Smithtown SD Budget, Prop #2, School Board Positions

Voting will take place on Tuesday, May 21, from 6 a.m.-9 p.m.  Smithtown Elementary School: 51 Lawrence Ave., Smithtown Nesconset Elementary School: 29 Gibbs Pond Rd., Nesconset St. James Elementary School: 580 Lake Ave., St. James Accompsett Elementary School: 1 Lincoln St., Smithtown

School Budget $289,952,988, a 3.32% increase from the current $280,642,272. 2.86% increase, from $213,302,727 to $219,406,721. This is within the district’s 2.86% tax-cap limit, so a simple majority vote is required for approval. (Newsday)

In addition to voting on the Smithtown School District Budget voters will have the opportunity to vote for two positions for the Board of Education. There are two candidates for each position incumbent  Stacy Ann Murphy is hoping for a second term she is being challenged by Dana Fritch. Incumbent Karen Wontrobski-Ricciardi is being challanged by Emily Cianci. Board postitions have 3 year terms. Prop #2 The use of Capital Reserve funds for capital construction projects at Smithtown High School East.$2,513,000.

Congratulations Kings Park Students Ryan Guzman And Sierra Healy

Kings Park High School Valedictorian and Salutatorian

 

Standing L to R – Ms. Jennifer Martino-Principal, Sierra Healy, Ryan Guzman, Timothy Eagen-Superintendent

Ryan Guzman (Valedictorian) will be graduating with a cumulative weighted average of 107.96. He is a Coca-Cola Scholars Semifinalist, Jefferson Scholars Regional Semifinalist, JSHS Semifinalist, and Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award recipient. He is President of the Science Olympiad team, President of the Senior Class, Co-President of the Culture Club, and Co-President of the Independent Science Research Program. Ryan will also be graduating with his Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish, Seal of Civic Readiness, and AP Capstone Diploma. Ryan is a captain of the Varsity Boys Track Team, where he is a 4x All-County Athlete. Ryan also plays trombone in the Symphonic Winds and Jazz Band. He works as a private tutor in his community, volunteers for a local track league, and is a member of Smithtown’s Youth Council. Ryan also interned at a pharmacology lab at Stony Brook University, where he published research on Major Depressive Disorder. This coming fall, Ryan will be majoring in neuroscience at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Sierra Healy (Salutatorian) will be graduating with a cumulative weighted average of 107.52. Sierra was named a National Merit Finalist for 2024. She is a member of the high school’s orchestra and chamber orchestra and was selected to play violin in the NYSSMA All-State orchestra this year. She is a member of Tri-M Music Honor Society and tutoring coordinator for National Honor Society.  As co-president of the Independent Science research program, Sierra conducted pancreatic cancer research at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. She was named a JSHS Semifinalist for working toward adoptive T-cell therapy to combat immunosuppression that occurs when fighting the disease. Sierra is also a competitive swimmer and triathlete. She plans to major in mechanical engineering at Duke University.

SHSW Students Nicole Gullason And Natasha Mishra Heading To NYS Science Congress

Smithtown High School West science research students heading to New York State Science Congress competition  

Pictured at Long Island Science Congress, Nicole Gullason (left) and Natasha Mishra (right). Photo courtesy of Smithtown CSDTwo Smithtown High School West science research students have been awarded Highest Honors at the Long Island Science Congress and will be going on to present their work at the New York State Science Congress.  

Juniors Nicole Gullason and Natasha Mishra have been studying the mechanisms by which microplastics increase the frequency and duration of Harmful Algal Blooms. The title of their work is “A Novel Connection Between Microplastics & Algal Bloom Accumulations: The Effects of Microplastics on Algal Consumptions (Nannochloropsis) by Primary Consumers (Artemia salina).” 

High School West Science Research Coordinator, Dr. Joanne Figueiredo, exclaimed, “We are so proud of these amazing young scientists, their intense curiosity and passion for science is the secret ingredient to their success!”

The competition will take place at the Milton J. Rubenstein Museum of Science & Technology in Syracuse on June 9.

SHSW Music Students Excel At Six Flags Music In The Parks Competition

Striking the right notes

The Smithtown High School West jazz choir and concert choir, the jazz ensemble, and the concert and symphonic orchestras excelled at the recent Music in the Parks competition festival at Six Flags Great Adventure.The Smithtown High School West jazz choir and concert choir, under the direction of James Brosnan, the jazz ensemble under the direction of Frank Scheno and the concert and symphonic orchestras under the direction of Joseph Cotignola, excelled at the recent Music in the Parks competition festival held at Six Flags Great Adventure on May 11.

Concert ChoirMusic in the Parks is an exciting opportunity for students of the music program to participate in a competitive festival and also have a fun day at Six Flags. The first portion of the day consisted of a performance where the ensembles were adjudicated by master musicians in their respective field. The adjudicators recorded audio commentary and completed assessments for each group that will aid in refining the already impressive talents of these ensembles. 

The jazz ensemble, jazz choir, concert choir and symphonicConcert Orchestra orchestra all received the highest rating of superior in their respective categories and the concert orchestra earned a very impressive excellent rating. The jazz ensemble and symphonic orchestra were also awarded the honor of best Overall Ensemble in their categories. 

In total, 115 Smithtown West musicians participated in the festival. Senior musician of the jazz and concert choir, Noella Sexton said, “Music in the Parks was an incredibly binding experience. As it produced one of the strongest senses of community I have ever experienced. Getting to watch the orchestra and jazz ensemble perform truly pulled on my heart, as well as performing in both choirs.” 

