Science research students in Maria Zeitlin’s class at High School East are hard at work on their independent research projects. In early February, the students finalized their methodologies. While the ninth grade students are working on in-house experiments, the juniors and seniors are preparing their independent research for national and local competitions, such as the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. 

High School East’s Drama and Stage Crew Club students attended the New York State Theatre Education Association’s annual conference in Callicoon, New York. The students participated in the largest conference in NYSTEA history by attending various workshops including technical theater and design, improvisation, acting, stage management and direction, voice and speech, playwriting, Shakespeare and historical theater, dance, theater business and society and audition techniques. The students had almost 200 choices of workshops from which to choose.  

Four Smithtown students have been selected to receive the National School Development Council Award. This award is presented to high school seniors who have consistently pursued a high level of academic effort, and who have also served as positive role models for the student body.

The National School Development Council is a network of regional school study councils that support excellence, equity and continuous educational improvement. This year’s awards receipients from High School West were Meghan Deery and William Alptekin and Dylan McCormick and Matthew Pickow from High School East. 

The district’s DECA team, which includes students from High School East and West, had 50 students receiving awards recognitions at the New York State Regional DECA Competition. The event was held on Jan. 8 at Suffolk County Community College in Selden. There were more than 1,500 DECA students from various high schools in Suffolk County participating in the competition.

The students had been preparing during the past two months for the competition. These students now qualify for the state competition in February in Rochester, New York.  Additionally, approximately 35 Smithtown students will be completing their manuals for the state level competition. The state competition will include role-play situations. 

The girls varsity swimming and diving team received many recognitions at the Suffolk County Swim Coaches Alliance awards dinner. High School West senior Hayley Beutel captured the Suffolk County of the Year award. She also was named All-State, All-Long Island and All-County. High School West freshman Leah Treglia, High School West sophomore Saige Kazlauskas, High School East junior Olivia Eterno and Accompsett Middle School eighth grader Sofia Burns were named All-State and All-County. High School East senior and county runner-up in diving Marisa Lee was named All-County, and Great Hollow Middle School eighth graders Morgan Lee and Makayla Lee were named All-League.

Science students from High School East and High School West had the opportunity to see exciting science experiments happen right before their eyes during a visit from Dave Maiullo and his off-Broadway production of “That Physics Show” on Jan. 8 in the High School East auditorium. 
During the two performances, Mr. Maiullo, along with assistance from college students from Rutgers University, showed off laws of science with an hour-long production. Mr. Maiullo will demonstrate a variety of experiments that showcase segments on motion, momentum, vacuum, friction, energy, density, fluid motion, sound waves and sound vibration, light waves, temperature and more. 
The hands-on experiments showcased many of the different laws of science. As a grand finale, Mr. Maiullo even engaged members of the audience for his bed of nails demonstration, having two students stand on top of him while on a bed of nails.

High School East students in Dave Savage’s design and drawing for production class recently finished a trebuchet design project. The students were tasked with going through the engineering design process to design, build and test their own trebuchet, a type of catapult. 

Last month, the High School East boys basketball team hosted the Hjemly Danish basketball team. Each Danish player was assigned to one of the Smithtown players and spent the school day with them followed by a basketball game after school. They had dinner last night together at High School East and then spent the night at the boys homes. 

The district’s School of Business and the World Language department, in conjunction with the Smithtown Industry Advisory Board, presented the 2019 International Business Career Day at the High School West library. 

More than 75 students, chosen by their teachers to attend, participated in the 16th annual event. Eleven guest speakers presented to the business-minded students from both High School East and High School West. The professionals spoke about the careers and fields of interest. Krupa Lauricella of FTZ Strategies offered the keynote address. 

Following the opening presentations and keynote, the students spent the morning and early afternoon rotating through different breakout sessions in small groups depending on their area of interest. Lunch was catered by the home and career students from High School West and featured international delights from various regions. 

Four seniors were honored with Suffolk Zone Awards at a ceremony in December. The winners, chosen by the physical education staff, are the top male and female physical education students in the graduating class. Criteria for achieving this honor, as defined by the Suffolk Zone Chapter of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, include earning an A average or above a 90 in high school physical education classes, earning an overall grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale at the completion of the 11th grade year, and being a physical fitness role model, as well as character and leadership assessments. The district congratulates Sarah Chapman and Luke Muratore from High School West and Amy Welshimer and Dean Schaffer from Smithtown High School.

Society for Science and the Public Society for Science has announced the top 300 scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2020, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. High School West’s Stephanie Lin and High School East’s Caitlin Wilkinson have both been selected as Regeneron scholars.

Stephanie’s project is “Convolutional Neural Network of Dynamic Contrast Enhanced MRI Detects Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer Patients Pre Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy.” Caitlin research focused on “Rates and Traits: The Potential for Utilizing Above-ground Plant Traits to Predict Denitrification in Long Island Salt Marshes.”

Caitlin was shocked by the news of her win. “When we were all together in the research room for the announcement, I was expecting someone else's name to be called out, and I felt like the rug was pulled out from under my feet when Ms. Zeitlin looked at me. I am honored and thankful for the recognition.”

Maria Zeitlin, High School East research coordinator, said, “Caitlin’s project exemplifies citizen science by analyzing local Long Island salt marshes. I am thrilled that Caitlin was inspired to pursue her passion for environmental science and contribute toward an understanding of how to mitigate human impact on the marine environment. She is very deserving of this recognition.”

Dr. Joanne Figueiredo, High School West’s research coordinator, spoke about her student’s work. “Stephanie has been a dedicated and tenacious science research student,” she said. “She is a passionate young scientist who isn’t afraid to chart new territory. The future is bright because of talented young people like Stephanie.”

Stephanie was also surprised when she heard the announcement that she was named a Regeneron Scholar. “I had put the announcement completely out of my mind and was so happy to hear that I was chosen,” she said. “I am honored to be part of this cohort of students who are the next generation of leaders in industry.”

The Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars were selected from 1,993 applications received from 659 high schools across 49 states. Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists. The top 40 finalists will be announced on Jan. 22. The 300 scholars and their schools will be awarded $2,000 each.

High School East Family, Career and Community Leaders of America Club made 28 holiday wreaths for residents at Mills Pond Nursing Home. The club members visited the nursing home on Dec. 10 and played Pokeno with the residents. The wreaths were prizes for the winners. At the end of the game, all the residents got a wreath.