Eighth grade musicians received a taste on Thursday of what awaits them when they arrive in high school next academic year.

Great Hollow Middle School students zoned for High School West as well as Accompsett Middle School students visited their future home on Thursday morning for performances from current members of the high school’s concert band, symphonic orchestra, concert and jazz choirs, and symphonic band, including the woodwind and jazz ensembles.

Nesaquake and the other Great Hollow Middle School musicians similarly will visit High School East on Friday.

The goal is to introduce the eighth graders to options that await them next year and beyond, and energize them about wanting to participate once they arrive at the high school.

High school teachers began each performance with information about when the different music groups meet and the requirements to join.

The symphonic orchestra even previewed an upcoming concert gala performance by playing Star Wars’ Yoda theme song for the middle school students.

“The people on the stage are the present,” orchestra teacher Joe Cotignola told Great Hollow eighth graders while motioning to the current-day High School West symphonic orchestra on stage. “You are the future — the seeds. … I look forward to when you’re playing for Great Hollow students in the years to come.”

Date Added: 1/20/2022

Mike Harrold’s travels began upon completing sixth grade, when he bicycled with friends from his Islip hometown to Montauk along Sunrise Highway.

He now has visited 90 countries and 49 U.S. states.

And on Monday morning, the photojournalist and world traveler visited sixth graders at Accompsett Middle School and shared a multimedia presentation that showcased his journeys to the faraway lands.

Harrold told students that he frequently visits a country for two to three months at a time —longer than a typical vacation traveler — in order to embed with the locals, gain their acceptance and be invited in their homes, and learn their cultures.

“Today I’m going to open your eyes and show you it’s a big world out there,” Harrold said.

Sponsored by the Accompsett Middle School PTA’s cultural arts committee, Harrold’s visit highlighted famous sites such as the Great Pyramids. He related his Middle East visit to the students’ unit on ancient Egypt by providing the audience with interesting information about mummification.

Harrold also shared his adventures in large cities and small villages of Africa, China and India and reminded the students that many children in these places would only be too happy to be attending school.

Harrold noted, though, that he much prefers visiting small villages.

After the large group presentation, sixth grade social studies classes visited Harrold in a smaller setting throughout the day, where they were allowed to closely examine some of the artifacts from Harrold’s trips, including a homemade scooter made for a child in Thailand.

“It ties directly to what you’re learning in your social studies classes,” assistant principal Theresa Donahue told the students.

Harrold began his presentation by quizzing the students about the languages spoken in different countries, including Brazil, Egypt, Thailand and Japan. He then told students how to say hello in those languages.

Harrold also shared with students that he has yet to visit the coldest continent.

“I’ll go to Antarctica one day,” he said. “But I’m a people person. You can’t talk to penguins.”

The High School West concert orchestra performs on Dec. 14.

A bevy of Smithtown Central School District musicians and singers in fifth through 10th grades have been selected for all-county honors ensembles.

The honorees, who now may participate in county bands, orchestras and choruses:

High School East: Emily Lam (cello), Jolene Cao (harp), Sanjivani Singh (violin 1), Shriyans Singh (violin 2), Rishabh Dholakia (violin 1), Jessica Penna (cello), Jake Lomando (viola), Jolene Cao (violin 2), Josephine Lent (percussion), Carter Lam (alto sax 2), Leo Carnevale (trumpet 3), Michael Van Brunt (percussion), Sarah Schrier (soprano 2), Ariana Glaser (alto 2), Joseph Newman (tenor 2), Ashley Irmscher (alto 2).

High School West: Rose Link (flute 2), Ethan Benstock (trumpet 1), Mikayla Grafstein (flute 2), Erika Gehrling (alto 2), Noella Sexton (soprano 2), Hatim Husainy (bass 1), Jarod Hirsch (tenor 2), Zachary Podair (tenor 2), Jia Macalinao (also 2), Vincent Fallacaro (bass 2), Melvin Cheng (violin 1), Henri Buchet (violin 1), Abigail Jung (violin 2), Anabelle Krietzman (violin 2), Hannah Ren (violin 1), Heng Ye (cello), Kayla O’Hagan (violin 1).

Accompsett Middle School: Keith Carden (percussion), Allyson McCabe (trumpet 3), Matthew Segal (trumpet 3), Matthew Galletta (alto sax 2), Rose Scavuzzo (flute 2), Jacey Lin (violin 1), Katherine Norris (violin 2), Lilah Carden (violin 2), Asha Andrews (soprano), Emily McNiff (alto), Michael Lagnese (children’s voice 1), Dominic Scavuzzo (children’s voice 1), Emmerson LeBrecht (alto).

