Sachem Central School District - News Feed https://www.sachem.edu Copyright 2024 Syntax Communications Sachem Raises Thousands to Support St. Baldrick’s The Sachem Central School District is helping the fight against pediatric cancer by supporting the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. Several school buildings came together for head-shaving events to raise funds for childhood cancer research, as well as awareness. Seneca Middle School held its St. Baldrick’s event on March 18. Fourteen students and one teacher volunteered to shave their heads. The building raised nearly $14,300 in their efforts. At Waverly Elementary School, six students and five adults including parents, Principal Kevin Tougher and school custodian Mr. Nick, shaved their heads during the building’s annual St. Baldrick’s event on March 22. Since 2015, Waverly students and staff have raised nearly $250,000 for the foundation. This year, the building raised more than $5,000 and honored Waverly’s own fifth grader, Justin Olsen. Olsen was diagnosed with a pediatric cancer in 2019 and had his final treatment in May 2021. He is doing incredibly well and was happy to participate in this year’s event. Sagamore Middle School had nine “shavees” and raised over $10,000. Additionally, the building held a ceremony to honor the shavees and volunteers from all three Sachem Middle Schools. Samoset Middle School is looking forward to its event in April and has already raised over $14,000 with two fundraising weeks still to go. Click here to view the Sagamore photo slideshow. Click here to view the Seneca photo slideshow. Click here to view the Waverly photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/28/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175736 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175736 Aerial Yoga Students from Mrs. Calvano’s Life After High School class visited an aerial yoga studio as the culmination to its Social Emotional Learning unit. Students enjoyed the trip as they practiced self-care and being “in balance.” Date Added: 3/28/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175737 Thu, 28 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175737 SCOPE Award Recipients Sachem High School North students Samantha Cocchi and Gianna Familette were presented with a SCOPE award for Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning. Samantha was selected due to her outstanding leadership skills in coordinating school events including the Festival of Trees and Lights and the Leo’s Club holiday toy drive. Additionally, she holds leadership roles in several school clubs and activities such as the Mentoring Club, Leo’s Club and the Information Distribution Club. Gianna was selected due to her tremendous personal growth throughout her high school career and leadership in outside work experiences. She is a hard worker, avid reader and dancer with many strong goals for her future. Gianna looks forward to attending college in the fall. Date Added: 3/26/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175676 Tue, 26 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175676 Chippewa Tower Garden Celebration Mrs. Andersen’s second grade class from Chippewa loved utilizing the Tower Garden to support the curriculum, enhance teamwork, STEAM education, language, health and wellness, and a sense of community by sharing what they grew with their family members and guardians. Date Added: 3/26/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175691 Tue, 26 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175691 Library Leaders Test VR Equipment Ms. Creedon's library leaders at Seneca Middle School are helping evaluate technological tools. Students used virtual reality equipment to determine whether the resource was simple to use, set up and access for their peers. They used the VR headsets to view ancient civilizations and different ecosystems. The students enjoyed the experience but were critical when evaluating the technology. They determined there needed to be improvements to the equipment and software before it could be used for classroom instruction. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/26/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175696 Tue, 26 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175696 World Down Syndrome Day at Wenonah Throughout the month of March, students at Wenonah Elementary School participated in a variety of lessons surrounding Disabilities Acceptance Month and the theme of inclusion. The lessons led up to a day of celebrations on March 21 for World Down Syndrome Day. On this day, students and staff wore blue and yellow, as well as mismatched, crazy socks. Special education teachers and students passed out ribbons to all the staff in the building to honor the day. Additionally, classes completed activities to learn about Down Syndrome and how students can be more inclusive. The activities were led by Taylor Ahrem and Isabella Busch. Ms. Ahrem created a video for World Down Syndrome Day that can be viewed here: https://youtu.be/nbJQYpfybTg?feature=shared The link below includes a presentation about the activities that took place at Wenonah Elementary School for World Down Syndrome Day: https://www.canva.com/design/DAF9EtTlP0I/OQe2KWs6OtbVa_9__mdlFg/edit Date Added: 3/26/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175706 Tue, 26 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175706 Sports in U.S. History Guest Speakers Mrs. Malin’s Sports in U.S. History class at Sachem High School East recently heard from two distinguished guest speakers. Suffolk County Sheriff Errol. Toulon Jr. visited to recount his bat boy days with the New York Yankees and Perry Williams spoke with students about his 11 seasons and two Super Bowl championships with the New York Giants. Both speakers shared the importance of drive and dedication in pursuing dreams and goals in life. It was a memorable experience for students! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/25/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175659 Mon, 25 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175659 Students Explore Career Opportunities This month, both Sachem High Schools held workforce exploration events for students to connect with local businesses and network with professionals in a variety of fields. This valuable experience gave students the opportunity to engage with community organizations and businesses while learning about the skills needed in the workforce. They built relationships with potential future employers and learned about several pathways after graduation. Click here to view the photo slideshow.(Sachem High School North) Click here to view the photo slideshow.(Sachem High School East) Date Added: 3/22/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175617 Fri, 22 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175617 National Merit Scholarship Finalist Sachem High School North student Jacob Flores Zeranski has advanced to finalist standing in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Jacob is among the 15,000 finalists who received a Certificate of Merit attesting to his recognition in the program. Jacob previously earned a semifinalist designation after his exceptionally high achievement on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Around half of all finalists will be selected as National Merit Scholarship winners based on their abilities, skills and accomplishments. Date Added: 3/22/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175624 Fri, 22 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175624 International Night Celebrates Cultures Across Sachem The Intercultural Club at Sachem High School North hosted an International Night for students and their families to come together and celebrate their cultures. The North community learned about different customs and traditions through dancing, singing, a fashion show, food, trivia and henna. It was a wonderful night for students to learn about cultures other than their own and celebrate diversity! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/21/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175585 Thu, 21 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175585 North Students Head to International DECA Competition The Sachem High School North DECA team, advised by Mr. Tom Davis, had a successful trip to the state conference in Rochester earlier this month, bringing home several awards. The team’s seven competitors each won at least one medal in their respective categories and brought home 14 awards in total. Most notably, High School North students Tricia Block and Sofia Miele qualified to compete at the International DECA Conference in Anaheim, California later this spring. In Anaheim, both students will compete against the best young business students in the country. Date Added: 3/21/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175595 Thu, 21 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175595 High School East Valedictorian and Salutatorian Sachem High School East is proud to announce the Class of 2024 valedictorian, Adrian Dayao and salutatorian, Michael Mauro. Valedictorian Adrian Dayao is a bright student who spends his free time immersing himself in his learning. He is enrolled in several Advanced Placement courses including the rigorous AP Computer Science A. Additionally, Adrian has taken a three-period computer repair course to gain a practical skill and develop a deeper understanding of the topic he plans to study in college. His academic excellence led to his designation as a National Merit Semifinalist. Adrian is also involved in the music program at Sachem High School East. He plays first chair viola with Select Strings, a club that plays at the chamber orchestra level, and enjoys composing his own viola pieces. Outside of the classroom, Adrian is involved in the Sachem East chess club. He was captain and co-president of the team during his junior year. Aligned with his interest in programming, Adrian is a member of the Sachem robotics team as a pit programmer, fixing programming issues with the robot during competitions. During his own time, Adrian creates his own programs. Most recently, he remade a closed-source word game solver in Python and contributes to Open Sources projects by helping fix bugs. Salutatorian Michael Mauro is a well-rounded student and an active member of the Sachem East school community. His academic accomplishments have earned him an AP Scholar with Distinction designation, an AP Capstone Diploma and a National Merit Scholarship Letter of Commendation. Michael serves as the president of DECA as well as several honor societies including National Honor Society, English Honor Society and Math Honor Society. Impressively, he is an esteemed delegate for Model United National and is well-known to his peers as he has been the class president all four years at High School East. Michael is an Eagle Scout and has dedicated time to serve the local Sachem community. Last summer, he served as an intern in Suffolk County Legislator Anthony Piccirillo’s office and learned the inner workings of government. Additionally, he is the alternative captain of the Sachem varsity ice hockey team. Sachem High School East congratulates both Adrian and Michael for achieving the top academic honors of their class and wishes them the best in their future endeavors. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/20/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175525 Wed, 20 Mar 2024 06:00:00 GMT false175525 High School North Valedictorian and Salutatorian Sachem High School North proudly announces the top of the Class of 2024. Congratulations to valedictorian Avi Talsania and salutatorian Ryan DeSimone. Valedictorian Avi Talsania has demonstrated a passion for academics, specifically in science research. During his high school years, Avi participated in the Columbia Science Honors Program and the science research program at High School North. This past year, Avi completed research as part of the Garcia Summer Research Internship Program at Stony Brook, as well as at Yale University’s Haskin Laboratories. He has taken numerous Advanced Placement courses and was named a National Merit Commended Scholar for his achievement on the PSAT exam. Avi is involved in several extracurriculars at High School North. He is the founder and president of the HOSA chapter for future healthcare professionals and placed in the statewide HOSA competition. Additionally, Avi serves as a co-president of the DECA club and qualified to attend the international DECA competition as a junior. His involvement extends into the fine arts where he is an accomplished flautist. This year, Avi was named an alternate for the All-State festival. Avi is involved in the greater Sachem community. He has hundreds of hours of shadowing experience at several medical offices including Desire Dental Care, Eye Vision Associates, NY Cancer and Blood Institute and Mid-Suffolk Neurology and Sleep Medicine. He also serves as an outreach administrator and volunteer coach at the Northsouth Foundation. Salutatorian Ryan DeSimone is a well-rounded student and is actively engaged in the school community. His academic excellence and high achievement in several Advanced Placement courses earned him acceptance into various honor societies as well as the National Society of High School Scholars. Ryan is a recipient of an AP Capstone Diploma and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction. In addition to academic-based extracurriculars, Ryan is a member of the Sachem robotics team, interact club and DECA club, where he was named a regional winner for business services marketing. Additionally, Ryan is an advanced piano and clarinet player and has performed in multiple statewide NYSSMA festivals, while also being a member of the jazz band at High School North. Outside of the classroom, Ryan dedicates time to benefit the community. He is a Sibshops facilitator, providing guidance in a recreational setting for young siblings of children with special needs. Additionally, he worked as a camp counselor at Hidden Pond Day Camp, supervising children while fostering friendships and providing a safe environment. His service has impacted the greater community – in 2023, Ryan expanded upon his AP Research paper to contribute to a local rally for the New York State budget. Sachem High School North congratulates both Avi and Ryan for their remarkable achievements while in Sachem and wishes them the best in their future endeavors. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/20/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175526 Wed, 20 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175526 Science Fair Season in Sachem With the spring comes science fair season, and young scientists in Sachem are presenting the experiments they’ve worked hard on. Hiawatha and Tamarac Elementary Schools both held science fairs this month. The cafeterias were filled with presentation boards as students explained their research to their families and peers. High school students from East and North visited the elementary schools to judge the projects. The first place winners will advance to the Brookhaven National Laboratory Science Fair in June! Click here to view the Hiwatha photo slideshow. Click here to view the Tamarac photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/20/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175550 Wed, 20 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175550 North Student Off to Dartmouth on QuestBridge Scholarship Sachem High School North student Benny Dong was selected as a QuestBridge Scholar, gaining admission to Dartmouth College with a full, four-year scholarship. Dong is one of 2,242 finalists selected as a National College Match Scholarship recipient in this year’s program. QuestBridge partners with top colleges across the country to award students who have shown outstanding academic ability. Match Scholarship recipients are granted early admission to one of the partnering colleges with a full scholarship, worth over $200,000. Date Added: 3/19/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175475 Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175475 How to Catch a Leprechaun’ at Chippewa Third graders at Chippewa Elementary School collaborated with Sachem High School East students for a St. Patrick’s Day STEM project. On March 15, high school students pushed into the third grade classes to read “How to Catch a Leprechaun” by Adam Wallace. Students then worked together to construct their own leprechaun traps using simple materials including cardboard boxes, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and glitter. The third graders got creative in designing the traps that would lure a leprechaun. Elementary and high school students alike had the opportunity to interact with each other while engaging in the festive, problem-solving activity. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/19/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175477 Tue, 19 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175477 Chair Yoga at Merrimac Merrimac Elementary School third grade teacher and humanities principal’s aide Danielle Sicari led the building in chair yoga via Google Meet for International Social Emotional Learning Day. This practice helped students be self-aware and have self-control, skills that enable individuals to cope with challenges and practice more effective problem solving skills. The students and staff left feeling calm, relaxed and at peace. Many thanks to Ms. Sicari and her class for volunteering their time to share this practice with the rest of Merrimac Elementary School! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/15/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175419 Fri, 15 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175419 Sachem Succeeds at the State and National Level Sachem North Wrestling With his third place finish in the Suffolk County tournament, Nate Gsell qualified for the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships in Albany on Feb. 23 and 24. Nate opened up the tournament with a victory by pin, but unfortunately dropped his next two matches and did not place. Nate was the only wrestler from Suffolk County to win a match at 215. Sachem North Boys Track and Field At the New York State Indoor Track and Field Championships held at Ocean Breeze in Staten Island on March 2, Sachem North Senior Jack Riegger anchored the Section XI Intersectional Relay Team. Jack ran the 1600 in 4:31:05—his second-best indoor time of the season. When Riegger received the baton, Section XI was in ninth position, but he moved his team all the way up to 4th and a place on the All-State podium. Sachem East Girls Track and Field At the New York State Championship at Ocean Breeze, the East Girls Track Team had Seven young ladies earn All-State Honors. In the racewalk, sunior Gianna Mauri placed fifth and senior Danielle Chiarello placed sixth. The 4x400 relay team made up of junior Sarafina Scavo, senior Savanna Edwards, senior Lexi Martoscia, senior Taylor Percy and freshman Bella Galeas made the finals and finished eighth. Sachem did its part in helping the Section XI girls score the most points of any section in the state! The East Girls Track Team also participated at Nike Nationals at the Armory. The 4x200 relay of Emma Ernst, Lexi Martoscia, Sarafina Scavo and Bella Galeas improved on their season best time, resetting the school record that was set last month. The race walk crew made up of Gianna Mauri (second place), Abby Callinan (fourth place), Danielle Chiarello (eighth place), Julianna Wottowa (ninth place), was tremendous. Based upon their performances, Gianna and Abby were both named All-Americans. Additionally, the 4x800 meter relay team of Sarafina Scavo, Savanna Edwards, Adriana Roa and Camryn Goodman, ran to a season best. Sachem Boys Swimming Brayden Savas had some great swims at the state meet in Ithaca. He swam the 100-yard butterfly and broke the school record from 1996 with a time of 51:51. He also swam the 200-yard individual medley, breaking the school record from 2022 with a time of 1:56.50. Sachem Girls Bowling Cira Arcangel was the anchor of the Section XI all-star team. She finished 11th overall individually in the whole tournament with a 205.5 average for six games. This was her third year in a row representing Sachem and Section XI at the state level. Section XI finished in second place this year at the tournament. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/15/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175429 Fri, 15 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175429 Students Learn Civics From Local Leaders Seventh graders at Samoset Middle School learned about the principles of the constitution and civic activism from some of Sachem’s own local leaders. Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy and Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy visited Samoset to teach students about their roles in local government and the importance of civic engagement. The assembly relates to the Seal of Civic Readiness projects that seventh graders are completing. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/14/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175388 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175388 PARP Kicks off at Wenonah Wenonah Elementary School kicked off its PARP, or Pick a Reading Partner, month with a visit from ventriloquist, Steve Petra. Petra took students through his interactive “Reading Rampage” show, which gave students tips on reading, writing and punctuation while embracing the power of words. The crowd was entertained throughout the show, smiling ear to ear as Petra brought several special guests, or puppets, out on stage. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/14/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175401 Thu, 14 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175401 Cereal Box Challenge Continues Across Sachem Cereal box collections have continued into March in the Sachem Central School District. Grundy Avenue Elementary School is the most recent building to hold a cereal box drive to benefit local organizations. Students and staff collected 1,013 cereal boxes to distribute between the Lighthouse Mission, the pantry at St. John’s of Holbrook, the Sayville Soup Kitchen and the Calvary Chapel Island of Grace food pantry. Before sending the donations off, Grundy Avenue Elementary School lined the boxes up through the hallways and into the cafeteria where they formed the shape of the letter “G.” The boxes were knocked down domino-style, symbolizing the chain reaction effect of kindness and helping others. Date Added: 3/12/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175302 Tue, 12 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175302 AP U.S. History Classes Visit NYC On March 5, Sachem High School East’s Advanced Placement U.S. History classes embarked on a historical journey to New York City to explore the rich tapestry of America’s past. They were joined by Ms. Bongiorno and Mrs. Melandro and visited sites to enhance their study of U.S. immigration. Students first examined the struggles of immigrant life at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum. They lunched at the historic Essex Market, visited the Statue of Liberty and got a firsthand look at the gateway to new beginnings, Ellis Island. Each site unveiled layers of the nation's captivating narrative, fostering a deeper understanding of the diverse threads woven into the fabric of American history. Date Added: 3/12/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175323 Tue, 12 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175323 Sachem Teacher Chosen to Lead All-County Chorus Lynwood Avenue Elementary School music teacher Genevieve Diller was selected to conduct the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association all-county chorus concert. Ms. Diller is the proud band and orchestra teacher at Lynwood Avenue and is a former Sachem student herself. She led the top elementary school musicians in Suffolk County through several performances during their culminating concert on March 10. Date Added: 3/11/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175283 Mon, 11 Mar 2024 04:00:00 GMT false175283 KickSwitch Team Collaborates with LI Schools at Trade Show KickSwitch, the Sachem East Virtual Enterprise team, hit the road and traveled to Wantagh High School for a trade show. This high-achieving group of business students participated in the event with ten other high schools from Nassau County. The students communicated with other virtual enterprise businesses, buying and selling products while also networking for future sales. The team was judged in an elevator pitch competition, as well as for their bulletin board display, booth setup, and website development. This proud group of students looks to continue their momentum back at Sachem East where they will present their skills at the Work Force Exploration event on March 20. Date Added: 3/8/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175228 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175228 Sachem Students Compete in Brain Bee Science research students from Sachem High School East and High School North participated in the 2024 Long Island Brain Bee held at the Hofstra University School of Medicine on March 2. The event seeks to develop interests in careers involving neurology, neurosurgery, neuroscience and psychology. The competition is comprised of a written exam and a hands-on lab evaluation. The written portion tests knowledge of various brain facts, such as diseases of the brain and brain structure. The lab component of the exam involves using actual human brains to identify brain structures and their related functions. The students had a wonderful time interacting with medical students and neurosurgeons during the lab activities and related presentations. Date Added: 3/8/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175250 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175250 48th Annual College and Careeer Fair Date Added: 2/16/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174764 Fri, 08 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174764 Lynwood Destination Imagination Teams Advances to States The Lynwood Avenue Destination Imagination team placed first in the New York Eastern Regional Tournament and will advance to states in April. The team, made up of fourth and fifth graders, successfully completed the scientific challenge – a task that blends scientific research with performance art. Students were challenged to create and present a story about a character whose discovery of an artifact leads to a finding. They had to design a puppet to portray a character from the past and include an archaeologic investigation through their skit. The team incorporated song and dance to transition their story. They performed under an eight-minute time constraint and designed their set within a $150 budget. In addition to receiving first place, the Lynwood team received the Renaissance Award at the regional competition. This award recognizes outstanding design, engineering, execution and performance. Students were honored for demonstrating extraordinary effort and preparation, as well as outstanding skill. Before heading to states, the Lynwood team presented their performance in front of their peers. They held a question-and-answer session with Lynwood students about their design, process and performance. Students were able to understand the overall message of the team’s performance – to communicate feelings and resolve conflicts peacefully. Sachem wishes the Lynwood team the best of luck at the state tournament as they inch closer to the global finals this May! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/7/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175192 Thu, 07 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175192 STEAM Night at Hiawatha Elementary School Hiawatha Elementary School held its annual STEAM Night on Feb. 26, inviting families to participate in hands-on activities focusing on science, technology, engineering, art and math. Students rotated through several stations throughout the evening. They were encouraged to design and create at the art station set up in the cafeteria, they used the multipurpose room for science experiments, built freely with Legos in the lobby and engaged in math activities. The gymnasium was set up as the robotics center where the Sachem Public Library provided micro robots for students to use and the Sachem Robotics Team, Aftershock, worked with students. The team had their 2023 robot “Choas” in attendance. They explained to students its features and design process. The elementary school students had the opportunity to control the robot and attempt at scoring a basket by activating its shooter mechanism. “Choas” even went up against Dr. Pellettieri in a basketball shootout! The team’s smaller robots, “Root” and “Dash,” were also on hand to teach students how to block code. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/6/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175158 Wed, 06 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175158 Suffolk Zone Award Winners Sachem High School East seniors Alex Apicella and Alexis Berger, along with Sachem High School North seniors Anthony DiMenna and Hannah Scionti, were named the Suffolk Zone Award winners by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. This outstanding health and physical education award honors high school seniors who are recognized as leaders in physical education and serve as role models to their peers. The award is presented annually to the top male and female physical education leaders at each Suffolk County high school. Recipients of this award lead a healthy and physically active lifestyle while demonstrating responsible behaviors such as good sportsmanship, character and citizenship. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/6/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175171 Wed, 06 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175171 East Students Share Art with Memory Project The Sachem High School East Chapter of the National Art Honor Society recently participated in the Memory Project. The Memory Project is a nonprofit organization that invites art teachers and their students to create portraits for youth around the world who have faced substantial challenges, such as neglect, abuse, loss of parents and extreme poverty. This year, the National Art Honor Society created portraits of children from Syria. The portraits have been mailed back to the organization, who will then deliver them to the children. The project promotes intercultural understanding and kindness around the globe. Date Added: 3/5/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175122 Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175122 Seneca Sixth Graders Inspired by Black History Month Activity Sixth graders at Seneca Middle School learned about Elizabeth Jennings and her fight for equal access on public transportation in New York City as part of the building’s Black History Month activities. Students participated in a three-part program – a read aloud of “Lizzie Demands a Seat!: Elizabeth Jennings Fights for Streetcar Rights,” a virtual visit with the Long Island Museum to examine its 1885 streetcar and understand its importance, and a virtual author visit with Beth Anderson who shared her writing process and research that went into creating the book. Through this program, sixth graders learned about Jennings’ path of inspiration. They discussed specific examples of what it means to inspire others and compared Jennings to other influential figures in American history. Students were then introduced to the idea of “following in someone’s footsteps,” and wrote down their own examples of inspirations in their lives. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/5/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175127 Tue, 05 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175127 Vaping Presentation 3/12/24 Date Added: 3/4/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175090 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175090 Sachem North Flag Football in the Spotlight The Sachem High School North varsity flag football team was invited to participate in the first High School Media Day hosted by the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on Feb. 22. Students Taylor Califano and Jacalyn Zampieron, along with coach Eric Maurer, participated in a press conference hosted by SNY reporter and anchor Jeané Coakley, as well as have pictures and video taken. They had the opportunity to listen to the captain of the Italy National Women’s Flag Football team, Nausicaa Dell'Orto, who spoke about her own journey in the sport and provided tips to the student-athletes on how to be successful. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/4/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175098 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175098 Legislative Forum The Sachem Central School District held a legislative forum for community members to connect with local legislators on Feb. 29. The event was hosted by the board of education’s legislative committee and allowed the local leaders to discuss the district and educational priorities including funding, mental health in schools and the budgeting process. New York State Senator Dean Murray, New York State Assemblyman Doug Smith and Suffolk County Legislators Nick Caracappa and Anthony Piccirillo were all present to hear from members of the Sachem school community. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/4/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175104 Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175104 Sachem East Cheer - Class A Champions Congratulations to Sachem High School East Cheer, the 2024 Class A New York Champions. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175056 Sun, 03 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175056 March Newsletter Date Added: 2/28/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174953 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174953 Hiawatha Library Receives Generous Book Donation Third graders at Hiawatha Elementary School showed off brand new books the building recently received from the PTA. The PTA donated more than $2,500 worth of new books to add to Hiawatha’s library collection. The books ranged from different genres and reading levels, allowing elementary students to explore new stories and foster a love of reading. Date Added: 3/1/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175042 Fri, 01 Mar 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175042 Freshmen February at East Sachem High School East held its first Freshmen February this month, created for the freshmen, by the freshmen! The month consisted of freshmen-themed Fridays including a “Fancy Friday,” “Frozen Friday” and a “Freshmen Spirit Friday” before winter break where students dressed in red, pink or white in honor of Valentine’s Day. Each Friday, there was also a trivia question posted and the winner received a gift card to either the Sachem East School Store or the Eastside Café. The freshmen class also hosted a pop-up Valentine’s Day shop for all students at East where they sold Valentine’s Day cards, friendship bracelets and lollipops. They had a free Hershey Kiss guessing jar, where the winner won all the chocolate goodies inside. Students also set up a fun, selfie photo station. Lastly, the class held hot chocolate sales through the Eastside Café. Students were able to pre-order hot chocolate in their respective English classes, and it was delivered right to their room on Friday, Feb. 16. It was a great way to end the week before winter break! This was a huge success, and the Class of 2027 paved the way for future freshman classes. A special thank you to the freshmen class officers who made this all come together – Gianna Rincon, Samantha Rubino, Leone Pitkewicz, Nicolas Losito and Molly Frank. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/29/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=175000 Thu, 29 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false175000 Smith Haven Mall Field Study Students in Mr. Jannace’s AP human geography classes at High School East visited the Smith Haven Mall to conduct a field study of the cultural landscape. Jillian Friello, Director of Marketing and Business Development at the Smith Haven Mall, and former student of Mr. Jannace, helped students practice this geographic process and refined their understanding of the concepts of region, place, culture and economic geography. Students conducted observations that forced them to analyze and think critically about why things are where they are. Our Sachem graduate director and “tour guide” also taught students to focus on analyzing the dispersion, density and patterns of stores, as well as the people and facilities within the mall. The purpose of this type of spatial analysis is to develop a better understanding of the concepts of place, region and cultural landscape, which are critical concepts for student-geographers to master before the AP exam in May. Mrs. Melandro and Mrs. Gearns reinforce these concepts, along with writing skills, in their humanities research co-requisite course. The students also had a great time in the mall, experiencing a familiar place in a whole new way! Date Added: 2/28/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174976 Wed, 28 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174976 North Celebrates Black History Through the Decades Sachem High School North celebrated Black History Month with a culminating event featuring artwork, poetry, a gallery walk and musical performances. Students attended the event during their social studies classes where their peers showcased their talents and creativity while highlighting Black individuals who have influenced American history. The event was organized by the High School North National History Honor Society and focused on “Celebrating Black History Through the Decades.” Projects and performances by students and the Arrowettes recognized the remarkable contributions and achievements of the Black community across different decades. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/27/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174925 Tue, 27 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174925 Suffolk County Cheer Champs Congratulations to the Sachem East varsity cheer team on winning the Class A Suffolk County Championship on Feb. 17 at Sachem High School East. Sachem East last won the county championship in the winter of the 2021-2022 school year. The team will advance to compete for the New York State Class A Championship on Saturday, March 2 at the Visions Federal Credit Union Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York at 9 a.m. Streaming can be found at NFHSnetwork.com. Date Added: 2/27/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174933 Tue, 27 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174933 Domino Effect of Kindness Spreads Across Sachem Sachem students at Lynwood Avenue and Merrimac elementary schools witnessed the domino effect of kindness firsthand. Throughout February, both buildings held cereal box collection drives. At Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, staff lined the 812 collected boxes up in the gym as a maze. Teachers knocked the first box down, and the rest followed as a chain reaction. Lynwood Avenue then donated the cereal to Island Harvest. Meanwhile, Merrimac Elementary School set up its domino maze throughout the halls of the building. Students and staff collected a total of 433 boxes to be donated to the Ronald McDonald House and the Lighthouse Mission. The cereal box domino mazes symbolized how easily kindness can be spread from one person to the next. Both events aligned with P.S. I Love You Day celebrations. Click here to view the Lynwood photo slideshow. Click here to view the Merrimac photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/26/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174899 Mon, 26 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174899 Senecon Celebrates Arts and Literacy Seneca Middle School held its annual Senecon event on Feb. 16, inviting the seventh grade class to celebrate literacy, the arts and hands-on learning. Students connected with artists, storytellers, authors, illustrators and musicians through interactive sessions. They were encouraged to dress up as movie, comic book, video game or television show characters. Several of the workshops were virtual, including origami, graffiti art and music technology. However, students also experienced two sessions in person. Seneca welcomed Christopher Agostino to Senecon for a storytelling event. Agostino called student volunteers on the stage to have their faces painted as he told a story. He engaged the audience in several folktales while illustrating them through face paint. Jester Jim was the second in-person performance for Senecon. He began his session by exploring beatboxing and different sounds. Students were eager to help him create songs. Jester Jim then performed juggling and balancing acts while calling volunteers onto stage. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/22/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174855 Thu, 22 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174855 Students are Heart Healthy at Nokomis Nokomis Elementary School students are heart healthy this February. Students have raised more than $10,000 for the Kids Heart Challenge. The challenge encourages students to fundraise for the American Heart Association while learning how to take care of their hearts, bodies and brains along the way. Nokomis Elementary School coordinator Taylor Starr hosted before-school yoga sessions to promote health habits and movement while students participated in the challenge. They started by reciting the mantra, “I am important, I am kind, I am smart, I am strong and I can do hard things.” Students then practiced different yoga poses and breathing techniques to relax their bodies before the start of the school day. