David Rubin, an eighth grader at Accompsett Middle School, was recently awarded first place in the nation and first place in New York State in the Math Kangaroo competition, facilitated by the Roslyn Academic Programs Center. Around 30,000 students participate in the U.S., along with more than six million participants worldwide. The competition is a multiple choice test to be solved within 75 minutes. There are 12 levels of participation, corresponding to school grade levels. The objective is to encourage children and teenagers to master mathematical skills. 

The Community Service Club at Accompsett Middle School is hard at work with the members of the community to help raise awareness for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. 

The club, along with the owners of Ralph’s Ices in Smithtown, recently hosted a fundraiser to help support a local father who is nominated for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year award. Asaf German, the father of a sixth grade student at Accompsett Middle School, is a nominee for this campaign. He is passionate about his efforts to raise awareness and fundraise for those afflicted with blood cancer.

The Accompsett Middle School club raised $476 to be donated to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Man and Woman of the Year campaign is a 10-week philanthropic competition for leaders in local communities across the United States. Candidates and their teammates raise funds for LLS in honor of local blood cancer survivors. The candidate team that raises the most funds during the competition is awarded Man or Woman of the Year. 

Accompsett Middle School is proudly showing off the fact that the school is “No Place for Hate” for the third consecutive year. The school received Gold Star status by the Anti-Defamation League’s No Place for Hate program. To receive this designation, schools must pledge to sign a resolution of respect and implement three anti-bias or bullying prevention activities. The banner, which will hang in the school’s hallways, is shown off by members of the school’s No Place for Hate club. 

The Smithtown Central School District’s Board of Education honored its dedicated teachers and administrators who are receiving tenure at a reception prior to the board meeting. 

During the meeting, Smithtown Central School District’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Grossane announced the names of each tenured individual to be recognized on behalf of the board of education. 

The district congratulates the following tenured teachers/administrators: 

Kristen Andriaccio, director of professional learning and student intervention services
Jessica Brunet, special education teacher, High School West
Caitlyn Campbell, special education teacher, Great Hollow Middle School
Stephen Costello Jr., business teacher, High School East
Anne D’Addario, family and consumer science teacher, Great Hollow Middle School
Katie DiGregorio, English as a second language, High School West
Amanda LaComb, science teacher, High School East
Kathleen Lamitola, special education teacher, St. James Elementary School 
Jaclyn Lazio, special education teacher, Great Hollow Middle School 
Melissa May, math teacher, Accompsett Middle School/ High School West
Stephanie Mueller, guidance/school counselor, Nesaquake Middle School 
Danielle Nacarlo, psychologist, High School West
Brian Pelosi, special education teacher, Accompsett Elementary School 
Taramatie Putnam, music teacher, Great Hollow Middle School
Nancy Torzullo, teacher assistant, St. James Elementary School 
Cristina Westhoff, English teacher, Accompsett Middle School/ High School East

Eight students from Accompsett Middle School were recently recognized for their exceptional foreign language skills. The Long Island Language Teachers held an original poetry contest and the seventh grade students in foreign language teacher Maria DiLiberto’s class took home the top prizes. For their original poems in Italian, Thomas Natale placed first, Joseph Lamardo took second and Isabella Dantuono came in third in the contest. In the Spanish poetry contest, Abigail Jung placed first and Madhur Dyal was named the second-place winner. 

In a local essay contest sponsored by the Sons & Daughters of Italy in Smithtown, three Accompsett Middle School students took top honors. The essays, which were written in English, were filled with details about a family member whose roots were in Italy. The three winners were Haley Sasbon (first place), Carlie Tockarshewsky (second place) and Isabella Spilotros (third place). They each received monetary prizes and will be honored at a ceremony on July 11.