Ann Naughton, High School East girls field hockey coach, was recently named a Section XI New York State Public High School Athletic Association Coach of the Year. Coaches are selected based on years of coaching, win-loss records, participation in league/sectional committees, and being a positive role model in their school and community. Naughton was recognized at the Oct. 10 meeting of the Board of Education. She is pictured (center) with Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Grossane and Board of Education trustee Gladys Waldron. 

Fifteen students from High School East and High School West have been recognized as Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program for their outstanding academic achievement on their PSAT exams. 

Two-thirds of the approximately 50,000 high scorers on the exam receive Letters of Commendation. Commended Students are named on the basis of a nationally applied selection index score that may vary from year to year. 

Seven students from High School East were named Commended students. They are Stephanie Battaglia, Christopher Capuano, Jack Furci, Hana Ghobashy, Jonathan Golbert, Jacob Tehranian and Shrey Thaker. 

From High School West, the eight students recognized include: Kevin Camson, Timothy Corcoran, Ashley Dolan, Julia Gutierrez, Asli Kizilkaya, Edward Lorrain, Reed Passaretti and Steven Spreizer Jr. 

It was a week full of Smithtown pride leading up to the homecoming football games at High School East and High School West on Oct. 7. Students and staff celebrated during spirit week and both schools enjoyed a pep rally the day before the game.

High School West held a community carnival featuring a bull ride and rock climbing wall prior to the football game. During the game, the robotics club – the Mechanical Bulls – shot T-shirts into the crowd from a launcher they built and controlled with a laptop computer. HSW varsity football team faced off against the Huntington Blue Devils. Despite their best efforts, the Bulls fell just short of a win. Kamryn Bernard and Joe Pilewski were crowned homecoming king and queen, respectively, at halftime following a performance by the varsity cheerleaders and the Whisperettes. 

East’s homecoming kicked off with a parade from St. James Elementary to the high school led by the marching band. Members of various high school clubs, the youth football and cheerleading leagues followed the band down the parade route.

The East Bulls took on Bay Shore for the big game but couldn’t pull together for the victory. Jacque Moon and James Fanning were named homecoming queen and king, respectively, during the halftime show, followed by performances by the Whisperettes and varsity cheerleaders. 

Five seniors from High Schools East and West were among 16,000 students across the country who were named semifinalists in the 63nd annual National Merit Scholarship Program.

Four HSE students – Cindy Li, Jhanvi Ravishankar, Justin Wei and Eric Zhang – have been recognized as National Merit Scholar semifinalists. Connor O’Malley from HSW was also named a National Merit Scholar semifinalist. 

To be considered for a Merit Scholarship award, semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the finalist level of the competition. National Merit Scholars will be announced in February. These high school seniors will move on through the competition to potentially earn 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth about $32 million, which will be handed out this spring.

High School East student volunteers, district administrators and board of education members, representatives of the United Way of Long Island, representatives of the United Veterans Beacon House and members of the Martella family gathered at High School East on Sept. 26 to kick off the combined efforts to honor the memory of former Board of Education member Scott Martella.

High School East students will organize a yearlong community service project to directly benefit United States veterans. Five Smithtown High School East seniors – Brooke Berroyer, Caroline Loiodice, Sofia Palazzolo, Brianna Saggese and Isabelle Sicoli – will be working to benefit the United Veterans Beacon House as this year’s community service project to honor Scott’s memory. The students, who are all part of a leadership class, will work with Beacon House to help understand some of the housing issues facing veterans on Long Island. The students plan to start the grassroots effort and anticipate their activities will grow as the year progresses.

Working with the United Way of Long Island, the Scott Martella Scholarship Memorial Fund will provide scholarships to students who will be attending college whose studies may include international relations or public service. United Way of Long Island’s president and CEO Theresa Regnante spoke about the connection between the district and the United Way. “Scott was a young man who made such an impact in such a short time,” she said. “We really hope the district takes hold of this project and it becomes a great opportunity for years to come.”

High School East math teacher Marianne Schoepflin was recently named a New York State finalist in math for the 2017 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Last year, the 11-year educator was awarded the Empire State Excellence in Teaching Award. Schoepflin was recognized at the Board of Education meeting on Sept. 26. She is pictured here with Board of Education President Jeremy Thode (left) and Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Grossane. 

Both of High School East and High School West ¬have been named as Schools of Excellence by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.

Schools earn a School of Excellence award by having 75 percent of its varsity teams qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award. Scholar-Athlete teams require 75 percent of the team’s rosters to have a grade point average of 90 or above. There are only five other high schools in Suffolk County to earn this honor. 

The purpose of the School of Excellence award is to unite varsity coaches in challenging their teams to achieve a statewide honor. 

Throughout the district, each of the schools remembered and recognized Sept. 11 by engaging in different observances and activities.

Many schools started the day with a moment of silence prior to morning announcements. At Great Hollow Middle School, the morning announcements throughout the week included relevant character education messages. Students at Accompsett Middle School displayed flags outside the building and Principal Paul McNeil delivered a message over the public announcement system to all students. 

Smithtown Elementary School held a moment of silence and spoke about the importance of honoring the bravery of those who help others, such as firefighters and police. At Dogwood Elementary School, fifth-graders read an article, held age-appropriate class discussions and wrote essays and poems on why they are proud to be an American. Dogwood fourth-grade students created a project on their heroes. The outside walkways and lawn of the St. James Elementary School were filled with flags placed by students at the start of the school day on 9/11.

High School East lessons examined 9/11 from different viewpoints. Some teachers explored the history and impact of 9/11 since most students were not alive when the event happened. Psychology classes examined the toll traumatic events like 9/11 can have on a country and its people. Government classes assessed the impact 9/11 had on civil liberties in the United States. Some history courses explored the variety of changes that took place in the aftermath of the attacks. Furthermore, they examined the lessons that can be learned from 9/11. Some teachers chose to discuss how we could find hope in despair by choosing to be of service to the community in which they live.

Smithtown Central School District welcomed back students and staff on Sept. 7 to kick off the 2017-2018 school year. The first day of school was bustling with activity. Check out our slideshow to see some first day of school highlights.