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/20/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174809 Tue, 20 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174809 HS East Student Named QuestBridge Scholar Sachem High School East student Juan Marcelo Verdugo was named a QuestBridge Scholar and selected for admission to Middlebury College with a National College Match Scholarship. As a QuestBridge Scholar, Juan was offered a full, four-year scholarship. He is one of 2,242 finalists that were selected as scholarship recipients in this year’s program. QuestBridge partners with top colleges across the country to award students who have shown outstanding academic ability. Match Scholarship recipients are granted early admission to one of the partnering colleges with a full scholarship, worth over $200,000. Date Added: 2/16/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174759 Fri, 16 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174759 Valentines for Veterans at Merrimac Merrimac Elementary School students in Sachem were in the Valentine’s Day spirit and wrote out cards to be distributed to the veterans at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook. All grade levels participated and created a total of 250 valentines to share with the veterans. The activity was the culmination of the weeklong celebration for P.S. I Love You Day. It supported this year’s theme, “Love is Meant to be Given.” Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/16/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174779 Fri, 16 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174779 Spreading Love Through Service-Learning Members of the Kids Care Club at Tamarac Elementary School spread the love this February by working on blanket donations. Students collaborated to make no-sew blankets during their before-school meetings. The blankets were donated to Good Samaritan University Hospital and the Islip Animal Shelter. Students were eager to help people, and animals, in the community through this service-learning project. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/15/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174696 Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174696 Souper Bowl at Wenonah Elementary School Wenonah Elementary School hosted its annual “Souper” Bowl the week leading up to the big game. Students voted for their favorite team to win the Super Bowl by placing donated cans of soup or nonperishable items in their team’s collection box during physical education classes. Fith grade students Mackenzie Aichinger and Cooper DeMato helped to organize the donation drive and counted the donations each day. They also kept a running scoreboard in the school lobby. Wenonah raised a total of 274 food items to be donated to the food pantry at Sachem High School North! Date Added: 2/15/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174731 Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174731 Girls Bowling Places Second in County Championship The Sachem girls varsity bowling team placed second in the Section XI County Championship on Feb. 10 at Bowlero in Sayville. The team was led by seniors Cira Arcangel and Bella Quaranta. Senior Cira Arcangel won several awards for the tournament – high series of the tournament, high game with a 279, and second place highest average bowled with a 221.83. Cira finished in the top six girls in Suffolk County and will once again, for the third straight year, be a part of the Section XI All Star Team, representing Section XI in Syracuse on March 8. Date Added: 2/15/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174734 Thu, 15 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174734 Long Island Invitational Girls Wrestling Championships Sachem High School East student Mia Marchitto competed in the Long Island Invitational girls wrestling championships on Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024. She won her match against Huntington's Aylin Davila Chitay. Mia was recently selected as Newsday’s Athlete of the Week. Check out the full article at the link below: https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/wrestling/athlete-of-the-week-mia-marchitto-sachem-east-tkfrs78g Photo credit: George A Faella Date Added: 2/14/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174686 Wed, 14 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174686 Snow Day - Sachem Schools Closed, Tuesday, February 13, 2024 Due the impending weather, Sachem Schools will be closed on Tuesday, February 13, 2024. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=125430 Tue, 13 Feb 2024 09:00:00 GMT false125430 Elementary Music Festival - New Date The Elementary Music Festival Concert originally scheduled for Tuesday, February 13th will now take place on Thursday, February 15th at Sachem East HS, 7 p.m. Parents can also check a concert reminder that was shared recently by their child's music teacher for more details. Date Added: 2/13/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174631 Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174631 Celebrating 100 Days of School Students across Sachem celebrated the 100th Day of School on Feb. 12. They were excited to celebrate the milestone by making crafts, wearing 100-day crowns and even dressing up as 100-year-olds! The 100th Day of School marks great progress since September, while also getting students excited about the events coming up toward the end of the year. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/13/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174643 Tue, 13 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174643 Shadrack Boakye Inspires Samoset Students Samoset Middle School invited award-winning director and actor Shadrack Boakye to speak with eighth graders as part of the building’s Black History Month celebrations. Boakye is a survivor of the Liberian civil war. He shared his story of coming to the United States and how he faced adversity throughout his journey. Notably, Boakye told students about the profound impact one of his teachers had on his life and his success. The presentation encouraged students to “cover” each other, or to take care of those around them. Boakye shared the several instances when someone covered him, which ultimately helped lead him to where he is today. Eighth graders were called to the front of the auditorium to share stories of how their friends have covered them and to thank the teachers who have had a positive impact on their lives. Students walked away with feelings of gratitude and pride for one another. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/13/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174623 Mon, 12 Feb 2024 07:00:00 GMT false174623 Family Connect Night Library Family Connect Night Registration Link Date Added: 2/12/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174575 Mon, 12 Feb 2024 06:00:00 GMT false174575 Sachem Celebrates P.S. I Love You Day Students and staff across the Sachem Central School District celebrated P.S. I Love You Day on Feb. 9. Buildings across the district were decorated in purple as the Sachem community dressed in the color to spread the message of the annual day – to promote love, support and end the stigma surrounding mental health. Students embraced Sachem’s Culture of Care through P.S. I Love You Day activities including writing kind notes to each other, creating displays of love and positivity to hang in the hallways and working with peer educators from both high schools. Additionally, several buildings held spirit weeks to kick off the P.S. I Love You Day festivities and bring school communities together. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/12/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174588 Mon, 12 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174588 Spring Sports Registration Registration is now open for Spring HS Sports (start date March 11) and Spring MS Sports will open on February 25th (start date March 25) on Final Forms. Please register at https://sachem-ny.finalforms.com/ and reference the Sachem Athletics page at https://sachem.edu/departments/athletics for additional information. Date Added: 2/12/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174573 Mon, 12 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174573 UPK Open House: Tuesday, February 13, 2024, Cancelled The UPK Open House scheduled for Tuesday, February 13, 2024, has been cancelled. As soon as we have a new date it will be posted here. Thank you. Date Added: 2/12/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174592 Mon, 12 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174592 North Wrestling Team Named League II Champs The Sachem High School North wrestling team won the Suffolk County League II tournament title over number two-ranked Connetquot. This is the first league tournament title for the Arrows since 2013 and only the second title since the split of the high schools. Sachem North was paced by their three league champions, sophomore Jack Cusumano, junior Joe Marotta and senior captain Nate Gsell. In total, the Arrows qualified 13 wrestlers for the Suffolk County Championships being held at Stony Brook University this Saturday, Feb. 10 and Sunday, Feb. 11. All 13 place finishers include: 108- Corey Bardua -4th 116- Tommy Keegan -4th 124- Jack Cusumano- 1st 124- Josh Thomas - 3rd 131- Jake Fischer- 4th 138- Joe Marotta- 1st 145- Anthony Caputo- 4th 152- Logan Williamson- 3rd 170- Tommy Volpe -3rd 170- Dimitrios Gonzalez -4th 215- Nate Gsell - 1st 285- Logan Spinella- 2nd 285- Valdey Pierre- 3rd Date Added: 2/8/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174513 Thu, 08 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174513 District Recognizes Top Musicians During the Sachem Central School District Board of Education meeting on Feb. 7, the district’s top musicians were recognized for their participation in recent music festivals and conferences, including the Long Island Strings Festival Association, the New York State Council of Administrators of Education All-County Festival and the New York State School Music Association All-State Conference. Chairperson for Secondary Music David Jaklitsch proudly presented the students to the board and congratulated them on their hard work and accomplishments. Date Added: 2/8/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174514 Thu, 08 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174514 From Music to Motivation: DMC Speaks with Sagamore Sixth Graders Founding member of Run-DMC and legendary hip-hop artist Darryl “DMC” McDaniels visited Sagamore Middle School on Feb. 6 to speak with sixth graders. McDaniels read his book, “Darryl’s Dream” to students, which shared his own experience with bullying and overcoming adversity. Students were empowered to celebrate differences and collaborate with one another. The sixth graders were in for a treat as McDaniels performed “Darryl’s Rap,” verses he wrote in elementary school. The rap encouraged students to use the power of words in a positive way and create a vision for the future, reminding them that dreams do come true. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/7/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174468 Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174468 STEAM Week at Tamarac The Sachem Public Library recently visited Tamarac Elementary School for a week of hands-on, STEAM activities. The library provided materials to create different stations for students of all grade levels to rotate through, each focusing on science, technology, engineering, art or math. Students made magnet-block creations, drew on Osmo tablets, used straw connectors, built Legos and drove robots. The activities allowed students to collaborate with one another while developing their creativity, problem-solving and critical thinking skills outside the typical classroom setting. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/7/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174483 Wed, 07 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174483 Spreading Love with Collaborative Kindness-Grams Third graders at Merrimac Elementary School kicked off the building’s Kindness Month by collaborating with students from Ms. Borak’s class at Sachem High School North. The North students created handmade notecards and delivered them to Merrimac Elementary School on Feb. 2. They worked together with the third graders to decorate the notecards and fill them with messages of love, kindness and positivity. The third graders then identified and delivered the kindness-grams to staff members in the school. The collaborative activity brought together the Sachem school community while kicking off activities ahead of P.S. I Love You Day on Feb. 9. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/6/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174440 Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174440 North Student Presents Science Research Sachem High School North senior Avi Talsania presented the results of two science research investigations at the 2023 Materials Research Society Fall Conference. Avi’s work was conducted through the Garcia Program at Stony Brook University this past summer under the mentorship of Adam Hansen and Dr. Miriam Rafailovich. Both projects were presented at the conference. His first investigation, “The Influence of Donor Age on Cholesterol Inhibition on Fibroblast Mechanical Properties and Susceptibility to Bacterial Infection” was selected for an onsite poster presentation. The second investigation, “Vitality of a Novel Peptide P12 as an Antithrombotic Agent” was selected for an onsite oral presentation. The Materials Research Society Fall Conference showcases leading interdisciplinary research presented by scientists from around the globe. It’s the world’s leading scientific gathering for materials research. Congratulations, Avi! Date Added: 2/6/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174449 Tue, 06 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174449 Honoring Black History Month at High School East In honor of Black History Month, members of the Rho Kappa National History Honor Society and History Club at Sachem High School East created a display celebrating the accomplishments of various African Americans. The theme of this year’s project was “African Americans and the Arts.” Students selected individuals, including Ralph Ellison, Alicia Keys and Billie Holiday, and created a poster to represent their achievements. The posters were then hung up in the building’s social studies hallway to create a gallery walk. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/5/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174390 Mon, 05 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174390 Project Kindness Sixth graders at our middle schools were visited by high school students on Feb. 1 to collaborate on lessons of kindness and friendship. Peer educators and students in the teens as teachers courses pushed into sixth grade classes for interactive activities focused on teamwork and shared decision-making. Middle school and high school students alike were excited to make conversation and build new friendships. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/5/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174423 Mon, 05 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174423 Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Students at Waverly Elementary School are honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. as part of the district’s celebration of Black History Month. Kindergarteners in Mrs. Mergott’s class created a hallway display of Dr. King. They learned that “good character is found in the heart” and wrote down ways they can follow Dr. King’s teachings and carry on his legacy. Date Added: 2/2/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174378 Fri, 02 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174378 Sachem Attends NYSTEA Conference Over the weekend of Jan. 5, 20 seniors from Sachem East and North high schools attended the New York State Theater Education Association Conference in Callicoon, New York. This was the first year Sachem attended, and the organization’s 27th annual conference. More than 700 students from across the state attended to participate in educational theater workshops, performances and special events. First, they watched a Broadway performer from “Rent” and learned about his career. Each student then chose five workshops they were interested in – ranging from lighting, to acting to musical directing. Each workshop was presented by professionals and college professors in the field. To end the trip, students attended a college fair with school representatives from across New York. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/1/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174334 Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174334 Undefeated Middle School Teams Congratulations to our middle school athletics teams who went undefeated this fall season! Samoset cheerleading Seneca 7th grade boys basketball Seneca 8th grade boys basketball Seneca 8th grade girls volleyball Date Added: 2/1/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174339 Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174339 2024-25 UPK information Click here to view the2024-2025 UPK PowerPoint Presentation. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174233 Thu, 01 Feb 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174233 Students Get a Taste of Books and Cultures Waverly Elementary School recently held a cultural book tasting during library and music classes to celebrate the many cultures in Sachem and around the world. Students of all grade levels had the opportunity to learn about different languages, traditions and music while rotating through different stations. Students started out at a book-tasting station, where they explored stories written in different languages, alongside English translations. After sampling different books, they filled out a tasting review and discussed the books with their classmates. Next, they visited a Lego station provided by the Sachem Public Library. Students were given photos of flags from countries around the globe and tasked with replicating them using Legos. Finally, the music station taught them about popular sounds and songs of different countries and cultures. Students in the Waverly ukulele club even got to perform “One Love” while learning about Jamaican music. Waverly Elementary School partnered with the Sachem Public Library and its PTA to bring the event to life. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/31/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174292 Wed, 31 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174292 UPK Open House: February 28, 2024 10AM The meeting will be held at Sachem Central School District Board of Education Annex, 51 School Street, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779. Date Added: 2/14/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174672 Wed, 31 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174672 FAFSA Completion Workshop For Parents and Senior Students Date Added: 1/26/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174204 Fri, 26 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174204 Board Celebrates Fall Athletics Success During the Jan. 24 meeting of the Sachem Board of Education, the board and administration celebrated a successful fall athletics season. Several fall teams made it to the playoffs and dozens of student-athletes were awarded with post-season honors. Additionally, every Sachem team earned the designation of a scholar-athlete team for the fall 2023 season. This honor from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association recognizes teams with 75% of their roster having a combined GPA greater than or equal to a 90. The board first recognized four Sachem coaches who received post-season Coach of the Year honors. Congratulations to East girls varsity volleyball coach Amanda Schmohl, East girls junior varsity volleyball coach Christina Loffredo, North varsity field hockey coach Carly Sharp and North football coach Dave Caputo. Following the coach recognitions, students who received post-season honors including All-County, All-Division, All-League, All-Long Island and All-State were celebrated. Next, Kristen Fieger and Clodagh Harte were honored for being named Teachers of the Year from the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Suffolk Zone. Ms. Fieger from Samoset Middle School was named the Middle School Health Education Teacher of the Year and Clodagh Harte from Tamarac Elementary School was designated Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. The Suffolk Zone also thanked the district for hosting its annual conference at Sachem High School East this past November. More than 1,100 health and physical educators, as well as athletic directors, came together at High School East for a professional conference filled with 60 presentations taking place across the building. Suffolk Zone President Lori Hewlett presented the district with a plaque as a token of appreciation for its hospitality and advocacy. Date Added: 1/25/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174182 Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174182 Middle School Percussion Clinic On Jan. 24, the Sagamore Middle School Music Department hosted a percussion clinic for the district’s middle school percussion students. The percussion students and band directors from Samoset and Seneca Middle Schools joined those from Sagamore for an exciting morning of clinics and performances. The event, which aimed to inspire this select group of students, took place from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Special thanks to Dr. Patrick Armann from Sagamore Middle School for organizing the event for our students. This special event started with a clinic lead by Sachem’s very own Dr. Dylan Benson. Dr. Benson teaches at Nokomis Elementary School and is a seasoned percussionist and clinician who also helps coordinate the SCMEA Day of Percussion. This inspiring and motivational clinic provided an overview of percussion methods, technique and NYSSMA solo preparation, along with how to prepare and maintain students’ equipment appropriately. Following the clinic, the Queens College Percussion Ensemble performed, highlighting various styles of percussion literature. The college students shared their practice techniques and approaches to learning various musical styles. This energetic performance included a variety of instruments in the percussion family which captivated Sachem’s middle school percussionists. A fun-filled, musical morning was had by all! Sagamore Middle School will host the annual SCMEA Day of Percussion on Feb. 2 from 3:30 to 9 p.m. Percussion students from all over Suffolk County are encouraged to attend this special event featuring informative clinics, guest artists, and the opportunity to perform in a massed snare drum ensemble! More information on the SCMEA Day of Percussion may be found here: https://www.scmea.org/festivals/scmea-day-of-percussion Date Added: 1/25/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174194 Thu, 25 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174194 Broadway Workshop at High School East The Sachem High School East theater department hosted its second Broadway workshop with actor Clay Rice-Thomson. Rice-Thomson is currently starring in “Moulin Rouge” and has been in other productions including “Newsies,” “King Kong,” and “Matilda” on Broadway. Additionally, he performed in “West Side Story” on a national tour as A-Rab, which is the musical High School East students will be performing this spring. Rice-Thomson worked with students on one of Broadway choreographed dance numbers for “West Side Story.” Additionally, he taught a dance routine for the upcoming production at East. Students then had time for a question-and-answer session with Rice-Thomson. It was a valuable experience for students to interact with and learn from a professional. Date Added: 1/24/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174145 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174145 Sachem Public Library Partnership at Seneca ENL teacher Ms. Schlesier and library media specialist Ms. Creedon at Seneca Middle School collaborated with the Sachem Public Library to support English language learners. Students had the opportunity to register for their own personal library cards. Additionally, public librarian Ms. Furnariintroduced students to the various online learning platforms available to support them. This technology is accessible to students both in and out of the classroom and can be used in tandem with current classroom strategies. Seneca Middle School is excited to continue this partnership! Date Added: 1/24/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174163 Wed, 24 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174163 NYS AHPERD Suffolk Zone Teachers of the Year Two Sachem Central School District teachers were selected as Teachers of the Year by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Suffolk Zone Professional Awards Committee. Kristen Fieger from Samoset Middle School was the recipient of the Suffolk Zone Award for Middle School Health Education Teacher of the Year and Clodagh Harte from Tamarac Elementary School was honored with the Suffolk Zone Award for Elementary School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Ms. Fieger and Ms. Harte were both honored at the Suffolk Zone Conference at Sachem High School East in November 2023 and recently received their awards from Sachem Athletic Director Gary Beutel and Assistant Athletic Director Phil Torregrosa at the Suffolk Zone Professional Awards Dinner on Jan. 18 at the West Sayville Country Club. The district congratulates these great teachers on this honor, which was selected by their peers in health and physical education. Date Added: 1/23/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174120 Tue, 23 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174120 Young Musicians Attend New York Philharmonic Performance Members of the fifth grade band and orchestra at Waverly Elementary School traveled to the big apple to hear the New York Philharmonic on Jan. 19. The New York Philharmonic’s Young People’s Concerts for Schools program encourages teachers to enrich student engagement through a live orchestral concert featuring the Philharmonic with music, movement, art and stories. Students were eager to step inside Lincoln Center and hear from professional musicians. Date Added: 1/22/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174089 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174089 Tamarac Students Prepare for Ride for Life The ALS Ride for Life organization visited Tamarac Elementary School on Jan. 19, ahead of its flagship event this spring. Members of the organization and patients taught students about ALS and how they advocate to raise funding and awareness in the fight against the disease. Students then learned about how the Ride for Life started in 1997 and has grown since. Last year, the Ride for Life made stops at both Sachem high schools, Sagamore Middle School, Tamarac Elementary School and Merrimac Elementary School. Sachem looks forward to welcoming the Ride for Life back this year. Date Added: 1/22/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174093 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174093 2024-2025 UPK lottery information will be available on February 1, 2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174078 Mon, 22 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174078 Create a Craft Club Combines Reading and Art First graders at Nokomis Elementary School are fostering their love for reading and art during the after-school Create a Craft Club. Led by Mrs. Zelazny, students come together weekly for an afternoon of fun and creativity. Students first read a book together, then create a craft based on what they read. Most recently, students made their own paper aliens after reading several of the “Aliens Love Underpants” books. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/19/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174036 Fri, 19 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174036 HS East Teacher Published in National Journal A science teacher from Sachem High School East was recently published in The Career Development Quarterly, the official journal of the National Career Development Association. Richard Gearns published “School counseling practices related to postsecondary STEM participation.” The article comes out of Gearns’ doctoral dissertation. This National Science Foundation-funded research took place over five years and included interviews from school counselors across Long Island, focusing on the roles they play in preparing students for careers in engineering. Date Added: 1/18/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=174004 Thu, 18 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false174004 Courthouse Visit Open Students to Career Pathways Business law students at Sachem High School East recently went on a guided tour of the John P. Cohalan Jr. Court Complex in Central Islip. They received an overview of the Suffolk County court system and stepped inside a courtroom, viewed holding cells in between courtrooms and the Sheriff’s lock-up, and were personally addressed by the judge before arraignments began. Students then observed several arraignments and learned about bail reform throughout the process. Students gained insight about the many career pathways available inside the courthouse, along with information about civil service exams. Date Added: 1/16/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173944 Tue, 16 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173944 Moving to the Music at Hiawatha The energy was through the roof at Hiawatha Elementary School on Jan. 12 for the Kerboom Kidz assembly. Students gathered in the cafeteria to move to the music with the Kerboom Kidz team. They began with some warm-up exercises, then learned a short dance routine that brought students to their feet. The assembly inspired students to live a healthy, active lifestyle and promoted physical and mental wellness. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/12/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173891 Fri, 12 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173891 Classes Collaborate for Snowflake Activity Mrs. Peter’s first grade class and Ms. Loffredo’s fourth grade class at Merrimac Elementary School teamed up for a collaborative activity about snowflakes on Jan. 5, just ahead of a forecasted snowfall. The buddy classes met to discover what makes each student as unique as a snowflake, while incorporating principles of science, English language arts and social-emotional learning. Prior to the meeting, the classes learned how snowflakes formed. They learned as ice crystals fall to the ground, water vapor freezes onto the primary crystal, building new crystals which become the six arms of a snowflake. Passing through the varied atmosphere conditions is what creates beautiful and one-of-a-kind snowflakes. The classes then collaborated to create their own snowflake designs and complete a writing piece describing their unique interests. Merrimac Elementary School has had a class buddy system in place for years where older classes are paired with younger classes for projects and activities. Implementing a buddy system accelerates social skills for all ages, gives students the opportunity to practice positive peer interactions and is fun for all involved. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/11/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173860 Thu, 11 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173860 Bike Programs Pedals into Lynwood Fundraising efforts at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School have pedaled a new bicycle riding program into reality. Physical education teacher Matthew Golini spearheaded the efforts to bring the All Kids Bike program to Lynwood, with the goal of teaching every kindergarten student to ride a bicycle during their physical education classes. Thanks to community donations and the efforts of the fundraising committee leaders – Mrs. Cortina, Ms. DiAngelis, Mrs. Konik, Mrs. Mieczkowski, Ms. Perez, Mrs. Rodriguez and Mrs. Satterfield – the school is now equipped with a fleet of bikes, helmets and pedal kits. Since November, Mr. Golini’s physical education classes have been progressing in the areas of balance, gliding and ultimately pedaling. They have been developing their skills through practice and different challenges in the gymnasium. While riding a bicycle is one of life’s big milestones, it also provides a positive influence on a child’s brain development. The program promotes balance, gross motor skills and coordination. Additionally, it has provided kindergartners with independence, confidence and physical and mental strength. Students have learned resiliency and are excited to take this early step in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The kindergartners at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School are well on their way to earning their “I Can Ride a Bike” certificates. They are looking forward to pedaling on pavement this spring when the weather warms up. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/10/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173819 Wed, 10 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173819 College Information Night for Sophomores and Juniors https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173758 Mon, 08 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173758 Sachem Students Participate in Section XI Conference On Dec. 21, 2023, more than 500 student-athletes from 58 Suffolk County schools gathered to attend the Section XI Student-Athlete Leadership Conference at Center Moriches High School. Sachem was represented by 8 student-athletes from both East and North High Schools, along with health teachers Danielle Gresalfi and Scott Tierney. Sachem students collaborated with athletes from other schools to participate in workshops focused on student-athlete planning, leadership development and wellness. Additionally, they heard from several guest speakers. Thank you to our Sachem student-leaders who attended: High School East Emily Carey, Olivia Guido, Edward Kerjean, Bailey Kucek, Ava Lovergine, Michael Lubniewski, Hailiey Moschitta, Aris Radillo and Jake Surrosco. High School North Johnny Calabria, Ryan Medina, Jack Riegger, Liliana Romano, Lea Rowett, Hannah Scionti, Alyssa Tappin and Frankie Zigon. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/3/2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173655 Wed, 03 Jan 2024 05:00:00 GMT false173655 Christmas Tree Lighting at East Students at High School East gathered outside the building for the “Kindness Links Us Together” tree lighting event on Dec. 14. The event brought the school community together as many different students and departments had a hand in organizing the event. Students sang carols alongside Ms. Dominick’s chorus and Mr. Comito’s band. Students in Ms. Hatfield and Mr. Byrne’s technology classes crafted beautiful Christmas characters. The lights were placed on the tree by Mr. Wittenberg’s class. Additionally, hot chocolate was handed out by Ms. Parkinson’s world of work class. “Kindness Links us Together” links were displayed on the tree and designed by the Renaissance Student Leadership Club. High School East students and staff members wrote down random acts of kindness that had been shared throughout the building. The kindness links honored the late Mr. Jim, one of the building’s security guards who is remembered as one of the kindest individuals at High School East. Date Added: 12/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173590 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173590 STEM Snowflakes at Wenonah Third graders at Wenonah Elementary School connected STEM to the season by 3D printing their own snowflakes. Educational technology coach Mrs. McGuire worked with the students in Tinkercad to first design their snowflakes. Third graders learned how to duplicate, rotate and mirror the geometric shape to create a unique snowflake. The designs were then 3D-printed for students to display and enjoy. The project connected back to a book that the third graders read called, “Snowflake Bentley,” which highlighted how each snowflake is an original work of art. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173582 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173582 Holiday Cheer at Cayuga and Chippewa Date Added: 12/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173588 Fri, 22 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173588 Writing Holiday Wishes Sachem students are participating in the annual Make-A-Wish letter writing campaign to benefit the foundation this holiday season. At Cayuga Elementary School, students of all grade levels wrote letters detailing their wishes for children with various illnesses who are supported by Make-A-Wish. They dropped their letters off in a red mailbox in the school lobby. Every year, Macy’s pledges to make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for each letter that is received. Teacher Tina-Marie Mikos spearheads the initiative at Cayuga annually. This year, students watched a video detailing how their efforts positively impacted several Make-A-Wish children from last year’s initiative. Similarly, students in Zachary Metz’s health classes at Seneca Middle School are writing wishes. They have been writing letters about several topics including their goals for the new year and things they are looking forward to this holiday season. This year, the students at Seneca Middle School have set a goal of raising $3,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation through this Macy’s partnership. The activity aligns with the true meaning of the holiday season and teaches students of all ages about the importance of giving. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173551 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 07:00:00 GMT false173551 Singing Songs of the Season Kindergarten students at Merrimac Elementary School took the stage in front of an audience made up of family and friends to sing songs of the season on Dec. 19. Students performed three songs – “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” “The Hannukah Song” and “Frosty the Snowman” – to get in the holiday spirit. It was a wonderful way to bring the kindergarten class together ahead of the upcoming break. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173506 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173506 E-Newsletter Sign Up! For any community members that are not employees or who do not have children in the district, please click the link below to automatically get the newsletters going forward from our mass notification system! Click here to sign up for the community newsletter. Date Added: 12/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173507 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173507 Baker’s Workshop Fifty students from marketing, hospitality, culinary, the world of work and life after Sachem classes at High School East attended a field trip to the Baker's Workshop in Riverhead. Upon arrival, students entered a brand-new lecture hall built for Suffolk County Community College’s culinary arts and hospitality program. After hearing about attending Suffolk County Community College and some basic cooking tactics, students took to the kitchen to create their own pizza with gluten-free dough. After eating this tasty treat, the group toured the facility's kitchen and spent time in the community café. All baked goods at the cafe are prepared by Suffolk students under the watchful eye of experts in the field of the culinary arts. All students and teachers attending had a memorable experience which included a surprise appearance by two 2023 Sachem graduates who currently attend the school after having experienced this trip last year. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173533 Thu, 21 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173533 Festive Fun with Gingerbread Ahead of the December break, kindergarten students at Hiawatha and Nokomis Elementary Schools invited their families to the building for some festive activities. Hiawatha Elementary School students made “gingerbread houses.” Using frosting as glue, students and their guests attached graham crackers to milk cartons and decorated them using a variety of sweet treats. At Nokomis Elementary School, students decorated gingerbread men. The kindergarteners took home their creations to enjoy with their families. The hands-on activities got students excited about the holidays and ready for the upcoming break! