School News

Westhampton Beach

Signs Of Support For Seniors

Parents teamed up on April 25 to pay tribute to the Westhampton Beach High School Class of 2020 by delivering green and white “Hurricane strong” lawn signs.

“These seniors need to know we are proud of all they accomplished, and we haven’t forgotten about an awesome class of kids,” said Stacy Rubio, who started the initiative and is school board member and parent of a senior. “These seniors need to connect and smile. That is difficult with social distancing and students living in seven different towns.”

After searching social media for ways to honor the Class of 2020, Rubio decided signs would be a great way to make a connection. She garnered the support of several local businesses, which chipped in to purchase the signs.

On April 25, 14 teams of parents and seniors decorated their cars and picked up the signs that were separated at stations at the high school. They then set out to deliver the 224 signs during the next several hours.

The signs are only the start of plans to honor the Class of 2020.

Rubio is also working with the Parent Teacher Organization on a banner initiative in which a sign for every senior will be strung for display along Mill Road. The banners are being made possible through support from Hurricane families, the PTO, and district alumni.

“The response and support have been heartwarming,” Rubio said. “But I had no doubt, because we are Hurricane strong.”

Coast Guard Recognizes Arpino

The United States Coast Guard Academy announced that Emily Arpino, of East Quogue, has been recognized for superior academic achievement and leadership potential.

Arpino, who attends Westhampton Beach High School, has accepted an appointment to attend the academy, and will be sworn in as a member of the Class of 2024 on June 29.

The United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT, is an accredited college educating future Coast Guard officers. Admission to the school, the smallest of the nation’s five military service academies, is highly competitive. Fewer than 400 appointments are offered annually from a pool of over 2000.

Hampton Bays

Honor Society Induction

Fourteen Hampton Bays High School students are now members of the National Honor Society, one of the oldest and most prestigious national organizations for students. The candle-lighting ceremony for official induction was been postponed due to the COVID-19-related school closure.

To be eligible for membership, students were required to maintain an unweighted GPA of 92 or better; meet the standards of leadership, service, citizenship and character; and complete 45 hours of community service.

The new members include David Catena, Angelina Desiderio, Nidia Vasquez Garcia, Stephanie Alvarez Grajales, Kyle Gulotta, Tara Lauther, Johnny Gonzalez Molina, Shaina Pierce, Priscila Putzulu, Katerina Reich, Saorla Scully, Jennifer Serna, Abigail Galvan Valverde, and Nikola Zastkova.

Virtual Research Symposium

While presenting in person is not possible due to the novel coronavirus, Hampton Bays High School science research students continue forward. On Thursday, May 7, at 7 PM, the science research program will host a second virtual Science Research Symposium featuring science research students in ninth, tenth, and eleventh grade. The presentation will be streamed live on the district’s Facebook page and include a question-and-answer session.

The session follows a virtual presentation by senior science research students that was held in April.

During the virtual symposium, students, under the direction of science research teacher Dr. Stephanie Forsberg, will present their findings on a wide variety of topics, including those related to wireless radiation, ticks, the effects of nitrogen, and T-cell immunotherapy.

Riverhead

Photography Students Unite

To help cheer up patients battling COVID-19 at Peconic Bay Medical Center, 25 Riverhead High School photography students collaborated to take uplifting pictures to share with patients and health care providers.

The project was formed after Peconic Bay Medical Center put out a call for photos to present to their patients and staff. Studio photo art teachers Jo-Ann Dellaposta and Selena Pagliarulo saw this as a perfect opportunity for students to contribute to a good cause while honing their skills.

“Hopefully, their efforts have brightened someone’s day,” Pagliarulo said.

The students sent their photos to their teachers, who then had them printed and sent to Peconic Bay Medical Center.

Coral Reef Pictures

Third-grade Riley Avenue Elementary School students in Beth Menis’s class have been engaged in a coral reef lesson as part of their new distance learning curriculum. The students researched coral reefs and were inspired to create colorful works of art depicting what they had learned.

Bridgehampton

Honors On A Roll

Dozens of Bridgehampton School students who have attained an average of 95 or higher have been named to the High Honor Roll. Students include Halena Baker, Franky Bonilla, Jaden Campbell, Miles Clark, Uma Comfort, Perla Cruz, Gylia Dryden, Ayanna El, Madeline Grabb, Samantha Grabb, Liam Huberty, Hugo Kapon, Sarah Kapon, Zoe Lucas, Avery McCleland, Grace Miller, Makenzie Miller, Adrian Molina, Luna Paucar, Jonah Posner, Kimberly Rojas, Leslie-Ann Samuel, Aiyanna Spears, Maximus Tiska, Kristopher Vinski, and Scott Vinski.

Students have also been named to the Honor Roll for maintaining an average of 90 or above. The students are Dayana Andrade, Melanie Braia, Nava Campbell, Julian Cheng, Alexis Davis, Beatrice DeGroot, Dylan Fitzgerald, James Gazda, Sascha Gomberg, Tatiana Gutierrez, Alanah Johnson, Akeem Leckie, Marlin Padilla, Makayla Pinckney, Maydelin Ruiz Soto, Nicholas Saunders, Citaly Trinidad, Grace Turza, Justin Urgiles, Kimberly Villa, and Melissa Villa.

East Hampton

Springs Food Pantry Donation

The Springs School Teachers Association recently donated $4000 to the Springs Food Pantry — $50.00 from each teacher.

Car Parade

Teachers, administration, and other staff held a car parade around Springs May 1. Students and their families stood outside and cheered as district staff shared the fact that the students are missed and how members hope everyone continues to remain home and safe.

Southampton

Southampton Pre-K Registration

The Southampton Union Free School District is now accepting kindergarten and prekindergarten registration for the 2020-21 school year. To register, call 631-591-4804 or email register@southampton.org.

All children born between December 2, 2014 and December 1, 2015 can enroll in the district’s kindergarten program, and those born between December 2, 2015 and December 1, 2016 are eligible for pre-K enrollment.

desiree@indyeastend.com