Sixth and eighth grade students at Great Hollow Middle School had great success in this year’s Scholastic Challenge.
The Challenge is an online competition with sixth and eighth grade students from other schools.
With 6th grade advisor Chris Andolina and 8th grade advisors Rachel Delaney and Katerina Skandalakis at the helm, the students earned certificates of achievement which they were presented with today.
In addition, special shout out to 6th grader Sam Eisen who took home the State championship and 8th grader Madeline McCullough who was recognized as school champion!

New employee alert!


Darcy is the first official therapy dog in the Smithtown School District.


Monday was her first day working at Great Hollow Middle School.


Darcy is a golden retriever who is owned by school counselor, Nicole Kerins.


Darcy "works" Mondays and Thursdays for students and staff and helps to improve student's mental health and attendance.


You never know, Darcy may stop by your school next!

Date Added: 5/5/2022

Great Hollow Middle School sixth grader Alicia DiGiambattista is getting recognition for her poetry skills.

DiGiambattista earned first-place honors in the Long Island-wide Walt Whitman Poetry Contest for her poem entitled, “Realization and Renewal.”

DiGiambattista now has been invited to read her poem aloud at the birthplace of Walt Whitman, in Melville on May 15.

Date Added: 4/28/2022

The Smithtown Central School District celebrated its newly tenured staff and this academic year’s retirees on Tuesday night.

Prior to the Board of Education meeting during which formal approval took place, the honorees gathered in the multipurpose room at the District’s New York Ave. offices to celebrate.

The 25 newly approved tenure recipients: Catherine Abbott, Dara Brachfeld, Samantha Buttice, Kristin Campisi, Jessica Castoro, Mark Cimino, Lindsay Clifford, Kevin Colon, Julianne DeSilva, Christopher Elsesser, Erika Farruggio, Jennifer Fazzio, Eileen Flynn, Jacqueline Harden, Nicole Kerins, Joseph McFadden, Jennifer McGlone, Louis Mincieli, Melissa Minerva, Shannon Moore, Alyssa Patrissi, Maaria Syska, Taylor Walsh, William Weinstein and Renee Weltsch.

And the 35 retiring staff members: Donna Atkinson, Lynne Barry, James Berger, David Bestenheider, Debra Calabza, Vincent Campagna, Kathy Coffin, Olga Crnosija, Claudine DeCoteau, Eileen DiCristofaro, Doreen Downes, Tina Dray, Regina Dunne, Allison Edwards, Diana Feirstein, Cheryl Glick, Mary Pat Grafstein, Jane Groneman, Peggy Knudsen, Virginia Kohilakis, Mary Grace Lynch, Marlene Mitchell, Lisa Molano, Alexis Nagowski, Sharon Nilson, Cindy Nocero, Laura Persichilli, Patricia Petrucelli, Teresa Russo, Patrick Smith, Donald Wallace, Beth Woods, Jeff Woodward, Linda Wurtz and Barbara Zemcik.

The retirees were each individually honored at the Board of Education meeting.

Date Added: 4/12/2022

Great Hollow Middle School sixth grade students celebrated National Library Week being inspired by some accomplished Long Island authors on Wednesday.

Local authors Jason Edwards, Linda Marua Frank, Brian Heinz, Jennifer Klein, JoAnn Vergona Krapp, Liz Macchio, Jerry Mikorenda and Linda Taylor each shared details from their young person’s books and encouraged students to write on what was dubbed “Long Island Author Day.”

“All of you have it in you to be great authors,” Edwards told the ELA students. “…. All of you already know how to tell great stories.”

Authors told students about the importance of researching topics and visiting sites so that the writing can be as detailed as possible with flavor details including the smell and feel of the location.

Klein, whose younger son attends High School West, is author of “An Ancient Truth,” in which two crimes, committed eight centuries apart, are linked by a gifted, young scribe.

Klein, who works in the Harborfields Central School District, teaches about Mesopotamia and used that setting as her inspiration.

“When you write, take a lot of time and get to know your characters,” Krapp told the students.

Date Added: 4/6/2022