Great Hollow Middle School: Juliet Chong (violin 1), Laina Magguilli (violin 2), Vanya Sharma (viola), Jake Saidens (violin 2), Ava Tagliavia (percussion), Madeline McCullough (Bb clarinet 3), Matthew Benstock (percussion timpani), Hannah Waller (soprano), Marilena Castoro (soprano).

Nesaquake Middle School: Sophia Leodis (flute 2), Maisie Havis (baritone/euphonium), Kevin Ronan (baritone/euphonium), Ryan Mitchell (trumpet 1), Justin Basile (tuba), Jack Moylan (Bb clarinet 3), Robert Boccafola-Fritz (bass clarinet), Eleanor Hottenroth (French horn 4), Riley Poole (French horn 4), Lyla Groneman (percussion mallet), Naomi Sanabia (violin 2), Nicholas Puccio (cello), Madelyn Geldmacher (violin 1), Ethan Tuzinkiewicz (viola), Allison Song (violin 2), Jaden Robinson (soprano), Jonathan Setzer (baritone), Joanna Hurd (children’s voice 1), Jordan Greenridge (children’s voice 1), Dahlia McHugh (children’s voice 1).

Accompsett Elementary: Veronica Leitner (children’s voice 1), Julia Lovejoy (children’s voice 1), Gabrielle Conforte (children’s voice 1).

Students in Lorraine McDermott’s seventh grade English classes at Accompsett Middle School channeled their creative sides to reinforce a lesson about mythology on Wednesday.

Using Book Creator, the students turned myths they wrote themselves into interactive digital eBooks.

Some students created myths centered on why thunderstorms exist or why dogs have tails.

The students could use their own artwork or clip art, and could take their own photos and videos to incorporate into the comics. Some created their own gods and goddesses, while others used existing ones from Greek mythology.

McDermott told the students their comics still needed to follow a plot structure, even though it may be presented in an untraditional form.

A myth is a story that explains a natural phenomenon, typically with the involvement of a supernatural being.

“They are explaining a natural phenomenon with nature or animals or people,” McDermott said.

Librarians Colleen Navins (left) and Kaitlin Brand share information about the public library with High School West students.

English as a New Language students from High School West and Accompsett Middle School received library cards and learned about The Smithtown Library’s volunteer opportunities and activities on Tuesday.

Teen librarians Kaitlin Brand from the Smithtown branch and Colleen Navins from the Nesconset branch of the public library visited the High School West library to share the information.

“We’re your librarians,” Brand told the students.

Brand and Navins noted that the library has more than books to borrow, too — although students not yet 18 years old might need a parent or guardian to accompany them in order to borrow items such as a GoPro, video games or guitar. 

The librarians noted that there are four branches of The Smithtown Library — Smithtown, Nesconset, Kings Park and Commack.

The ENL students also learned about upcoming teen programs, including the opportunity to create a clay pot snowman at the Nesconset branch on Jan. 5, to sew your own fleece hat at the Smithtown branch on Jan. 12, and a session with games and goodies at Smithtown on Jan. 14.

Students also were presented with volunteer opportunities that will satisfy their school’s community service requirements.

Those events include decorating kitchen aprons for those who work in local soup kitchens as well as assembling craft kits for children.

The librarians noted that students often have schedules that may not be conducive to attending a particular volunteer opportunity. So the students can make an appointment for a volunteer opportunity that fits their particular schedule.

The students were encouraged to visit www.smithlib.org for more information about offerings at the library, including free museum passes.

The event was arranged by High School West librarian Cathy Masrour.

In a separate session led by Masrour, students also learned from guidance officials about college and career opportunities.

Accompsett Middle School tapped into the talent of one of its teachers while sharing a message of self-worth during “Respectable Me Week” at the school.

Teacher Lauren Hirsch created a music video with friends and family members during the height of the pandemic entitled, “I Am More Than Enough,” in part to help people combat isolation feelings.

The theme: You are more than enough just as you are.

The message particularly has resonated with students at Accompsett Middle School this week, as they emphasize that topic as part of “Respectable Me Week.”

Hirsch, whose performance name is L. Rachelle, visited Susan Ryan and Meredith LaParle’s sixth grade ELA class on Friday morning and played the video. She then spoke about her motivation for creating it.

“You’re all unique and special and are made that way for a reason,” Hirsch told Ryan and LaParle’s students.

The students then created signs with messages including “We’re More Than Enough” and “You Are More Than Enough.” Those signs will be displayed throughout the school to reinforce the important message.

There even are plans to recreate the video using Accompsett Middle School students.

Hirsch, a special education teacher at the school, studied music therapy as an undergraduate.

“It’s a great way to connect with students,” principal Paul McNeil said. “There’s something to be said for infusing music into the instruction."