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173444 Tue, 19 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173444 North Student Named Coca-Cola Scholar Semifinalist Sachem High School North student Ashley Edgar has been named a semifinalist in the 2024 Coca-Cola Scholars Program. Ashley is among the 1,514 students nationwide who were selected to advance to this next step in the program. The Coca-Cola Scholars Program recognizes students for academic excellence, leadership and service demonstrated in schools. More than 103,800 students from across the country applied for this year’s program. After the semifinalist applications are reviewed, 150 students will become Coca-Cola Scholars and will receive a $20,000 college scholarship. The district wishes Ashley the best as she continues in the competition! Date Added: 12/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173386 Fri, 15 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173386 Tower Garden Grinch Smoothies Second graders in Mrs. Andersen’s class at Chippewa Elementary School made “Grinch smoothies” using the greens they grew in their classroom Tower Garden. Students used appropriate social pragmatics and communication skills to share the sweet treats with their friends in the building! Date Added: 12/14/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173352 Thu, 14 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173352 Students Visit Five Towns College Campus Sachem High School East students joined Mr. Davis and Mrs. Cannetti of the business department on a trip to the Five Towns College campus for an interactive tour. Students first met with the Five Towns business department chairperson and participated in a question-and-answer session. They gained insight about the college admissions process and what makes a successful student. Next, Sachem students stepped inside a state-of-the-art recording studio and met with the Five Towns audio engineering department chairperson. They learned about the many career paths that can be pursued with a background in audio recording. The final stop on the tour was inside a college dorm room to preview what their living situation could be when they go off to college. Students also got to check out the student activity center and eat lunch in the college’s café. The Sachem business department thanks Five Towns college for being a wonderful host and providing students with a hands-on, informative experience! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173315 Wed, 13 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173315 Winter Art ‘Draws’ Smiles Second graders at Wenonah Elementary School are drawing smiles with their artwork. During art class with Ms. Douglas, students have been creating miniature winter scenes on small canvases that were provided by second grade teacher Mrs. Licurse. Once students complete their artwork, the pieces will be sent to those residing at the Arbors Assisted Living Facility in Bohemia. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173303 Tue, 12 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173303 Pancakes for Parkinson’s The Sachem High School East volunteer club is cooking for a cause. The club held its “Pancakes for Parkinson’s” event on Dec. 7, where students and staff members could buy pancakes to support the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. Pancakes cost $1 each and the club raised a total of $1,721 – a record high for the annual event. Over the past 10 years, the volunteer club has raised a total of $12,000 to support the foundation. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease. It is focused on engaging in research and supporting the development of improved therapies for those living with the disease. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173247 Mon, 11 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173247 Team Sachem is ‘Freezing for a Reason’ Members of Team Sachem in the Town of Brookhaven Polar Plunge were recognized by the Sachem Board of Education for their success in this year’s fundraiser. The Polar Plunge raises money to support Special Olympics New York athletes. Team Sachem was a top fundraising team, collecting nearly $20,000 for the cause. This equates to supporting 50 local Special Olympics athletes. Team Sachem has been participating in the Polar Plunge for nine years, raising more than $100,000 in total. Teachers, students and Sachem school community members make up the team and look forward to participating each year. Date Added: 12/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173212 Fri, 08 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173212 Sagamore’s Annual Holiday Card Business Sagamore's 8:1:3 Prevocational Skills Class is holding another annual holiday card stuffing business! Faculty and staff drop off their supplies and students take on different roles to complete orders. Students master working independently in an assembly line stuffing cards, putting on addresses, return labels, stamps and seal them closed. They have increased their proficiency over the years and have been delivering same day service! Way to go Sagamore! Date Added: 12/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173069 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173069 ‘Deck The Poles’ with the Farmingville Chamber of Commerce On Dec. 3, the Work Based Learning Club from High School East, led by Business teacher William Ward, joined forces with the Farmingville Chamber of Commerce to spread holiday cheer. Rain did not dampen spirits, as families arrived to pick up items to decorate lamp posts along Horseblock/Portion Road. The group set up base at Triangle Park in Farmingville where they tested lights, unfurled garland, tightened bows and handed out zip ties. Families in the community then decorated their own lamp post, which can be seen by all from now through the holidays! Thanks to the Farmingville Chamber of Commerce for the free hot chocolate and the experience to make a difference in the community! Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173071 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173071 Friendsgiving at HS North Our students celebrated Thanksgiving with their classmates by sharing how thankful they are for their friendships. The festivities concluded with a delicious feast! Date Added: 12/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=173064 Wed, 06 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false173064 Former Professional Athlete Connects With Students Chris Herren, a former professional basketball player who played in the NBA and overseas, visited Sachem High School East on Nov. 28 for a powerful presentation about addiction and substance use prevention. Sophomores gathered in the building’s auditorium where they first watched a video about Herren’s life, journey to the NBA and struggles with drug abuse. Herren then came out to speak with students, noting the importance of looking at addiction with a different lens, changing the focus from the last day to the first day. He emphasized the importance of positive self-esteem and self-worth. Students walked away from the presentation feeling empowered to make positive life choices and to start conversations around wellness. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172951 Fri, 01 Dec 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172951 Planting Peace at Waverly Elementary School Waverly Elementary School students stepped outside the classroom for the annual Peace Garden planting. Students across all grade levels received flower bulbs with a piece of paper attached for them to write down pledges for a positive school year. Not only will the schoolwide activity help beautify the school grounds come spring, it also helps students set goals to reach throughout the year. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/30/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172921 Thu, 30 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172921 Sachem Student-Athletes Commit to Colleges Sachem Central School District senior student-athletes committed to playing their respective sports at the collegiate level during the district’s fall signing day on Nov. 28. Thirty-seven student-athletes wore apparel representing their future schools and signed their national letters of intent. They were surrounded by their families, coaches and district administrators who celebrated this accomplishment and next step in their athletic careers. Congratulations to the following student-athletes: Sachem High School East * Gio Amesti – soccer, Juniata College * Alex Apicella – baseball, James Madison University * Madelyn Barone – basketball, St. Joseph's University * Alexis Berger – basketball, DeSales University * Isabella Canda – gymnastics, SUNY Brockport * Leah Campos – soccer, SUNY Cortland * Anthony Carlo – lacrosse, Limestone University * Mia Colombo – volleyball, SUNY New Paltz * Colin Dellomo – lacrosse, Belmont Abbey College * Nicholas DiSipio – lacrosse, SUNY Maritime College * Elizabeth Ferrara – field hockey, University of Scranton * Kristen Gallagher – soccer, SUNY Old Westbury * McKinley Hessemer-Soto – field hockey, Belmont Abbey College * Sienna Hillicke – lacrosse, Georgian Court University * Carmine Jaconi – lacrosse, Merrimack University * Ava Lovergine – soccer, Merrimack College * Jenna McDonald – soccer, SUNY Plattsburgh * Riley McPartland – gymnastics, Rutgers University * Liam Neimeth – lacrosse, Belmont Abbey College * Sara O’Sullivan – lacrosse, Queens University of Charlotte * Nyah Sinkler – soccer, SUNY Cortland * Ava Stunder – field hockey, Wingate University * Alexia Tavantzis – soccer, Mercy University * Jeannemarie Tomaselli – acrobatics and tumbling, Long Island University Sachem High School North * Shannan “Shae” Connors – lacrosse, College of Mount Saint Vincent * Angie DeLuca – softball, St. Joseph’s University * Olannah Fikes – lacrosse, Stony Brook University * Lisa Heffernan – lacrosse, Pace University * Makayla Hiller – volleyball, SUNY Old Westbury * Jenna Jacques – lacrosse, Misericordia University * Mark Kenny – lacrosse, Misericordia University * Sarah Magliaro – lacrosse, SUNY Oneonta * Emily Scali – soccer, Kutztown University * Hannah Sconti – soccer, Binghamton University * Ashley Sinatra – soccer, Juniata College * Deandra Wladyka – lacrosse, Misericordia University * Sofia Zumbrunn – lacrosse, Southern Connecticut State University Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/29/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172905 Wed, 29 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172905 A Glimpse Behind the Gridiron at MetLife Stadium Sports & Entertainment Management classes at Sachem High School East went on their annual field trip to MetLife Stadium. Students learned all about the behind-the-scenes management, marketing and the enormous operating costs that go into running a first-class, professional multipurpose sports venue. They were informed about the many possible career opportunities involved in the sports and entertainment industry, as well as other aspects of business, hospitality and tourism. Date Added: 11/29/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172919 Wed, 29 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172919 All-County Musicians in Sachem The Sachem Central School District is proud to announce that 21 talented student-musicians from its two high schools have been selected by the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education to participate in the prestigious 2023 All-County Music Festival. The annual festival features the top musicians from across Suffolk County. Congratulations to the following Sachem students: • Jabiel Aqueron, HS East – All-County Choir, Bass 1 • Dreshta Boghra, HS North – All-County Band, Oboe • Owen Cavanaugh, HS North – All-County Band, Flute • Jeremy Cruz, HS North – All-County Choir, Bass 2 • Ava Daw, HS North – All-County Choir, Soprano 2 • Ashley Edgar, HS North – All-County Choir, Alto 1 • Jacob Flores Zeranski, HS North – All-County Orchestra, Violin • Robin Gillespie, HS North - All-County Band, Percussion • Lydia Hicyilmaz, HS North – All-County Band, Clarinet • Isabella Licata, HS East – All-County Choir, Soprano 2 • Ryan Panzarino, HS North – All-County Band, Alto Saxophone • Matthew Peluso, HS East – All-County Choir, Tenor 2 • Seraphina Ptaszynski, HS East – All-County Choir, Soprano 1 • Brandon Rivas, HS East – All-County Band, Euphonium • Matthew Rivas, HS East – All-County Choir, Bass 1 • Anthony Romano, HS North – All-County Band, Alto Saxophone • Jaden Rudnicki, HS East – All-County Band, French Horn • Christopher Sneider, HS North – All-County Orchestra, French Horn • Brooke Tate, HS North – All-County Choir, Soprano 1 • Kylie Trojcak, HS North – All-County Choir, Alto 1 • Colin Veraszto, HS North – All-County Choir, Tenor 2 Acceptance into the NYSCAME All-County Ensembles is a high honor obtained only by the most talented and dedicated music students from across all of Suffolk County, which is perhaps the most competitive county in New York state when it comes to musical performance. As it is a prestigious festival, highly sought-after conductors from across the nation are selected to lead each ensemble. It is quite an honor for these students to work with such seasoned professionals. The NYSCAME All-County Festival concert took place on Nov. 17 at Northport High School. The students had just three rehearsals during a week and a half to prepare for the event. The concert was a tremendous success due to the hard work of the students, their teachers, and their conductors. Sachem’s 21 participants are truly among the top student musicians in New York State. Congratulations to these talented musicians on this impressive achievement! Date Added: 11/28/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172865 Tue, 28 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172865 CommUNITY Fair Brings Sachem Together The Sachem Central School District community came together on Nov. 18 for a districtwide celebration of unity. The second annual “CommUNITY” Fair featured cultural music and dance performances along with food tastings. Several members of the school community participated including student leaders from various clubs, dance teams, the robotics team and even outside organizations such as Canine Companions. The CommUNITY Fair was an opportunity for all Sachem families to come together to celebrate what unites everyone, while also recognizing differences. The event supported the district’s Culture of Care – showing that all students, staff and families are welcomed and cared for in Sachem schools. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/27/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172842 Mon, 27 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172842 Sachem Student Marches in Macy’s Parade The Sachem Central School District is proud to announce that Sachem High School East student Jaden Rudnicki will be performing with the renowned Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade’s Great American Marching Band. Jaden, an 11th grade horn player, will be marching with the Great American Marching Band for his second consecutive year. He is currently spending a week in New York City working hard to prepare for the event. Some of Jaden’s other recent accomplishments include being selected to perform with the NYSSMA All-State Symphonic Band and NYSCAME All-County Band, as well playing first horn with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, the Long Island Youth Orchestra, and the Nassau-Suffolk Wind Symphony. Sachem is incredibly proud of Jaden and all of his accomplishments. Be sure to tune in to the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC this week on Thanksgiving morning to see Jaden perform with the Great American Marching Band as he represents our Sachem community. Date Added: 11/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172804 Wed, 22 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172804 High Schools Kick Off Season of Giving Students at both Sachem High Schools kicked off the season of giving by collecting turkeys and Thanksgiving dinner sides to donate to families in need. Students at Sachem High School East assembled 400 boxes to donate to Sachem families. Each box was hand-checked for the 24 items needed to make a complete Thanksgiving dinner. Any extra items were donated to the Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk Independent Living Organization’s food pantry. At Sachem High School North, students collected more than $4,000 and over 200 turkeys. They were able to provide more than 225 Sachem families with a full Thanksgiving dinner, along with hundreds of families in surrounding neighborhoods. The Sachem Central School District is thankful for the generous amount of donations received to make the Thanksgiving a little brighter for local families in need. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172815 Wed, 22 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172815 Celebrating Thanksgiving in Sachem Students across the Sachem Central School District celebrated the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday with hands-on activities, parades, performances and service projects. These authentic learning experiences got students excited about Thanksgiving while teaching them about its history and traditions. Students at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School said, “Move over Macy’s!” as they held their own Thanksgiving parade on Nov. 21. Fourth and fifth graders paraded the hallways with handheld balloons and creative floats. The students followed a parade route which first took them into the gymnasium filled with an audience of kindergarten, first and second grade students. Next, they marched to the second “grandstand” in the cafeteria where third graders and special guests including district administrators looked on. For the first time this year, the High School East pep band and Sagamore Middle School Arrowettes joined the elementary school students for performances. Click here to view the Lynwood photo slideshow. Similarly, Hiawatha Elementary School held a Thanksgiving parade for its kindergarten students. They dressed in costume following class themes as they marched outside the building in front of friends and family. Click here to view the Hiawatha photo slideshow. Second graders at Wenonah Elementary School performed a play that highlighted the history and origins of Thanksgiving. Students incorporated several Disney songs into their performance in front of their families. Click here to view the Wenonah photo slideshow. Tamarac Elementary School kindergarten students participated in a Thanksgiving Adventure event. They explored different aspects of Native American and pilgrim culture through hands-on STEAM projects including a Mayflower Challenge where they had to create a boat with aluminum foil, log cabin and teepee building, and a turkey-themed problem-solving activity. Click here to view the Tamarac photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172779 Tue, 21 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172779 Connecting the Classroom to Careers in Construction More than 70 carpentry students from Sachem High School East and Sachem High School North were provided exclusive access to tour the new Station Yards construction project at the Ronkonkoma Hub site on Nov. 14. The Hub is a redevelopment project to create a new downtown area with residential and commercial spaces near the Ronkonkoma LIRR station. The visit was hosted by the TRITEC Real Estate Development Company, which provided students in attendance with T-shirts. Project managers gave students tours of all aspects of the project including new apartments, retail and dining spaces, outdoor common areas and parking facilities. Additionally, students were accompanied by Sachem teachers Mr. Byrne, Mr. Cifuni and Mr. Gustavsen who taught them about the various phases of construction taking place. Students got a firsthand look at these stages, along with several career pathways, which helped them connect the information they have learned through Sachem’s career training programs. Students were engaged throughout the visit and are excited to see the completed project. This unique experience helped them connect classroom lessons to the real-world and promoted careers in construction among the younger generation. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172678 Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172678 Sachem Students Celebrate National French Week Sachem High School East students taking French visited Sagamore Middle School on Nov. 2 to celebrate National French Week. High School students set up a gallery walk and presented francophone customs and traditions to sixth graders. East students spoke with the middle schoolers about traditional holidays such as la Toussaint, le Saint Nicolas, le Noel, le Saint Sylvestre, Mardi Gras, le Saint Valentin and la Chandeleur. Sixth graders answered trivia questions and played games for prizes. They also enjoyed some delicious crepes, a popular dish served during La Chandeleur, and listened to popular French music. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172692 Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172692 Second Annual Community Fair The Sachem Central School District would like to invite our families to join us for the 2nd annual Sachem CommUNITY Fair to be held Saturday, Nov. 18 at Seneca Middle School from 12-4 pm. The event will feature live musical performances, cultural food samplings, various community resources & businesses, a showcase of various cultures and heritages, as well as arts, crafts and read-alouds. It is an opportunity to highlight some of our student work, clubs and leadership activities. For questions about this event, please reference the website and check back often for updates. We hope you can join us! Date Added: 11/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171900 Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false171900 Dezy Strong Run Sachem middle school students participated in the third annual Dezy Strong Run on Nov. 1 at High School North. Students from Sagamore, Samoset and Seneca Middle Schools took part in the race to honor the late Matt “Dezy” DiStefano. More than 50 runners competed in a 1.5 mile run through the grounds of High School North and Samoset. Fans, family members and runners braved high winds, rain and even a few minutes of hail throughout the afternoon to support the cause. Matt’s motto, “We Get To,” was at the top of the minds of the runners throughout the course. Breana Anderson of Samoset won the girls race in a time of 11 minutes and 44 seconds, and Brian Mormon of Samoset won the boys race in a time of 10 minutes and 39 seconds. Congratulations to all who participated in this special event and a huge thank you for all those who made it possible! Date Added: 11/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172641 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172641 'Gratituesday’ at Sachem East Sachem High School East’s third annual “Gratituesday” on Nov. 14 was the biggest student demonstration of gratitude to date! More than 200 students took time to stop by the building’s Wellness Station and express the things they were grateful for on decorative cards. The cards were then put together to form a “Gratitude Quilt,” highlighting unity and celebrating the practice of focusing on all we have to be thankful for. Gratitude is the theme for November at High School East. Throughout the month, Project Happiness has organized activities for students to express their gratitude. In addition to Gratituesday, Project Happiness read thank you messages to teachers over the announcements and will participate in National Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28 by selecting a charity to raise donations for. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172648 Thu, 16 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172648 Honor Society Makes Ecology Center Donation The Business and Marketing Honor Society at Sachem High School East recently made a large donation to the Holtsville Wildlife and Ecology Center. Members donated various items including food and supplies that are needed to care for the many different types of animals at the site. BMHS adviser Mrs. Cannetti and Mr. Intravia, a High School East substance abuse counselor, transported the donation to the Ecology Center. They were told this one donation from High School East is the largest the center receives all year. Date Added: 11/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172601 Wed, 15 Nov 2023 07:00:00 GMT false172601 County Legislator Recognizes Robotics Efforts Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy visited the Sachem Robotics Team to recognize its community project work. The team recently initiated a program where they collect robotics parts from school across Long Island to donate to less fortunate teams in the New York City area. Legislator Kennedy assisted in coordinating transportation for the parts that are collected in Sachem. The legislator visited the team at their Nov. 6 meeting to learn more about the donation program, check out the robot and tour the robotics room at High School North, where the team works out of. Legislator Kennedy presented the team’s advisors, Mr. Wentzel, Mr. Cifuni, Mr. Byrne and Mr. Tripi with proclamations for all of the hard work they have put into the Sachem robotics program. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172614 Wed, 15 Nov 2023 06:00:00 GMT false172614 Sachem Thanks and Honors Veterans Students and staff members across the Sachem Central School District recently honored those who have served in the U.S. military through lessons and activities. Several elementary schools invited current and former service members to their buildings to be thanked and honored. Veterans who are family members of Sachem students gathered for breakfasts which were followed by a parade. Students lined the hallways and outside of their buildings with American flags and thank-you cards as the veterans walked through. Following the parade at Tamarac Elementary School, students presented candy donations to the Farmingville Fire Department to be sent to troops overseas. Other buildings invited veterans to be guest speakers and share their experience in the military with students. At Chippewa Elementary School, fourth and fifth graders participated in a question-and-answer session with vets. Tamarac Elementary School invited Staff Sergeant Dawn Amato to the building. Amato served in the military for 22 years and now works as a bus driver in Sachem. Alongside her service dog Peaches, Amato shared her journey about how she joined the United States Army and served her country. Through these interactive events and in-class lessons, students learned about the different branches of the military. They connected with local heroes and expressed gratitude for the sacrifices they have made. Click here to view the Cayuga photo slideshow. Click here to view the Chippewa photo slideshow. Click here to view the Grundy photo slideshow. Click here to view the Lynwood photo slideshow. Click here to view the Merrimac photo slideshow. Click here to view the Tamarac photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172578 Wed, 15 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172578 Sachem Students Step on Stage for Fall Productions On Nov. 3 and Nov. 4, Sachem student-actors from both High School East and North stepped on stage to put on wonderful productions of their fall dramas. Leading up to the plays, students participated in weeks of hard work, rehearsals and workshops. Sachem High School East put on a performance of “A Chorus Line,” taking the audience to Broadway to tell the story of dozens of dancers who were auditioning on the chorus line of a new musical. Meanwhile, the crowd at Sachem High School North was transported to “Never Land” where students shared the adventures of “Peter Pan.” During the course of several shows, Sachem student-actors were excited to share stories filled with song and dance. *Sachem North photos courtesy of Jo-Art Photographers Click here to view the East HS photo slideshow. Click here to view the North HS photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/9/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172473 Thu, 09 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172473 Financial Aid Information Workshop Date Added: 11/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172420 Wed, 08 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172420 Book Donation Honors Veterans Day Ahead of Veterans Day, the Sachem Central School District Board of Education accepted a donation of 26 copies of “The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans” at its Nov. 1 meeting. Board trustee and Navy veteran Michael J. Isernia, Esq., presented the books on behalf of the Military Business Resource Group of UL Solutions. The book tells the story of the woman who devoted her life to ensuring the poppy flower became the symbol of honor and remembrance for veterans. The copies will be distributed to the district’s 10 elementary and three middle school libraries. Educators will use them as a resource to teach lessons about the importance of honoring and thanking veterans, as well as the debt of gratitude owed to them for their service. Several members of the Board of Education and district were present to accept the donation including Board President Robert Scavo, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Erin Hynes, Director of Instructional Technology Jack Renda and three of the district’s librarians – Amelia Estevez-Creedon, Stacey Furey and Kelly Lavdas. Date Added: 11/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172345 Mon, 06 Nov 2023 05:00:00 GMT false172345 Model UN Conference Members of the Sachem East and Sachem North Model United Nations clubs attended a conference at Bayshore High School on Saturday, Oct. 27, joined by advisors Mrs. Gearns and Ms. Seifert. Students worked hard to prepare for this event which involved taking on the roles of various countries, researching and addressing major world issues. In the spirit of cooperation and diplomacy, they spent the day problem-solving, negotiating, collaborating and drafting resolutions with teams from several local schools. Date Added: 11/3/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172312 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172312 Día de los Muertos Senora Kunins' Spanish classes at High School East celebrated Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, with a class ofrenda, decorations and authentic chocolate caliente de Abuelita (Abuelita Hot Chocolate). Día de los Muertos is a bittersweet but joyous day of remembrance, honoring loved ones who have moved on from the physical world. Students used their language skills to learn about cultural differences through analyzing the Disney movie, Coco. They investigated the difference between los alebrijes (spirit guides) and los xoloitzcuintles, discussed discipline and compared the character Ernesto de la Cruz to Pedro Infante, a Mexican singer. Additionally, students participated in a contest to see which class could create the most colorful skull poster. Date Added: 11/3/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172319 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172319 AAC Awareness Month October marked Alternative and Augmentative Communication Awareness Month and in celebration, students at Wenonah Elementary School learned about the different ways that people can communicate. The Wenonah speech therapy team led several activities including a read-aloud of Something to Say About My Communication Device by Eden Molineux, core word activities and a Bingo scavenger hunt. Wenonah students who use communication devices even taught their peers about how they use them. Date Added: 11/3/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172330 Fri, 03 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172330 Wear It Pink Day The Renaissance Student Leadership club at HS East thanks everyone who participated in Wear It Pink Day to show support for breast cancer awareness and research! Date Added: 11/2/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172278 Thu, 02 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172278 Fire Safety in Sachem October marked Fire Prevention Month and elementary students across the Sachem Central School District learned about ways to prevent fires and steps to take in case of an emergency. Local first responders paid visits to several schools to show students the equipment they use and some of the emergency vehicles they may see on the road. The Holbrook Fire Department visited Tamarac Elementary School for an interactive presentation. Firefighters demonstrated how to stop, drop and roll and dressed up in their equipment. Students then got to check out a firetruck and ambulance, and even received junior firefighter helmets to wear during the visit. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/2/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172302 Thu, 02 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172302 Tamarac Goes Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Students and staff at Tamarac Elementary School wore pink and participated in a walk to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month on Oct. 27. Students were excited to take advantage of the fall weather and come together to support a good cause. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172250 Wed, 01 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172250 High Schoolers Collaborate with Elementary Students High School East students collaborated with fifth graders to boost social emotional learning skills at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School on Oct. 27. The high school peer education classes visited Ms. Trimboli’s fifth grade SEL classes to talk about acceptance, tolerance and all of the wonderful things middle school has to offer. Students worked together during a card game to spread the message, “Treat everyone like an ace.” Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 11/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172269 Wed, 01 Nov 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172269 Happy Halloween, Sachem! Sachem Central School District students and staff are in the Halloween spirit! Ahead of Halloween, many elementary schools held “trunk-or-treat” events as a safe option for families to celebrate within their school communities. On Oct. 31, several buildings held parades for students to show off their costumes to friends and families. Celebrations continued across the district as students participated in Halloween-themed classroom activities including arts and crafts and even pumpkin picking. Click here to view the Chippewa photo slideshow. Click here to view the Grundy photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/31/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172219 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 06:00:00 GMT false172219 ‘Start With Hello’ at Sachem HS East Project Happiness, the Renaissance Club and Volunteer Club at Sachem HS East is supporting the Sandy Hook Promise by “starting with hello.” Throughout the week of Oct. 23, Sachem East held a spirit week to encourage students to make new social connections and create a sense of belonging. It aligned with the Sandy Hook Promise’s Start with Hello initiative, which challenges students to strike up conversation with others who may be lonely or feeling socially isolated. The spirit week kicked off with “Meet and Greet” Monday. Students were asked to say hello to someone new during each passing period throughout the day. On Tuesday, students wore neon to “stand out against bullying.” Wednesday marked “Color Day” where students were asked to wear either green, the color of the Sandy Hook Promise, or orange, the symbol of gun violence prevention. Thursday was “Random Acts of Kindness Day” and the week closed out with “Be a Team Player Day” on Friday, where students wore Sachem apparel to show that everyone is on the same team at HS East. #SachemCares Date Added: 10/31/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172202 Tue, 31 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172202 BOE Honored for School Board Recognition Week At the Oct. 25 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, trustees were thanked for their dedication and volunteer efforts to better the Sachem school community. “The Board of Education plays a crucial role in shaping the future of our communities by overseeing and improving our educational systems,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri said. “The dedication in ensuring quality education and equal opportunities for all students is deeply appreciated. We thank the Board of Education for their tireless efforts in nurturing the minds of our youth and fostering a brighter tomorrow.” In honor of School Board Recognition Week, several organizations including the Sachem Central Teachers’ Association, Sachem Administrators’ Association, Sachem Supervisors Association, Parent Teacher Association, United Public Service Employees Union – Clerical, and Sachem Nurses Association, all took time to address the Board. These organizations each made donations in the name of the Sachem Board of Education to local nonprofits and upcoming district events as way to thank the Board for their many contributions. Following the recognition of the Board, several teachers and teacher assistants were granted tenure. District administrators thanked these staff members for their dedication to teaching and congratulated them on this milestone in their careers. Congratulations to the following: Dani Ackerman – Waverly, Speech Katherine Desmond – Hiawatha, Social Worker Roseann Gallo – Samoset, Psychologist Dana Kolb – Waverly, Special Education Christina Miller – Nokomis, Teaching Assistant Katherine Parente – Sagamore, Speech Date Added: 10/30/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172159 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172159 East WBL Club Supports Angela’s House On Sunday, Oct. 22, the Sachem East WBL Club showed their support at the 9th annual 3K walk celebrating Angela’s House. Families, friends, teams and clubs raised money and set up fundraisers to donate to Angela’s House Everyday Wishes Program. The WBL Club participated in the walk, met students from other districts and spent time with some of the children cared for at Angela’s House. “It was good to get some exercise, meet some cool people from other schools and help some of the kids who are having a tough time have fun,” said East student at WBL member Richard Minozzi. Date Added: 10/30/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172171 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172171 Athletic Recruiting Night - Monday, November 6, 2023 Date Added: 10/30/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172142 Mon, 30 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172142 North Creates Lasting Memory for Pediatric Cancer Patient Students and staff at Sachem High School North created an unforgettable experience for a 9-year-old pediatric cancer patient named Tenzin through a “bridging rooms project.” The project was brought to Sachem North by James Orrigo, a motivational entertainer who partners with the Children’s Cancer Research Fund to create memorable, music-centered experiences for pediatric patients. Orrigo works with kids throughout the country who are battling pediatric cancer and helps them write a silly song and create their own cartoon music video. He then brings the cartoon music videos to life with the help of schools across the U.S. “We do incredible, unforgettable projects like this where we get to bring an entire school and community together to show a pediatric patient who has been impacted by pediatric cancer how much he is loved and how much he is cared about,” Orrigo said. Orrigo approached Sachem North to bring Tenzin’s music video to life. Tenzin created a song about a store he runs out of his own hospital room called “Junk and Stuf” where he sells goodies including lemonade and cosmic brownies. Several departments collaborated to bridge Tenzin’s hospital room to the classroom. The music department scored the song Tenzin and Orrigo created, and the art department created props to turn the building’s little theater into a real-life “Junk and Stuf” store. Additionally, the school held a bake sale to raise funds for Tenzin and his family. “From my colleagues to every single department we have here in Sachem, everyone came together to make a little boy feel special,” Christy Zummo, High School North teacher and event organizer said. “In one day, in a few hours, they brought it all. It’s a very proud teacher moment.” Tenzin arrived at Sachem North on Oct. 26 to film his music video and see his store in-person. He received a warm welcome as the student body lined the main entrance to greet him and cheer him on. Throughout the day, he interacted with Sachem North students who were more than excited to make Tenzin’s day one he will never forget. “I think that’s what kids need. They need an opportunity to show empathy, be engaged and be involved and they don’t always get those opportunities. But when they do, they show up,” Mrs. Zummo said. Tenzin’s visit wrapped up with one last surprise – a video message from the cast of his favorite show, “Flash.” “Sachem North went all out!” Orrigo said. “I am incredibly grateful.” #SachemCares Click here to watch a video recap. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/27/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172130 Fri, 27 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172130 Robotics Team Initiates Regional Donation Program The Sachem Robotics team is stepping up to assist schools across the region with a robotics parts donation program. Back in 2022, the team attended a regional competition in New York City where an adviser noticed that many of the robots from city schools were made of wood or not finished. After asking around, Sachem Robotics learned that these teams were lacking funding and their robots were at the receiving end of this. Sachem team members Sofia Karayoff and Stefanie Karayoff felt empowered to help, spearheading what would turn into a collaborative upcycling project between Long Island teams and reaching more than 50 teams in the five boroughs. “We know that a lot of teams around the country don’t have the same opportunities that our team has luckily been given. We have a very supportive administration and community around us,” Stefanie said. Sofia, Stefanie and another Sachem Robotics team member, Yash Jani, first took to social media to reach out to Long Island teams that may have extra robotics parts to be donated to city teams. Then, they went around to competitions and spoke to teams in-person about their idea. Fast forward to today, 70 robotics teams across Long Island are involved in a community project with Sachem at the hub, where they collect and donate parts to less-fortunate teams in New York City. “We just wanted to lighten their load and enrich their experience in FIRST by donating whatever we possibly could,” Stefanie said. With the help of Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy, the team was able to brainstorm and fund ways to transport the parts that are collected at Sachem High School North to the FIRST Robotics site in Roosevelt Island for distribution. “It’s inspiring because at a point last year I thought this might not happen. Now that it is, it’s kind of unbelievable,” Sofia said. Sofia and Stefanie graduated from Sachem this past June but are still heavily involved with Sachem Robotics. They help lead the current Sachem team through the community project that they began. Once the FIRST Robotics build season kicks off in early January, the Sachem team expects to see many more donations coming in. “It’s cool to see that it’s already making an impact and we haven’t even fully started,” Stefanie said. Date Added: 10/26/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172085 Thu, 26 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172085 Students Go On-Air with Driver Safety PSA Students in Mr. Patten’s broadcast journalism class at Sachem High School East created a public service announcement for the Town of Brookhaven’s Teen Driver Safety Program. The student-made PSA aired on WSHR, Sachem’s radio station which broadcasts out of both high schools. Students collaborated to create an attention-grabbing script about the Teen Driver Safety Program, which took place on Oct. 19. It faced parents with a scenario about their children on the road, then provided information about the Town of Brookhaven program. After finalizing the script, students headed into the studio at High School East where the final product was recorded. The PSA project connected students with the Town of Brookhaven to help publicize an important event that affects their peers, while also giving them real-life broadcast journalism experience. They were excited to hear their PSA over the Sachem air waves. Click here to listen to the PSA Date Added: 10/25/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172039 Wed, 25 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172039 HS East Partners with Pulsera Project The Foreign Language Honor Society at Sachem High School East is participating in the Pulsera Project. The Pulsera Project is a nonprofit that connects artists from Central America with schools in the U.S. to sell colorful handwoven bracelets, or “pulseras” in Spanish. The organization offers economic opportunities for artists in Guatemala and Nicaragua while providing schools with international community service projects. Through the process, students are educated on fair trade practices and the money raised helps to fund several social impact programs to provide education, housing and healthcare. Throughout the month of October, the Foreign Language Honor Society is selling “pulseras” for $7 and “bolsitas,” or bags, for $15. Their goal is to sell 400 bracelets to help these artisans in Nicaragua and Guatemala. Date Added: 10/24/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=172008 Tue, 24 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false172008 All-State Musicians in Sachem Three talented student-musicians in the Sachem Central School District have been selected by the New York State School Music Association to participate in the prestigious 2023 All-State Music Conference. An additional six students were chosen as alternates. The annual festival is among the highest honors a high school musician may achieve. Congratulations to the following Sachem students: All-State • Jaden Rudnicki, HS East – Symphonic Band, French Horn • Jeremy Cruz, HS North – Mixed Chorus, Bass 2 • Robin Gillespie, HS North - Symphony Orchestra, Percussion Alternates • Armaan Sandhu, HS East – Snare Drum • Mason Vaughn, HS East – String Bass • Jacob Flores Zeranski, HS North – Violin • Ryan Panzarino, HS North – Alto Saxophone • Christopher Sneider, HS North – French Horn • Avi Talsania, HS North – Flute Jaden Rudnicki is a horn player that attends Sachem High School East as a junior. Jaden has been playing horn since 4th grade, and has excelled in his craft since then. He is thrilled and honored to be picked to play first horn in the Symphonic Band in All-State this year after earning a perfect score on his All-State NYSSMA solo. Over the years, he has played in many honorable performing ensembles, including the Nassau Suffolk Honor Band, SCMEA Division 1, 2, and 3 Bands, SCMEA Day of Horn (multiple years), NYSCAME All-County Band, the New York State Band Directors Association (NYSBDA), and as a sub with the Queens College Wind Ensemble. In Sachem, Jaden has been a member of the Wind Ensemble and Tri-M Honor Society since 9th grade and a member of the Sachem Flaming Arrows Marching Band for 5 years, where he has held leadership roles. Currently, Jaden is principal horn in Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (MYO) under the direction of Mr. Phil Preddice, first horn in Nassau Suffolk Wind Symphony (NSWS) under the direction of Mr. Joel Levy, and first horn in the Long Island Youth Orchestra (LIYO) under the direction of Mr. Scott Dunn. Jaden’s future plans include completing a double major in Music Performance and Music Education in college. Jeremy Cruz, a senior at Sachem High School North, will perform for the second consecutive year with the All-State Mixed Chorus on the Bass 2 voice part after earning a perfect score of 100 on his NYSSMA All-State solo. In addition to his two years at All-State, Jeremy has performed for four years with the SCMEA and NYSCAME All-County Choirs. In school, Jeremy is a member of the Symphonic Choir and the IMAGE a cappella group. He has been chosen to sing the National Anthem at events both in and out of school. Outside of school, Jeremy has studied voice privately since the 6th grade. He also dances with the Michelle Ferraro Dance Company and studies acting at Marianna’s Music Studio at the Martial & Performing Arts Center. Jeremy plans to attend college as a Musical Theater major in the fall. Robin Gillespie will perform with the All-State Symphony Orchestra as a percussionist after earning a perfect 100 on two different NYSSMA All-State solos (snare drum and multiple percussion) as well as a 99 on his mallet solo. In Sachem, Robin is a member of the Wind Ensemble, Jazz Ensemble, and Tri-M Music Honor Society. Outside of school, Robin has performed for several years with the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra Principal Orchestra, SCMEA and NYSCAME All-County Bands and Orchestras, and the SCMEA All-County Percussion Ensemble. This past Spring, Robin was invited as a guest performer at Purchase College’s percussion recital. Robin is also an up-and-coming composer of electronic music who has released multiple albums, been featured on record labels, and led multiple online collaborative electronic music composition projects. In 2022, Robin received honorable mention in the NAfME Electronic Music Composition Competition, and this year was selected as a winner in the NYSSMA All-State Electronic Music Showcase. This past June, Robin had a composition accepted and played at the New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival. After high school, Robin plans to study Electronic Music Composition in college. Every year, over 6,000 students from across New York State audition for the All-State Honors Ensembles by preparing an accompanied level VI NYSSMA solo and 13 scales to play for a professional adjudicator, as well as demonstrating proficiency in sight-reading. Of these 6,000+ students, fewer than 500 are chosen. Students must receive a score of 98 or higher in order to be considered for participation, and the vast majority of participants receive a perfect score on one or multiple auditions. These nine Sachem students are truly among the top musicians from across New York State to be selected. The All-State Winter Conference will take place in Rochester from Nov. 30-Dec. 3. While in Rochester, the students will rehearse and perform with nationally recognized conductors in their musical ensembles. All performances take place at the historic Eastman Theatre in downtown Rochester. Congratulations to these impressive musicians on this tremendous achievement! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171470 Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:00:00 GMT false171470 Breast Cancer Awareness at Lynwood Avenue Throughout the month of October, students and staff at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School have participated in activities and fundraisers to support breast cancer awareness. Students created an honor wall to support those affected by breast cancer. They decorated awareness ribbons that were put on display in one of the building’s hallways. The ribbons honored friends and family members who have been impacted by the disease. On Oct. 18, Sachem High School East cosmetology students visited Lynwood Avenue Elementary School to give students pink hair extensions and temporary tattoos. Students and their families made a donation to receive a hair extension or tattoo and raised a total of $2,000 for the cause. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171975 Mon, 23 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171975 Unity Day in Sachem Sachem students and staff celebrated Unity Day on Oct. 18. Aligned with National Bullying Prevention Month, Unity Day is celebrated around the globe and promotes joining together to create school communities that are kind, accepting and inclusive. Students across the district wore orange to show their support for Unity Day and create a visible message that they are standing up to bullying. Several schools had students participate in activities to spread the messaging of Unity Day. At Sachem High School East, students took the pledge to stand together against bullying and wore orange ribbons in support. The building’s therapy dog, Bailey, was available for students to take photos with. Additionally, the sustainability club created a unity focal point at the building’s flagpole by decorating the area with orange-painted rocks that had messages of positivity. At Seneca Middle School, every student wrote a kind message on a piece of orange paper which were then linked together to create a kindness chain. The chain is on display in the cafeteria to serve as a reminder of the meaning of Unity Day. Additionally, grade 6 students created a poster in their modern living classes with all of the ways they show unity. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171905 Thu, 19 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171905 Winter Sports Registration Now Open Registration is now open for early winter Middle School sports (start date November 6) and winter High School sports (start date November 13) on Final Forms. Please register at https://sachem-ny.finalforms.com/ and reference the Sachem Athletics page at https://sachem.edu/departments/athletics for additional information. Date Added: 10/18/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171860 Wed, 18 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171860 ‘Kids in Seats’ Program Reaches Sachem Students Sachem High School East students have the opportunity to attend sporting events, Broadway shows and concerts for displaying positive social behaviors and for their academic achievements. High School East has partnered with Kids in Seats, a nonprofit organization that uses event experiences as motivational tools in schools. Tickets for these events are expensive and it is the organization’s mission to provide deserving students who may not have the monetary means to attend these events with their family. Last year, Sachem High School East students and their families attended several events including Yankees, Mets, Islanders and Nets games, the Pinstripe Bowl, “Wicked” and “Aladdin” on Broadway, and Disney on Ice. The feedback from Sachem students, teachers and families has been extremely positive. Teachers are happy to acknowledge their students and provide them with opportunities that do not strain their households financially, while students are excited to be recognized for their efforts in the classroom and their positive behavior in the school community. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/18/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171866 Wed, 18 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171866 Sagamore Staff Runs Tunnel to Towers Several staff members from Sagamore Middle School ran the Tunnel to Towers 5K race in New York City on Sept. 24. The team was made up of Alison Sinacore, Angie Spencer, Anna Stalzer, April Ackerly-Dahn, Brooke Fallon, Dana Benic, Deborah Moore, Gillian Kolodny, JoAnn Spatola, Kelly Longhi, Lindsey Spatola, Lisa Abbondanza, Lori Pritchett, Meghan Rossi and team captain Vanessa Sullivan. Through this event, they paid homage to those who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 and symbolically traced firefighter Stephen Siller's final footsteps from the Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers. Team Sagamore raised more than $7,000 for the Tunnel to Towers Foundation which supports fallen and injured first responders, military heroes and their families. Date Added: 10/18/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171827 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171827 Community Fair at Seneca Middle School https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171802 Tue, 17 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171802 Music Moves Students at Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration Many Sachem students learned all about Hispanic music as part of the district’s Hispanic Heritage Month celebrations. Elementary school counselor Justin Morales led interactive assemblies at several of the district’s elementary schools that recognized the importance of music in Hispanic culture and the contributions of many Latin American musicians. Mr. Morales first introduced the art of salsa dancing and the instruments at the heart of salsa music. He then taught students about the impact of artists including Tito Puente, Selena, Gloria Estefan, Shakira and Enrique Iglesias. Students even learned the merengue dance and got up out of their seats to feel the rhythm. Click here to view the Lynwood photo slideshow. Click here to view the Waverly photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171780 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 11:00:00 GMT false171780 BOE Recognizes Student and Staff Member The Sachem Central School District recognized a high school student and staff member at its Oct. 11 Board of Education meeting. Before honoring these members of the Sachem family, the Board acknowledged the tragic events happening overseas, as well as Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Members of the Board and district administrators all wore purple to show their support for the cause and all those impacted by it. The first recognition of the evening acknowledged High School North student Ashley Edgar who was applauded for receiving a perfect score on her AP Capstone Research Assessment. Her research studied how the behavior of fish is influenced by melodies and rhythm. She is one of only 357 students worldwide and the first student in Sachem history to earn this achievement. Additionally, the Board of Education recognized a staff member at Grundy Avenue Elementary School for her life-saving efforts. Last month, Ashley Kenyon, a lunch aide at the building, saved a student who was choking on a chicken nugget by performing the Heimlich maneuver. The child was assessed by the school nurse and safely returned to class. The Board and district administrators thanked Ms. Kenyon for her quick thinking and actions that saved a student. Date Added: 10/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171750 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171750 Summer Reading Accomplishments A group of students at Seneca Middle School celebrated their summer reading accomplishments with a wonderful visit from author and poet, Darren Sardelli. The students enjoyed a bagel breakfast and received certificates at the event. Date Added: 10/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171761 Mon, 16 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171761 Waverly Walks for Breast Cancer Awareness Throughout the month of October, the Sachem Central School District is supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On Oct. 6, Waverly Elementary School students and staff dressed in pink and walked together as a symbol of solidarity for the cause. Parents and community members cheered students on as they held signs of support and walked the perimeter of the school’s field. The walk ended in the middle of the field where students and staff followed an outline to form a breast cancer awareness ribbon, which was captured from a drone above. Additionally, cosmetology students from Sachem High School North were on hand to put in pink hair extensions for staff and parents. The event, which was organized by the Waverly PTA, brought together the school community while recognizing an important cause. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171743 Fri, 13 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171743 Wenonah Giving Garden Benefits Local Pantries Fifth graders at Wenonah Elementary School are helping fight food insecurity in their own community. Fifth graders, along with members of the school’s garden club, have been harvesting fresh food to donate to local food pantries. It’s part of a project led by fifth grade teachers Jamie D’Andrea and Deena Kay, that cycles through Wenonah students each year. Students begin planting the seeds indoors while it’s still cold outside. Each spring, fifth graders clean out Wenonah’s garden and bring the seeds outdoors. Come summertime and into early fall, fresh produce is ready to be harvested by the next fifth grade class. Not only is Wenonah’s Giving Garden benefitting the community, but it is also an opportunity for students to get their hands dirty and participate in exploratory learning. The garden has provided students with an outlet to connect with each other and the greater community, while embodying the Culture of Care that exists throughout Sachem. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171685 Thu, 12 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171685 High School Roadmap For 9th Grade Parents & Students https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171687 Thu, 12 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171687 Railroad Race Simulation at Samoset The students in Mr. Heimann and Mrs. Hughes' 8th grade history classes at Samoset Middle School were engaged in a Transcontinental Railroad simulation to explore the hardships and successes of the Union Pacific Railroad and the Central Pacific Railroad. As the teams raced across the continent to Promontory Point, students gathered information to reflect on the experiences of all during Westward Expansion. Date Added: 10/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171697 Thu, 12 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171697 Sachem Pride on Display for East Homecoming Students at Sachem High School East kicked off homecoming weekend with a pep rally on Oct. 6. Sachem pride was on full display as students gathered in the gymnasium over the course of two different sessions. Fall season teams were individually introduced and welcomed into the gymnasium through a tunnel of cheerleaders. Not only was the student body was encouraged to attend the homecoming football game against Connetquot the following day, football players, cheerleaders and Arrowettes visited some of the elementary schools earlier in the day to get younger students excited about the weekend. Due to the weather, the community carnival before the game on Oct. 6 was canceled. The Sachem High School East football team put up a fight, but despite their best efforts, the team lost to Connetquot. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Click here to view the photosfrom Student Government. Date Added: 10/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171659 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 05:00:00 GMT false171659 Art Outside the Classroom Mrs. Wrigley's Drawing & Painting II and AP Art & Design students at High School East stepped out of the classroom to practice their skills in a different environment. Students visited East’s courtyard to draw natural elements from direct observation. They focused on loose gesture drawing, establishing space on a 2D surface and mark-making to capture a variety of textures. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171666 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171666 Commended Students Six Sachem Central School District students were named Commended Students as part of the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Crystal Soo-Hon Marano, Michael Mauro and Ty Riccobene from Sachem High School East and to Robin Gillespie, Saket Reddy Kusuma and Avi Talsania from Sachem High School North. Around 34,000 of the highest scorers on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) from around the country received letters of Commendation. This recognizes their academic promise, and while these students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some do become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by outside corporations. The district congratulates these students on this prestigious honor. Date Added: 10/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171637 Wed, 11 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171637 East Theater Students Learn from a Pro The Sachem East Drama Club stepped on stage to learn from a professional actor during a theater workshop on Oct. 4. Class of 1991 Sachem graduate Jeffrey Schecter went back to his roots to teach students a dance for their upcoming production of “A Chorus Line.” Schecter performed in the last Broadway production of “A Chorus Line,” making him a valuable resource for students as they prepare for the musical. Schecter has several other acting credits including a reoccurring spot on “Law and Order: SVU” and appearances in “Saved by the Bell: The New Class.” Schecter kicked off the workshop with a question-and-answer session with students. He shared his experience as a student-actor in Sachem and the steps he took to get into the business after graduation. Schecter then led students through a warm-up exercise before coaching them through one of their dances in “A Chorus Line.” This marked the first professional workshop for theater students at Sachem High School East. It was an invaluable experience for students and helped them expand on their theatrical skills while building confidence. Students left feeling inspired from seeing a professional, who was once in their shoes in Sachem, succeeding in the industry and following his dreams. The Sachem East production of “A Chorus Line” will take place at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3 and Nov. 4. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 10/10/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171618 Tue, 10 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171618 Naviance Parent Workshop https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171492 Thu, 05 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171492 Sachem Alumni Association President Honored Sachem Alumni Association Founder and President Chris Vaccaro was recently honored by the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce. Chris was presented with a “Heart & Soul Award” for his important work in the Sachem community. He oversees the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame, built the Sachem Hall of Honor, produces the Sachem Conversations oral history project, organizes alumni speakers in our schools, and manages a Sachem traditions project that has curated images and information for hundreds of posters, and plaques in our school facilities. Chris is the publisher of SachemReport.com in addition to his career as a media executive, professor, author and community advocate. I love my Sachem community, and I do everything I can to make people realize what a special place it is, he said. Through its history, spirit, and untapped potential, I want the next generation of alumni and residents to be equally proud to call this place home. Last month, Chris was recognized as an honored guest at the San Gennaro Feast and as a Spirit Award honoree at Citi Field for his international relations and baseball development work as the director of the Italian American Baseball Foundation. The nonprofit works to build a bridge with Italy through baseball. With October being Italian Heritage Month, Chris and his colleagues have been busy at several IABF functions to promote their organization and support their heritage. Date Added: 10/2/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171398 Mon, 02 Oct 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171398 Board of Education Honors Success During the Sachem Board of Education meeting held on Sept. 27, several recognitions showcased the district’s excellence in the classroom and on the athletic field. Director of Athletics, Physical Education, Health and Health Services Gary Beutel presented Sachem High School East Principal Andrew Larson and Sachem High School North Principal Louis Antonetti with athletic awards from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. NYSPHSAA designated Sachem High School North as a School of Distinction. To qualify for prestigious award, 100% of the school’s varsity athletic teams qualified for and received the Scholar-Athlete Team Award during their respective seasons. Additionally, Sachem High School East was recognized as a School of Excellence for having garnered Scholar-Athlete Team Awards by 97 percent of the school’s athletic teams. High School East junior Arianna Schuman was also recognized for her community service and dedication to Angela’s House, a local nonprofit that assists families who are caring for medically fragile children. As part of her Girl Scout Gold Star Award, Arianna refurbished two gardens at the Angela’s House Stony Brook location. She filled the gardens with new bushes and plants and created a rock garden that features stones painted with the names of children who passed away. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher J. Pellettieri said Arianna “embodies the culture of caring” that is emphasized throughout the district. There was also a presentation highlighting the district’s science and mathematics curriculum for grades K-12. Math teacher Shannon Murphy gave a demonstration of the school’s drones that are being utilized in the STEAM program. At the beginning of the meeting, the board of education and administrators stood in front of the SmartBoard, which contained well-wishes to the Farmingdale Dalers, to demonstrate support in the district’s time of need. Date Added: 9/29/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171373 Fri, 29 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171373 Sachem North Raises Thousands for Pulsera Project Since 2017, the Interact Club at Sachem High School North has partnered with the Pulsera Project, a nonprofit organization that connects Central American artists with students in the U.S. through the sale of colorful, handwoven bracelets, or “pulseras” in schools. In this time frame, the Interact Club has sold bracelets on behalf of artisans in Nicaragua and Guatemala at fair trade prices, raising a total of $16,715 for the organization. To thank Sachem High School North for its generosity and contributions to the Pulsera Project, the organization sent the school a handwoven banner. The Pulsera Project provides High School North students with a cultural exchange. The building’s hallways are brightened with colorful art, while it is simultaneously providing a market for the artisans. All money from the sales is invested in people and gives them opportunities for higher education, access to healthcare, loans for housing and businesses, environmental initiatives and more. The Interact Club brings together students to develop their leadership skills while providing service to several causes. Through their work, students have embraced the Pulsera Project’s philosophy that service is a two-way street. They have gained valuable experience at a young age that has encouraged them to be responsible global citizens. Date Added: 9/28/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171347 Thu, 28 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171347 Sachem North Shows Homecoming Spirit Sachem High School North students showed their Sachem Pride during pep rally on Sept. 22 to kick off homecoming weekend. This year’s pep rally took place over two sessions in the high school gymnasium. The energy was high as each fall season team was introduced to the crowd and performed a short skit. The football team ran into the gym last, building excitement for its homecoming game on Saturday, Sept. 23. Additionally, Sachem North held its second annual homecoming tour. Football players, cheerleaders, Arrowettes and their coaches paraded through some of the elementary schools to get younger students excited about homecoming weekend. On Saturday, Sachem High School North faced Brentwood on the gridiron. Pre-game festivities were canceled due to the weather however, the day was still a success as High School North came out victorious, 21-0. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/27/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171315 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171315 Perfect AP Capstone Research Score Sachem High School North student Ashley Edgar received a perfect score on her AP Capstone Research assessment, making her one of only 357 students worldwide to earn this achievement. Students taking AP Capstone Research can earn a score of 5 on their paper and presentation without perfect scores on the rubric, however, Ashley earned a perfect score on both rubrics. She is the first student in Sachem history to earn this accolade. Ashley’s research studied how the behavior of goldfish and danios is influenced by melodic content and rhythm. She found that rhythm induces more behavior changes in the fish compared to melody. Through Ashley’s findings, future research can study the benefits of auditory enrichment of music on fish and other marine life to help reduce the stress from anthropogenic noise, or noise generated by humans. Date Added: 9/28/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171340 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171340 SAT/ACT/PSAT parent workshop https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171346 Wed, 27 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171346 Come Join Us For SUNY Information Night! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171284 Tue, 26 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171284 Patriotic Pride at Samoset Patriotic pride was plentiful this month in Mr. Heimann and Mrs. Hughes' eighth grade history classes at Samoset Middle School. To honor and recognize the many heroes and all those affected by 9/11, students participated in several Patriot Day activities. They wrote cinquains with illustrations, made origami paper cranes and created remembrance booklets to honor those who lost their lives. Later in the month, students commemorated the signing of the U.S. Constitution. All classes participated in an escape room challenge to gain a better understanding of the Constitution and their personal liberties. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171205 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171205 Support for Farmingdale On behalf of the Sachem family, we send our heartfelt condolences to all those affected by yesterday’s tragic accident involving Farmingdale High School students and staff. The entire Farmingdale community is in our thoughts and prayers. Date Added: 9/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171196 Fri, 22 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171196 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Two Sachem High School students were named semifinalists in the 2024 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Adrian Dayao from High School East and Jacob Flores Zeranski from High School North. Adrian and Jacob are among the approximately 16,000 academically talented high school seniors to score exceptionally high on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) and be named semifinalists. This pool of students represents less than 1% of high school seniors across the nation and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. More than 15,000 semifinalists are expected to advance to the finalist level, where they will compete for scholarship money totaling nearly $28 million. The district congratulates both students and wishes them the best as they advance in the National Merit Scholarship Program! Date Added: 9/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171181 Thu, 21 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171181 Wenonah Grows Together Students at Wenonah Elementary School kicked off the year with a schoolwide art collaboration. On their first day of art class with Ms. Hannah Douglas, every student created one piece of a flower. Each individual piece was then put together to create a mural displayed in the building’s main hallway. The project represents how every student in Wenonah Elementary School is learning and growing together. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/20/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171171 Wed, 20 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171171 Science Research Students Spend Summer in the Lab Several senior science research students from Sachem High School North were busy this summer participating in prestigious research programs. Dreshta Boghra and Marco Villatoro worked at Brookhaven National Laboratory in the High School Summer Research Program and Avi Talsania was accepted into the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces at Stony Brook University. Under the mentorship of Dr. Febin Kurian and Piyush Joshi, Dreshta investigated the use of electrical strain sensors and Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) sensors. She studied the relationship between linear strain and applied force, and the strain induced when cooled to cryogenic temperatures. The research seeks to increase the performance of superconducting magnets and related technologies. Marco worked with his mentor, David Chan, in the collider accelerator department, formulating an engineering design for an upgrade to the Brookhaven LINAC Isotope Producer (BLIP), a high-energy particle accelerator. The upgrade involved creating new piping, as well as cooling and heat rejection systems, to increase beam intensity, which increases the production of isotopes used for medical imaging scans. At Stony Brook University, Avi Talsania conducted research under the guidance of mentors Adam Hansen and Dr. Miriam Rafailovich on skin clotting, which focused on examining the proliferation of fibroblasts and human dermal cells, with a particular emphasis on how aging and collagen availability affected them. Avi collaborated with Dr. Steven Fliesler at SUNY Buffalo to investigate the impact of AY9944, a DHCR7 (cholesterol) inhibitor on these cells. Additionally, Avi assessed the effectiveness and toxicity of the peptide P12 as an anti-thrombotic agent in fibrinogen fibers. Avi will continue his endeavors in computational neurology research at the Haskins Laboratories of Yale University. Date Added: 9/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171127 Tue, 19 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171127 National Hispanic Heritage Month Across the Sachem Central School District, students and staff are participating in lessons and activities to honor National Hispanic Heritage Month. Each year, Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 is dedicated to celebrating the cultures and contributions of Hispanic and Latino Americans. Date Added: 9/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171111 Tue, 19 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171111 Dot Day Celebrates Creativity in Sachem Elementary schools across Sachem celebrated International Dot Day on Sept. 15. The day is based on the book, “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds and is a community celebration of art and creativity. It encourages students to “make their mark” and see where it takes them. Many classrooms across Sachem read the book before participating in art projects. The activities celebrated self-expression, innovation and inspired learning. Hiawatha Slideshow Merrimac Slideshow Wenonah Slideshow Date Added: 9/18/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171085 Mon, 18 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171085 Meet The Elementary Counselors 2023-2024 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171017 Thu, 14 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171017 What is Happening at Samoset? Date Added: 9/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171121 Wed, 13 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171121 Moment of Silence The Teachers, Staff, and Students at Samoset honored the lives lost on September 11th 2001 by wearing red, white, and blue and holding a moment of silence. Date Added: 9/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170992 Wed, 13 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170992 HS North English Teacher’s Play Takes the Stage A play written by a Sachem High School North English teacher is being produced and taking the stage at The Actors Conservatory Theatre. Stefan Francis Kelleher recently entered his play, “Flit,” into the annual one-act playwriting competition sponsored by the theatre. This year’s theme was “Diverse Voices” and Mr. Kelleher’s historical, yet comedic, piece about a marginalized group’s experience with the American justice system was a perfect fit. “Flit” was chosen from the entries to be awarded a generous prize and produced as a staged reading for the theatre’s 2023 season. Mr. Kelleher was able to write “Flit” during the summer break. As an accomplished author, playwright and teacher, he hopes his writing process inspires his students. “I suppose it’s an occupational hazard of being an English teacher for as long as I have, but I write a little every day to make sense of my world, just as I encourage my students to do when I’m with them in the classroom,” he said. “Flit” will be performed at The Actors Conservatory Theatre at 7 p.m. on Sept. 22 and Sept. 23. In addition to this most recent play, Mr. Kelleher has published a novel, “Felix the Red,” and a full-length play, “Hamlet and the Pirates,” within the past few years — all of which incorporate the unifying theme of personal courage. Date Added: 9/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=171001 Wed, 13 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false171001 Hopes are High at Sagamore Middle School Sagamore Middle School kicked off the school year by asking eighth graders one simple question – “What is your hope?” During the first week of school, the class participated in a welcome assembly which ended with a powerful video. Students in the video were asked their hopes for the school year and recorded them on a chalkboard outside of their building. Following the assembly, Sagamore eighth graders were tasked with a similar activity. Students wrote down their hopes on Post-it notes, which were then displayed on a bulletin board in the cafeteria. Some Post-its read, “to get good grades” and “to make new friends,” while others said, “to be confident” or “to be positive.” The activity inspired the students to set goals, start the year on a high note and reinforced the Culture of Care existing throughout Sachem. In the coming weeks, the sixth and seventh graders at Sagamore Middle School will also be participating in this activity. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170969 Tue, 12 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170969 Sachem Bowler Competes at National Level Sachem bowling team member Cira Arcangel competed in the Junior Gold National Championships in Indianapolis this summer, a national tournament for the top youth bowlers across all 50 states. Cira competed in the U18 division and advanced to the final round where she fell just 12 pins short. Cira proudly completed the tournament finishing 64th of 588 girls nationwide. Last year, Cira was named the top female high school bowler on Long Island and this year, ranked second. Additionally, she made the Section XI team, finished second in New York State and was recently recognized by the Board of Education for making the All-Long Island team. Date Added: 9/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170982 Tue, 12 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170982 Sachem Honors Patriot Day Sachem High School North hosted its annual Patriot Day ceremony on Sept. 11. School and district leaders, elected officials, local firefighters, students and Sachem community members gathered inside the little theater to honor the lives lost and all those impacted by the tragic events of 9/11. Following Principal Andrew Larson’s opening remarks, the Pledge of Allegiance was recited, and High School North student Jeremy Smith sang an outstanding rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner.” A group of students led the ceremony and recapped the events of Sept. 11, 2001, while reading the names of the Sachem community members who lost their lives that day. Several seniors read heartfelt poems and essays they wrote in their English class, recognizing the many heroes that came out of 9/11 and the sense of unity that existed among tragedy. The ceremony concluded with words from New York State Assemblyman Doug Smith. Due to the weather, the ceremony was held indoors. However, attendees were invited to walk through the outdoor High School North 9/11 memorial afterward. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170932 Mon, 11 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170932 First Day of School Smiles in Sachem Sachem students were excited to kick off the 2023-2024 school year on Sept. 6. Upon arrival at their schools, students were greeted by their teachers and administrators and reconnected with old friends. Throughout the day, they were engaged in activities and excited to be back in the classroom. The district looks forward to a wonderful year with many learning opportunities ahead! Click here to view the Cayuga photo slideshow. Click here to view the Merrimac photo slideshow. Click here to view the HS East photo slideshow. Click here to view the HS North photo slideshow. Date Added: 9/7/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170867 Thu, 07 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170867 Sachem Distributes Free Backpacks The Sachem Central School District helped families prepare for the school year with a backpack giveaway. Costco donated 300 backpacks to the district to be distributed to students. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri, Deputy Superintendent Patricia Trombetta and Administrator for Guidance and College and Career Counseling Dr. Kevin Miller greeted families and wished them a great school year as they picked up the backpacks on Sept. 5. The district thanks Costco for its generous donation and Jamie Durkin, a speech language pathologist at Sachem High School North, for helping organize the giveaway. Date Added: 9/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170828 Wed, 06 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170828 Welcome Back, Faculty and Staff! Faculty and staff were welcomed back from summer break during Superintendent’s Conference Day on Sept. 5. Staff members participated in the day virtually and in-person at the Sachem High School North auditorium. The day kicked off with a presentation from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri and district administrators. They reviewed district goals and priorities, the five-year strategic plan and Sachem’s “Portrait of a Graduate.” Dr. Pellettieri emphasized the importance of creating a Culture of Care throughout Sachem and expressed his gratitude to all staff members for their hard work. “I want to thank you for preparing our kids for the rest of their lives,” he said. Additionally, Northwell Health gave an overview of the district’s partnership and the resources available for Sachem students, staff and families. Date Added: 9/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170832 Wed, 06 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170832 First Day of School: Sept. 6 We are excited to welcome our students back to school on Wednesday, Sept. 6! Over the summer, some of our buildings had renovations completed through capital project work. Please see the “before and after” photos attached here. Date Added: 9/5/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170805 Tue, 05 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170805 Sachem Student Wins Operation Safe Stop Poster Contest Sachem student Jeferson Martinez-Lopez recently won Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa’s Operation Safe Stop Poster Contest and was recognized by the Board of Education for his work in promoting school bus safety. Operation Safe Stop is a statewide initiative to educate communities and stop drivers from passing a school bus when its red lights are flashing. Hundreds of elementary students from across the fourth legislative district took part in the poster contest and Jeferson’s design was named the winner. The district went on to further promote school bus safety by including Jeferson’s designs on magnets and reusable shopping bags. Date Added: 9/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170786 Fri, 01 Sep 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170786 New Educators Welcomed Into Sachem Family The Sachem Central School District welcomed 45 new educators during new teacher orientation on Aug. 29. The teachers, teaching assistants and support staff gathered at the administrative building where they were welcomed by district leaders. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri officially welcomed the group into the Sachem family and spoke to the new educators about the importance of creating a culture of care throughout Sachem. Additionally, Board of Education President Robert Scavo addressed the teachers and empowered them to be an inspiration to their students. Following the opening remarks, the teachers participated in presentations from several administrators regarding student achievement, guidance practices, technology training, special education, athletics and the district’s mentoring program to prepare them for the upcoming year. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 8/30/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170719 Wed, 30 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170719 SYAG Donates School Supplies to Sachem Students The Board of Education recently accepted a donation of 100 backpacks filled with school supplies for K-12 students from the Sachem Youth Advisory Group. The backpacks and supplies were then distributed to each of the school buildings and handed out to families. SYAG also donated 20 backpacks full of school supplies, as well as additional secondary school supplies, during the Welcome to Sachem event on Aug. 17, where new Sachem students were introduced to the district and its resources. The district thanks SYAG for its continued partnership and for helping set students up for success ahead of the school year. Date Added: 8/29/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170698 Tue, 29 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170698 Spring Student-Athletes Honored During its Aug. 16 meeting, the Sachem Central School District’s Board of Education honored both individual student-athletes and teams. Director of Athletics, Physical Education, Health and Health Services Gary Beutel introduced several individuals who celebrated accomplishments during the spring athletic season. Student-athletes from both Sachem High Schools were recognized for their various post-season athletic honors in their respective sports including All-County designations and higher. Following the individual recognitions, the baseball team and girls track team from Sachem High School East were recognized. The Sachem High School East boys baseball team was a three-time league champion, and the girls track team was named county champions. Additionally, the Sachem High School North girls softball team was honored as three-time league champions, and the combined girls golf team was recognized as three-time league champions. Date Added: 8/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170638 Tue, 22 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170638 Sachem Welcome Back Event Date Added: 8/2/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170476 Wed, 02 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170476 Sachem Welcome Event Date Added: 8/2/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170477 Wed, 02 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170477 Summer Fun at SESY Program Students in the Sachem Extended School Year Program held at Seneca Middle School kicked off Sun, Surf, SESY 2023 Spirit Week on July 24. The week started off strong with a high-energy performance from Jester Jim, who showed off his juggling tricks as students cheered him on. Throughout the rest of the week, students and staff dressed up to follow themed days including the wild west, book characters and holidays in July – which even featured a visit from Santa Claus! Not only did spirit week engage students in fun activities, but it also helped build community throughout the SESY program. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 8/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170465 Tue, 01 Aug 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170465 New Principal at Samoset Middle School The Sachem Central School District is pleased to announce Dr. Georgia Afxendiou as the new principal of Samoset Middle School, effective Aug. 1. The Board of Education appointed Dr. Afxendiou at its July 26 meeting to replace James Horan, who is retiring. Dr. Afxendiou started in the Sachem Central School District as a social studies teacher in 2006 and, most recently, was an assistant principal at Seneca Middle School. During the years, Dr. Afxendiou held several leadership positions including the developer and instructor of the non-tenured and new teacher programs. In this role, she created professional development opportunities for Sachem staff members. Additionally, Dr. Afxendiou was a Code of Conduct Revision Team member, a District Grade Transition Team member, and a Curriculum Council member. Her administrative experience extends to serving as a Tri-State Consortium Evaluation Team Member to evaluate K-12 social studies curriculum in other districts. Throughout her time in Sachem, she has been named High School North Teacher of the Year and received the Outstanding High School Social Studies Teaching Award from the Long Island Council of the Social Studies. She has several state certifications, including one in school building leadership and one in district leadership. Notably, Dr. Afxendiou is a Fulbright Scholar. She received her Master of Arts in Teaching degree and a post-master’s certificate in education leadership from Stony Brook University, as well as a Ph.D. in social anthropology from the University of Rochester. While Dr. Afxendiou has been a longtime member of the Sachem family, the district welcomes her to this new role and is confident she will be an asset to Samoset Middle School students, staff and families. Date Added: 7/31/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170452 Mon, 31 Jul 2023 20:00:00 GMT false170452 All Smiles at Sachem Summer Enrichment Sachem students are back in the classroom this summer for the district’s enrichment program in collaboration with SCOPE Education Services. Students are connecting with their peers and enjoying activities at both Hiawatha and Nokomis elementary schools. Students are participating in hands-on projects and activities that stretch over several interest areas including STEAM classes such as robotics and rocketry, a theater program, culinary arts, sports, and arts and crafts. The enrichment program gives students the opportunity to make new friends throughout the summer while bonding over shared interests. Additionally, it complements what students are learning in the classroom during the school year. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 7/26/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170425 Wed, 26 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170425 Fall HS Sports Registration Hello Sachem Athletics Families, Registration for Fall High School Sports will begin on Final Forms on July 21st and Middle School on August 6th. If you have not done so already, please register at https://sachem-ny.finalforms.com/ and review the Parent Playbook for assistance. Once registration for sports begins, you must enroll your child in the sport they intend on trying out for. You will then be prompted to fill out required forms (ex. parent signature, student signature, update form). All these forms, in addition to a valid NYS physical and any other medical documentation that is needed must be completed for the school nurse to be able to review/clear your child for sports. Building nurses will be available only on the following dates throughout the summer: 7:30am-2:00pm HS: August 1, 3, 15, 18, 21, 22 MS: August 21, 22, 23, 29, 30 Please note: Steps must be completed in the correct order as listed below. If you do the signatures and update form before adding a sport, adding the sport will reset the signatures and update. * Add Sport * Complete All Forms * Once everything else is in green, the building nurse will be able to review/clear your child for sports. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170375 Thu, 20 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170375 New Executive Director for Special Education The Sachem Central School District is pleased to announce Eric Neithardt as its new executive director for special education. Mr. Neithardt was appointed to this position during the Board of Education’s July 12 meeting. Mr. Neithardt previously served as the assistant director for special education in Sachem. He began this role in 2021 and provided oversight of special education programs from students in grade 8 through age 21. Mr. Neithardt gained experience collaborating with various administrators to assess the district’s special education program and services. Additionally, he implemented changes to meet the needs of students, conducted professional development workshops and initiated Special Education Collegial Circles for teachers and staff throughout Sachem. Prior to working in Sachem, Mr. Neithardt served as the assistant to the district administrator for special education, Pre-K to Grade 5 in the North Babylon School District. In this leadership position, he maintained supervision of IEP processes and conducted observations and evaluations for elementary level special education staff. Mr. Neithardt also has experience working as a social worker and the special education coordinator for secondary education in the Elwood School District. Mr. Neithardt holds a bachelor’s degree from Queens College, a master’s degree from Union College, a master’s degree in social work from Stony Brook University and a School District Leader certification. He is also a New York State licensed clinical social worker. The district is excited to see Mr. Neithardt step into this new role and is confident his wealth of experience will be an asset to Sachem students and families. Date Added: 7/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170369 Wed, 19 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170369 ‘Not All Heroes Wear Capes’ – Hiawatha Student-Heroes Honored Two students who recently moved up from Hiawatha Elementary School were honored by the Board of Education for stepping into action after an accident involving their school bus in June. Dylan Besemer and Joseph Pineiro were fifth graders at the end of last school year when their bus was in an accident. The fifth graders sprang into action and enacted what they learned during bus drills, opening the emergency exits and helping everyone get off the bus safely. District administrators hailed the students as heroes at the July 12 board of education meeting. “A hero would usually save people in need and who really need help, because heroes don’t all wear capes,” Pineiro said. Furthermore, they consoled the younger students on the bus who were scared from the incident. Pineiro and Besemer said they felt it was their responsibility to step into this role and take charge. “We realized we were the fifth graders on the bus and we’re older than everybody else,” Besemer said. Fortunately, all the children on the bus were safe, thanks in part, to Besemer and Pineiro’s efforts. Date Added: 7/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170344 Mon, 17 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170344 Board of Education Commences 23-24 School Year The Sachem Central School District Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 12 in preparation for the 2023-24 academic year. District Clerk Allison Florio swore in Matthew Baumann, Robert Scavo and Stephanie Volpe after being reelected to their seats in May. All three trustees will serve three-year terms. Additionally, board members Robert Scavo and Sabrina Pitkewicz were reelected to serve as the board’s president and vice president, respectively. Dr. Christopher Pellettieri took the oath as superintendent of schools. The board looks forward to another successful and productive school year. Date Added: 7/14/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170325 Fri, 14 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170325 Class of 2024 Senior Portrait Information Date Added: 7/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170312 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170312 New Secondary Administrators in Sachem The Sachem Central School District is pleased to announce the appointment of three new administrators. At its July 12 meeting, the Board of Education appointed Lori Onesto as assistant principal at Sachem High School North, Kaleigh Sidaras as assistant principal at Sagamore Middle School and Christopher Washousky as an assistant principal at the secondary level. Ms. Onesto has been a member of the Sachem Central School District since 2003. She began in the district as a classroom teacher and, most recently, served as principal’s aide at Hiawatha Elementary School. In this leadership role, she implemented training for new staff members, screened teacher candidates during the hiring process, ensured culturally responsive practices for learners and maintained overall operations of the building. Additionally, Ms. Onesto was a member of the district’s five-year Strategic Planning Committee. She holds a Bachelor of Education degree from SUNY Oneonta, a Master of Science in Education degree from Brooklyn College and is working toward New York State School Building and District Leader certifications. Ms. Sidaras comes to Sachem from the Central Islip Union Free School District where she served as an elementary school assistant principal and Pre-K director. Through these roles, Ms. Sidaras gained experience with master scheduling, classroom observations and facilitating districtwide professional development. Prior to these administrative positions, Ms. Sidaras was a classroom teacher for eight years as well as the head girls varsity soccer coach at William Floyd High School. Ms. Sidaras holds several administration certificates, Bachelor of Science degrees in childhood education and special education from SUNY Buffalo State College and a Master of Arts Degree in special education from Saint Joseph’s College. Most recently, Mr. Washousky was a teacher in the Floral Park-Bellerose School District, as well as the administrator of the district’s Saturday Enrichment Program. In the classroom, he created individualized learning plans for students, successfully prepared learners for assessments and created a culture of caring. In his administrative role, Mr. Washousky developed program goals to meet the needs of hundreds of students participating in the Saturday Enrichment Program. He holds A Bachelor of Science degree from Plattsburgh State University, a Master of Science in elementary education from Dowling College, as well as School District, Building Leader and Students with Disabilities certifications. Date Added: 7/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170318 Thu, 13 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170318 Sports Equipment Donation Drive The Sachem High School East National Renaissance Student Leadership Club collected gently used sports equipment, as well as arts and craft supplies, for the children at Little Flower Children Services in Wading River. Sachem East staff, faculty and students donated enough equipment to fill two truckloads which were delivered by Assistant Principal Mrs. Lisa Pesce and Renaissance Coordinator Mrs. Doreen Shaefer. The children and staff at Little Flower were so grateful for the kindness that Sachem East HS has shown them. The Renaissance Club thanks everyone for participating in this community service event! Date Added: 7/3/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170211 Mon, 03 Jul 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170211 Summer School Starts Soon! Summer Enrichment for Grades K-5 7/10/2023-8/4/2023 from 9AM-12PM at Nokomis or Hiawatha. Extended Care from 12-4 is available. Sessions vary depending on registration. Please refer to your schedule. Please contact SCOPE directly for any last minute program openings. Sachem Credit Recovery, 7/10/2023-8/10/2023 for grades 7-9 at Samoset and grades 10-12 at North Monday through Thursday from 8:30AM-12:15PM. This program is for invited students needing credit towards graduation and/or to promote to the next grade level. Sachem Extended School YEAR (SESY) will run from 7/3/2023 through 8/11/2023, 8:30AM to 2:30PM at Seneca Middle School. This program is for invited students in our Special Education Programs. Contact Kelly Andersen, Supervisor, or Steve Hartman, Assistant Supervisor, with any questions. 631-471-1789 Date Added: 6/29/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170183 Thu, 29 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170183 Congratulations, HS North Class of 2023! The Sachem High School North Class of 2023 walked out onto the Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium field to the cheers of family and friends on June 22. “Pomp and Circumstance” played overhead, signaling the commencement of the graduating class. Graduation exercises began with the singing of the national anthem by the Sachem North Symphonic Choir Seniors. At this time, the students who made the decision to serve the country in the military were called to the stage. Retiring Assistant Principal Jose Cruz was presented with an honorary diploma and was wished a happy, healthy future. Additionally, the family of Jordan Thomas, a Sachem student who was taken too soon, accepted a diploma on his behalf. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri and Principal Andrew Larson addressed the graduating class with congratulatory remarks and advice for the future. Both administrators encouraged students to be kind, work hard and reminded them that Sachem will always be their home. Following the remarks, the top 25 academic scholars of the class were called to the podium by elementary principals Dr. Thomas Desmond and Joseph Watson. Co-salutatorians Sara Breitenbecker and Gianna Marchese were honored in front of the crowd and valedictorian Alexa Ginis took to the podium to speak about perseverance and passion. “We have, by no means, had a normal high school experience but this senior year has shown us how many opportunities are truly out there waiting to be taken,” she said. “No matter what global catastrophe we are living through, the important thing is that we keep going and find what brings us joy. And that’s why, no matter what your plans are for the future, I have one important piece of advice – find your passion.” Senior Class President Paul Fiene addressed his fellow graduates by reflecting on the many shared memories of the class and offering words of wisdom. “Take your opportunity that is given and run with it,” he said. “Appreciate your moment as it comes, because one day it will pass. Live unapologetically and be yourself. I want to say thank you to everyone who made my moment possible and to all of the people who helped pave the way to get to this point.” Board of Education President Robert Scavo then began the presentation of diplomas alongside fellow trustees and administrators. After the final diplomas were presented, the graduates returned to their seats where they turned their tassels and threw their caps to the sky. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/26/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170107 Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170107 Congratulations, HS East Class of 2023! On Friday, June 23, the Sachem High School East football field became a sea of red caps and gowns as the Class of 2023 proudly celebrated its graduation. The graduating seniors marched onto the field in front of their friends and family to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance.” Students who will be entering the armed forced upon graduation led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before senior student-musicians sang the Star-Spangled Banner. High School East Principal Louis Antonetti then addressed the class with congratulatory remarks and reminded the soon-to-be graduates to embrace the obstacles they are presented with, as they will build character and be a learning opportunity. Following Mr. Antonetti’s speech, the academic leaders of the class were called up to the podium to be acknowledged. Salutatorian Jada Drew was honored for her achievements inside and outside of the classroom and valedictorian Siddharth Sheth reflected on some of his favorite high school memories and wished the best to his peers in their future endeavors. “The truth is I cannot tell you where you will be in the future. When you inevitably ask yourself, ‘Was it worth it?’ I hope that you, just like I have today with a smile on my face, joy in my heart and happiness in my soul, can answer ‘yes,’” said Siddharth. Salutatorian and Class of 2023 President Jada Drew then delivered a speech that shared the class’ journey at Sachem East by comparing their time to the lyrics of a song – broken up into a verse, a chorus and a bridge. “I sincerely hope I’ve done a good job sharing our song with you here tonight,” Jada said. “So, when your songs are ready, belt it out so that no matter where you are, your Sachem family can hear you. We’ll be listening with open ears and screaming for your encore.” As remarks concluded, Mr. Antonetti was joined by the Board of Education and District administration to hand the seniors their diplomas as they walked across the stage. Seniors turned their tassels and threw their caps in the air, marking the end of their high school careers. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Click here to watch a slideshow from Island Photography Date Added: 6/26/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170108 Mon, 26 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170108 Board of Education June Honorees At the June 21 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, several groups of students were honored, along with this year’s retirees. Student-athletes first took the stage at Samoset Middle School. Director of Athletics Gary Beutel and Assistant Director of Athletics Philip Torregrosa acknowledged winter athletes who received post-season honors including All-County, All-Division, All-League, All-State and All-American. Next, captains represented the Sachem High School East girls basketball team and Sachem boys bowling team to receive recognition for winning the league titles. The Sachem Marching Band was honored by administrators and the Board of Education for earning the title of New York State champions in the Large School 3 Division at the New York State Field Band Conference earlier this year. Members of the band from both Sachem high schools and all three middle schools were individually called up on stage. The final recognition of the evening honored this year’s retirees. Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Kristin Capel-Eden said a few words about the retirees in attendance and thanked them for their years of service to the Sachem Central School District. Date Added: 6/27/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170150 Sun, 25 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170150 High School Graduation Ceremonies Sachem High School East and North will livestream their graduation ceremonies. Please visit our YouTube page to view: Click Here Date Added: 6/20/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169923 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 08:00:00 GMT false169923 Service-Learning Project Raises Money for Animal Shelter Jen De Carlo and Robyn Grieco's fifth grade class at Nokomis Elementary School in the Sachem Central School District recently completed a service project to benefit Last Chance Animal Rescue, a local charitable and nonprofit organization created to save the lives of animals. After a visit from some volunteers from the rescue to learn more about what the organization does, the students ran a pop-up lunch shop where they sold bracelets, keychains and straws. In addition, the class partnered with Philly Pretzel Factory of Ronkonkoma to sell customized pretzels that were in the shape of paws and dog bones. In order to promote dogs in need of forever homes on social media for the rescue, each student created a "Pupstagram" profile which highlighted the dog's personality and reasons why they should be adopted. The project generated a total of $1,800 donated to Last Chance Animal Rescue, who will utilize the funds to save the lives of dogs and cats in need. Date Added: 6/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170055 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170055 Click here to send an email to help us fight against local charter schools! Send an email toBoard of Regents Chancellor Lester W. Young, Jr. at regent.young@nysed.gov. Date Added: 6/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170064 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170064 Students Volunteer at Street Fair On June 11, the Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce, Inc., held its 10th Annual Farmingville Street Fair. Since 2012, hundreds of vendors offering a variety of crafts, toys, jewelry, clothing, accessories and other wares have filled Portion Road making the Street Fair a huge event in Farmingville. Students from High School East’s Work Based Learning Club volunteered to help make a difference. They collected raffle tickets to help fundraise for the Chamber of Commerce and interacted with community members. Date Added: 6/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170089 Fri, 23 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170089 Smiles and Slime at Wenonah Wenonah Elementary School students were all smiles during a slime-making, end-of-year activity. Students across grade levels worked with Mad Science to learn about polymers during the brief lab. Throughout the hands-on activity, they observed how the properties of their slime changed and were able to bring home their own product. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170025 Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170025 Butch Dellecave Foundation Award Nominees On Sunday June 11, The Butch Dellecave Foundation, in conjunction with Newsday and the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc., gathered the top student-athletes in Suffolk County high school sports to name the male and female High School Athlete of the Year. This prestigious award honors student-athletes who excel in athletics, academics and community service. The finalists are named and recognized with an expanded presentation of their accomplishments, on the field of play, in the classroom and within the community. The Sachem nominees from HS East were Isabella Dembinski and Kyle Smith, and the nominees from HS North were Kaitlyn Biase and Connor Volz. Date Added: 6/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=170033 Thu, 22 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false170033 Seniors Walk Down Memory Lane Sachem High School seniors from East and North took a walk down memory lane as they visited their elementary schools on June 20. Dressed in their caps and gowns, the soon-to-be graduates marched through the halls of the buildings where they started their Sachem school careers. Current elementary school students lined the hallways and cheered the seniors on as many of them stopped to hug and say thank you to their former teachers. The end-of-year tradition allowed students to reflect on their time in the district ahead of graduation. Click here to view the Hiawatha slideshow. Click here to view the Merrimac slideshow. Click here to view the Nokomis slideshow. Date Added: 6/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169984 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169984 Highlighting Sachem North’s Kaylie Maier Sachem HS North senior Kaylie Maier broke several team records this past school year – first during the winter track and field season, and then again for the spring softball season. In track and field, Kaylie is Sachem North's best-ever 20 lb. weight thrower. Kaylie became the first Sachem thrower to break the 36' barrier with her record 36' 5" throw at Section XI's State Qualifier Meet in February. Kaylie then shattered her three-week-old record at Nike Indoor Nationals in March with a pair of 37' throws, including her new record of 37' 3.75" on her second throw. Kaylie was also a four-year varsity softball player but lost her freshman season due to COVID. In the 2023 season, Kaylie pitched every game, finishing with a 15-6 record, 2.06 era, 20 complete games and broke the Sachem North single season strikeout record with a total of 164. Kaylie also batted .385 with 23 RBI's (second on the team) which led to her being named the team MVP. Over her three-year career she has a .394 batting average with 60 RBIs. As a pitcher, Kaylie holds the Sachem North career strikeout record with 295 and wins with 26. Each of the past three seasons, Kaylie was awarded Section XI post-season honors being name All-Division in 2021, All-County second team in 2022 and All-County in 2023. Date Added: 6/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169991 Wed, 21 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169991 Seal of Civic Readiness Graduates Dozens of students from Sachem High School East and Sachem High School North will be graduating with the Seal of Civic Readiness, a formal recognition that a student has attained a high level of proficiency in terms of civic knowledge, civic skills, civic mindset and civic experiences. The Seal of Civic Readiness is a prestigious distinction from New York State that appears on a high school transcript and diploma. Congratulations to the following students who are a part of the first graduating class from Sachem to earn the Seal of Civic Readiness: Selena Ackley, Sachem HS East Alyssa Agugliaro, Sachem HS East Elizabeth Ardizzone, Sachem HS East Emily Bandalos, Sachem HS North Derrick Biacchio, Sachem HS East Mikayla Bijlhout, Sachem HS East Savanna Butler, Sachem HS East Isabella Calabro, Sachem HS East Haley Chandler, Sachem HS East Harithrayani Chennamshetti, Sachem HS East Sara Christie, Sachem HS East Arianna Ciregna, Sachem HS East Kayla Colletti, Sachem HS East Dylan Conelli, Sachem HS East Jason Cowen, Sachem HS East Tommy Dang, Sachem HS North Arjit Das, Sachem HS East Alison Dittmar, Sachem HS East Jada Drew, Sachem HS East Connor Falkowski, Sachem HS East Francesca Fortunato, Sachem HS East Anthony Garenani, Sachem HS East Peter Garenani, Sachem HS East Cassidy Goddeau, Sachem HS East Kailey Golden, Sachem HS North Evan Gottesman, Sachem HS East Shaye Gruenberg-Theiling, Sachem HS North Alana Grundas, Sachem HS East Gianna Guerra, Sachem HS East John Healy, Sachem HS North James Hu, Sachem HS East Jayla Hudson, Sachem HS East Kate Imperiale, Sachem HS East Alyssa Khan, Sachem HS East Maria Kowalski, Sachem HS East Ryan Kunis, Sachem HS North Jamie Kupferberg, Sachem HS East Sarah Levine, Sachem HS East Ashlee Lopez, Sachem HS North Aafia Malik, Sachem HS East Maria Mancusa, Sachem HS East Zach Mariano, Sachem HS East Tyler McKeon, Sachem HS East Dylan Migliozzi, Sachem HS East Ava Grace Monti, Sachem HS East Rachel Munster, Sachem HS East Ella Nicoletti, Sachem HS North Miguel Ortiz, Sachem HS East Emma Parente, Sachem HS East Laura Pena Marin, Sachem HS East Nicole Plunkett, Sachem HS East Nabiha Zaara Ahmed Quazi, Sachem HS East Aman Rattoo, Sachem HS North Mohid Rattu, Sachem HS East Emma Rondinella, Sachem HS East Ryan Ross, Sachem HS East – January Graduate Amira Sadar, Sachem HS North Joe Santoro, Sachem HS North Siddharth Sheth, Sachem HS East Alexander Sufrin, Sachem HS East Grace Teller, Sachem HS East Sebastian Vera, Sachem HS North Leanna Woolley, Sachem HS East Sana Zahid, Sachem HS East Date Added: 6/20/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169938 Tue, 20 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169938 Board of Education June Honorees The June 14 meeting of the Sachem Central School District recognized students and staff for several achievements. High school students who won awards in the annual Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts show were first honored. High School North student Anna D'Arcangelis won first place in the watercolor painting category, Jessica Ly was awarded second place and Amira Sardar earned an honorable mention. From High School East, Grace Prego won second place in the oil painting category. Following the art awards, students in the Advanced Placement Capstone program shared their culminating presentations with the board of education. These presentations were part of the two-year program where students learned enhanced skills relating to research, analytical and argumentative writing, collaborating and presenting. The final recognition of the evening celebrated the Sachem Central School District staff members who were approved for tenure— 35 teachers, 13 teaching assistants and four administrators were recipients of tenure this year. Date Added: 6/20/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169922 Mon, 19 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169922 Sagamore Middle School Principal Appointed The Sachem Central School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Lisa Marie Johnson as the new principal at Sagamore Middle School, effective July 1. The board of education appointed Ms. Johnson at its June 14 meeting. She will be replacing Frank Panasci who is retiring at the end of this school year. Ms. Johnson is currently an assistant principal at Sachem High School North and has worked in the Sachem Central School District since 2006. She started as a mathematics teacher at Samoset Middle School and since then, has served in a number of administrative roles. Most recently as High School North assistant principal, Ms. Johnson provided oversight of several departments, initiated a districtwide team to incorporate New York State science standards into the curriculum and led professional development opportunities. She is also an accountability coach in the district, assisting administrators and teachers implement effective instructional strategies. Ms. Johnson’s leadership experience in Sachem also includes a period as the assistant principal of Sagamore Middle School, Principal of Grundy Elementary School, co-facilitator of the math curriculum council and summer program supervisor. She holds several New York State certifications including one in School Building and School District Leadership. “Ms. Johnson has been a member of the Sachem family for more than 15 years and I am excited to see her step into this new role,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri said. “I am confident her experience will benefit our students, staff and Sachem families.” Date Added: 6/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169831 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169831 Flag Day in Sachem Sachem students celebrated “Old Glory” on June 14 in honor of Flag Day. Wenonah Elementary School third graders put on a patriotic performance in front of their families. They kicked off the celebration by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. Third grade classes then took turns stepping on stage to explain the meaning of the pledge, the history of the American flag and the many rules of displaying it. At Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, students gathered outdoors for a ceremony to honor the American flag and all that it represents. Students dressed in red, white and blue and performed several patriotic songs. Additionally, Boy and Girl Scouts displayed the correct method to fold the American flag. Click here to view the Lynwood photo slideshow. Click here to view the Wenonah photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169851 Thu, 15 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169851 Science Research Student Success Several Sachem high school students competed in the 2023 Long Island Science Congress earlier this spring. Hannah Reuter from High School North and Ibrahim Suleman from High School East both earned high honors designations for their respective projects. Additionally, Aafia Malik and Sana Zahid from High School East won honors awards. The Long Island Science Congress is the largest science fair competition for Nassau and Suffolk County students. Date Added: 6/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169708 Mon, 12 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169708 Student-Leaders at HS East Host Little Flower Fun Night On Wednesday May 24, the Renaissance Student Leadership Club hosted its first Little Flower Fun Night at Sachem High School East. Students who live on the Little Flower Children Services campus in Wading River visited Sachem High School East for an evening full of fun games including hula-hoop relay, four corners and kickball. The Renaissance Club invited student-leaders from the Teens as Teachers Club, Art Club, Project Happiness and Math Honor Society to participate. Sachem students were paired up with Little Flower students for the evening to facilitate friendships. The event was a success and the next Little Flower Fun Night is planned for October. Date Added: 6/9/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169638 Fri, 09 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169638 Sachem Student-Athletes Earn Gold Key Award Several Sachem Central School District senior student-athletes were recognized by Section XI with the prestigious Gold Key Award. The award represents an athlete’s dedication and commitment to athletics throughout their high school career. In order to be recognized for the Gold Key, a student-athlete must have participated and lettered in eight of nine seasons while enrolled in grades 10 through 12. This requires a commitment by the athlete while maintaining a positive balance between athletics and academics. Congratulations to the following students: Sachem High School East Sara Christie, Danielle Cirillo, Isabella Dembinski, Anthony Garenani, Peter Garenani, Evan Gottesman, Julia Haran, Megan Hoffmann, Alexa Jean-Francois, Sampson Lin, Amanda Madigan, Katherine Margolis, Christian Mercado, Taylor Rettie, Olivia Russo, Ava Samartino, Jenna Schmitz, Kaleb Selden, Gina Williams and Sabrina Wottawa. Sachem High School North Nicholas Balsamo, Dylan Friel, Shaye Gruenberg Theiling, Matthew Gucciardo, Gavin Hughes, John McKeon, Katherine Perez, Arthur Torres and Madeline Turano. Date Added: 6/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169598 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169598 Wenonah Night with the Long Island Ducks Wenonah Elementary School students took part in an evening of baseball, music and family fun on June 1, as the school celebrated Wenonah Night with the Long Island Ducks. The evening featured a pre-game concert by the Wenonah fifth grade band in front of the visiting team’s dugout, as well as a graduation lineup to celebrate the fifth graders moving up to the middle school. This annual PTA event was a festive and memorable way to wrap up the school year and was enjoyed by all! Date Added: 6/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169614 Thu, 08 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169614 Valedictorians Honored at Luncheon The Suffolk County School Superintendents Association recognized the highest-achieving students across the county at its 29th annual Valedictorians Luncheon on June 1. Sachem High School East valedictorian Siddharth Sheth and Sachem High School North valedictorian Alexa Ginis were joined by their families, principals and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri at the recognition event. Date Added: 6/7/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169560 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169560 Students Collaborate in Book Project Students from Merrimac Elementary School connected with students from Sachem High School North to share projects they have been working on. Third graders in Ms. Sicari, Mr. Celentano and Mrs. Rapuano’s class recently published a book about kindness. At Sachem High School North, Ms. Parisi’s junior and senior design students were also writing and illustrating their own books. Given the commonalities between the projects, the two classes came together through a Google Meet. The high school students read their books to the third grade class. Each of their books represented their artistic abilities and had a kindness moral weaved in. The third graders interviewed the high schoolers about the writing and illustrating process, and were excited to learn from older students in the district. