Members of the Great Hollow Middle School boys lacrosse delivered canned food donations, helped clean up and stocked the shelves at the Smithtown Food Pantry. The team members are pictured here with Patricia Westlake, director of the Smithtown Food Pantry. 

Great Hollow Middle School participated in Scholastic Challenge 2019, an enrichment activity that allows students to demonstrate a variety of problem-solving skills and knowledge in many academic areas. This year’s contest involved the participation of approximately 5,000 sixth and eighth grade students across the nation. Sixth grader We Natallie Marshall was named the winner for her grade level. Eighth grader Sasha Blank was named a medal winner.  

Students in Great Hollow Middle School’s Peanut Butter Gang, a community service club, recently baked homemade dog biscuits to donate to a local charity. Nesconset-based Paws of War trains and places shelter dogs to serve and provide independence to U.S. veterans who suffer from the emotional effects of war. In addition to the dog biscuits, students held a pet supply drive to collect dog food and other items to support the work of Paws of War.

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

Tying into their English language arts curriculum, sixth graders at Great Hollow Middle School had a special visit from two furry friends. The students spent the last month learning about how dogs impact the life of humans, reading and writing reaction pieces about the effect of canines on people. 
Representatives from America's VetDogs, a sister organization of the Guide Dog Foundation, located in Smithtown, visited with students to teach them about the role of the canines, how they are trained and how they help those in need.

America’s VetDogs is a nonprofit organization that provides disabled veterans and first responders with service dogs to offer independence, enhanced mobility and companionship. VetDogs assist veterans or first responders with physical disabilities and those with hearing or vision loss. The Guide Dog Foundation provides services for those with vision and/or hearing loss. The Great Hollow students collected toys and food to donate to the organization, which they presented following the assembly.