Photos courtesy of Smithtown CSD

Kings Park HS Interact Club Students Clean Up At Nissequogue River State Park

KPHS Interact Club members Kelly Bossert, Ameryka Castillo, Ryan Fallon, Bryn Frost, Spyridoula Korsanos, Raquella Pandolfi, Ryan Speed and Symphony Stern along with NRSP Director Christopher Thompson and Brian Schweitzer (photo Dorothy Chainin)Members of the Kings Park High School Interact Club volunteered to help clean up the Healing Garden at the Nissequogue River State Park on Wednesday, April 10th. The students worked at weeding, trimming and cleaning. Advisor, Susan Portnoy joined the students in their efforts. This is an annual event for the Kings Park Interact Club. This year the students also made a $100 donation to be used to enhance the NRSP. Kudos to the students and to Ms. Portnoy.

Kings Park Recognizes Music Students Accomplishments

Back Row: Mr. Ryan Flatt-Advisor, Ms. Cherilyn Holmes-Chustek-Advisor, Matthew Werner, Ava Grimley, Chloe Swartz, Alex Eskin, Logan Engel, Mr. Paul Eger-Advisor, Dr. Timothy Eagen-Superintendent Front Row: Ms. Jennifer Martino-Principal, Ms. Katharina Misanes-Advisor, Sierra Healy, Mariana Motherway, Lauren Ayres, Mikayla Terrana, Isabel Lin, Victoria Narvaez, Anika Davids-Gunther, Grace Zhang Missing from Picture: Benjamin CoakleyCongratulations to all of the students listed above on being selected to participate in the annual NYSCAME, SCMEA and LISFA concerts.  Their selection places them among the best musicians in all of Suffolk County.

Earth Week At Smithtown School District

Smithtown Central School District students participate in Earth Week activities 

Students in the Smithtown Central School District participated in Earth Week-related projects.Students throughout the Smithtown Central School District have been participating in projects in relation to Earth Week, celebrated from April 15-22.

Students at Smithtown High School West “chalked the walk” with earth themes.

Mr. Toth’s seventh grade social studies elective students at Accompsett Middle School participated in an outdoor school cleanup and recycled water bottles.

Smithtown High School East students played “Tick, Tack, Leaf,” and painted a mural on the windows of the commons. 

Photos courtesy of Smithtown CSD

Commack Students Team With Suffolk Y JCC Combat Hatred With Film

COMMACK HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TEAM WITH SUFFOLK Y JCC TO CREATE FILM

CHS students Michael Wagner, Noah Caplan, Jordana Kofler, Sammy Weinstein, Izzy Karten and Hannah Krinsky at film’s April 7 premiere at Stage 74 in Commack. COMMACK, N.Y. — Commack students have received lessons in combatting hatred and bullying this school year in conjunction with the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center, heard firsthand from Holocaust survivor Meir Usherovitz and watched a play from Theatre Three recounting the descent into the Holocaust.

 

Six Commack High School students chose to fully immerse themselves in the topic.

 

Noah Caplan, Izzy Karten, Jordana Kofler, Hannah Krinsky, Michael Wagner and Sammy Weinstein have completed a year-long project in which they interviewed local Holocaust survivors for the film, “Names, Not Numbers.”

The film, produced by the Suffolk Y JCC, premiered Sunday evening at Stage 74 in Commack.

The six Commack students and a dozen students from other districts who contributed to the film as well as Holocaust survivors Rachel Epstein, Manny Korman and Rosalie Simon — who are featured in the film — attended the showing. So too did a bevy of Commack School District officials to support the students’ endeavor, including superintendent Dr. Jordan Cox, assistant superintendent Timothy Russo, Board of Education trustees Gus Hueber and Susan Hermer and district clerk Debbie Virga.

“Person to person is so different than learning through books,” CHS junior Izzie Karten said.

SHSW Announces Brayden Stahl As 2024 Commencement Speaker

Smithtown High School West quarterback named honor speaker by classmates 

Smithtown West senior, Brayden Stahl, was selected by his peers to be this year’s commencement speaker, iSmithtown West senior, Brayden Stahl, was selected by his peers to be this year’s commencement speaker, it was announced during the school’s annual Gold Cord breakfast, on April 3. 

“It’s a big honor, and the relationship I’ve built with my classmates and the respect I’ve hopefully earned from them is what got me to that position,” Brayden exclaimed.  

Smithtown High School West Principal John Coady expressed his appreciation for the school’s highest academic achievers among the senior class. 

The senior class encompassing 114 students who achieved a cumulative 4.0 GPA assembled in the G Café for a breakfast to recognize their lofty achievements.  

“Smithtown West is a great school because we have great students like you,” Coady told the honorees.  

The gold cord honorees are slated to attend a second ceremony, with their families, on May 22. Each senior will be called to the stage and their college destination and planned major will be shared.

Photos courtesy of Smithtown CSD

Mt Pleasant Student's 'Got Talent'

Mt. Pleasant Elementary School’s students ‘Got Talent’

Mt. Pleasant Elementary School students in grades 3-5 showed off their talents at the school’s talent show on April 3. Students sang, shredded on the guitar and performed dance routines for classmates and school staff

members.

Photos courtesy of Smithtown CSD