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At a recent º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× Board of Education meeting, several talented high school students were recognized for their outstanding achievements in the visual arts.

Jacob Ihne of º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× High School East earned a prestigious spot in the Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at the Heckscher Museum exhibition, joining just 44 students selected from over 500 submissions across the region.

Also from High School East, Isabella Rodriguez was celebrated for her role as the inaugural Teen Artist in Residence at the º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× Public Library. Her collaboration with library staff led to the creation of a permanent mural in the library’s garden, inspired by Long Island’s natural beauty.

Several students also received top honors at the Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts (BAFFA) Juried Invitational High School Student Art Exhibition:

* Liliana Cirello (HS East, Mrs. DelVallez): 2nd Place, Mixed Media.
* Kim Lee (HS North, Mr. Oswald): 1st Place, Photography.
* Jahzara Reyes (HS North, Mrs. Provini): 2nd Place, Painting.

A special spotlight was given to Leah Ratto, a senior at HS East, who not only took 1st Place in Painting but also swept all four of BAFFA’s major specialty awards:

* 2025 Olivia & Harlan Fischer 2nd Best in Show.
* 2025 Jacqueline C. Palmer Award.
* 2025 Bell Street Artists Scholarship.
* 2025 Women Sharing Art Scholarship.

These recognitions underscore the depth of artistic talent within º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× schools and the district’s commitment to fostering creativity and excellence in the arts.

Date Added: 5/8/2025

Four º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× seniors have been recognized for their outstanding leadership and commitment to physical education by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× High School East seniors Jaiden Mignone and Addison Romanowski, along with º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× High School North seniors Zach DeMilt and Lea Rowett, were named Suffolk Zone Award winners for 2025.

This prestigious award is presented annually to the top male and female physical education leaders at each Suffolk County high school. It honors students who lead a healthy, physically active lifestyle and demonstrate exceptional sportsmanship, character and citizenship.

“These students embody the qualities of confidence, character, civility, collaboration and citizenship,” said Suffolk Zone President Jared Rago, a º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× East alumnus from the Class of 2020. “They extend their impact beyond the classroom, actively participating in leadership roles within health and physical education organizations and clubs, while engaging both in and outside of school.”

The º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× community congratulates these students for serving as positive role models and leaders among their peers.

Date Added: 5/6/2025

Students from Mrs. Heinrichs’ and Mr. Sgaglione’s Government and Civics classes at º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× High School East have brought a fresh and creative approach to civic education. With the guidance of library media specialist Ms. Wightson, juniors and seniors tackled the Bill of Rights in a hands-on project – by writing and illustrating their own original children’s books.

Each book breaks down one of the first 10 amendments in a fun, age-appropriate way, making big constitutional ideas accessible and engaging for young readers. These student-created books are now being shared with elementary schools across the district, inspiring curiosity and understanding of our rights and freedoms at an early age.

Kudos to these talented º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× students for blending creativity with civic learning and making government come alive for the next generation.

Date Added: 5/5/2025

On Wednesday, April 30, and Thursday, May 1, senior student-athletes from º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× North and º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× East signed their national letters of intent to compete in collegiate athletics at the NCAA level.

º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× North celebrated 39 student-athletes committing to 17 different sports, while º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× East recognized 39 athletes across 15 sports. In total, 78 student-athletes from the º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× District will continue their academic and athletic careers at colleges and universities across the country.

The district extends its appreciation to the coaches whose dedication and guidance have played a crucial role in helping these student-athletes excel both on and off the field.

This milestone highlights the strength of º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ×’s athletic programs and the hard work of its students.

º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× East

º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× North

Date Added: 5/1/2025

Business Law students from º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× East and º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× North High Schools recently participated in a guided tour of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex in Central Islip, New York, gaining valuable insight into the workings of the Suffolk County Court System.

During the visit, students explored a courtroom setting and learned about the key roles of individuals such as the prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, jurors, court clerk and court officers. The experience also included a behind-the-scenes look at the Sheriff’s Lock Up and holding cells located between courtrooms.

A highlight of the tour was the opportunity to meet and speak with two judges, who shared their personal journeys into the legal field and explained the education and training required for careers in law. The judges also discussed the role of the district attorney and the arraignment process.

To round out their educational experience, students observed live criminal arraignments, witnessing how charges are formally presented to the accused and learning which offenses are bailable. The visit provided students with an in-depth understanding of courtroom procedures and introduced them to a wide range of legal and civil service career paths available within the court system.

This engaging field trip offered students a meaningful, real-world connection to their Business Law curriculum and inspired many to consider futures in the legal profession.

Date Added: 4/30/2025