neubert, performed classical musical selections as attendees visited a wide array of booths dedicated to all levels of health, wellness and fitness. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141119 Wed, 09 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141119 Wellness Students Get Whole Story on Health On April 2 and 3, high school students in Dinarae Camarda’s Wellness and Fitness for All classes traveled to Whole Foods in Lake Grove. Approximately 80 students, who traveled in four separate half-day trips, were each given their own tour guided by a Whole Foods nutritional expert. “We visited the produce section and learned about organically grown fruits and vegetables and the certifying agencies that deem crops organic,” said Camarda. “Students also learned about the federal regulations surrounding conventionally grown versus organically grown crops.” Other topics of discussion included wild caught and farm-raised fish, GMOs, humanely raised animals, superfoods that are nutrient dense, beverages such as kombucha, and more. Students were given samples in every department and allowed to shop for a healthy snack to eat in the cafe. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141114 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false141114 Power of One Family Fun Run On April 5, the Royal Educational Foundation of Port Jefferson hosted its first Power of One Family Fun Run. Approximately 300 people registered for the two-mile run/walk through the streets of Port Jefferson Village. The event was designed to encourage physical activity and celebrate the positive influence we have on one another within our families and community. Community members nominated elementary school principal Thomas Meehan to receive the Power of One award in honor of his tremendous contributions to the school and local community. Mr. Meehan was presented with an inscribed trophy that read: “The little things you do each day have the power to affect a great many people. You inspire us with your willingness and ability to help others. You take on the world, one day at a time, continuously searching for a way to make things better, seizing the opportunity to improve everyday life. You make a world of a difference!" Additionally, approximately $6,500 was raised during the event, which will be used to enhance the quality of education in Port Jefferson Schools. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140712 Tue, 08 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140712 High School Ranked Second in Suffolk Washington Post Ranks Earl L. Vandermeulen Within Top Two High Schools in Suffolk County The Washington Post released its annual list of America’s Most Challenging High Schools in the United States. The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that with this year’s results, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is ranked 322 out of 2,025 schools nationally, placing it 36th in the Northeast, 27th in New York State and second in Suffolk County. Port Jefferson has improved 15 spots in the state from 42nd in 2011. “We are very proud to be included among these prestigious schools in the state and nation,” said Port Jefferson Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “This ranking recognizes the hard work and accomplishments of our students, faculty, staff and the community. As the race for excellence has no finish line, we will continue to work toward the No. 1 ranking.” In order to calculate an index score for each school, researchers take the total number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and Advanced International Certificate of Education tests given at a school each year and divide it by the number of seniors who graduated in May or June. Public schools that achieved a ratio of at least 1.00, meaning they had as many tests in 2013 as they had graduates, were put on the national list. Schools are ranked in order of ratio. Only 9 percent of the approximately 22,000 U.S. public high schools managed to reach the standard and earn placement on the list. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140709 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140709 Candidates for Board of Education Residents of Port Jefferson School District interested in running for the Board of Education, please contact the District Clerk at (631) 791-4221. The deadline for required documents to be submitted for candidacy is 5:00 p.m. on April 21, 2014. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140711 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140711 Elementary Hosts Third Annual Science Fair On March 26, 180 elementary school students participated in the school’s annual Science Fair. Students and family members were joined by representatives from Brookhaven National Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Stony Brook University and Long Island Science Center, who each engaged the children with hands-on activities. One Port Jefferson student from grades K-5 will move on to compete in the Brookhaven National Laboratory Elementary School Science Fair this May. More than 100 Suffolk County schools take part in the annual event where 470 projects created by more than 500 Suffolk County children compete. Kindergarten – Sadie Salzman First Grade – Rose Meliker Hammock Second Grade – Olivia Bianco Third Grade – Nicolina Giannola Fourth Grade – Liam Sproul Fifth Grade – Peggy Yin https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140710 Sun, 06 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140710 School Calendar Adjustments Please read the attached letter regarding School Calendar Adjustments. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140708 Fri, 04 Apr 2014 20:00:00 GMT false140708 District Named Best Community for Music The Port Jefferson School District has been ranked among the NAMM Foundation’s “Best Communities for Music Education” in America for the eighth consecutive year. The national program has put the spotlight on 376 selected school districts with outstanding commitment to music education. The Best Communities designation recognizes collaborative, from-the-ground-up efforts of teachers, administrators, students and parents who continually work to keep comprehensive music education as an integral part of the core curriculum. More than 2,000 schools and school districts participated in the survey, resulting in a 21 percent increase in designations. “These schools and districts make a strong commitment to music education in the core curriculum, supporting its essential value to a well-rounded education for every child,” said Mary Luehrsen, NAMM Foundation executive director. “Strong, engaging programs that offer students access to music cannot thrive in a vacuum. The Best Communities designation brings hard-won visibility to music classes, programs and departments that are keeping music education alive in our schools.” Each school and district is evaluated based on funding, staffing of highly qualified teachers, commitment to standards and access to music instruction. Designations are made to districts and schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and greater access to music education. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140707 Tue, 01 Apr 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140707 An All-Access Pass to End Bullying All Access Productions came to the middle school and high school on March 28 to give performances of “No More Victims,” a professionally produced musical that follows the lives of four high school students in various social roles within their school. The story gives insight into the students’ public personas and private struggles through singing, dancing, acting and video segments. “Think about the choices you make,” said middle school principal Antonio Santana. “Be conscious of what you say to yourself and to others.” “No More Victims” confronts the ongoing issue of bullying and violence in America’s schools and local communities. The production targeted bullying, cyberbullying, teen violence, teen suicide, image, self-worth, popularity, high expectations by adults and peers, and difficult relationships, among other issues. After the performance, students were able to participate in a question-and-answer session and have lunch with some of the All Access cast members. The event was sponsored by the Port Jefferson PTSA. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140706 Mon, 31 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140706 Pointercounts Give Pitch Perfect Performance On March 25, middle school music students were treated to a performance by the Potsdam Pointercounts, an award-winning a capella group from SUNY Potsdam’s Crane School of Music. The group, which has been performing for more than 20 years, sang their way into the hearts and minds of students while encouraging them to continue in their musical studies. “Stay involved in music programs,” said one Pointercount. “Being involved with the arts is something that will benefit you your whole life.” The Pointercounts, who dedicate themselves to educating students of all ages about a cappella music and bringing the love of the arts into schools, performed a variety of musical styles for attendees. “A cappella music holds historical and cultural significance,” said another member, “and we strive to make students aware of one of the oldest forms of choral singing. It is the mission of the Pointercounts to create an atmosphere that is conducive to the student’s ability to create and enjoy music.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140705 Thu, 27 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140705 District’s Finest Honored at SCOPE Awards Members of the Port Jefferson School District attended the 13th annual School District Awards Dinner hosted by SCOPE Education Services, a not-for-profit, private organization permanently chartered by the New York State Board of Regents to provide services to school districts. More than 900 people representing 37 districts attended the March 24 event. Throughout the evening, service awards were presented in the areas of school board, community, support staff, teacher and administrator service recognizing individuals for their contributions to education. The Port Jefferson honorees included middle school English teacher Deirdre Filippi for teacher service, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Maureen Hull for administrative service and high school main office secretary Kathy Archacki for support staff service. Members of the administration, Board of Education and teaching staff, as well as the spouses of the honorees, represented the district. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140703 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140703 District Hosts 35th Annual Jump/Hoops for Heart The Edna Louise Spear Elementary School physical education department teamed up with the PTA to host the American Heart Association Jump/Hoops for Heart event on March 20. Students in grades 2-5 participated in the event, which is in its 35th year at the district. During Jump/Hoops for Heart, participants learned about the importance of the heart, how it works and how to take care of it. Proceeds benefited the American Heart Association. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140704 Tue, 25 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140704 Art in Heart Elementary school art students participated in the Long Island Art Teachers Association's “Art in Heart” exhibition at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville. Participating students included Carley Davidson, Alexa Eichinger, Jack Reilly, Hanna Simunek, Kevin Tian and Peggy Yin in teachers Richard Anderson and Nina Wood's art classes. The exhibit will be available for public viewing until April 27. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140702 Mon, 24 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140702 Putting the Pieces Together The district congratulates middle school teacher Michelle Landetta for her recent recognition by Autism Speaks, a national autism advocacy organization dedicated to funding research and raising public awareness about autism and its effects on individuals, families and society. Michelle, who is also the school’s National Junior Honor Society adviser, was honored for her work with the group in fundraising and promoting awareness. The honor society dedicated their lunchtime to selling Autism Speaks puzzle pieces and bracelets to benefit the organization and its mission. On her certificate of recognition from Autism Speaks, Michelle was acknowledged for her support of the organization and its mission to find the causes, effective treatment and cure of autism spectrum disorders; for raising public awareness about autism; and for bringing hope to all who deal with the hardships of the disorder. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140701 Sun, 23 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140701 Students Open Minds and Hearts The high school Leo Club, led by teachers Brian Chalmers and Kristine Vaccaro, and the middle school Student Council, led by Allison Giannusa, welcomed Island Harvest coordinator Doreen Principe and former New York Jets center John Schmitt for a presentation about hunger on Long Island. In the fall of 2013, the two student groups organized a food drive for participation in Island Harvest’s "Students Feeding Students" challenge. The initiative works to lessen the hunger of students, enabling them to concentrate better on their schoolwork. The Port Jefferson team, who competed against schools islandwide, placed first overall by raising close to 4,000 pounds of food. “The feedback from the teachers of students who received our food was overwhelming and inspiring,” said Vaccaro. “It was great to have Doreen and John commend the students and convey to them just how much of a positive impact their efforts had on those in need. The students were also given a certificate and trophy to commemorate their success.” Most recently, the Leo Club raised more than 60 pairs of eyeglasses and sunglasses to donate to the charitable organization One Sight. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140700 Fri, 21 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140700 Letter from the Superintendent - Twitter Please read the attached letter from the Superintendent https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140699 Fri, 21 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140699 Drama Club Brings Musical to Life From March 14 to 16, the high school drama club, directed by Anthony Butera, put on a spectacular performance of the musical “Xanadu.” More than 40 students worked to bring the 1980 film about artist Sonny Malone and the nine muses to life. Congratulations to all who made the weekend a success. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140698 Thu, 20 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140698 Student Advances to State Geo Bee Eighth-grade student Leland Held has qualified to represent the district and participate at the state level of the National Geographic Bee. This is the second level of the competition, which is now in its 26th year. Bees were held in schools with students in grades four through eight throughout the state to determine each school’s winner. School-level winners then took a qualifying test, which they submitted to the National Geographic Society. The top 100 scorers in New York State will compete in Albany this April. The state winner will receive $100, the “Complete National Geographic on DVD” and a trip to Washington, D.C., where he or she will represent New York in the national finals at National Geographic Society headquarters in May. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140694 Wed, 19 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140694 Writer Honored by Local Rotary Club The Port Jefferson Rotary Club honored middle school seventh-grader Jillian Lawler as their Most Motivated Student of the Month at their March 11 meeting. Jillian was accompanied by her father, David Lawler, middle school science teacher Debra Hagmeyer and middle school principal Antonio Santana. “Jillian is a phenomenal writer whose work is at a high school level,” said Hagmeyer. “She is simply amazing.” Hagmeyer also cited positive comments about Jillian from her colleagues, saying they all “speak glowingly of her.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140695 Wed, 19 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140695 New Immunization Requirements Effective July 1, 2014, New York State has implemented changes to the required doses and intervals between doses of vaccinations already required for entrance to school for the 2014-2015 school year. This change affects students entering Pre-K through 6th grade. Specific vaccination requirements by grade can be accessed by clicking on NYSDOH. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140696 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140696 Student Wins Music Scholarship Lucas Welinder, a fifth-grade cellist at the elementary school, has been awarded the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association New York Summer Music Festival Scholarship to attend a summer music camp at SUNY Oneonta. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140697 Tue, 18 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140697 STEM Club Highlighted On March 11, the middle school STEM Club, along with technology teacher and club adviser Robert Dunlop, was recognized at the community meeting of the Port Jefferson Board of Education. Middle school principal Antonio Santana spoke to attendees about the wonderful efforts of the group that combines robotics with science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “These students are so enthusiastic about their work and embrace challenge,” said Santana. “They are a remarkable bunch who will surely serve as wonderful mentors for future STEM Club participants.” Currently, the group is working on computer programming. “This club creates a foundation for our high school robotics and Science Olympiad teams,” said Santana. “The more these students compete and think scientifically, the better they will become.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140692 Mon, 17 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140692 Incorporating Technology into the Music Classroom The students at the elementary school recently had the opportunity to incorporate technology into the music classroom through the use of iPads. Students were able to play games that focused on concepts such as melody, ear training, rhythm, notation, composing and even practicing recorder skills. “The use of iPads and technology in the classroom is beneficial because it allows for differentiation for all learners,” said elementary school music teacher Lisa Scrom. “We look forward to using the iPads again in the future.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140693 Mon, 17 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140693 Candidates for Board of Education Candidates for Board of Education Residents of Port Jefferson School District interested in running for the Board of Education, please contact the District Clerk at (631)791-4221 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140691 Fri, 14 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140691 An International Taste of Life On March 7, second-grade students at the elementary school celebrated their unique family heritages as part of an International Tasting Party. The classes of Laura Kelly, Carleen Parmegiani, Darleen Wells and Maureen Zajac invited family members into their classrooms for a feast that featured an array of dishes representing their countries of study. Students researched a country and created a poster, a doll dressed in traditional attire, the country’s flag and map, and at least five additional facts. As part of the culminating activity, parents and their children teamed up for an international scavenger hunt that took an in-depth look at countries around the world. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140690 Thu, 13 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140690 Learning from the Past Holocaust survivor Werner Reich visited middle school students in Kayleen Everitt’s eighth-grade English class and high school students in Philip Giannusa’s Holocaust elective course on March 7. Prior to his visit, the classes studied Eliezer Wiesel’s Holocaust novel “Night” and read articles about Reich for a richer understanding of his past. “These human, personal experiences are needed for a deeper, more complex knowledge of history, a knowledge that textbooks alone cannot provide,” said one eighth-grader. “Learning about the Holocaust from the eyes of someone who has experienced this intense hatred is perhaps most important because hatred still exists in our society. Many people experience it every day because of things that they cannot change about themselves.” The presentation outlined Reich’s personal experience as a teenager who survived the Terezín, Auschwitz II-Birkenau and Auschwitz I concentration camps. “I am lucky to have survived,” he said. “It is my responsibility to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.” Reich also urged listeners to be “JUST” people who follow four simple steps when faced with an adversity: judge the situation, understand the problem, solve and take action. “Indifference kills,” said Reich. “Do not tolerate bullies or allow them to silence you.” “We are very grateful to have Mr. Reich, a longtime friend of our school, here to give us an account of his experiences,” said one student. Members of the National Junior Honor Society, who were also in attendance, made and distributed yellow ribbons to promote genocide awareness. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140688 Wed, 12 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140688 Student-Athlete Sets New School Record The district congratulates high school junior Allegra Fils-Aime on her recent athletic accomplishment. At the state qualifying track meet, held at Suffolk Community College West Campus on Feb. 8, Allegra broke the Port Jefferson school record for the indoor triple jump by 8 ¼ inches, establishing a new record of 36 feet, 1 ¾ inches. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140689 Wed, 12 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140689 Mini-College Fair Promotes Major Success On March 11, the high school guidance department hosted 95 colleges and universities at its spring mini-college fair for its sophomore and junior classes. The school hosts two fairs per academic year, beginning with a fall session for juniors and seniors, to help students gather information about a particular school prior to visiting or applying for admission. “Students are able to ask the college representatives questions about the schools and see what programs are offered,” high school guidance staff member Rose Darling. “This works in conjunction with the meetings the guidance counselors have with their students when discussing and applying to colleges. Sometimes students will find they have an interest in a school they didn't even know about.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140685 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140685 Science Olympiads Advance to States The high school Science Olympiad team took fourth place out of 46 teams throughout the county in the Suffolk County Regional Competition. The team, led by coaches Michel Krivosta and Laurie McMillen, won medals in 10 of the 18 events and will be competing in the state competition on March 14 and 15 at Kellenberg High School. Science Olympiad Regional Competition Medal Winners: Second Place – Noah Davis and Kent Ueno for Chemistry Lab Fourth Place – Ryan Burke and Eric Kilgore for Astronomy Fourth Place – Eric Kilgore and Alberto Rescia for Geo Mapping Fourth Place – Ryan Burgert and Andrew Tursi for Scrambler Fourth Place – Ryan Burke and Eric Kilgore for Elastic Glider Fifth Place – Ryan Burke and Eric Kilgore for Technical Problem Solving Fifth Place – Danielle Grier and Leah Neiman for Designer Genes Fifth Place – Aliza Doyle and Yuuki Shibutani for Entomology Sixth Place – Danielle Grier and Maria Simmerling for Green Generation Sixth Place – Rachel Collins and Calla Kelly-Renda for Write It/Do It https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140686 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140686 High School Spring Musical This Weekend https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140687 Tue, 11 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140687 AP Students Visit SUNY Stony Brook High school students in Greg Gorniok’s AP Biology class recently traveled to the Biotechnology Teaching Center at SUNY Stony Brook’s Center for Science and Math Education to conduct a hands-on learning experience in biotechnology. “Students genetically engineered bacteria through transformation with plasmid DNA,” said Gorniok. “They learned techniques used to insert genes from jellyfish and sea anemones into bacteria. The transformed bacteria were then able to produce proteins, which made them glow.” The lab activity emphasized experimental design and applications of biotechnology in various industries, such as medicine, agriculture and environmental cleanup. Recent scientific breakthroughs in molecular biology research and their social implications were also discussed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140684 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 04:00:00 GMT false140684 Winter Athletics Update The district would like to congratulate the following Port Jefferson student-athletes on their recent accomplishments: Winter Track: James Burke – Silver Medalist in New York State for the 1600 meter Wrestling: Matteo DeVincenzo – (106 pounds) NYSPHSAA State Champion Tristin DeVincenzo – (126 pounds) NYSPHSAA 5th in the State Kyle Fiske – (285 pounds) NYSPHSAA 4th in the State https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140683 Fri, 07 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140683 Student Stars Shine at Talent Show On Feb. 28, 13 of the middle school’s shining stars performed at the annual talent show to benefit local organizations. Coordinated by teacher Allison Giannusa, the show’s 14 acts wowed attendees with incredible displays of singing, dancing and instrument playing. "I am so proud of all the hard work that the performers and stage crew put into making this a successful show,” said Giannusa. “Not only was it a terrific show, but it was great to be able to help out local charities.” The event raised $900 for Friends of Karen, a nonprofit organization that works to provide emotional, financial and advocacy support for children with a life-threatening illness and their families. Additionally, boxes of collected canned goods will be donated to a local food pantry. “When I began organizing the talent show nine years ago, I never could have imagined that it would be what it is today,” said Giannusa. “I am excited to see what next year’s show will bring.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140681 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140681 Music Students Selected for SCMEA All-County Festival Thirty district music students in grades five through 10 were selected to participate in the Suffolk County Music Educator’s Association All-County Festival. They include: Division 1 (Grades 5/6) Andrew Abbonizio, Kate Alter, Gani Ates, Sinan Ates, Elizabeth Chun, Saoirse Cohen, Samuel Florio, Erica Graci, Ella Parker, Jack Reilly, Nicole Schully, Hannah Skula, Lucas Welinder and Jack Worrell. Division 2 (Grades 7/8) Allison Abbonizio, Grace Crugnale, Hyun jin Lee, Cezanne Lojeski, Matt Luca, Trey Pisano, Brianna Scarda, Ava Schully, Phalina Sciara, Michael Smith, Mayu Takeuchi, Ryan Worrell and Zoe Zeniou. Division 3 (Grades 9/10) Parris Garant, Danielle Goldstein and Anita Rescia. All three divisions will perform on March 8 and 9 at Southampton High School. Additionally, music teachers Christine Creighton and Christian Neubert served as chairpersons for the SCMEA Division 2 East Orchestra and SCMEA Division 3 West Band. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140682 Wed, 05 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140682 Celebrating Seuss On March 3, elementary school students in kindergarten through fifth grade joined with millions of their peers across the country to celebrate the 16th annual National Education Association’s Read Across America Day, which celebrates Dr. Seuss' birthday and the joys of reading. The event, coordinated by elementary school librarian Selinda Moore, welcomed Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant, who read to students her favorite Dr. Seuss book, “Green Eggs and Ham.” In honor of Seuss, students sang “Happy Birthday,” dressed in stripes to represent the Cat in the Hat’s stovepipe hat, and were even treated to a special guest visit by the cat. Also in attendance was Joann Muscardin, head of children’s services at the Port Jefferson Free Library, who gave attendees themed bookmarks. To see Newsday’s video coverage of the event, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140680 Tue, 04 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140680 A Visit to Paris On Feb. 14, students in Heather Marshak's Introduction to French class at the middle school created a Parisian shopping center, including specialty shops typically found in France. Students first went to “la banque” where they traded American currency for euros, using current conversion rates. They then began shopping at a variety of shops including a boulangerie, chocolatier and even a creperie. “All of the shops were run by students who, with the help of their parents, created the menu items,” said Marshak. “Using vocabulary learned on numbers and shopping, students engaged in sale-related conversations entirely in French.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140678 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140678 Eleventh-Grader Ranks High on AMC 12 The Mathematical Association of America has recognized junior and mathletes team captain Ryan Burke for his achievement in the American Math Competition 12. The exam, which was given to students nationwide in grades 11 and 12 on Feb. 4, consisted of 25 multiple-choice pre-calculus questions to be answered in 75 minutes. The main purpose of the AMC 12 is to spur interest in mathematics and develop talent through the excitement of solving challenging problems. Ryan’s high score on the exam was in the top 5 percent of AMC 12 participants nationwide. It also qualifies him to take the American Invitational Mathematics Exam in March. The three-hour exam consists of 15 questions and is intended to provide further challenge and recognition to the highest performing mathematics students in North America. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140679 Mon, 03 Mar 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140679 Student-Athlete Highlighted in Interview Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student-athlete James Burke, who participated in the 107th NYRR Millrose Games on Feb. 15, was recently highlighted on the New York Road Runner’s website. The 11th-grader placed fifth in the race with a time of 4:13.86 for the mile, setting a new school record. This time also ranks him ninth in the U.S. To read more about James and his track career, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140677 Wed, 26 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140677 Athletes Advance to State Tournaments Congratulations to the following student-athletes on qualifying for the state tournament in their respective sports: Winter Track Justin Bove – 55 meter dash James Burke – 1600 meter James and Justin will be competing in the NYSPHSAA tournament on March 1 at Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y. Wrestling Paul Cavanaugh – 152 pounds Matteo DeVincenzo – 106 pounds Tristin DeVincenzo – 126 pounds Kyle Fiske – 285 pounds Ryan Woodward – 160 pounds Kyle, Matteo, Paul, Ryan and Tristin will be competing on Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140676 Mon, 24 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140676 Veterans Real Property Exemption At a meeting of the Board of Education held February 11, 2014, the Board approved the following resolution. For additional information, contact the Town of Brookhaven Assessor's Office. WHEREAS, New York Real Property Tax Law section 458-a was amended to provide eligible veterans with a real property tax exemption from school taxes so long as the School District in which the real property is located, after public hearing, adopts a resolution authorizing the exemption; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Port Jefferson School District hereby authorizes the application of the Veteran Tax Exemption as contained in New York Real Property Tax Law section 458-a, as amended, and such exemption shall be applicable to school taxes; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education hereby adopts the following alternative maximum exemption allowable in Real Property Tax Law, section 458-a(2)(a),(b) and (c) as follows: AT THE BASIC MAXIMUM LEVEL https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140675 Wed, 19 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140675 Recognizing Elementary Students for Advanced Achievements The Port Jefferson Board of Education, along with Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Thomas Meehan, recognized elementary students at the Feb. 11 community meeting for their outstanding achievements in geography, history and spelling. Aaron Held, Andrew Patterson, Lucas Welinder and Peggy Yin received the highest scores in the intramural round of the National History Bee and advanced to the next level of competition, the online regional qualifying exam. This is the district’s second year participating in the academic competition, which tests knowledge in a wide range of historical topics Studies Enriching Academic Learning students Hailey Hearney, Aaron Held, Jack Reiley, Lucas Welinder and Peggy Yin competed in the school’s preliminary round of the National Geographic Bee, which tested their knowledge in the areas of cultural, economic and physical geography, plants and animals, geographic comparisons and more. Lucas, who took third place in last year’s national championship, was named champion of the school-level competition. Fifth-grader Peggy Yin, who won the annual schoolwide spelling bee, a part of the National Scripps Spelling Bee competition, represented the district at the local spelling bee at Hofstra University on Feb. 9. There, she contended against students islandwide and made it to the final rounds of competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140674 Mon, 17 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140674 2013-14 Calendar Amendments https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140672 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140672 Adjusting to the Common Core In December 2013, a work group of the Board of Regents P-12 Committee was charged with reviewing the feedback that the Board of Regents and New York State Education Department had received from various constituencies. They were asked to present additional ideas to the Board regarding the continued implementation of the Common Core Learning Standards at the state and district level for the Board’s consideration. Specifically, the work group was asked to review feedback received by the regents and the department during the first 3 1/2 years of the seven-year phase-in of the Common Core from educators, parents, community leaders and others. At the Feb. 11 Port Jefferson Board of Education community meeting, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert made a presentation summarizing the 19 identified adjustment options to the implementation of the Common Core Standards. To view the presentation as well as a copy of a letter sent by NYSED, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140673 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140673 Long Island String Festival Port Jefferson string students Jack Reilly (grade five), Lily Tener (grade five), Kevin Tian (grade five), Lucas Welinder (grade five), Elizabeth Chun (grade six), Ju Eun Ha (grade seven), Hyun Jin Lee (grade seven), Mayu Takeuchi (grade seven), Annalisa Welinder (grade seven), Ibuki Iwasaki (grade eight), Trey Pisano (grade eight), Anita Rescia (grade nine), Dunia Karzai (grade 11) and Gabrielle Stark (grade 12) were selected to participate in the Long Island String Festival. The elementary/middle school festival performance was held on Jan. 19 and the junior/senior high school festival was held on Feb. 2. Students were selected with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140668 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140668 Mid-Island Band Festival Performance On Feb. 2, high school band students Joseph Kaming-Thanassi, Calla Kelly-Renda, Troy Lov and David Moir, along with students from the Hauppauge, Miller Place, Patchogue-Medford, Sayville and West Islip school districts, participated in the 56th annual Mid-Island Band Festival. The event concluded with an evening performance conducted by David Soto at Hauppauge High School. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140669 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140669 Seventh-Graders Ace AMC 8 Middle School seventh-grade students Mayu Takeuchi and Annalisa Welinder have scored in the top 5 percent on the Mathematical Association of America’s American Mathematics 8 Competition. The AMC 8, which is administered every November, is a 25-question, 40-minute multiple-choice examination in middle school mathematics designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem-solving skills. This year, 150,227 students from 2,422 schools nationwide participated in the competition. Mayu and Annalisa, students in Matt Garofola’s Algebra I class, credit their success to their strong mathematics background and experiences with the school mathletes team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140670 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140670 Following the Digital Footprint This February, seventh-graders at the middle school observed Digital Learning Day, a nationwide celebration of digital learning in the 21st century. Organized by teachers Monica Consalvo and Deirdre Filippi, Digital Learning Day aims to demonstrate how learning can be transformed when the Web and the effective use of technology are successfully incorporated into the classroom. This is the school’s third year participating. “This year’s theme was ‘A Day in My Digital Life,’” said Consalvo. “Students took an online survey about how the digital world has impacted their lives. They also wrote reflections that discussed what technological tools they use most, how they have changed the way they study and complete homework and whether they feel those changes are positive or negative.” The survey took a closer look at the most popular times of the day students access digital devices, academic integration with technology and more. Students also examined their digital footprints, studying their personal data trails created through the use of electronic devices. “Technology helps me tremendously when I am doing research,” said one student. “I can find the information I need in a short period of time, easily make corrections to my writing with a word processor and my final documents are neat and easy to read.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140671 Tue, 11 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140671 Private School Transportation Requests RESIDENT PUPILS OF THE PORT JEFFERSON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT #6 SCHEDULED TO ATTEND OR CONTINUE TO ATTEND OR ANTICIPATE ATTENDING PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS ARE ENTITLED TO BUS TRANSPORTATION IN ACCORDANCE WITH DISTANCE LIMITATIONS PROVIDED FOR PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS AND IF THE DISTANCE FROM THE HOME TO THE PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL IS NOT GREATER THAN 15 MILES. TO APPLY FOR TRANSPORTATION FOR THE 2014-2015 SCHOOL YEAR TO A PRIVATE OR PAROCHIAL SCHOOL A REQUEST FOR TRANSPORTATION FORM MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE DISTRICT’S TRANSPORTATION OFFICE NO LATER THAN APRIL 1, 2014. THIS TRANSPORTATION REQUEST FORM MUST, BY LAW, BE SUBMITTED EACH YEAR. A SEPARATE FORM MUST BE FILED FOR EACH CHILD. IF, AFTER APPLYING, YOU WISH TO CHANGE THE SCHOOL WHICH YOU HAD ORIGINALLY REQUESTED TRANSPORTATION YOU MUST CANCEL YOUR PREVIOUS REQUEST AND SUBMIT ANOTHER REQUEST FOR TRANSPORTATION BY THE APRIL 1 DEADLINE. YOU MAY OBTAIN A COPY OF THE REQUEST FOR TRANSPORTATION FORM BY CALLING THE TRANSPORTATION OFFICE AT 791-4261 BETWEEN THE HOURS OF 7 A.M. AND 3 P.M. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140667 Fri, 07 Feb 2014 05:00:00 GMT false140667 Engineering the Collision Car - Watch the Video On Jan. 28 and 29, fourth- and fifth-grade elementary school students welcomed All About Learning for an on-site field trip. During the 75-minute sessions, groups of student engineers used specialized LEGO kits to build various vehicles utilizing gears, wheels/axles and motors. The vehicles faced off in an arena-type battle, then students returned to discuss how opposing strategies affected the outcomes. They modified their vehicles based on these discussions for a second set of competitions. The skills and traits of the engineering profession were also discussed and incorporated. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141498 Thu, 30 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141498 Men’s Track Captures Championship Congratulations to Port Jefferson’s men’s track team, who captured the league championship title at the Suffolk County Winter Track League Championships held at Suffolk Community College on Jan. 25. The team won with a score of 125 points, beating second-place Shoreham-Wading River who scored 86 points and third-place finishers Bayport-Blue Point who finished with 84 points. Seniors Danny Gross and Justin Bove helped lead the team victory. Danny won the 55-meter hurdles and placed third in the long jump, while Justin placed first in the 600-meter run and second in the 55-meter dash. Both seniors also helped the 4x400 relay team to a second-place finish. Junior James Burke was a triple winner with victories in the 1,000-meter run, 1,600-meter run and 4x800 relay, for which he was the anchor. The team, who finished first in the relay, was comprised of senior John Albinson (who also placed fifth in the 1,000-meter run), junior Matthew Keresztes and sophomore Justin Julich. Other outstanding achievements included senior Cihad Akkaya placing second in the long jump, third in the triple jump and fifth in the high jump, and senior Eric Keresztes placing fourth in the 55-meter hurdles, fifth in the triple jump, and participating in the 4x200 relay. Congratulations are also extended to junior Alden Mohasci, who finished fourth in the high jump and took sixth place in the long jump and 4x400 relay, as well as junior Doug Crawford, who secured a fifth-place finish in the 600-meter run and 4x200 meter relay. Sophomore Billy Witrock finished second in the 300-meter run and 4x200 meter relay, and Justin Julich, also a sophomore, finished third in the 3,200-meter run, in addition to being part of the winning 4x800 meter relay. The Royals will be competing this weekend for the county championship, followed by the state qualifier meet on Feb. 8. On another note, James Burke has qualified as one of 10 high school runners nationwide to compete in the Millrose High School Mile as part of the 106th Millrose Games, to be held at the Armory in New York on Feb. 15. Best of luck to him and the entire team in their future pursuits! Pictured is the men’s track team with head coach Rod Cawley and assistant coaches Andrew Cosci and Dave Okst. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141499 Thu, 30 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141499 String Players Perform for Seawolves On Jan. 30, Port Jefferson Middle School string players Elizabeth Chun, Hyun Jin Lee, Joseph Samara, Mayu Takeuchi and Annalisa Welinder kicked off Stony Brook University's women's basketball game with a classical rendition of the national anthem. Port Jefferson music teachers Christian Neubert and Dr. Vanessa Salzman and Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello were also in attendance. To see the video of the students’ performance, please click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141500 Thu, 30 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141500 SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE OF SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLIC HEARING, PROPOSED VETERANS TAX EXEMPTION PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT February 11, 2014 - 7:00 p.m. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Section 6-d of the General Municipal Law of the State of New York, a public hearing will be held on February 11, 2014, 7:00 p.m. prevailing time at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School at which time and place the Board of Education of the Port Jefferson School District will consider whether it should adopt a resolution which would authorize a partial real property tax exemption to certain qualified veterans residing within the District pursuant to the recently amended New York Real Property Tax Law section 458-a. The public hearing shall be held at the time and place stated herein. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141497 Wed, 29 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141497 Placing Themselves on the Map Port Jefferson students put their knowledge of geography to the test as they participated in the early rounds of the 26th annual National Geographic Society’s Geography Bee. Students in fourth through eighth grades in thousands of schools across the U.S. participate in the 2014 bee, sponsored by Google. At the elementary school, fourth- and fifth-grade Studies Enriching Academic Learning students competed in a preliminary bee, facilitated by SEAL teacher Janelle Bellotti. Participants answered oral questions that tested their knowledge in the areas of cultural, economic and physical geography, plants and animals, geographic comparisons and more. Hailey Hearney, Aaron Held, Jack Reilly, Lucas Welinder and Peggy Yin had the most points and advanced to the final rounds, where Lucas was named champion of the school-level competition. Middle school teacher Philip Giannusa organized a similar bee, which was open to all students in grades six through eight. Participants were quizzed on U.S. geography, cities, historic places, continents and world geography. Eighth-grader Leland Held, who placed second in last year’s school bee, came out victorious with his correct answer about the population of Luxembourg. Tying for second place were sixth-grader Saoirse Cohen and seventh-grader Sarah Hull. More than 40 middle school students gave up their recess to participate in the bee, which gave them additional exposure to geographical studies. “The bee is a fun, interactive way to further engage students in an area that is often overlooked,” said Giannusa. “Students will find that their knowledge of geography is an important tool that will help them throughout their academic careers.” Lucas and Leland have taken written examinations, which will help National Geographic determine the state competitors. Up to 100 of the top scorers on that test in each state will qualify to compete in their state bee on April 4. Winners of the state bee are eligible to win the national championship and its first prize, a $50,000 college scholarship, at the national competition May 19-21 in Washington, D.C. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141495 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141495 Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle school students in Monica Consalvo’s seventh-grade class recently took an in-depth look at the life and work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in honor of the humanitarian’s birthday. Students listened to and analyzed Dr. King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech and constructed evidence-based claims to support their findings. They highlighted the speech’s central ideas and themes of freedom, justice and brother/sisterhood. A PowerPoint presentation that explored the new monument and its inscription wall, which displays quotes from King’s speeches, sermons and writings, was also shown. “This lesson incorporates Common Core methods of learning, including the analysis of primary source information,” said Consalvo. “Students worked to identify lines from the speech that struck a chord with them and added their ideas on an evidence-based worksheet that correlated to the lesson.” “Not all people are treated as equals, but Dr. King encouraged us to try and change that,” said one student who recently visited King’s memorial in Washington, D.C. “Being there had a big impact on me. The inscription wall of quotes was inspiring and still has value today even though they were said in the 1960s.” “All students can learn from Dr. King,” said another student. “We all have dreams and do what we can to follow them.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141496 Mon, 27 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141496 Select Choir Performs for New York Islanders On Jan. 20, members of the elementary school select choir performed at Nassau Coliseum, home of the New York Islanders. The group was in attendance to see the team’s 4-3 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The district congratulates all of the students who performed, as well as elementary school music teacher Lisa Scrom. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141494 Mon, 20 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141494 BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION REVISED MEETING NOTICE The January 28, 2014 Board of Education Work Session will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, and will include business items requiring Board action. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m. to discuss personnel matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141493 Thu, 16 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141493 Rotary’s Students of the Month The Port Jefferson Rotary Club recognized middle school students Joseph Cangemi and Cezanne Lojeski as the Most Motivated Students of the Month at its Jan. 14 meeting. Joseph, a seventh-grader, was accompanied by nominating teacher Deirdre Filippi, and Cezanne, an eighth-grader, was accompanied by her nominator, Dr. Tara Sladek-Maharg. Principal and fellow Rotarian Antonio Santana was also in attendance. “These two individuals embody all the wonderful qualities one would want to see in a student,” said Santana. “They are dedicated, mature, conscientious, academically and socially excellent...overall great kids.” Cezanne, who has been awarded Most Motivated Student of the Month twice prior, was noted for her outstanding participation at the most recent Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck cleanup activity. Joseph was also named winner of the Rotary’s weekly drawing award. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141492 Wed, 15 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141492 Second Annual Coffee House Event Please join the junior and senior class on Friday, Jan. 17 from 7-9 p.m. in the high school cafeteria for the second annual coffee house fundraiser event. All are welcome to attend for live student musical performances and a chance to win a 50/50 raffle as well as a number of Chinese auction prizes, including gift baskets and certificates. The $5 ticket fee will go toward lowering the cost of Junior Prom tickets https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141491 Tue, 14 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141491 Students Attend Concert at Lincoln Center On Jan. 9, more than 50 Port Jefferson elementary, middle and high school string students and their parents attended an evening concert of the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fischer Hall in Lincoln Center. Attendees enjoyed the orchestra's performance of Beethoven's “Fidelio Overture” and Symphony No. 1, Gershwin's “An American in Paris” and Shostakovich's Violin Concerto No. 1 featuring the highly acclaimed violinist Lisa Batiashvili. Also in attendance were Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello and middle school orchestra teacher Christian Neubert. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141490 Sun, 12 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141490 Earl L. Vandermeulen Senior Named 2014 Intel Semifinalist The Port Jefferson School District is proud to announce that Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Kent Ueno has been named a semifinalist in the 2014 Intel Science Talent Search competition. Kent, whose project focuses on the design and synthesis of tumor-targeting drug conjugates for imaging studies, is one of 300 semifinalists nationwide, 50 of whom are from Long Island. Kent’s journey to success began with the Stony Brook University 2013 Simons Summer Research Program, in which he participated for six weeks. The program, offered to high school students between their junior and senior years, provides participants with the opportunity to engage in hands-on research in science, math or engineering. Students work with faculty mentors at a research university and learn about laboratory techniques and tools while becoming part of active research teams. “The district could nominate a maximum of three students for the Simons Research Program,” said Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal Dr. Matthew Murphy. “With his outstanding academics and potential, Kent was a clear choice.” Shortly after his acceptance into the program, Kent met Stony Brook University Professor Dr. Iwao Ojima and began weeks of reading scientific articles, taking notes, performing background research and completing safety courses. Throughout this time, Kent also shadowed Stony Brook University graduate student Tao Wang who acted as a mentor, helping Kent become familiar with the laboratory setting to prepare him for hands-on involvement in experiments during the final few weeks of the program. “My involvement with the project focused on the distribution and localization of biotin-bearing drug conjugates, which have not yet been defined,” said Kent. “Therefore, the aim of this research was to design and develop novel tumor-targeting drug conjugates with an imaging arm to track the distribution and localization of the conjugates.” Together, the team designed two novel tumor-targeting drug conjugates bearing biotin as the tumor-targeting moiety, a second-generation taxoid, SB-T-1214, as a highly potent anticancer drug, and two different imaging arms for PET and SPECT scans. Kent submitted his summer’s work to the 2014 Intel Science Talent Search, a program of the Society for Science & the Public. Sponsored by the Intel Corporation, it is the nation’s most prestigious science research competition for high school seniors. Submissions are reviewed by three or more Ph.D. scientists, mathematicians or engineers in the subject area of the entry, with heavy importance placed on the research report. Judges also look for students who exhibit exceptional research skills, innovative thinking and a commitment to academics and the community. “The Simons program and the Intel competition have both strengthened my interest in the field,” said Kent. “My participation in the Advanced Placement chemistry and biology courses at Earl L. Vandermeulen have provided me with a crucial foundation needed for this type of research.” Kent also credits his success to the support he has received from his science teacher Michel Krivosta and Principal Dr. Matthew Murphy, both of whom assisted Kent in his application and acceptance into both initiatives. As a semifinalist, Kent will be awarded $1,000 with an additional $1,000 going to Earl L. Vandermeulen High School to support its STEM education program. “This whole experience has been a tremendous learning process that has had a very large impact on my life,” said Kent. “It is so fulfilling to be able to apply what I have learned to something that may one day help people with cancer.” Kent’s scientific aspirations extend beyond the Intel program, as he hopes to continue participating in research programs throughout his time in college. While still awaiting his college acceptance letters, Kent already knows that he would like to study neurology and nuclear physics, both of which have applications in cancer research. On Jan. 22, Intel will name the 40 finalists who will be advancing to the competition in Washington, D.C. this March. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141489 Thu, 09 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141489 PTA Sweetheart Dance Rescheduled The PTA Sweetheart Dance has been moved from Feb. 1 to Feb. 8, 2014 and will take place from 6:00-8:00 p.m. in the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School gymnasium. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141488 Tue, 07 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141488 Welcome Back - January 2014 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141486 Mon, 06 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141486 Duck, Duck, Dewey Elementary school librarian Selinda Moore is inspiring students to learn about the Dewey Decimal System through the interactive program Duck, Duck, Dewey. The program’s various activities are helping second- and third-graders better learn the library classification system using 10 differently themed “Dewey ducks,” one for each category of books. “One of my goals this year was to expose students to informational texts and works of nonfiction as suggested by the Common Core State Standards,” said Moore. “This program helps us to do just that. Through these activities, students are not only becoming familiar with the location in the library of texts that interest them, but also texts that will help them succeed in school and give them the background to be better readers in all content areas.” Since the program’s inception at the school, there has been an increase in students checking out nonfiction titles. Classes will be working on a “Finding Winter in the Library” unit throughout the month of January. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141487 Sun, 05 Jan 2014 05:00:00 GMT false141487 Sounding Out Success On Dec. 19, the elementary school hosted its annual schoolwide spelling bee as part of the National Scripps Spelling Bee competition. The opportunity is offered to all fourth- and fifth-graders by the school’s SEAL program to help improve spelling, enhance vocabulary and foster a deeper comprehension of the correct usage of the English language. Prior to the event, each classroom hosted its own competition, producing two winners each to advance to the school bee. The 16 classroom bee winners put their minds to the test in front of an audience of their peers in an attempt to claim the top spot. With the correct spelling of “portmanteau,” fifth-grader Peggy Yin won the championship round, followed by runner-up Royce Perera. Peggy will move on to the local spelling bee, which will be held at Hofstra University on Feb. 9, to compete against students from across the island. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141485 Sun, 29 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141485 Happy Holidays from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School - Watch the Video This holiday season, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students in the Interact Club and Student Organization have been working to brighten the lives of others. Both student groups collected and donated gifts for local families in need. The Interact Club, led by adviser Deirdre Filippi, worked with members of the Port Jefferson Rotary to bring presents to 100 children as part of the Infant Jesus R.C. Church Outreach Adopt-A-Family program. The Student Organization, under the direction of adviser Sarah Ogden, continued their tradition of supporting the local Holiday Magic program, which was founded in 1990 by Port Jefferson resident Charlie Russo. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141484 Thu, 26 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141484 Boys Soccer Teams Recognized On Dec. 4, the Suffolk County Soccer Coaches Association recognized the 2013 All-Star soccer players selected for Section XI. Representing the Port Jefferson boys soccer team were All-Conference players Casey Abelein and Kent Ueno, All-League player Jasper Rubin-Sigler and All-County Academic player Dan Gross. The district also received the 2013 League 7 Sportsmanship Award for both varsity and JV boys soccer. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141481 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141481 Polar Express Makes a Stop at Port Jeff School Students in Kristin Poulos and Karen Stamatopoulos’s class at the elementary school took a closer look at the children’s book “The Polar Express” this December to help them get into the holiday spirit. “The children listened to the story and worked on a variety of reading and receptive/expressive language skills,” said Poulos. “They made predictions and inferences, asked questions, stated opinions, recalled events, sequenced information and engaged in conversation about the story.” The students also viewed segments of the 2004 motion picture based on the book, comparing and contrasting it to the text. The unit concluded with a hot chocolate and nougat celebration with students from Deanna Lilimpakis’s class, where the children had to sequence and follow the steps of a hot chocolate recipe. Teacher aide Loraine Serabian and her husband John set up a beautiful train display for the students to enjoy. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141482 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141482 Rising to the Task Students in Nancy Winkler-Brogan’s third-grade class at the elementary school, along with the help of teacher Jacqueline Gandolfo, baked 20 loaves of bread as part of a “good deeds” initiative. The baked goods were donated to a local soup kitchen in time for the holidays. “Through this hands-on activity, students were able to review Common Core math skills like measurement and the capacity of liquids,” said Winkler-Brogan. “They followed step-by-step recipe instructions and worked cooperatively as a group to complete the task. The students applied their math abilities to a real-world setting while simultaneously improving listening skills.” Students mixed ingredients in the classroom and then gave the loaves to the lunchroom staff to bake in the school cafeteria. To wrap up the project, classmates worked together to package and prepare the loaves for delivery. “Most importantly, the class realized that working together and helping each other really is the true meaning of the holiday season,” said Winkler-Brogan. “It makes me happy to hear my students ask to participate in projects such as these more often.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141483 Sun, 22 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141483 Students Receive Congressional Nominations The Port Jefferson School District is proud to announce that Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students Paul Cavanagh and Nicholas Heide have received service academy congressional nominations from New York State Congressman Timothy Bishop. In order to attend a service academy, a candidate must receive this nomination. In a congratulatory letter that both students received, Congressman Bishop wrote, “Your military leadership potential is evident, and you have consistently shown that you are a dedicated and responsible individual who is deeply committed to serving our country.” On Dec. 15, the two students and their families attended a luncheon for nominees at the Coram Fire Department, hosted by Congressman Bishop and his staff. Paul received a nomination to the U.S Merchant Marine Academy and Nicholas received a nomination to the U.S. Air Force Academy. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141480 Wed, 18 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141480 Stony Brook Graduate Opens Window into Opera On Dec. 13, Stony Brook University alumna Stephanie Guevrekian visited with middle and high school choir students to give a performance and lecture based upon Giuseppe Verdi's opera “Falstaff.” The assembly served as a prelude to a live broadcast from the Metropolitan Opera at Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts the following afternoon. “Falstaff,” a three-act comedy based on Shakespeare’s “The Merry Wives of Windsor,” is the last of Verdi’s operas. Guevrekian began the lesson with a brief introduction into the world of opera, identifying its various genres including baroque, verismo, contemporary and more. She also discussed operatic voice categories and reviewed common terminology used when examining opera, such as recitative, aria and bel canto. The opera singer of 18 years also performed for students “Sul fil d'un soffio etesio,” Nannetta’s aria to the fairies. During a question-and-answer session, Guevrekian discussed the methods of proper singing, the use of resonance within the body to project sounds while performing, the difference between a musical and an opera, and more. Complimentary tickets to the Dec. 14 screening were provided to interested students by the university. Guevrekian is a soprano and received a Master of Music Degree from Stony Brook University. She has been the recipient of various awards and was most recently a Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141478 Mon, 16 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141478 SCSSA Letter to Commissioner King To view a PDF of the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association's letter to New York State Education Commissioner John King, please click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141479 Mon, 16 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141479 A Global Perspective of the Holidays Second-grade students at the elementary school worked toward obtaining a more global perspective through a cultural lesson designed by teachers Laura Kelly, Carleen Parmegiani, Darleen Wells and Maureen Zajac. As part of the activity, students rotated among classrooms and learned about how holidays are celebrated in England, Germany, Mexico and Sweden. “Each student was given a large envelope labeled ‘My Travels Around the World,’” said Parmegiani. “Using a map and a passport, students ‘traveled’ to all four countries to complete assignments based upon that location’s culture.” While in England, students sang carols, designed holiday cards, learned about the history of Boxing Day and created miniature cornucopias, which are typically found on Christmas trees in England to symbolize the spirit of sharing plenty with others. The stop at Germany included discussion of the Advent calendar and the tradition of gluing sugar on envelopes that contain letters intended for St. Nicholas. “The sparkle of the sugar is the children’s sign to St. Nicholas that there is a letter waiting for him,” said Zajac. “Letters are left on the windowsill at the beginning of Advent.” The journey to Mexico brought with it a reading of “The Legend of the Poinsettia” by children’s author Tomie dePaola. The story recounts the Mexican legend of how the poinsettia came to be through a young girl’s gift to the newborn Christ. Student-travelers also made paper poinsettias. During their time in Sweden, students were told the story of the nisse, a mischievous elf who enjoys playing jokes on families in Denmark, Sweden and Norway. The globetrotters also wrote original gift tag riddles to accompany a present, alluding to what was inside. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141477 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141477 Coming Together for the Holidays This winter, students at the elementary school have been busy performing good deeds in time for the holiday season. “We have been discussing how important it is to think of others and how we can help make people feel special during the holidays,” said second-grade teacher Darlene Wells. “This is a special time of year, and we want to do what we can to make it wonderful for everyone.” Students throughout the school have been participating in various projects, such as making holiday cards and ornaments for residents in local nursing and veteran homes, donating Rainbow Loom bracelets and cards to children at St. Charles Hospital, and putting together care packages for U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan. The young philanthropists collected toiletries, games, CDs, DVDs and personal essentials and coupled them with cards of gratitude and cheer. Not failing to do good within their own school, third-grade students in AmyJean Castaldo’s class lent a helping hand to Margaret Hoon’s first-graders as part of a “buddy” arts-and-crafts project. Together they created colorful, sparkling snow globe decorations. The two groups shared good spirits, songs and smiles, making for an afternoon of heartfelt teamwork. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141476 Sun, 15 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141476 Students Bring Joy to Dickens Festival Students from throughout the district helped bring holiday spirit to the Village of Port Jefferson during the annual Dickens Festival from Dec. 6-8. Spectacular musical performances by the elementary school select choir, middle school seventh- and eighth-grade string orchestra and high school chamber choir, orchestra and holiday jazz trio filled the First Presbyterian Church on Main Street. On Dec. 7, members of the middle school drama club, led by club president Cole Fortier and co-advisers Mary LaSita and Loraine Serabian, performed select songs from the musical “Oliver,” based on the Charles Dickens novel “Oliver Twist.” Additionally, four students from the middle school and high school were named winners of the Dickens Poetry Contest. The young authors recited their original works on the festival’s opening evening. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141475 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141475 Girls Soccer Team Recognized The high school varsity girls soccer team, along with coach Winnie Kuemmel and JV coach Ally Wolff, was recognized at the Suffolk County Girls Soccer Association Dinner in November for their season’s accomplishments. The league champion team was awarded the Suffolk County Soccer Officials Sportsmanship Award. Additionally, eight of the players received individual awards. Recognized athletes: Jill Colucci – freshman Danielle Grier – senior Olivia Love – sophomore Fran Racanelli – senior Olivia Racanelli – team captain, senior Corinne Scannell – freshman Mairead Swords – team captain, senior Demi Ulino – team captain, senior https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141474 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141474 RESCHEDULED DECEMBER BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING RESCHEDULED DECEMBER BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING The December 10, 2013 Board of Education meeting has been rescheduled to Monday, December 16, 2013, 7:30 p.m., at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m. to discuss matters relating to personnel and negotiations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141473 Thu, 12 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141473 Plymouth Rocks! The elementary school Scraggy Drama Club recently presented “DrumStyx…or Plymouth Rocks! The Story of the First Thanksgiving,” an original show about a modern-day family who have forgotten the real meaning of Thanksgiving. Under the direction of co-advisers Mary LaSita and Loraine Serabian, the 33 cast members put on a spectacular performance that recounted the struggles encountered by Pilgrims during their voyage to America in the 1600s. “The students learned about the many aspects of putting on a musical production, including auditioning, memorizing lines, learning choreography and performing in front of an audience of their peers,” said LaSita. “Scraggy Drama Club president Emily Hearney, choreographer Tammy Serabian and sound adviser Tom Serabian were also integral in making this such a successful experience.” The performance, the club’s eighth production, was attended by family, friends and members of the administration. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141472 Tue, 10 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141472 Inclement Weather Procedure https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141471 Sun, 08 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141471 Zoning in on Outstanding Achievement High school seniors Olivia Racanelli and Hunter Reiter were named the 2013-2014 Suffolk Zone Award recipients at the Suffolk Zone dinner on Dec. 4. “Olivia and Hunter have proven themselves to our physical education teachers and their school community as being students with exceptional physical performances, scholastic abilities and leadership qualities,” said Debra Ferry, director of health, physical education and athletics. “Their performance and participation in physical education has earned them this well-deserved recognition.” The award, given by the Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, is presented to one male and one female nominee from each Suffolk County high school. Also in attendance were the students’ family members, physical education teachers Dinarae Camarda, Andrew Cosci and James Mimnaugh, high school principal Dr. Matthew Murphy and Ferry. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140937 Sun, 08 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140937 AP Environmental Students Visit Cornell High school students in Jonathan Maletta’s Advanced Placement environmental science class visited the Cornell Cooperative Extension, Long Island Horticultural Research Center in Riverhead on Nov. 22. Students met with several scientists, including plant pathologist Margery Daughtery, entomologist Dan Gilrein and associate entomologist Dr. Faruque Zaman. “The students were actively engaged in discussion related to pathogenic agents, agricultural techniques, integrated pest management and genetically modified organisms,” said Maletta. “They discussed the advantages and disadvantages of GMOs and explored eco-friendly methods to disrupt the life cycle of pests in order to protect wine grapes and apple orchards on the North Fork of Long Island.” The young scientists also weighed in on key topics related to the rapid spread of invasive species, such as the Asian long-horned beetle which destroys trees and the tiger mosquito, a carrier of Dengue Fever, found recently on Long Island. Lastly, students observed greenhouse facilities to examine how scientists set up controlled experiments to conduct research. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140936 Wed, 04 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140936 Volleyball Team Recognized at County Banquet Two members of the Port Jefferson School District athletic community were commended for their outstanding contributions to Suffolk County volleyball. Coach Dinarae Camarda and student-athlete Megan Augsbach were recognized at the Suffolk County Volleyball Coaches Association Fall Awards Banquet on Dec. 2 at the East Wind in Wading River. Megan received All-League recognition for her outstanding play this past season with the Port Jefferson varsity team (League 8) and Coach Camarda was named League 8 JV Coach of the Year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140935 Tue, 03 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140935 Common Core Conversation: Middle School Math On Nov. 20, the Port Jefferson School District PTSA hosted Common Core Conversation: Middle School Math, which focused on the new Common Core math modules for grades 6-8. Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Maureen Hull, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Antonio Santana and middle school math teachers Monica Consalvo, Matt Garofola, Megan Ryan and Jamie Veraldi discussed module terminology, a summary of the curriculum, and resources to support students’ work at home. Superintendent Bossert began the two-hour informational meeting by providing a brief overview of the Common Core State Standards and the rationale behind the shift to Common Core, as well as the potential consequences of failing to make the shift. “There are many ways to approach the implementation of Common Core,” said Bossert. “I have been very impressed with the faculty, staff and community of Port Jefferson because of the way that the entire movement has been addressed – we recognize it as a challenge and are working to rise to meet that challenge.” Next, Mrs. Hull detailed the six pedagogical shifts in mathematics demanded by the Common Core State Standards – focus, coherence, fluency, deep understanding, application and dual-intensity. She also introduced the Common Core State Standards Initiative along with other available resources that provide further insight for parents. “The Common Core Initiative is aimed at instilling a common understanding for students, parents and educators about what students should know and be able to do by the time they graduate high school to succeed in college and careers,” said Mrs. Hull. Following Mrs. Hull was Principal Santana who expounded on the shifts, pointing out that curriculum being taught went from more material with less depth to less material with much greater depth. “The modules that we are using represent the ways that our students think about math,” he said. The floor was then turned over to the sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade math teachers present who discussed Common Core testing versus No Child Left Behind testing, the use of action phrases and math tools in the classroom, how Common Core affects special education, and the difference between conceptual, structural teaching methods and procedural methods. They also worked through sample test questions to demonstrate the shifts in thinking and application of knowledge that students will have to apply when being tested. “The reason why the Common Core is stress-inducing is because we all care about the success of our kids,” said Santana. “Common Core isn’t a bad thing. I have faith that if we can adapt to the changes, become proficient in it and expand to other teaching methodologies, our kids will be in a better place – the long-term effects will be positive. We need to work together to focus on what’s important – our kids to be successful when they reach college and beyond.” Santana continued by pointing out that growth and improvement do not come without some sort of challenge. “It’s important that we encourage our students to feel comfortable with going to their teachers and to their parents for help, encouragement and support.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140933 Mon, 02 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140933 Learning from Laramie On Nov. 15-17, the high school drama club, under the direction of Anthony Butera, performed “The Laramie Project,” which recounts the true story of the 1998 hate-crime murder of University of Wyoming gay student Matthew Shepard in Laramie, Wyo. “Being a part of this performance really opened my eyes,” said senior Maggie Butera. Added castmate Jessie Gray, “Laramie is a small town, much like it is here in Port Jefferson. Many people think that something of this nature doesn’t or wouldn’t happen here, but it could and that’s why we wanted to be a part of this show – to spread awareness.” Before tryouts, Butera hosted a workshop to help prepare students for the audition process. “The students read through the script and deciphered the play’s emotions,” he said. “I wanted them to be mentally prepared for the context of this show, which is unlike what we typically perform. It was a raw performance that touched opinions that are deeply rooted in how people are raised. It challenges the viewer to be accountable for their actions and inspires them to reflect on how they are living.” The performance of “The Laramie Project” ties in with character education programs that students throughout the district have been participating in, such as Red Ribbon Week; One Book, One School; Stop the Violence and more. Additionally, the drama club donated $1 from every ticket sold to the Matthew Sheppard Foundation. “The show wasn’t just about homophobia, but rather, it was about how everyone is unique,” said drama club president and senior Sydney Ruggiero. “As a society, we need to accept our differences more and do what we can to prevent people from being discriminated against.” Members of the cast and crew have received a generous amount of positive feedback from their classmates, the faculty and staff, even in the days and weeks following the performances. “The show may be over, but the message is still being passed on, and that was what we were trying to accomplish,” said Sydney. “It goes to show that you’re never too tiny to make a difference,” added cast member Liane Russell. “We may be a small group of students, but we moved our audiences, including people we have never even met before. That says something.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140934 Mon, 02 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140934 Winter Concerts Broadcast LIVE over the Internet HS Winter Concert Program All of our Winter Concerts are being broadcast live over the internet. You will need the Real Player to view the LIVE video stream on your PC. It can be downloaded by following the link below: ClickHEREfor the Real Player Download ClickHEREto start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player ClickHEREto start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad Archived video will be available the morning after the concerts on each of the building's home pages under the announcements section. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140932 Mon, 02 Dec 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140932 A Thanksgiving with All the Trimmings The Port Jefferson School District has been serving up gratitude this holiday season. Students in all three schools have been working hard to assist others, make healthier choices and polish their hospitality skills to make for a picture-perfect Thanksgiving. On Nov. 20, the middle school Student Council hosted its annual Senior Citizens’ Luncheon for members of the Port Jefferson Senior Center. Guests were served a traditional Thanksgiving meal by student representatives and were treated to musical performances by sixth-grade violinist Elizabeth Chun and the high school chamber orchestra. Attendees and students had the opportunity to converse with one another, play games and share some holiday spirit. High school students in Dinarae Camarda’s Wellness and Fitness class gathered together for their first annual Healthy Thanksgiving Celebration. Students used a favorite recipe and substituted healthy alternatives for one or more of the ingredients. The 75 participants took a closer look at how to properly fuel their bodies and made dishes that were gluten-free, organic, vegan and Paleo Diet-friendly. To conclude the project, the class will compile their recipes and create a healthy cookbook. Students in Kristen Poulos and Karen Stamatopoulos’s class at the elementary school hosted a Thanksgiving feast on Nov. 25 for family, teachers and staff members. Guests were offered homemade Thanksgiving-themed entrees, beverages and desserts and were given handmade Thanksgiving cards. The festive gathering gave students the chance to experience the roles of being a greeter, host and server and improve upon their hospitality skills. Guests included Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, elementary school principal Thomas Meehan and Executive Director for Pupil Personnel Services Dr. Lisa Scheffer. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140930 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140930 Student Selected for All-County Vocal Jazz Festival High school vocalist Jessica Gray was selected to participate in this year's All-County Jazz Festival on Feb. 8 at Sayville High School. Following the performance, these All-County students will travel to Albany to perform for state legislators as part of Music in Our Schools Month, which advocates for music education programs. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates Jessica on her outstanding musical achievement. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140931 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140931 Elementary School Gets Moving In an effort to further promote physical activity within their school, Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Debra Ferry and elementary school physical education instructor Francoise Schachner had students videotape their warm-up routine as part of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance’s “Here’s What We Do to Get Moving” competition. The association works to support quality health and physical education programs in New York State. The elementary students showed off their best aerobic warm-up skills while music played during an upbeat cardio and stretching segment. All entries into the competition were required to demonstrate, in a fun way, how students get moving in their physical education classes. Contestants were able to submit their entry through song, video, poster or poem. The school is in the running for the top prize of $1,000 in equipment. Participating students also received “Get Moving NY” drawstring backpacks to commemorate their contribution. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140928 Mon, 25 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140928 Giving Thanks for Each Other Members of the National Junior Honor Society were among just some of the middle and high school students who came together for an impromptu afternoon of fun on Nov. 7. When a cancellation inhibited student members of Team Landetta from participating in a scheduled after-school event, friends stepped in to ensure the day would not be lost. The high school gymnasium filled with the sights and sounds of basketball and soccer games, cheers of support and laughter of enjoyment, all making for an afternoon to remember. “Everyone had a wonderful time,” said middle school teacher Michelle Landetta, who was present along with teaching assistants Tracy Gray and Bonnie Kelsch. “It was great to see the students join together to support each other and partake in friendly camaraderie as a community. A day that could have been less than ideal turned into something that means so much to everyone involved.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140929 Mon, 25 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140929 Appreciation Across the Board The members of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education were given special acknowledgment for their efforts, volunteerism and dedication at the November community meeting as part of the New York State School Boards Association’s School Board Recognition Week. “The hours they put in are extensive, and the commitment and dedication they show to our students is extraordinary,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who opened the floor to the three building principals for presentations. Elementary school principal Thomas Meehan and art teacher Nina Wood were the first to offer their words of gratitude and presented the Board with artwork created by the fifth-grade class. “Our students have created portraits of you in the style of anime, a Japanese cartooning art form that exaggerates features,” said Wood. In addition, each board member was given a mosaic portrait created by art teacher Richard Anderson. Next, middle school principal Antonio Santana introduced a middle school student council representative who recited an original poem that students had created in honor of the board. “Thank you for all your support; you really are the best,” read the student. “Thank you for the opportunities through the clubs, the sports and all the special events.” High school principal Dr. Matthew Murphy introduced Student Organization members – President Kirsten Crovello, Vice President Jack Cavanagh, Representative to the PTSA Calla Kelly-Renda and Representative to the Board of Education Michael Laffey – who paid homage to the board on behalf of their peers. “You are the engine of our ingenuity, and together we plan to make the best possible future,” said Kirsten. “We appreciate all of the effort you put into finding new ways to create an environment that is conducive to learning and in which each student can thrive. Thank you for your dedication to ensure we receive the best and most diversified educational opportunities available.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140925 Sun, 24 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140925 Portraits of Thanksgiving Elementary school students in grades K-5 had the opportunity to participate in the Thanksgiving Day Creative Celebration sponsored by the New York State Senate. This year’s theme, “What Are You Thankful For?” is depicted in their original essays, poetry and artwork, which will be included in the state’s Thanksgiving Day Showcase. Additionally, all submissions will be published online and students will receive a certificate from Sen. Kenneth LaValle acknowledging their participation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140926 Sun, 24 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140926 Tennis Aces Honored at Awards Dinner After a successful fall tennis season, the high school girls varsity tennis team received recognition from the Suffolk County Girls Tennis Coaches Association for their outstanding athletic performances. The team, along with coach Dennis Christofor, attended the Suffolk County Girls Tennis Dinner on Nov. 5 where five student-athletes were recognized. All-League Singles: Kyra Becker Rachel Collins Isabella Mungioli All-League Doubles: Parris Garant Rebekah London Rachel Collins, a first singles player, placed third in the Division 3 tournament and in the top eight in the Suffolk County Girls Singles Championship. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140927 Sun, 24 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140927 Setting the Record Straight About Diabetes Best friends and high school freshmen Emma Schoepflin and JiWon Woo raised awareness in their school this year in recognition of World Diabetes Day. The campaign, which is celebrated annually on Nov. 14, is led by the International Diabetes Federation and was created in 1991 in response to the growing concerns about the escalating health threat that diabetes now poses. “People don’t always understand diabetes and how it affects young people,” said JiWon, who has diabetes. “People often make assumptions about what I can and cannot eat and I wanted to be a part of something that helped to educate others on the subject.” The two students spent countless hours making gray ribbon pins, the color representing diabetes awareness, and creating fact sheets about diabetes to distribute to their peers. They also held a bake sale to benefit the American Diabetes Association. “We learned that diabetes kills more Americans every year than AIDS and breast cancer combined,” said Emma. “That’s something we did not know until we did this research.” The theme of this year’s campaign, “Diabetes: Protect Our Future,” is one that resonated with the young duo. “It’s important that people our age become more educated on the topic of diabetes to help them lead a healthier lifestyle,” said Emma. “We’ve received positive feedback from our teachers and classmates and will definitely be doing this again next year.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140923 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140923 Common Core Conversation PowerPoint To view the PowerPoint presentation from the Nov. 20 Common Core Conversation: Middle School Math meeting, please click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140924 Wed, 20 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140924 ‘Four Score’ and Advance in History Bee The elementary school held its annual Intramural History Bee on Nov. 12. All fourth- and fifth-grade students had the opportunity to take the 50-question exam, which served as the first round of qualifying competition for the National History Bee. “The National History Bee is an academic competition for elementary and middle school students that tests knowledge in a wide range of historical topics,” said Janelle Bellotti, a Studies Enriching Academic Learning teacher. Students Aaron Held, Andrew Patterson, Lucas Welinder and Peggy Yin received the highest scores in the intramural bee and will advance to the next level of competition, the Online Regional Qualifying Exam, which will take place on Jan. 28. Students who score within the top 120 on the ORQE in their region will advance to the regional finals. Lucas, a fifth-grader, took third place in the bee’s national championship last year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140922 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140922 Facts About the CCSS This PDF contains facts about the Common Core State Standards as well as other important education topics, including a brief history behind the initiative and a glossary of frequently used terms. For more Common Core materials and resources, please visit the Curriculum and Instruction Department page on our website. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140921 Tue, 19 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140921 Senior Athlete Shines in Newsday Article Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Naji Nizam was featured in the Nov. 16 issue of Newsday. Naji, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at the age of 7, tells his tremendous story of courage, determination and love of football. To view the article, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140919 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140919 Students Attend Stellar Recital at Staller Center On Nov. 10, music teacher Vanessa Salzman accompanied district orchestra students and their families to the Staller Center for the Arts at Stony Brook University to see a performance by Japanese-American violin sensation Midori. During her recital, Midori played sonatas by Mozart, Bloch, Hindemith, Fauré and Schubert. The district’s complimentary admission to the event was made possible by the ongoing collaborative efforts of Salzman and Staller Center outreach coordinator Paul Newland. “The concert was a huge success,” said Salzman, who was one of more than 60 Port Jefferson School District members in attendance. “I was truly amazed by how many students and family members from our schools showed such genuine interest and enthusiasm for the recital. It was very special to be able to share such an enriching and unique experience outside of school with them.” Midori made her musical debut at the age of 11 with the New York Philharmonic and has since distinguished herself as a master musician who has been performing for more than 30 years. She also works as a community engagement activist, providing musical instruction to underserved students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140920 Sun, 17 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140920 Boys Cross-Country Team Dashes to the Top On Nov. 9, the high school boys cross-country team competed in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Cross-Country State Championships, held at Queensbury High School, where junior James Burke was awarded third place in the state for Men’s 5K Class “C” with a time of 15:59.9. The team holds fifth place in this class. Earlier in the season, the team participated in the Suffolk County State Qualifiers and won the Class "C" Suffolk County Championship. Four students placed in the top 10 during this competition. Suffolk County State Qualifiers Top 10 Winners: 1st Place – James Burke with a time of 17:47.78 2nd Place – Justin Julich with a time of 18:17.81 8th Place – John Albinson 9th Place – Parker Schoch https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140918 Wed, 13 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140918 Common Core Conversation: MS Math The Port Jefferson PTSA will host a Common Core Middle School Math Conversation on Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. in the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School library. The focus of the conversation will be the new Common Core math modules for grades 6-8. Topics will include module terminology, a summary of the curriculum and resources to support your child’s work at home. Please join a team of administrators and middle school math teachers for this informational meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140917 Wed, 13 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140917 Updated STAR Registration Requirements The New York State School Tax Relief Program, STAR, is a school tax rebate program offered in New York State that aims to reduce school district property taxes on the primary residences of New York residents. New legislation requires all homeowners receiving a Basic STAR exemption to register with the New York State Tax Department in order to receive the exemption in 2014 and subsequent years. With the state’s move to a web-based application, all homeowners will have to reapply. Letters providing the information needed to register have been mailed to each homeowner by the state tax department. Registration started on Aug. 19, 2013 and will continue through Dec. 31, 2013. For more information regarding registration, please visit the official government STAR webpage: http://www.tax.ny.gov/pit/property/star13/default.htm. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140916 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140916 Nov. 26 BOE Work Session Cancelled The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has cancelled its Nov. 26 evening work session to attend a public community forum with New York Education Commissioner John King. The forum, hosted by Sen. Kenneth LaValle, is intended for schools within the senator’s district. The public is welcome to attend the event, which will be held in the Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School auditorium in Manorville from 6-8 p.m. The evening is designed to answer questions and provide information to the public on the Common Core State Standards Initiative, teacher evaluations and state assessments. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140915 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140915 Educational Forum -- Commissioner King Please note that the Educational Forum that is being held at Ward Melville High School (11-12-13 from 6-8 p.m.) is intended for school districts that fall within Senator Flanagan's district. Senator LaValle is hosting a parallel event for school district that fall within his district, including Port Jefferson. It is tentatively scheduled for 11-26-13 at Eastport/South Manor Jr./Sr. High School (time TBA). Tonight's (11/12) regular meeting of the Board of Education will take place as scheduled in the Elementary Large Group Room. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140914 Tue, 12 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140914 Rotary Honors Student of the Month At its Nov. 5 luncheon, the Port Jefferson Rotary Club honored middle school sixth-grader Kylie Melzer as October’s Most Motivated Student of the Month. Present at the meeting were Kylie’s mother Melissa Melzer,an Earl L. Vandermeulen High School alumna, and middle school math teacher Meg Ryan. During her address to the club, Ryan expounded on the excellent scholarly and social attributes that made Kylie an outstanding candidate for nomination. Also in attendance to commend Kylie was middle school Principal and fellow Rotarian Antonio Santana. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140913 Sun, 10 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140913 Students Participate in Tuba Day On Nov. 1, band students and siblings Gani Ates (fifth grade) and Sinan Ates (sixth grade) participated in the Howard Hovey Tuba Day at Smithtown High School West. During this remarkable evening, more than 200 tuba students from across Suffolk County gathered on one stage to perform alongside professional musicians, including renowned guest artist Phil Sinder. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140911 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140911 Select Choir Helps Bring Nature Home On Nov. 2, the elementary school select choir performed at the Village of Port Jefferson's sixth annual Go Green Festival. Led by music teachers Jessica Pastor and Lisa Scrom, the students sang as guests perused various vendor booths and workshops, all with the theme of “Bringing Nature Home.” Earl L. Vandermeulen High School studio art students in Lynne Edsall’s classes provided stunning visuals with their artwork, which was on display in the Village Center. This is the third year that Port Jefferson students have participated in the festival. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140912 Wed, 06 Nov 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140912 Student-Journalists Report Back to Peers Third-grade students at the elementary school have been getting in touch with their inner journalist as part of a current events project. With the help of teachers Jackie Gandolfo and Nancy Winkler-Brogan, the group was able to Skype with Kathy Leon, an anchor for SNN Local News, based out of Sarasota, Fla., who offered advice to the young reporters. Prior to the Skype session, students viewed a 15-minute DVD created by Leon and personalized for the Port Jefferson students. The video offered a tour of a SNN newsroom, a sneak peek behind the scenes of a news set, a viewing of a control room and a special greeting from the station’s producers. Afterwards, the students generated questions to ask Leon during their video chat. “The news never stops,” said Leon, who writes and reports on 60-75 stories over the course of a single day. “It’s important to make sure that you always answer the ‘who, what, where, when, why and how’ in a story.” Leon detailed her daily activities on the job, explained the difference between news anchors and reporters, the various genres of news and shared how she selects what stories to cover. “The most important part of being a newscaster is how you connect with your audience,” said Leon. “If you keep your viewers engaged and coming back, then you’re doing it right. It’s also important to make certain that your story is impartial and includes only the facts. Let the reader form their own opinion.” In the coming months, each student will have the opportunity to present a current event on hometown, national, local, sports/entertainment and science/health news to classmates. “This is a great learning experience that incorporates Common Core reading, writing, speaking and listening standards,” said Winkler-Brogan. “Students will be using information gained from text to demonstrate their understanding. They have been gathering and taking notes from print and digital sources, sorting evidence into provided categories and will eventually be reporting on various topics, recounting an experience with appropriate facts and relevant details.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140910 Sun, 03 Nov 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140910 Track Star Makes Magic at Disney Classic High school cross-country standout James Burke placed first overall in the boys 1A varsity division race at the 19th annual Disney Cross Country Classic. The competition, presented by New Balance, was held at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on October 11. All expenses for attending the invitational were secured through fundraising initiatives by the team. Burke, a junior, posted a time of 16:15.26 in the national meet that included 169 runners. Burke is the first student-athlete to win the championship in Port Jefferson Royals history. Teammates John Albinson, Justin Julich, Matthew Keresztes, Noah Kirchner, Alden Mohacsi, and Parker Schoch came in second place overall in the team results for Division 1A. The District congratulates the 2013 boys varsity cross-country team and coach Rod Cawley on this great accomplishment. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140909 Thu, 31 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140909 Rainbow of Hope ‘Looms Large’ for Local Patients Fourth- and fifth-grade students banded together for Breast Cancer Awareness Month during an after-school bracelet-making event. More than 70 children turned the popular rainbow loom bracelet hobby into a reason for local breast cancer patients to smile. Elementary School teachers Deanna Lilimpakis and Kristen Poulos organized the event, which turned out to be even better than expected, they said. Trays of pink and white rubber loom bands lined cafeteria tables where the children eagerly gathered around to make bracelets to be donated to breast cancer patients at Stony Brook University Hospital, Fortunato Breast Health Center at Mather Hospital and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. “We wanted to take the popularity of the loom bracelets with students and use it to do something special,” said Lilimpakis. “Kristen and I knew that the kids would have a great time together, especially if they knew they were looming for a good cause, and we were right.” The students donated more than 125 bracelets. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140906 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140906 Solar Energy Project Casts Rays of Optimism The Port Jefferson School District is proud to announce that Earl L. Vandermeulen High School student Noah Davis has been named a semifinalist in the 2013 Siemens Foundation Competition in Math, Science and Technology. Prior to his entry into the competition, Noah participated in an intensive, seven-week Garcia Materials Research Science and Engineering Center precollege program at Stony Brook University. He joined other gifted high school students from all over the country for an experience that combined formal learning instruction with independent research. Participants were also given the opportunity to design original research projects with guidance from the Garcia Center’s faculty, students and staff. After hearing about the Garcia program from a family member, Noah took it upon himself to apply for a summer of science. “I couldn’t pass up such a wonderful opportunity and am grateful that I didn’t,” he said. “It opened up my eyes and has really encouraged me to pursue a career in engineering.” During this time, Noah met and teamed up with two Long Island high school seniors and began a deeper exploration into the realm of energy. More specifically, the students began experimenting with various ways to maximize the potential of solar cells used to create clean energy. “Presently, organic solar cells are comprised of expensive polymers and are inefficient,” said Noah. “The reason for this is because much of the energy is lost in the production process. Our research sought to optimize the process by organizing the structure of the solar device in order to improve its efficiency. We hypothesized that by organizing the structure and increasing the area where electrons can be generated, efficiency can be improved.” A few hundred hours of dedicated, hard work by the driven trio resulted in the production of a 20-page research paper that detailed their initiative, hypothesis and procedure and included an abstract appropriate for the nonscientific community. The group entered their submission for the 2013 Siemens Foundation Competition in early September. Noah was named one of 331 semifinalists who were selected from a record 2,440 students registered for this year’s competition. His group project was one of 1,599 submitted for consideration. Projects were judged based upon criteria including field knowledge, comprehensiveness, interpretation, literature review, scientific importance, future work, clarity of expression, presentation and teamwork. “What Noah and his colleagues have accomplished is tremendous and I look forward to seeing what great things he will do next,” said Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal Dr. Matthew Murphy. “I will definitely be participating in the Siemens competition again,” added Noah, who also plans to continue research and development on the solar energy project. “I think my group has created the foundation for something great.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140907 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140907 Students Selected for NYSCAME All-County Festival High school students Dunia Karzai (orchestra, violin), Alden Mohacsi (bass vocalist, chorus) and Gabrielle Stark (orchestra, violin) have been selected to participate in the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education All-County Music Festival. They will be performing at Connetquot High School on Nov. 13 and Hauppauge High School on Nov. 21 and 22. The students were selected along with others from across Suffolk County on a competitive basis, with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. The Port Jefferson School District congratulates Dunia, Alden and Gabrielle on their outstanding musical achievements. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140908 Wed, 30 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140908 STEM Initiative The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce its partnership with the Mount Sinai Union Free School District for a new STEM initiative. With the help of New York State Sen. Kenneth LaValle, Port Jefferson was able to secure an additional $45,500 that is separate and apart from the funding generated through the state aid formula. The two districts are developing a joint initiative enabling students to participate in science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs at Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University. The initiative will include shared transportation, enrollment, planning and selection of modules. Collaboration between the high school faculty advisers from both districts and with university professors and lab personnel will facilitate a productive and cooperative learning experience for all involved. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140904 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140904 Middle School Students Choose Kindness The Port Jefferson School District welcomed Dylan Brady to the middle school on Oct. 17. Dylan, a 15-year-old student at North Shore Middle School and youth ambassador for the Long Island Tourette Association, gave a presentation on Tourette syndrome as part of the school’s One School, One Book initiative. All students in grades six to eight read the fictional novel “Wonder” by R.J. Palacio. The bestselling story embodies the principles of character education and encourages everyone to embrace each other’s differences and celebrate individuality. Dylan educated the student body about Tourette syndrome and hosted a question-and-answer session to help listeners gain a better perspective about what it’s like living with Tourette syndrome. The students asked Dylan questions about bullying and how his peers treat him. “It was an interactive learning experience to show students that although we may have a challenge, we can all achieve success and should be proud of who we are,” said middle school special education teacher Monica Consalvo, who organized the event. “Dylan shared that he is an athlete, student, twin brother and a singer in a band – all things that make him just like them.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140905 Wed, 23 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140905 In Good Spirits Students at the middle school certainly did not go unnoticed with their colorful display of character during this month’s Spirit Week. With the help of the school’s student council and adviser Allison Giannusa, grades six through eight participated in the same themed events as their high school peers. During the week, students dressed in pajamas, college gear, decade-related clothing, various class colors and as their favorite Disney characters. For the finale, everyone donned the school colors of purple and white to show their spirit, just in time for homecoming weekend. The middle school students also attended the high school pep rally to help cheer on the Royals varsity football team. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140903 Tue, 22 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140903 PJ BOE Seeking District Residents ATTENTION PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT RESIDENTS The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education Finance Committee is looking for district residents to serve on a Budget Advisory committee for development of the 2014-2015 budget. The committee will be responsible for reviewing budget and tax levy recommendations by the Board of Education and will work with the Finance Committee and district officials in the completion of that task.. Anyone interested in serving on this committee should submit their name, contact information, and any pertinent background information to the District Clerk by e-mail: districtclerk@portjeff.k12.ny.us or fax (631)476-4467. Submissions will be received up to 5: 00 p.m. on November 4, 2013 and a committee representative of the community will be formed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140902 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140902 Stranger Danger 10/21 Please read the attached letter regarding a stranger danger incident. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140901 Mon, 21 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140901 Speaking Up for Autism Members of the Port Jefferson School District represented their students at the Long Island Walk Now for Autism Speaks event, held Oct. 6 at Jones Beach Field 5. The annual walk helps generate funds and awareness about the increasing prevalence of autism. “The event was fantastic,” said team captain Kristen Poulos, a special education teacher at elementary school. “We could not believe how many people were there!” The two Port Jefferson teams, one for the elementary school and one for the middle/high school, raised more than $600 combined for the cause. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140899 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140899 ‘Exploring’ Local Law and Beyond Officer Keith Murphy, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School police liaison, visited students in Philip Giannusa’s law class to provide deeper insight into the workings of local law enforcement. Officer Murphy answered questions pertaining to Port Jefferson Village code, the proper etiquette when being pulled over, what it takes to become a police officer and more. “Providing our students with an informal opportunity to speak with our school police liaison allows them to learn more about their rights as young adults,” said Giannusa. “It also encourages them to continue making responsible and educated decisions.” The Dignity for All Students Act, cybercrimes, stop-and-search policies, and the authority of town constables and code enforcement officers were all hot topics of discussion during the visit. Perhaps most intriguing was Officer Murphy’s overview of the Exploring program, a Learning for Life career education program that assists young adults in becoming involved in careers within their fields of interest. Specifically, he discussed the law and government career Exploring program that exposes participants to careers as attorneys, lawyers, judges, paralegals, politicians, urban planners and many more. Available since 1988, the Exploring program fosters strong personal values and character development and builds self-worth and leadership skills within participants nationwide. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140900 Wed, 16 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140900 Catching the Royal Spirit A wave of Royal spirit swept over the Port Jefferson School District during its annual spirit week. The high school Student Organization, led by adviser Sarah Ogden, coordinated five themed days for students to display their creativity. Even faculty members joined in the fun of College Gear, Class Color, Blast from the Past and Disney days. The week’s events led up to a memorable Royal Pep Rally Friday, where students from the middle and high schools came together to show support for their athletic teams. The pep band performed triumphant tunes to hype up the crowd of purple and white. Faculty, staff and students clapped and cheered wildly during a tug-of-war, a scavenger hunt, performances by the Royalettes cheerleading squad and the presentation of the athletic teams. Cameron Harvey and Kate Gwydir were crowned homecoming king and queen, and high school English teacher Matthew Sefick was named grand marshal. The afternoon ended on a high note that carried over into homecoming weekend. Oct. 12 was an ideal fall day during which the Port Jefferson community came together to root for its varsity football team in the homecoming game against the Bayport-Blue Point Phantoms. The morning began with a parade that displayed true Royals spirit throughout Port Jefferson Village. A caravan of VIP vehicles led the processional of administrative staff, board of education members, cheerleaders, athletes, class representatives, student-musicians and the royal homecoming court down Main Street to the water, up Barnum Avenue and back to the high school. Each grade in the high school proudly showed off their class float, all of which were decorated with a Disney theme. Winners of the float contest were announced later in the day. The seniors’ “Haunted Mansion” took first place for best overall float. The junior class came in second, most creative, with their “Pirates of the Caribbean” float. Most spirited and third place went to the sophomore class for their “Royal Tower of Terror” float. Finally, most colorful and fourth place was awarded to the freshman class who had the theme of Disney’s “Monsters University.” Kickoff began promptly at 2 p.m. The Port Jefferson cheerleaders led stands of applauding fans in cheering on the varsity team, who donned camouflage socks in honor of U.S. troops. Proceeds from the day’s raffle items benefited the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization that serves veterans, service members and their families. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140898 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140898 Smells of the New World Kari Costanzo’s fourth-grade class at the elementary school took a closer look – and smell – at Columbus Day through their “Smells of the New World” social studies activity. Students were given 15 cups filled with organic plants and foods that Columbus and his men most likely encountered when they came to North America. Each cup was covered and had small air holes in the top, forcing students to rely solely on their sense of smell to identify the contents. “Since the beginning of the school year, we have been conducting a thorough study of how people eventually came to North America,” said Costanzo. “This lesson integrates with our learning about the Late Woodland Period and how it transitioned into the Contact Period.” Using knowledge they had previously acquired about early North American landscape, students were able to correctly guess the smells of vanilla, chocolate, wheat, mint, seaweed and more. The class also held discussions about how they would react if they came into contact with a life form from another planet, similar to what the Native Americans experienced when they first met the Europeans. As a group, they read the book “Encounter” by Jane Yolen, a historical fiction that tells the story of the arrival of Christopher Columbus on the island of San Salvador in 1492. “What makes this book unique is that it is told from the standpoint of a young Taino Indian boy,” said Costanzo. “It opened their eyes to the real story of what happened to Native Americans and gave them a more accurate history.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140897 Tue, 15 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140897 Merit-Based Recognition for Seniors Four high school students were named Commended Students in the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program. Students Danielle Grier, Leah Neiman, Alberto Rescia and Kent Ueno are among the 34,000 Commended Students throughout the nation who are being recognized for exceptional academic promise demonstrated by their performance on the qualifying test used for program entry. All four students placed among the top 5 percent of the more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2014 competition by taking the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140895 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140895 Common Core Conversations: The New Math On Oct. 7, the elementary school hosted “A Common Core Conversation,” a PTA-sponsored community forum for parents that addressed the New York State Common Core Math Standards for students in grades K-8. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Maureen Hull, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Thomas Meehan and teacher representatives from grades K-5 provided attendees with an intimate look into the instruction their children are receiving each day in the classroom. “Our teachers recommended that the district host this event to help parents better transition into the new math program,” said Hull. “It was a well-received idea that turned into a well-attended event.” Bossert began the evening’s dialogue with an introduction to the rationales behind the assessments. “The New York State Education Department’s reasoning for the shift to Common Core relates to statistics pertaining to the June 2012 graduation rate, which suggests that although 74 percent of all students in New York State met that year’s graduation requirements, only 35.3 percent of them were calculated as college or career ready,” he stated. College or career ready students are classified as those who had scored above 75 on the English Regents examination and above 80 on the math Regents exam. Other factors influencing NYSED’s rationale include ranking according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress, how students in the U.S. rank internationally, and the federal Race to the Top initiative. Hull followed Bossert with a presentation on how teachers at the elementary level have been preparing for and implementing Common Core learning practices. “We want to be absolutely certain that our students are learning the curriculum we know they will be tested on this academic year,” said Hull. “Our goal is to help our teachers successfully adopt and adapt to the Common Core. In other words, we want them to be able to incorporate what they already know and practice with what has been provided by the state.” Meehan followed with a discussion of his daily in-class observations. “Our teachers are working tirelessly to ensure that their students are not only prepared for testing, but also have a genuine classroom experience where they can continue to grow in a positive direction,” he said. Edna Louise Spear teachers Anthony Butera, Sandra Eybs, Paige Lohmann, Doreen Marullo, Carleen Parmegiani and Megan Roth-Ueno provided an overview of math modules, a closer look at the key mathematics vocabulary for grades K-5 and demonstration lessons to help portray the newer components that are being implemented in the classroom. Such modules teach concepts from concrete to pictorial to abstract. “As a mother of second-grade twins, I was overwhelmed by the ‘new’ math homework,” said Port Jefferson parent and PTA President Jennifer Cobb. “It was difficult watching them struggle every night. Rather than complain, I wanted to learn about it. I wanted to know how to help my children and be proactive with regard to their academics." The evening concluded with a question-and-comment session for parents and community members. “It has been said that it takes a village to raise a child,” said Cobb. “I believe the Port Jefferson School District is a wonderful example of this. We are a community that supports our teachers and we are all working together to figure out how to help our children.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140896 Thu, 10 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140896 Setting a Precedent of Peace The Port Jefferson Board of Education recognized three middle school students for their positive personalities at its October meeting. Middle school principal Antonio Santana introduced Michael Brown (sixth grade), Hyun Jim Lee (seventh grade) and Michael Ruggiero (eighth grade), who were selected for commendation by their teachers based upon observations made since the start of school. “Typically it has been my experience that students are recognized for their academic, athletic or musical achievements,” said Santana. “Since October is National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, I felt it would be important, appropriate and very topical to recognize students who exhibit positive character.” Michael Brown was acknowledged for being a conscientious student who is always willing to help his peers. “Michael never hesitates to go out of his way to make things easier for others,” said Santana. Next, Hyun Jim Lee was lauded for her self-initiated effort to befriend a new student this academic year. “She has made an honorable effort to help acclimate this student to her new environment and even encouraged her to join the soccer team,” added Santana. Michael Ruggiero was noted for his leadership qualities and his ability to effectively include all group members. “Michael is very accepting of and extremely willing to hear the opinions of others,” said Santana. “He seems to find genuine joy in helping people accomplish things.” All three students were presented with a certificate by Board of Education trustee Vincent Ruggiero, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert and Santana. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140894 Wed, 09 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140894 Common Core Conversation Materials https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140893 Mon, 07 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140893 Inspiration from Out of the Woodwork Art teacher Richard Anderson gave students at the elementary school a chainsaw woodcarving demonstration this week. With five enormous wooden masterpieces in tow, Anderson chipped away to create a sculpture in a matter of minutes for his students. “This is a relatively new art form that has really exploded in popularity over the past 20 years,” said Anderson. “It began as a type of folk art, but has matured into a fine art.” Anderson shared his story with students, including anecdotes about how he first became involved with woodcarving and his experience participating in competitions. “Just like with anything else, it’s important to push yourself to be at the top of your game,” he said. “Sure, I could stick with carving only the things that I am good at making, but that wouldn’t help me to do better in competition.” Students in Doreen Marullo’s third-grade class, who were among the first to observe a demonstration, have been learning about lines and worked to identify the types of lines they found within the sculpture. Anderson, who has a background in carving, told students that this type of artwork is just a step up from what he used to do. “I replaced my chisel with a chainsaw,” he said. “It takes practice but it’s something I really enjoy doing.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141855 Wed, 02 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141855 Chamber Choir Performs at Dedication On Sept. 29, members of high school's chamber choir performed at the Village of Port Jefferson's official installation of the "Biddle Fountain" on the corner of East Main Street and Prospect Street. The students performed two musical selections for this special occasion attended by Village residents and dignitaries. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141854 Tue, 01 Oct 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141854 ‘Air-Tight Solution’ to Success Howard Robertson, a retired warden from the New York City Department of Correction, spoke to high school students in grades 9-12 as part of his Airtight Solutions Anti-Violence Program. The presentation provided audiences with an in-depth look at the consequences of making bad decisions and how to navigate one’s life towards success. “Don’t let your story be your excuse,” said Robertson, who shared a personal account of his traumatic upbringing. “Everyone has something in their life that they are dealing with, but do not use that as an excuse to not do the right thing.” Robertson offered students a direct glimpse into life in prison, as he had care custody and control over “New York’s most notorious drug kingpins, murderers and gang members” during his career. The objective of the discussion was to provide the listeners with relevant information and sound advice that they can use to motivate themselves and others to avoid major pitfalls in life. “As teens, you’re not always responsible for getting knocked down in life,” he said. “However, you are responsible for picking yourself back up. Tough times don’t last forever, but tough people do.” During his presentation, Robertson covered the topics of gangs, drugs and alcohol, suicide and bullying. He strongly encouraged students to focus on their education as just one of the ways they can become the best version of themselves. He discussed the concept of association/assimilation and how it suggests that an individual becomes like the people and things with which they surround themselves. “In real life you can pick your own team by choosing who you identify with,” said Robertson. “Be a great friend, but also make sure that you are doing what is best for you and for your future.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141853 Mon, 30 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141853 Learning to Care for the Mind, Body and Soul High school Wellness and Fitness class students in grades 10 through 12 were treated to a yoga and self-care workshop by local licensed acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist Benjamin Craig. Physical education instructor Dinarae Camarda and her students gained valuable insight from Craig about how to best maintain and support the mind and body. “There are so many factors that impact our health and well-being,” said Craig. “Dietary habits, emotions, physical activity, breathing and even the environment can play major roles in how we live and feel.” Students were given an introduction to meditation and simple breathing techniques to help them regain focus. “It’s important to be present and in the moment,” said Craig. “Take the time to step out of your mind and tune into what is happening around you and within you.” Craig, who holds a master’s degree in traditional oriental medicine and is a certified Reiki Master Teacher, works at the Coastal Wellness Acupuncture Center in Port Jefferson. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141851 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141851 The ‘Wonder’ of One School, One Book The middle school is coming together this fall under the One School, One Book program initiated by the school’s English language arts teachers. Students in grades 6-8, as well as members of the faculty and staff, are all reading R.J. Palacio’s “Wonder.” The No. 1 New York Times bestseller is about a boy named August Pullman, who was born with a facial deformity, and his journey to find acceptance from his peers. “Our goal was to pick a book that was pervasive and relatable to students at this age,” said middle school English teacher Deirdre Filippi, a member of the book selection committee. “We purposely chose to introduce this book early in the semester so that students can reflect on the message throughout the year.” Over the next three weeks, students will discuss the text in class and conclude the unit with a culminating project in October. “The assignment will focus on what makes each individual student special and unique,” said Filippi. “It will help us get to know each other even better and emphasize acceptance and tolerance of one another.” The project’s finale will give students the opportunity to sign pledge cards, which will be hung on their lockers as a public display of their commitment to treat others with dignity, kindness and respect. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141852 Tue, 24 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141852 Understanding NYS Assessment Results The New York State Education Department has released information to help parents understand their child's results for the Grades 3-8 testing program (click here). Please visit EngageNY to view Understanding the ELA Parent Report and Understanding the Math Parent Report. This link is also available on the elementary school page, middle school page and Department of Curriculum & Instruction page. ES Boces anticipates that parents will receive detailed test reports at the end of September. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141849 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141849 Third-Graders Offer ‘Peace’ of Mind for All Nancy Winkler-Brogan’s third-grade class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School celebrated the International Day of Peace on Sept. 20. Inspired by their reading of the book “Can You Say Peace” by Karen Katz, the class decided to learn more about the Day of Peace, established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981. "The project began with our observance of 9/11,” said Winkler-Brogan who collaborated with teacher Jacqueline Gandolfo on the endeavor. “From there, the class began discussions about what peace means to them and to people around the world.” The lesson culminated with the students holding an in-class poetry reading for their parents in order to share their stories of peace. The young authors spoke of what peace looks, feels and even tastes like to them and why. “Not only is it a great way for the children to express themselves, it also helps them to develop their presentation and listening skills,” said Winkler-Brogan of the poetry reading. In addition, the students have been working on various activities that focus on bringing peace to their classrooms, homes and community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141850 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141850 High School Open House Schedule High School Open House 6:30 pm General Meeting w/ Dr. Murphy in Auditorium 7:00 pm Open House/Classroom Presentations (will follow abbreviated bell schedule) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141848 Thu, 19 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141848 Stranger Danger Today, Sept. 18, we received a call from an administrator in the Mt. Sinai Middle School alerting us to the fact that a Black SUV, with a white male, was spotted at the Elementary School photographing students as they exited their school bus in the morning. The same SUV was spotted in the afternoon at the Middle School and when approached drove off headed west. The man apparently had plastic bags on his arms. Please take this opportunity to remind your child of appropriate action to take if approached by an unknown person or if they find themselves in a situation that causes them to feel uncomfortable. Classroom teachers, particularly in our younger grades, have been asked to do the same. Thank you, Dr. Bossert Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141847 Wed, 18 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141847 PTA Presents Common Core Conversation https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141846 Tue, 17 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141846 PJSD BOE MEETING NOTICES PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES The regular monthly business meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on October 8, 2013, 7:30 p.m. at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The Board will be meeting at 6:00 p.m. in executive session to discuss personnel and legal matters. A work session meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on October 22, 2013, 7:00 p.m. at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, to discuss goals for the 2013-14 school year, and any other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141844 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141844 Viewing NYS Assessment Results Parents can view their child's results (scale score and performance level) for the Grades 3-8 NYS English Lanugage Arts (ELA) and Math assessments from Spring 2013 on the Parent Portal. Please read the letter (here) from Mrs. Hull, Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction, which is also posted on the Curriculum & Instruction web page. An individual, detailed report for each student will be sent from ES Boces directly to your home address and is anticipated to arrive by the end of September. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141845 Mon, 16 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141845 PJ Community Forum Series - AP Courses https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141841 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141841 Select Choir Brings Harmony to Memorial Service Elementary school music teacher Jessica Pastor led the school’s select choir in their performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “God Bless the USA” at the Port Jefferson Fire Department’s annual 9/11 memorial service, held at the firehouse. Members of the Port Jefferson School District’s administration and Board of Education, as well as Sen. Kenneth LaValle, were in attendance for the somber yet unifying observance. Former Port Jefferson Fire Department Chief Desmond O’Sullivan addressed attendees, specifically the youth, asking them to always remember what happened 12 years ago. “This is the story of ordinary people who responded to a great disaster in an extraordinary way,” said O’Sullivan. “It is an event that must never be forgotten.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141842 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141842 Schools Harbor Excellence From The Start The district opened its doors this week for the start of another academic year. On the morning of Sept. 9, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert joined building principals and members of administration to welcome students as they arrived for their first day. The halls were alive and bustling as students prepared for their first classes of the marking period. Friends reunited and greeted one another with open arms, and teachers warmly invited their students into class to begin instruction. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141843 Tue, 10 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141843 Port Jefferson Schools Prepared to ‘W.I.N.’ On Sept. 3 and 4, the district held its annual Superintendent’s Conference Day in preparation for the 2013-2014 school year. Teachers and staff members congregated at the high school with the theme of “W.I.N.” (What’s Important Now) weaving the day’s events together. “This is the time for you to continue implementing your best teaching practices,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “We need to help our students be the best that they can be. We need to work to make sure that every student achieves his or her own full potential.” Port Jefferson Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan provided words of inspiration and encouragement. “It's important for you to realize you can make a difference – whether it's assisting a child with finding a classroom or giving a parent directions to get to a meeting. No matter what kindness you do, it makes a difference in someone's life.” Port Jefferson Teachers’ Association President Brian Snow shared sentiments of support and urged everyone to frequently embrace the present during their daily routines. “The best outcomes can come from us being in the moment, and that's what takes care of tomorrow,” he said. Royal Educational Foundation of Port Jefferson chair members Scott Zamek and Peter Capobianco presented grants for the 2013-2014 school year to Dinarae Camarda for “Fitness and Wellness for All,” Kristy Krieg for “Phenomenal Physics” and Jessica Peterson for “Counselor Corner.” The Foundation works to generate and distribute financial and other resources to the students of the Port Jefferson School District for enrichment programs and other projects. Assistant Superintendent for Business Sean Leister and Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Antonio Santana provided instructional information for the upcoming year with topics including security measures, the Dignity for All Students Act and more. Faculty and paraprofessionals then divided to report to their respective meetings and sessions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141840 Thu, 05 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141840 Attention! District Applying Roundup ProMax The Port Jefferson UFSD will be applying Roundup ProMax® to the boundary of wooded areas at Earl L Vandermeulen HS, Port Jefferson Middle School, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, Spring Street and Spring Street Learning Center, for the control of weeds. Applications will take place during the month of September at times when school is not in session. While this application does not require a waiver, this notification is being made to keep the community informed. For further information contact the Port Jefferson UFSD Operations and Maintenance Office at 631-791-4261. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141839 Wed, 04 Sep 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141839 Board of Education Meeting Notices PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on August 29, 2013, 12:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of approving the 2013-14 APPR plan and specific personnel items needed for school opening. The regular monthly business meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on September 10, 2013, 7:30 p.m. at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The Board will be meeting at 6:00 p.m. in executive session to discuss matters related to personnel and negotiations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141838 Tue, 27 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141838 Incoming Students Welcomed to the Middle School Members of the Port Jefferson faculty, administration, Board of Education and PTSA gathered to greet incoming sixth-grade students at the district’s annual back-to-school barbecue on Aug. 22. Attendees were introduced to Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Antonio Santana who welcomed students to their new setting. “I am looking forward to getting to know this class,” Santana said. “It’s going to be a great year.” Friends and family members lined the hallways as students decorated their lockers in preparation for the first day of classes. Back-to-school jitters were outshined by the evident excitement for the new academic year to begin. “I’m excited to take art classes,” one student said. “Art is something I really love and I think there will be even more opportunities for me to learn about it in the middle school.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141837 Mon, 26 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141837 Letter from Commissioner of Education August 2013 Message from Commissioner King Dear Colleagues: The recent release of the grades 3-8 ELA and math test results presents both an opportunity and a challenge for all of us. We know that by setting this new baseline using the Common Core Standards, we have a better understanding of where our students are on the path to college and career readiness. But with this opportunity comes challenges, particularly around communicating about the results with parents and families as well as the broader public. In conjunction with the score release, we have emphasized that the new proficiency rates must not be used to criticize our schools, principals, and teachers. We have explained that the results do not mean schools taught less than last year or that students learned less than last year. We have tried to focus the public discourse on the commitment to college and career readiness for all students that has led 45 states and the District of Columbia, K-12 educators, higher education, and the business community to embrace the Common Core. I am grateful for the hard work of New York educators over the past three years to make the shifts in instruction required by the Common Core. I appreciate the commitment, professionalism, and determination to prepare all students for college and career success displayed by educators across the State as these first Common Core assessment results have been released. We must continue striving together to ensure that our communities and parents understand that these results do not reflect a decline in performance but rather a higher set of expectations consistent with college and career readiness in the 21st century. We must also continue the hard work of the past three years to make the shifts in instruction required by the Common Core, such as asking students to read more challenging fiction and non-fiction, to write more frequently using evidence drawn from text, and to apply their math skills to solve real world problems. By collaboratively focusing on the Common Core instructional shifts, analyzing student work to develop strategies to support the success of all students with respect to the Common Core, and celebrating excellence in teaching, we will be able to accelerate our collective efforts to prepare all of our students to succeed in college and careers. To help you interpret and communicate about the 3-8 tests and results, we provide a set of resources with the score release outlined below. We share these materials with the goal of continuing our collective focus on instruction. Teaching is at the Core of this work. Our goal is to support your efforts to prepare your students and communities for the demands of the Core. Below are descriptions of the resources, as well as suggestions for how to use them in your practice. All of these resources can be found at http://www.engageny.org/resource/interpreting-3-8-ela-mathematics-tests-results-score-reports. Thank you for all the work you are doing to prepare for a successful school year ahead. Dr. John B. King, Jr. Commissioner https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141836 Wed, 21 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141836 District Calendar is now available https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141835 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141835 Updated Superintendent's Message https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141834 Mon, 12 Aug 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141834 HS Named School of Distinction The New York State Public High School Athletic Association has named Earl L. Vandermeulen High School a 2012-2013 Scholar/Athlete Team School of Distinction. Every varsity interscholastic athletic team in the 2012-2013 school year qualified for and received the Scholar/Athlete Team Award distinction, meaning that all teams earned a 90 percent GPA or better during the academic year. “Although this is a varsity award, it would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of our coaches on every level,” said Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Debra Ferry. “Everyone promotes academics first.” The NYSPHSAA will be sending the high school a School of Distinction trophy and certificate this fall to commemorate its outstanding achievement. “I look forward to many more years of success from our Port Jefferson athletes and coaches,” said Ferry. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141833 Mon, 29 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141833 Attention! The Port Jefferson UFSD will be applying Roundup ProMax The Port Jefferson UFSD will be applying Roundup ProMax® to the boundary of wooded areas at Earl L Vandermeulen HS, Port Jefferson Middle School, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and the Scraggy Athletic Fields, for the control of poison ivy. Applications will take place between Thursday July 18, 2013 and Friday July 19, 2013 from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. If a second application is necessary it will be made on Monday July 29, 2013 and Tuesday July 30, 2013 from 6:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For further information contact the Port Jefferson UFSD Operations and Maintenance Office at 631-791-4261. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141832 Tue, 16 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141832 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A workshop session of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on July 25, 2013, 4:00 p.m., at the District Office. The Board will be entering executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141831 Thu, 11 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141831 Student-Musicians March With Pride in Village Parade On July 4, members of the district's fifth-grade band marched in the Village of Port Jefferson's annual Fourth of July Parade on Main Street. Led by music teacher Mark Abbonizio, the elementary school students performed patriotic favorites as they marched along the parade route. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141830 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141830 Band Students Perform At L.I. Ducks Game Fifth- and sixth-grade band students performed the national anthem at Bethpage Ballpark, home of the Long Island Ducks baseball team, on June 22. The event, organized by elementary school music teacher Mark Abbonizio, doubled as a fundraiser for the Class of 2020, as many Port Jefferson parents and family members attended the game in support of the student- musicians. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141556 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141556 Fourth-Graders Use Character to Bring History to Life Elementary school students in Kari Costanzo’s, Gina Santini’s and Nancy Winkler-Brogan’s fourth-grade classes participated in an in-class “wax museum” that featured important historical figures from the Revolutionary War time period and beyond. The lesson served as a culmination of the students’ social studies curriculum. “Students researched their specific figures, noting important facts and turning points in the lives of their assigned person,” said Santini. “Using the data they had collected, they composed biographical speeches that they recited for parents and other visitors at the museum.” Prior to the event, the fourth-graders read, listened to, analyzed and discussed important speeches in history to prepare their own. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141557 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141557 Rotary Honors Most Motivated Student of the Year Middle school eighth-grader Alexa Wakefield was honored by the Port Jefferson Rotary Club this July as the Most Motivated Student of the Year. Alexa was selected to receive this distinction as well as the Annual Rotary Eighth-Grade Scholarship based upon her unwavering commitment to community service. She has sold puzzle pieces, bracelets and more to raise funds to support a variety of causes, such as autism awareness and the local food pantry. “Alexa is an all-around great person,” lauded middle school principal and Rotarian Antonio Santana. “Her continuous efforts made her an easy selection to receive this distinction.” Alexa’s future plans include spearheading a special fundraising project that will benefit Hope House Ministries. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141558 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141558 Board Of Education Organizes for 2013-2014 School Year During the July 2 Board of Education meeting, Port Jefferson School District trustees and administrators prepared for the start of the 2013-2014 school year. Trustee Kathleen Brennan was re-elected as board president and James Laffey was elected as vice president. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141559 Tue, 09 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141559 APPOINTMENT OF ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL PreK-12 At a public meeting of the Board of Education held July 2, 2013, the Board unanimously appointed Christine Austen as Assistant Principal PreK-12, effective July 3, 2013. After a thorough and lengthy screening and interview process, Mrs. Austen surfaced as the superior candidate. Her commitment and dedication to the district has shown through her outstanding work as Library Media Specialist, Technology Integration Specialist, and Dean of Students. She brings with her a wealth of knowledge in curriculum and instructional areas, district and building procedures, and is familiar with students, parents and the community – all of which bring stability and experience to the building team. Additionally, Mrs. Austen has a vast background and training in Technology and will chair the district’s technology committee. She is replacing Mr. Leonard Bozza who served with us in an interim capacity. Join us in welcoming Christine Austen as she assumes her new role as Assistant Principal. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141555 Wed, 03 Jul 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141555 Distinguished Science Students Awarded Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students continue to receive awards for their outstanding academic achievement in the fields of mathematics and science. Sophomore Noah Davis has been presented with the New York American Chemical Society High School Award. This award is granted to the top chemistry students of each high school in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens counties. Noah was selected for this distinction by the school’s science instructors. Junior Danielle Grier has been awarded the Rensselaer Medal on behalf of the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, which is presented to students who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science. Only one student from each participating high school can be nominated for the award. Junior Kent Ueno received the Bausch and Lomb Science Award from the University of Rochester based on his rigorous course selection and academic excellence in science. Both Danielle and Kent’s awards are accompanied with scholarship opportunities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141554 Wed, 26 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141554 Port Jefferson Celebrates the Class of 2013 On June 21, the district community honored the high school graduating class of 2013 at the school’s annual commencement ceremony. Attendees gathered on the high school’s athletic grounds for a beautiful evening filled with pride, hope and joy. Student Organization President Amanda San Roman spoke fondly of the Port Jefferson community and how its intimate size and setting allowed for the closest and most special bonds to be made. “I hope before you head off for the future that you take a step back from the busyness of life and realize how wonderful of a place this has been to grow up in,” she said to classmates. Zachary Graziano delivered a witty and inspirational salutatorian address in which he urged his classmates to embrace the moments in life that are most meaningful. He reminded listeners to “not forget about doing things for no reason at all” amidst performing the necessities of adulthood. “Don’t hesitate to do something small and insignificant without any thought or motive behind it,” he said. Parent speaker and head custodian of the middle and high school Joan Lyons talked of her experience as an employee, student parent and community member of the district. She also spoke of her particular closeness to the graduating class, as she has watched them grow since they entered the school in the sixth grade. Lyons encouraged the students to always do their best regardless of their status in life. “No matter what you do, know every night when you put your head down that you did the best job you could do,” she said. “Do not skimp or hurt other people. Be the best person that you can be and everything else will fall into place.” Following, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert delivered his remarks in which he thanked the entire faculty, staff and administration that had helped shaped the lives of the graduates throughout their academic careers. He then recounted the highlights and admirable characteristics of the Class of 2013. “They care for and support one another and are high achievers who have raised the bar of excellence for all who follow,” said Bossert. “They have made a commitment to healthy choices, and have learned to balance academics with commitment and dedication to athletics, music and the performing arts. They are headed off to some of the most prestigious learning institutions, and some are leaving to protect our freedom as members of our military. I am confident that they will continue to impress and be successful in whatever path in life they take.” Class President Gregory Klesaris announced the class gifts from the graduates to the school, offered to help enrich and enhance the experiences of future Earl L. Vandermeulen seniors to come. The class also began a new tradition of signing an enlarged, framed class photo to be hung in the school’s cafeteria hallway. Gregory then invited teacher Laurie McMillen on stage to receive an honorary diploma from the high school for her 33 years of dedicated service to the district. McMillen recently resigned for the purpose of retirement. “We couldn’t have asked for a more caring and compassionate teacher,” said Interim Pre-K-12 Assistant Principal Leonard Bozza. “She is a role model to our entire faculty.” Valedictorian Gabriel Davis reflected on his time at Port Jefferson and the close bonds that were fostered within the loving and nurturing school community. “To the entire faculty of Port Jefferson High School – I thank you for not only bestowing upon us your wisdom and pouring your hearts into your curricula, but also for believing in us and supporting us,” he said. Bozza delivered the closing words on behalf of high school Principal Dr. Matthew Murphy, who shared the most important things that he had learned from the graduates throughout the past year. “You can and must prepare for the tests of life by knowing who you really are and by staying true to your own moral values and ethical standards,” said Bozza. The evening concluded with the traditional cap toss and bittersweet tears from many as the high school orchestra, led by Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello, gave a powerful instrumental performance of “Secrets” by the popular group One Republic. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141553 Tue, 25 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141553 Eighth-Graders Step Up to High School The 111 members of the middle school eighth-grade class were honored on June 20 at the school’s annual moving-up ceremony. Family and friends joined in the recognition of the graduates by faculty, staff and administration. The grade 7/8 orchestra, under the direction of orchestra teacher Christian Neubert, provided musical accompaniment throughout the evening. Middle School Principal Antonio Santana greeted attendees and introduced eighth-grade class president Chandler Sciara, who reflected upon the year on behalf of his peers. Class trips, field days and school dances were all part of the wonderful memories that Chandler recounted as he instilled excitement for high school within his classmates. Members of the middle school faculty, PTSA and local community conducted the presentation of 30 awards that applauded students for their efforts in academics, athletics, music, fine arts, character and more. Congratulatory remarks were delivered Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who also presented the graduates with their diplomas. “To the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Class of 2017: Many of you have been students in Port Jefferson since pre-K, and over the past few years you have demonstrated many fine qualities to your parents and teachers,” he said. “You have accomplished a great deal up to this point and have given us many reasons to be proud and occasions to celebrate. This ceremony is, however, not an end, but a beginning. Your transition to the high school gives you the opportunity to reflect and set goals.” Dr. Bossert encouraged students to take advantage of all of the opportunities presented to them over the next four years in high school and to find their niche within the school community. Mr. Santana closed out the evening’s festivities with some parting words for the graduates by spiritual author Marianne Williamson. “‘Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate,’” he quoted. “‘Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.’” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141552 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141552 Port Jefferson High School Prom The public viewing for the Senior Prom on Monday, June 24th is from 4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m. The prom begins at8:00 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141551 Mon, 24 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141551 Success is Elementary for New Middle School Class On June 19, the district recognized its fifth-grade students during the annual Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth-grade moving-up ceremony. Ninety graduates were honored throughout the evening, beginning with the presentation of awards, which highlighted the effort and dedication of students in the areas of academics, citizenship, public service and character. The first guest speaker of the night, parent Elisa Scott, made remarks on behalf of the fifth-grade parents. She encouraged the young graduates to find their dreams and take hold of them, knowing that they will always have the support of their families. “Middle school will be an adventure filled with new experiences,” said Scott. “We love you, are so very proud of you and know that you can absolutely accomplish anything that you put your mind to. You all represent the very best of us.” The fifth-grade graduation committee, represented by Karen Booker and Cheryl Knapp, revealed the class gift – the planting of trees at the elementary school to replace ones that were damaged during Superstorm Sandy. Additionally, the class made a $1,000 donation to We Build New York, a community-based nonprofit organization that brings together professionals, skilled tradesmen and volunteers to help individuals return to a safe living environment after natural disasters. Band instructor Mark Abbonizio delivered the staff remarks, bestowing words of wisdom upon the soon-to-be middle school students. “Try to learn from your mistakes,” he said. “Try just being yourself around your friends and accepting others for who they are, and try to live a life without regrets.” These sentiments were echoed in the remarks of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who quoted Walt Disney by saying, “All of your dreams can come true if you have the courage to pursue them.” Chorus and music instructor Jessica Pastor then directed the class in their performance of the song “Count on Me,” as made famous by Bruno Mars. Offering the closing remarks to the graduating class was Edna Louise Spear Principal Thomas Meehan, who expressed his fondness of each and every student. “I have learned that nothing is more important or is more fun than a job that you enjoy,” he said, “and I have this class to thank for that.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141549 Sun, 23 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141549 Softball Royals Recognized at Awards Dinner The district congratulates the high school varsity softball team and coach Deborah Edgar-Brown on their recognition at a recent awards dinner. Melanie Dambeck, Melissa Darling and Shannon Fee were named All-League athletes. Morgan Sakovich was awarded All-County and All-Tournament. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141550 Sun, 23 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141550 Third-Graders Bring Ancient Egypt to Port Jeff To culminate an extensive study of ancient and present-day Egypt, elementary school students in Doreen Marullo’s third-grade class assembled their very own Egyptian museum. The “MOMA” (Museum of Marullo’s Authors) was created to showcase the beautiful writing and artwork the children had produced over the past two months. Their work included poems, research papers, recipe books, a fashion magazine, games, maps, a brochure, buttons, jewelry, Rosetta Stones, burial chambers, Egyptian-style paintings, music videos and more. “This fun and exciting hands-on history lesson has also helped the children to develop efficient computer research skills and has enhanced their ability to write about specific topics,” said Marullo. Several members of the staff worked tirelessly to assemble the exhibit, which included an 8-foot tall pyramid, a candle-lit "tunnel" decorated with hieroglyphics and a burial chamber featuring its own mummy. The art and music departments also collaborated with Marullo in creating some of the art projects and music videos. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141545 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141545 Student-Musician to Attend Oyster Bay Music Festival Middle school sixth-grader Annalisa Welinder has been awarded a full scholarship to attend the second annual Oyster Bay Music Festival, a weeklong performance-intensive program for highly gifted young musicians. From July 6-14, talented music students from Long Island will participate in an immersion program that will offer free classical music concerts presenting solo and chamber repertoire. Festival directors have described it as “global music with local flavor,” as the performances will take place within the Oyster Bay community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141546 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141546 Board Honors Students, Faculty and Administration for Outstanding Service During their June meeting, the district’s Board of Education paid tribute to several members of the district’s faculty, administration and student body for their dedication and commitment to excellence. The evening’s recognitions commended student-recipients of the President’s Volunteer Service Award, a program that encourages people to live a life of service and inspire other to take positive action to change the world. Next, middle school principal Antonio Santana congratulated teachers Kandice Brucella, Kayleen Moran and Kristine Vaccaro on receiving tenure. “Hard-working, conscientious, responsible and reliable are all words that can easily be used to describe these young educators,” said Santana. “Collectively, they share a drive that pushes them to ensure their students’ success.” Brucella, a special education teacher in the high school and middle school, has taught various preps that range from being a resource room teacher to a subject area inclusion teacher in a classroom to a learning support teacher of students in a small setting. She is also the junior class adviser. Moran, an English language arts teacher for grades 7-12, has worked in various capacities for the school district, including junior class adviser. Mathematics and special education teacher Vaccaro works in both the high school and middle school and is the Leo Club adviser. Susan Federico, the middle and high school nurse, also received tenure and was thanked by Santana for her continual efforts. The meeting proceeded with the recognition of teacher’s aide Susan Kempe, who has resigned for the purpose of retirement. “Sue is always there with a smile, no matter what it is she is doing,” said Santana, who works with Kempe at the middle school on a daily basis. “She has been a great resource that we are truly going to miss.” Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert then spoke about science teacher Laurie McMillen, who has also resigned for the purpose of retirement. During the 33 years McMillen has worked in the district, she has served in many capacities, including co-adviser of the Academic Team, class adviser at all grade levels, co-adviser of the National Honor Society, Student Council adviser and head of the science department. Additionally, she has worked with the school’s Odyssey of the Mind and Science Olympiad teams as well as the SCIMATECH club. “She is leaving at the top of her game as a master instructor who has done wonderful things with our students,” said Bossert. “I know that they will reap the benefits of working with her for many years to come.” The board then acknowledged the dedication and commitment of departing trustee Dr. Dennis Kahn, who has been a member of the board for nine years. “His priority has always been what is best for our children,” said Board President Kathleen Brennan. Kahn, who is also president of the Infant Jesus Basketball Program, took the opportunity to publicly thank the board for their continued support of the league. “The cornerstone of the program has always been Port Jefferson,” said Kahn, who also commented on how remarkable education through sports is. “Without you, these children’s lives would not have been touched. It is so important to give children the opportunity to excel. You never stand as tall as when you reach out to help a child.” High school senior class president Gregory Klesaris was next recognized for his comprehensive reports to the board throughout the school year as the Board of Education student representative. “You have devoted a great deal of time and effort to the board and have represented your peers in a very nice way,” said Brennan. To conclude the acknowledgments, Acting Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services Carmen Iannotti was thanked for his service to the district. “Carmen is probably best known in Suffolk County as the leading authority and top resource in the area of special education,” said Bossert. “In the year that you have given yourself to this district, you have done wonderful things that have touched so many students and faculty members in a positive way.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141547 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141547 Dismissal Times Elementary: June 17-19 - Regular Dismissal June 20 - 11 a.m. June 21 - 10:15 a.m. MS/HS: June 17-20 - Please see testing Schedule posted to Building Website June 21 - Regular Pick-Up, Dismissal 8 a.m. -- Report Card DraftsDistributed (Final Report Cards available via Parent Portal on June 28) *Please note June 21 is a full day for faculty/staff https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141544 Mon, 17 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141544 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICES A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on June 24, 2013, 6:00 p.m., in the conference room at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. The annual reorganization meeting and regular monthly business meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on July, 2, 2013, in the large group room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The reorganization meeting will commence at 7:00 p.m., followed by the business meeting at 7:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141540 Wed, 12 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141540 Boys Varsity Track Places at State Championship Eight members of the high school boys varsity track team competed in the New York State Track and Field Championships held in Middletown, N.Y. The Port Jefferson student-athletes competed in the following events: Cihad Akkaya – long jump Justin Bove – 4x400-meter relay James Burke – 1600-meter, 800-meter and 4x400-meter relays Danny Gross – 110-meter high hurdles and 400-meter intermediate hurdles Noah Kirschner – 4x400-meter relay Jake Lovera – 4x400-meter relay Jasper Rubin-Sigler – 100-meter dash Dennis Walsh – 400-meter and 4x400-meter relays New York State Championships Results: 3rd Place – Justin Bove, James Burke, Noah Kirschner and Jake Lovera in the Division II 4x400- meter relay with a time of 3:24.3 4th Place – James Burke in the Division II 800-meter with a time of 1:53.49 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141541 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141541 ‘Horton Hears the Who!’ at the Elementary School The Scraggy Drama Club of the elementary school performed “Horton Hears the Who!” on May 31. The club, comprised of fourth- and fifth-grade students, rehearsed for two months leading up to the performance. Based on the Dr. Seuss book by the same name, the play tells the story of Horton the Elephant and his discovery of a community of miniature people called the Whos. The student-actors took the audience through colorful scenes from the book that included the town of Whoville and the Jungle of Nool. The driving moral of the story, “a person’s a person, no matter how small,” was reinforced throughout the play in Horton’s various attempts to convince the other jungle animals that the microscopic Whos really do exist. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141542 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141542 Students Have a Ball at Field Day Eighth-grade students at the middle school recently participated in the school’s annual Field Day, organized by physical education teachers Dinarae Camarda, Andrew Cosci, James Mimnaugh and Alycia Petitto. The day began with a barbecue lunch provided by the Parent Teacher Student Organization. The students were then divided into five teams which competed in several events to decide the day’s winner, including kickball, tail tag, tug of war, and various track events. The white team, led by Dr. Tara Sladek-Maharg, came in first place. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141543 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141543 AP Community Forum Follow-up Pleaseread the attached letter regarding theAP Community Forum Follow-up. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141539 Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141539 The Benefits of Playing with Your Food Elementary school students in Kristen Poulos’ class, with the help of Dr. Allyson Carlson, recently welcomed special guest and local business owner Lainie Wasserman Litovsky from the well-known Lainie’s Way specialty toy and game shop located on Main Street in Port Jefferson. Together, the group played educational, sandwich-stacking games from the store. Students followed instructions for various activities in which they utilized oversized felt pieces of bread, sandwich meats, cheeses and condiments to make multiple sandwich combinations. The games were intended to help the students improve on their memory and matching skills. One relay activity challenged students to balance the sandwiches on their heads as a fun way to better their coordination and teamwork skills. “I had been looking forward to working with these students since I was first invited to visit,” said Litovsky. “They are a great group and are so wonderful.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141535 Sun, 09 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141535 Fourth-Grader Takes Third in National History Bee The District would like to congratulate elementary school student Lucas Welinder, a fourth-grader in Kristen Boney’s class and SEAL student in Paige Lohmann and Kimberly Pelkonen’s class, who has impressed all by winning third place in the National History Bee’s National Championship. A total of 51 students nationwide qualified for the competition; only 32, however, were able to attend. Lucas was one of six students from the New York region who made it to the finals. Students were given curriculum-based questions centered on history and Common Core Standards. Fifty percent of the questions were based on world history and the remaining half on American history. The competition was divided into two rounds and required participants to pass the first in order to advance. The first part of the competition was comprised of five rounds totaling 30 questions. Students were given time to interpret and analyze the question asked and then had 10 seconds to answer. The top 10 students with the highest scores, which included Lucas, moved to the second round. The remaining competitors went head-to-head in a buzzer round consisting of 55 questions. Lucas, the youngest of the top three competitors, was awarded third place. The district congratulates Lucas on this incredible and outstanding accomplishment. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141536 Sun, 09 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141536 CSI Team at the Scene of Success The high school CSI Club competed in the 2013 CSI Challenge at Stony Brook University on June 3. The team, which placed 15th overall, had a unique opportunity to conduct a full-scale investigation of a fictional crime. Prior to the competition, students were required to read a story and look for investigative leads that would help them during the physical activities of the challenge. “The competition itself consisted of a realistic, hands-on approach to experiencing what forensic scientists, detectives and other law enforcement agents do to solve crimes,” said team coach Adam Bouchard. Students had to take and lift fingerprints, search, sketch and photograph crime scenes and match them to evidence, make casts of footprints, perform chromatography techniques, utilize computer forensics evidence and even interrogate possible suspects. They were also required to analyze bite marks, bones, ballistics, hair and fibers as well as toxicology and blood evidence. During the competition, students collaborated by sharing evidence and their thoughts on who may have committed the crime. Eventually, the team came to a consensus and presented their investigation report to law enforcement agents, who acted as judges for the contest. “The competition is very challenging and rewarding for the students,” said Bouchard. “It allows them to see how science can be applied to a real-life situation. To some, it may even open a door to a career in forensics or law enforcement.” Team Roster: Jessie Eichinger Maxwell Famularo Emilie Jourdain Evan Lahey Gaby Martinez Leah Neiman Adam Nieves Julianna Pollina Thomas Pon Allie Raso Robert Righi Steven Rose Maria Simmerling Rebecca Spinner Allicyn Takakjian https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141537 Sun, 09 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141537 Seniors Honored for Excellence at Awards Night Family, faculty, staff and members of the local community came together on May 30 to celebrate the outstanding achievements of the high school graduating class of 2013 at the annual Senior Awards Night. More than 75 awards and scholarships were given to 61 seniors who had distinguished themselves in the areas of academic achievement, community service, leadership and citizenship during their four years. The ceremony began with the awarding of local scholarships, which totaled more than $36,000. These scholarships were made possible by the generosity of local business, civic associations, unions, professional associations and individuals that support the school’s memorial awards. Accolades continued with the presentation of achievement awards, including the New York State Attorney General Triple “C” Award, the Congressional Merit Award and the Official Army Reserve National Scholar/Athlete Award. Next, members of the faculty took the stage to present departmental awards to students who exceeded expectations in subjects ranging from band to 3-D design. Students were also commended for their dedication and commitment during the citizenship awards portion of the evening. The night concluded with the academic scholarship awards, which included Most Valuable Student, the Presidential Academic of Excellence Award, and the awarding of salutatorian and valedictorian of the Class of 2013. The high school valedictorian, Gabriel Davis, has a weighted GPA of 100.5. He maintained this average while completing 28 Advanced Placement credits and will be attending Washington University in St. Louis, where he will major in political science. Gabriel also held positions as vice president of the senior class, captain of the New York State championship-winning varsity soccer team and point guard for the varsity boys basketball team. This year’s salutatorian, Zachary Graziano, has a weighted GPA of 99.57, which he achieved while earning a total of 29 AP credits. In the fall, Zachary will be attending Tufts University, where he will study biochemistry. He also received recognition from the American Chemical Society for his outstanding scholastic achievement in high school chemistry, was captain of the high school academic team and completed an internship at Cold Spring Harbor, where he conducted neurological research. “We have some outstanding women and men sitting in front of us,” said high school principal Dr. Matthew Murphy in his closing remarks. “They are our future.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141538 Sun, 09 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141538 Students Take Lessons from the Top Stony Brook University doctoral music students visited the students of the middle school and high school this month as part of a music outreach program for their performance/master class series. The visiting SUNY chamber group worked to provide the students with an enriching learning experience within an intimate educational setting. “It has been so wonderful bringing in these ensembles to work with the students,” said Dr. Vanessa Salzman, the orchestra director for the elementary and middle school. “Our students benefit from a fresh face and from having the experience of ‘true’ performers working with them and playing for them live.” The Stony Brook musicians met with orchestra and band students in grades 6-8 to help them improve upon their performance of selected pieces. Rehearsals took place in the high school’s auditorium and music classrooms and served as an informational session in which students were granted insight into becoming better performers. Near the end of the lesson, the Stony Brook ensemble performed for students Sergei Prokofiev's Quintet in G minor, Op. 39, scored for oboe, clarinet, violin, viola and double bass. Afterwards, the group opened the floor to commentary and questions. The experience was made possible by the Staller Center for the Arts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141533 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141533 Flower Deliveries Bring Bouquets of Smiles Middle school students in Michelle Landetta's class recently put together beautiful flower arrangements and delivered them to members of the staff in both the middle school and high school. The recipients of this random act of kindness were happily surprised. “The flowers are beautiful,” said middle school nurse Susan Federico. “They brightened my office and my day!” “Not only did this activity make people’s day better, but it was also about following oral directions to put the bouquet together,” said Landetta. “Students also had an opportunity to improve upon conversational and social skills that we have been working on all year with speech therapist Stacia Schoen.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141534 Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141534 Students Elect Leaders of Tomorrow The Student Organization at the high school recently held class officer elections for the 2013-2014 school year. All students in grades 9-11 participated in the voting process on May 31, which was organized and run by the senior class and current Student Organization officers. Everyone was eligible to vote for their future class officers as well as the new Student Organization representatives, who had run a poster campaign throughout the school hallways the week prior to the vote. Current S.O. President Amanda San Roman announced the up-and-coming officers to the school over the P.A. system before dismissal on the 31st. The eighth grade will be voting for their future grade nine officers the week of June 3. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141531 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141531 Latin Language Students End Year ‘Cum Laude’ Members of the middle school and high school staff and administration joined with parents to honor the outstanding achievements of the more than 50 students who participated in the March 2013 National Latin Exam. More than 154,000 students from all 50 states and 15 foreign countries participated. Edward Finkelstein, Chiara Rabeno, Victoria Sund and Luigia Than achieved a perfect score on the 2013 Introduction to Latin National Latin Exam. Only 688 out of more than 19,100 students who participated in this exam attained this distinction. Similarly, Eric Kilgore (Latin II), William Witrock (Latin II) and Noah Davis (Latin III) received perfect scores. Only 792 students out of more than 140,000 who participated in this exam attained this distinction. Additionally, Leah Neiman, Alberto Rescia and Kent Ueno have each won a gold medal for the past four consecutive years and have been awarded an Oxford Classical Dictionary in recognition of this prestigious accomplishment. Level I Certificate of Merit (Perfect Score of 40): Edward Finkelstein, Chiara Rabeno, Victoria Sund and Luigia Than Level I Outstanding Achievement (Score of 36-39): John Collins, Anna Desan, Xinyi Hong, Connor Kaminska, Michael Kennedy, Isabella Koutsantanou, Louis Martin-Deprez, Matthew Pifko and Arunima Roy Level I Achievement (Score of 32-35): Svenya Drees, James Kennedy, Brennan Lux and Julia Melucci Latin II Gold Medal, Summa Cum Laude: Ginny Albinson, Rachel Collins, Thomas Hull, Eric Kilgore, Courtney Lewis, Anita Rescia, Elisa Ueno and William Witrock Latin II Silver Medal, Maxima Cum Laude: Nicholas Hartmann Latin II, Magna Cum Laude: Lev Bershadsky, Troy Lov, Emma Martin and Paul Simmerling Latin III Gold Medal, Summa Cum Laude: Neil Alvarez, Ryan Burke, Carly Cherches, Noah Davis, Julia Kharzeev, Margo Martin, Lara Sarubbi and Natasha Zaliznyak Latin III Cum Laude: Johs Frederick, Ju Mi Ha, Dunia Karzai and Jessica Lewis Latin IV Gold Medal, Summa Cum Laude: Leah Neiman, Alberto Rescia and Kent Ueno https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141532 Tue, 04 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141532 School Wears Blue for Autism Awareness Students, faculty and staff at the elementary school have been making great strides to educate themselves and others as well as raise awareness about autism. Recently, members of the school were invited to wear blue – the color associated with Autism Speaks’ “Light It Up for Autism” movement – as a symbol of unity. They also had the opportunity to purchase and wear autism awareness bracelets, with proceeds benefiting Autism Speaks. Earlier in the month, members of the third-grade class performed an educational skit about autism for their peers on the school’s informational broadcast “The Scraggy News.” Additionally, faculty members recently participated in a local autism awareness run/walk. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141530 Mon, 03 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141530 Port Jefferson Makes the Grade The district is proud to announce that Earl L. Vandermeulen High School students received a collective score of 1,678 on the 2012 SATs, ranking the school No. 11 on Long Island and No. 2 in Suffolk County in SAT scores. According to statistics published by Newsday, the 92 Port Jefferson test-takers had a mean critical reading score of 556, math score of 573 and writing score of 549. The announcement bolsters other recent rankings by Newsweek and the Washington Post, which named Earl L. Vandermeulen High School as a Best High School in America and a Most Challenging High School in the United States. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141529 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141529 Burke Shines, Port Jeff Athletes Advance to States On May 31st and June 1st, Port Jefferson played host to the Section XI Track and Field State Qualifier. Top athletes from all of Suffolk County competed for the right to compete at the NYSPHSAA Championships, to be held next weekend in Middletown. Port Jefferson sophomore James Burke was among those who advanced, as he won both the 800m and 1600m at the meet, as well as leading his team to a sixth place finish in the 4x400m relay. Burke's time of 1:53.73 in the 800m puts him tenth in the state, and his 4:13.72 performance in the 1600m places him eighth. The latter time earned him a State Qualifier meet record. The 4x400m relay, which consisted of Justin Bove, Noah Kirchner, Jake Lovera, and Burke, currently sits second in the state for Division 2, behind only Bayport-Blue Point. Their time of 3:24.37 was less than a second off the school record. Other high performers included Danny Gross and Cihad Akkaya, who both qualified in two events. Gross was the top Division 2 performer in both the 110 and 400 meter hurdles, and Akkaya claimed top honors in the Division 2 long and triple jumps. Jasper Rubin-Sigler and Dennis Walsh also qualified, winning the Division 2 100 and 400 meters, respectively. Kirsten Crovello was the lone qualifier for the girls, clearing 4 feet, 10 inches in the high jump. We wish these athletes the best of luck at the state meet, and for those continuing to compete, at Nationals in Greensboro in two weeks. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141528 Sun, 02 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141528 Celebrating Memorial Day Students of the Port Jefferson School District learned about and recognized Memorial Day in special ways this May as they transitioned into the summer season. On May 24, elementary school teachers Deanna Lilimpakis and Nancy Quinn gave their students the opportunity to learn about Memorial Day through hands-on classroom activity centers. Students were able to learn more about various aspects of the holiday by creating American flags, writing poems using patriotic vocabulary words and searching for objects hidden in red, white and blue confetti. “Not only do the children get to learn about the importance of Memorial Day through fun activities, but they also use this time to improve their sensory and fine motor skills,” said Lilimpakis. At the middle school, Michelle Landetta’s class hosted a themed event that incorporated recent discussions about the holiday and its significance into seasonal activities. “The students learned that although the most important part of Memorial Day is honoring the men and women who died serving our country, it is also about the beginning of summer,” said Landetta. “Since it is a popular time for families and friends to come together, we decided to have a class picnic.” In preparation, students worked collectively on event setup and preparation of healthy, festive fruit parfaits. In addition, they were able to improve their conversation initiation skills by talking to peers. The celebration ended with beach ball games as a reward for a job well done. Faculty and staff at the elementary school participated in Jeans for Troops, a fundraiser to benefit the GI Go Fund, a nonprofit charity that assists veterans with their return from Iraq and Afghanistan, in honor of the holiday. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141526 Thu, 30 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141526 Team’s Accomplishments Add Up On May 20, high school Mathletes team adviser Dennis Christofor and sophomore Ryan Burke attended the Suffolk County Math Teachers Association awards dinner. There, Ryan received two individual awards – second place in the Suffolk County Level IV Pre-Calculus Math Contest and the High Scorer Award for correctly answering 23 out of 30 questions, which ranked him 19th out of 850 participants in the county. As Mathletes team captain, he also accepted the third-place Senior High A Team Award for Mathletes Division I. Team Members: Ryan Burke Vicky Ding Ju Mi Ha Evan Lahey Romain Popescu Alberto Rescia Kent Ueno https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141527 Thu, 30 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141527 Art and Music Show Brings Forte On May 22, the students and staff of the high school’s music and art departments showcased their finest works for the eyes and ears of all who attended their spring concert. The evening, which served as a sort of finale to the district’s year-end performances, boasted multiple displays of artwork, organized by art teachers Lynne Edsall and Carrie Morgan, and included self-portraits, drawings, pottery, 2-D designs, masks and more. A large portrait of celebrity Ellen DeGeneres painted on a wall in one of the school’s main hallways was the end result of a “mystery painting” project created by the drawing and painting class. Earlier in the year, students had been given seemingly random colored squares that they had to recreate until the larger picture was revealed. Guests were later welcomed to the school’s auditorium for stellar performances by the high school orchestra, led by Michael Caravello, chamber choir, directed by Jason Crockett, choir, led by Jason Crockett and accompanied by Jeanette Cooper, and wind ensemble, directed by Christine Creighton. The musical portion of the evening kicked off with a spirited performance of “Top Gun Anthem,” during which images of the U.S. Navy's Blue Angels played on a projection screen. The concert continued with a mix of popular songs such as “Bless the Broken Road,” famously performed by Rascal Flatts, and classical selections from composers such as Mozart and Bach. The combination of new and old, which also included a medley of Super Mario Brothers music, culminated in a wonderful exhibition of talent that was enjoyed by all. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141525 Tue, 28 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141525 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE The regular monthly business meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on June 11, 2013, 7:00 p.m., in the large group room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141524 Tue, 28 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141524 A Message from the Superintendent Dear Residents, The Memorial Day weekend is the time we honor the brave men and women who died in service to this country as members of the armed forces. As we begin this three-day weekend, let us all remember, in earnest, the loved ones in our families and those of our neighbors and friends who have made the greatest sacrifice in the name of this country. This weekend also represents an informal 'final turn' as we kick toward the finish line of the school year, which follows a successful vote on the proposed school budget on Tuesday. The budget was approved by a wide margin (656-244), and on behalf of the the Board of Education and our staff, I thank the community for its continued good will and generous support. We are all looking forward to a warm June and the upcoming graduations as a celebration of student success. I would also like to welcome our newest Board of Education member, Mr. Adam DeWitt, who was joined by current Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan and currentmember Ellen Boehm in their successful bids to remain on the Board of Education. Finally, I offer best wishes to Dr. Dennis Kahn, who did not win back a seat in this election, but who deserves our community's thanks fornine years of devoted service. Sincerely, Dr. Kenneth Bossert Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141523 Fri, 24 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141523 Budget Vote and Board Election Results Budget Yes - 656 No - 244 Board of Education Ellen Boehm - 639 Kathleen Brennan - 637 Adam DeWitt - 615 Dennis Kahn - 430 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141522 Tue, 21 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141522 Edna Louise Spear Hosts 13th Annual Walk/Run Students in grades K-5 at the elementary school participated in the district’s 13th Annual Walk/Run event. Every spring, students participate in a fitness unit called “Walk Across America” as part of their physical education curriculum. Over a period of about five weeks, participants run and walk during their physical education classes, accumulating miles that are tracked and plotted on a map of the United States. The grade levels compete with each other as they travel throughout different states on the map in a friendly race across the country, which ends in California over 3,000 miles away. “Students enjoy a friendly competition and learn about the different states all while building their physical fitness,” said physical education instructor Benjamin Bajus. “The unit culminates with our annual walk/run event, which takes place on a ‘cross-country’ course that follows the perimeter of the school property.” Parents were also welcomed to join and run with their children on the day of the event. The trail run took participants up and down rolling hills, including an exciting wooded trail, and finally finished on the athletic fields across from the school on Scraggy Hill Road. Teachers, staff members and student safety patrol posted along the race route helped direct students through the course. Spectators gathered at the finish line to cheer on runners as they completed their trek. A professional timing company was also at the end line to record the results. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141518 Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141518 Boys Varsity Track Runs, Jumps and Hurdles to the Top On May 18, the high school boys varsity track team and coach Rod Cawley traveled to Schenectady, N.Y. for the William F. Eddy Championship Invitational. There, the student-athletes put their best foot forward and came home with multiple awards. “The meet was an extremely competitive event featuring teams from throughout New York State,” said Port Jefferson Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Debra Ferry. “It provided a good tune-up for the team as they head into the divisional, county and state championships.” Top 10 Finishes: 1st Place – James Burke in the mile run with a time of 4:17.4. 3rd Place – Dennis Walsh in the 400-meter run with a time of 0:50.3. 5th Place – Jasper Rubin Sigler in the 200-meter run with a time of 0:23.18. 6th Place – The 4 x 800 relay team of John Albinson, James Burke, Noah Kirschner and Dennis Walsh. 8th Place – Cihad Akkaya in the long jump with a jump of 20 ft. 3 in. 10th Place – Danny Gross in the 110-meter hurdles and 400-meter hurdles. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141519 Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141519 Hard Work Plus Confidence Equals Excellence On May 16, 20 Port Jefferson students in grades 4-6 attended the 6th Annual Suffolk County Elementary Math Tournament, held at Stony Brook University, where they participated in individual and team competitions. “The students were very proud of themselves and everyone had a great time,” said middle school math teacher Megan Ryan. Sixth-grader Feiran Zhang finished in first place overall out of 265 students. Additionally, students Mayu Takeuchi and Annalisa Welinder were awarded trophies for eighth and ninth place, respectively. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141520 Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141520 Scavenger Hunt Makes for a Sweet Treat Students in Kristen Poulos and Karen Stamatopoulos’ class were recently given the task of getting to better know their school’s leaders through a creative scavenger hunt. The teachers dispensed clues to help the students figure out who they would be visiting along the way, such as Principal Thomas Meehan, school nurse Joan Tucci, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert and members of the guidance and psychology departments. The children were able to ask the staff questions as they collected their items at each stop. “The students did not know in advance what items they were supposed to collect, but in the end were able to guess that they had gathered all of the ingredients to make s’mores,” said Poulos. “The activity helped them to improve on important language skills such as conversation initiation, following directions and making strong eye contact,” added Stamatopoulos. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141521 Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141521 Spy Ring Secrets Revealed On May 10, renowned local historian Bev Tyler visited with fourth-graders at the school library of Port Jefferson’s Edna Louise Spear Elementary to discuss the significance of the Culper Spy Ring and how it helped the Patriots win the American Revolution. The visit served as a culminating activity for a library unit that included several historical fiction books reflective of the time period and also coincided with the social studies curriculum. Tyler, who was dressed as ring member Abraham Woodhull, showed a PowerPoint presentation that included slides of many primary source documents, maps and a code devised for the ring by Benjamin Tallmadge. Students were able to view wax seals used for letter embossing, were taught how to write in code and created spy-worthy envelopes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141517 Sun, 19 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141517 Board of Education Meeting Notice PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on May 21, 2013, immediately following the close of the budget vote, in the cafeteria at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, for the purpose of acting on the tabulation of vote. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140846 Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140846 Voter Access to High School Building - May 21, 2013 Budget Vote and Trustee Election Please be advised that the side door adjacent to Old Post Roadand the breezeway door located in the front of the high school next to the cafeteria will be used for votersto enter and exit the building on May 21, 2013 from 6:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140845 Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140845 Fifth-Graders Delight with Sound at Mather Hospital On May 10, members of the elementary school’s fifth-grade orchestra and fifth-grade select choir performed at Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson in celebration of National Hospital Week. The children’s melodies filled the hospital’s courtyard for parents, visitors and hospital staff to enjoy. The orchestra, led by Dr. Vanessa Salzman, performed first, treating guests to a number of musical selections, including eight solo performances. The select choir, directed by Jessica Pastor, followed with songs from their recent performance at the Spring Concert, including the upbeat Latin American song “Oye.” The American Hospital Association’s National Hospital Week was begun in 1921. This year’s theme, “A Guiding Light for Changing Times,” serves as an opportunity for community members to recognize and appreciate the dedicated professionals of health care. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140843 Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140843 From History to Technology, District Students Have It Covered On May 14, at the monthly Port Jefferson Board of Education meeting, exemplary students from the district were recognized for their accomplishments in the fields of history, science, technology and cosmetology. Members of the Board and administration began the evening by presenting elementary school student Sophie Blumenthal, a second-grader in Darlene Wells’ class, with a certification of achievement for her Brookhaven National Laboratory Science Fair project submission. Her experiment addressed the question of whether or not the color of nail polish affected its longevity. Students in grades K-6 from more than 100 Suffolk County schools take part in the fair every year. Approximately 470 projects are submitted, and of those, only the top 10 are selected from each grade level. Next, fourth-grader and SEAL (Studies Enriching Academic Learning) student Lucas Welinder of Kristen Boney’s class was formally recognized for his qualification to participate in the National History Bee’s National Championship. Lucas will be representing the district at the competition in Atlanta this June. Finally, two high school students, Leanne Goldstein and Nicholas Heide, were presented with certificates commemorating their induction into the National Technical Honor Society. Nicholas was awarded entry for his outstanding performance in the field of aviation and professional pilot training and Leanne for her outstanding performance in the area of cosmetology. The NTHS is committed to providing quality recognition for outstanding students in career and technical education. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140844 Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140844 2013-2014 Budget Information To view budget information, click here. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140842 Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140842 Students Touch the Sky at Spring Performance On May 8, the elementary school hosted its Spring Vocal Concert and Art Show. Upon arrival, attendees were able to walk through the building and view the awe-inspiring displays of artwork that lined hallways from floor to ceiling and filled classrooms. Creations by students in Richard Anderson’s and Nancy Randazzo’s art classes showcased a wide array of media, including papier-mâché, pottery, watercolors and sculptures. Guests were even able to view a stop motion film that depicted a car race in a miniature landscape made entirely of candy. After viewing the incredible displays, guests were invited to attend the musical portion of the evening led by directors Andrew Frey and Jessica Pastor. The concert began with performances by the fifth-grade select choir, who sang selections of American, South African and Latin American backgrounds, including “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Siyahamba,” a South African freedom song. Guest pianists Elizabeth Chun and Karen Xie performed next, transitioning into the second half of the show, which featured members of the fifth-grade chorus. The group concluded the night with a moving and uplifting performance of “Touch the Sky” featured in the Disney film “Brave,” during which students held up posters that told of their hopes and dreams for the future. The evening was a true testament to the immense amount of student talent and potential. The NAMM Foundation recently named the Port Jefferson School District a Best Community for Music Education in America for the seventh consecutive year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140840 Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140840 Middle School Comes Alive at Art and Music Show On May 9, the middle school hosted its Spring Concert and Art Show. Middle school art teacher Stacey Schuman organized an outstanding display of artwork created by middle school students who used media such as chalk, charcoal and pastels to create spectacular pieces. Oversized candy bars and sticks of chewing gum made for a fun display alongside exhibits in the styles of pointillism, ancient Egyptian art, cartooning, American folk art, cave art and zodiac sign art. The musical performances for the evening began with the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra led by Christian Neubert. The group performed five pieces for family, friends and faculty, with highlights including selections from the “Harry Potter” films. Shortly after, the seventh- and eighth-grade band took the stage. Led by director Edward Pisano, the student-musicians impressed attendees with a variety of songs. Concluding the concert was the seventh- and eighth-grade chorus, directed by Jason Crockett and accompanist Jeanette Cooper. The group’s performance featured familiar songs such as Eric Clapton’s “Tears in Heaven” and Katy Perry’s “Firework.” The NAMM Foundation has named the Port Jefferson School District a Best Community for Music Education in America for seven consecutive years. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140841 Mon, 13 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140841 History in the Making The district would like to congratulate elementary school student Lucas Welinder, a fourth-grader in Kristen Boney’s class and SEAL student in Kimberly Pelkonen and Paige Lohmann’s class, who has qualified to participate in the National History Bee’s National Championship. Lucas’ historic journey to success began in November 2012, when he ranked as one of the school’s top four performers in the Intramural Bee. His high score advanced him to the second round of competition – the Online Regional Qualifying Exam in January 2013. The regionals, held in Yonkers, N.Y. and attended by the top 120 scorers in each of the state’s 35 regions, consisted of three preliminary rounds of head-to-head buzzer competition, followed by a final championship round. There, Lucas was named a top champion, qualifying him for advancement to the nationals, which will be held in Atlanta on June 1. “Of the thousands of students at schools across the country who participated in the National History Bee, only a select few are invited to advance to Atlanta to the nationals,” said Lohmann. “Lucas and 50 other elementary contestants from all across the country will compete against each other on their impressive history knowledge.” Lucas is one of six students from the New York region. There will be a preliminary round of multiple-choice questions followed by a “buzzer” round, making for an all-day event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140839 Sun, 12 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140839 Academic Team on MSG Varsity Tonight The Earl L. Vandermeulen Academic Team will be on tonight’s episode of “The Challenge.” It will air on MSG Varsity (Cablevision Channel 14) at 6:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140838 Sun, 12 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140838 Senior Signs Letter of Intent On May 9, high school senior athlete Holly Vulpis joined with her parents, counselor and members of the district administration to sign a National Letter of Intent. Holly, who has received an athletic scholarship, will be playing women's lacrosse for Niagara University in Buffalo, N.Y. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140837 Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140837 Newsweek Rankings Add to District’s Prestige The Port Jefferson School District was featured in Newsweek’s America’s Best High Schools of 2013, with Earl L. Vandermeulen High School placing 546th in the nation, 82nd in New York State and 10th in Suffolk County. The rankings highlight the best 2,000 public high schools in the nation — the ones that have proven to be the most effective in turning out college-ready grads. The list is based on six components that are self-reported by each school: graduation rate (25 percent), college acceptance rate (25 percent), AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student (25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10 percent) and percentage of students enrolled in at least one AP/IB/AICE course (5 percent). Although similar to last year’s list of Best High Schools, the methodology behind this year’s list is slightly different. Instead of considering the number of courses offered, which is limited even for the most ambitious high school curricula, the percentage of students enrolled in an Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate or Advance International Certificate of Education course was weighed. "We are very pleased with this recognition of our outstanding academic excellence,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “It is a direct reflection of the efforts of our students, faculty, staff and parents. Placement on this noteworthy list is something the community can take great pride in." In April, the Washington Post released its annual list of America’s Most Challenging High Schools in the United States. Earl L. Vandermeulen High School was ranked 339th out of 1,933 schools nationally, placing it 38th in the Northeast, 28th in New York State and third in Suffolk County. Port Jefferson has improved 14 spots in the state from 42nd in 2011. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140810 Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140810 Instrument Petting Zoo Returns The elementary school recently hosted its sixth annual Instrument Petting Zoo. On May 3, members of the high school instrumental ensembles traveled to the elementary school to give the third-graders an opportunity to get an up-close experience with band and orchestra instruments. “Students were able to hear the instruments performed and ask questions about each instrument, as well as experience the excitement of holding many of them for the first time,” said Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello. “In the coming weeks, the same third-graders will be selecting the instrument they would like to begin learning in the fall.” The district would like to thank music teachers Christine Creighton, Mark Abbonizio and Dr. Vanessa Salzman for organizing this event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140836 Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140836 Middle School Students Inducted Into National Junior Honor Society Family, faculty and members of the administration came together on May 2 to honor the newest inductees of the school’s chapter of the National Junior Honor Society. The middle school chamber ensemble, led by Christian Neubert, provided musical accompaniment throughout the program, during which students in the seventh and eighth grades were recognized for their achievements. The evening began with a warm welcome to all from middle school principal Antonio Santana, who told parents that they should be “extremely proud” of all that their children have accomplished. He noted that these accomplishments were “nothing short of remarkable,” adding, “Not only do they manage to maintain a 92 grade point average throughout all of their academic courses, but they also demonstrate characteristics of leadership, scholarship and character in their everyday activities.” Current NJHS President Virginia Albinson spoke next, addressing and congratulating her peers. “Your hard work and dedication has paid off,” she said. “The Port Jefferson School District gives its students many opportunities to show their merits – whether they be accelerated classes, clubs or sports – and you are here because you have taken those opportunities and made them into something great.” The service continued with NJHS adviser Michelle Landetta leading the ceremony of the candle lighting, where inductees lit their own individual candles from one of the five pillar candles representing scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. During this time, inductees were also presented with a certificate, pin and official NJHS membership card. Additionally, an honorary National Junior Honor Society Award was granted to building representative Bonnie Kelsch for her service to the district and local community. Concluding the evening was Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who advised the new inductees to “take advantage of all the opportunities that you have available...become very active in the school, become very active in your community, and continue to exemplify all these wonderful traits that you have displayed thus far.” Grade Eight Members: Raquel Accardo, Virginia Albinson, Mary Alter, Nicholas Andriani, Lev Bershadsky, Jacklyn Brown, Sarah Buck, Hunter Buehler, Anthony Buono, Erin Burke, Nicole Callahan, Sean Cavanagh, Katie Chorao, Jillian Colucci, Emma D’Amario, Anna Desan, Vicki Fan, Jamie Gallo, Piper Heide, Xinyi Hong, Nicholas Kafeiti, Samara Kelson, Gillian Kenah, Michael Kennedy, Sarah Kirchner, Isabella Koutsantanou, Isabel Lebron, Courtney Lewis, Richard Liebert, Brian Mark, Neal Masone, Eve Milusich, Juliana Napoli, Clare O’Connor, Alessandro Perinuzzi, Siobhan Petracca, Alexander Preston, Chiara Rabeno, Anita Rescia, Arunima Roy, Vanessa Rubenstein, Amanda Sarubbi, Corinne Scannell, Emma Schoepflin, Aidan Schretzmayer, Chandler Sciara, Charles Scott, Bethany Seagraves, Alexander Senesi, Daniel Strehle, Victoria Sund, Elisa Ueno, Alexa Wakefield, Camryn Ward, Ji Won Woo, Mikayla Yannucci and Amelia Zamek. Grade Eight Inductees: John DiCarlo, Edward Finkelstein, Brandon Kafeiti, Julia Postol, Ryan Righi and Rebecca Stafford. Grade Seven Inductees: Allison Abbonizio, Samantha Acampora, Julie Albergo, Abigail Bossert, John Collins, Joseph Collins, Eli Doyle, Isabella Engelhardt-Apple, Nicholas Gertz, Jasmin Govits, Emma Gutmann, Olivia Hayde, Leland Held, Tamara Idir, Ibuki Iwasaki, Aidan Jordan, Connor Kaminska, James Kennedy, Cezanne Lojeski, Matthew Luca, Thomas Mark, Louis Martin-Deprez, Jack McGorry, Quinn Nenninger, John O’Connor, Max Okst, Matthew Pifko, Trey Pisano, Hailey Reale, Michael Ruggiero, William Scannell, Brianna Scarda, Michael Smith, Luigia Than, Eric Tischer, Alexandria VanOverberghe, Olivia Wennerod and Zoe Zeniou. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140835 Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140835 A Taste of Italy On April 9, high school language students in Nicole Pennino-Costa’s Italian class attended an "Afternoon in Italy" cooking class at the A la Carte culinary school in Lynbrook. Students worked together at the full-service, state-of-the-art culinary center to create five Italian dishes, including bruschetta and tiramisu. They also learned about regional dishes from northern and southern Italy. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140832 Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140832 Sophomore Shows All the Right ‘Sines’ For Success High school 10th-grader Ryan Burgert recently received a silver medal at the Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair finals competition for his project "Calculating the Sine and Cosine of Any Angle using Numeric Methods.” Ryan first entered into the fair on March 26 at Suffolk Community College, where he presented his project to various judges and competed against other Long Island students. He then qualified for the finals, held on April 26 at Hofstra University, where he was awarded a silver medal. “Ryan is very excited about his accomplishments, as am I,” said math teacher Winifred Kuemmel. “He is looking to pursue another mathematical topic of interest for the upcoming fair next school year.” Hofstra University, the Suffolk County Mathematics Teachers Association, the Nassau County Mathematics Teachers Association and the Nassau County Association of Mathematics Supervisors sponsor the competition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140833 Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140833 Select Choir Performs at Maritime Festival On May 4, fifth-grade students from the elementary school select choir performed at the 2nd Annual Port Jefferson Boater's Maritime Festival. While visitors enjoyed the array of boats, demonstrations and other exhibits along the harbor front, the fifth-graders, led by their music teachers Jessica Pastor and Andrew Frey, performed selections from their upcoming spring vocal music concert. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140831 Mon, 06 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140831 Revised Calendar - June 2013 The calendar for the month of June 2013 has been revised for both the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and the Port Jefferson Middle School. First, the last day of classes for High School students will be on Thursday, June 6th rather than Friday, June 7th. This date was changed to allow two days of final exams prior to the administration of the NYS Regents exams. The other significant item is that the last day of classes for Middle School students will be on Tuesday, June 11th followed by five days of final exams. The revised calendar for June has been inserted into the online district calendar and is posted in the announcements section of the website. Please contact me if you have any questions. Sincerely, Maureen Hull Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140830 Sun, 05 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140830 Leo Club Honored for Civic Engagement High school Leo Club officers Danny Gross and Jake Cavanagh were honored at the 2013 Civic Engagement Program’s annual ceremony held on May 1 at Mount Sinai High School. Students, teachers and parents from various parts of Suffolk County joined together to share their accomplishments with U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop. The program, developed by Rep. Bishop in 2005, encourages students to take on leadership roles in their communities. The Leo Club, under the direction of co-advisors Brian Chalmers and Kristine Vaccaro, was recognized at the Civic Engagement Program ceremony for its dedication to the local community. During the 2012-13 school year, members participated in the Port Jefferson Dickens Festival and organized projects such as “Blizzard Bags” for Meals on Wheels, a blood drive for the New York Blood Center, a three-mile walk for the March of Dimes, the American Cancer Society’s “Daffodil Days” fundraiser, and food drives and bake sales for Island Harvest. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140828 Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140828 Roundup ProMax Being Applied Attention! The Port Jefferson UFSD will be applying Roundup ProMax® to the perimeter and interior edges of the track for the control of weeds on Monday, May 6, 2013 from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. If a second application is necessary it will be made on Tuesday May 7, 2013 from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. as needed and only if necessary due to weather. For further information contact the Port Jefferson UFSD Operations and Maintenance Office at 631-791-4261. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140829 Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140829 Community Forum - Athletics https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140827 Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140827 District Teacher Recognized By SUNY Stony Brook On April 29, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School art teacher Lynne Edsall received the 2013 Alumni Recognition Award at the SUNY Stony Brook Student Arts Festival. Edsall, who teaches studio in art, Advanced Placement studio art/portfolio and digital photography at Port Jefferson, was recognized for her commitment and years of dedication in the arts as a former graduate of SUNY Stony Brook. Congratulations to Ms. Edsall on her achievement! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140826 Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140826 District Welcomes Dr. Lisa Scheffer, New Executive Director of PPS The district would like to welcome Lisa Scheffer, Ed.D. to the Port Jefferson school community. At a public meeting of the Board of Education in March, Dr. Scheffer was appointed executive director of pupil personnel services, effective June 1, 2013. “I am very much looking forward to my new position and am excited to get to know the staff, community and families on a personal level,” said Dr. Scheffer. “I bring with me much experience and am eager to provide leadership and stability to the pupil personnel services department.” Dr. Scheffer is certified in school district administration as well as school counseling. Her educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in psychology from New York University, a Master of Science in school counseling from the College of New Rochelle, a professional diploma in school district administration from the State University of New York at Stony Brook, and a Doctorate of Education in educational administration, leadership and technology from Dowling College. Dr. Scheffer comes to the district with a tremendous amount of experience, most recently as the director of pupil personnel services for the Sag Harbor Union Free School District, a position she has held since 2006, and as an assistant professor at Long Island University since 2011. She has served as an assistant coordinator to the Bilingual/ESL Technical Assistance Center at Eastern Suffolk BOCES, a project director and guidance counselor at Western Suffolk BOCES Wilson Tech, and an adjunct professor of undergraduate and graduate psychology at Five Towns College. Furthermore, she served as a bilingual guidance counselor for the Brentwood UFSD and the Lavelle School for the Blind, a NYSED 4201 school. Dr. Scheffer will be replacing Carmen Iannotti who worked on an interim basis for the 2012-2013 school year. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Scheffer to the district, where she will surely be a wonderful addition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140823 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140823 Newest Members Inducted into National Honor Society On April 24, the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School chapter of the National Honor Society inducted 44 new members. Organized in 1952, the district chapter is currently led by teachers Michel Krivosta and Laurie McMillen. The high school chamber ensemble, prepared by Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello, provided musical accompaniment throughout the evening. The ceremony began with a greeting from high school principal Dr. Matthew Murphy, who encouraged honorees to be proud of their accomplishments, not only in academics but also with everything they have done to serve the community. During the school year, current members of the National Honor Society have participated in several service activities such as letter-writing campaigns to service men and women overseas, raising money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, serving as guides to parents on Back-to-School nights and peer tutoring. “Let me be the first to encourage you to continue to strive to be the best in everything you do,” said Murphy. “Keep your burning desire to achieve constantly alive.” Next, the group’s advisers and chapter president Julia Woznicki welcomed students, faculty and attendees before the ceremony of the pin address, given by David Kahn, DDS, a 2002 Earl L. Vandermeulen graduate. Dr. Kahn emphasized the importance of acknowledging, understanding and following the necessary processes to achieve one’s goals. “There are some people who have said to reach for the stars, and if you don’t make it you will land among the clouds,” said Kahn. “I say to reach for the stars without a plan is just wishful thinking. If you can develop the right plan you will be able to name your star.” The induction continued with the ceremony of the emblem, ceremony of the candle-lighting and the roll call of inductees, all led by current honor society members. Five colored candles represented the pillars of the National Honor Society – knowledge, character, scholarship, leadership and service. Inductees lit their own individual candles from one of the pillar candles representing the ideal that they choose to most closely follow. The ceremony concluded with a reciting of the society’s pledge, as well as remarks from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, who thanked parents for their continued support of the school and of their children. He then commended the honorees for their hard work and dedication. “You’ve done a wonderful job of grasping the offerings that have been made available to you, rising to the challenges that your teachers have placed before you and really demonstrating the excellence that makes us proud to be a part of this school community.” Inductees: Aaron Accardo, John Albinson, Corbin Apple, Megan Augsbach, Justin Bove, Alexander Bruno, Natalie Buck, Elizabeth Ciancarelli, Katherine Colantuoni, Kirsten Crovello, Tyler D’Accordo, Melissa Darling, Kelli DiTomasso, Jonathan Famularo, Richard Finkelstein, Marcus Glover, Cassandra Gray, Danielle Grier, Daniel Gross, Katherine Gwydir, Ghada Hassan, Nicholas Heide, Evan Kelly, Eric Keresztes, Rachel London, Gabriella Martinez, Leah Neiman, Romain Popescu, Francesca Racanelli, Olivia Racanelli, Hunter Reiter, Chiara Repetti-Ludlow, Alberto Rescia, Steven Rose, Jasper Rubin-Sigler, Elijah Sanders, Maria Simmerling, Joshua Skula, Gabrielle Stark, Mairead Swords, Cailyn Teran, Kent Ueno, Demitria Ulino and Shannon Walsh. Present Members: Nicholas Aiello, Julia Altebrando, Luca Amarca, Kevin Anderson, Blake Bohlen, Jonathan Chun, Connor Crovello, Emma Crugnale, Nicholas D’Auria, Gabriel Davis, Caitlin Dennehy, Yufan Ding, Jaclyn Dombroski, Amber Edley, Jessica Eichinger, Erik Esposito, Chan-Wei (Jerry) Fan, Leanne Goldstein, Zachary Graziano, Katherine Hoey, Justin Jones, Emilie Jourdain, Gregory Klesaris, Todd Lewis Jr., Jessica Loehr, Miriam Marx, Julianna Pollina, Dana Prohovnik, Gerard Racanelli, Alexandra Raso, Patrick Rubenbauer, Amanda San Roman, Hannah Sheinkopf, Constantine Spentzos, Rebecca Spinner, Sruthi Sridevan, Kelsey Van Houten, Dennis Walsh, Chase Watkins, Sandi Woodhead, Julia Woznicki and Jason Zimmermann. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140824 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140824 Students Dress for Success In an effort to boost morale during recent New York State assessments, elementary school special education teacher Jacqueline Gandolfo implemented a positive, creative activity with students in AmyJean Castaldo’s third-grade class. Students chose favorite inspirational quotes and inscribed them on plain T-shirts, which they decorated and wore during testing. “Wearing the shirts helped us to believe in ourselves and be more confident,” said one student. Concurring students added that reading the motivational quotes encouraged them to work even harder and made them feel “less afraid” about the testing. “Plus, we all look fabulous!” exclaimed another. The children’s shirts emphasized the power of perseverance, self-confidence and resilience, qualities that they surely displayed post-assessment. “I am so proud of them and all that they do,” said Gandolfo. “They work so hard and are very proud to wear their shirts.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140825 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140825 Meet the Candidates Night Archived Video Click HERE to start part 1 of the Archived Video on your Computer Click HERE to start part 2 of the Archived Video on your Computer You will need the Real Player to view the LIVE stream on your computer. It can be downloaded by following the link below: Click HERE for the Real Player Download https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140820 Mon, 29 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140820 Springing into Action for Earth Day Students at the elementary school celebrated Earth Day in many special ways this year. On April 19, Melissa Martin’s kindergarten class invited parents and relatives to partake in a pre-Earth Day classroom celebration. The children worked together on activities which included tie-dying t-shirts, creating entries for a class “ecology” book, a nature walk of the beautiful on-campus trails, the decoration of earth window-clings and even a Smart Board exercise of virtual recycling. The students also participated in the design and creation of persuasive Earth Day posters, encouraging others to be more conscious of their impact on the environment. Incorporating recently learned persuasive writing techniques, the posters focused on topics such as pollution, litter, recycling and the importance of “doing your part” to help the earth. On Earth Day, April 22, Kristen Poulos and Karen Stamatopoulos organized a unique earth-themed event in which students made “dirt pudding.” Complete with gummy worms, the students meticulously followed recipe instructions that turned Oreos, chocolate pudding and whipped cream into a decadent dessert resembling dirt. The activity served as a kick-off to the week’s discussions about ways to make the earth a cleaner and happier place. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140821 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140821 Students Named High Performers on PSAT/NMSQT High school students Danielle Grier, Leah Neiman, Alberto Rescia and Kent Ueno were recently notified that their preliminary scores on the 2012 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test met the requirements needed to enter the 2014 National Merit Scholarship Program. These students’ scores rank them among the top 50,000 highest performers with a selection index of 203 or higher. More than 1.5 million students participated. Of the 50,000 high scorers nationwide, approximately 16,000 will be named National Merit Program Semifinalists and 34,000 will be Commended Students. The district will be notified of the students’ standings in September 2013. Semifinalists will have the opportunity to continue in the competition to be considered for one of the approximately 8,300 National Merit Scholarships. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140822 Sun, 28 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140822 District Hosts Annual Health and Wellness Expo On April 20, the district hosted the fourth annual Health & Wellness Expo sponsored by the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce. More than 50 exhibitors filled the high school gymnasium with an array of booths dedicated to all levels of health, wellness and fitness and provided important information for planning and meeting health and wellness needs. The event kicked off with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, in which Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert participated, commemorating the Village of Port Jefferson officially claiming April 20 as the district’s “Health and Wellness Day.” Members of the middle school seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra, led by teacher Christian Neubert, performed classical music selections as attendees walked about the fair. Additionally, contest winners from the elementary and middle school had their posters displayed for viewing. The expo received supplementary sponsorship from local organizations including St. Charles and Mather hospitals, the Times Beacon Record, Bethpage FCU, Jefferson’s Ferry Lifecare Community and Moloney’s Funeral Home. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140819 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140819 Personnel Announcement - Assistant Principal Dear Parents, As you know, Mr. Peter Esposito will be leaving the Port Jefferson School District to pursue an opportunity in a neighboring district at the end of this month. I am sure you join me in thanking Mr. Esposito for his contributions to Port Jefferson and wish him well in his new position. As a member of our community, I am certain he will remain active in our schools. At the public meeting of the Board of Education held last night, Mr. Leonard Bozza was appointed as Interim Pre-K to 12 Assistant Principal/Director of Technology. Mr. Bozza will serve in this capacity until a full-time, permanent replacement can be identified. Our screening process is already underway, with the goal of having a permanently appointed candidate in place for September. Mr. Bozza previously served as the Interim Principal of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School during the 2005-2006 school year. Mr. Bozza's extensive experience included ten years as the principal of Longwood High School in Middle Island. His knowledge and skill set will be an asset to our students, faculty and staff. Mr. Bozza will begin on Monday, April 29. Please take an opportunity to "welcome him back to Port Jefferson" at one of our many upcoming activities. Regards, Dr. Ken Bossert Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140818 Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140818 Robotics Team Produces Success and Scholarships Students on the high school Robotics Team competed in the Long Island FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Regional Robotics Competition on April 4-6 at Hofstra University. The organization’s mission is to encourage young people to be science and technology leaders by engaging them in exciting, mentor-based programs that build science, engineering and technology skills that inspire innovation and foster well-rounded life capabilities, including self-confidence, communication and leadership. “Students and their mentors spent six long weeks – working up to six days a week – constructing a robot from raw materials such as aluminum and plexiglass pieces combined with digital electronic components, electric motors, cameras, transmissions, wheels and a host of other robotic parts,” said club adviser Brian Chalmers. “The mentors really enjoy having the opportunity to share their knowledge with other student team members.” The team’s android performed strongly during the competition on all assigned tasks, which included shooting Frisbees onto a small platform atop a 10-foot-tall pyramid. The robot’s drive team coordinated the machine’s functions. Overall, the team placed within the top 20 out of 50 schools from around the state. Furthermore, senior members Michael Colucci and Greg Klesaris were awarded FIRST scholarships of $24,000 from Adelphi University and $30,000 from Stevens Institute of Technology, respectively. Michael will receive $6,000 annually for four years and Greg will receive the same amount over the course of five years should they choose to enroll in those universities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140817 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140817 Team’s Ability Knows No Boundaries The middle school Science Olympiad team recently proved that anything is possible when you put your mind to it. The team, which placed fourth at the Suffolk County Regional competition in March, participated in the New York State competition held at Syracuse University. Team coach Adam Bouchard, along with Deborah Hagmeyer and Laurie McMillen, accompanied the students on their trip. The Port Jefferson team competed against top schools from 11 regions across the state and placed 26th out of 137. “They worked hard and learned scientific concepts on a high school and college level,” said Bouchard. “Everyone enjoyed being in Syracuse, which was a beautiful and accommodating campus, and we hope to return next year to build upon our team’s successes.” Medal Winners: 1st Place – J.R. Knapp and Chandler Sciara for Helicopter 5th Place – Xinyi Hong and Arunima Roy for Place Endangered, Exotic, Extinct Top 20 Finishes: 8th Place – Eli Doyle and Connor Kaminska for Reach for the Stars 12th Place – Andrew Lioio and Neal Masone for Place Meteorology 16th Place – Xinyi Hong and Arunima Roy for Forestry 18th Place – Eli Doyle and Connor Kaminska for Mission Possible 20th Place – Justin Julich and Andrew Lioio for Water Quality Competing Team Members: Nick Caltagirone, Spencer Cona, Anna Desan, Eli Doyle, Xinyi Hong, Thomas Hull, Justin Julich, Connor Kaminska, Michael Kennedy, J.R. Knapp, Isabella Koutsantanou, Jefferson Koutsantanou, Andrew Lioio, Neal Masone, David Moir, Ryan Righi, Arunima Roy, Aidan Schretzmayer, Chandler Sciara and Ben Zaltsman. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140816 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140816 Student-Musicians Inducted Into Tri-M Honor Society The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Chapter 2172 of the Tri-M Music Honor Society hosted its sixth annual honors recital and induction on April 17. The evening began with a welcome from high school Principal Dr. Matthew Murphy and was followed by a recital of 17 instrumental and vocal performances by students, including pieces by Mozart, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Bach. The evening continued with a brief address by Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello, who thanked parents for supporting and nurturing their children’s music education and highlighted the wealth of talent present. “To dedicate and share your music with others is truly a gift,” he said. Family, friends and faculty looked on as continuing members were recognized and new inductees were honored for their efforts. Requirements needed to become a member of Tri-M are based on the society’s five points of distinction: scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership and service. The induction marks an individual’s successful completion of a term of candidacy. “A Tri-M member is one who sets a good example, is always willing to assist those students who are striving to better themselves in the music department, and is always one who remembers that it is a real honor to carry these responsibilities,” said Tri-M adviser Christine Creighton. “Whether it’s going to local hospitals during the holidays or assisting the district hosting the Mid-Island Band Festival this year, their dedication and commitment to music serves as an example to others of what can be accomplished with hard work, self-discipline and a lot of practice,” said Caravello of the society’s members. Addressing them, “I hope that all of you continue your passion and love for music over the years and take it with you into college, adulthood and for the rest of your lives.” Inductees: Caroline Biondo, Taylor Carley, Jonathan Chun, Andie Fortier, Rachel Geiser, Steven Geiser, Christopher Graci, Ju Mi Ha, Margo Martin-Deprez, Alden Mohacsi, Kayley Okst, Chiara Repetti-Ludlow, Alberto Rescia, Morgan Sakovich, Lara Sarubbi and Gabrielle Stark. Senior Members: Nicholas Aiello (secretary), Jonathan Chun, Gabe Davis (vice president), Zachary Graziano, Michaela Griffin (co-president), Grace Napoli (historian), Dana Prohovnik, Gerard Racanelli (treasurer) and Rebecca Spinner (co-president). https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140815 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140815 NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140807 Sun, 21 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140807 They Came, They Saw, They Conquered Latin Students Place at Certamen Earl L. Vandermeulen Latin students, led by teacher Anne Algieri, performed at the Latin Certamen held at Stony Brook University on April 9. The Certamen is a fast-paced contest testing students' knowledge of Latin grammar, vocabulary, word derivations, Roman life, history, mythology and literature. Latin students from schools throughout Nassau and Suffolk counties compete at their respective levels. Port Jefferson teams placed within the top three in every level in which they participated. Level Two Winners: 1st Place – Ginny Albinson, Thomas Hull, Eric Kilgore and Billy Witrock Level Three Winners: 3rd Place – Neil Alvarez, Ryan Burke, Noah Davis and Natasha Zaliznyak Advanced Level Winners: 3rd Place – Jonathan Chun, T.J. Lewis, Alberto Rescia and Kent Ueno https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140811 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140811 Interact Club Beautifies Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck On April 7, members of the high school Interact Club made their annual trip to Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck located on the shores of Kaler’s Pond in Center Moriches. There, students participated in a “spring cleanup” of the grounds, which included raking leaves, mulching, planting flowers, painting and preparing dorms for campers. Also in attendance were members of the Port Jefferson and Rocky Point rotary clubs and members of the National Junior Honor Society. Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck’s mission is to help children and young adults ages 6 to 21 with both physical and developmental disabilities achieve equality, dignity and maximum independence through a safe and quality program of camping, recreation and education in a summertime environment. “It is a special place where children can experience firsthand the pleasures that an active life has to offer,” said club adviser Sarah Ogden. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140812 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140812 Student Performs at Juilliard School of Music On April 6, Annalisa Welinder, a sixth-grade student, performed a violin recital at the Juilliard School of Music's Paul Hall as part of the pre-college division. Proud family members were in attendance, as well as members of the Port Jefferson sixth-grade orchestra and teacher Dr. Vanessa Salzman. The district congratulates Annalisa on her outstanding musical achievement. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140813 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140813 Mathematicians Formulate Excellence in Competition Earl L. Vandermeulen mathematics teacher and math team adviser Dennis Christofor recently announced the results and district winners of the American Mathematics Competition and the Suffolk County Math Teachers Association Contest. In February, high school students participated in the American Mathematics Contest 10 and the American Mathematics Contest 12. Both tests contain 25 multiple-choice questions and are 75-minute examinations in secondary school mathematics containing problems that can be understood and solved with pre-calculus concepts. In March, students in both the high school and middle school participated in the annual SCMTA competition. Levels E and J are generally for accelerated students, while Level IV is for pre-calculus students. Their scores represent their standing among students across Suffolk County. AMC 10 Winners: 1st Place – Noah Davis 2nd Place – Ju Mi Ha 3rd Place – Ryan Burke AMC 12 Winners: 1st Place – Kent Ueno 2nd Place – Romain Popescu 3rd Place – Alberto Rescia SCMTA Level E Winner: 2nd Place – Feiran Zhang SCMTA Level J Winners: 2nd Place – Annalisa Welinder 3rd Place – Mayu Takeuchi SCMTA Level IV Winner: 2nd Place – Ryan Burke https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140814 Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140814 Board of Education Meeting Notice PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting/work session of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on April 23, 2013, 7:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room at the Elementary School for the purpose of taking action on two personnel items and for presentations on Common Core Standards and AIS. The meeting will be called to order at 6:00 p.m. and the Board will enter executive session. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140809 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140809 Community Pays Tribute to True District Royalty Peter Esposito, director of technology and assistant principal for grades pre-K through 12, will be leaving the district this school year and was honored at this month’s Board of Education meeting. At the March meeting of the Board, Esposito tendered his resignation so that he may pursue an opportunity in a neighboring district. Since his appointment as teacher by the district in 2001, Esposito has also served as robotics team coach, adviser to the Science Olympiad team, science, math and technology club leader, soccer coach, baseball coach and dean of students. Additionally, he has served as the district’s “energy czar” for the past three years, bringing substantial savings to the district through his efforts. Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan shared her sentiments and thanked Esposito for his many years of service and for the “care and concern for the students whose lives you have touched.” Brennan first came to know Esposito through the school’s Robotics Club, to which he dedicated a tremendous amount of time, energy and effort. “He really helped to foster the program and encouraged students to remain interested in robotics,” she said. “I am constantly impressed and amazed that whenever I am at the school, Pete is always there,” said board trustee Mark Doyle, who remarked on the “innumerable” evenings and weekends that Esposito had dedicated to the school and its well-being. The district’s “energy czar,” as he was referred to by fellow faculty and staff members, even went as far as walking around the buildings, turning off lights and monitors as part of his constant effort to conserve energy. In addition to the many accolades from the board trustees, members of the Port Jefferson community attended and spoke publicly to show their tremendous support and gratitude. One parent emphasized Esposito’s ability to earn the trust and respect of the students, saying, “Those are two things you don’t typically hear a teenage boy talk about.” “He is a community member, educator and valued member of the staff,” said Assistant Superintendent for Business Sean Leister. “Everyone will truly miss him and all that he brings to the district.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140808 Sun, 14 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140808 Video for Parents and Families about the Common Core Assessments Beginning on April 16, students in grades 3 through 8 in our school district and all across New York State will be taking state tests in English language arts. The following week, those students will be taking state assessments in mathematics. The tests are an annual spring ritual for our schools and our students. But this year’s tests will be different. For the first time, the state assessments will be based on the new Common Core Learning Standards which have been adopted by New York, 44 other states, and the District of Columbia. Leaders of the State Education Department have said families and teachers should be prepared to see lower scores on the grades 3 through 8 assessments as a result of this transition to the new standards. State Education Commissioner John King has said, “The new tests will reflect the Common Core Standards, so the tests will be more challenging. Students will be asked to read more difficult texts, to use evidence to support their arguments, and to perform multiple-step math problems.” Commissioner King stresses, “The number of students meeting or exceeding Common Core grade-level expectations should not be interpreted as a decline in student learning or a decline in educator performance.” The short video at the link above, from the State Education Department, explains the Common Core Standards and how state assessments are changing. You can also watch a very brief video explanation of how the new standards are expected to affect test results here. In broad terms, the intent of the new standards is that students who meet them should be ready to succeed in what they attempt after school – college study, a job, or both. The Common Core requires schools and students to drill deeper into key topics, instead of briskly covering many topics. They aim to push students to develop critical thinking skills in a real world context. They require instruction in each grade to build more deliberately than in the past upon skills learned in the grade before. A wealth of resources to help you understand the demands and opportunities presented by the Common Core can be found in the State Education Department’s Common Core Toolkit for Parents and Families, available at engageny.org. You can also use the resources on our website by visiting the webpage for the Department of Curriculum and Instruction here, as well as the resources below. • Frequently Asked Questions • Common Core State Standards Initiative • Common Core "Shifts” for Students and Parents A presentation of the Common Core shifts is scheduled for the Board of Education workshop on April 23, 2013. If you would like additional information please contact me at mhull@portjeff.k12.ny.us or 631-791-4291. Sincerely, Maureen Hull Executive Director of Curriculum & Instruction https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140805 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140805 PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on April 17, 2013, 5:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of voting on the Eastern Suffolk BOCES 2013-2014 administrative budget and Board trustees. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140806 Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140806 Senior Student Athletes Sign On for Success On March 20, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior athletes Joseph Booker and Blake Bohlen joined with their family members, coaches, counselors and members of the administration to sign National Letters of Intent. Joseph will be playing baseball for Franklin Pierce University in New Hampshire and Blake will be playing soccer for Fordham University in New York. Both students received athletic scholarships. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140804 Mon, 08 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false140804 Students Sold on Learning An intellectual and creative collaboration between middle school teachers Michelle Landetta and Stacia Schoen provided students in Landetta’s class with a real-world activity in a familiar setting. The creation of a class “store” gave participants the opportunity to utilize their math skills by “purchasing” and “selling” store items as they acted out the roles of customer and cashier. Every student was able to purchase the items of their choice and complete transactions in their roles. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141759 Thu, 04 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141759 Community Forum - Elementary Enrichment Program https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141757 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141757 Academic Team Faces Off for Second Time on ‘Challenge’ Friends, family and faculty of the high school academic team will be able to tune into MSG Varsity (Cablevision Channel 14) on April 8 at 6:30 p.m. to watch the group's second-round performance on “The Challenge.” The competition, against Smithtown West, is part of the show’s award-winning academic quiz for high schools that features the best and brightest local students from across the tri-state area. Jared Cotter, former FUSE TV host and a popular “American Idol” semifinalist, serves as moderator, asking competing high school teams questions based on their knowledge of history, arts and literature, current events, math and science. High school senior Zachary Graziano captains the team, which includes senior Jonathan Chun, junior Alberto Rescia and freshman Erik Kilgore, with senior Gabe Davis and junior Leah Neiman as alternates. These representatives were chosen for competition based on their high performance during weekly after-school group meetings with other students. Earl L. Vandermeulen students have participated in “The Challenge” for more than 10 years and took first place the year the contest began. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141758 Tue, 02 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141758 Candidates for Board of Education Candidates for Board of Education Residents of Port Jefferson School District interested in running for the Board of Education, please contact the District Clerk at (631)791-4221 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141756 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141756 Holocaust Survivor Inspires Students to Be Just People Middle school students in Kayleen Moran’s eighth-grade English class and high school students in Philip Giannusa’s Holocaust elective course came together this month for a two-part, in-depth look at the Holocaust. The two teachers collaborated to produce an interdisciplinary unit that explored and explained the distressing World War II event. On March 22, Holocaust survivor Werner Reich spoke to district students, faculty, staff and administration during an unforgettable presentation about his life, the Holocaust and what it means to be a just person. Reich began the assembly by defining the Holocaust and what he describes as “the good people who did nothing” throughout time, referring to the individuals, political leaders and countries that knew of the atrocities that were happening but did little or nothing to help those suffering. He stressed the importance of defending personal beliefs, helping those in need and acting on what you know is right. “Don’t wait for other people to act – be the first,” said Reich. “Ask yourself what the right thing to do in a situation is and then do it.” The presentation outlined Reich’s personal experience as a teenager who survived the Terezín, Auschwitz II-Birkenau and Auschwitz I concentration camps. “I am lucky to have survived,” he said. “It is my responsibility to ensure that nothing like this ever happens again.” Reich’s main message, “just people are just people,” affirmed that the average person can save a life simply by speaking up. He urged listeners to follow four simple steps when faced with an adversity: judge the situation, understand the problem, solve and take action, creating the acronym JUST. “Indifference kills,” stated Reich. “Do not tolerate bullies or allow them to silence you.” At the assembly’s conclusion, Middle School Principal Antonio Santana echoed Reich’s sentiments, saying, “It’s not enough to just be a good person. Our differences do not give us the right to treat people differently; they are there for us to embrace because they are what enrich our lives.” Earlier in the month, Moran’s students, who had been studying Eliezer Wiesel’s Holocaust novel “Night,” were given a guided tour through a Holocaust museum in the middle school/high school library that was created and constructed by students in Giannusa’s class. “The concept of genocide is almost unfathomable to the students,” said Moran. “Phil and I are using this as an opportunity to break it down so that it better relates to everyday situations.” A poster exhibition of WWII images lined the staircase leading to the museum, helping visitors to attain the proper mindset before entering and providing a visualization of the facts and statistics that were being read to them throughout the program by the upperclassmen, who acted as tour guides. Inside, black drapes, candles, low lighting and opera music contributed to the museum’s setting, lending a serious yet respectful tone. Viewers were walked through stations detailing life in the concentration camps, the widespread Nazi destruction, survival and Hitler’s Final Solution, the most deadly phase of the Holocaust. The driving message throughout the presentation likened acts such as bullying and oppression to the Nazis’ means of wiping people of their individuality and identity through acts of humiliation and stereotyping. At the conclusion of their tour, students filled out pledge cards describing their personal vows to fight against genocide. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141755 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141755 Student Government Makes Impact on Local Community Members of the elementary school student government, led by advisers Dana St. Pierre and Michele Smith, hosted a food collection to benefit the Outreach program at Infant Jesus R.C. Church. The student leaders did their best to make a difference in the local community by collecting nonperishable food items as well as toiletries to help keep the food pantry’s shelves stocked. “Our mission is to try and make a difference around us in any way we can, starting with our small ‘world’ – meaning what occurs in and around our school,” said Smith. “We also want to make a difference in the bigger ‘world,’ the community we live in, and lastly, the entire world around us.” This year’s food drive correlated with the school’s Scraggy Olympics, an event where teachers and parents compete in sports and games. The student government asked attendees to donate nonperishable items and drop them in collection bags for the team they were supporting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141752 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141752 Girls Varsity Basketball Team Recognized Congratulations to Courtney Lewis and Corinne Scannell of the girls varsity basketball team for receiving All-League recognition from the Suffolk County Girls Basketball Coaches Association. In addition, senior Rachel London was honored as an All-Academic and All-County recipient. The team had a great season with a league record of 9-3 and made it to the first round of playoffs. Excellent job, girls! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141753 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141753 Student-Musician’s Career Hits a High Note Middle school student-musician Mayu Takeuchi has recently been named a recipient of the Suffolk County Music Educators Association Burnhart Rydzeski Scholarship, one of two New York State Music Festival at SUNY Oneonta scholarships. The gifted sixth-grader will receive full tuition to attend the New York State Summer Music Festival, a six-week program that challenges its students to achieve the highest levels of musicianship. A letter from SCMEA President Patricia Isenberg to Mayu states, “The committee reviewed numerous applications and was quite impressed with your musical background, experiences and talent. They are pleased to award you this scholarship for the purpose of continuing your music education this summer.” As part of the application process, Mayu was required to write about her musical experiences and desire to attend the summer program. Notes listing her honors – including New York State School Music Association ratings and Long Island String Festival Association and SCMEA accomplishments, as well as a letter of recommendation by elementary/middle school orchestra teacher Vanessa Salzman – accompanied the application. Mayu was presented with her award at the SCMEA Division I East All-County Concert on March 10 at Sachem East High School. Mayu, who has been playing the violin since the first grade, says she is looking forward to making new friends through music at the camp this summer. “I am excited for everyone to play together and to just have fun.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141754 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141754 Students Jump and Hoop for Healthy Hearts Elementary school students jumped to their feet and scored a winning basket in the fight against heart disease and stroke during their annual Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart programs. The event, a collaborative effort between the Parent Teacher Association and the physical education department, raised $6,000 for the American Heart Association. “The kids love it and it’s a lot of fun for everyone,” said physical education instructor Françoise Schachner, who has been participating in the program since joining the district in 2001. “The district has been a supporter of this organization and event for decades.” Students in grades two and three participated in the “Jump Rope” program, while fourth- and fifth-graders participated in the “Hoops” program. Faculty and members of the administration, including Principal Thomas Meehan and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, stopped by to cheer the students on and show support. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141749 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141749 Language Students Explore Seven Worlds in One Day On March 21, Italian language students in grades 10 through 12 attended the bilingual spectacular "Sette Mondi" (Seven Worlds) at the Queens Theater in Flushing. The interactive musical took viewers on a journey through seven magical worlds and seven different themes and adventures, one for each day of the week. There, students were able to take a closer look at Italian culture and language through music. Teachers Greg Gorniok and Nicole Pennino-Costa accompanied the trip. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141750 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141750 Environmental Club Works to Keep Local Beach Clean Eleven members of the middle school Environmental Club attended the Coastal Steward Adopt-A-Beach cleanup of the eastern side of Port Jefferson Harbor. The event, sponsored by the Village of Belle Terre, is part of the International Coastal Cleanup effort that has removed more than 320 tons of debris to date. Participants Gavin Barrett, Emma Gutmann, Leland Held, Tamara Idir, Miles Kaming-Thomassi, Patrick Kleaka, Matt Luca, Abbie Murphy, Matt Murphy, Michael Smith and Jordan Suarez, along with parent Kevin Kleaka and club adviser Peter Burawa, were provided with water, garbage bags, gloves, sun block and snacks for the day’s work. “The students scoured the beach and adjoining upland, pulling and carrying the flotsam and jetsam from the area,” said Burawa. “Plastic bags and wrappers were the most time-consuming to clean up, as they would wrap around trees and branches, some of which had thorns.” After five hours of hard work, nearly three tons of debris had been collected. The students are making plans to join Coastal Steward on future cleanups and helping with the program’s oyster restoration project. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141751 Sun, 24 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141751 Individuals Honored for Bringing Scope to the District On March 18, members of the district attended the 12th annual School District Awards Dinner hosted by SCOPE Education Services, a not-for-profit, private organization permanently chartered by the New York State Board of Regents to provide services to school districts. Throughout the evening, service awards were presented in the areas of school board, community, support staff, teacher and administrator service recognizing individuals for their contributions to education. The Port Jefferson honorees included elementary school teacher and high school drama director Anthony Butera for his service to teaching, Port Jefferson Mayor Margot Garant for community service, middle school Principal Secretary Kathy Hanley for support staff service and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School Principal Thomas Meehan for service to administration. Also in attendance were Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, Assistant Superintendent for Business Sean Leister, Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Maureen Hull, Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Debra Ferry, Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan and board trustees Dr. Dennis Kahn, James Laffey and Vincent Ruggiero. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141748 Thu, 21 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141748 Port Jefferson Named Best Community for Music Education The district is pleased to announce that for the seventh consecutive year, it has been ranked among the NAMM Foundation’s “Best Communities for Music Education” in America. The national program has put the spotlight on the 307 selected school districts with outstanding commitment to music education. “What makes receiving this national recognition so rewarding is that through the combined efforts of our students, parents, music teachers and school administration, this award is shared by the entire Port Jefferson community,” said Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello. “Together we can count ourselves among the best in the country due to our strong commitment to our children's music education.” The Best Communities designation recognizes collaborative, from-the-ground-up efforts of teachers, administrators, students and parents who continually work to keep comprehensive music education as an integral part of the core curriculum. Nearly 2,000 schools and school districts participated in the survey, an increase of 366 percent from 2012, making this a record-breaking year for participation. The program requires each school and district to detail funding, staffing, commitment to standards and access to music instruction. “Our music program is one that provides students with a wide variety of programs, performances and courses, as well as the high school’s chapter of the Tri-M Music Honor Society,” said Caravello. “In addition,” he continued, “Port Jefferson Village offers unique opportunities for students to perform at and attend historic venues, theaters and other village centers during the many music and art festivals scheduled throughout the year. Our students’ musical endeavors have always been welcomed and supported by the larger community.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141746 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141746 Middle School Science Olympiad Team Off to States The middle school Science Olympiad team came in fourth place at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Competition, held at Candlewood Middle School in Dix Hills. Facing off against 35 teams from 22 school districts, students in grades six through nine competed in events that tested their skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. The team, led by middle school science teacher Adam Bouchard, will be competing on April 12 and 13 at the New York State Science Olympiad Competition at Syracuse University. Medal Winners: 3rd Place – Xinyi Hong and Arunima Roy for Endangered, Exotic, Extinct 3rd Place – Aidan Schretzmayer and Chandler Sciara for Helicopter 3rd Place – Neal Masone and David Moir for Dynamic Planet and Mousetrap Vehicle 3rd Place – Eli Doyle and Connor Kaminska for Reach for the Stars 3rd Place – Anna Desan and Isabella Koutsantanou for Rocks and Minerals 3rd Place – Justin Julich and Andrew Lioio for Water Quality 4th Place – Thomas Hull, Michael Kennedy and J.R. Knapp for Experimental Design 5th Place – Spencer Cona and Ben Zaltsman for Metric Mastery https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141747 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141747 Reminder - Spring Recess School Open for all Students: Friday, March 22 and Monday, April 1 Schools Closed: March 25-29 for spring recess https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141743 Wed, 20 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141743 Students Continue to Build Hope for Others The holiday season of giving may be months behind us, but students at the high school have been pressing on with their service work for the less fortunate. On March 14, members of the Habitat for Humanity club and advisers Sarah Ogden and Deirdre Filippe traveled to Bellport to work on a house as part of a build initiative. “Our two projects at the house were sheetrocking and cleaning up the property to prepare for soil,” said Ogden. The club, comprised of 14 students, raised money to help fund the build through their Thanksgiving cheesecake sale in addition to other bake sales held throughout the year. Just two days later, members of the Interact Club, also led by Ogden and Filippe, volunteered their Saturday and joined with the Port Jefferson Rotary Club for a food collection at a local supermarket. From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., the team worked tirelessly to gather items that were later donated to the Open Cupboard, the food pantry at Infant Jesus R.C. Church. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141745 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141745 Teamwork is Key Ingredient in Recipe for Success A recent collaboration by elementary school teachers Kristen Poulos and Karen Stamatopoulos resulted in a successful and tasty lesson for their students. The teachers, who bring their classes together on a weekly basis, put together an Irish soda bread-making activity in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. “The students love working on recipes,” said Poulos. “It’s also a perfect way for them to focus on working as a team by following specific directions together.” Students were given a recipe and were supplied with all the ingredients necessary to make the bread. Each child took turns adding, mixing and pouring the ingredients until the process was complete. Their hard work, diligence and cooperation paid off when they were surprised with a pre-made loaf of the soda bread, just like the one they had created. “Irish soda bread is phenomenal!” exclaimed one student, who seemed to speak for his classmates, all of whom enjoyed their festive snack and delighted in a job well done. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141744 Tue, 19 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141744 Italian Poetry Contest Congratulations to the participants of the 29th annual American Association of Teachers of Italian Poetry contest, held at SUNY Old Westbury on March 8. Hunter Buehler, Connor Crovello, Benjamin Kluender and Chiara Repetti-Ludlow did an outstanding job on their performances. Special acknowledgments to Gaspar Cello and Frederick Johs, both of whom won second place in their respective levels, as well as Alexander Rebic, who won an honorable mention for his participation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141742 Mon, 18 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141742 Student Achievements Display Excellence Across the Board Students from throughout the district were recognized by their coaches and members of the administration at this month’s Board of Education meeting. Elementary school principal Thomas Meehan began the meeting by presenting certificates of achievement to winners and top qualifiers of the SCRIPPS Spelling Bee, National History Bee, National Geographic Bee and the Stock Market Game. Fourth-graders Aaron Held, Ameen Khan, Lucas Welinder and Peggy Yin and fifth-graders Gavin Chambers, Dylan Dugourd, Christine Iasso and Guiseppina Than were all commended for their keen intellect and skill. Following these recognitions, varsity wrestling coach Michael Maletta and assistant coach Ian McEwen presented a certificate and framed photograph to Matteo DeVincenzo, the district’s first All-State finalist in 25 years. Matteo was recently named runner-up in the 99-pound weight class at the New York State Wrestling Championship. Coach Maletta spoke to Matteo’s endless determination, dedication and resilient attitude in addition to his accomplishments as a scholar-athlete. Concluding the recognitions for the evening was boys varsity track coach Rod Cawley, who presented James Burke with a certificate commemorating his accomplishments and attested to James’ reliability, perseverance and promise as an outstanding athlete. James holds the New York State record as an eighth-grader and also as a ninth-grader in his key event, the mile. He also holds part of the state record for the intersectional relay. Furthermore, James recently became Port Jefferson’s first athlete to win a New York State championship in indoor track. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141337 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141337 Science Olympiad Team Places at State Competition The high school’s Science Olympiad team claimed a spot within the top 30 at the New York State Science Olympiad Competition, which was held at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Central Valley. Students from 51 school districts competed in 25 different events over the course of the day. Coaches Michel Krivosta and Laurie McMillen and teacher Adam Bouchard accompanied the team and had nothing but positive things to say about their strong ability. “Just being there made them all winners,” said McMillen. “Everyone had a good time, learned a lot and is looking forward to next year’s competition.” Top 15 Finishes: 7th Place – Ryan Burke and Eric Kilgore for Fermi Questions 7th Place – Alberto Rescia and Natasha Zaliznyak for Remote Sensing 11th Place – Eric Kilgore and Alberto Rescia for Geologic Mapping 13th Place – Danielle Grier and Kent Ueno for Chemistry Lab 13th Place – Zachary Graziano and Leah Neiman for Designer Genes 15th Place – Ryan Burke and Kent Ueno for Elastic Launched Glider The team placed third at the Suffolk County Regional competition in February. The district has been participating and earning top spots in this event for over 25 years. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141338 Sun, 17 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141338 Fourth-Graders Bring the Heat at Science Competition Fourth-grade SEAL (Studies Enriching Academic Learning) students at the elementary school participated in the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision science competition, which encourages K-12 students to imagine what technology might be like in the future. In the case of one student team, Peggy Yin and Sapphire Perera, the people of tomorrow will be using the iHeat, a portable, earth-friendly heater for the iPhone. Inspired by the events of Superstorm Sandy and those victims left without electricity and heat for weeks, the pair thought it wise to design a small heater that could charge with natural resources. “Since many people have iPhones, we thought it would be great if they can pull out their phone and adjust the temperature to fit their needs if they are too hot or cold,” the students stated in their write-up. The team invented, designed and prepared a 15-page research document that earned them the distinction of honorable mention, signifying their place among the top 10 percent of all ExploraVision projects submitted to the competition. “This is an incredible accomplishment,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “Our fourth-graders ranked higher than hundreds of their high school counterparts!” Honorable mention winners receive a certificate of achievement and a unique prize. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141336 Thu, 14 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141336 Students Forecast Progress with New Weather Station Students at the elementary school have been taking a hands-on approach to learning about the weather using their new wireless weather station equipment. The purchase of the station was made possible with grant money from the Royal Educational Foundation awarded to the district as a result of a grant application submitted by teacher Darlene Wells. “This is a great extension to our science unit on weather,” said Wells, who teaches the second grade. “The children have learned about states of matter, the water cycle, clouds, rainbows, types of storms and tools meteorologists use to generate a forecast.” The weather station is available for use to all classes, and student “weather reporters” are encouraged to participate regularly by reading information off the station to relay to their classmates. “The children now have a deep understanding of the information provided by the weather station,” Wells continued. “We analyze the weather at the end of each week and also at the end of the month. They have learned a great deal and have enjoyed being meteorologists.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141335 Wed, 13 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141335 Letter from the Superintendent Regarding Athletics Please read the attached Letter from the Superintendent Regarding Athletics https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141331 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141331 Port Jefferson High School Presents "Curtains" The Comedy, Murder, Mystery, "Whodunit" Musical. Friday, March 15 @ 8:00 p.m. Saturday, March 16 @ 8:00 p.m. Sunday, March 17 @2:00 p.m. ClickHERE for Flyer https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141330 Tue, 12 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141330 Music Students Selected for SCMEA All-County Festival Thirty-six of Port Jefferson’s music students were selected to participate in the Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County Festival. All three divisions rehearsed on March 2, 8 and 9 at Mount Sinai, Mattituck-Cutchogue and Bellport high schools and performed concerts on March 9 and 10 at Sachem East High School. In addition, congratulations to middle school music teacher Christian Neubert for serving as chairperson for the SCMEA Division 2 East Orchestra. Division 1 (Grades 5/6) Selections: Irem Akkaya Catrina Alvarez Sinan Ates David Bershadsky Emily Bossert Grant Calendrille Sam Caltagirone Elizabeth Chun Sophia Cipriano Dylan Dugourd Erica Graci Grace Grugnale Miles Kaming-Thanassi Aidan Kaminska Jocelyn Lebron Hyun jin Lee David Rotunno Aileen Schretzmayer Phalina Sciara Mayu Takeuchi Juliette Vacirca Taylor Williams Division 2 (Grades 7/8) Selections: Aidan Jordan James Kennedy Chris Mannarino Trey Pisano Anita Rescia Arunima Roy Xinyi Wong Ryan Worrell Division 3 (Grades 9/10) Selections: Taylor Carley Parris Garant Danielle Goldstein Dunia Karzai Aldren Mohacsi Yuuki Shibutani https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141332 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141332 Music Students Perform at Art Fundraiser On March 8, members of the high school string chamber ensemble performed at an art auction fundraiser held at the Old Field Club hosted by the Royal Educational Foundation. During the preview session of the auction, attendees enjoyed the classical works of Bach, Brahms, Mozart and Vivaldi performed by Jonathan Chun (cello), James Frierson (cello), Chris Graci (bass), Michaela Griffin (viola), Ibuki Iwasaki (violin) and Gabrielle Stark (violin), led by Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141333 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141333 Middle School Math Students Steep Themselves in Exploration Eighth-grade students in Matt Garofola’s math class at the middle school have been working on an activity based on the concept of finding the slope of a line. As part of their challenge, students set out around the school building to measure staircases to find the steepest and shallowest ones. The activity demonstrated the implementation of the new Common Core State Standards and highlighted a high level of student engagement. “Students needed to apply their knowledge to a real-life situation, requiring them to engage in the new standards of mathematical practice,” said Garofola. Enthusiasm for the activity led to the creation of a contest to find the steepest and shallowest staircases outside of school. Students Svenya Drees and David Moir were the winners, finding the shallowest and steepest staircases in their basement and backyard, respectively. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141334 Mon, 11 Mar 2013 04:00:00 GMT false141334 Students ‘Dodge’ Diabetes at Fundraiser On March 1, students at the high school participated in the second annual Dodge to Cure Diabetes fundraiser. The event, which was organized by senior class officer Justin Jones and members of the Student Organization, raised $12,000, an increase from last year’s $8,000, to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and their mission to cure, treat and prevent Type 1 diabetes. “Justin is the soul behind the event,” said Student Organization adviser Sarah Ogden. “He started this fundraiser last year in honor of his sister, a 10th-grader, who has juvenile diabetes.” Nine teams of 10 students competed for the coveted championship trophy, which was won by team T1D (Type 1 diabetes) for the second year in a row. The night ended with a game of staff and parents versus the winning team in which T1D was also victorious. “This event is the best part of the year by far,” said Justin. “Every student loves to participate, and we raise a lot of money and awareness, too.” In attendance were teachers, administrators and parents, all there to support and cheer on the teams. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141329 Sun, 10 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141329 MS WRESTLING: Due to the inclement weather, the Middle School Wrestling Match is postponed to Wednesday, March 13th at 4:30 p.m. There will be practice today from 3:10-5:15 p.m. in the wrestling room, unless the district cancels after school activities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141328 Fri, 08 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141328 Student Recognized in Scholastic Art Competition Caroline Strauss, a sophomore, was recognized at this year's annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for the Northeast Region-at-Large, which included Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Caroline's digital photographs, titled "Parallel Pond" and "Girls of Summer," were among the 15 percent of regional entries to receive the award of honorable mention based on the judge's criteria, which included originality, technical skill and sense of vision. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141327 Tue, 05 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141327 Port Jefferson Schools Earn Energy Star Certification On behalf of the Port Jefferson Union Free School District, Plant Facilities Administrator Fred Koelbel is pleased to announce that Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, Port Jefferson Middle School and Edna Louise Spear Elementary School have all earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star certification. This signifies that their buildings perform in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meet strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA. To earn the Energy Star certification, Port Jefferson UFSD took the following actions: Worked with LIPA to conduct a districtwide energy audit. Partnered with the energy conservation company Cenergistic to implement a revenue-neutral Energy Conservation Program. Established and maintained target building temperatures for both the school day and after hours. Turned off unnecessary lights and utilized available daylight. Utilized ARRA grants to implement $337,000 in lighting upgrades, replacement and controls, at no cost to the district. Utilized a $400,000 ARRA grant to install two photovoltaic systems, a 48-kilowatt system on the roof of Edna Louise Spear Elementary School and a 12-kilowatt system on the roof of the maintenance building adjacent to the Scraggy Fields, at no cost to the district. Installed high-efficiency pumps. “These steps would not have been possible without the dedication of energy manager Peter Esposito, who spearheaded Cenergistic’s Energy Conservation Program, high school/middle school head custodian Joan Lyons and her staff, elementary head custodian Gary Kenyon and his staff, and the students and staff of the Port Jefferson UFSD,” said Koelbel. As for the district’s collaboration with Cenergistic, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert said, “Our partnership [with Cenergistic] has been tremendously beneficial. The company’s expertise, training and support have completely changed our culture from one of unintentional energy waste to intentional energy savings. As a result, we have saved money by reducing consumption and we have demonstrated good stewardship of the environment. We have a new culture that will benefit Port Jefferson UFSD for years to come.” While the district has finished the paid contract term of its program and no longer shares savings with Cenergistic, the company’s service to Port Jefferson UFSD will continue on an as-needed basis to help ensure that the program continues to build on its 22 percent reduction in energy consumption and a cost avoidance of over $419,000 through September 2012. Cenergestic consultants will continue to work with the system on conservation techniques and data analysis as requested, providing ongoing training and support free of charge. “Port Jefferson UFSD has successfully implemented Cenergistic’s organizational behavior-based approach to energy conservation,” said Dr. William S. Spears, chairman and founder of Cenergistic. “The leadership, along with other administration, faculty and staff members, deserves recognition for their commitment to being good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars and the environment. By sustaining the program, Port Jefferson UFSD will continue to save money for the benefit of students and taxpayers.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141324 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141324 Middle School Students Lend Some Flair for A Good Cause On March 1, the middle school students came together to benefit a good cause at their annual Talent Show. Under the guidance of English teacher Allison Giannusa, more than 30 singers, dancers, musicians, stand-up comedians and crewmembers displayed their talents in a fantastic 22-act performance for friends and family. Principal Antonio Santana even made a surprise appearance to begin the show. All proceeds, including canned goods, were donated to Friends of Karen, a nonprofit organization that works to provide emotional, financial and advocacy support for children with a life-threatening illness and their families in order to help keep them stable, functioning and able to cope. “When I started the show eight years ago, a colleague recommended sending the proceeds to Friends, and we have worked together ever since,” said Giannusa. Since its inception, the show has raised over $10,000 for the organization, $1,300 of it coming from this year’s admission and raffle ticket sales. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141325 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141325 Interact Club Warms Hearts in the Cold of Winter The Interact Club has been busy spreading warmth and kindness to others this winter through multiple fundraisers and awareness projects. Students kicked off the season by collecting jeans for the “Teens for Jeans” campaign, run by Dosomething.org, the country’s largest nonprofit for young people and social change. Members successfully collected over 60 pairs of jeans, all of which will be distributed to local homeless shelters and outreach programs by popular youth clothing company Aéropostale. The Interact also sold pink and purple hearts for $1 each to school staff, family members and friends during their “Gift of Life” collection. Over $200 was raised and will be donated to the Gift of Life Foundation to help fund heart surgeries at Stony Brook University for underprivileged children from second- and third-world countries. Additionally, the students hosted a bake sale to sponsor Port Jefferson graduate and former Interact Club President Madison Crowe in her Relay for Life participation at Ithaca College. “The club felt that it was important to support her in her continued endeavors as a civic-minded student,” said club co-adviser Sarah Ogden. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141326 Sun, 03 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141326 Community Swim/After-school Swim Update As of March 11, 2013: The Community Fitness Center will beopen Monday - Thursday from 5:00 - 7:00 (When School is OPEN) Community Swim will beseparated for family andlap swim: FAMILY SWIM -6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday's. LAP SWIM - 7:30 - 8:30 Monday and Wednesday's After-school for “ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY” will be Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141322 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141322 Rotary Names February’s Most Motivated Student During a luncheon on Feb. 19, members of the Port Jefferson Rotary Club awarded middle school student Aidan Malinowski with their February Most Motivated Student of the Month award. The sixth-grader, who was nominated for the honor by his teachers, was chosen on the basis of academics, work ethic, responsibility and overall character. Aidan received the highest scoring rank among his peers. “He’s kindhearted, works really hard and always does the right thing,” Aidan’s reading teacher Charles Ruoff said of him. “He achieves high grades and has many good friends.” When asked to speak to the Rotary Club at the luncheon upon receiving his award, Aidan simply said, “Thank you very much. I always try my best.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141323 Thu, 28 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141323 Board of Education Meeting Notice PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on March 5, 2013, 6:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive sessionto discussa personnel matter, and for any other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141319 Wed, 27 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141319 SUNY Percussion Instructor Strikes a Chord With Music Students SUNY Stony Brook undergraduate percussion instructor James Beauton visited students in the district this week to teach about various percussion instruments and the methods behind playing them. Beauton, who began his teaching career at the age of 17, reached out to the district in a personal effort to cultivate more interest in music among students. “High school was the time in which I was most influenced by music, so I feel like it’s only appropriate to talk about it with students this age,” said Beauton. “I like what I do, and I have the resources and the time, so it’s perfect.” During his visit, Beauton discussed and performed improvised, partially improvised and composed music, demonstrating their differences on the drum, snare drum, marimba and shekere, an African rattle. Perhaps the most impressive part of the lesson was his passionate performance of “Prim,” a piece composed for the snare drum by leading Icelandic composer Áskell Másson. “Music is such a great way to express your feelings,” said Beauton. “Don’t be afraid to experiment with your instruments and explore different types of music. Find out what music can do for you.” He continued by emphasizing the importance of studying music theory and maintaining persistence throughout the learning process. “If you want to become better at what you’re doing, ask someone for help and don’t give up, even if things become difficult. Always be a student. Always be open to trying new things.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141320 Tue, 26 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141320 Science Olympiad Team Places in Top Three at Competition The high school’s Science Olympiad team, along with coaches Michel Krivosta and Laurie McMillen, took third place at this year’s Suffolk County Regional Science Olympiad competition on Feb. 23. A total of 51 schools participated in the contest, held at Ward Melville High School. Teams participated in multiple events that pertained to various scientific disciplines, including anatomy, physics, geology, astronomy, mechanical engineering and technology. The district has been participating and earning top spots in this event for over 25 years. Medal Winners: 1st Place – Ryan Burke and Eric Kilgore for Fermi Questions 1st Place – Eric Kilgore and Alberto Rescia for Geologic Mapping 2nd Place – Julia Kharzeev and Natasha Zeleznyak for Forestry 3rd Place – Zachary Graziano and Danielle Grier for Water Quality Top 10 Finishes: 4th Place – Julia Kharzeev and Alberto Rescia for Disease Detective 4th Place – Ryan Burke and Kent Ueno for Elastic Glider 4th Place – Kelsey Van Houten and Julia Woznicki for Write It/Do It 5th Place – Zach Graziano and Leah Neiman for Designer Genes 5th Place – Evan Lahey and Kent Ueno for Material Science 6th Place – Danielle Grier and Kent Ueno for Chemistry Lab https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141321 Tue, 26 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141321 District Wins at State Wrestling Championship Congratulations to Port Jefferson wrestlers Matteo DeVincenzo and Ryan Woodward and Coach Michael Maletta for participating in the New York State Wrestling Championships. For the first time in 25 years, the district has an All-State wrestler; Matteo is New York State's runner-up in the 99-pound weight class. Thank you to all involved for representing Port Jefferson in a positive manner. We are proud of you! GO PJ NATION! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141318 Mon, 25 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141318 AP Biology Students Take a Hands-On Approach to Learning High school Advanced Placement Biology students recently put their scientific knowledge into action during a class trip to the Biotechnology Teaching Laboratory at the Center for Science and Mathematics Education (CESAME) at Stony Brook University. There they participated in two hands-on labs that required students to utilize their observational, analytical and scientific engineering skills. “In the bacterial transformation lab, the students inserted a plasmid, a small piece of DNA, that contained a gene for antibiotic resistance and a jellyfish gene for florescence into E. coli bacteria,” said teacher Laurie McMillen. “The bacteria glowed when viewed under a black light, which proved that the students had successfully inserted the plasmid into the bacteria.” Students were directly involved in the experimental design and the designation of controls. The student-scientists also participated in a restriction enzyme analysis lab in which they tested and evaluated four factors that can affect the function of restriction enzymes. The procedures included the use of agarose gel electrophoresis and restriction enzymes’ (EcoRI, HinDIII and BamHI) digestion of DNA. A presentation of results to classmates helped participants compare experiences and results. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141317 Sun, 24 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141317 Board adopts 2013-14 School Calendar https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141316 Tue, 19 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141316 Port Jefferson Art Students Design Valentines for Classmates In celebration of Valentine's Day, middle school students from Stacey Schuman's art club created hand-designed valentines for their classmates. On the morning of Valentine's Day, students were surprised with an individualized valentine taped to their locker. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141313 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141313 Student History Buffs Advance to Regional Finals Four students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School recently qualified for the 2013 National History Bee Regional Finals. After attaining the highest scores among classmates during the qualifying Intramural Bee on Nov. 30, fourth-graders Lucas Welinder and Peggy Yin and fifth-graders Gavin Chambers and Giuseppina Than advanced to the Online Regional Qualifying Exam, which took place in January. All four students placed in the top 120 scores within the region and will be continuing on to the Regional Finals in New York City this April. The National History Bee rewards students for their existing knowledge and encourages them to learn more about history. This is the first year that the competition has been open to elementary school students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141314 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141314 String Students Perform in LISFA Festivals Congratulations to the 11 students who were selected to participate in festivals of the Long Island String Festival Association. The Elementary/Middle School Festival performance was held at Northport High School on Jan. 21 and the Junior/Senior High School Festival was held at Ward Melville High School with a concert on Feb. 5. Students from across Suffolk County were selected on a competitive basis, with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria in addition to teacher recommendations. The district congratulates the following selected string students: fifth-graders Emily Bossert and Elizabeth Chun; sixth-graders Hyun Jin Lee and Mayu Takeuchi; seventh-graders Ibuki Iwasaki, James Kennedy and Trey Pisano; eighth-grader Anita Rescia; ninth-grader Danielle Goldstein; 10th-grader Dunia Karzai; and 12th-grader Jonathan Chun. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141315 Mon, 18 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141315 IMPORTANT: UPDATED CALENDAR CHANGES Re-posted 2/13/2013 Please open the following link to read the letter regarding calendar changes for the 2012-13 school year. 2012-2013 Calendar Change Letter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140993 Wed, 13 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false140993 Middle School Drama Production - Revised Date Change The Middle School Drama Production has been moved to THURSDAY February 14 and FRIDAY February 15 at 7:30 p.m. in the HS Auditorium. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141312 Sat, 09 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141312 Students Digitalize Their Visions On Feb. 6, Port Jefferson Middle School students in Monica Consalvo’s and Deirdre Filippi’s classes participated in National Digital Learning Day. The campaign, which began last year, demonstrates how learning can be transformed when the Web and the effective use of technology are successfully incorporated into the classroom. The students were given the hypothetical task of creating a digital magazine cover, an idea inspired by the recent digitalization of Newsweek magazine. The theme, “Year 2012 as I Saw It,” was modeled after “Year in Review” publications like those published by Newsweek and Time magazine. Students were given access to previous print covers of the two famous periodicals and learned how headlines, bylines, tag lines and images can display the highlights of a year. They also conducted research using online news tools. The student-made covers were designed using a digital tool called “The Printing Press” and incorporated features such as U.S. and world news, pop culture and top icons of the year. All covers were available for viewing by the students’ peers during a class “fair,” and the top covers will be displayed for the entire school. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141311 Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141311 Heart Screen NY Initiative Heart Screen New York Initiative to Provide Free Cardiac Screening - March 2, 2013 Heart Screen New York a FREE program under the Louis J. Acompora Memorial Foundation and the Dominic A. Murray Memorial 21 Foundation will hold a free Heart Screening at Comsewogue High School, Port Jefferson Station N.Y. March 2,2013. The goal of this collaborative effort is to increase awareness about Sudden Cardiac Arrest in youth and the importance of cardiac screenings and early detection in youths. The screening is open to all students ages 12-24 regardless of the school they attend. Several leading cardiologists from area hospitals will be offering their services to the screening. The screening will consist of a heart health survey, heart sounds physical, ECG and Echocardiogram. To register for the FREE youth heart screening please visitwww.stayclassy.org/heartscreennewyork https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141310 Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141310 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE (CHANGE IN LOCATION) The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on February 12, 2013, 7:30 p.m., in the auditorium at Earl L.Vandermeulen High School. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 5:30 p.m. to discuss matters related to negotiations and personnel. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141309 Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141309 Stranger Alert January 30th at dismissal, an eighth grade student was approached by awhite male, approximately 50 years old, wearing blue Nike running pants, at the end of the track near the path leading to Brook Avenue. The man asked the female student questions about her age and grade making her feel uncomfortable. The student contacted her father via cell phone,as the man drove off in a silver Chevy Impala that was parked near the track. Suffolk County Police werecontactedand took the information. School officials have also alerted the Port Jefferson Village Constables and Suffolk Transportation regarding the incident. Please take this opportunity to remind your children of how to respond in the event they are ever approached by a person not known to them. Sincerely, Dr. Ken Bossert Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141308 Wed, 30 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141308 Students Take on a New York State of Mind Students at the elementary school participated in “Welcome to New York!,”an interdisciplinary, interactive and innovative “in-house” field trip taught by instructors Cliff and Pat Heinze. The highly acclaimed BOCES Arts-in-Education program integrates information from classroom curriculum into a physical education experience. “What’s wonderful about this program is that it is adaptable for students in kindergarten through fifth-grade,” said Mr. Heinze. “By the second day, the younger children are able to quickly recognize symbols and key terms while the older students are able to actively hunt for information.” Many large panels of original artwork transformed the school’s gymnasium into a fun, colorful learning environment where students toured “New York State.” Students began their “excursion” at the tourist information center where they learned key facts about the state, its landscape and its most notable features. Following the introduction, the children were able to explore over 20 tourist activity stations incorporating such information as New York’s official bug, fish, flower, bird, tree, mammal and beverage into physical activities, accompanied by theme-related music. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141307 Tue, 29 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141307 Senior Dancer Highlighted in Newsday Article High school senior Sruthi Sridevan was recently interviewed by Newsday as part of a story about the art of Bharatanatyam Indian dancing. The article highlighted the accomplishments and teachings of local instructor “Guru” Kamala Lakshmi Narayanan. Sruthi has been studying for 10 years with Narayanan. Her family recently hosted lessons in their home, where they have a private dance studio dedicated to learning this particular type of dance, which is known for its gracefulness and structural poses. “This is the only form of dance I like to do because it’s fluid and picturesque,” Sruthi said. To read more about Sruthi and the art of Bharatanatyam dancing, visit http://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/retirement/teaching-the-intricacies-of-indian-dance-1.4464498?p=224397. (Subscription may be required.) https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141306 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141306 Students Create Subway Artwork On Jan. 22, fifth-grade students from Nancy Randazzo's art class studied the "subway" artwork of artist Keith Haring, a popular street artist from the 1980s. Students created Haring-style drawings throughout the elementary school building using only black construction paper and chalk to create their images. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141304 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141304 PJ District-Wide School Safety Plan https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141305 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141305 NYS Common Core Standards- New Page The Department of Curriculum & Instruction Introduces Web Page for New York State Education Department’s Common Core Standards Initiative Visit the Common Core Standards webpage for information regarding the new Common Core Standards in English Language Arts and Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science and other Technical Subjects and the new Common Core Standards in Mathematics. The page serves as a resource for information on this nationwide initiative, with video, PowerPoint, and web links, as well as information on the implementation of the new standards in the Port Jefferson School District. For more information, visit the new pagehereor go to Departments, Curriculum & Instruction,NYS Common Core Standards, Information for Parents. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141303 Mon, 21 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141303 Port Jefferson Hosts Mid-Island Band Festival On Jan. 18 and 19, high school band students, along with students from Sachem High Schools North and East, Sayville High School, Patchogue-Medford High School and Hauppauge High School, participated in the 55th Annual Mid-Island Band Festival. The event, hosted by Port Jefferson, included a performance conducted by David Minelli, a veteran Long Island music teacher and member of the New York State School Music Association executive board. Congratulations to all participating students! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141302 Sun, 20 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141302 BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 22, 2013, 7:00 p.m., in the large group room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, for a report on the AP Program and other business as may be needed. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m. to discuss matters related to negotiations and evaluation of the Superintendent. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141301 Thu, 17 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141301 SCMEA Day of Horn On Jan. 11, middle school musicians Gavin Barrett, Joseph Kaming-Thanassi and Charles Rolfe participated in the 8th Annual SCMEA Day of Horn at Commack Middle School. This event, which last year broke the Guinness World Record for the world's largest horn ensemble, featured a concert performance by nearly 300 horn players from across Suffolk County. The musicians were led by guest artist Michael Slatkin from the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. Congratulations to Gavin, Joseph and Charles for participating in this unique musical opportunity! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141299 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141299 Flu Update 2013 Please read the attached letter in regards to Governor Coumo's declaration of a "Public Health Emergency". Governor Coumo's order came a day after federal health officials said the fast-spreading influenza had officially reached epidemic proportions in the United States. To reduce the risk of getting and spreading the flu viruses, we are asking you to read the attached letter and review the information with your child. If you have any questions or concerns about the flu please call your pediatrician or your school nurse. Click HERE for Flu Update Letter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141300 Mon, 14 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141300 Elementary Student Reclaims Spelling Bee Champ Title Elementary school students recently participated in the Scripps Spelling Bee, an opportunity offered to all fourth- and fifth-graders by the school’s SEAL program to help improve spelling, enhance vocabulary and foster a deeper comprehension of the correct usage of the English language. Each classroom hosted its own competition, producing two winners each to advance to the school spelling bee. With his correct spelling of the word “invertebrate,” student Gavin Chambers maintained the title of school bee champion for the second year in a row. Runner-up Ameen Khan will serve as the alternate. Gavin will advance to the next level of competition at Hofstra University to compete against other Long Island schools in March. The champion of each local spelling bee qualifies to compete for cash and prizes in the Scripps National Spelling Bee near Washington, D.C., which has been broadcast on channels such as ESPN and ABC in the past. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141298 Fri, 11 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141298 Board Proudly Highlights Admirable Director and Students January’s Board of Education meeting started the New Year on a proud and positive note with the recognition of the outstanding efforts made by members within the district. Debra Ferry, director of health, physical education and athletics, along with social studies teacher Jesse Rosen, began the evening by awarding certificates of recognition for their service to the community to seniors Emma Crugnale, Caitlin Dennehy, Jaclyn Dombroski, Katie Lochren and Jessica Loehr. The group collaboratively organized the “Spikes for Sandy” volleyball tournament, a friendly competition that raised nearly $1,000 in Hurricane Sandy relief funds for those affected by the storm. Next, Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert underlined the accomplishments of Ferry, who was recently named the Port Times Record’s Woman of the Year in Sports. “Deb treats all of her students as scholars before athletes,” stated Bossert, who continued by acknowledging Ferry’s hard work and dedication to her students. Flowers and a commemorative certificate were presented by Dr. Bossert and board member Vincent Ruggiero, respectively. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141297 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141297 Update on Safety Audit Click HERE to view PowerPoint Presentation from the January 8th BOE Meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141024 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141024 BMI Survey Port Jefferson School District has been selected by New York State to participate in the 2012-2013 Body Mass Index (BMI) Survey. All students in Kindergarten, 2nd grade, 4th grade, 7th grade and 10th grade will be included in this survey. The survey does not include any personal information about the student – no names are used. Only BMI percentage for each grade range is reported. If you would prefer that your child NOT be included in this survey, please contact the nurse at your child’s school by Wednesday, January 23, 2013. • HS/MS - Mrs. Federico 631-791-4410 or email sfederic@portjeff.k12.ny.us • ES - Mrs. Tucci 631-791-4310 or email jtucci@portjeff.k12.ny.us https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141023 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141023 PJSD Battle of the Schools Hurricane Sandy Fundraiser January 17th @ 7:00 p.m. HS/MS Gymnasium - $5.00 Suggested Donation https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141296 Wed, 09 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141296 Port Jefferson Mayor Discusses Law in Familiar Setting On Jan. 8, students in Philip Giannusa’s “Experiencing the Law” class at the high school welcomed Port Jefferson Mayor Margot Garant for a special guest lecture. A former Port Jefferson student and athlete, Garant had an open discussion with students about her career as a lawyer, her path to becoming mayor and how the law relates to the local community. “I love to talk with the students here because I once sat in those chairs,” she began. Garant continued by defining the major types of law and how they relate to her positions as mayor and lawyer. She described herself as a “clean hands lawyer” that always strives to seek a peaceful alternative to dispute. “Every day you have choices. Make the best decisions for yourself and figure out how to implement them,” she stated. “If you’ve made a good decision, go forward with it and never look back.” A question-and-answer segment towards the end of the lesson included discussion of the future of Port Jefferson. Garant shared with students a plan to help revitalize the town by supporting the construction of affordable housing. “I believe that growth is positive as long as it is in scale and in character with the rest of the town,” she stated. “One of our goals is to retain the youth in the community and help them make living in Port Jefferson a possibility.” Other areas of conversation included how Port Jefferson became an incorporated village, the importance of business within the community and the village’s response during Hurricane Sandy. Garant credits her success as a professional to the foundation she received at Earl L. Vandermeulen. “My education and experiences at this school helped me to think technically and become a good decision-maker. The skill sets that I learned here are ones that I still use every day.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141025 Tue, 08 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141025 Students Learn the Equation of Success Twenty math students from the high school competed in the Suffolk County Math Teachers Association Annual Math Tournament on Jan. 4 at Suffolk County Community College. Throughout the day, participants took part in individual and team competitions against 30 other schools from the county. Congratulations to Ryan Burke, who won second place in the 10th-grade individual competition. Math teacher Dennis Christofor and athletics coach Allyson Wolf were also in attendance at the college to supervise and support students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141022 Mon, 07 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141022 Snowflakes for Sandy Hook In light of the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School, teachers and students at the high school participated in the Sandy Hook PTA’s project of creating snowflakes to decorate the halls for the children’s return to school in January. “I felt so proud of our kids to take a tragic event that affected our students, some personally, and produce beautiful snowflakes,” said project coordinator Sarah Ogden. “It made me smile inside and out.” Involved faculty members even formed mini-lessons around the activity. Art teacher Carrie Morgan connected the creation of the snowflakes with mathematics using isosceles triangles, angle bisectors and geometry. Similarly, Kristine Vaccaro integrated the use of calculus in teaching her students how to make 3-D snowflakes. Spanish teacher Dawn DeLeonardis-Moody and social studies teacher Lauren Trelewicz also strongly supported the project. The snowflakes were shipped to Newtown, Conn. in late December. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141019 Sun, 06 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141019 Parent Gives Lesson on Genetics On Jan. 3, Port Jefferson School District parent and Stony Brook University geneticist Nancy Hollingsworth Neiman treated students in Laurie McMillen’s AP Biology class to a guest lecture on the use of statistical analysis in research. Neiman, who works in the biochemistry and cell biology department at Stony Brook, has also been a professor there for the last 18 years. “What I love about this lesson is that the students can see how the methods they are learning are used in the professional world,” said McMillen. “It is great to have Nancy come in and speak because she actually does these things.” Neiman incorporated interactive exercises with students focusing on genetics and probability. She emphasized the importance of examining results as well as the significance of being “confident in the accepting or rejecting of a hypothesis.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141020 Sun, 06 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141020 Music Students Attend Concert at Lincoln Center On Jan. 3, more than 50 elementary, middle and high school string students and their parents attended an evening performance of the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. Attendees enjoyed the orchestra's premiere performance by composer Walter Braunfels as well as Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor and Beethoven's highly acclaimed Symphony No. 7. “For those students who have never been to Lincoln Center or to a professional orchestra concert, this trip, to hear one of the finest orchestras in the world, will surely be a night they remember for years to come,” stated Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141021 Sun, 06 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141021 District Introduces New Web Page District Introduces Web Page for Power Plant Revenue Issue In an effort to keep the local community up-to-date with the latest, most relevant information regarding the LIPA/National Grid issue, the Port Jefferson Board of Education has added a comprehensive web page to the district’s site. The page serves as a resource for information and recent developments regarding the LIPA/National Grid issue, including the financial challenges that the issue poses to the district and its surrounding community, as well as the district’s position on the matter. Readers will also find supplemental information such as a recap of recent events, a question-and-answer section to help simplify and streamline information, a list of media reports on the issue and a district presentation that explores the potential impacts of reassessment. Additionally, the page offers an outlet for inquiries and other communications – an email address through which the board will respond in a timely manner. For more information, visit the new page hereor look to the Quick Links section on the lower right side of the page and click on 'Power Plant Revenue Issue.' https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141018 Thu, 03 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141018 School Security Measures Reviewed Dear Parents and Community Members, I hope you have enjoyed the holiday season, and that the time away from school has provided the opportunity for making wonderful family memories. Happy New Year 2013! Over the last two weeks, District personnel, community officials and representatives of State and Federal agencies have been meeting to review all plans and practices associated with emergency response. The Port Jefferson School District facilities have also been reviewed to identify areas that could be targeted for security enhancement. These enhancements may include: additional cameras, “buzzer” doors, fencing, signage, and potentially – additional security staffing. Some modifications have already been completed. Other actions require approval from the Board of Education at a public meeting. Our next scheduled meeting of the Board will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elementary large group room. An update on security will be presented to the Board on that night. One of the concrete goals we are moving towards achieving is having one entry/exit point in each of our school buildings. To that end, all visitors will need to report to the designated “main entrance” at each of our facilities: Elementary School:Front door outside main office (you will need to be “buzzed” in). Middle School/High School:Main Entrance outside gym lobby (you will continue to report directly to the security desk once inside). A “buzzer” for this area is forthcoming.The MS/HS attendance office is currently being relocated to this area of the building. District Office:Main Entrance (faces Elementary School): You will need to call the extension (an intercom will be placed in the vestibule) of the person you have an appointment to see, and be “buzzed” in. Following the recommendation of our safety response committee, all visitors to school buildings will need to: Produce andsurrendera government issued photo identification (driver’s license, military I.D., passport, etc.) Your identification will be held at the security desk in each building and returned to you upon departure. This will enable us to have an accurate account of who is in our building (and the reason for the visit) at all times.This practice will go into effect beginning Monday, January 7. The District Administration and the Board of Education are anxious to hear your input regarding security of our schools. To that end, a community forum on safety has been planned for Thursday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m. in the High School Auditorium. I will present some of the findings/recommendations of the safety committee (for obvious reasons, many of our practices will remain confidential and known only to school personnel and law enforcement). Parents and members of the school community will be given ample opportunity to make suggestions and ask questions of your own. I hope to see you there. The tragic events in Newtown, Connecticut caused all school officials in the country to examine safety protocol. While I am very confident that our schools are safe and our faculty is prepared to respond to emergencies, I also believe there are modifications to be made that will raise the comfort level of all concerned. I hope that 2013 brings you and your family many joyous occasions and also a sense of peace and normalcy following a very difficult end to 2012. Warm Regards, Dr. Ken Bossert Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141016 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141016 Field Hockey Team Wins at Awards Ceremony Congratulations to the varsity field hockey team and coach Debbie Brown for being recognized at the Suffolk County Field Hockey Coaches Association Awards Dinner, held on Dec. 19. Jackie Brown and Tammy Serabian won All-Division and Allegra Fils-Aime was awarded All-Conference and All-Division. Great job! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141017 Tue, 01 Jan 2013 05:00:00 GMT false141017 Spikes for Sandy Since early November, students in Jesse Rosen's economics class at the high school have been working on projects to raise funds for Hurricane Sandy relief. One group, comprised of seniors Emma Crugnale, Caitlin Dennehy, Jaclyn Dombroski, Katie Lochren and Jessica Loehr, organized a volleyball tournament, appropriately named "Spikes for Sandy." Student, teacher and administrative teams participated in the friendly competition, which raised nearly $1,000. Tournament founders will soon be in contact with Long Island residents who were significantly impacted by the hurricane and will then decide how to best allocate the funds. “The project was a success in terms of learning important economic concepts,” said Debra Ferry, director of health, physical education and athletics. “It also helps the students understand their potential as members of our greater society." https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141014 Tue, 25 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141014 Students Bring Holiday Magic to Life Members of the high school’s Student Organization worked with the group Holiday Magic to provide families in need with presents for the holidays. Holiday Magic, which was begun in 1990 by Port Jefferson resident Charlie Russo, is a nonprofit organization that provides holiday generosity, spirit and hope to those less fortunate. The program reaches out to approximately 4,000 Long Island children living in homeless shelters, temporary foster care, Child Protective Services, sober houses, teen mother homes and domestic violence safe homes. “Mr. Russo’s children are graduates of the school, and his nieces and nephews are currently students,” said club adviser Sarah Ogden. “The Student Organization likes to support our local organizations, especially our Port Jefferson family.” The Student Organization, a club of 27 class officers from grades nine through 12, collected the donated gifts for 56 adopted children on Dec. 18. Participants worked throughout the day to ensure that everything was wrapped, labeled, packaged and safely delivered to a truck for delivery to headquarters in Hauppauge. The club meets Tuesdays after school and has a hand in major activities throughout the year, including homecoming, graduation and a spring dodgeball event. Members also assist their fellow students with fundraising initiatives, class duties and community collections. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141015 Tue, 25 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141015 Students Look to the Stars On Dec. 18, students in the fifth-grade class participated in a portable planetarium sky lab presentation given by Night Sky Educational, Inc. Unique to this lesson was the setting – a large inflatable dome that students and teachers sat in, where planetarium-style projections were displayed on the walls. Night Sky representative Kim Barclay narrated the lesson, which focused on the life cycle of stars and explored nebulae, supernovae, black holes, pulsars and the life cycle of the sun. Students also discussed Greek mythology and its strong relation to the constellations and their names and placement in the universe. The sky lab was made possible through a grant from the Royal Educational Foundation that was awarded to fifth-grade teacher Kristi Krieg during the Superintendent’s Conference Day this past summer. The lesson was sponsored as an enhancement to the grade’s astronomy unit. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141013 Fri, 21 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141013 Elementary Students ‘Seal’ Win in History Competition Fourth- and fifth-grade students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School recently participated in the National History Bee, an individual academic competition for elementary and middle school students that tests knowledge of a wide range of historical topics. SEAL (Studies Enriching Academic Learning) teacher Kimberly Pelkonen organized the competition for all students. The SEAL program offers educationally enhancing opportunities like this to students throughout the year. The qualifying Intramural Bee was held on Nov. 30 and consisted of 70 multiple-choice and two tie-breaker questions for participants to answer. The four students with the highest scores on this test, fourth-graders Lucas Welinder and Peggy Yin and fifth-graders Gavin Chambers and Giuseppina Than, will advance to the Online Regional Qualifying Exam in January 2013. The top 120 scorers of this round from each region will continue on to the Regional Finals in New York City. The National History Bee rewards students for their existing knowledge and encourages them to learn more about history. This is the first year that the competition has been open to elementary school students. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141012 Tue, 18 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141012 Senior Dedicates Summer to Science Senior and AP Chemistry student Sruthi Sridevan spent this past summer interning for two different research projects at Stony Brook University. Choosing work over play, she spent 40 hours a week for two months at the Neonatal Research and Lipid Cancer labs as a research aide. “Becoming a research assistant was something that I really wanted to do, especially since I knew that the following summer would be spent preparing for college,” said Sruthi, who took it upon herself to reach out to 50 professors at the university until she landed a position. “My grandmother died of bladder cancer and that is what propels me to work in this field and eventually have a career in medicine.” As part of her experience at the Lipid Cancer Lab, Sruthi studied a specific class of molecules called sphingolipids and their activity when metabolized. Her studies at the Neonatal Research Lab focused on the inflammation of membranes surrounding a fetus and allowed her to shadow doctors that perform Caesarean section births. Personal experiences combined with a deep-rooted interest in science keep her hopeful for a future as a professional. “I would like to develop treatment that will alleviate or cure cancer patients,” she said. Sruthi is looking to return to the labs in March and continue her work over the summer until her departure for college. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141011 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141011 Battle of the Schools fundraiser - Postponed Parents, Thank you to all those who volunteered to assist in the Battle of the Schools fundraiser tomorrow (Weds.) night. Thank you also to those who planned to attend to support the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Due to the ongoing events in Newtown, CT., we have decided to postpone the fundraiser out of respect to the victims and the services being held just 30 miles away. The new date is set for Thursday, January 17 at 7 p.m. in the MS/HS gymnasium. I look forward to seeing you then. All pre-sold tickets will be honored. Have a wonderful holiday break. Regards, Dr. Ken Bossert https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141010 Mon, 17 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141010 Students Make Holiday Interactions Extraordinary On Dec. 11, the high school Interact Club and members of the Port Jefferson Rotary Club worked together to wrap presents for local underprivileged children. For the past three years, the Rotary has adopted 100 children for the holidays through the Infant Jesus R.C. Church Outreach’s “Adopt-A-Family” Christmas program. What makes this year unique is the Interact’s decision to supplement the Rotary gifts, which are traditionally clothing and other necessities, with toys, books and games. Interact co-advisers Deirdre Filippi and Sarah Ogden helped the approximate 40 club members organize what became the “Spirit of Giving” toy collection in the middle and high schools. “I am thrilled with the response that the program received,” said Ogden. Since the start of their drive in late November, the group collected an overwhelming amount of gifts for the children. “We made sure to take the extra time and effort in deciding what to give,” said second- year Interact member Kayley Okst. “The students really got into it,” added fellow member Lauren McGuirk. “It makes people think about other kids that wouldn’t get as much or anything for Christmas if we didn’t help.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141009 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141009 Excellence is No Challenge for Students On Nov. 13, the high school academic team, accompanied by science teacher and coach Laurie McMillen, traveled to Metropolis Studios in Manhattan for a face-off in intellectual competition against Amityville Memorial High School on the MSG Varsity show “The Challenge.” The show is an award-winning, academic quiz for high schools that features the best and brightest local students from across the tri-state area. Jared Cotter, former FUSE TV host and a popular “American Idol” semifinalist, serves as moderator, asking competing high school teams questions based on their knowledge of history, arts and literature, current events, math and science. High school senior Zachary Graziano captains the team, which includes senior Jonathan Chun, junior Alberto Rescia and freshman Erik Kilgore, with senior Gabe Davis and junior Leah Neiman as alternates. These representatives were chosen for competition based on their high performance during weekly after-school group meetings with other students. Earl L. Vandermeulen students have participated in “The Challenge” for more than 10 years and took first place the year the contest began. This year’s competition will air on MSG Varsity (Cablevision Channel 14) on Dec. 24 at 6:30 p.m. Encore episodes can be viewed the following Saturday and Sunday on News 12 at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141007 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141007 Second-Grade Students Give Gift of Good Deeds Darlene Wells and her second-grade students at have recently been discussing how to make a positive difference in the lives of others, especially during the holiday season. During a brainstorming session, the children decided upon three good deeds that they would collectively participate in this winter. On Dec. 12, the class brought their good intentions to life. Four work stations were set up in their classroom, at which they took turns making cards for United States troops, decorating holiday ornaments and gingerbread houses for local nursing home residents, and creating self-portraits to give to their parents as gifts. In the days prior, the students collected toiletries and made care packages to accompany their cards to the troops. In addition to these heartwarming acts of kindness, the children each thought of an additional two good deeds that they could personally carry out during the holiday season. They then wrote the deeds on a traced handprint, which were collected to make a wreath. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141008 Sun, 16 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141008 Security Update Parents and Community Members, As you all are likely aware, a horrific act occurred at an Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut this morning (Friday, 12/14) just before 10 a.m. As the details of this horrible act continue to be updated, our hearts go out to the victims and their families. Please know that the safety and welfare of our students and staff remains at the forefront of our thoughts in Port Jefferson. There have been a number of recent changes to procedures and equipment in order to bolster the security of our facilities. That said, we will continue to investigate ways that security can be tightened. Several members of the administrative team will be meeting with key school and community officials next week to continue discussing ways to best secure our buildings and to review recent, updated guidance from NYSED and the Dept. of Homeland Security. Our faculty and staff, however, remain our first and best line of defense. All members of our faculty and staff have been asked to continue to: question individuals who lack District I.D., remind students not to open doors for anyone, point out any lapses in security they see to building administration, closely monitor all students as they travel between hallways (and buildings at the HS), etc. We ask parents and community members to be patient if you experience a delay in accessing our school facilities. Each of our school buildings can and should only be accessed through one entrance that is monitored by staff members. Staff will continue to ask you to sign in and produce identification. You will also need to share the purpose for your visit. In upcoming weeks our administration, faculty and staff members will continue to drill for all types of emergencies, including: fire, lock down and lock out. You are encouraged to discuss these drills with your children. While these drills should be taken seriously, we do not want to cause our students any unnecessary anxiety. The events that took place this morning are nothing short of tragic. While it would be foolish to think we can ever 100% protect ourselves from those looking to do us harm, we must feel 100% confident we are doing all we can in a proactive way. Warm Regards, Dr. Ken Bossert Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141006 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141006 Student-Musicians Bring Good Tidings to All Prior to the start of the Dec. 11 Board of Education meeting, members of the high school’s chamber choir and string chamber ensemble treated attendees to spirited performances of traditional holiday songs. The groups include students in grades nine through 12 and are led by Jason Crockett and Michael Caravello, respectively. Earlier in the evening, the chamber choir performed for staff and patients at the local Mather Hospital. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141005 Wed, 12 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141005 PJSD Battle of the Schools On Wednesday, Dec. 19 at 7 p.m., the district will be hosting “Battle of the Schools,” a Hurricane Sandy benefit. Attendees are asked to bring a $5 donation to the event, which will take place in the high school/middle school gymnasium. Come cheer on the teachers and staff of your school! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141004 Tue, 11 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141004 Students Give Voice to “Christmas Carol” Students and teachers from the district participated in the 17th Annual Dickens Festival on Friday, Nov. 30 through Sunday, Dec. 2. The festival, a village-wide celebration of the Charles Dickens novel “A Christmas Carol,” featured costumed characters, performances, carriage and trolley rides and much more. This year, eight poetry contest winners from the school read original poetry during the opening night of the ceremony. Students Asha Buehler, Jillian Lawler, Sean McCarthy, Abby Murphy, Chiara Rabeno, Ava Schully, Swathi Sridevan and Eric Zimmerman performed at designated stations throughout the village. On Saturday and Sunday, students from the elementary school select choir, led by directors Andrew Frey and Jessica Pastor; the sixth-grade chamber ensemble, led by Christine Klimek; the middle school and high school string orchestras, led by Christian Neubert and Michael Caravello, respectively; and the wind and brass ensemble from the high school choral, led by Christine Creighton and Jason Crockett, provided musical entertainment for guests at the First Presbyterian Church on East Main Street. The student-musicians performed holiday selections as well as previews from their upcoming winter concerts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141001 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141001 Students Compete to Put Name on Map of Excellence During the week of Dec. 3, students in grades six through eight at the middle School participated in the National Geographic Bee, a competition amongst thousands of schools in the United States. The contest begins as a school-level bee in which contestants compete in multiple rounds of question-and-answer quizzes progressing from U.S. geography to continental geography, physical geography and finally world geography. One winner from the school is then administered a qualifying test to identify the top 100 students in each state who are then invited to compete at the state-level competition. This year’s winner from the middle school, seventh-grader Joe Longo, took first place after coming in third place in last year’s school bee. In early March, teacher representatives will be notified whether Joe qualifies to represent Port Jefferson Middle School at the state level. State qualifiers will participate in an oral competition, and winners of that round are then invited to National Geographic headquarters in late May to compete in the national finals. Winners of the finals are awarded scholarships in the amount of $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000. The contest is designed to encourage teachers to include geography in their classrooms, spark student interest in the subject and increase public awareness about geography. This is the eighth year that social studies teacher Philip Giannusa has facilitated a bee for students to participate in. Of those years, Giannusa has had two students advance to the state-level competition in Albany, and one student make it to the top 10. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141002 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141002 Student-Musicians Rock at Rockefeller Center On Sunday, Dec. 9, band teacher Christine Creighton accompanied middle school students Grant Calendrille (sixth grade) and Paul Penske (seventh grade) to their performance at Rockefeller Center for the annual Tuba Christmas. For almost 40 years, tuba, euphonium and baritone players from across the country gather in New York City to perform at this annual event, which this year included players from ages 10-87. A total of 470 musicians played at this year’s event, which was conducted by Christian Wilhelm, former conductor of the Goldman Memorial Band. Thank you to Grant and Paul for participating in this unique performance opportunity! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141003 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141003 Our Site is Now Mobile! Port Jefferson School District has launched a mobile version of its website. Accessible from any web-enabled phone or Smartphone, the site connects students, parents, community members and teachers, wherever they may be, with the Port Jefferson School District. Visit http://portjeffschools.org/ from any web-enabled phone to test drive the site. The mobile website provides users with the same information as the regular website, such as news, calendar and staff lists. It also provides alerts in an easy-to-read manner. We hope this provides users with more on-the-go availability to the website. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141000 Thu, 06 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141000 Boys Varsity Soccer Team Recognized by Legislator On Tuesday, Dec. 4, members of the boys varsity soccer team traveled to the Suffolk County Legislature Building in Hauppauge. There, players and team coach John Poulianos were presented with a proclamation and certificates by Legislator Kara Hahn (5th District). Friends and family looked on as the athletes were recognized for their successes during the 2012 season. The undefeated team placed first in New York State’s Class C Division for the second year in a row. The group was also commended for its display of sportsmanship, athleticism, strength, determination and perseverance throughout the season. The team has also been invited by Sen. Kenneth LaValle to receive a proclamation on the New York State Senate floor in Albany in January 2013. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140999 Wed, 05 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140999 Students Make Impression with Ancient Fish Printing On Tuesday, Dec. 4, students in Jonathan Maletta’s marine science class and Carrie Morgan’s art class participated in a three-part interdisciplinary exercise combining lessons on the external anatomy of fish with the creation of Japanese Gyotaku printing. During the exercise, students used their newly acquired knowledge of fin position and scale structure of fish species, including striped bass, flounder and porgy, to replicate samples using this distinctive technique. The unit also incorporated background information on Japanese culture. “Gyotaku provides an excellent way for students to enhance their scientific process skills of observing, hypothesizing, experimenting, comparing, contrasting, measuring and cataloging,” said Morgan. “We felt this would be a more valuable lesson for the students if they were able to participate in a hands-on activity,” added Maletta. Participants were provided with a fish body that had been washed and prepared by the two teachers. Students then were given the task of painting the fish exteriors, placing special paper over them and then rubbing the surface down to create an imprint. This is similar to the ancient method of using sumi ink and rice paper to create a life-sized impression. The scientific portion of the lesson centered on the importance of scales for protection and as an evaluative tool for scientists. “Scales produce ring patterns, much like rings associated with growth for trees, that help scientists determine their age and also possible spawning events in freshwater environments,” stated Maletta. “Students examined scales of striped bass to estimate their age in an inquiry-based laboratory investigation.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140997 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140997 Environmental Students Put Local Waters Under the Microscope Students in Jonathan Maletta’s AP environmental class are continuing the work of an ongoing water quality investigation. The study, which began approximately a year and a half ago, actively monitors potentially harmful phytoplankton species that have been collected from the Port Jefferson Harbor. “Not only does this lesson tie in with the curriculum, but it also allows us to make use of our close proximity to the harbor,” said Maletta. “We have been working with the local government, which helps us to quantify our data using advanced technology that we do not have here at the school.” The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Phytoplankton Monitoring Network (NOAA PMN), part of the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, worked with students on their most recent investigation of water from the Port Jefferson Village Pier. Students analyzed the sample and identified a potentially harmful species of phytoplankton that when in a “bloom” status can produce enough toxins to result in shellfish poisoning. They observed the harmful species of diatom, Pseudo-nitzschia, under a new compound microscope that allows for better visualization of phytoplankton and better communication with NOAA PMN due to the ability to now take and send images. The Boreal2 HM series digital microscope that students used was purchased with grant money awarded to Maletta by the Port Jefferson Royal Educational Foundation. “My students have clearly identified a Pseudo-nitzschia bloom of 2,500,000 cells per liter; more than 1 million signifies a bloom in the harbor,” stated Maletta. “However, the toxin production was not elevated enough to adversely impact finfish or shellfish populations.” In the right conditions, a bloom could lead to amnesic shellfish poisoning. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140998 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140998 Winter Concert LIVE Streaming Information All of our Winter Concerts will be streamed LIVE. On your computer you will need the Real Player to view the LIVE stream. It can be downloaded by following the link below: Click HERE for the Real Player Download Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player On your iPad/iPhone/iPod you can watch directly by following the link below: Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140996 Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140996 Port Jefferson School District Pays it Forward District participates in local storm relief drive What started out as a small project of hope turned into a community-wide act of giving to Long Island victims of Hurricane Sandy. Thinking of friends and family in Port Jefferson, Natasha Benham-Erdi of Pleasanton, Calif. began the “Benham Blanket Drive” for those hit hardest shortly after the storm. The campaign asked locals to donate new blankets to help keep those living without power warm. She then reached out to friend and Port Jefferson Middle School parent Chris Schully to help organize the shipment and distribution of the collected goods. When issues arose with shipping the pallet, Schully reached out to Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Antonio Santana for assistance. “I contacted the PTSA who was already working on several Sandy initiatives,” said Santana. “I believed they would be the perfect organization to make the delivery happen.” The team turned to the Outreach at Infant Jesus R.C. Church in Port Jefferson, who immediately offered their location as a distribution site for the hundreds of collected blankets. Together as part of one collaborative effort, Schully, the PTSA and the Infant Jesus Outreach organized the donation of the blankets to local shelters that were housing Hurricane Sandy victims. “It was really nice to see how the school and community members could work together toward a shared goal,” said Santana. “More importantly, it shows how public schools are often the vessel for philanthropic work and coordinate efforts that go beyond the school’s instructional mission.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140995 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140995 Student Named Most Motivated by Rotary During a luncheon on Nov. 27, members of the Port Jefferson Rotary Club awarded middle school student Phoenix Jampol with their October Most Motivated Student of the Month award. Teacher Allison Giannusa introduced Phoenix to the Rotarians, explaining that her nomination was based upon his perpetually “sunny” disposition, diligence as a student, leadership skills and admirable qualities as a caring young citizen. Middle school principal and fellow Rotarian Antonio Santana also took part in the award presentation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140994 Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140994 Approval of Acting Asst. Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Approval Notice https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140992 Mon, 26 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140992 Girls Varsity Soccer Maintains Perfection The girls varsity soccer team had an outstanding season! The undefeated team (12-0) secured their League Champion title for a second season. They continued their success by beating the Stony Brook School in the Suffolk County Finals on Friday, Nov. 9, earning them the title of Suffolk County Class C Champions. The team, along with coaches Winnie Kuemmel and Ally Wolff, has recently been recognized by Suffolk County for their athletic accomplishments. Olivia Racanelli, the League Player of the Year, and Mairead Swords, the Outstanding Player in the 2012 Class Finals, both received All-County Awards. Jillian Colucci and Francesca Racanelli were honored with the All-Conference Award. Additionally, Olivia Love, Corinne Scannell and Demitria Ulino received All-League Awards. Coach Kuemmel was also included in the honors and was named the League Coach of the Year. Congratulations to our athletes! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140991 Sun, 25 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140991 Girls Varsity Tennis Recognized at Ceremony Congratulations to the girls varsity tennis team and coach Dennis Christofor for being recognized at the Suffolk County Tennis Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 20. Michaela Griffin received the All-League Award, Rachel London earned All-Division and Kelsey Van Houten was recognized with the Sportsmanship Award. Way to go! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140990 Wed, 21 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140990 Congratulations Boys Varsity Soccer Team Congratulations to the Varsity Boys Soccer team on their back-to-back State Championships. For the second year in a row the Port Jefferson Varsity Boys Soccer team has won the NYSPHSAA New York State Class "C" Championship. Congratulations to Coach Poulianos for an amazing season and representing thePort Jefferson School District and community in a well respected fashion. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140988 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140988 Board of Education Meeting Notice PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTICE OF MEETING A work session meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on November 27, 2012, 7:00 p.m., in the large group room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, regarding communication and other business as may be needed. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m. to discuss matters related to personnel and negotiations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140987 Tue, 20 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140987 Boys Soccer Team Wins Class C Title Congratulations to the varsity boys soccer team on their back-to-back state championship wins! The defending state champions, led by Coach John Poulianos, went undefeated this season. Prior to this victory, the team won the Suffolk County and Long Island Class C championships, as well as the Class C semifinals against Williamson in Middletown, N.Y. They then defeated the undefeated Lansing High School of upstate New York to win the title. Thank you Coach Poulianos for an amazing season and for your positive representation of the district and community. GO ROYALS! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140989 Mon, 19 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140989 Students Have Hope for a Greener Future On Saturday, Nov. 17, the elementary school select choir performed at the fifth annual Go Green Festival at the Port Jefferson Village Center. The theme of this year’s festival was “Youth Building a Greener Future.” Music teachers Jessica Pastor and Andrew Frey led the choir in their performance of “Give Us Hope.” This is the second year that the Village has asked Port Jefferson students to participate in the festival. Also in attendance for the fourth year was the high school’s environmental club. Their table displayed and promoted reusable items including stainless steel bottles and “Onya” bags. In addition, attendees were able to purchase raffle tickets for chances to win several gift baskets containing gifts from around the village. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140986 Sun, 18 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140986 Boys Varsity Soccer Team Advances Congratulations to the boys varsity soccer team on winning the NYSPHSAA Semi-Final Championship game. The defending state champions are undefeated this season (20-0). Prior to this victory, the team won the Suffolk County, Long Island and Southeast Class C Championships. They will continue on to the Class C State Championship game in Middletown on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140983 Sat, 17 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140983 Port Jefferson High School Drama Presentation Port Jefferson High School Drama Club Presents Twelfth Night November 16 & 17 at 8:00 p.m. November 18 at 2:00 p.m. Suggested Donations: Adults: $5.00 Families: $20.00 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140985 Thu, 15 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140985 Students Serve Smiles at Luncheon On Wednesday, Nov. 14, members of the student council at the middle school hosted their annual Senior Citizens’ Luncheon for members of the Port Jefferson Senior Center. Prior to the event, the sixth- through eighth-grade representatives held group-planning discussions and brainstormed ideas for setup and decorations with their club advisor Allison Giannusa. “We talk with them about everyday life, serve food to them and do everything possible to make sure that they have a good time,” said sixth-grade student Sarah Hull. The food, which consisted of a full Thanksgiving meal, was catered and paid for by student council fundraisers earlier in the year. Parents also contributed to the event by providing desserts. While dining, guests were treated to musical performances by sixth-grade student Annalisa Welinder and eighth-graders Anita Rescia and Elisa Ueno. Also in attendance to greet the seniors were middle school principal Antonio Santana and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “It’s a good feeling to know that you are helping someone,” stated student Tianna Couch. “Knowing that they are happy makes us happy,” added classmate Devin Rotunno. Attendees left the event with party favors created by middle school teacher Nancy Bachety’s sixth-grade family and consumer science class. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140984 Wed, 14 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140984 ATHLETIC PLAY-OFF UPDATED 11/13/2012 Congratulations to the Varsity Girls Soccer Team for winning the Suffolk County Class "C" Championship. Congratulations to the Boys Varsity Soccer Team for winning the Suffolk County Class "C" Championship and the Long Island Championship. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142404 Tue, 13 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false142404 2 Hour Delayed Opening - Thursday, Nov. 8 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142405 Thu, 08 Nov 2012 03:00:00 GMT false142405 School Closing and Delay Information If inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances cause schools to be delayed in opening or closed, announcements will be made on the following local media outlets: WALK- AM 1370, WALK-FM 97.5, WBLI-FM 106.1 and News 12 Long Island. The district will also make related announcements via the School Notification System and on our website. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142406 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false142406 All After School Activities Have Been Canceled For Today, Nov. 7 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142402 Wed, 07 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false142402 Students Cast Their Vote on Election Day Students at the middle and high schools participated in a national mock presidential election on Nov. 6. Voting, organized and coordinated by high school social studies teacher Donna Levine, was done on computers in the school library. The event gave students in grades 6-12 a chance to experience the electoral process through the Pearson Foundation’s My Voice National Student Mock Election program. Student mock elections took place in schools, community centers, libraries and homes across the nation as part of the country’s largest civic education project. The national results for the mock election showed President Obama with 460 electoral votes and 59.9 percent of the popular vote in New York State. Governor Romney received 33.7 percent of the popular vote. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142403 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false142403 All After School Activities Have Been Canceled For Today https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142401 Tue, 06 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false142401 Update on Athletic Schedules All athletic contests that were missed due to Hurricane Sandy will not be made up. Therefore, all fall athletic seasons are over, with the exceptionthe following Varsity teams that are in post-season. BOYS CROSS COUNTRY GIRLS CROSS COUNTRY BOYS SOCCER GIRLS SOCCER GIRLS VOLLEYBALL GO ROYALS!!! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142399 Mon, 05 Nov 2012 05:00:00 GMT false142399 Foreign Language Students Visit Ellis Island On Tuesday, Oct. 23, the Italian and French classes attended a field trip to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island Immigration Museum. Students walked through the Great Hall, where many of their ancestors entered the United States over a century ago. They also enjoyed the breathtaking sight of the Statue of Liberty, donated by the French to the United States in 1886. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142400 Sun, 04 Nov 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142400 Schools to Reopen on Mon, Nov 5th Dear Parents, As of 12 noon today, Thursday, power has been restored to all District buildings. Schools will remain closed, however, until Monday, November 5 as the Village and LIPA work to make roads passable for buses, and return service to all residents. In addition, the SAT exam that was scheduled for Saturday, November3 has been rescheduled by the College Board. The newtest date for those students registered for the November 3 exam will be Saturday, November 17. Port Jefferson will remain a testing center on that new date. Lastly, the 6th grade trip to Frost Valley scheduled for next week has been canceled due to the conditions of the camp grounds. We will make every attempt to reschedule the trip for later in the school year. Many homes and businesses in our community have suffered extensive damage and loss. I hope you and yourfamily have remained safe and unharmed. Regards, Dr. Ken Bossert Superintendent https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142398 Thu, 01 Nov 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142398 Interact Club Receives Award from Rotary International During a meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 23, the Rotary Club of Port Jefferson honored the high school Interact Club with the Rotary International 2011-2012 Changemaker Award, which recognizes student efforts to make the world a better place through service. Club co-advisors Deirdre Filippi and Sarah Ogden, along with club co-president Amber Edley, accepted the award on behalf of the 40 members of the service club. In order to qualify for the award, the Interact had to successfully complete a minimum of five service goals of the 10 set forth by the Rotary International president. The club completed an outstanding seven goals, including various forms of international and local aid activities. With the “Service Above Self” Rotary motto guiding them, the group has worked alongside the local Rotary Club in volunteering at a Toys for Tots collection center, participating in a community cleanup at Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck, supporting the Read-to-Me program, hosting a prom dress collection for teens and creating toiletry care packages for those in need. In addition, the club has raised funds for various causes such as Habitat for Humanity, Heifer International, Have a Heart Foundation and the Open Cupboard food pantry at Infant Jesus R.C. Church. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142397 Thu, 25 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142397 The Race for Excellence Continues Water Main Break Does Not Stop Stream of Productivity Despite the short notice and closing of the elementary school on Tuesday, Oct. 23, faculty and staff members were able to accomplish a tremendous amount of work. Teachers relocated to the high school for the day, where they completed APPR-related Student Learning Objective assignments with the assistance of Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction Maureen Hull, Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello, Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Debra Ferry and elementary school principal Thomas Meehan. They also attended workshops regarding state assessments, data analysis and AIMSweb, a program used for screening and progress monitoring, which was conducted by Mrs. Hull. Teacher’s aides and assistants participated in workshops on playground safety, student management and other topics selected by Mr. Meehan. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142396 Wed, 24 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142396 Students Learn About Local Law High school social studies teacher Philip Giannusa and his law class welcomed Suffolk County police officer Stephani Dwyer to their classroom on Oct. 24. Officer Dwyer, a school resource officer for the Port Jefferson, Sachem, Mount Sinai and Miller Place school districts, came to talk to students during an informal question-and-answer session. During the class, students asked a variety of questions about topics such as ordinances within local communities and the department’s roles and responsibilities as an accredited law enforcement agency, as well as the differing rights of adults and minors. “According to New York State law, you are considered an adult when you turn 16, not 18 years old,” said officer Dwyer, surprising most of the students. She also stressed the importance of making safe choices regarding partying, peer pressure and texting. “There is nothing so urgent that it requires you to text while driving,” she said. “If it is an emergency, please do the right thing and pull over.” Officer Dwyer, who has been in the force for 20 years, first became a district liaison in February 2011. “I try to be in the schools as much as possible. I want students to recognize me as a friendly face that they can trust,” she said. “My biggest thing is confidentiality and for kids to realize that they can confide in me and not have to worry.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142394 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142394 Elementary Courtyard to Undergo Makeover The main courtyard at the elementary school is currently in the process of being renovated as part of a volunteer group project. Elementary school art teacher Richard Anderson, Richard Lautato of the grounds department, elementary school head custodian Gary Kenyon, Network & Systems Technician and Greenhouse Club co-advisor Brian Kendrick, retired teacher’s assistant and former Greenhouse Club co-advisor Ellen Boehm, and Network & Systems Administrator Brian Sandak are working together on the renovations. Additions to the courtyard will include a reading patio and wooden arbor. “We are all working on this for the students,” stated Sandak. “It is an area that everyone walks past every day but was being underutilized.” The idea for the project originated with Lautato and Kendrick following the completion of a small pond in the same area over a year ago. “This new courtyard will be accessed and used by so many students,” said Assistant Superintendent for Business Sean Leister. “Teachers have already incorporated the existing pond and greenhouse into their lessons and the new additions will bring even more avenues for exploration and hands-on learning.” Early phases of design began in the spring of 2012 with a projected completion time of spring 2013. Thus far, all of the time, materials and labor needed for the project have been donated free of charge. “It’s really amazing to see the community come together to make this project happen,” stated Leister. “We are talking about district staff members giving up their afternoons and weekends with no incentive other than to see our students have a beautified learning environment.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142395 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142395 Elementary School OPEN Wed. October 24th Elementary School OPEN Wednesday October 24th https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142393 Tue, 23 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142393 Athletes Succeed Against Breast Cancer The student-athletes have been making great strides in the fight against Breast Cancer. On Friday, Oct. 12, the JV girls volleyball team held its annual “Dig Pink” game. Team members and coach Dinarae Camarda dressed in pink and raised over $200 for breast cancer research with a bake sale. On Sunday, Oct. 14, the girls varsity soccer team hosted a “Flapjack Fundraiser” at Applebee’s Restaurant in Lake Grove. Tickets included a full pancake breakfast where the athletes greeted, seated and served around 100 guests. The middle school girls soccer team assisted by selling breast cancer awareness items, which helped the team raise over $2,000 for the cause. The following Friday, the team hosted their second “Kicks for Cancer” game against Pierson High School of the Sag Harbor School District. Players and team coaches Winifred Kuemmel and Ally Wolff dressed in pink attire to show their support for the cause. “Everyone participated in honor or memory of someone they know,” said student Stephanie Davis. “Breast cancer is something that affects almost everyone on the team personally, which is why we really wanted to raise money for the cause.” In addition, the girls varsity soccer team participated in the annual Jones Beach Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, Oct. 21 to close out their activities during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142391 Sun, 21 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142391 PJ BOE is looking for district residents to serve on the Budget Advisory Committee ATTENTION PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT RESIDENTS The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education Finance Committee is looking for district residents to serve on a Budget Advisory Committee for development of the 2013-2014 budget. The committee will be responsible for reviewing budget and tax levy recommendations by the Board of Education, and will work with the Finance Committee and district officials in the completion of that task. Anyone interested in serving on this committee should submit their name, contact information, and any pertinent background information to the District Clerk by e-mail: districtclerk@portjeff.k12.ny.us or fax: (631)476-4409. Submissions will be received up to November 1, 2012 and a committee representative of the community will be selected. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142387 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142387 Stranger Danger - Reminder http://www.portjeff.k12.ny.us/download/PDFs/stranger_danger_10-17-12.pdf https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142386 Wed, 17 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142386 Athletes Experience the Miracle of Volunteering High school varsity baseball coach Jesse Rosen, junior varsity girls volleyball coach Dinarae Camarda and 20 of their student-athletes participated in a local Miracle League baseball game on Oct. 13. The students volunteered their time as BUDDY helpers to the athletes, which stands for “Because Unbelievable Dedication Deserves YOU.” The volunteers’ jobs included protecting their assigned players from balls and assisting them in batting and running the bases. The Miracle League of Long Island's mission, to establish and sustain baseball programs for people of all ages with disabilities, is founded on their strong belief that “everyone deserves a chance to play baseball.” The League aims to help players develop social skills and increase self-esteem while simultaneously promoting community support and sponsorship for the league. “After volunteering for the past two years, many students showed an earnest desire to make this an annual trip,” said Camarda. “This was an extremely positive experience and we look forward to a continued involvement with this extraordinary program.” “The League is a great thing because it gives children with special needs a chance to play in an accepting and nonjudgmental environment,” stated Therese Blanton, a Miracle League board member and mother of League player Luke Blanton. “Not only is this an important outlet for the players, but it also gives the BUDDY volunteers a chance to see the struggles of kids with disabilities on a moment-by-moment basis. They come away more tolerant, accepting and aware of the fact that these are kids just like them.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142388 Tue, 16 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142388 PJHS Environmental Club Survey PJHS Environmental Club memberswill be participating in the "Go Green" event on November 17th at the Port Jeff Village Center. They have created a brief survey and are requesting your help in gathering information onyour environmental practices. Please select the link below to participate in this survey. http://s.zoomerang.com/s/PJHSEnviromentalClubSurvey https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141469 Mon, 15 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141469 Fire Safety Demonstration Sets Students’ Interests Ablaze On Friday, Oct. 12, students and faculty at the elementary school participated in a fire safety demonstration conducted by the Port Jefferson Fire Department. Chief John Pisciotta, along with fellow firefighters from Ladder 1 and Engine 3, showed students the purpose and importance of a firefighter’s protective uniform and the various apparatuses they use when combating fire, including two different water hoses. Perhaps the most captivating segment was when one of the firefighters ascended 100 feet into the air to show the fully extended rescue ladder. “This is a great program to do with the kids because it is not only informative, but also a lot of fun,” said Pisciotta. The Port Jefferson Fire Department began teaching students the basics of fire safety at their first demonstration last year, and were welcomed back again by former firefighter and principal Thomas Meehan. “As long as I am chief, I will make sure that we keep coming back to the school to do this presentation,” stated Pisciotta. “It’s important.” After the demonstration, Chief Pisciotta distributed decorative fire helmets and encouraged students to attend the fire department’s fire prevention open house, which will be taking place on Sunday, Oct. 14. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141470 Sun, 14 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141470 Nutrikids Becomes mySchoolBucks Please be aware that Nutrikids is now known as mySchoolBucks. Parents will be receiving an email from mySchoolBucks with important information regarding their student's accounts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141468 Fri, 12 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141468 Early Dismissal Evacuation Drill - Friday, October 19th https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141467 Thu, 11 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141467 Students Recognized at Board Meeting The recent accomplishments of two students were recognized by faculty and administration at the Oct. 9 Board of Education meeting. Elementary school student Paige Miller was honored as a Community Hero for making a potentially life-saving 911 call when she witnessed her grandmother collapse and suffer a seizure. Paige’s quick thinking and courageous actions earned her an award commending her heroism. High school senior Zachary Graziano, a recent National Merit Semifinalist, was presented with a plaque from the American Chemical Society in recognition of his outstanding scholastic achievement in high school chemistry. He also received the Rensselaer Medal Award from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for his outstanding and distinguished work in the fields of science and mathematics. If Zachary applies, is accepted to and enrolls at RPI, he will receive a merit scholarship with a minimum value of $15,000 per year for a guaranteed four years (five years for the Bachelors in Architecture program). https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141466 Wed, 10 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141466 Graduate Shines Bright on Broadway Deanna Lilimpakis, a special education teacher at the elementary school, certainly got her money’s worth at a recent Broadway performance of “Bring It On: The Musical” when she saw Danielle Carlacci, a former Port Jefferson cheerleader and 2009 high school graduate, on stage. Carlacci, who has been a cast member of the show since September 2011, began her cheerleading career in the seventh grade as a member of the varsity cheerleading team. She cheered throughout high school, with Lilimpakis as her coach, and was named captain in her senior year. In addition, Carlacci performed in numerous productions at regional theaters on Long Island, including Gateway Playhouse and Theatre Three. She also danced for the New York Knicks City Kids as a high school student, performing at Madison Square Garden during the team’s home weekend games. After graduating from Earl L. Vandermeulen, Carlacci went on to cheer for two years at Boston College and traveled as a member of the coed team. “I was a theater major while being a member of the cheerleading team, but never have I been in a show that combines both!” Carlacci said, speaking of her experience on Broadway. “It has really been an honor to be involved in such a great, exciting and unique production. Our show has been able to touch people of all age groups and all backgrounds, and it has been absolutely amazing to be a part of!” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140982 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false140982 Middle School Students Take Bold Stand Against Bullying In observance of Unity Day on Oct. 10, a part of National Bullying Awareness Month, middle school students dressed in orange to show their solidarity against bullying. English teacher Deirdre Filippi and special education teacher Monica Consalvo collaborated in an effort to advance Pacer.org’s movement to unite communities nationwide and raise awareness of bullying prevention through events, activities, outreach and education. “Deirdre and I felt that this would be a great event because of the recent initiatives of the Dignity for All Students Act,” stated Consalvo, referring to the legislation effected July 1, 2012 that requires New York State schools to have policies in place that address bullying, conflict and harassment. “Bullying changes people’s lives,” commented student Jack McGorry. “There are some kids who don’t realize that they are the ones who are bullying,” added student Maddi Leon. “That’s why it’s important for everyone to take things like this seriously and confront bullies.” Students began preparing for Unity Day on Oct. 5, when all sixth- through eighth-grade English classes viewed an anti-bullying video based on singer Demi Lovato’s song “Skyscraper.” Lovato, who is a national spokesperson for the cause, wrote the song about her own personal experiences with bullying in middle school. In addition, students created posters reflecting bullying statistics and facts and displayed them around the building for all to see. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141465 Tue, 09 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141465 Homecoming a Royal Display of School Spirit The sights and sounds of excitement filled the gymnasium on Friday, Oct. 5, when middle and high school students kicked off their annual homecoming pep rally. The pep band’s upbeat tunes welcomed students, faculty and staff as they congregated to form a sea of purple and white. Four emcees and the varsity cheerleading squad kept the good vibes going through events like tug-of-war, a pie-eating contest, a presentation of the athletic teams and even a surprise flash mob dance by the staff. Later that evening, students were invited to participate in a bonfire, which preceded a homecoming dance for high school students. The next morning, homecoming festivities continued with a parade through Port Jefferson Village. A procession of students and band members led the cheerful caravan of VIP cars, including Homecoming King Gerard Racanelli and Queen Kelsey Lyons, elaborately decorated floats and athletes. The group marched, sang and played music down Main Street, through the village and back to the high school, where select staff members voted on best class float. Kickoff for the varsity football game against Bishop McGann Mercy High School of Riverhead began at 2 p.m. Winners of the spirit week competitions were announced during halftime, with the senior class winning best float. Throughout the game, cheerleaders led family, friends and staff in sideline cheers and applause for their team. Even though the Royals were not triumphant against Mercy, homecoming weekend was a very successful conclusion to a festive and memorable spirit week. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141464 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141464 Students Learn the Science of Success On Friday, Sept. 28, high school science teacher Laurie McMillen and her AP Biology students welcomed guest speaker Adrianna San Romano into their classroom. Ms. San Roman, a Port Jefferson graduate from the Class of 2005, is currently in her fourth year toward her Ph.D. in developmental and regenerative biology through the Biological and Biomedical Sciences program at Harvard University. During the presentation, students learned about the daily routine of a research scientist and participated in a lesson about regeneration in the intestine. “I have always been very interested in science. I like to figure out how and why things work,” stated Ms. San Roman. “The things that I learned here at Port Jeff helped to build a very strong foundation for what I am doing now.” After high school, Ms. San Roman attended Williams College, where she was inspired to pursue scientific research as a career. She credits her recent success to her mentors, as well as to her involvement in two summer internships: one at the University of California, Berkeley, where she assisted in breast and prostate cancer research, and the other at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Ms. San Roman is currently working on her thesis at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. In the future, she would like to be a biology professor and have her own research lab. “I like knowing that the work I am doing will have a positive impact.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141463 Wed, 03 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141463 Students Selected for NYSCAME All-County Festival The New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education has selected three high school seniors to participate in the All-County Music Festival. Jonathan Chun, Kirsten Crovello and Rebecca Spinner will be performing at Connetquot High School on Nov. 7 and at Northport High School on Nov. 15 and 16, 2012. The festival features a collaboration of the top 11th- and 12th-grade musicians from Suffolk County. Students were selected on a competitive basis, with NYSSMA scores as the main criteria along with teacher recommendations. Jonathan will also be representing the district at the New York State School Music Association All-State Winter Conference in Rochester from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, 2012. There he will be performing among the finest high school students from the state. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141462 Tue, 02 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141462 Students Explore the Wonders of Caring On Monday, Oct. 1, 10 representatives from Prudential Financial of Melville joined together with select students from the elementary school to begin working on the school’s butterfly exploratorium. Also in attendance were Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, representatives from the school’s PTA and Royal Education Foundation, Director of the Port Jefferson Free Library Robert Goykin and parents. The project is part of Prudential’s Global Volunteer Day, an annual initiative during which Prudential Financial employees and their families and friends donate hundreds of thousands of hours to projects designed to better their local communities. “I had a vision for the school’s courtyard to become a living science project,” stated parent and coordinator Laura Hill Timpanaro. Team members and students worked together to plant flowers and butterfly bushes, create and set up pinwheels, position benches and handprint paint a birdbath in school colors -- all of which were donated by local businesses. Students also decorated rocks with wishes written on them. “A dream needs to build upon something strong, which is why we chose rocks,” said Ms. Timpanaro. “It is also Prudential’s symbol and an icon of strength, stability and innovation.” Though only a handful of students were chosen to participate in the groundbreaking activities, every grade will have an opportunity to participate and make their contributions to the exploratorium during class time. “The younger students are learning about butterflies and will utilize the butterfly bushes for observation,” said Ms. Timpanaro. “A music class will make wind chimes, an art class will create kaleidoscopes and kinetic sculptures; the lesson possibilities go on and on.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141461 Mon, 01 Oct 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141461 National Merit Semifinalist Announced The district recently announced high school senior Zachary Graziano as a National Merit semifinalist. The National Merit Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that high school students enter by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test and by meeting program entry and participation requirements. Zachary is one of only 16,000 students throughout the country to achieve this honor, which signifies that he is among the highest-scoring entrants in New York State. “Zachary is a multi-talented student who excels in all academic areas,” stated science teacher and Science Olympiad coach Michel Krivosta. “He has a very outgoing personality and loves to be with people. He is a natural leader.” Zachary is one of the top students on the High School Science Olympiad Team and has won numerous medals at competitions. He is also captain of the Academic Team. Zachary began as one of the 1.5 million high school students who took the PSAT/NMSQT last October. Semifinalists who have advanced to finalist standing by meeting high academic standards and all other requirements will be notified this coming February. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141460 Sun, 30 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141460 APPR Plan Approved The Port Jefferson School District is pleased to announce that our Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) Plan has been approved by the New York State Education Department for the 2012-2013 school year. The original proposal plan was first submitted in July 2012 and received tremendous praise from the state. Required revisions were made earlier this month and have now been finalized and accepted. APPR Approval Letter Click Here to View the APPR Plans https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141459 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141459 Third Grade Students Take Learning to Another (Sea) Level On Monday, Sept. 24, the third-grade class took a field trip to Mount Sinai Harbor for a salt marsh exploration. Principal Thomas Meehan, teachers and parent chaperones accompanied students along the shore and guided them through their lesson. Upon arrival, students and team leaders broke off into small groups and hit the beach. Children had the task of investigating plant and animal life, soil temperature and wind speed at low, intertidal and high tide stations. Observations were then recorded and discussed within the groups. Classmates were also given the opportunity to explore the local marine habitat and study shells, crabs and clams that they found along the beach. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141457 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141457 Students “Take the Lead” Toward Positivity On Monday, Sept. 24, students from the high school and middle school, as well as the fifth-grade class, attended workshops presented by Motivational Media Assemblies as part of their Peace Day observance. High school and middle school students participated in the “Take the Lead” program, which reinforced the idea that everyone has the power to make a positive impact and influence what happens in our world. Elementary school students took part in the “Rise & Shine” program, which motivated children to adopt a positive outlook in order to rise above challenges and achieve great things. “I think that the students not only learned from these presentations, but also enjoyed them because they are contemporary,” said Port Jefferson Middle School Principal Antonio Santana. “The goal is to encourage positive decision-making by having follow-up classroom discussions and time for students to reflect. It’s never too late to do the right thing.” The Take the Lead program addressed difficult issues and topics such as self-confidence, peer pressure, accountability and the growing society of passive citizens, and encouraged students to become leaders that can change these issues and save lives. The Rise & Shine presentation emphasized the importance of building life around attitude, ability and adaptability. A strong, positive outlook was depicted as the key to overcoming status issues, bullying and racial tension, and as the most important element in learning to love oneself and others and unlocking one’s unlimited potential. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141458 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141458 A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 1, 2012 A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on October 1, 2012, 6:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss matters related to personnel, pending litigation, and for other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141456 Mon, 24 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141456 Evacuation Drill Reminder This is a reminder that tomorrow, Friday October 19thall schools will dismiss 15 minutes early to hold required New York Stateemergency evacuation drills. Please be sure your child knows your established plan if it is different from the normal daily routine. There will beno late busses for our MS/HS students at 3:10. Therefore, athletesthatneed to go to Scraggy Field must go on a bus immediately after school.Students canuse Bus "K", "A", "C" OR "I". Please be advised thatthere will be no academic late busses at 3:10. The 4:10 late bus will run. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142389 Tue, 18 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142389 Class of ‘62 Reunion Graduates from the Class of 1962 gathered at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School on Friday, Sept. 14 for their 50-year reunion. The three-day event began with a greeting and tour of the high school given by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert and Facilities Director Fred Koebel. Festivities continued Saturday night with a dinner at the Port Jefferson Village Center and concluded with brunch at Schafer’s Restaurant on Sunday morning. “It’s just so nice to walk around the school,” said alumna Joan Curry. “It brings back so many memories.” Though the building has not changed tremendously over the years, the district itself has. “Port Jefferson used to be a regional high school,” stated former graduate Bill Connors. “Kids from Manorville, Comsewogue, Shirley, Mastic and more used to come here because it was really the only school around.” Putting together a reunion, which took a planning committee a year and a half to coordinate, was no easy task. “It was very difficult to locate everyone for a number of different reasons,” stated committee member Carol Simco. “Not everyone has Facebook or even the same last name as [they had] in high school.” Nevertheless, the six members of the planning committee were able to contact 70 percent of the approximate 325 graduates and had over 50 people attend. Committee member Kathy Reeves commented, “Even though we haven’t seen each other in so long, it is still a comfortable group to be around because everyone knows you and accepts you for who you are.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141455 Sun, 16 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141455 New Teacher Contract for Port Jefferson Two Year Agreement includes “Hard” Freeze in 2012-13, and Helps Prepare District for the Uncertainties Associated With Future LIPA Revenue The Port Jefferson Board of Education and Port Jefferson Teachers Association have approved a two-year contract to replace the contract that expired on June 30th, 2011. The new two-year contract calls for no increase in salary (beyond step for those eligible) for 2011-12, along with a hard freeze for 2012-13 (no increase in salary or step). “The Board appreciates the efforts of the PJTA leadership and their members in negotiating an agreement reflective of the difficult economic situation our community faces," said Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan. "There will most likely continue to be the need for shared sacrifice as we move forward. Hopefully all stakeholders can work together respectfully and cooperatively to provide our students with the best education possible." Port Jefferson UFSD, along with other community governmental agencies, has cited great concern for the future of the power plant located in Port Jefferson Harbor. A reassessment has been filed with the Town of Brookhaven, which has the potential to reduce revenues of the district by millions of dollars, jeopardizing staffing, programs, and the current residential tax rate. “A number of faculty members live here, but all of us understand the challenges posed by the loss of revenue,” said Brian Snow, the President of the PJTA. “The more information we have in the future, the better we will be able to establish a new contract that is in the best interests of everyone.” Another amendment to the expired contract will have a positive impact on instruction. Teachers will now have an average of 7.5 prep periods every week, a reduction from 9 last year (and 10 during the 2010-11 school year). Current levels of instruciton have been maintained in the areas of Physical Education, Art, Library and Music. Elementary students will attend swimming and Health every other week, increasing classroom contact on the average of 60 minutes per week. In addition, classroom teachers will accompany students and lead curriculum related instruction within the technology lab. Outstanding grievances by the PJTA against the district have been discontinued as a result of the new contract. The parties also agreed to concurrent use of paid FMLA childcare, resulting in a new formula that requires the use of two banked sick days for each day of paid FMLA childcare leave. The financial impact of this new formula will lower the district’s costs for accrued time payouts at the time of retirment while allowing for continuity of instruction when leaves are taken. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141454 Tue, 11 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141454 Voices of a Bright Future On Tuesday, Sept. 11, the Port Jefferson Fire Department held a memorial ceremony at their firehouse for all those affected by the terrorist attacks that occurred on Sept. 11, 2001. Local firefighters, police officers and other key members of the Port Jefferson community were in attendance to reflect and offer their respects. Members of the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth-grade class, led by music instructor Jessica Pastor, sang “God Bless America” at the start of the service. Former Port Jefferson Fire Department Chief Desmond O’Sullivan recognized the elementary students present and pronounced them as “the bright future of our world.” He emphasized how important it is for younger generations to learn about 9/11 and to “never forget what this day is about.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141453 Mon, 10 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141453 Community Swim and After-school Swim Community Activities: The Community Fitness Center is now open Monday - Thursday's from 5:30 - 7:30 (When School is in session) Community Swim and After-school Swim will begin on October 15th. Community Swim will be from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Monday and Wednesday's. After-school for “ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS ONLY” will be Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141452 Sun, 09 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141452 Students All Smiles on First Day Despite inclement weather, students and faculty throughout the district were off to a bright start for the first day of school on Tuesday, Sept. 4. Middle and high school students began arriving around 7:15 a.m. to get a head start on their day. The schools’ faculty and staff, along with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert, greeted the children as they entered the building. Students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School received a similar warm welcome later in the morning as they began their academic year. The district wishes all students and staff a successful 2012-2013 school year and looks forward to a wonderful year ahead. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141449 Tue, 04 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141449 Excellence is First at Superintendent’s Conference Faculty, staff and board members attended the start of a two-day Superintendent’s Conference at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School on Wednesday, Aug. 29. The theme for this year’s conference was “The Race for Excellence Has No Finish Line.” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert welcomed attendees and provided an overview of ongoing district initiatives. Board of Education President Kathleen Brennan also addressed faculty and staff and encouraged them to take pride in their work throughout the school year. Brian Snow, president of the Port Jefferson Teachers Association, offered his remarks, reminding those in attendance of the character that Port Jefferson has and how it will be the driving force behind their success. During the conference days, new staff members were also introduced and four Royal Educational Foundation mini-grants were awarded. A variety of meetings and workshops were held to help prepare faculty and staff for the upcoming school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141450 Mon, 03 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141450 Middle School Welcomes Sixth-Graders On Thursday, Aug. 16, the Port Jefferson Middle School hosted its annual barbeque for incoming sixth-graders. During the summer-themed event, parents and students were given the opportunity to meet with administrators and discuss the upcoming school year. Within a tropical setting of festive decorations, island music and Hawaiian leis, parents served the faculty and students hot dogs, hamburgers and other grilled favorites. New Middle School Principal Antonio Santana was one of the faculty members in attendance. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141451 Sun, 02 Sep 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141451 Port Jefferson Boasts Three Reward Schools Only One in Suffolk County! New York State Education Commissioner John King has announced that all three of the district’s schools have been designated as Reward Schools for the 2012-2013 school year. This prestigious statewide designation classifies Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, Port Jefferson Middle School and Earl L. Vandermeulen High School among the highest achieving in the state, and Port Jefferson is the only district in Suffolk County to achieve this status! The New York State Department of Education bestowed these awards based on high student performance on state assessments, graduation rates and overall academic progress. Port Jefferson is now eligible to compete for a Commissioner’s Schools Dissemination Grant of up to $150,000 to further advance students’ educational opportunities. Congratulations to the students, staff, and families of the district! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141448 Thu, 30 Aug 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141448 A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on August 29, 2012, 11:00 a.m., at the District Office PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING NOTICE A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on August 29, 2012, 11:00 a.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of acting onrecommendations of the Committee on Special Education, and other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141447 Tue, 28 Aug 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141447 Secondary Principals' Entry Plan "The First 100 Days" https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141446 Wed, 22 Aug 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141446 A Walk Through History District fourth-grade elementary students culminated their social studies unit with a historically accurate reenactment of a trip to Ellis Island. In the simulation, students dressed in traditional garb, portraying the experiences of immigrants arriving in the United States in the early 1900s. Students were processed through various checkpoint stations and ultimately pledged their loyalty oath and were welcomed to America. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141444 Mon, 30 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141444 Baseball MVP Joe Gerbino was named the 2012 Most Valuable Player for League IX. As an All-County selection, Joe batted over .500 with 32 RBIs. He has been a three-year starting catcher and a key member of the Port Jefferson Baseball Program. In the accompanying photo, Joe is being honored on Senior Day with his parents Sal and Julie Gerbino. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141445 Sun, 29 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141445 2012 Assessment Results for Grades 3-8 2012 Assessment Results for Grades 3-8 From the Office of Curriculum & Instruction On July 17, 2012, the NYS Education Department released the results of the April 2012 ELA and math assessments for grades 3-8. A three-year summary of assessment results can be found at the links below. In each report, the data are organized by year, covering 2012, 2011, and 2010. Reading across each section, you will find: * Percent Proficient * % of change (+/-) from the year before (for 2012 and 2011 results) * % above or below the Proficiency average for Suffolk County * Ranking in Suffolk County * % of students earning a Level 4 in Port Jefferson and Suffolk County There will be a formal presentation of these results to the Board of Education and Community at a Board of Education meeting in October. Parents will receive individual score reports by mail within the next few weeks, as soon as they are available from Eastern Suffolk Boces. Grades 3-8 ELA Results, 2010-2012 Grades 3-8 Math Results, 2010-2012 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141443 Fri, 27 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141443 Student Recognitions Elementary student Olivia Schlegel received honorable mention at the Brookhaven National Lab Science Fair for her project "Does age effect lung capacity?" Students received the President’s Volunteer Service Award to recognize the valuable contributions they have made in the community and district and to encourage more people to serve in the same manner. Students placed among the top in the county in their respective levels in the Suffolk County Math Exam. Sixth-grade students completed the school’s rigorous science research course and participated in the Toshiba and National Science Teachers Association’s ExploraVision national competition. Middle school student Peter Burawa took honorable mention for his project “Preserving Food System (PFS).” Latin language students scored among the highest in the National Latin Exam. Board of Education student representative Nicole Capobianco was thanked for her service and important role throughout the school year. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141442 Mon, 23 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141442 A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 23, 2012, 6:00 p.m A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 23, 2012, 6:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a pending legal matter and other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141441 Tue, 17 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141441 Parent Portal Information With the closeof the 2011-2012 school year, Power School has removed the grade book from the Parent Portal.Report cardgrades can still be viewedon the Parent Portal in the Grade History section. A key of the abbreviations usedis included at the bottom of that page. Please contactyour school'sGuidance Officeif you would like a detailed reportof the grades fora particular quarter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141440 Wed, 11 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141440 An emergency meeting of the Board of Education has been scheduled for July 12, 2012. An emergency meeting of the Board of Education has been scheduled for July 12, 2012, 6:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a pending legal matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141439 Tue, 10 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141439 Board of Education Meeting Notice The annual reorganization and regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on July 2, 2012, commencing at 6:00 p.m., in the Large Group Room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141438 Mon, 02 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141438 District APPR Plans Implementing the New APPR (Annual Professional Performance Review) in Port Jefferson - Presentation APPR Teacher Plan Port Jefferson UFSD Principal APPR Plan Presentation APPR Principal Plan https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141437 Sun, 01 Jul 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141437 Burke Wins National Freshman Mile Championship James Burke impressed down in Greensboro, North Carolina, at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals, winning the freshman mile in a time of 4:22.27. James’ victory puts the cap on an excellent season that included a second place finish in the Division 2 1600m run at the NYS championships and seventh place finishes at that same meet in the 3200m and 4x800m relay. The goal of a national freshman championship in the mile had been present for James since the indoor national championships, where he finished third. He came into the outdoor race as the top-ranked athlete in the field, after running a personal best of 4:16.68 in the 1600m at the state qualifier meet. “When you’re ranked number one you have a lot to lose,” he said. “I decided that I wasn’t going to lose it”. Port Jefferson sent several other athletes down to the national meet. UMBC-bound Andrew Keresztes finished off his high school track career with a personal best in the 800m of 1:52.08, fast enough to give him a tenth place finish. Sophomore Danny Gross finished seventh in the octathlon, and the relay team of Keresztes, Gross, Ben Neiman, and Dennis Walsh finished 24th in the sprint medley. Though the team graduates several seniors, including Keresztes and Neiman (who will be attending Carnegie Mellon University in the fall), they look to be strong for the next few years, as they return Burke, Gross, and Walsh, as well as Noah Kirchner and Connor Crovello, who competed in the state meet. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141436 Wed, 27 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141436 Summer Reading Information Click HERE for Summer Reading Information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141432 Sun, 24 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141432 Honoring the Earl L. Vandermeulen Class of 2012 Congratulations to the Class of 2012 who, on June 22, officially became the newest Earl L. Vandermeulen High School alumni. With proud family and friends looking on and taking photographs, Principal Roseanne Cirnigliaro, Valedictorian Allison Cluett and Salutatorian Katharina Ross were among the speakers who addressed the graduates, encouraging them to embrace the future and strive for greatness. Students were then presented with their diplomas amid the cheers and applause of a proud community. Best wishes for future success! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141433 Sun, 24 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141433 Middle School Moving-up Port Jefferson Middle School students entered through a bouquet of purple and white balloons and took center stage for the eighth-grade moving-up ceremony. The national anthem and “A Salute to Freedom,” performed by the seventh and eighth-grade band under the direction of Edward Pisano, got the ceremony off to a patriotic and festive start. Principal Roseann Cirnigliaro welcomed the students and thanked their families for supporting their academic, athletic and extracurricular endeavors throughout their middle school years. Eighth-grade class president Liane Russell shared the Class of 2016 reflections, which highlighted periods of growth, defined by the highs and lows of maturing. She noted that these shared experiences have made them stronger as individuals and as a class and have ultimately prepared them for the next step, which will bring its own set of new challenges. Department staff then presented special academic and achievement awards in various curricular areas, while community organizations including the American Legion and Rotary Club selected scholarship recipients based on the student’s service and outreach. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert congratulated the class on their accomplishments and encouraged them to take advantage of the various clubs and programs available to them at the high school. These opportunities will equip students with the tools to be successful and allow them to explore diverse areas of interest to reach their full potential. To conclude the ceremony, Board of Education members and Dr. Bossert presented students with their diplomas as teachers announced each student. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141434 Sat, 23 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141434 Celebrating a New Beginning The fifth-grade class at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School in the Port Jefferson School District reached a milestone in their educational careers as they celebrated their moving-up. Parents and faculty members stood proudly during the processional as the graduates marched to the stage while “Pomp and Circumstance” played in the background. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert congratulated the parents for their support of education and Principal Thomas Meehan on the announcement that he will remain the leader at the elementary school for the next several years. To the students, he stated that middle school is what you make of it. “Strike a balance with what works for you,” he advised. On behalf of the Fifth-Grade Graduation Committee, Holly Caltagirone and Kate Kaming presented the class gift, a personalized brick for the Public Library walkway. Parent guest speakers John Kelsch, Tara Petracca and Carla Sciara also dispensed words of wisdom to the graduates, which included giving middle school their best effort, continuing to be nice and cherishing their dreams. Mr. Meehan told the students that they have changed his life in a positive way. He also encouraged them to read, volunteer, find time to walk each day and make the earth a more beautiful place. As a final activity together, the class sang a hip version of the song “Graduation” written by conductor Andy Fortier. Each student then approached the stage to receive their certificates of completion, marking their road to middle school. The new middle schoolers then marched in the recessional to the cafeteria for refreshments with family, administrators and teachers. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141435 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141435 Special Board Meeting Notice A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on June 28, 2012, 6:00 p.m., in the large group room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, for the purpose of approving the APPR Plan, and other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141431 Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141431 State Champs Receive Rings The boys varsity soccer team received their state championship rings at an event hosted by the Richard and Mary Morrison family at Graceful Rose Restaurant in Port Jefferson. At the ceremony, Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Debra Ferry presented the rings, which were donated by the Richard and Mary Morrison Foundation, to each member of the squad, while Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Bossert delivered the proclamation from Senator Ken LaValle’s office. In addition, students received a championship sweatshirt to commemorate their prestigious victory, courtesy of head varsity coach John Poulianos. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141429 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141429 Book Drive Thank You! The National Junior Honor Society, led by advisor and district social worker Kristin Britt and in conjunction with the Brett family, organized a high school/middle school community outreach book drive. Students, staff and community members donated new and gently-used books to be distributed to local shelters across Long Island. As a result of these efforts, 1,300 books were delivered to children and young adults, and Port Jeff successfully spread a love for reading and literature. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141430 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141430 Graduation and Moving Up Ceremonies will be Streamed LIVE over the Internet The 5th Grade Moving Up, 8th Grade Moving up and High School Graduation ceremonies will all be broadcast LIVE over the Internet. 5th Grade Moving Up will begin at 7 PM on Wednesday June 20th 8th Grade Moving Up will begin at 6:30 PM on Thursday June 21st High School Graduation will begin at 6 PM on Friday June 22nd On a PC or MAC You will need the most current Real Player to view the LIVE stream. It can be downloaded by following the link below: Click HERE for the Real Player Download Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad Each ceremony will be posted to the building web page the morning after the event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141428 Tue, 19 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141428 State Competition Port Jefferson track athletes competed in the New York State Track Meet, which took place at Cicero-North High School in Syracuse. Ben Neiman Andrew Keresztes Connor Crovello Katharina Ross Noah Kirchner receiving handoff from Dennis Walsh in the 4x800 Andrew Keresztes James Burke https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141069 Mon, 18 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141069 County Golf Championships Earl L. Vandermeulen High School junior Constantine Spentzos finished in a tie for 13th place in the Suffolk County Golf Championships held at Indian Island Golf Course. Approximately 250 male and female student-athletes participated in day one of the tournament, with only the top 30 players advancing to day two. Spentzos shot impressive rounds of 76 and 83, succeeding in the difficult course conditions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141068 Sun, 17 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141068 Habitat for Humanity This spring the High School Interact Club, in conjunction with Habitat for Humanity, took a field trip to Central Islip to help build two houses. Students were instructed on construction site safety and how to transport building materials. Working together, the club members brought in and secured sheetrock to the frames of both houses, building out their walls, as well as installed insulation for one of the homes. At the end of the day, students had the opportunity to write notes to the future owners on the beams of the houses. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141067 Thu, 14 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141067 Students Explore & Protect Marine Life More than 100 Edna Louise Spear Elementary students gathered at Long Island Sound’s West Beach to watch the release of their grey seal Edna as part of the Marine Mammal & Sea Turtle Rescue Program. The Riverhead Foundation Seal Release Project was the culmination of the third-grade marine science unit where students conducted environmental research and preservation studies. Students had the opportunity to meet Edna and learn about the tracking device she will wear during her travels. The device will enable scientists and students to collect data before it eventually falls off as she sheds her fur. In addition to the seal release, students also participated in a beach cleanup at West Beach. This unique program was made possible through a grant provided by the Royal Education Foundation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141066 Wed, 13 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141066 On Air with Scraggy News Students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School look forward to the Friday morning announcements ever since the “Scraggy News” hit the airways. Each week at 9 a.m., students begin their day with a live broadcast brought to them in their classrooms via webcam and SmartBoards. Traditional morning messages announced over the PA system have transformed into interactive sessions where students get active and learn. Student broadcasters communicate important school news, including fundraisers, accomplishments and events, while special segments provide weekend weather reports. To promote healthy living, students demonstrate yoga poses and showcase their talents through musical performances. This innovative forum allows students to explore journalism and elements of production and provides a new way to engage and involve the school community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141065 Tue, 12 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141065 BOE Meeting - Change in Location The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on June 12, 2012, 7:30 p.m., in the auditorium at Earl L.Vandermeulen High School. The Board will be meeting at executive session at 6:00 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141064 Mon, 11 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141064 New School Record High school senior track athletes Andrew Keresztes and Fred Agostino, with teammates Dennis and James Burke, beat the school record in the 4 x 800 relay with an impressive time of 7:59.75. In addition, the Girls4 x 100-meter relay team consisting of Andrea Fowara (12), Allegra Fils-Aime (9), Michiko McGivney (12), and Katharina Ross (12) set a new school record with a time of51.85 seconds. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141063 Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141063 Play Ball! Port Jefferson fifth and sixth-grade band students had the honor of performing the national anthem at the Bethpage Ballpark as the Long Island Ducks took the field against the Bridgeport Bluefish. This event, organized by elementary music teacher Mark Abbonizio, doubled as a fundraiser for the Class of 2019, as many Port Jefferson parents and family members attended the game in support of the student musicians. Congratulations to all of the students that performed as well as their music teacher, Mr. Abbonizio. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141059 Thu, 31 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141059 Community Service Projects Prep for Summer Fun The High School Interact Club and Middle School National Junior Honor Society traveled to Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck in Center Moriches for a community service activity in conjunction with the Port Jefferson Rotarians. Students came together to volunteer their time and improve the camp’s facilities before summer campers arrive. Interact Club members worked diligently to paint and stain 32 tables and 61 benches, which are used for various social and artistic activities, while Junior Honor Society members planted flowers, raked, mulched and spruced up part of Camp Pa-Qua-Tuck's "face," which greets visitors when they enter the camp. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141060 Wed, 30 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141060 Elementary School Presents Outdoor Concert Fourth and fifth-grade band and orchestra students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School presented an outdoor concert for parents and community members. Audience members brought lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy selections performed by the talented musicians, led by music teachers Mark Abbonizio and Christian Neubert. A special thanks to the elementary custodial staff and grounds crew, as well as Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello, for making this unique concert opportunity possible. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141061 Tue, 29 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141061 Band Hits a High Note The High School Wind Ensemble attended the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival at Patchogue-Medford High School and were awarded a silver medal for their outstanding performance. The competitive festival was structured to showcase student bands, which performed several pieces for a panel of adjudicators. The panel evaluated the ensemble based on their quality of performance and level of musicianship. Congratulations to the band and their teacher, Christine Creighton, on this prestigious accomplishment. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141062 Mon, 28 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141062 Elementary Students Take Top Spots in County Math Celebration Edna Louise Spear Elementary School’s Math Olympiads competed and placed in the 5th Annual Suffolk County Math Tournament at Stony Brook University. Approximately 250 students from Suffolk County, comprising 50 teams, participated in this academic event, with two teams representing Port Jefferson. Following rounds of competition, Port Jefferson students Annalisa Welinder and Mayu Takeuchi won high individual honors, achieving first place and second place, respectively, out of all contestants. In the team portion, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School received both first and second-place trophies in the 4th/5th grade category. Congratulations to all of the district students who participated and helped Port Jefferson achieve its impressive wins: Annalisa Welinder, Mayu Takeuchi, Hannah Weidermann, David Rotunno, Jillian Lawler, Francine Leung, Sarah Hull, Gavin Barrett, Hyun Jin Lee and Jessica Zhang. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141056 Thu, 24 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141056 Students Walk Across America Every spring, the students at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School participate in a fitness unit called Walk Across America as part of their physical education curriculum. Over a period of about five weeks, students accumulate miles by running and walking during their PE classes. PE teachers track how many miles each grade level travels by plotting its progress on a map of the United States. The grade levels compete as they travel across different states on the map in a race across the country, which ends in California over 3,000 miles away! The program engages students in friendly competition as they learn about the different states, all while building their physical fitness. This unit culminated with the Annual Walk/Run event. Friends and family members joined students on race day, which took place on the brand new “cross country” course that follows the perimeter of the school property. The trail run took participants up and down rolling hills, including an exciting wooded trail, and finally finished on the athletic fields adjacent to the school on Scraggy Hill Road. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141057 Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141057 Port Jefferson Announces Administrative Appointments Port Jefferson Announces Administrative Appointments The Port Jefferson School District has appointed Antonio Santana as the principal of the middle school. Mr. Santana comes to the district after serving as the junior high school assistant principal in the Three Village School District, where his responsibilities included personnel, student management, scheduling and assessments, and special programs and community outreach. Prior to his service in Three Village, Mr. Santana was the science department chairperson at the Valley Stream Central High School. During his time there, he instituted fundamental changes that not only increased student enrollment and success, but also fostered an academic environment that was comprehensive in both scope and rigor. “Throughout my career as an educator, I have found my most rewarding experiences to be those where I am working closely with students, motivating them to reach their full potential and harnessing their positive energy to drive education forward,” explained Mr. Santana. “I plan to bring this philosophy of open discourse and supportive learning to Port Jefferson and work to connect with students during this critical time of growth in their social and academic lives.” Mr. Santana began his educational career at Cornell University, where he received a bachelor of science in communication, and advanced his degree to a master of science in school administration and supervision from Touro College. In addition, he holds New York State certifications in biology and as School District Administrator and Supervisor. In addition to Mr. Santana joining the district’s administrative team, two current internal administrators will realign their positions to better serve the student body. Port Jefferson’s Director of English Language Arts & Social Studies PreK-12 Maureen Hull will assume the position of Executive Director of Curriculum and Instruction, and Port Jefferson High/Middle School Assistant Principal Peter Esposito will now act as Assistant Principal and Director of Technology PreK-12. “As a district, we have made the prudent decision to restructure select administrative positions to effectively adapt to changes within the educational system,” stated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “We have analyzed all components of our district, both academically and operationally, and have formulated a group of seasoned educators comprised of those who have detailed knowledge of our district and those with a fresh perspective who will work towards our common goals.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141054 Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141054 Superintendent’s Contract Extended The Board of Education is pleased to announce that it has unanimously approved an extension of Superintendent Kenneth Bossert’s contract through June 30th, 2017. There are no significant changes to the terms and conditions of the contract, and no changes in compensation. At its core, the new five-year agreement replaces the existing three-year agreement with the Superintendent. Dr. Bossert’s original three-year contract was in force through June 30, 2014. His base salary of $195,000 for the current school year will not change for the 2012-13 school year, as Dr. Bossert has voluntarily waived a contractual increase tied to the CPI (Consumer Price Index) that would have provided him with a 3.2% increase in salary for next year. "The Board of Education is very pleased with Dr. Bossert's performance in 2011-12, and his dedicated service to the district thus far gives us great confidence that he is the right person to lead the district through the very uncertain future," said Board of Education President Dr. Mark Doyle. Dr. Doyle identifies that over the course of the past year, Dr. Bossert has remade the district's leadership team; delivered a successful budget that prepares the district well for the anticipated LIPA-based revenue difficulties of the near term; and changed or recalibrated numerous areas of instructional practice. In addition to the LIPA uncertainties, Dr. Doyle noted that significant challenges for the Superintendent in the near future include resolution of the outstanding contractual agreement with the district's teachers, alignment of the district's curriculum with the Common Core Standards, and institution of the APPR (teacher evaluation) requirements. "As we face these challenges, the Board of Education and the community need to have confidence in leadership continuity," said Dr. Doyle. "Dr. Bossert has demonstrated vision, sensitivity, and thoughtful reflection on the challenges we faced this year, and we are certain that as both an employee and and a community member, he will continue to exercise these qualities on behalf of the community." "I'm delighted in the Board's confidence in my leadership and proud to be Port Jefferson's Superintendent of Schools," said Dr. Bossert. "We are, without question, living in a new environment, and all that we do - with our contracts, our instructional practices, our management practices, and every other facet of district operation - must evolve to match the reality of this new world. I am incredibly confident that the Port Jefferson community is prepared to address these changes in a profound manner, one that will only improve our standing as an excellent public school district." https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141055 Wed, 23 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141055 Elementary String Students Bring Outdoor Performance To Mather Hospital In honor of National Nurses Week, elementary string students from Edna Louise Spear Elementary School brought their musical magic to Mather Hospital for an entertaining outdoor performance for nurses, patients, parents and Mather Hospital staff and administrators to enjoy. Special thanks to their teacher, Mr. Christian Neubert, for organizing this unique performance opportunity. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141058 Tue, 22 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141058 Rankings Highlight Port Jefferson’s Strong Academic Achievement The Port Jefferson School District has built a legacy of academic achievement and tradition in providing all students with an exceptional educational experience. This dedication to academics has been recognized, as the district has been ranked among the top in the nation. The district was featured on Newsweek’s America’s Best High Schools of 2012, with Earl L. Vandermeulen High School placing 112th in the nation and 2nd in Suffolk County. The rankings highlight the best 1,000 public high schools in the nation—the ones that have proven to be the most effective in turning out college-ready grads. The list is based on six components provided by school administrators: graduation rate (25 percent), college matriculation rate (25 percent), AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student (25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP/IB/AICE scores (10 percent), and AP courses offered per student (5 percent). In addition, according to the recent results of The Washington Post’s High School Challenge, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School ranks 386 out of 1,900 schools nationally, placing them 51st in the Northeast, 35th in New York State and 3rd in Suffolk County. Researchers analyzed and calculated an index score for each school using the number of college-level tests given at a school in 2011 and divided by the number of graduates that year. Also noted are the percentage of students who come from families that qualify for lunch subsidies and the percentage of graduates who passed at least one college-level test during their high school career, called equity and excellence (E&E). “As an educational community, we strive to advance curriculum and engage students in differentiated learning. These collaborative efforts from administrators, teachers and support staff foster a supportive atmosphere for students to excel in,” stated Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. He continued, “The data reported illustrates how our students achieve throughout their educational careers and succeed beyond graduation.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141053 Mon, 21 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141053 Port Jefferson Schools Looks Forward Port Jefferson Schools Looks Forward By Dr. Kenneth Bossert, Superintendent of Schools This past Tuesday, the school budget was approved by a substantial margin, and two incumbents were returned to the Board of Education, who will be joined by a new member of the Board. I suppose it would be easy to simply say ‘thank you’ to the community for its participation at the polls and support of the district, but somehow that feels incomplete. I am grateful that the process we use in this State to fund public education resulted in a strong affirmation of the proposed budget. I’m thankful for the hard work and support of many people, and the validation of our work on behalf of the students and taxpayers of the community that the ‘yes’ vote represents. Make no mistake: as your Superintendent, one of my most important jobs is bringing the community to a place of consensus regarding how we support our schools. However, I care as much about the thoughts and concerns of those who voted ‘no’ as much as I do for those who voted ‘yes.’ I care a great deal about the inevitability of significant change that will be imposed on our district through the disposition of the LIPA issue, and how destabilizing we can allow this to become if we do not remember our “It takes a Village” mantra. It is only through hard work and collaboration that this impending economic crisis will be met with success. We find ourselves in a similar situation (which could be as soon as only months from now) to a neighboring community that was forced to wean itself from its major taxpayer over a period of ten years. The resulting difficulties, borne from competing priorities and absence of unified vision, had a tremendously detrimental impact on students, the schools, and the community. We cannot let that happen to us. As a small community of friends and neighbors, we must rely upon ourselves not to pick sides, but to agree upon the vision. We must work not to bemoan our fate, but to use it as the impetus for coming together in support of the next chapter of our district. Change surrounds us, and will always be difficult to manage. We have entered an era in which existing paradigms are falling away. We are demanding more of our teachers, our students, our parents, and our leaders, while coping with a massive adjustment in funding parameters, which will eventually change the nature of all school business transactions. Can we do this as partners for the sake of our schools and community? I believe so. In addition to being your Superintendent of Schools, I am a proud resident and parent of Port Jefferson. To me, Port Jefferson is better prepared to cope with change than most other communities on Long Island. I am committed, as is your Board, to addressing our future in a positive, inclusive manner. So as we reflect on the events of the recent budget vote and election, let us not forget that great challenges await us, ready to be addressed by the community of the whole. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141052 Mon, 21 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141052 Leo Club March for Babies The High School Leo Club participated in the March of Dimes’ March for Babies event. Club members and supporters completed a 3-mile charity walk around Stony Brook University and raised $435 for the organization. The district’s donation will support community programs that help moms have healthy, full-term pregnancies and will fund research to find answers to the problems that threaten babies. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141050 Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141050 Live History Lesson Sixty-two eighth-grade middle school students had the opportunity to visit the national's capital for an educational and enlightening trip. During their time in Washington, DC, students visited the city’s impressive monuments, including the brand new Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Students also explored the National Zoo and the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, and were especially impressed by the Abraham Lincoln Assassination nighttime walking tour. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141051 Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141051 One Book, One School Project at PJMS The English Department at Port Jefferson Middle School is proud to launch another One Book, One School project! This year’s theme is ‘raise your voice against bullying’. From May 14 – May 24, Port Jefferson Middle School students, teachers, and support staff members will be engaged in reading Bystander, by James Preller. The story takes place at a fictional school on Long Island. The characters face the adolescent struggles of wanting to be accepted, recognizing when someone is being bullied, deciding to remain silent or speak up, and facing the consequences of their decisions. It is our hope that students will recognize the power of the silent majority when they raise their own voices against bullying. School displays will highlight figures in society who have made the decision to speak up. Students will explore the themes of the book during their English classes and we hope many spontaneous conversations will occur as our entire school community engages with this book. Students will participate in activities such as: workshops, character education projects, text analysis, vocabulary study, and identifying significant quotes. A book is better when you share it! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141049 Wed, 16 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141049 Budget Vote and Trustee Election Results Budget Proposition Yes - 787 No - 342 Trustee Elections Mark Doyle - 632 Shawn Cohen - 296 Ellen Boehm - 525 James Laffey - 604 Vincent Ruggiero - 571 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141048 Wed, 16 May 2012 01:00:00 GMT false141048 The Instrument Petting Zoo Returns The fifth annual Instrument Petting Zoo was held at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Members of the high school instrumental ensembles traveled to the elementary school to give third-grade students an opportunity to get an up-close look at all the instruments of the band and orchestra. Students were able to hear the instruments performed, ask questions about how each instrument works, and experience the excitement of holding the instruments, many of them for the first time. In the coming weeks, these same third graders will be selecting the instrument they would like to begin learning in the fall. A special thanks to band teachers Christine Creighton and Mark Abbonizio for organizing this event. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141047 Mon, 14 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141047 Special Meeting of the PJSD BOE PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTICE OF MEETINGS Aspecial meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on May 15, 2012, 9:30 p.m., in the cafeteria at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School, for the purpose of accepting the results of the budget vote/ trustee election and to take action on any other necessary business arising from the election. The May 22, 2012 work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has been changed to a special meeting, 7:00 p.m., in the large group room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School for the purpose of acting on personnel resolutions and other business as may be needed. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m. to discuss personnel and legal matters. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141046 Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141046 Personnel Announcement - High School Principal Personnel Announcement At the May 8, 2012 regular business meeting of the Board of Education, Dr. Matthew Murphy was unanimously appointed to be the new principal of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School effective July 1. Dr. Murphy comes to Port Jefferson from the Hauppauge School District, where he served for five years as the K-12 Director of Math. During his time in Hauppauge, Dr. Murphy has been instrumental in the implementation of new curriculum aligned with the Common Core standards as well as movement toward International Baccalaureate (IB) certification. Prior to his work in Hauppauge, Dr. Murphy served as both the Director of Math and Science and the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction in the South Country Central School District. Dr. Murphy’s teaching experience took place in the Smithtown School District. In addition to his certification in School District Administration, Dr. Murphy is certified in Mathematics, Physics and General Science. Dr. Murphy obtained his doctorate in Educational Administration, Leadership and Technology from Dowling College in 2009. After his appointment was made official last night, Dr. Murphy addressed the Board of Education and community by saying, “I thank the Superintendent and the Board for this opportunity. I look forward to helping to continue the standard of excellence that the Port Jefferson School District is known for.” Dr. Murphy will have the opportunity to spend some time with Mrs. Cirnigliaro to ensure a smooth transition as our year draws to a close. As the fall approaches, there will be opportunities for parents, students and the community to meet our new High School Principal. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Murphy to our leadership team. Sincerely, Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141044 Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141044 Spring Concerts Broadcast LIVE over the Internet All of our Spring Concerts are being broadcast live over the internet. You will need the Real Player to view the LIVE video stream. It can be downloaded by following the link below: Click HERE for the Real Player Download Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad Archived video will be available the morning after the concerts on each of the building's home pages under the announcements section. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141045 Wed, 09 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141045 Snow Day -- Payback Please recall that due to the mild winter and the lack of snow closings, school will not be in session on Friday, May 25 or Tuesday, May 29. We hope you enjoy the extended Memorial Day celebration. Classes will resume for all students on Wednesday, May 30. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141043 Tue, 08 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141043 Robotics Team on the Move The High School Robotics Team #496 competed at the Annual F.I.R.S.T. Robotics Long Island Regional competition, with 50 school districts from Long Island and several other states competing at Hofstra University. The F.I.R.S.T. program (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) enables students to work with advisors and mentors with the goal of designing and constructing a competition-ready robot within a six-week build period. After two days of qualifying matches, the team scored highly and qualified for the finals. Overall, the team finished in the top eight at the competition. Community mentors who lent their professional skills in various fields, including science, computer programming and engineering, supported the team’s success. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141041 Thu, 03 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141041 Students Entertain at Health & Wellness Expo Members of the High School String Chamber Ensemble performed at the Health and Wellness Expo, which took place at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. The student musicians, including Jonathan Chun (cello), Dunia Karzai (violin), Alberto Rescia (viola), Constantine Spentzos (viola) and Weien Xu (violin), performed classical music selections as attendees walked about the fair visiting a wide array of booths dedicated to all aspects of health, wellness and fitness. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141042 Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141042 Meet the Candidates Night LIVE Video Stream - Tonight The PTA & PTSA Meet the Candidates Night will be streamed LIVE starting at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday May 2, 2012. Archived video will be available the morning after the event. You will need the Real Player to view the LIVE stream. It can be downloaded by following the link below: Click HERE for the Real Player Download Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141039 Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141039 Elementary School’s Green Team The Edna Louise Spear Elementary "Green Team" joined forces with the Business Improvement District and students from Stony Brook University to help clean up the Village of Port Jefferson in the 9th Annual Earth Day Clean Sweep. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141040 Tue, 01 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141040 District Named a Best Community for Music Education The Port Jefferson School District was ranked, for the sixth consecutive year, one of the National Association of Music Merchants’ (NAMM) "Best Communities for Music Education." This prestigious designation places Port Jefferson among the top music programs in the nation due to its dynamic course offerings and the unique musical opportunities it makes available to students. The program’s legacy of success is possible thanks to the strong partnership within the educational community and the leadership of Director of Music & Fine Arts Michael Caravello. Particularly during these tough economic times, with the combined efforts of students, teachers, administrators, parents and the school community, national recognition for the district's music program becomes more meaningful than ever before. Please see the following link for more information as well as the entire list of nationally recognized districts. http://www.nammfoundation.org/press-room/namm-foundation-176-programs-earn-distinction-best-community-music-education https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141037 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141037 Tri-M Music Honor Society Induction Six music students from Earl L. Vandermeulen High School were inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Chapter 2172. The new inductees included Nicholas Aiello, Gabe Davis, Zachary Graziano, Michaela Griffin, Michael McCarthy and Gerard Racanelli. In addition to outstanding musical achievement, students are selected into the honor society on the basis of five points of distinction: scholarship, character, cooperation, leadership and service. The special evening included an honors recital featuring performances by the new inductees, immediately followed by a ceremony and reception. Congratulations to all of the new Tri-M members as well as their faculty advisor, Ms. Christine Creighton. Photo Courtesy of John Griffin Photography © 2012 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141038 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141038 BOARD CANDIDATE INFORMATION 2012 Board Candidate Interview Information BOARD_CANDIDATE_INFORMATION_2012.pdf https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141036 Fri, 27 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141036 The Horizon - Budget 2012 Click Here to View the Budget Newsletter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141035 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141035 Community Budget Forum - High School Auditorium 7 p.m. (LIVE Stream over the Internet) Community Budget Forum - High School Auditorium (LIVE Stream over the Internet) http://www.portjeffschools.org/boe/live_stream_information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141034 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141034 Annual Mt. Sinai Harbor Beach Cleanup On Saturday, April 21, 2012 in celebration of Earth Day, PJHS Student Organization and the PJHS Environmental Club teamed up for an Annual Mt. Sinai Harbor Beach Cleanup. The community service event was sponsored by the Village of Port Jefferson and The Coastal Steward “Adopt a Beach Program.” Fifteen sophomores, juniors and seniors from the HS arrived at 9 am at the end of Crystal Brook Hollow Road in Harbor Hills and worked together collecting various debris and collected data of debris found. For more information about adopting a beach, please go to http://www.coastalsteward.org/. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141033 Mon, 23 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141033 Science Olympiad Winners! The Port Jefferson High School Science Olympiad Team competed at the state competition on March 30th and 31st. 51 teams from throughout New York State met at Canisius College in Buffalo, with students competing in events that tested their skills in all areas of science as well as engineering. Four students earned gold medals at this two day event: Allison Cluett and Alberto Rescia for the Geologic Mapping, and Isabella Sanders and Weien Xu for Technical Problem Solving. Other top ten finishers included Isabelle Stark and Weien Xu for Fermi Questions, and Allison Cluett and Katharina Ross for Water Quality. While in the Buffalo region, students had the opportunity to visit Niagara Falls, site of the first hydro-electric power plant. The Middle School Science Olympiad competed in the State Competition against 35 of the top teams in New York State on Friday April 20th and Saturday April 21st at SUNY Ulster Community College. The team placed 14th out of 36 teams that made it to the competition. The team received medals in four events. Medal Winners (grade level in parenthesis): 3rd Place – Ryan Burke (9) and Boris Botchev (8) - Compute This 4th Place – Ryan Burke (9) and Eric Kilgore (8) – Buoy Oh Buoy 4th Place – Ryan Burke (9) and Eric Kilgore (8) – Optics 6th Place – Caroline Biondo (9) and Noah Davis (9) – Dynamic Planet Top 10 Finishes: 8th Place – Eli Doyle (6) and Connor Kaminska (6) – Reach for the Stars https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141032 Sun, 22 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141032 Middle School Science Olympiads Advance to States The Middle School Science Olympiad Team came in third place at the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad Competition, held at Candlewood Middle School. Students from grades 6-9 competed against 32 teams from 22 school districts in events that tested the students’ skills in earth science, biology, chemistry, physics and engineering. The team is competing on April 20 and 21 at SUNY Ulster in the state competition. Medal winners (grade level in parentheses): 1st place – Boris Botchev (8) and Ryan Burke (9) for “Compute This” 1st place – Eric Kilgore (8) and Ryan Burke (9) for “Buoy Oh Buoy” 3rd place – Eric Kilgore (8) and Ryan Burke (9) for “Storm the Castle” 3rd place – Caroline Biondo (9) and Noah Davis (9) for “Dynamic Planet” 3rd place – Yuuki Shibutani (9) and Nicholas Caltagirone (8) for “Towers” 4th place – Margo Martin-Deprez (9) and Cezanne Lojeski (6) for “Buoy Oh Buoy” 4th place – Billy Witrock (8), Boris Botchev (8) and Calla Kelley-Renda (8) for “Experimental Design” 4th place – Joe Iasso (9) and Janella Damaskos (9) for “Forestry” 4th place – Eli Doyle (6) and Connor Kaminska (6) for “Reach for the Stars” 4th place - Aliza Doyle (9) and Yuuki Shibutani (9) for "Anatomy" 6th place – Boris Botchev (8) and Jeff Koutsantanou (8) for “Microbe Mission” 6th place – Eli Doyle (6) and Connor Kaminska (6) for “Mouse Trap Vehicle” Top 10 finishes: Eric Kilgore (8) and Jeff Koutsantanou (8) for “Forestry” Caroline Biondo (9) and Noah Davis (9) for “Meteorology” Thomas Hull (8) and Jeff Koutsantanou (8) for “Mouse Trap Vehicle” Ryan Burgert (9) and Joe Luca (8) for “Storm the Castle” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141029 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141029 An Open Letter to the Port Jefferson Community from the Superintendent of Schools Dear Parents and Community Members, At Tuesday night’s meeting of the Board of Education, the Board voted unanimously to adopt the budget as proposed at $38,076,500; representing a 2% increase to our tax levy. This spending plan was created after months of evaluation, dialogue, and input from many stakeholders. The driving force throughout the process has been to maintain the integrity (in fact excellence) of our instructional program, while making targeted reductions to prepare for the impending loss of revenue from the LIPA plant. The Board of Education and I are confident that the spending plan presented to the community does just that. Since Tuesday night’s meeting, however, discussion in parts of the community seems to center around the athletic budget – specifically the lacrosse program. In order to bring clarity to what seems to be unclear, allow me to offer the following: • The proposed budget for the 2012/13 school year does not include funding to support the expansion of our current middle school lacrosse program to the junior varsity level. The Board of Education and I feel very strongly that it would be irresponsible to make additions to the athletic budget while reductions are being made to the instructional program. The expansion of the lacrosse program is no longer budget neutral. In fact, the athletic department spending plan has been reduced for the third consecutive year. • There is no plan to create new fields to accommodate lacrosse or any other sport in the near future. It has been very well documented that our District is preparing to enter a period of fiscal crisis. This is not the time to discuss building athletic fields for any purpose. • The District is aware that an outside group is looking to form a Booster Club in order to raise funds to support the lacrosse program. If this Booster Club is successful in securing the significant funds necessary to allow for the expansion of the lacrosse program to the JV level, the Board of Education will then (and not before) consider approving the formation of a JV team. This discussion, however, will take place next year when we hope to have a clearer picture of our “post LIPA” revenue. Public schools within the State of New York are beginning to depend more and more on outside donations/booster clubs to supplement initiatives that the budget can no longer support. The Board of Education and I are resigned to the fact that we are no different, in fact – our financial challenges will be far more profound post-LIPA than perhaps anywhere else on Long Island. While discussions we have had this year about programmatic changes have been difficult, I fear we will be having even more difficult conversations in the very near future. Therefore, we anticipate the need to reach out to our PTA/PTSA’s, Royal Educational Foundation, and various other booster clubs in order to find additional support for items that may need to be deleted from future spending plans. We are hopeful that our community will rally in support of our students. Please plan to attend the community forum that will be held next Thursday, April 26 at 7 p.m. in the HS auditorium. Our Assistant Superintendent for Business, Mr. Leister and I will be giving a final review of the proposed budget and review changes to our program reflected in the spending plan. We will also be available to answer any questions or address any concerns that you may have. Please note in today’s (April 19) edition of the Port Times Record, an error appears. The schedule at the MS/HS next year will be shifting from a 10 period to a 9 period day (not 9 to 8 as stated in the PTR). Lastly, I encourage you to visit our website, read our newsletter and budget brochure (you will receive a printed edition within the next 10 days) to make an informed decision when you participate in our budget vote on May 15 (6 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the HS Cafeteria). Regards, Kenneth R. Bossert, Ed.D. Superintendent of Schools https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141028 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141028 PTSA Meeting Announcement The Tuesday, April 24 Port Jefferson PTSA meeting will feature a special presentation from Child Abuse Prevention Services (CAPS). CAPS representative Daria Ferrara will facilitate educational and informative workshops for district parents on the topics of bullying and cyberbullying. The meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the high school library. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141031 Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141031 Port Jefferson Latin Students Put Their Language Skills to the Test Latin students from Port Jefferson Middle School and High School competed at Stony Brook University in a Latin Certamen. Students from 15 schools across Nassau and Suffolk Counties competed in their respective levels based on course enrollment. Port Jefferson had an impressive showing with an eighth-grade team (Level One), ninth-grade team (Level Two), two tenth-grade teams (Level Three) and one team competing on the Advanced Level. The Certamen is a fast-paced Latin contest that tests students' knowledge of Latin grammar, vocabulary, word derivations, Roman life, history, mythology and literature. Level One Team won third place: Thomas Hull Rachel Collins Nicholas Hartmann Emma Martin Level Two Team won third place: Noah Davis Ryan Burke Julia Kharzeev Natasha Zaliznyak Level Three Team B won first place: Alberto Rescia Alex Bruno Romaine Popesco Kent Ueno Level Three Team A won second place: Leah Neiman Chiara Repetti-Ludlow Maria Simmerling Gabrielle Stark https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141030 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141030 NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION PORT JEFFERSON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, NEW YORK Notice is hereby given that a budget hearing for the qualified voters of the Port Jefferson School District, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, Port Jefferson, New York, will be held at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in said District on May 8, 2012 at 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, for the presentation of the budget; copies of the adopted budget will be available seven days prior to the budget hearing. Notice is hereby given, that the annual vote/election of the qualified voters of the Port Jefferson School District, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, will be held at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in said District on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, at which time the polls will be open to vote by machine upon the following items: 1) Proposition 1 - Shall the annual budget of the Port Jefferson School District for the school year 2012-2013 in the sum of $38,076,500; as proposed by the Board of Education with the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District, as required by law, be adopted? 2) To elect 3 members of the Board, two for a 3 year term commencing July 1, 2012 and expiring on June 30, 2015, one for a term commencing May 15, 2012 and expiring June 30, 2015. The candidates are: Mark Doyle -Shawn Cohen - Ellen Boehm- James Laffey - Vincent Ruggiero The following vacancies are to be filled on the Board of Education: Mark Doyle (last incumbent) (3 year term) Lauren Hubbard (last incumbent) (3 year term) James Laffey* (last incumbent) (3 year term +) * (unexpired term of Robert Frey) Notice is also given that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required by the ensuing year for school purposes, exclusive of public moneys, may be obtained by any taxpayer in the district during the fourteen days immediately preceding the annual vote/election, at the school district administration office, 550 Scraggy Hill Road, Port Jefferson, New York, Monday through Friday during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. prevailing time, and on Saturday and Sunday by appointment. Notice is also given that applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable from the District Clerk, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays. If the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, the completed application must be received by the Clerk of the District at least seven days before the day of the election. If the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter, the completed application must be received by the District Clerk at least one day before the day of the vote/election. Ballots must reach the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. (prevailing time) on the date of the vote/election. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available for public inspection in the office of the District Clerk during regular office hours until the day of the election. And further, notice is hereby given, that the qualified voters of the school district shall be entitled to vote at said annual vote and election. A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States, (2) eighteen years of age or older, (3) a resident within the District for a period of thirty days next preceding said vote/election. The Board of Education has adopted the provisions of Education Law §2018-c which requires all new persons offering to vote at any school district meeting or election to provide one form of proof of residency. Acceptable proof of residency shall be a driver’s license, a non-driver’s license, a non-driver identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card. Pursuant to Chapter 258 of the Laws of 2008, Section 495 was added to the Real Property Tax Law and requires the School District to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. In addition, said exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION Port Jefferson Union Free School District Dated: April 18, 2012 Janice Baisley District Clerk 4/26/12, 5/3/12 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141027 Wed, 18 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141027 Port Jefferson Spring Newsletter Click Here to View the Newsletter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142859 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142859 Holocaust Survivor Speaks at Middle School Students at the Middle School learned an important lesson on tolerance from Holocaust survivor Werner Reich. A Long Island resident, Mr. Reich described his personal experiences as a young boy growing up and surviving the Holocaust. He shared his inspirational story of hardship and fortitude, including his capture in Yugoslavia and transport to an Auschwitz concentration camp. As an enhancement to the eighth-grade social studies curriculum, Mr. Reich discussed the Nazis’ rise to power and the events precipitating World War II. He reminded students that many races and groups of people were targeted during the Holocaust, and unfortunately, many terrible acts were committed before anyone took a stand and intervened. Mr. Reich explained how differently history could have been written if good people would have taken action earlier, and that, no matter how small, injustices in school, at home or on a global level need to be addressed and handled fairly to protect everyone. Students received a firsthand perspective through his impactful slideshow, which featured a compilation of photos, political cartoons and newspaper articles written during World War II. As one of a small group of Holocaust survivors today, Mr. Reich’s goal is to make a difference in students’ lives and enlighten them on the damaging and long-lasting effects that bullying carries on all levels. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=142860 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false142860 Music Festival The Port Jefferson School District had the honor of hosting the 2012 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Festival. More than 2,500 local student-musicians came together to showcase their talents and fine-tune their craft. One Hundred Port Jefferson student volunteers, many of whom were also selected to perform, assisted in various event capacities to make it a success for participants and attendees. The student volunteers, under the direction of Director of Music and Fine Arts Michael Caravello, helped distribute pamphlets and maps and assisted with the overall operation. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141026 Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141026 Special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on April 18, 2012, 5:00 p.m., at the District Office, for the purpose of voting on the Eastern Suffolk BOCES Budget and Board Trustees. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141295 Wed, 04 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141295 Notice of Special Board Meeting A special meeting of the Board of Education of Port Jefferson School District will be held on April 3, 2012, 5:30 pm, at the District Office, for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel matter. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141292 Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141292 Culinary Arts Italian foreign language high school students attended "An Afternoon in Italy" cooking event held at the A La Carte Culinary School. Students learned a variety of cooking techniques and created several dishes representing various regions of Italy. Buon appetito! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141293 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141293 Italian Poetry Contest Congratulations to Gaspar Cello, who won honorable mention in the Italian Poetry Contest held at SUNY Old Westbury. Over 250 students from across Long Island competed in this literary event. Other student participants from the district included: Kate Gwydir, Sarah Hildreth, Michael Laffey, Robert Righi, Jasper Rubin Sigler, Isabella Sanders, Daniel Scarda and Kristian Tonnessen. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141294 Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141294 Talent Show Benefit The middle school held its 7th annual talent show to benefit Friends of Karen, a Port Jeff-based charity that assists families who have critically ill children. The community was invited to attend the district show, which featured the many talents of its students. Student hosts introduced their peers, who entertained audiences with dancing, singing, and guitar and drum performances. Through admission and raffle sales, students raised more than $1,300 for the nonprofit. They also collected canned goods to be donated to a local food pantry. Friends of Karen Special Events and Community Affairs Director Patricia Conway accepted a check from talent show student hosts Haley Shon, Alenandra Ward and Brianna Scarda and teacher Allison Giannusa to support the nonprofit’s local mission. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141291 Wed, 28 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141291 Board of Education Work Session - March 27, 2012 A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on March 27, 2012, 7:00 p.m, at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School.Presentations include updates on technology and the 2012-2013 budget. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141289 Tue, 27 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141289 Meeting Schedule for Proposed 2012-13 Budget Presentations The following is a list of meetings at which Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert and Assistant Superintendent for Business Mr. Sean Leisterwill bepresenting the proposed 2012-2013 school district budget.Community members areencouraged to attend any of these meetings. April 2 10:00 am PTA -Elementary School April 2 7:00 pm Village of Port Jefferson April 177:30 pmBoard of Education Meeting - Elementary School April 23 7:00 pm Port Jefferson Free Library April 26 7:00 pm Community Forum - High School Auditorium (LIVE Stream over the Internet) http://www.portjeffschools.org/boe/live_stream_information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141290 Mon, 26 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141290 Science Olympians Set to Compete at States The Port Jefferson High School Science Olympiad Team came in third place at the Suffolk County Regional Science Olympiad Competition, held at Half Hollow Hills High School West. Twenty-eight district students competed among 48 elite teams in dynamic events that tested problem solving, research and engineering skills. In addition to medal and top ten finishes, district coaches Michel Krivosta and Laurie McMillen were recognized at the state tournament for over 25 years of coaching state-qualifying teams. Medal Winners: 1st place – Allison Cluett and Katharina Ross for Water Quality 1st place – Danielle Grier and Alberto Rescia for Chemistry Lab 2nd place – Emma Neiman and Isabelle Stark for Anatomy 2nd place – Allison Cluett and Isabella Sanders for Dynamic Planet 3rd place – Zachary Graziano and Dana Prohovnik for Microbe Mission Top 10 Finishes: Zachary Graziano and Weien Xu for Optics Zachary Graziano and Dana Prohovnik for Protein Modeling Alberto Rescia and Natasha Zaliznyak for Rocks and Minerals The state competition will be held on Friday and Saturday, March 30 and 31, at Canisius College in Buffalo. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141287 Wed, 21 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141287 National Geographic Bee Semifinalist Boris Botchev, an eighth-grade student at the middle school, has been notified by the National Geographic Society that he is a semifinalist, eligible to compete in the 2012 New York State National Geographic Bee sponsored by Google and Plum Creek. Earlier in the year, a schoolwide geography bee was held at the middle school in which participants answered a variety of questions, such as, “Which city on the Great Lakes has the largest population?” and “The Bitterroot Range is located on the border between Montana and which other state?” Following rounds of competition, Boris was named the champion and then sat for the National Geographic Society qualifying exam, on which he placed within the top 100 scorers in New York State. He will now compete at the New York State Museum in Albany on Friday, March 30, 2012. The winner will represent New York in the national finals in Washington, D.C. in May. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141288 Tue, 20 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141288 Musicians Perform at All-County Festival An impressive 29 students from the district were selected to participate in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association (SCMEA) All-County Festival. Students from both the elementary and secondary levels took part in this competitive event and joined student-musicians from across the region to rehearse for the concerts held for each division. In addition, the district was represented by elementary school chorus teacher Meagan Finnerty, who holds the position as chairperson for the SCMEA Division I chorus. Division I - Grades 5 & 6 Catrina Alvarez, Katie Ambrozy, Chloe Andriani, Grant Calendrille, Grace Crugnale, Phoenix Jampol, Jonathan Kelsch, James Kennedy, Hyun jin Lee, Cezanne Lojeski, Matt Luca, Trey Pisano, Ryan Robertson, Charles Rolfe, Phalina Sciara, Emily Valadez, Olivia Wennerod, Ryan Worrell and Bridget Yost Division II - Grades 7 & 8 Boris Botchev, Parris Garant, Danielle Goldstein, Victoria Raso and Anita Rescia Division III - Grades 9 & 10 Taylor Carley, Kirsten Crovello, Dunia Karzai, Aldan Mohacsi and Chiara Repetti-Ludlow https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141286 Sun, 18 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141286 Newsday visited Edna Louise Spear Elementary School to discuss St. Patrick’s Day! Click here to watch the video https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141285 Wed, 14 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141285 Tax Cap Survey Results Please note: results represent all Suffolk County responses. Click Here to View the Results https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141284 Tue, 13 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141284 A Conference for Change Recently, six Port Jefferson High School Student Organization members attended a progressive conference with 13 other Suffolk County school districts at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. The program, coined J.U.S.T.I.C.E. (Join Us Together in Creating Equality), works to address issues of unity and equality within schools and from the student perspective. The conference provided a unique platform for students to discuss these key topics with their peers and educational professionals. Through open discourse, students shared an abundant amount of pro-unity based ideas, events and activities that student organizations will look to establish within their districts. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141281 Mon, 12 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT false141281 Dancing Around the World The second graders at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School continued their exploration of international studies by performing at the school’s International Dance festival. In conjunction with the celebration of dance, students first selected a country and presented its heritage and culture to their classmates. Students have been training for the International Dance, sponsored by the Health and Physical Education Department, as part of their culminating unit on international studies. During physical education classes, students were taught various dancing techniques from around the globe. On the day of the dance, students paid homage to their respective countries by dressing in authentic clothing and accessories as they performed dances such as the Irish Step, Mexican Hat, Mambo, Tango and Hora. In pairs, students introduced and provided historical facts about the origins and significance of the dances. The event was followed by a tasting party for students and parents, which gave students the opportunity to sample and share treats from different countries. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141282 Sun, 11 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141282 A Weekend of Giving High School Interact Club members donated their time and talents to host a bake sale at the Dodge to Cure Diabetes event. Students made and sold baked goods to raise funds, which were donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. The following morning, the Interact Club, along with the Port Jefferson Rotarians, collected food for a local food cupboard at King Kullen Supermarket in Mt. Sinai. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141283 Sat, 10 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141283 Superintendent’s Conference Day On Monday, February 27, all Port Jefferson employees engaged in meaningful professional development activities in order to address district and NYS Education Department priorities. The day began with a keynote address from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert that focused on the new Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR) evaluation system and the Danielson Framework for Teaching rubric, which has been adopted for teacher evaluations. Following the presentation, faculty participated in breakout sessions to analyze the qualities of effective teaching, as structured in the Danielson rubric. Teachers and administrative members of the district’s APPR Network Team who received specialized training at Eastern Suffolk (ES) BOCES, aligned to the training offered in Albany, facilitated these sessions, having brought their knowledge back to the district to educate their peers on these key initiatives. The afternoon was devoted to learning about the state’s new Common Core Standards and other curriculum issues, focusing on updating the scope and sequence of particular courses and training for district programs including the Second Step character education program, which is a component of the district’s curriculum for the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA). ES BOCES staff developers facilitated afternoon sessions for Common Core Math and Common Core ELA in social studies, science and additional subject areas, while Dr. Deaver, from LIU CW Post, presented a workshop on rehearsal techniques for the music faculty. The comprehensive conference engaged the entire educational community, as the buildings & grounds and custodial staff participated in safety and maintenance training, and the office staff members attended training on district systems. In addition, the district’s paraprofessionals spent the afternoon building their understanding of the role that aides and assistants play in supporting the instruction of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). It was an effective day of professional learning designed to enhance the instructional program for students, as well as to develop expertise with district systems and ensure the health and safety of our buildings for all of our students, staff and visitors. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141280 Fri, 09 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141280 Board of Education Petitions Nomination petitions are now available to run for a seat on the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education. Three vacant seats currently held by members Mark Doyle, Lauren Hubbard and James Laffey (who is completing the unexpired term of Robert Frey) will be up for public vote at the annual district budget vote and election on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Completed petitions are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 16, 2012. All interested community members should contact District Clerk Janice Baisley at 476-4404 ext. 8 to obtain the necessary paperwork. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141279 Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141279 Track Athletes Head to Nationals Several student-athletes will be competing at the New Balance Indoor National Championships at the Armory in New York City. Below is a recap of Port Jefferson’s exceptional performances at the State Winter Track Championships: • Andrew Keresztes: 4th place in the 1000m with a time of 2:29.60 - school record time • James Burke, Cole Conte, Fred Agostino & Andrew Keresztes: 10th place in the 4 x 800 meter relay with a time of 8:32.2 • Ben Neiman: 55m high hurdles 12th place with a time of 7.88 Good luck to our athletes who will be competing in the following meets at Nationals: • Distance Medley Relay with team Andrew Keresztes, Ben Neiman, Cole Conte and James Burke • Sprint Medley Relay with team Cole Conte, Ben Neiman, Dennis Walsh and Andrew Keresztes • Shuttle Hurdle Relay with team Ben Neiman, Dan Gross, Eric Keresztes and Cole Conte • Freshman Mile run by James Burke https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141278 Wed, 07 Mar 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141278 Winter Athletes Heat Up the Competition Eight members of the Port Jefferson varsity wrestling team placed in the top three at the Division II Suffolk County Championships. Three outstanding athletes took first place in the competition in their respective weight classes, with highlights including Dylan Roberts pinning Hampton Bays’ Gustavo Gonzalez in the 138-pound matchup and teammates Paul Cavanaugh and Ryan Woodward shaking hands before their bout for first place in the 152-pound weight class. In addition, Dominick Evangelista took the top spot in the 145-pound weight class, defeating Bayport-Blue Point’s Ralph Fabiani. Additional county medal winners include: Second place: 152- Ryan Woodward Third place: 132 - Tristan DeVincenzo 132 - Tyler D'Accordo 220 - Brett Ruggerio 285 - Kyle Fiske The boys varsity track team also made their mark at regional competitions, including first-place finishes by Andrew Keresztes in the 1000-meter run and the 4x800 relay team with members Cole Conte, James Burke, Andrew Keresztes and Fred Agostino. Hurdles specialist Benjamin Neiman took third place in the 55-meter race, and James Burke placed fourth in the 1600-meter run. These exceptional athletes are all advancing to the New York State Winter Track Championships to compete against the state’s elite at Cornell University. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141276 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141276 Art Student Recognized in Scholastic Art Competition High school freshman Caroline Strauss was recognized at this year's annual Scholastic Art and Writing Awards for the Northeast Region-at-Large, which included student entries from Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. Caroline's digital photograph, entitled "Champs Elysees," was one of only 15 percent of entries to receive the award of honorable mention based on the judge's criteria of originality, technical skill and sense of vision. Congratulations to Caroline on her artistic achievement. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141277 Tue, 28 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141277 Students from Abroad Port Jefferson High School said farewell to Chiara Sommerfelt, an exchange student from Germany who returned home this month. However, international relationships continue as the district welcomes Reiner Scheurich, also from Germany, who arrived eager to learn inside the classroom and within the community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141275 Mon, 27 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141275 Interact Club Reaches Out The High School Interact Club recently assisted the local Rotary Club in preparing bags of toiletries for distribution through the Welcome INN program, which offers free meals to individuals in the surrounding communities. More than 600 items were sorted and individually bagged as gifts for community members who visit the soup kitchens. Interact Club members also sold pink and purple hearts in an effort to raise money for Gift of Life, an international organization which, together in its association with Stony Brook Hospital, provides life-saving heart surgeries to children in need of help. The Interact Club raised more than $250 to donate to this worthy cause. A display of hearts decorates the high school hallways as a special thank you to the Port Jefferson community for its generous donations and help in making a difference. Through the Gift of Life program, Port Jefferson Rotarians, healthcare professionals and volunteers have worked together for over three decades to save the lives of more than 12,000 children. Donations to Gift of Life help finance medical expenses associated with heart surgery. The Interact Club is a community service based club that works in conjunction with the Port Jefferson Rotary Club. Please see the HS/MS Club Calendar for meeting dates, which are held after school in high school room 204. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141274 Sun, 26 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141274 Spelling Bee Champ Congratulations to Gavin Chambers, who was named Port Jefferson's Scripps Spelling Bee Champion! Edna Louise Spear Elementary School hosted the intense battle of words to determine who would advance and represent the district in the regional bee. Prior to the competition, students studied diligently to learn a variety of words and definitions, some of which were categorized at an eighth-grade vocabulary level. Gavin will continue to test his spelling skills at the regional level on March 18 at Hofstra University along with 100 local competitors in a live tournament. If successful, he will join students nationwide at the televised Howard Scripps Spelling Bee in Washington, D.C. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141273 Wed, 22 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141273 Falling in Love with Valentine’s Day Students in the Middle School’s Art Club were feeling the love this Valentine’s Day as they created hand-designed valentines for each of their classmates. A festive theme ran through the hallways, as each locker was decorated with a valentine. The creative endeavors of the Art Club, led by Stacey Schuman, left a warm impression on all of the middle school students. At the high school it was an amorous celebration as the High School Student Organization sold flowers and heart-shaped candy on Valentine’s Day. With over 100 orders placed, Cupid had a busy day delivering these gifts to students and staff. Throughout the school year this group of students works to spearhead outreach and fundraising events to improve the district and community. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141272 Mon, 20 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141272 Playoff Basketball Games Tonight at Pierson Girls Basketball - Playoff Game Tonight 5:00 p.m. at Pierson Boys Basketball - Playoff game Tonight 7:00 p.m. at Pierson Each game has a $4.00 entrance charge https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141271 Thu, 16 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141271 Long Island String Festivals Eight exceptional student-musicians from the district were selected to participate in the Long Island String Festival Association (LISFA) String Festivals. Students in grades five through eleven from all over the island were chosen to participate in these prestigious music festivals. The Elementary and Middle School Festival was held at Elwood Middle School, and the Junior High and Senior High School Festival was held at Ward Melville High School. Teacher recommendations and solo evaluation scores from the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) played a large role in the students’ acceptance into the festivals. Congratulations to the Port Jefferson string students! Grade 5 Sam Caltagirone, Hyun Jin Lee Ava Schully Annalisa Welinder Grade 7 Anita Rescia Grade 8 Boris Botchev Grade 9 Dunia Karzai Grade 11 Jonathan Chun https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141269 Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141269 A Day at the Rinx The students of the middle school are participating in a unique after-school intramural program that provides them the opportunity to ice skate at the Rinx. This exciting afternoon activity brings sixth-grade students into a new environment and gives them a chance to get active out on the ice. The Rinx is located at the Port Jefferson Village Center, where members of the community can come together to enjoy some outdoor winter fun. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141270 Mon, 13 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141270 National Merit Finalists Announced! The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has announced its finalists in this year’s competition, and Port Jefferson has two students who received this designation. Seniors Cole Conte and Allison Cluett join 15,000 students nationwide, out of the 1.5 million entrants, who are now eligible to receive Merit Scholarships, which include coveted corporate and college-sponsored scholarships. This prestigious academic award exemplifies the district’s high level of student achievement and rigor of its educational programs. "The accomplishments of these two exceptional students continue to bring great pride to our school district and the community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Bossert. “My congratulations to Allison, Cole and their families on a job well done.” Students entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screening. Students advanced to the Semifinalist and then Finalist levels based on their outstanding academic record, administration endorsement and SAT scores. Students also submitted a detailed scholarship application, which included a student essay and information about their participation and leadership in school and community activities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141266 Wed, 08 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141266 Senior Signs Letter of Intent It was an exciting day for high school senior Andrew Keresztes, as he was joined by school administration, family and his coaches to sign an official Letter of Intent for the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. Andrew, who received an academic-athletic scholarship for the fall of 2012, will be running for the university’s cross-country, indoor track and outdoor track teams. Andrew has been a starter for the Port Jefferson Royals in cross-country, winter track and spring track for the past four years and currently belongs to the 2012 Small School Championship Winter Track Team. Aside from running various races such as the 400-meter, 800-meter and 1600-meter, Andrew has placed first in the Section XI League Championship for the 1000-meter race. He has also participated in the Molloy Stanner Games, the Hispanic Games presented by the U.S. Navy and the Rhode Island Classic. The Port Jefferson School District prides itself on the academic and athletic accomplishments of its students and wishes Andrew all the best at the University of Maryland. Pictured below, Andrew signed his Letter of Intent and was joined by (standing, left to right) Superintendent of Schools Dr. Ken Bossert, Varsity Coach Rod Cawley, Principal Roseann Cirnigliaro, Assistant Coach Andrew Cosci, Athletic Director Deb Ferry, (sitting, left to right) father Roger Keresztes, and mother Patricia Farrelly. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141267 Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141267 A Musical Day at the Mid-Island Band Festival Students from the high school band joined student musicians from across the region to participate in the 54th Annual Mid-Island Band Festival. Led by music teacher Christine Creighton, the band practiced diligently for its performance at the annual event. The Port Jefferson participants included Elizabeth Acampora, Ryan Burke, Allison Cluett, Dominick Famularo, Christy Harrigan, Lara Sarubbi, and Elizabeth Stafford. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141268 Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141268 The Science of Learning High School Advanced Placement Biology students became scientists during their visit to the Biotechnology Teaching Laboratory at the Center for Science and Mathematics Education (CESAME) at Stony Brook University. Students had the opportunity to conduct hands-on experiments as they performed a restriction digest on viral DNA from the bacteriophage Lambda and then separated the DNA fragments using gel electrophoresis. Utilizing technical skills, students also completed a bacterial transformation experiment in which they inserted DNA into E. coli, plated the bacteria on appropriate media, and studied the expression of the newly inserted genes. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141265 Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141265 Around the World in Second Grade The second graders of Edna Louise Spear Elementary School have been traveling the world to learn about their heritage. As part of their social studies curriculum, the students have been discovering where their ancestors came from and exploring the heritage of their classmates. Each student was asked to choose a country of interest and research the geography, history and culture. Students presented their projects and taught classmates fun facts about the country, including flag origin, currency and cuisine. The projects served to enhance literacy instruction and communication skills, as students were required to write in their travel logs about each country and were able to ask the presenters additional questions. The second graders are also looking forward to an International Dance on March 2, where they will display dances from around the globe that they have learned in their physical education classes. After the dance party, the students will have the opportunity to sample an array of international foods. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141264 Sat, 04 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141264 Drive It Right Program The Drive It Right Program will be held on Thursday, February 9th, at 7:00 p.m. in the High School Library. This is a mandatory meeting for bothstudents who wish to drive to school and their parent/guardian. The meeting will last approximately one hour. All necessary paperwork will be provided at the meeting. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141263 Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141263 Music & Fine Arts Calendar Changes Click Here for More Information https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141261 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141261 Science Bowl Port Jefferson High School was one of twenty schools selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy 2012 Regional Science Bowl. Academic Team members Zachary Graziano, Isabella Sanders, Isabelle Stark and Weien Xu competed at Brookhaven National Laboratory and placed second in their division. The Science Bowl is one of a number of prestigious contests that the Academic Team participates in throughout the school year. Interested students are encouraged to attend team meetings on Wednesday afternoons in Laurie McMillen's room. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141262 Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141262 NYS Assessments in April for Grades 3-8 The NYS Education Department has released revised testing dates for spring 2012. Both the ELA and Math assessments will be administered over 3 days for all students in grades 3 – 8. ELA assessments: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday - April 17, 18, and 19, 2012 Math assessments: Wednesday, Thursday, Friday – April 25, 26, and 27, 2012 Note –Monday, April 16, 2012, previously scheduled as Superintendent’s Conference Day, is a regular school day for students and is the first weekday following the spring recess. If you have any questions please contact Mrs. Hull (mhull@portjeff.k12.ny.us or 631-791-4600) or your child’s Principal. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141260 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141260 Superintendent's Conference Day on February 27, 2012 Port Jefferson School District will be closed for students on Monday, February 27, 2012, for Superintendent’s Conference Day. This is the first weekday after the February winter recess. Faculty and Staff will be reporting to school on February 27th to attend a series of Professional Development workshops focused on implementing new requirements from the New York State Department of Education. Teachers will be studying the qualities of effective teaching outlined in Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching rubric, and will engage in analysis of the new Common Core Standards for ELA, Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects and the new Common Core Standards for Math. Additional workshops are scheduled for members of the Paraprofessional, Clerical, Buildings & Grounds and Custodial staffs. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141259 Thu, 26 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141259 Board Work Session Meeting Notice A work session of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 24, 2012, 7:00 p.m, at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, Large Group Room , regarding the 2012-2013 budget. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:30 p.m., to discuss negotiations, personnel, and other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141258 Tue, 24 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141258 Student Participates in Day of Horn Middle school musician Joseph Kaming-Thanassi performed in the 7th Annual Suffolk County Music Educators Association (SCMEA) Day of Horn at Commack Middle School. This event, which currently holds the Guinness World Record for the world's largest horn ensemble, featured a concert of nearly three hundred horn players from across Suffolk County. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141257 Sun, 22 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141257 All Activities canceled for Saturday Jan 21, 2012 All activities for Saturday January 21, 2012 have been canceled and all school buildings are closed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141256 Sat, 21 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141256 The Horizon - Winter 2012 Click Here to View the Winter 2012 Edition of The Horizon https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141255 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141255 Tax Cap Survey The SCSSA Tax Cap survey is has been designed to allow easy access to all community members interested in sharing their views on this critical issue. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141254 Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141254 National Ranking for Math Student Middle School student Jefferson Koutsantanou scored in the top five percent nationally in the American Mathematics Competition (AMC). Forty-four of the district’s eighth-grade students participated in the rigorous and challenging 25-question test taken by over 150,000 students in the United States. In order to qualify for the AMC Contest, selected accelerated students had to be currently enrolled in the school’s Integrated Algebra course. Teacher Matt Garofola presented Jefferson with an award certificate to recognize this prestigious accomplishment. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141253 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141253 Music Students Attend Concert Premiere at Lincoln Center Recently, over fifty elementary, middle and high school string students, along with their parents, attended an evening performance of the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center. Students enjoyed orchestra-level seats during the premiere performance of contemporary composer Thomas Ades, as well as Gustav Mahler's acclaimed Symphony No. 9. Students had the opportunity to experience a unique trip to this iconic sound factory and were inspired by the music from one of the finest orchestras in the world. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141252 Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141252 Academic Discovery To enhance curriculum, fifth-grade students in the Studies Enriching Academic Learning (SEAL) program, who are currently studying forensic science, visited the Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center. SEAL students had an opportunity to be introduced to the work of scientists through hands-on learning within the DNA lab. There, students conducted experiments and utilized professional equipment to extract harmless bacteria. In the computer lab, students applied a variety of forensic techniques and interpretations to identify the remains of the Russian Royal Family and Princess Anastasia Romanov. The trip concluded with an educational tour of the museum exhibition "The Genes We Share," where students learned about the miraculous discovery of the double helix and how it functions. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140758 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140758 Sportsman of the Year: Rod Cawley Click here to read the entire story https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140757 Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140757 County Award High school seniors Elizabeth Acampora and Brandon Reiter were selected as recipients of the 2011-2012 Suffolk Zone Award. Presented by the Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, this honor recognizes outstanding students with award certificates and medals. Every high school in Suffolk County nominates one male and one female student to receive this award. Elizabeth and Brandon have proven themselves to physical education teachers and the school community as students with exceptional physical performance, scholastic ability and leadership qualities. Their performance and participation in physical education classes have earned them this well-deserved recognition. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141250 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141250 Recreational Facilities Open The Port Jefferson School District and Board of Education are pleased to announce the reopening of the Community Fitness Center and Community Swim programs to the residents of Port Jefferson. Budget planning last spring eliminated funding for operation of the fitness center and pool to the community; however, strong community feedback encouraged the Board to direct the administration to revisit possible avenues for resident use during the 2011-2012 school year. Ultimately, the district was able to bring a level of service to the community by reducing costs by 50% (which included decreasing the rate of pay and hours of operation). Reallocated savings realized in other budget areas were then applied to fund the reduced services for the balance of the school year. The district invites all village residents to partake in the activities offered and exercise their minds and bodies. Gather your friends and enjoy an afternoon of physical activity and relaxation. In addition, the district has expanded its services and is now offering elementary school students an opportunity to practice and hone their swimming skills every Wednesday from 3:30–4:30 p.m., beginning January 4, 2012. The fitness center is housed at the High School/Middle School at 350 Old Post Road and will be open beginning on Tuesday, January 3. The facility will operate between the hours of 5:30–7:30 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, when school is in session. The swimming pool is located at the Edna Louise Spear Elementary School at 500 Scraggy Hill Road and will open on Wednesday, January 4. The pool will be available for use during the hours of 6:30–8:30 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday. Please be sure to bring valid photo identification when utilizing the pool and fitness center to verify residency. The district looks forward to seeing residents work towards a healthy 2012. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140756 Mon, 02 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false140756 A Simple Gift with a Powerful Meaning Seventh-grade research students donated 28 handmade wooden puzzles to the Holiday Magic and Toys for Tots drives. Students worked diligently for weeks to craft and build individual puzzles, painting each one with unique designs. Completing this outreach project gave students a sense of fulfillment, knowing that they had personally contributed to the community and brought happiness to children in need. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=141251 Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:00:00 GMT false141251 Board of Education Meeting Notice PORT JEFFERSON SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTICE OF MEETINGS A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 3, 2012, 7:30 p.m, at the District Office for the purpose of entering executive session to discuss a personnel issue, and other business as may be needed. The regular monthly business meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education will be held on January 10, 2012, 7:30 p.m., in the large group room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. The Board will be meeting in executive session at 6:00 p.m. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140755 Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140755 Preparing Ourselves for the Budget Process By Dr. Kenneth Bossert, Superintendent of Schools The evaluation of our district’s spending priorities and practices has been a primary focus of mine since beginning as your Superintendent of Schools on June 1st, 2011. As both a district resident and public school educator, I have great respect for our residents’ historic support for its schools, but I am also a realist. The impending LIPA revenue challenge, municipal tax cap, and need to provide high quality services in the most efficient manner possible makes it imperative that we deliberately challenge the status quo. That process is already well under way. On December 13th our Board of Education and community was provided with a ‘first look’ at the 2012-2013 budget outline as presented by Mr. Sean Leister, our Assistant Superintendent for Business. As Mr. Leister explained to those in attendance, development of the public school budget is now driven by a new set of requirements defined by the State in the form of the tax cap, which limits the tax levy increase to the lesser of 2% or the rate of inflation. Working with ever increasing costs of health care, transportation, mandated pension contributions, and growing unfunded state mandates such as testing programs and Race to the Top requirements, the task is to identify spending reductions that don’t compromise our programs and services. Over the next several Board meetings, residents will hear recommendations proposed by my administrative team that will redefine certain aspects of our PreK-12 programs. Many of these recommendations would not be considered in a healthy economic climate. Some recommendations may change programs, extra-curricular activities and athletic endeavors that are long-standing traditions within our district. This is our new reality. Along with these program modifications will come staffing reductions. It is inevitable that valued members of our team will lose their positions. This is never an easy decision and one that I, and this Board, do not take lightly. But the rules are plain: meeting the 2% tax cap provides us with no options other than the requirement to reduce spending. My goals for this budget season can be broken down to three priorities: 1) Meet the targeted tax rate supported by the Board of Education. At this juncture, that means staying at or below the 2% tax cap, which requires a simple majority of voter support. 2) Be responsible to the taxpayers of the community, while evolving an instructional program that will allow our students the opportunity to achieve their full potential. 3) Perhaps most importantly, continue our efforts to place the district, and the community, in the best strategic position to face the impending loss of LIPA revenue. Our rollover budget that Mr. Leister presented on December 13 places us in a position that would be considered quite favorable when compared to surrounding districts, many of which will be required to slash spending in a much more dramatic manner. When conversing with other Superintendents, it has become quite clear that many districts will be looking for a 60% supermajority to exceed the tax cap and prevent the loss of valued programs and services. Realistically, that is not an option for Port Jefferson to consider. However, this apparent position of strength quickly and profoundly evaporates when the potentially catastrophic impact of LIPA is realized. As Superintendent, I continue to hope for the best – but it is my responsibility to prepare for the worst, and as a result, our residents can assume the aforementioned challenge of the status quo. I appreciate the willingness of the Board of Education to listen, process ideas and ask questions that will help us to meet our goals. Like me, they are all taxpayers in Port Jefferson, and want the best for both our students and all residents and taxpayers of the district. My theme for the year has been – “It takes a Village” – I am confident that working together, as a community, we can meet any challenge that comes our way. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140754 Wed, 21 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140754 Tuba Christmas Middle school music student Paul Penske performed at the iconic Rockefeller Center during the annual Tuba Christmas. Paul joined an elite ensemble of 524 tubas as part of the 40-year tradition of tuba, euphonium and baritone players from across the country gathering in New York City to perform at this annual event. Band teacher Christine Creighton helped prepare Paul for this unique opportunity and accompanied him to the concert. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140751 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140751 Grade 8 Wins Middle School Food Drive! The Class of 2016 may be a small group with only 81 students, but they proved they have a BIG heart for those in need. These students won the schoolwide food drive to benefit Island Harvest by donating the largest amount of canned and boxed nonperishable items. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140750 Tue, 20 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140750 Chamber Choir Shares Their Gift of Music for The Holidays Members of the chamber choir provided a holiday performance at the Port Jefferson Public Library. A special thanks to our high school musicians led by their teacher, Ms. Katie Bernius, for putting everyone in the holiday spirit. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140752 Mon, 19 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140752 Music Students Spread Holiday Cheer at Dickens Festival Students districtwide participated in the Village of Port Jefferson's annual Charles Dickens Festival. Participating ensembles included the elementary school select choir and string chamber ensemble, the 7/8 string chamber ensemble, the high school Tri-M music honor society wind ensemble, chamber choir and string orchestra. A special thanks to all of the student musicians as well as their teachers: Katie Bernius, Michael Caravello, Christine Creighton, Meagan Finnerty, Francesca Jourawleff, Christian Neubert and Jessica Pastor. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140753 Sun, 18 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140753 Students Create a Warm Environment Inspired by their mantra “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” the Middle School Environmental Club launched a schoolwide coat drive. Partnering with One Warm Coat, a national non-profit that assists in the donation of coats, students and staff participated in this important initiative. Every day, students visited the collection bins they had set up throughout the school to sort the gently-worn donated items. On pickup day, students, with the help of club advisor Nancy Bachety, transferred all of the coats and prepared them for delivery. One Warm Coat helps organizations across the country collect coats and deliver them to local agencies, who then distribute them to people in need. The organization’s mission is to ensure that anyone who needs a coat receives one. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140748 Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140748 Donations from Port Jefferson’s Tots District students joined the mission of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation during the holiday season. The Middle School Student Council, with advisors Jeanette Garofola and Allison Giannusa, spearheaded a campaign for students and staff to donate gifts to children who may not be fortunate to receive gifts this year. Students were able to collect approximately 100 gifts for the cause, including board games, puzzles, dolls, stuffed animals, books and figurines. The goal of Toys for Tots is to collect new, unwrapped toys each year and distribute these toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community where the program is conducted. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140749 Tue, 13 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140749 Mission Stuff-A-Van On a sunny but chilly morning, members of the Port Jefferson Rotary Club teamed up with members of Port Jefferson High School's Interact Club and their advisors, meeting outside the entrance of the Mount Sinai King Kullen. They invited the store's patrons to purchase and donate nonperishable items for The Open Cupboard, part of the social ministries of Infant Jesus RC Church. The morning's goal was to “Stuff-A-Van” with goods for those in need. Throughout the day many shoppers were wonderfully generous, with one shopper inviting Interact students to accompany him in the store, where they filled a cart full of donations. By noon, students successfully collected six shopping carts with a vast variety of items, enough goods to fill two vans and stock many of the shelves in The Open Cupboard's pantry. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140747 Mon, 12 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140747 Good Deeds Inspired by classroom lessons, students in Darleen Wells’ second-grade class launched a Good Deeds campaign during the holiday season. Students discussed the importance of thinking about and helping others, and how everyone possesses the ability to make another person feel special. Using traced handprints, students wrote personal good deeds that they would complete throughout the month of December and combined their statements to create a united class wreath. While reviewing the simple acts, students decided to take action and work together to execute their good deeds. Students assembled care packages for United States troops by donating a variety of toiletry products such as soap, eye drops, sunblock and shaving cream. They also wrote cards that expressed sentiments of well wishes and crafted ornaments to accompany the packages, which will be sent to soldiers who are serving overseas. In addition, students took part in “Books to Make Children Smile,” collecting books to give to patients in the pediatric unit at St. Charles Hospital. They donated books that they felt would make ill children feel better during their stay. As a personal touch, students wrote notes to the recipients, placed in the books’ inside covers, which described why they enjoyed the story and how it made them smile. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140745 Wed, 07 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140745 Students Have the Drive to Help Throughout the district, Port Jefferson’s educational community has been organizing outreach programs to support those in need during the holiday season. The High School Leo Club has sponsored a variety of drives and fundraisers and has partnered with Island Harvest to supply them with hundreds of pounds of food. Spearheading the “Students Feeding Students” food drive, Leo Club members began their efforts by volunteering at a local Stop and Shop, where they asked patrons to donate items from their shopping carts. As a result of their work, students were able to raise an impressive 700 pounds of food, which they sorted and boxed. The Leo Club’s in-district food drive will continue throughout the month of December. Students have already collected hundreds of pounds of additional food items. Island Harvest is a hunger relief organization whose mission is to “end hunger and reduce food waste on Long Island.” Their network includes 570 Long Island-based food pantries, soup kitchens, and other non-profit organizations that offer feeding services for those in need. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140746 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140746 Elementary School Concert LIVE Broadcast Our Elementary School Winter Concert will be broadcast LIVE over the internet. The LIVE stream will start at approximately 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday December 7th. Please click on the following link to start the LIVE stream. Click HERE for the Real Player Download Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your Computer with the Real Player Click HERE to start the LIVE Stream on your iPod/iPhone/iPad The concert will be archived for viewing and will be available the following morning. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140744 Tue, 06 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140744 Students Visit Landmarks of History Recently, Italian language students visited the Ellis Island Immigration Museum to enhance their studies on Italian-American immigration to the United States from 1890-1910. Students had the opportunity to walk in the footsteps of their ancestors as they viewed both the Statue of Liberty and the Great Hall, where they learned how immigrants were first processed upon their arrival in New York. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140742 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140742 Curriculum News At the Board of Education workshop on November 22, 2011, Board members viewed a presentation on curriculum given by Mrs. Hull, Director of ELA & Social Studies. At the meeting, it was announced that the Port Jefferson School District has established a Curriculum Development Council (CDC). Council members will be meeting monthly to provide oversight and structure to curriculum development. Mr. Snow, a HS social studies teacher and CDC member, spoke to the Board about the importance of the council to provide the opportunity for monthly faculty collaboration on curricular matters. The council launched their work with an audit of curriculum maps currently available in Atlas, the district’s web-based curriculum database. Curriculum mapping in Atlas began in the summer of 2009, with ten to fifteen additional subjects mapped annually. Mrs. Hull shared that this has been a great leap forward from the many curricula that exist in written format within binders that are difficult to share and update, and lack a public viewing component. Atlas maps provide a curriculum guide for teachers (Building Maps) and a curriculum guide for the public (District Maps). The teacher maps include assessments and resources that are easily accessible by faculty. Parents can view maps on the district’s website by visiting: Departments →Curriculum & Instruction →Curriculum Maps. The curriculum map audit is being used by members of the CDC to establish a Curriculum Review Cycle to ensure the timely update of curricula for all subjects and the identification of any gaps. The next group of courses to be mapped, along with other curricular projects, will be identified by the CDC this winter and reviewed by the Board of Education in March. The Curriculum Development Council was brought to Port Jefferson by Dr. Bossert, Superintendent of Schools, who has made curriculum review, continuous update, and faculty accountability a major goal for our district. CDC members for the 2011-2012 school year include teachers from grades one through four, special education, art, and secondary social studies, math, English, technology and science. The committee also includes the building principals, the Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics, and the Assistant Superintendent for Pupil Personnel Services. The CDC is chaired by Mrs. Hull, with Dr. Bossert serving as an active member. Faculty and administrators from other curricular areas will be invited to join the CDC for specific projects. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140743 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140743 Music Students Selected for All-County Festival Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Weien Xu and junior Rebecca Spinner were selected to participate in the prestigious New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education (NYSCAME) All-County Music Festival. Port Jefferson students, with Director of Music & Fine Arts Michael Caravello, and students from across the region gathered at Connetquot High School to participate in a variety of workshops and performances. Port Jefferson students were selected competitively from students throughout Suffolk County based on their NYSSMA scores and teacher recommendations. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140741 Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140741 Invitations to serve on BAC reopened The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education The Finance Committee of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has reopened its invitation for community members to serve on the 2012-2013 Budget Advisory Committee (BAC). If you are a resident of the school district interested in serving on the BAC please submit your name, contact information and credentials to districtclerk@portjeff.k12.ny.us by December 7, 2011. The Finance Committee will review all submissions and individualsexpressing an interest will be contacted. The BAC is responsible for reviewing budget propositions from the administration, and providing advice and recommendations that the administration and the Board may use to present a school budget to the public in May. Thank you for your consideration. Board Finance Committee Robert Ramus, Chair Isak Prohovnik https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140740 Wed, 23 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140740 A Meal of Thanks The middle school student council hosted a Senior Citizen Thanksgiving Luncheon to recognize the community members who support the district throughout the school year. Led by advisors Jeanette Garofola and Allison Giannusa, student council members volunteered their time to serve and entertain the senior citizens who attended the afternoon event. Through various fundraising efforts, students created a traditional feast complete with turkey, stuffing, potatoes, green beans and cranberry sauce and decorated the dining room with festive table settings. Students served the senior citizens their meals and sat together at tables, engaging in conversation. While they dined, the high school chamber orchestra and jazz vocalists entertained the crowd with solo and ensemble performances. In addition to hosting the luncheon, the student council collected canned goods and monetary donations for a food drive. The middle school partnered with the high school’s Leo Club to collect the items, which were donated to the Island Harvest Food Bank. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140738 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140738 Actions of Compassion During this festive time of year, the district promotes an environment of community service and outreach. At Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, students created gift bags for the patients of St. Charles Hospital’s Pediatric Unit. Third and first-grade buddy classes, with teachers Doreen Marullo and Carleen Parmegiani, came together to sort and package the books, puzzles, art kits and games, which they donated for this program. These engaging and educational items will be distributed to the children who will remain in the hospital’s care during the Thanksgiving holiday. Students decorated the packaging with autumn-themed designs and offered uplifting words of encouragement by writing personal messages in cards. Throughout the school year, the district celebrates various character traits. To actively demonstrate this month’s theme of compassion, students crafted beaded bracelets for themselves that illustrated words such as “kindness” and “friendship.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140739 Sun, 20 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140739 Boys Soccer Wins State Championship! Watch the video from the November 22, 2011 BOE Recognition Cermony by clicking the link below: rtsp://real.portjeff.k12.ny.us/archive/soccer_11-22-11.rm Led by tournament MVP goaltender Gabe Davis, the Port Jefferson Varsity Boys Soccer team captured the NYS Class "C" Championship on Sunday morning by defeating Maple Hill HS by a score of 2-1. This is the first Boys Soccer NYS championship in the history of the district, and the first state championship of any kind for Port Jefferson in more than 20 years. Congratulations to these exceptional athletes and Coach Poulianos! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140737 Fri, 18 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140737 November 22, 2011 Board of Education Meeting Notice Please be advised that the location of the November 22, 2011 Board of Education Work Session has been changed. The work session will be held in the High School Library at 7:00 p.m., at that time newly appointed board member, James Laffey will be sworn in. The topic of the work session presentation is Curriculum Initiatives. Prior to the meeting, at 6:30 p.m., in the library, our Boys’ Varsity Soccer Team will be recognized for winning the New York State Class C Championship. Join us in celebrating their victory! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140736 Thu, 17 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140736 The Arts of Port Jefferson "Go Green" Port Jefferson’s Edna Louise Spear Elementary Select Choir performed at the 4th Annual "Go Green" Festival at the Port Jefferson Village Center. Fifth-grade musicians, under the direction of teachers Jessica Pastor and Meagan Finnerty, performed a moving rendition of the song “Listen to the Rain” to celebrate this year’s theme of water conservation. In addition, ninth-grade high school students in Lynne Edsall's studio art classes contributed to the environmental movement with their visual creations. Students first completed extensive research on critical threats to the water supply in the United States and around the world. Utilizing that knowledge, students created mixed-media collages that illustrated various causes of pollution, including pharmaceuticals in the water supply, acid rain, global warming, deep-water drilling and runoff from lawn chemicals. These impactful and informative images were displayed at the Village Center for all in attendance to view. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140735 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140735 Board Appoints James Laffey At a special meeting on November 15th, the Board of Education appointed Mr. James Laffey to the vacant seat on the Board of Education. Last week, the Board announced that it would fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Dr. Robert Frey through an appointment process after receiving letters of interest and conducting interviews with community residents, with an expectation that the seat would be filled next month. However, after further discussion, the Board abandoned this approach, and then unanimously appointed Mr. Laffey, who ran for the Board of Education in May 2011. The Board would like to thank those who either submitted a letter or had intended to do so before the deadline. We encourage all residents interested in serving on the Board to run in a future election. Mr. Laffey will fill the remainder of Dr. Frey’s term through May 15, 2012. We welcome him to the Board! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140734 Wed, 16 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140734 HS Presents The Italian Comedy "The Liar" by Carlo Goldoni Translated by Tunc Yalman Friday, November 18, 2011 @ 8:00 PM Saturday, November 19, 2011 @ 8:00 PM Sunday, November 20, 2011 @ 2:00 PM See below for more information. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140732 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140732 Board of Education Notice of Meeting A special meeting of the Port Jefferson School District Board of Education has been called for November 15, 2011, 7:45 p.m., in the large group room at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School, for the purpose of addressing further the Board vacancy, to enter executive session to discuss potential LIPA litigation, and for other business as may be needed. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140733 Sun, 13 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140733 Students Support Those Who Serve The educational community of Edna Louise Spear Elementary School recognized Veterans Day with a variety of educational and artistic activities. Throughout the past few weeks, students, teachers and staff have worked together to build a Heroes Wall, located in the main hallway of the school. Stars designed with red, white and blue pay homage to the veterans and active duty members of the armed forces and depict the names and faces of these individuals who are friends and family. The theme of Veterans Day has been infused into the curriculum, with lessons educating students on the role of the military and the freedoms they protect. To bridge a connection with those who have served the nation, students created personal cards for the men and women who reside at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook. Students expanded their terminology by forming vocabulary lists, which they used to craft messages. They also studied the components of a friendly letter and selected meaningful words, such as honor, country, brave and proud. To express their individuality, students decorated their cards with various patriotic symbols, including stars and the American flag. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140731 Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140731 New Website Launch Welcome to the district’s new website! This informative, content-driven resource features enhanced interactive resources, like our dynamic calendar, which will work to strengthen the community-district connection. The website will be continually updated with the district’s latest news and announcements, so be sure to check back frequently to read about the achievements of our students and staff. As an ever-evolving entity, we encourage feedback from the community. Please click here to share your comments. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140729 Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140729 Long Island Champions Congratulations! https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140728 Tue, 08 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140728 Students Take The Challenge The Port Jefferson Academic Team recently represented the district in the TV quiz show The Challenge. Sponsored by News 12, Port Jefferson students competed against West Babylon High School in a game that tested their knowledge across a range of subject areas, including history, arts and literature, science and math. The team prepared for The Challenge by meeting on a weekly basis to expand their academic prowess and perfect their buzzer technique. The students also participated in the Regional Quiz Bowl, Half Hollow Hills Open, and the National Science and Engineering Bowl at Brookhaven National Laboratory to build teamwork and hone their skills. The show features the best and brightest students in the tri-state area who face off in an academic contest consisting of multiple choice, lightning and free response rounds. A win by Port Jefferson means that they will advance in the regional tournament and continue to compete with the opportunity to take the top spot and receive $2,500 for their school. The academic battle will air on January 2, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. on MSG Varsity. Encore episodes can be seen the following Saturday and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on News12. To view full episodes and team biographies, visit msgvarsity.com. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140726 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140726 The Ancient Art of Learning To recognize November as Native American Heritage Month, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students created traditional works of art based on their studies. Students throughout the school participated in grade-specific lessons that examined the culture and history of Native Americans. Reading ancient tales, students explored landscapes and geography and researched maps by deciphering their keys and meanings. They also examined symbols, discovering how Native Americans communicated with their families and tribes. To enhance curriculum, students constructed totem poles by designing segments of the iconic structures. They selected symbols and drew colorful markings, which included friendship, good crops, deer, rivers, mountains and teepees, to craft stories. Once students developed their legends, they stacked all of the pieces together to form a unique class totem pole. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140727 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140727 Board Resignation Board of Education Member Resigns Due To Ongoing Health Reasons Dr. Robert Frey, a Port Jefferson School Board member who has served as both President and Vice President of the Board, submitted his resignation from the Board to the district this morning to focus on completing his rehabilitation from last year's serious accident. Dr. Frey was in his sixth year of service to the community, having been elected to two three-year terms on the Board. His current term ends on June 30, 2012. "Dr. Frey's difficult decision to resign due to his continuing recuperation is an unfortunate loss for the District and our community," said Board President Mark Doyle. "During our time together on the Board, I have benefited greatly from his advice, insight, knowledge and humor. He has always been a strong and thoughtful advocate for improving the educational program in our schools. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Dr. Frey for his many years of service on the Board. We also wish him a full and speedy recovery. It is my earnest hope that he will become involved again with the District once it is complete." The Board will follow district policy and state guidelines to address the vacancy that now exists. The three options available to the Board include: appointing a replacement until the next trustee election is held (May 15); holding a special election to complete Dr. Frey’s term; or leaving the seat vacant until the next Board election. The matter will be discussed by the Board at its next regularly-scheduled meeting on Tuesday, November 8th. “I have only worked with him for a short time, but Dr. Frey’s commitment to our community and its students was strongly evident,” said Dr. Ken Bossert, Superintendent of Schools. “I am sorry that I will not have the ability to work with him as a Board member, but I do hope that he remains active with our schools in the coming years.” https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140725 Mon, 07 Nov 2011 05:00:00 GMT false140725 View our Fall Newsletter Click here to read the Fall 2011 newsletter https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140723 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140723 A Vision of Peace Through Award-winning Artwork Edna Louise Spear Elementary School fifth-grade student Katie Ambrozy was awarded first place in the Shanti Fund Art Competition. Her artwork, which depicted this year's theme of "Peace and Love," was selected from 22 participating districts countywide. Katie had the opportunity to attend a ceremony at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge, where she was presented with an award certificate from Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy for her outstanding achievement. In addition, she received a gift certificate for $142, which signifies Gandhi’s age if he were alive today. The Shanti Fund works to actively promote peace through education and the ideals and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140724 Thu, 03 Nov 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140724 Awarding Good Character The district provides a comprehensive educational experience that allows students to explore the world of academia while cultivating the characteristics that make them unique. To highlight these ambitious young students, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School presented awards for Outstanding Work Ethic. Select students were nominated by departments and classroom teachers based on a variety of criteria, including positive attitude, leadership skills and good citizenship. Students who showed dedication to learning in the fields of physical education, the fine arts and classroom instruction were recognized at a recent Board of Education meeting and were encouraged to strive to meet their full potential. Congratulations to the following students for receiving the Outstanding Work Ethic Award: First grade - Ellery Tafuro and Drew Feinstein Second grade - Michael Tesser Third grade - Brooke Zamek and Noah Teaney Fourth grade - Shawn Stumpf Fifth grade - Chloe Andriani https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140720 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140720 A Message of Peace Members of the Port Jefferson educational community united for a celebration of peace. Wearing white, a symbol of harmony, students participated in a variety of artistic and educational activities to commemorate the United Nations National Day of Peace and Gandhi’s birthday. The district’s Parent Teacher Association created a "Caught Being Kind" bulletin board to acknowledge the random acts of kindness performed by elementary students throughout the day. Members of the Student Government Association invited their peers to display their favorite inspirational quotes in the main lobby of the high school, and visitors were welcomed into the building with inspirational music and images of iconic leaders displayed on every television. The high school’s hallways also featured moving visual presentations of student artwork depicting this year’s theme of "Peace and Love," while "Pinwheels for Peace," based on the artistic initiative inspired by the International Day of Peace, were exhibited on the school’s front lawn. In addition, the High School Chamber Choir and Wind Ensemble entertained students with melodic performances as they enjoyed lunch. As a ceremonial conclusion to the Day of Peace, Edna Louise Spear Elementary School students attended a musical performance featuring local singer/songwriter Andrew Fortier. Fortier, a Port Jeff resident and musician, met with elementary school students throughout the week during their music classes to teach them several songs, including his own "Peace and Love, Love and Peace," written especially for this year’s event. Following the festivities, high school students represented Port Jefferson and presented the district’s innovative Peace Day celebration highlights for a county-wide audience at the H. Lee Dennison Building. For putting forth a true community effort, special thanks go to all of the students, parents and teachers who helped organize this powerful day, including the PTA, Shanti Fund, and Director of Music and Fine Arts/event coordinator Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140721 Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140721 Class of 2012 Recognized with National Awards The Port Jefferson School District has the honor of announcing that three of its students have been named Semifinalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. High school seniors Allison Cluett, Cole Conte and Weien Xu are part of the approximate 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide who will compete for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $34 million. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. In addition to the three students currently competing for scholarships, Rachel Liebert, Benjamin Neiman, Emma Neiman, Isabella Sanders and Isabelle Stark have received Commended status. These five students are part of the approximate 34,000 students nationwide whose high scores made them eligible for this award. Students received Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, these students have the opportunity to become candidates for Special Scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses. About 1.5 million juniors, in some 22,000 high schools, entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screening of program entrants. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140719 Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140719 Test News Story Testing the Editor Date Added: Thursday, October 13, 2011 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140717 Thu, 13 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140717 Homecoming The high school gymnasium pulsed with purple pride during the school’s pep rally which kicked off homecoming weekend. During the rally, students supported one another as the varsity athletic teams represented their squads in uniform and cheered for their classmates in preparation for the weekend of competition. Port Jefferson students, teachers, administrators and the community came together to participate in a variety of festivities to celebrate the district’s athletic and art programs. A parade through the village featured class floats that were inspired by this year’s theme, “Phantoms.” Students designed and built spooky floats that pulled from a wide range of fields, from pop culture through creative engineering. District administrators, Board of Education members, Grand Marshall Eva Grasso and Homecoming King and Queen David Greir and Courtney Fee rode atop convertibles, while crowds were entertained by the musical styling of student bands. Under the field lights, the Varsity Football team improved their record to 2-1 with a 22-21 win over Bayport-Blue Point. Kicker Vin Antonelli sealed the victory in the final seconds of the game by hitting a 19-yard field goal as time expired. Quarterback Dan Serignese led the team, throwing for 101 yards and completing a touchdown, while receivers Joe Booker and Phil Lanieri tallied 7 receptions for over 100 yards and a touchdown. As a team, the Royals rushed for more than 270 yards. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140713 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140713 PJ Administrators and District Settle Contract With Essentially Net $0 Impact The Board of Education has approved a new two-year contract with the Port Jefferson Administrators Association that carries essentially no net increase in cost to the district. The agreement covers the 2010-11 (retroactively) and 2011-12 school years, and represents a significant step in meeting several of the Board's goals outlined in its July open letter to the community. The new agreement incorporates a salary freeze for last year. In this year, the contract reduces the number of vacation days granted. In exchange, a small one-time adjustment has been made to the Association members' base salaries that is offset by the reduction in the annual cost of unused vacation days, which may be cashed in each year. “We appreciate the willingness of our dedicated administrators to work collaboratively with the Board on a contract that is fair, reasonable, and carries essentially no net financial impact to the district while at the same time increasing their productivity,” said Board of Education President Mark Doyle. “Furthermore, as the contract expires at the end of this school year, our next round of discussions with the Association will benefit from any forthcoming information regarding our LIPA revenue and the impact of the 2% tax cap.” The Association currently represents six administrators as the district has cut its administrative ranks and total cost significantly in recent years. Positions that have been cut include Middle School Principal; Elementary School Assistant Principal; Director of Math/Science and Director of Technology; and Assistant Business Administrator. Additionally, the district recently eliminated the position of Deputy Superintendent which, though it isn’t in the bargaining unit, was the second-highest paid administrative position in the district. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140714 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140714 Three Scholars Earn National Recognition The district has the honor of announcing that three of their students have been named Semifinalists in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program. High school seniors Allison Cluett, Cole Conte and Weien Xu are part of the approximate 16,000 Semifinalists nationwide who will compete for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $34 million. To join this elite group of Semifinalists, students excelled in a variety of academic areas. About 1.5 million juniors, in some 22,000 high schools, entered the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2010 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screening of program entrants. The nationwide pool of Semifinalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. To become a Finalist, a Semifinalist must have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by the high school principal, and earn SAT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. In addition, the Semifinalist and a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application, which includes the student’s essay and information about his or her participation and leadership in school and community activities. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140715 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140715 Port Jeff's Madison McKenna Recognized as Scholar-Artist High school senior, Madison McKenna was awarded with the Long Island Arts Alliance (LIAA) Scholar-Artist Award of Merit in the category of Dance. This event, hosted by the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts and Newsday, recognized 20 outstanding high school age artists from both Nassau and Suffolk counties as Merit Scholars in categories included music, art, theater and dance. Guest speakers included Roger Tilles from the New York State Regent, LIAA Board of Directors and Usdan Executive Director Dale Lewis as well as Newsday Vice President of Public Affairs Paul Fleishman. Madison, along with the other Scholar-Artists will be recognized in a full-color spread in Newsday throughout the year in addition to expanded coverage on Newsday.com. At the awards ceremony Madison was joined by her parents Robert and Julie and Port Jefferson Director of Music & Fine Arts, Mr. Michael Caravello. https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140716 Sat, 01 Oct 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140716 APPR Update ClickHEREfor the September 1, 2011 https://portjeffschools.org/News/Story.aspx?id=140722 Fri, 30 Sep 2011 04:00:00 GMT false140722