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/7/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169574 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169574 Important: Outside activities today including recess, field day activities and field trips are cancelled. Due to the poor air quality and the air quality alert in effect, the Sachem Central School District is canceling outside activities today including recess, field day activities and field trips. Our main concern is to keep all students and staff safe. Date Added: 6/7/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169542 Wed, 07 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169542 Nokomis Donates Cereal Boxes to Local Pantry Throughout the month of May, Nokomis Elementary School collected cereal boxes to donate to St. John’s Food Pantry in Holbrook. This year, Mrs. Erb and Mr. Papagni’s fifth grade classes led the drive and collected 976 cereal boxes. Nokomis Elementary School has been supporting the local food pantry since 2011 with the cereal box drive, delivering 14,397 boxes in total. Date Added: 6/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169520 Tue, 06 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169520 Mental Health Awareness Month at Sachem East Throughout the month of May, Sachem High School East acknowledged Mental Health Awareness Month and students and staff participated in several activities to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and provide supports. Mental health professionals visited several classes to introduce the various activities taking place across Sachem High School East. They engaged students in activities to promote positive mental health practices. On May 18, more than 100 students signed a pledge to be “StigmaFree.” They promised to shift the barriers for those living with mental health conditions by encouraging acceptance and understanding and advocating for a better world. Additionally, a mental health awareness booth with several resources was set up for students to visit. Sachem East’s therapy dog Bailey was available for students to make a “feel-good” connection. Members of the Art Honor Society submitted sketches of artwork to be painted in the building’s Room for PEACE — a designated room for students to go to decompress during the school day. Students, faculty and staff voted on the sketches and the sketch with the most votes will be painted on the back wall. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/5/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169479 Mon, 05 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169479 SNSE Visits Local Assisted Living The Sachem North String Ensemble entertained the residents at Atria Hertlin Place Assisted Living on May 30. The facility is a regular spot for the group during the holidays, but this year, students decided they should go back and play again in the spring when the building is quiet with less visitors. Residents were thrilled and the SNSE members promised they'd be back in December! Date Added: 6/2/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169410 Fri, 02 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169410 Hiawatha Students Explore Colonial Times Fourth graders at Hiawatha Elementary School took a trip back in time to the Colonial era. Students dressed up as children would during the time period and participated in traditional games and activities. In the classroom, they used ink and quills to write and slates to practice math. The day immersed students in the time period and taught them all about life in the Colonies. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 6/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169382 Thu, 01 Jun 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169382 Students Travel the Globe at Multicultural Event Students in the diversity club at Sachem High School East recently held their annual multicultural event. Students experienced interactive museum exhibits and station activities including henna tattooing, carrom and board games from South Asia, Mexican games and dancing, Haitian music, tabletop cricket, Ecuadorian Trompo lessons and Caribbean, Colombian and African American culture stations. Attendees enjoyed learning about the variety of cultures that exist within the Sachem community. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/31/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169334 Wed, 31 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169334 Suffolk County Champions in Golf and Track Congratulations to the Sachem girls golf team and Sachem HS East girls track & field team for both winning the Suffolk County championship in their respective classifications! Date Added: 5/30/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169298 Tue, 30 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169298 Outdoor Learning at Samoset Middle School Mr. Colburn’s sixth grade math class at Samoset Middle School recently stepped outside of the classroom to observe fractal geometry in the environment. Students collected pinecones, leaves and other fragments of nature and compared these items to geometric shapes such as spirals and circles. They also observed symmetry and sequences including the Fibonacci Sequence. Students then worked with Mr. Kreamer to demonstrate what they learned through art. They used their observations to produce pieces of art that are now on display outside the Samoset Middle School library. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/30/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169310 Tue, 30 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169310 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching Finalist Sachem High School East teacher Dr. Scott Kennedy has been selected as a state-level finalist for the 2023 Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. This award is one of the most esteemed honors in the nation for teachers. Those who are selected are exemplary teachers and leaders in mathematics and science education. Dr. Kennedy is the department chair for math at Sachem High School East and teaches Advanced Placement statistics and calculus courses. Outside of Sachem, he is an adjunct assistant professor at Suffolk County Community College and the University of Bridgeport. Additionally, Dr. Kennedy spends time teaching statistics to U.S. Military personnel at Air National Guard Base in Westhampton. “I am overwhelmed and humbled by my selection as a New York State PAEMST finalist. I feel honored to have the opportunity to teach such wonderful students from the Sachem community every year,” Dr. Kennedy said. “I work in a department of dedicated, passionate educators and I really take this recognition to heart. Thank you to the students, parents, community, and faculty and staff within Sachem for the support. I'll continue to give my all each and every day in this career that I love.” New York State Finalists will have their applications submitted to the PAEMST National Selection Committee. Those selected as national awardees receive a Presidential certificate, a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation and join an elite cohort of teachers. Date Added: 5/26/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169258 Fri, 26 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169258 Career Day Parade at Hiawatha First graders at Hiawatha Elementary School paraded outside the building for the annual career day celebration. Students dressed up as what they want to be when they grow up. Several professions were represented – from police officers, to teachers, to doctors and astronauts. Students then performed songs for their families about dreaming big before marching back inside. Date Added: 5/26/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169276 Fri, 26 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169276 Additional Student-Athletes Commit to Colleges On May 25, additional senior student-athletes from the Sachem Central School District signed their national letters of intent to play their respective sports at the collegiate level. During this third round of signings in the district, four students from High School East and four students from High School North committed to continuing their athletic careers after high school. HS East Sara Christie – Track & Field, Carnegie Mellon University Kaitlyn Grady – Soccer, College of Mount Saint Vincent Ryan Herman – Soccer, Adelphi University Chris Zabala – Soccer, SUNY Farmingdale Click here to view the East photo slideshow. HS North Drew Aronow – Lacrosse, Western Connecticut State University Dalton Lawrence – Lacrosse, Western Connecticut State University Nino Sacino – Soccer, Tiffin University Cody Suhr – Lacrosse, Western Connecticut State University Click here to view the North photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/25/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169233 Thu, 25 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false169233 District Art Shows Student-artists across the district have been displaying their work in art shows at their buildings throughout the month. At the elementary level, art teachers proudly displayed hundreds of pieces of art in creative ways throughout the buildings. Meanwhile, High School East celebrated its 12th annual art show in the Joseph B. Taylor Memorial Gallery. In preparation for the show, students learned how to frame and hang artwork using the gallery's walker hanging system and worked in teams to set up the showcases leading up to the gallery. The evening commenced with The National Art Honor Society’s induction ceremony and concluded with the art exhibition. Families listened to vocal performances by Ms. Dominic’s talented choir students as digital art and animations looped in high-resolution on the smartboard. Additionally, senior student Eve Danziger did an excellent job teaching children how to create small origami butterflies. Click here to view the Digital HS East Art Show. Click here to view the Seneca slideshow. Date Added: 5/25/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169202 Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169202 East Baseball League Championship Congratulations to the Sachem East baseball team on winning their 3rd consecutive League Championship, winning League III with a 14-6 record. The team was seeded 5th in the Conference II Bracket #2 of Section XI AA Playoffs. Date Added: 5/25/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169209 Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169209 North Softball League Championship Congratulations to the Sachem North softball team on winning their 3rd consecutive League Championship, winning League III with a 12-4 record. The team was seeded 5th in the Section XI AA Playoffs. Date Added: 5/25/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169211 Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169211 Sachem HS East Freshman Class Trip Sachem High School East held its freshman class field trip to Country Fair in Medford earlier this month. Class officers Allison Aurelio and Peyton Schook came up with the idea to appeal the trip to more students, given the vast amount of activities Country Fair offers. Nearly 150 students went go-karting, played mini-golf, drove spin zone bumper cars, used the batting cages and the outdoor laser frontier area. The trip was not only fun for all, it was a wonderful way for students to make memories, celebrate and conclude their first year of high school together. Additionally, it makes for a full-circle moment, as on the last day of their senior year, Sachem East students take a trip to Country Fair. Date Added: 5/24/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169191 Wed, 24 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169191 Ride for Life Makes Stops in Sachem The Ride for Life made its way through Sachem on May 19 to raise awareness and support in the fight against ALS. Each year in the month of May, which is ALS Awareness Month, the Ride for Life makes stops at schools across Long Island and into New York City. ALS patients lead the ride with students following while holding signs with messages of positivity and hope. This year, the Ride for Life made stops at Sachem High School East, Sagamore Middle School, Sachem High School North, Tamarac Elementary School and Merrimac Elementary School. Students presented checks to the Ride for Life organization along the way to help with patient services. The Sagamore Middle School and Sachem High School East student governments collectively raised the most money, presenting a check of $6,548. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169100 Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169100 Sachem Students Thank First Responders Elementary school students across the Sachem Central School District showed their appreciation for first responders during several parades and ceremonies. Many of the district’s schools invited first responders to the building for celebrations including police officers, firefighters, sheriff’s deputies, doctors and nurses. Students lined the bus circles of their buildings holding thank-you signs and cheering on the first responders as they paraded through. Other students wrote cards to give to local first responders during the celebrations. Click here to view the Grundy slideshow. Click here to view the Lynwood slideshow. Click here to view the Tamarac slideshow. Click here to view the Waverly slideshow. Click here to view the Wenoah slideshow. Date Added: 5/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169146 Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169146 Project-Based Learning at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School Students at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School have learned about community service through several project-based learning activities. On May 16, students displayed their final projects during a Project-Based Learning Showcase. The student-center approach allows students to learn about a subject through the experience of solving an open-ended problem. Each project enhances skills in creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. Most recently, third graders shared their final project with their families. Through their project, they followed the driving question, “How can we, as leaders, promote awareness of the importance/impact of empathy through participation in donations and card making for Ronald McDonald House families?” Through research and planning different fundraisers, the third graders raised $2,559 for Ronald McDonald House Charities, as well as collected dozens of items the organization needs. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Project-Based Learning Showcase Photos Date Added: 5/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169149 Tue, 23 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169149 BOE Recognizes Student Achievements The Sachem Central School District Board of Education recognized several groups of students during its May 16 meeting. Students who participated in the Special Olympics were honored. Students from Samoset Middle School, Sachem High School East and North trained hard to participate in regional competition on May 6. All athletes took home medals in their divisions. Additionally, Sachem student and staff volunteers were recognized for helping out at the event. Chairperson for Secondary Music Gerard Giglio also recognized music students who participated in the intermediate division of the Long Island String Festival. Fifth through eighth grade students performed in a concert with other orchestra students from across Suffolk County earlier this year. The final recognition of the evening honored this year’s valedictorians and salutatorians from both high schools. At Sachem High School East, Siddharth Sheth was named valedictorian and Jada Drew was named salutatorian. At Sachem High School North, Alexa Ginis earned the valedictorian designation whereas Sara Breitenbecker and Gianna Marchese were named co-salutatorians. The district congratulated these students on achieving the top academic honors of the Class of 2023. Date Added: 5/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169085 Mon, 22 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false169085 Children’s Author Visits Hiawatha Kindergarteners Children’s book author Lawrence Dupkin recently visited kindergarten classes at Hiawatha Elementary School. Dupkin led a fun-filled read aloud of his book, “Jeb on the Farm,” that brought students inside his story. After students listened to the story, they had the opportunity to get copies of the book signed to bring home. Date Added: 5/22/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169063 Mon, 22 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169063 Awareness Day Inspires HS East Community Sachem High School East students spread awareness about their triumphs and struggles as students with disabilities in recognition of May being Better Speech-Language and Hearing Month. The students spoke to an audience of their peers, parents, teachers and administrators and described how their disabilities have impacted them academically and socially. The speeches highlighted student achievements, passions and goals while increasing awareness and compassion. The messages inspired their peers to focus on strengths. Some of the topics covered included autism, dyslexia, ADHD, diabetes, anxiety, depression, hearing impairment and seizures. The feedback from the audience was described as incredibly positive and inspiring. Date Added: 5/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=169010 Fri, 19 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false169010 PARP at Waverly Elementary School Waverly Elementary School recently wrapped up its Pick a Reading Partner, or PARP, activities. As a culmination of the program, older students became reading buddies with younger students. Classes paired up with one another and students shared different books and stories. They were eager to interact with other grade levels and excited about reading. Additionally, 10 students who handed in reading logs after a two-week period were selected to slime Waverly Principal Mr. Tougher in front of the entire school. Date Added: 5/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168968 Wed, 17 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168968 Budget Results – Budget Passes Budget Results – Budget Passes Yes – 2,341 No – 1,037 Proposition 2 – Use of Capital Reserve Yes – 2,134 No – 1,227 Board Election Results: Stephanie Volpe – 2,295 * Robert Scavo – 2,069 * Christopher Buckley Jr. – 1,507 Matthew Baumann – 1,938 * *indicates the individuals who were elected Resultados del presupuesto: presupuesto aprobado Sí – 2,341 No – 1,037 Propuesta 2 – Uso de Reserva de Capital Yes – 2,134 No – 1,227 Resultados de las elecciones de la junta: Stephanie Volpe – 2,295 * Robert Scavo – 2,069 * Christopher Buckley Jr. – 1,507 Matthew Baumann – 1,938 * *indica las personas que fueron elegidas Date Added: 5/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168906 Tue, 16 May 2023 08:00:00 GMT false168906 Girls Golf League Champs Congratulations to the Sachem girls golf team on winning the League 4 championship with a record of 12-0. Sachem has now won three consecutive League 4 championships with a combined record of 35-1, while currently winning 24 straight matches. Date Added: 5/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168847 Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168847 Reading Opens the World The Sachem Central Teachers’ Association distributed 25,000 free books to members of the Sachem community during its Reading Opens the World Literacy and Book Fair on May 12. Hundreds of families and educators lined up outside of Sachem High School North to collect books for Sachem students of all ages. Teachers were invited to take up to 30 free books to restock their classroom libraries, whereas students chose five books to bring home. The books were received through a grant from the American Federation of Teachers, in conjunction with First Book and New York State United Teachers. In addition to the book giveaway, the event included free ice cream for kids, carnival games and activities, music and local food trucks. The SCTA collected clothing donations for local charities and nonperishable food donations for the Sachem North food pantry. The event fostered a love for reading while bringing the entire Sachem community together. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168853 Tue, 16 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168853 School Physicals Information Athletics School Physicals Information School physicals will take place at the nurse’s office on the building dates listed in the attached PDF. Please make sure to register on Final Forms https://sachem-ny.finalforms.com/ prior to your child taking a physical if they have not done so already. All medical forms that may be needed such as NYS physical forms and other medical forms are located at https://sachem.edu/departments/athletics Building nurses will be available only on the following dates throughout the summer: 7:30am-2:00pm HS: August 1, 3, 15, 18, 21, 22 MS: August 21, 22, 23, 29, 30 Fall Start Dates 8/21: High School 9/7: Middle School Date Added: 5/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168793 Fri, 12 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168793 Seneca Middle School Supports Make-A-Wish Seneca Middle School raised $6,575 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation throughout the month of March. Several classes and student organizations held drives and fundraisers to raise money for the cause. Seneca Middle School teacher Michael Dreyhaupt and student Sophia Espiritu were both Make-A-Wish recipients and presented the check to the foundation during the building’s faculty meeting on May 10. Date Added: 5/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168787 Fri, 12 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168787 Board of Education Special Meeting and Public Hearing - May 18, 2023 Date Added: 5/9/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168655 Thu, 11 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false168655 Life Design Students Become Published Authors and Illustrators Students taking Life Design at Sachem High School North became published authors and illustrators after a collaborative effort to create a children’s alphabet book. Students were each assigned a letter of the alphabet and tasked with making an illustration based on a word that starts with their assigned letter. Each word also had to connect with the theme of the class. For example, “C” was for “Courage” and “D” was for “Dream.” Once the books were complete, the class held a book publishing party to celebrate their success. They mingled with one another and reviewed their final product. The Life Design course focuses on social and emotional learning. It helps students use art as an outlet, fosters creative and critical thinking, develops visual organizational skills and improves self-esteem through several wellness practices. Date Added: 5/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168762 Thu, 11 May 2023 05:00:00 GMT false168762 Sachem North Student Earns DECA Top 10 Medal Sachem High School North’s Avi Talsania earned a medal for being a top 10 performer in the Automotive Services Marketing event at the DECA International Career Development Conference. In this event, participants were challenged to perform marketing functions related to auto dealers, service stations and related businesses. Avi placed first in his overall category at the DECA State Career Conference in Rochester this past March, which qualified him to compete at the DECA ICDC in Orlando, Florida. He joined more than 20,000 high school business students worldwide in competitions and leadership conferences. DECA is an organization for high school students of marketing, management and entrepreneurship in business, finance, hospitality and marketing sales, and service. It prepares student leaders for careers and education in these fields. Date Added: 5/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168747 Thu, 11 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168747 Island Federal Section XI Scholar-Athlete Scholarship Winner Sachem High School East student Emma Parente was selected as the recipient of the 2023 Island Federal Section XI Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. The scholarship is given to graduating high school seniors who embody athletic success, academic excellence and a commitment to improving the community. Parente is a student-athlete on Sachem East’s girls soccer and basketball teams. She will be receiving $2,500 to help with college expenses. Date Added: 5/10/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168718 Wed, 10 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168718 Sachem North Team Advances in Euro Challenge Sachem High School’s North economics and finance club recently advanced to the semifinal round of the Euro Challenge after its success at the regional competition. The Euro Challenge is an academic competition sponsored by the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. It encourages American students to learn more about the European Union and its currency through team-based challenges surrounding economic issues in the Euro area. On April 24, the team traveled to New York City to compete in regionals. This year’s team played the roles of policymakers and were tasked with solving problems stemming from a lack of innovation in the nation of Portugal. The team spent months researching the problem and created a 15-minute presentation for the competition, which featured policy recommendations. Sachem High School North placed in the top 25 out of 82 teams from across the country, advancing them to the next round. In addition to participating in the regional competition in New York City, students had the opportunity to visit PineBridge Investments and Wells Fargo’s corporate headquarters during their trip. Date Added: 5/10/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168704 Wed, 10 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168704 Suffolk Zone Award Winners Announced Sachem High School East seniors Kyle Smith and Isabella Dembinski, along with Sachem High School North seniors JT Mankowich and Morgan Reitmann, were named the Suffolk Zone Award winners by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. This Outstanding Physical Education Award honors high school seniors who are recognized as leaders in physical education and serve as role models to their peers. It is presented annually to the top male and female physical education leaders at each Suffolk County high school. Recipients of this award lead a healthy and physically active lifestyle, while demonstrating responsible behaviors such as good sportsmanship, character and citizenship. Date Added: 5/9/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168676 Tue, 09 May 2023 05:00:00 GMT false168676 Sachem Students Place in BAFFA Exhibition Students from Sachem High School East and North participated in the 2023 annual Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts Show at the Gillette House in Sayville. BAFFA brings fine arts to communities across Long Island. Sachem North junior Anna D'Arcangelis won first place in the watercolor painting category for her piece “Into the Unknown.” Additional Sachem students won awards in the high school juried exhibition. From Sachem North, Jessica Ly was awarded second place in the watercolor painting category and Amira Sardar received an honorable mention. From Sachem East, Grace Prego won second place in the oil painting category. Congratulations to all of the Sachem students who participated in this year’s exhibition: Date Added: 5/9/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168646 Tue, 09 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168646 Middle School Musicians Honored At the May 3 Sachem Board of Education meeting, dozens of middle school student-musicians were honored for their participation in SCMEA Division 1 and 2 festivals. These students previously performed in a NYSSMA solo festival and then were selected for either All-County band, chorus or orchestra. Chairperson for Elementary Music George Macchio called each student up to recognize them as some of the best middle school musicians in Sachem and in Suffolk County. Date Added: 5/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168623 Mon, 08 May 2023 06:00:00 GMT false168623 Top of the Class of 2023 at Sachem East Sachem High School East is proud to announce Siddharth Sheth as its Class of 2023 valedictorian and Jada Drew as its salutatorian. Siddharth is a well-rounded student who shines in and out of the classroom. His academic excellence has led to his leadership in several honor societies including the Science National Honor Society and National English Honor Society, both of which he serves as president. Most recently, Siddharth was named a National Merit Scholarship Program finalist for his achievement on the Preliminary SAT. Additionally, Siddharth is the president of the Sachem East DECA chapter, where he prepared long-term competition curricula, organized meetings of dozens of members and developed successful fundraising initiatives. Outside of the classroom, Siddharth serves as a Leading Petty Officer with the United States Naval Sea Cadets Corps. In this role, he coordinated monthly drills and trained other cadets. Throughout all four years of high school, Siddharth was a member of the winter track and field team. He has also dedicated his time volunteering to several local organizations including the Community Solidarity Food Share and with Stony Brook Orthopedic Associates. Salutatorian Jada Drew is a highly involved member of the Sachem High School East community. She currently serves as the class government president, planning events for the student body while assisting in fundraising needs. She has served as an officer with the class government throughout her time in high school. Jada is an excellent student and has excelled in the 13 Advanced Placement classes she has taken. She is set to graduate with an AP Capstone Diploma and was named an AP Scholar with Distinction. Additionally, Jada is the vice president of the Science National Honor Society, vice president of the National English Honor Society and secretary of the National Honor Society. All while maintaining high academics, Jada spends her time outside of school volunteering at local senior living facilities. This fall, Siddharth will be attending the Boston University Honors Program to study biomedical engineering and Jada will be part of the Stony Brook University Honors Program where she will continue her passion for biology. The district wishes them the best of luck in their future endeavors! Date Added: 5/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168619 Mon, 08 May 2023 05:00:00 GMT false168619 Top of the Class of 2023 at Sachem North Sachem High School North is proud to announce Alexa Ginis as its Class of 2023 valedictorian and Sara Breitenbecker and Gianna Marchese as its co-salutatorians. Alexa’s passion for learning is evident in the classroom and through her work with the district’s early childhood internship program. Throughout her junior and senior years, Alexa has spent two periods of her school day working with Sachem Universal Pre-K students and experiencing all that goes into being a teacher. Her desire to work with children has led to her involvement as a tutor with the Sachem Youth Center and a SCOPE group leader at Hiawatha Elementary School’s after-care program. Not only does Alexa work to better other students, she pushes herself in the classroom. She has taken seven Advanced Placement courses and 15 honors classes. Her academic excellence has allowed her to be an active member of the National History Honor Society and Foreign Language Honor Society. These organizations have given several service opportunities both in Sachem High School North and out in the community. Sara, one of this year’s salutatorians, is highly involved in the Sachem North school community. Throughout her time in high school, Sara has been enrolled in rigorous coursework and active in a total of five honor societies. Most recently, she became a member of the school’s Recycling Council after her interest and awareness of environmental issues was ignited while taking AP Environmental Science. Additionally, she was a member of the junior and senior class clubs and was instrumental in planning school activities. While a leader in the classroom, Sara is also a student-athlete and a leader on the playing field. She has received post-season honors on the field hockey team and also was a member of the girls lacrosse team. She is an active member of the community as a volunteer with the Sachem Public Library, helps coordinate Sachem North’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and has participated in fundraising efforts for cancer research and disaster relief. Co-salutatorian Gianna Marchese is highly involved in music and the arts at Sachem High School North. She is a four-year member of the championship marching band and was selected to participate in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. She is the president of Sachem North’s prestigious pit orchestra, music council and the vice president of the Northwind News website. Her success in the music arts and in the classroom earned her a spot in the Tri-M Music Honor Society. In addition to her officer positions in several music groups, Gianna is a member of a number of other organizations including the PTSA, senior class government, Model UN and the Science Olympiad team. As a member of the varsity Arrowettes team, Gianna performs at school events and sports games. Outside of school, Gianna volunteers her time with the Sachem Community Youth Services. She also dedicates herself to serve the larger Sachem community through participating in monthly road cleanups, charity walks and other events. This fall, Alexa will continue her passion for early childhood education at the University of Hartford, Sara will study psychology at the University of Connecticut and Gianna will attend Stony Brook University to pursue a degree in computer engineering. The district congratulates them for achieving the top academic honors for the Class of 2023 and wishes them the best. Date Added: 5/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168620 Mon, 08 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168620 Readers are Leaders at Tamarac Elementary School Leaders in the Sachem community visited Tamarac Elementary School on April 28 for the school’s first “Readers are Leaders” event. Leading up to the event, students participated in activities and a spirit week centered around literacy. The culmination was inviting several professionals to the building including local politicians, administrators, lawyers and news anchors for a day filled with read alouds and interactive presentations. Community members from various professions shared what their job entails while answering questions from students. Then, the leaders shared books with classes to demonstrate their love for literature. It was a wonderful way to show Tamarac students how leaders are readers and how readers are leaders. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/5/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168560 Fri, 05 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168560 Learning All About Ramadan Two of our Chippewa students did an amazing job presenting about Ramadan to their fifth grade class! They created the entire presentation on their own. Date Added: 5/4/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168497 Thu, 04 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168497 Battle of the Buildings Champs Lynwood Avenue Elementary School hosted a celebration to honor the Lynwood Trivia Tigers for being awarded the Battle of the Buildings Sachem Cup. Battle of the Buildings is a competition within the district that tests staff on trivia questions. It raises scholarship money for students at Sachem High School East and North. The Sachem PTA Council presented the Lynwood Trivia Tigers with the Sachem Cup. The building held a parade with a firetruck procession to cheer on this years’ winners. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/4/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168498 Thu, 04 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168498 Farm-to-Table Salad Celebration Fourth and fifth graders at Wenonah Elementary School have been learning about growing their own food sustainably. By using Tower Gardens, students grew fresh and healthy produce right inside their classrooms. They constructed their towers in early March and planted a variety of leafy greens while maintaining water nutrients and pH levels throughout April. The culmination of this hands-on learning experience was harvesting their produce with a “salad celebration.” Wenonah cafeteria staff created a salad medley using bibb and gourmet romaine lettuces, rainbow Swiss chard, kale and arugula greens. The salad celebration aligned with Earth Day and students were excited to taste the fruits of their labor. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/3/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168469 Wed, 03 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168469 Reading Opens the World - Friday, May 12, 2023 Date Added: 5/3/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168468 Wed, 03 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168468 Sachem Celebrates Autism Awareness and Acceptance Throughout April, the Sachem Central School District celebrated World Autism Month. Students and staff participated in several activities to teach one another about autism spectrum disorder and created displays to promote awareness. Fifth grade peer buddies at Waverly Elementary School pushed into classes to teach their peers about autism. They gave interactive presentations to help students learn how to be a friend to those who learn and communicate differently. Additionally, classes collaborated during physical education to participate in sensory-friendly exercises. Through these activities, Waverly promoted inclusivity throughout the building. At Wenonah Elementary School, students created colorful project hallway displays to promote autism acceptance. The building also held an Autism Acceptance Month T-Shirt Design contest. Fifth grader Brendan Collins won with his design that read, “I’m Unstoppable.” Wenonah staff members came together to wear the shirt on April 28. On April 30, more than 30 staff members from Chippewa Elementary School and their families participated in the EJ Autism Foundation four-mile walk in East Islip. The organization supports programs and schools across Long Island that work with children who have autism. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 5/2/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168418 Tue, 02 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168418 2023-2024 Budget Newsletter Date Added: 5/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168366 Mon, 01 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168366 Kindergarten Orientation Screening Information Date Added: 5/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168311 Mon, 01 May 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168311 Student-Athletes Commit to Colleges During Spring Signing Day On April 26, senior student-athletes from the Sachem Central School District signed their national letters of intent to play their respective sports at the collegiate level. During this second round of signings in the district, 37 students committed to continuing their athletic careers after high school. This brings the total number of Sachem student-athletes who will be continuing their playing careers to 67. Students and their families wore apparel representing their future schools as they were congratulated by Sachem Assistant Athletic Director Philip Torregrosa. The Sachem Central School District thanks its coaches for their commitment to helping student-athletes excel both on and off the field and congratulates all of the student-athletes. HS East Francis Andersen – Swimming, Misericordia University Isabella Dembinski – Lacrosse, SUNY Cortland AJ Esposito – Basketball, St. Joseph’s University Glenn Gandarillas – Volleyball, Manhattanville College Joe Gandarillas – Volleyball, Manhattanville College Kiara Guardado – Soccer, SUNY Oneonta Megan Hoffman – Track & Field, Marist College Amanda Madigan – Softball, Johnson & Wales University Samantha Mann – Cheerleading, Hofstra University AvaGraceMonti – Swimming, St. Joseph’s University Erika Palermo – Cheerleading, Long Island University Emma Parente – Soccer, SUNY Oneonta Deanna Reimo – Softball, Western Connecticut State University Joe Richetti – Baseball, SUNY New Paltz Jaden Rodriguez – Football, Ithaca College Emma Rondinella – Softball, St. Joseph’s University Olivia Russo – Cross Country and Track & Field, Molloy College Gianna Scolaro – Cheerleading, Suffolk County Community College Brianna Snyder – Cheerleading, Coastal Carolina University Alex Sufrin – Track & Field, SUNY Plattsburgh Michael Vurchio – Football, Hartwick College Gina Wiliams – Track & Field, SUNY Cortland Click here to view the HS East photo slideshow. HS North Ryan Barlow – Baseball, St. Joseph’s University Christian Blank – Soccer, Long Island University Madison Bulzoni – Cheerleading, Sacred Heart University Nick DeLuca – Baseball, Utica University Paul Fiene – Baseball, Monroe Community College Dylan Friel – Cross Country and Track & Field, SUNY Geneseo Tyler Hall – Football, Utica University Luis Jaquez – Football, Western Connecticut State University Nick Laliwala – Baseball, SUNY Poly Tech Geoffrey Ndoria – Volleyball, SUNY New Paltz Paulina Pereira – Swimming, Pace University Matt Rintoul – Basketball, Suffolk County Community College Julianna Serrano – Cheerleading, Hofstra University Haley Schreiber – Bowling, Adelphi University Connor Volz – Basketball, Suffolk County Community College Click here to view the HS North photo slideshow. Date Added: 4/27/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168293 Thu, 27 Apr 2023 05:00:00 GMT false168293 Sachem Students Explore Europe Over Spring Break Students from both Sachem High Schools learned about history, architecture and culture in Austria, Switzerland and Germany over spring break. Teachers Dawn DelSeni and Erin Gearns led students on this incredible educational tour. While in Austria, travelers toured Vienna and Salzburg, visited Schönbrunn Palace and even learned how to dance the Viennese Waltz. In Germany, students visited Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site, toured Munich and, while in the Bavaria region, were able to visit two of King Ludwig’s castles including the famous Neuschwanstein Castle. In Switzerland travelers enjoyed a decedent Swiss chocolate tasting, went on an adventure that took them across the picturesque Lake Lucerne and up into the Swiss Alps, all the way to the top of Mt. Rigi. It was a wonderful week filled with new experiences, friendships and memories that will last a lifetime! Date Added: 4/27/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168279 Thu, 27 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168279 An Inside Look at Citi Field Students taking sports and entertainment management classes at Sachem High School East recently visited Citi Field, home of the New York Mets. Students toured the stadium and learned about the many things other than baseball that take placed there. Throughout the tour, they saw the different types of clubs and suites, restaurants, vendors and other amenities available to different types of ticket holders. Students even got to walk onto the field, sit in the dugout, visit the control room, press box and the Mets Hall of Fame Museum. Students learned all about the behind-the-scenes management, marketing and the enormous operating costs that go into running a first-class professional sports venue. The trip opened their eyes to the many career opportunities involved with sports and entertainment management. Date Added: 4/26/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168254 Wed, 26 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168254 Sports in U.S. History Class Learns from the Pros Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon Jr., two-time Super Bowl champion Perry Williams and Senior Vice President of Human Resources with the NY Islanders Lea del Rosario visited students in Mrs. Malin’s Sports in U.S. History class at Sachem High School East. The elective course focuses on the impact and role of sports in society. They discussed their experiences as a New York Yankees bat boy, a New York Giant and an executive for a major market hockey team. Students were excited to hear their firsthand experiences and meet them in-person. Date Added: 4/25/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168216 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 05:00:00 GMT false168216 Book Launch Celebrates Student-Authors Students in Ms. Sicari, Mr. Celentano and Mrs. Rapuano’s class at Merrimac Elementary School wrote and published their own book, “Our World of Kindness.” They collaborated to write about acts of kindness with the hopes of inspiring others. The class held a book launch to celebrate the students’ success. Each student got to walk the “red carpet” with a copy of the story. They took turns reading their individual pages aloud. Date Added: 4/25/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168185 Tue, 25 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168185 Student-Musicians Honored At the April 18 Sachem Central School District Board of Education meeting, several student-musicians were honored for performing in regional showcases and competitions. Sachem Chairperson for Secondary Music Gerard Giglio introduced groups of musicians and applauded them for their participation in elementary and secondary Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association festivals, the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education conference and the Long Island String Festival Association performance. Additionally, some of the top Sachem student-musicians who participated in All-State, All-Eastern or All-National conferences were recognized. Date Added: 4/20/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168065 Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168065 Students Become Teachers at Parent Band Night Sachem students stepped into the role of teachers during the district’s first Parent Band Night at Chippewa Elementary School. Teachers and parents were taught to play instruments by their children and High School East members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. They participated in two rehearsals before putting on a concert for their children. Parents were excited to see their students apply what they’ve learned during music class and lessons when teaching them how to play several instruments. Not only was it a bonding experience for children and their parents, the event brought the Sachem school music community together for a new, engaging experience. Date Added: 4/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=168044 Wed, 19 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false168044 SUNY Information Night: A Presentation on the SUNY System and Financial Aid Date Added: 4/5/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167807 Tue, 18 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167807 Waverly Artists go Head-to-Head in ‘Chopped’ Competition Teams of fifth grade artists at Waverly Elementary School competed against each other and the clock during the Art Chopped Finals. The competition, led by art teacher Susan Kinsey, challenges teams of three to use mystery art supplies to create a project following a given theme. The concept is based off the popular Food Network show, “Chopped.” At the start of each of the three rounds, students were given a mystery box of supplies. In each round, they had to use all of the art media to create a project under a tight time limit. The first round they were challenged with creating a landscape, the second round they created group self-portraits and the final round challenged them to follow the theme, “In the future.” Once the timer went off, a panel of judges reviewed the projects and gave scores based on craftsmanship, creativity, main objective and teamwork. Teams were eliminated based on the judges’ decision. The “Coco Colers” came out on top and won this year’s competition. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 4/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167997 Mon, 17 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167997 Upcoming Board of Education Meetings Date Added: 4/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167976 Sat, 15 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167976 Student-Scientists Share Projects Wenonah Elementary School held its science fair on April 4, giving students the opportunity to share their research and projects with their peers and families. The gymnasium was filled with presentation boards covering several scientific disciplines. The projects were judged by guest judges from Sachem HS North who handed out ribbons and honorable mentions. In addition to the Wenonah projects being displayed, several HS North students presented their research projects in the cafeteria. The Sachem Robotics team gave the elementary school students a look at their robot that recently competed in regional competitions. Additionally, the Sachem Public Library was on hand with interactive activities for students. Date Added: 4/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167938 Wed, 12 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167938 National History Day Participant Sachem High School East freshman Olaf Tur competed in the Long Island Regional National History Day competition at Hofstra University on March 26. This year’s theme was “Frontiers in History.” Olaf’s paper was about the life of Witold Pilecki, a Polish intelligence agent and voluntary inmate of Auschwitz, who spent two and a half years gathering intelligence from within the camp. His research was completed as part of a brand-new freshman class at Sachem called Humanities Research. Olaf had to defend his paper and explain his research as part of the interview process. He competed in the Senior Research Paper category against 22 other entries from Long Island. Although he did not move onto the state competition it was an honor to compete against the most competitive group of high school historians! Date Added: 4/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167920 Tue, 11 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167920 Knitting Project Weaves Kindness Through Community Tamarac Elementary School students in the Sachem Central School District volunteered their time to help a local family in need. The students chose to use their recess time to learn how to knit. They each made squares that were then put together to make a blanket for a family in need. In addition to the blanket, the students donated toys and clothes for their adopted family. Date Added: 4/10/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167899 Mon, 10 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167899 Sagamore Middle School Supports Fight Against Cancer Sagamore Middle recently held two events to help support the fight against cancer. During the school day on March 31, the building held its St. Baldrick’s event. A combination of students and staff members shaved their head in solidarity for children battling cancer. In doing so, the shavees collected funds from family and friends to support life-saving research. Sagamore’s St. Baldrick’s team raised $4,500 for children’s cancer research. The team additionally held a combined event with Long Island Disc Golf, raising a total of $20,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. In the last 15 years, the entire Sachem community has raised more than $500,000 for the organization. Following Sagamore’s St. Baldrick’s event, the building participated in Sagamore Spikes out Cancer Volleyball Tournament. Twenty-three teams of students and faculty participated in the event to raise money for the DezyStrong Foundation. The tournament, along with the building’s Pi Day fundraiser earlier in the month, raised more than $1,700. Date Added: 4/7/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167877 Fri, 07 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167877 PARP Celebrations Across the district, buildings are celebrating PARP, or Pick a Reading Partner. This year’s PARP theme at Hiawatha Elementary School was “Chill Out and Read!” Collectively, Hiawatha students read 70,313 minutes during a two-week span. Mrs. Smith’s class had the highest percentage of readers and as a result had the opportunity to pie the principal. Principal Joseph Watson dressed as a penguin to match this year’s theme and “got pied” in front of the entire school. At Wenonah Elementary School, PARP kicked off with a fun-filled show from the Harlem Wizards. At the end of the PARP program, the basketball-themed celebration continued with an outdoor basketball game featuring teams of Wenonah teachers. Click here to view the Hiwatha PARP slideshow. Click here to view the Wenonah PARP slideshow. Date Added: 4/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167832 Thu, 06 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167832 Sachem Student Receives Building Bridges Award Sachem High School North junior Kaylise McClure received the Students Building Bridges Award presented by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island. This prestigious award recognized students on Long Island for their community service efforts and dedication toward creating a more civil society. “Kaylise dedicates countless hours inside and outside of school to helping and empowering others,” said social studies teacher and Model UN Club adviser Kate Seifert. “In her roles as the Model United Nations Secretary-General and as president of the Intercultural Club, Kaylise emphasizes the power education, collaboration and acceptance can have toward building bridges between different communities.” Kaylise will be honored with citations from elected officials and a certificate of achievement from the JCRC-LI at the Suffolk County Holocaust Remembrance Day Commemoration on April 27. Date Added: 4/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167856 Thu, 06 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167856 Students Qualify for National DECA Competition Ten Sachem High School students from both East and North traveled to Rochester to compete in the DECA state competition. DECA prepares students to achieve college and career goals in several fields including marketing, finance, hospitality and management. At the state competition, the Sachem team took home more than 15 top 10 medals. Additionally, four students qualified to attend nationals. Congratulations to Evan Gottesman, Aafia Malik, Siddharth Sheth and Avi Talsania. Out of those who qualified, Avi will be attending the national competition in Orlando, Florida later this month. Date Added: 4/4/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167773 Tue, 04 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167773 Teddy Bear Clinic Teaches First Aid Nokomis Elementary School kindergartners took care of their own stuffed animals during the “Teddy Bear Clinic” presented by Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Stony Brook nurses and nursing students visited the classrooms to teach students about personal safety. They covered several topics including safety in the car, helmet safety, preventing the spread of germs and basic first aid. The kindergartners then dressed as doctors and nurses to apply what they learned and took care of their stuffed animals. They evaluated the patients to see what was wrong, provided first aid and shared ideas of how to stay safe in the future. The “mini medical professionals” even had to write up doctor’s orders for their stuffed friends, such as prescribing hugs to make them feel better. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 4/3/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167734 Mon, 03 Apr 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167734 College and Career Fair Date Added: 3/20/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167346 Fri, 31 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167346 Career Fairs Connect Students and Local Businesses Sachem students at High School East and North explored dozens of potential post-graduation opportunities at their respective career fairs. Dozens of local businesses gathered at Sachem High School North on March 23 and at High School East on March 29. Students networked with representatives from several different industries who discussed job and internship opportunities available in the community. The career fair grows each year with more fields being represented. Not only are doors opened for students, but the annual career fair helps them establish professional relationships. HS East Career Fair HS North Career Fair Date Added: 3/30/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167672 Thu, 30 Mar 2023 08:00:00 GMT false167672 Robotics Team Wins Award at Regional Competition The Sachem Central School District robotics team, Aftershock, earned the Gracious Professionalism Award after competing in the Long Island Regional FIRST Robotics Competition at Hofstra University. The Gracious Professionalism Award is given to the team that exemplifies the principles of FIRST – fairness, humility, positivity and respect. This team demonstrates the FIRST core values and works together on and off the field of play. It was noted that Aftershock generated a program that resulted in building a network of spare parts to be redistributed back to teams on Long Island, placing the community first. Aftershock is made up of students from both Sachem High School East and North. At the Long Island FIRST Robotics Competition, they competed against several teams from Long Island and around the globe in point-based challenges with the robot they designed and built. Date Added: 3/29/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167622 Wed, 29 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167622 Spring Has Sprung in Sachem Spring has sprung in Sachem and it’s evident in many of the district’s elementary schools where classrooms have started their own Tower Gardens. Tower Gardens are aeroponic gardening systems that allow students to grow a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs indoors, without any dirt. Some of the Sachem elementary schools, including Nokomis and Chippewa, brought these vertical gardens into the classroom to engage students in hands-on STEM activities. Students first helped assemble the Tower Gardens and its necessary parts. They added nutrients to the water at the tower’s base, tested its pH, planted a variety of seeds and finally added the tower’s lights to help their plants grow. Each of the Tower Gardens will produce arugula, basil, bibb lettuce, gourmet lettuce, kale and rainbow chard. Students will have the opportunity to harvest their crops in the classroom and learn the meaning behind “tower to table.” The hands-on activity cultivated learners who are excited to grow their knowledge about science and gardening. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/28/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167595 Tue, 28 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167595 PTA Reflections Winners The Sachem Central School District Board of Education and central administration recognized 16 PTA Reflections winners for the Suffolk County region during a public meeting on March 22. PTA Reflections co-chair Colleen Stuart told the board there were 96 program participants during this school year’s themed event, “Show Your Voice.” Reflections is a national PTA program for students in grades K-12 in which students create original works of art in response to the selected theme in the categories of dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography and visual arts. The district congratulates the following PTA Reflections winners: Olivia Cockren – Cayuga Elementary School – music composition Brooklyn Cunnius – Grundy Avenue Elementary School – dance choreography Orion Edwards – Cayuga Elementary School – music composition Ryan Faivus – Sachem High School East– visual arts Giada Gilio – Grundy Avenue Elementary School – visual arts Cassidy Goodman – Seneca Middle School – visual arts Alexander Green – Sachem High School North – photography Austin Lebowitz – Sachem High School East – visual arts Lily Anna Mailey – Samoset Middle School – dance choreography Meghan Olweck – Seneca Middle School – visual arts Christian Pena – Seneca Middle School – literature Leah Ratto – Sachem High School East – literature Sofia Rutigliano – Tamarac Elementary School – dance choreography Elena Salfali – Grundy Avenue Elementary School – film production Joshua Saponieri – Tamarac Elementary School – film production Peyton Waszkiewicz – Sachem High School East – literature Date Added: 3/24/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167523 Fri, 24 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167523 Sachem Students Support Earthquake Relief Students at Nokomis Elementary School have been collecting supplies for the victims of the Turkey and Syria earthquake that struck last month. The building held a drive to collect first aid supplies, baby care items and basic living necessities. Students were eager to jump into action and help others despite being thousands of miles away. Date Added: 3/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167486 Thu, 23 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167486 Alma Woodsey Thomas Inspired Paintings Students at Nokomis Elementary School are honoring influential women throughout March for Women’s History Month. Most recently, Ms. Bonnie Faust’s fourth and fifth graders learned about Alma Woodsey Thomas, the first African American woman to have a solo exhibit at the Whitney Museum in New York City, as well as the first to have her art displayed at the White House, during former President Obama’s tenure. Ms. Faust’s students first read a book about Thomas before creating a timeline of her important life events. The unit culminated with art inspired by her technique. Students created their own paintings using short bars of color to create shapes and patterns. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 3/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167372 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167372 Presenting Polar Bear and Penguin Facts Mrs. DeJesus, Mrs. Walendowski and Mrs. Andersen’s first grade classes at Chippewa Elementary School collaborated to learn penguin and polar bear facts. The classes partnered with the Sachem Public Library to create a “Did You Know” green screen video to present all that they learned. Students were excited to share their knowledge in a new, interactive way. Date Added: 3/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167375 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167375 Sachem Students Explore Library Offerings 20 students from the Sachem High School East WBL club visited the Sachem Public Library to see all of the library’s new updates. Head of Teen Services Laura Panter planned a tour for students to learn about the different roles and departments within the library, as well as the different business degrees held by staff members. They visited the circulation desk, teen and children’s sections, the reference desk, studio and library administration. At each stop, the students were presented with a challenge, trivia question or divergent questions regarding career choices and resources. Student Olivia Damiano said, “it was fun collaborating with my friends in the quick-thinking create a campsite challenge!” Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167420 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167420 Sachem Celebrates Women’s History Month The Sachem Central School District is celebrating Women’s History Month and the influential women who have made a positive impact on American history. Throughout March, stories will be added below highlighting some of the Women’s History Month celebrations and activities taking place in our buildings. Chippewa Celebrates Women's History Month Rho Kappa Compiles Women's History Month Calendar Alma Woodsey Thomas Inspired Paintings Date Added: 3/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166864 Tue, 21 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false166864 BOE Presentation 3/22/23 At the March 22 Board of Education meeting, the Sachem Legislative Committee will present a bill that supports school-specific security guard training. Please see the attached image for additional information. Date Added: 3/20/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167276 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167276 Update on Travis Perry – He has been found safe! Date Added: 3/20/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167324 Mon, 20 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167324 HS North Student-Artists Selected for National Publications Three students from Sachem High School North were selected to have their work displayed in national publications. Sophomore Danielle Castro and senior Tommy Dang had their art chosen to be displayed in the March edition of the Davis Art SchoolArts Magazine. Additionally, sophomore Rebecca Lowry had her art selected for the back cover of the 2023-2024 Davis Art Monthly Planner. Both publications are distributed and viewed by thousands of art educators from across the country. Sachem High School North art teachers Lauren Gonzalez and Renee Parisi said they were extremely proud of their students and are confident this is just the beginning of their work being published. “Having students have the opportunity to be published and to see what it’s like to present their work at the national level is an amazing opportunity, resume-builder and confidence booster,” said Ms. Gonzalez. Students submitted artwork they created in-class to this contest. They say they are grateful to have the opportunity to connect with national publications. “It definitely gives me the confidence to put my art out there more,” Castro said. Davis Arts provides art curriculum, classroom resources, studio lessons and advocacy for K-12 art education. Date Added: 3/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167293 Fri, 17 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167293 Chippewa Celebrates Women’s History Month Chippewa Elementary School is celebrating Women’s History Month! A bulletin board in the building displays several women who have had positively impacted history. Students are encouraged to follow the messages of these individuals. Date Added: 3/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167482 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167482 Social Studies with the Superintendent Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri visited Ms. Bongiorno’s eighth grade U.S. History class at Sagamore Middle School for a team-teaching lesson. Students were learning about World War II and took part in interactive activities to further enhance their knowledge. Students first put their geography skills to the test by trying to label a blank map of Europe in 1939 in the fastest time. Dr. Pellettieri worked together with student Burak Hamurcu on this exercise. The class was then asked to interpret data and activate their prior knowledge when answering a series of questions based on a 1939 Fortune Magazine public opinion poll. Finally, students worked collaboratively and used their Chromebooks to research turning points of the War in Europe. At the end of the class, they were able to summarize what they learned and answer the AIM question, “How did the United States contribute to the Allied victory in Europe?” Students were excited to welcome Dr. Pellettieri into their classroom and embraced the team-teaching method. Date Added: 3/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167246 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167246 All-American in Race Walk Event Congratulations to Sachem HS East student-athlete Abby Callinan who finished her winter track season earning All-American status. Abby finished fourth in the mile race walk event at the New Balance Track and Field Center in Boston on March 12. After winning the Suffolk County title last month in the 1500-meter race walk with a time 7:05.34, Abby improved her time to 6:55.79 to win the New York State championship on March 4. Her win made her the sixth ever Sachem East Arrow to win a state title in girls track and field. The following week, Abby finished fourth in the mile race walk with a time of 7:33.65, more than 20 seconds faster than her performance in the same event last spring. This marks her second New Balance All-American title. Her time is currently ranked fifth in the U.S., trailing only a handful of athletes from Illinois, California, Texas and Maine. Date Added: 3/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167263 Thu, 16 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167263 Sheriff’s Office Teaches Student Safety The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office visited first and second graders at Nokomis Elementary School for a three-week student safety program. As part of the McGruff Safety Program, children engage in their communities while learning about how to keep themselves safe. Students learned important tips including how to prevent bullying, what to do in case of an emergency and what to do if a stranger approaches them. They were encouraged to memorize their home address and an emergency contact phone number. During a hands-on activity, students practiced dialing 9-1-1 and speaking with an operator. The program instills safety measures in students at a young age while fostering positive relationships with law enforcement officers. Date Added: 3/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167226 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167226 Missing Sachem Child Has Been Found – 3/15/23 Date Added: 3/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167235 Wed, 15 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167235 Solving PARP Puzzles at Tamarac Tamarac Elementary School students enjoyed “record-breaking reader” activities in the library as part of the building’s PARP celebrations. Staff developer Norma LaFata and librarian Lori Capozzi had students work on different reading-themed breakout activities focused on several physical and digital puzzles. Students collaborated to analyze, evaluate and interpret different clues to solve the puzzles. Younger graders participated in picture book and author scavenger hunts. Tamarac’s PARP committee provided prizes to students for cracking codes and solving the puzzles. The fun-filled activities got students excited about reading! Date Added: 3/14/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167129 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167129 Sagamore Students Celebrate Pi Day Happy Pi Day! Sagamore Middle School celebrated Pi Day on 3/14, the date that represents the first three digits of Pi. Students bought raffle tickets to have a chance to “pie” their teachers in the face during lunch periods. The money raised will go toward the DezyStrong Foundation. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/14/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167159 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167159 Students Learn from Holocaust Survivor Sachem High School East AP World History students in Erin Gearns’ classes recently visited the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center in Glen Cove. They toured the museum and heard the firsthand account of Mireille Taub, a Holocaust survivor. Mrs. Taub was born in Paris and took the last train out of France before the French surrendered to the Nazis. Her family survived their train being bombed by the Luftwaffe, or the German Air Force, and she and her family eventually walked to safety by traveling across the Pyrenees, passing through Spain and Portugal and finally arriving in New York on Aug. 11, 1940. Mrs. Taub shared the survival story of her husband, David Taub, as well as many personal artifacts. Students were able to hold the shoes she wore as she fled France and the yellow star worn by her uncle before he escaped France. They were grateful to meet, hear and learn from such an extraordinary person and left the museum inspired and with a deeper understanding of the Holocaust. “Due to the advanced age of Holocaust survivors, this is the last generation of students who will be able to learn from them directly,” said Mrs. Gearns. “My hope is that my students will carry these stories with them and teach their children about the courageous people who have shared their stories with us over the past 10 years.” Ahead of the field trip, Mrs. Gearns learned that she was one of 30 educators selected to attend a prestigious Holocaust Education Program in Israel this summer. Participants selected to attend this 10-day intensive learning experience are taught by the world’s most experienced and respected Holocaust educators and historians at Yad Vashem, the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. Mrs. Gearns is grateful for this once in a lifetime opportunity and looks forward to sharing her experiences with students and colleagues this fall. Date Added: 3/14/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167173 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167173 Special BOE Meeting 3/15/23 Date Added: 3/14/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167127 Tue, 14 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167127 Islanders Visit ‘Sparks’ Positivity at Chippewa Sparky, the beloved New York Islanders mascot, visited Chippewa Elementary School on March 8 to teach students about teamwork and healthy lifestyle choices. Spirits were high as students filled the gymnasium to welcome Sparky and team representatives. Students first participated in a series of warm-up activities and exercises led by Sparky. Through an interactive quiz, they learned about making healthy choices in and out of school. A student and teacher were then chosen from the crowd to dress in goalie equipment. The team that worked best together to get the equipment on the fastest was named the winner of the activity, showing the crowd how “teamwork makes the dream work.” Date Added: 3/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167107 Mon, 13 Mar 2023 04:00:00 GMT false167107 BOE Highlights Fall Athletics Student-athletes, teams and coaches in the Sachem Central School District were honored by the Board of Education at its March 8 meeting. Director of Athletics, Physical Education, Health and Health Services Gary Beutel introduced several individuals who celebrated accomplishments during the fall athletic season. First, student-athletes from both Sachem High Schools were recognized for their various post-season athletic honors in their respective sports including all-county designations and higher. Additionally, Mr. Beutel acknowledged the 20 varsity teams in the fall season who were named scholar athlete teams by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association. Following the individual recognitions, two teams from Sachem High School East were honored. The girls cross country and girls volleyball teams both earned the title of league champion this past fall. Additionally, Tina Moon, a Sachem coach for the past 25 years, was recognized for receiving the 2022-23 New York State Public High School Coach of the Year Award for field hockey. Date Added: 3/10/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167048 Fri, 10 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false167048 Train Track Safety Students at Wenonah Elementary School picked up some train safety tips thanks to the MTA’s TRACKS program – Together Railroads and Communities Keeping Safe. A representative from the Long Island Rail Road visited the school on March 8 to educate students about the importance of safety at grade crossings, on platforms and on trains. Students also learned about the hazards that exist on or near the tracks. With trains running all across Long Island, it’s important for students to be aware of how to travel safely using the LIRR system. Date Added: 3/9/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167021 Thu, 09 Mar 2023 06:00:00 GMT false167021 HS East Arrowettes Named National Champions The Sachem High School East Arrowettes have been named the 2023 NDA Small Varsity Team Performance National Champions! The team competed in the NDA National Championships in Orlando, Florida from March 3-5 alongside premiere dance teams from all over the United States. The HS East Arrowettes also placed fourth in Small Varsity Kick, 14th in Small Varsity Jazz and 14th in Small Varsity Hip Hop. Date Added: 3/9/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167002 Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false167002 2023-2024 District Calendar Summary Now Available Date Added: 3/9/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167009 Thu, 09 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false167009 Spreading Kindness in Sachem Fourth graders in Ms. Wilson and Mrs. Kearney’s class at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School are spreading kindness across the district. Students created bookmarks with kind and motivational quotes on them to send to a random class in Sachem. The first recipients of this kindness project were Mrs. Seguna’s first graders at Hiawatha! Date Added: 3/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166980 Wed, 08 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166980 St. Baldrick’s Event Honors Waverly Student The Waverly Elementary School community came together on March 3 for its annual St. Baldrick’s Event. Marking the first time the event was held in-person since the pandemic, Waverly was excited to have 10 shavees back on stage to support those affected by childhood cancer. This year’s event was dedicated to Sarah Sorensen, a Waverly second grader who has been in remission for the past five years. “The fact that her school today is honoring her is so overwhelming. Waverly is an elementary school that is completely supportive to all of its students,” Sarah’s mom, Michelle Sorensen, said. Six students, two parents, a teacher and Waverly Principal Kevin Tougher were among those who raised at least $50 to have their heads shaved. Sachem High School East students in the cosmetology program held the buzzers to help out at the event. This year’s event raised more than $9,000 for the St. Baldrick’s organization. Over the course of eight years that the school has been participating in the program, Waverly has raised more than $200,000. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 3/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166879 Mon, 06 Mar 2023 06:00:00 GMT false166879 The Great Migration Interactive Presentations Throughout Black History Month, the social studies department at Sachem High School East held weekly, interactive presentations to learn about the Great Migration. Led by teacher and department chair Tracey Melandro, students learned about influential individuals who helped lead the migration of American Americans from the rural south to the industrial north. Most recently, students learned about the art of Jacob Lawrence, a son of southern migrants who created a 60-panel series to portray the Great Migration. Students learned about his artwork and were tasked with drawing one of his pieces, Panel 58, titled “In the North, the African American had more educational opportunities.” Students drew three girls who had their arms stretched high to write numbers on a chalkboard. The girls wore bright colored dresses, symbolizing that they enjoyed a standard of living that allowed them to focus on schoolwork. Date Added: 3/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166770 Wed, 01 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166770 Test Test https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=167634 Wed, 01 Mar 2023 05:00:00 GMT false167634 Students Conduct Field Study of Smith Haven Mall Students in Mr. Jannace’s AP Human Geography class at Sachem HS East visited the Smith Haven Mall to conduct a field study of the mall’s cultural landscape. Jillian Friello, Director of Marketing & Business Development at the Smith Haven Mall and former student of Mr. Jannace helped students to practice this geographic process and to refine their understanding of the concepts of region, place, culture and economic geography. Students made observations that forced them to analyze and think critically about why things are where they are. Ms. Friello also taught them to focus on analyzing the dispersion, density, and patterns of stores, as well as the people and facilities within the mall. The purpose of this type of spatial analysis is to develop a better understanding of the concepts of place, region and cultural landscape, which are critical concepts for our student-geographers to master before the AP Exam in May. Students had a great time in the mall, experiencing a familiar place in a whole new way! Date Added: 2/27/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166670 Mon, 27 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166670 Biography Pizzas Offer ‘Slice’ of Black History Mrs. Mordente and Mrs. Montaruli’s fifth grade class at Tamarac Elementary School celebrated Black History Month by creating “biography pizzas.” Each student was assigned a famous Black person to research. They learned about the individuals’ early lives, accomplishments and interesting facts, with each component represented by a slice of pizza. The pizzas were then displayed in the cafeteria so that the Tamarac school community can learn a “slice” of Black history. Date Added: 2/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166632 Wed, 22 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166632 Music, Art and Pop Culture Celebrated at SeneCon Seneca Middle School hosted its annual SeneCon, an all-day festival for students similar in nature to “Comicon.” Throughout the day, students worked with presenters during in-person and virtual workshops. The workshops covered an array of topics and disciplines including storytelling, Greek mythology, origami, painting and drawing, multicultural music and music technology. One of the in-person workshops featured Johnny Cuomo, a New York-based musician who travels the globe sharing music and folk tales. Cuomo introduced students to several instruments from around the world and brought them up on stage to sing and dance. Please see the photos below of the in-person workshop with Johnny Cuomo. