School Days

Greenport Union Free School District

Greenport High School has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as a Silver Medal school. The news source ranked the high school 215 in New York State and 2604 nationally out of about 26,407 public secondary schools and 10,693 private secondary schools in the United States. This is the sixth time that Greenport High School has been recognized, following three bronze medals and two other silver medals.

During a May 22 awards ceremony at St. Anthony’s High School, Greenport High School student Joe McInnis received recognition for his outstanding ability for his presentation on Iridovirus-6 and Colony Collapse Disorder at the Long Island Science Congress Senior Division competition in April.

The 10th grader was awarded the Long Island Science Congress Senior Division highest honors along with awards from the Science Teachers Association of New York State Suffolk Division and the Robert Nelson Memorial Award, which was only given to one 10th grader. McInnis was among 1200 students from both Nassau and Suffolk Counties ranging from grades 10 to 12.

Riverhead Central School District

Showing off their retro style with flapper dresses, pinstripes, cloche hats, and brightly colored scarves, Riverhead Middle School eighth-graders recently culminated a social studies unit on turbulent decades with a 1920s-themed party.

The classroom fete capped off a study on the development of mass culture during the Roaring ‘20s. Students researched famous trendsetters and innovators of the period and impersonated those figures at the event.

“The party was a lot of fun for the students,” said teacher Kevin Hewkin. “It was a nice way to recap what they learned about 1920s culture and historical figures.”

Hampton Bays School District

Hampton Bays High School senior Jordan Phillips and his teammate, Jack Murray of Eastport-South Manor High School, rose to the challenge and took home a third-place award in the television, video, and digital film category at the 2018 New York State Skills USA Leadership and Skills Conference, held in Syracuse on April 27.

The pair competed against 10 other teams to shoot and edit a short film based on a “cliffhanger” theme and were given less than 24 hours to complete the task. They produced the film using skills acquired under teacher Mark Deedy, an instructor with the Bixhorn Technical Center of the Eastern Long Island Academy of Applied Technology in Bellport. Phillips said he was thrilled by the win.

When not behind the camera, Phillips is involved in his school’s musical productions. He plans to enlist in the U.S. Navy this fall.

In other school district news, Hampton Bays High School hosted the Special Olympics on May 6. Athletes and volunteers wore shirts with logos designed by the school’s seniors as part of an in-school logo contest. Trish Martinez won first place and $100 for her design, and Andrew Zeiser earned second place and $50 for his.

Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center

Children in Erin Albanese’s pre-kindergarten class at the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center took a walking trip to the East Hampton Library recently. In the children’s room, they explored the books and other learning activities, including the listening stations, and enjoyed a story read by the children’s librarian.

The fifth parent outreach meeting of the school year was held at the center this week, with presentations in Spanish and in English. Dr. Julio Gonzalez of the State University of New York at Old Westbury and Arlene Pizzo Notel, the center’s program director, discussed “Helping Children Through Life Transitions.”

Pre-kindergarteners met some of the community helpers they learned about when officers from the East Hampton Village Police Department visited the center recently.

The Wellness Foundation of East Hampton is continuing its “Healthy Food for Life” program with the Pre-K groups at the center. It is a multi-week program on family nutrition.

Westhampton Beach School District

Westhampton Beach High School senior Caroline Keating has earned a substantial rowing scholarship to Bucknell University, where she intends to study biology in the fall. She has been rowing independently since the eighth grade, and currently rows with coach Michelle Knox Zaloom of the Peconic Rowing Association. When not rowing, Keating participates in her school’s Key Club, Rotary Interact Club, and pep band. She is also a Girl Scout.

Keating wasn’t the only one to celebrate her choice of school recently. As a symbol of their commitment to the pursuit of higher education, the Class of 2018 wore apparel to show off their choice of college on May 1. The class will be heading to a number of premier schools this fall to begin their postsecondary studies.