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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

º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× High School East proudly announces its Class of 2025 valedictorian and salutatorian: Ibrahim Suleman and Krish Vakharia. Both students have demonstrated extraordinary academic success, leadership and service throughout their high school careers.

Valedictorian: Ibrahim Suleman
Ibrahim Suleman, º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× East’s Class of 2025 valedictorian, has excelled academically while making a lasting impact on his school community. He will attend Princeton University on a full scholarship through the prestigious QuestBridge program, where he plans to major in biomedical science/pre-medicine with a minor in creative writing. A leader among his peers, Ibrahim served as class president all four years of high school. He is a Regeneron Top 300 Scholar and was awarded the QuestBridge Quest for Excellence STEM Award. His research on developing sustainable energy sources using biophotovoltaic systems and primitive plants earned him high honors at the Long Island Science Congress. Ibrahim also set a school record in discus throw and served as president of the English and Science honor societies. Beyond academics, he volunteered at Atria Senior Living, Community Solidarity food drives, and as an SAT tutor through Schoolhouse, showcasing his dedication to service and mentorship.

Salutatorian: Krish Vakharia
Krish Vakharia has been named the Class of 2025 salutatorian with a weighted GPA of 105.19 and an unweighted GPA of 98.39. Ranked second out of 471 students, Krish will attend Stony Brook University, where he has been accepted into the Honors College on the pre-medical track with plans to major in chemistry. A National AP Scholar with Honors and an AP Capstone Diploma recipient, Krish also earned awards for Excellence in Foreign Language, the NYS Civic Seal of Readiness, and multiple recognitions for his leadership and commitment on and off the football field. Beyond academics, Krish worked at Farmingville Bagels and Deli, gaining professional and leadership experience, and played on the high school football team from grades 9 through 12. He is an active member of the Farmingville Youth Civics Organization, volunteers at his local temple, and participates in Math, National, Rho Kappa and Science honor societies. His dedication to civic engagement, academic achievement and community service exemplifies the spirit of º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× East.

Congratulations to Ibrahim and Krish for their exceptional accomplishments. º£½ÇÒùĸÂÒÂ× East is proud to celebrate their success and eagerly anticipates their future contributions to the world.

Date Added: 4/30/2025