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 2/21/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166590 Tue, 21 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166590 Black History Month Biographies Sachem High School East’s Rho Kappa chapter members created educational posters as part of the district’s Black History Month celebrations. Students researched an influential Black person and created posters that will be judged in categories including most creative and most informative. The projects will then be donated to social studies classes in the district to use as future educational materials. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166566 Fri, 17 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166566 Outdoor Learning at Tamarac Students at Tamarac Elementary School are enjoying outdoor learning spaces! Mrs. Mordente and Mrs. Montaruli's class met with their book buddies in Mrs. Roddin and Mrs. Master's class in the building’s outdoor classroom on a beautiful February afternoon. The children enjoyed interacting and reading with their buddies while getting some sunshine and fresh air. Date Added: 2/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166486 Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166486 Sagamore Students Seek School Lunch Changes Sagamore Middle School students are looking to make a positive change in the district and beyond with their Seal of Civic Readiness project. The Seal of Civic Readiness is a formal recognition on a student’s diploma displaying that a student recognizes the value of civic engagement, civic responsibility and civic values. For the middle school capstone component of the program, eighth graders Jason Damiano, Kacey Geluso and Anthony Sacco are looking to implement more choices in school lunches. Specifically, they hope to add bottled water to the school lunch menu in addition to milk, which is already provided. “The reality is that students either do not drink or throw out their milk. This is wasteful for many reasons,” Damiano said. “This issue is not unique to Sagamore, in fact, it is an issue across the country.” Through their research, the eighth graders found that while milk has benefits including calcium, protein and vitamin D, it contains saturated fat and sugar. They suggest water is a healthy alternative that should be an option available in school lunch menus. “The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health suggests the Healthy Eating Plate which includes water as a beverage. Harvard suggests limiting milk, dairy and juice, as well as avoiding sugary drinks,” Geluso said. As part of the project, the eighth graders presented their research to the Sachem Board of Education and asked for their support. The board of education agreed to sign a letter the students composed to the director of the nutrition program for the New York State Education Department, which is the next step in making a difference. “By doing this project, we learned that if you feel like there is something wrong in your school or community, you should work to change it,” Sacco said. Date Added: 2/16/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166505 Thu, 16 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166505 Harrison Frisenda Memorial Scholarship The Board of Education established the creation of the Harrison Frisenda Memorial Scholarship at its Feb. 8 meeting. Harrison Frisenda started at Waverly Elementary School as a kindergartener in 2019. He passed away in 2021 and left a lasting impact on the Waverly and Sachem community. “Those who worked closely with Harrison described him as a student with a kind personality, a caring personality and a wonderful smile that lit up a room,” Waverly Principal Kevin Tougher said. In addition to memorials at Waverly Elementary School, the scholarship honors Harrison’s legacy and will support current and future Sachem students. Date Added: 2/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166465 Wed, 15 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166465 Service Projects Spread Love for Valentine’s Day Students in the Sachem Central School District are displaying kindness and love with Valentine’s Day-themed service projects. Waverly Elementary School collected nearly 460 Valentine’s Day boxes filled with treats to be donated to six local shelters. Fifth graders helped pack the boxes with books, toys, snacks and supplies to be distributed to children experiencing homelessness. This is a tradition that has been taking place at Waverly for nearly 40 years. At Wenonah Elementary School, students in Kerianne Cassidy’s class made Valentine’s Day cards to be sent to troops overseas through Operation Gratitude. Operation Gratitude provides opportunities for Americans to assist military members and first responders. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 2/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166433 Wed, 15 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166433 Sachem HS East Girls Basketball Playoffs Congratulations to the Sachem East Girls Basketball team on being co-league champions, going 13-3 in league and 15-5 overall. This league championship is Sachem East’s ninth since the school opened in 2004. Sachem East earned the fifth seed in the Section XI AA Bracket and the team will take on Smithtown West on Feb. 15th at Sachem HS East at 5 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the following link: https://gofan.co/app/events/901025?schoolId=NYSPHSAAXI Sachem East girls basketball looks to add to their rich history in the playoffs. From 2006 through 2014, Sachem East was one of the top public and private school programs in the area, winning the league eight years in a row (winning 61 consecutive league games at one point.) The program made the semifinals in all eight years and the county final six times. Additionally, they won the Suffolk County title three times (2010, 2013, 2014), two Long Island Titles (2010, 2013) and a state championship in 2010. Date Added: 2/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166444 Wed, 15 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166444 Sachem Celebrates Black History Month The Sachem Central School District celebrates Black History Month. Please see the links below for some of the activities taking place in our buildings. More stories will be added throughout the month. Merrimac Fifth Graders Honor Black History Month Lynwood Celebrates Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Black History Month Biographies Biography Pizzas Offer ‘Slice’ of Black History The Great Migration Interactive Presentations Date Added: 2/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166309 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 09:00:00 GMT false166309 Merrimac Tackles Hunger with ‘Souper Bowl’ Merrimac Elementary School is helping tackle hunger across Long Island. The fifth grade held the building’s first “Souper Bowl” ahead of the big game on Feb. 12. Students were encouraged to donate cans of soup, designating their donation to either the Philadelphia Eagles or Kansas City Chiefs. Fifth graders then tallied which team got more donations, with the Chiefs coming out on top. Nearly 400 cans of soup were then donated to the Lighthouse Mission, an organization that helps those less fortunate on Long Island. Fifth graders heard from a Lighthouse Mission representative about the organization before they began tallying cans and learned about how their donations will help others in need. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 2/14/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166379 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 07:00:00 GMT false166379 Rho Kappa Compiles Women’s History Month Calendar Members of Rho Kappa, the National Social Studies Honor Society, at Sachem High School East have compiled a list of resources for Sachem teachers to use in their classrooms throughout Women’s History Month. Students researched notable women and found short, accurate and informative videos to be played each day of March. Members created an interactive calendar, which has been shared with teachers throughout the district, as they focus on their goal of promoting social studies in their community. Date Added: 3/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166969 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166969 Basketball Programs Honor ‘Dezy’ The boys basketball programs at Sachem HS East and North honored the memory and legacy of Matt “Dezy” DiStefano during their regular season matchup on Feb. 8. The teams both wore DezyStrong apparel to raise awareness for the DezyStrong Foundation. The foundation was formed in 2019 and provides opportunities for individuals with cancer to have access to experiences that directly impact a positive mental wellbeing. Dezy was a Sachem graduate, teacher and coach who left a lasting legacy with his foundation when he passed in Jan. 2020. In the words of Dezy: “When people find out they have cancer, they think their life is over. For me it's different. For me it's the beginning of something special in life. A life in which I can help others change their way of mentally approaching the disease, learning to be a warrior, a fighter, and have hope. I prefer to say that I am going to conquer this disease. I will control it, rather than have it control me. This is why I founded the DezyStrong Foundation. To help others stay positive, control their mindset, and most of all - keep grinding DezyStrong style!” Date Added: 2/15/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166456 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166456 Lynwood Celebrates Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Students at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School are learning about the life and contributions of Martin Luther King Jr. Mrs. Replak’s class read “Martin’s Big Words,” a children’s biography about Martin Luther King Jr. and how he used the power of words to convey his message. The third graders then made a list of powerful words meaningful to them. They took their top five words and created a flip book with explanations of each word’s importance. Ms. Kearney and Ms. Wilson’s class created a timeline of Martin Luther King Jr.’s life and displayed it in the hallway. During the activity, students wrote important life events on footprints to visualize “A Walk in Dr. King’s Shoes” and how Dr. King became a leader in the fight for equal rights. Date Added: 2/14/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166406 Tue, 14 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166406 Celebrating P.S. I Love You Day Across the Sachem Central School District, students and staff participated in activities to celebrate P.S. I Love You Day. P.S. I Love You Day is celebrated on the second Friday of February and encourages individuals to spread kindness, stand up to bullying, help end depression and ultimately prevent suicide. Leading up to P.S. I Love You Day, many of the district’s buildings held spirit week as a display of unity among students and staff. Cayuga Elementary School held a P.S. I Love You Night to kick off the week. Students and their families participated in several activities including decorating coffee sleeves to be distributed to customers at a local business, recording self-love messages, creating Valentines for Veterans and writing positive notes to be displayed in the school. Both Sachem high schools set up wellness stations for students to visit in between classes. Students were encouraged to give messages of positivity to their peers, write down good news and even took photos with the district’s service dogs, Oakley and Bailey. At Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, students observed the domino effect of kindness. The building collected more than 600 unopened boxes of cereal and used them to create a maze of dominoes throughout the gymnasium. Students watched the chain reaction of boxes falling, symbolizing how easily kindness can be spread. The cereal boxes were then donated to Island Harvest. On P.S. I Love You Day, the district was flooded with purple. Students and staff wore special T-shirts and purple clothing to spread the message of kindness and display the culture of caring across Sachem. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 2/14/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166378 Mon, 13 Feb 2023 10:00:00 GMT false166378 ‘Employees of the Month’ Celebrated by BOE At the Feb. 8 meeting of the Sachem Board of Education, the Board recognized students enrolled in BOCES career training programs who earned the title of Employee of the Month. Administrator for Guidance and College & Career Counseling Dr. Kevin Miller introduced the students who were honored for having a combination of career skills, professionalism and the desire to be trained. Congratulations to the following: George Mendez – Aviation and Pilot Training Jason Beaulieu – Animal Science 2 Matthew Mendelson – Animal Science Giovanni Cristanti – PlumbingMichael Basuino – Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Date Added: 2/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166307 Sat, 11 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166307 Merrimac Fifth Graders Honor Black History Month Fifth graders at Merrimac Elementary School are learning about influential Black Americans as part of the district’s celebration of Black History Month. In a recent project, students first chose a Black American to research. The fifth graders then created timelines, illustrating their major life events and contributions. The project helped students hone their research skills, organize information in chronological order and explore individuals who have had positive impacts on American history. Date Added: 2/10/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166300 Fri, 10 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166300 Iroquois Villages at Nokomis Nokomis Elementary School fourth graders recently learned about the Iroquois and their way of life. After learning about culture, traditions and values, students created 3D models of Iroquois villages. Their dioramas included longhouses, gardens and gathering spots. Students were tasked with displaying how the Iroquois benefitted from natural resources. The villages represented how the Iroquois settled in the northeast and were a way for students to visualize a part of Native American history. Date Added: 2/9/23 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166262 Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166262 STEAM Night Promotes Hands-on Learning Hiawatha Elementary School students and their families participated in STEAM Night on Feb. 7. The evening was full of hands-on science, math and engineering stations. Students created marble tracks, pyramids out of plastic cups, toothpick structures, Play-Doh fractions and built with Legos. The Sachem High School Robotics Team, made up of students from East and North, gave the younger students and their parents a glimpse into the district’s robotics program. One of the highlights of the evening was the remote-controlled robot that pulled students around the gym in a cart. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 2/8/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166216 Wed, 08 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166216 Nokomis Students Kick Off American Heart Month Nokomis Elementary School kicked off American Heart Month during an assembly on Feb. 3. The school community wore red to raise awareness of heart disease and were introduced to the Kids Heart Challenge. The Kids Heart Challenge is a fundraising campaign to raise money for the American Heart Association. Students are encouraged to raise money through daily challenges and are able to earn incentives along the way. Throughout the program, students learn about their own heart health. They were given ways to support their physical and emotional wellness including participating in physical activity, drinking water, getting enough sleep, being kind and saying no to tobacco and vaping. Date Added: 2/7/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166136 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166136 Seneca MS Robotics Team Competes in Qualifier Event Seneca Middle School’s Lego Robotics Team competed in the FIRST Lego League Robotics qualifier event at Mineola High School on Jan. 21. The FIRST Lego League provides students with real-world problem-solving experiences through a robotics program. It helps students strengthen their critical thinking, coding and design skills through hands-on learning. The qualifier event consisted of four judging opportunities – research project presentation, core values, robot presentation and the robot game. This year’s theme was “Super Powered.” Throughout the competition, students were challenged with thinking about energy including where it comes from, how it’s generated and how much we use. The Seneca Middle School team is coached by Heidi Michta and Michael Lundstrom and made up of 12 students: Aishwarya Kammili, Nick Manzi, Liam McCarthy, Matthew McCauley, Anthony “AJ” Palma, Amelia Pascale, Dylan Pfeiffer, Isaac Prisco, Madison Tarantino, Alex Tavares, Atulya Tribathi and Jacob Weiss. The team was successful in completing various missions in the robot game and worked as a team the entire day. Students look forward to competing in the next season! Date Added: 2/7/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166144 Tue, 07 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166144 Guest Speaker is a Catch with Hiawatha Fifth Grade New York Jets offensive lineman Greg Senat stepped off the field to visit the fifth grade at Hiawatha Elementary School. Senat, a graduate of Elmont High School and former student of Hiawatha Principal Joseph Watson, spoke with students about making healthy choices and a day in the life of an NFL player. Senat stressed the importance of taking school seriously, keeping positive people around you and persevering through tough times. He told students stories of his NFL draft experience and playing with the Kansas City Chiefs during their Super Bowl win in 2019. He went through his game-day routine and encouraged students to find routines in their everyday lives that work best for them. Throughout the visit, students were eager to ask questions and get a glimpse into an NFL player’s life. Senat was happy to take photos with students and sign autographs. The interactive visit inspired students to be the best versions of themselves and follow their dreams. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 2/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166098 Mon, 06 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166098 Health and Physical Education Teachers Honored The Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance recognized two Sachem Central School District staff members as teachers of the year at a recent awards dinner. Congratulations to Sachem High School East’s Siobhan Cully, who received the High School Health Education Teacher of the Year Award, and to Seneca Middle School’s Pete Cafiso, who was named the Middle School Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Ms. Cully and Mr. Cafiso were honored at the Suffolk Zone Conference held at Ward Melville High School back in November and just received their awards at the Suffolk Zone Professional Awards Dinner last month. These awards were selected by Ms. Cully and Mr. Cafiso’s peers in health and physical education. Additionally, a Sachem High School East graduate was honored. Jared Rago, Class of 2020, was named the Future Professional of the Year and was selected as the Future Professional Section President. Date Added: 2/3/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=166050 Fri, 03 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false166050 Student Roundtable Event Superintendent of Schools Dr. Pellettieri, district office and school administrators from Sagamore Middle School held a student roundtable event on Jan. 30. Students and staff met for over a period discussing timely school events, courses they are taking, the new language program in grade 6 and the “Culture of Care” in the building. Dr. Pellettieri was happy to hear all of the students present felt cared for and had staff in the building they could go to with any issues. Date Added: 2/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165662 Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165662 Congratulations JT! Congratulations to Sachem North Wrestler JT Mankowich on earning his 100th win on Saturday January 28th at Sachem East HS during the Paul DiIorio Memorial Tournament. Best of Luck in the post-season JT! Date Added: 2/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165671 Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165671 Congratulations Sachem Boys Bowling! Congratulations to Sachem Boys Bowling on winning the League 1 Championship! Date Added: 2/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165672 Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165672 2023-2024 Sachem UPK Lottery Application: Click Here for More Information An informational meeting regarding the UPK program will be held on February 16, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. The meeting will be held at Sachem Central School District Board of Education Annex, 51 School Street, Lake Ronkonkoma, NY. Date Added: 2/1/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165593 Wed, 01 Feb 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165593 Circus Program Visits Merrimac The Merrimac Elementary School gymnasium transformed into the “Big Top” in collaboration with the National Circus Project. The National Circus Project is a combination of a physical education and arts-in-education program that teaches students a variety of skills used in the circus arts. During the course of a week, fifth grade students learned skills from professionals including juggling, plate-spinning, balancing and handling devil sticks. Not only did they work to perfect these skills, they learned patience, confidence and self-discipline throughout the process. At the end of the week, the fifth graders put on culminating show for their teachers, peers and families. Students were excited to showcase their new tricks and their peers were thrilled to cheer them on. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/31/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165638 Tue, 31 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165638 Fitness-Focused Fundraiser Raises Thousands for Tamarac Tamarac Elementary has partnered with the Harlem Wizards for a fitness-focused fundraiser. As part of the WizFit challenge, students were encouraged to collect donations while learning about fitness and character education. Students watched interactive videos where they learned basketball tricks and activities coached by members of the Harlem Wizards. As a culmination of the fundraiser, some of the Wizards visited Tamarac Elementary School to put on a performance. During the Harlem Wizards’ show, students participated in dances and watched their teachers showcase their basketball skills. Students raised nearly $15,000 for Tamarac Elementary School and its PTA, surpassing its goal of $10,000. For beating the goal, Tamarac Principal Dr. DeBello was duct-taped to the gym wall! Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 1/30/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165579 Mon, 30 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165579 ‘Spin, Pop, Boom!’ Presentation Wows Student Scientists Students at Waverly Avenue Elementary School stepped inside the world of science during an assembly called, “Spin, Pop, Boom,” presented by Mad Science. Students learned all about chemistry and reactions through exciting experiments and demonstrations. Student volunteers stepped up to the lab table in front of the audience to learn about acids, bases and chemical reactions through hands-on activities. They watched Styrofoam cups melt in their hands, lids pop off of plastic cannisters thanks to an Alka-Seltzer reaction and even created “elephant toothpaste” by mixing hydrogen peroxide and soap. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/27/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165510 Fri, 27 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165510 Athletic Recruiting Seminar Date Added: 1/27/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165516 Fri, 27 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165516 Fourth Graders Dive into Native American Life Chippewa Elementary School recently hosted the Journeys Into American Indian Territory for its fourth grade students. The program brings an authentic Native American experience to schools through workshops, exhibitions and interactive experiences. Throughout the in-house field trip, fourth graders explored all aspects of Native American life. They interacted with artifacts during a museum presentation, played traditional games and listened to stories from the Native American culture, made clay bowls and participated in a workshop focusing on the Haudenosaunee government. During the workshop, students learned about how laws were made, how leaders were elected to their roles and how voting worked. They were then separated into groups and were given a problem to which they had to agree on a solution to. Students were also asked to vote on a leader from their class. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 1/26/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165479 Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165479 Blacklight Café Night Sachem High School North art teachers and students transformed the Little Theater into a blacklight art gallery. Each course in the art department created blacklight sensitive projects. The community was invited to view the show on Jan. 19. Families participated in blacklight game, arts and crafts and enjoyed the displays. Date Added: 1/26/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165491 Thu, 26 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165491 Cayuga Students Kick Off 2023 with ‘One Word’ Students at Cayuga Elementary School are kicking off 2023 by coming up with “One Word” to lead them throughout the year. The One Word Challenge asks students to think of a single word they want to focus on for 2023. This word will help guide their actions and decision-making. In this schoolwide activity, students identified a positive word that was meaningful to them. They thought of examples of how it will help them throughout the year and how they can put it into action. Students them created visual representations of their words to be hung in the building’s hallways for all to see. This activity helps students develop a growth mindset and set goals while creating a positive vision for the year ahead. Date Added: 1/24/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165438 Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165438 Extra, Extra, Read All About it! Merrimac Launches School Paper For the first time, Merrimac Elementary School published a building newspaper. The student publication called, Magic Minutes, highlights the happenings within Merrimac Elementary School, as well as features with teachers and staff members. It is created by students in the newspaper club and gives them an opportunity to hone their writing, interview and editing skills. Please click on the attached PDF to read the first issue of “Magic Minutes.” Date Added: 1/23/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165392 Mon, 23 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165392 Legislator Caracappa Visits Fifth Graders Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa visited fifth graders at Hiawatha Elementary School to speak about community and government. As part of the social studies unit, students have been learning about the different roles of government and Legislator Caracappa’s visit helped students apply what they’ve learned in class. Throughout the interactive presentation, students asked Legislator Caracappa questions ranging from, “What’s your favorite part of the job?” to “How did you become a legislator?” Mr. Caracappa took time to explain some of the things Suffolk County is doing to protect the environment and encouraged students to be stewards of the community. Date Added: 1/20/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165347 Fri, 20 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165347 Sachem Senior Wins County Bowling Competition On January 18th Sachem senior Matthew Grimaldi won the Suffolk County Boys Bowling Singles Competition. Grimaldi, who averages 225 competed against all bowlers in Suffolk County and was victorious. This earns Matt an automatic spot on the Suffolk County state all-star competition which competes in Syracuse NY this year. Date Added: 1/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165295 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165295 Sachem Senior Wins County Bowling Competition On Jan. 18,senior Matthew Grimaldi won the Suffolk County boys bowling singles competition. Matt, who averages 225, competed against all bowlers in Suffolk County and was victorious. This earns Matt an automatic spot on the Suffolk County state all-star competition, which competes in Syracuse later this year. Date Added: 1/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165299 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165299 Inside Look at Suffolk County Court System Sachem High School East’s business law students gained a firsthand look at the Suffolk County court system during a guided tour of the John P. Cohalan, Jr. Court Complex in Central Islip. Students saw inside the courtroom and developed an understanding of the key players including the prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, jurors, court clerk and court officers. Students were able to view the sheriff’s lock-up, holding cells in between the courtrooms and were personally addressed by the judge before arraignments began. Students gained a full educational experience during the trip through observing criminal arraignments, which provide the accused with a formal reading of the charges. Students witnessed defendants entering a plea and learned about bail or release determinations and appointment of counsel during this initial appearance before the court. The trip gave students the opportunity to learn about the different careers and positions there are in the courthouse, as well as information about civil service exams and career pathways. Date Added: 1/19/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165321 Thu, 19 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165321 Students Tour Room for PEACE at HS East The Room for PEACE at Sachem HS East opened last spring and is now in full swing. The space provides students with access to a calm space with chosen, self-directed activities that promote development of coping skills and self-regulation. Recently, students in health classes toured the room. Students can visit the “Room for Peace” tab on the left column of the Sachem HS East webpage for additional information and to sign up to use the space. Date Added: 1/18/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165274 Wed, 18 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165274 Learning Brain Basics Fifth graders at Hiawatha Elementary School tapped into their brains during a special visit from Stony Brook University physician assistant students. The Stony Brook students taught the fifth graders about the basics of the nervous system and how brains communicate with the rest of the body. They also went over the different parts of the brain and their locations. The fifth graders listened to the book, “The Brain is Kind of a Big Deal” before participating in an activity. Students applied what they learned to color a brain and nerve cell labeling worksheet. They then assembled the brain hemisphere worksheets to construct their own brain hats. Additionally, classes made their own nerve necklaces. Date Added: 1/17/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165252 Tue, 17 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165252 Inclusive Basketball Clinic is a Slam Dunk! Chippewa Elementary School students had a ball at an inclusive basketball game on Jan. 7. More than 20 Chippewa students participated in a clinic and game at St. Joseph’s College with their teachers and the women’s basketball team. Throughout the day, students were smiling from ear to ear – making the event a slam dunk. Date Added: 1/13/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165167 Fri, 13 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165167 Holiday Trip to Tecumseh 50 students from Sachem HS East recently visited Tecumseh Elementary School, part of Eastern Suffolk BOCES, for some holiday fun. Members of Student Government, Project Spectrum and the Art and Music Honor Societies sang Christmas carols, participated in arts and crafts, painted faces, played games and served hot chocolate to the elementary students. Date Added: 1/12/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165145 Thu, 12 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165145 Sachem HS East Gears Up for ALS Ride for Life Sachem High School East students are gearing up for the ALS Ride for Life this spring. The student government hosted Christine Pendergast, the wife of ALS Ride for Life founder Chris Pendergast, and Paul Weisman who has been battling the disease for 10 years. The two spoke about ALS, how “the ride” raises awareness and how to focus on hope and kindness in face of life’s many challenges. On behalf of the student government, Mr. Jannace and Mr. Gallo received Sachem HS East’s third consecutive Gold Participant Award for initiating a school walk to raise money and awareness. The student government will once again carry out a walk with several other Sachem schools in May, ALS Awareness Month. Date Added: 1/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165122 Wed, 11 Jan 2023 06:00:00 GMT false165122 Students Support Meals on Wheels Students in Patricia Puls’ art classes at Hiawatha Elementary School made meals a little brighter for some New York City residents. Students used class time to create cards to accompany the meal trays delivered to homebound residents as part of the Meals on Wheels program. Meals on Wheels delivers meals to seniors’ homes to support independence, while fighting hunger and isolation. Students created “Thinking of You,” “Get Well Soon,” birthday and holiday cards to be delivered. They were enthusiastic about participating and were happy to send joyful messages to others. Date Added: 1/11/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165106 Wed, 11 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165106 Book Room Unveiled at Chippewa Elementary School Chippewa Elementary School has officially opened its brand-new book room. The book room is a place for teachers to access books and resources for their classroom. Some of the books are geared toward small group instruction including in-class book clubs, while others are intended for guided reading. Principal Michael Saidens spoke with staff at the unveiling, thanking the many teachers who dedicated time to unpack books and organize the space. Date Added: 1/10/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=165065 Tue, 10 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false165065 College Information Night for Sophomores and Juniors - January 11, 2023 Date Added: 1/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164972 Fri, 06 Jan 2023 07:00:00 GMT false164972 Classroom Collaboration at HS East At Sachem High School East, ENL students along with their teachers, Mrs. Haik, Mrs. Hornung and Mr. Hinkaty, spoke with students in Mr. Jannace’s Advanced Placement Human Geography classes to help them understand the diffusion of religion and language during their unit on cultural patterns and processes. Many students easily connect with dialects related to English. However, they must also know that almost all languages have dialects with different accents. Students came to understand that this is often tied to their culture and history. The students and teachers from the ENL department did an amazing job explaining these differences from their firsthand life experiences. Not only did the lesson teach AP Human Geography students that these patterns and processes are common around the world, it allowed them to collaborate and connect with their peers. Date Added: 1/6/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164970 Fri, 06 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164970 ‘Lighting Up’ Learning with Glow Day Sixth graders at Samoset Middle School participated in “Glow Day” hosted by Ms. Anderson and Ms. Libretti. Students collaborated to complete six challenging English Language Arts stations that involved engaging, hands-on activities using glow in the dark products. The activities reviewed key topics taught throughout the year thus far including figurative language, signposts, genre study, parts of speech and grammar. Date Added: 1/4/2023 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164914 Wed, 04 Jan 2023 05:00:00 GMT false164914 Engineering Songs of the Season Fifth graders at Wenonah Elementary School are playing songs of the season while learning about coding. Students used Makey Makeys, which are circuit boards that replicate keyboards, to play holiday tunes. The boards turn everyday objects into touchpads and use the internet to create music. Fifth graders created festive circuit boards lined with conductive taping to invent their own sensors. When they press down on the sensors, the board plays a music note and LED lights illuminate. The interdisciplinary activity combines art, music, engineering and science while getting students excited about the holiday season. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 12/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164792 Fri, 23 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164792 Student-Athlete Leadership Conference On Dec. 16, 250 student-athletes from 45 Suffolk County schools gathered to attend the Section XI Student-Athlete Leadership Conference at Center Moriches High School. Sachem was represented by two juniors and two seniors from East and North High Schools, along with health teacher Scott Tierney. Students were grouped with other athletes from various schools and listened to several speakers, participated in reflection activities as well as Q&A sessions with current college student-athletes. This valuable opportunity taught students about leadership, responsibility and compassion for others. Date Added: 12/22/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164734 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164734 Tamarac Student Organizes Toy Drive A Tamarac Elementary School third grader is in the spirit of giving and for the second year in a row, has organized his own toy drive. Dean Plantamura encourages his peers to drop off toys to his home. Dean and his family then donate the toys to Suffolk County Family and Children’s Services to be distributed to local families in need. Those who drop off presents are welcomed to admire the Christmas decorations at the Plantamura home and are given a candy cane for donating a toy. Dean hopes to share the message that Christmas is about giving, not receiving. He has collected nearly 100 toys this season and is already planning his drive for next year. Date Added: 12/22/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164757 Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164757 Lynwood Literacy Window Display Students in Ms. Sheryl Amallobieta’s fourth grade class at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School participated in a collaborative lesson that spread holiday cheer to wrap up their fiction unit. As a culminating project, the class watched the classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and completed a literary analysis of the story. Students identified literary elements including the theme, mood and tone. Additionally, students discussed and researched characters, character traits and conflicts. The fourth graders applied what they learned to a visual representation of the story. Students created a plot mountain by mapping out the important events of the story. This mountain was turned into a cardboard Christmas tree. They also worked together to construct 3D characters of the story with their traits labeled. The “window display” gave students the opportunity to visualize the story from start to finish. It also got students in the holiday spirit. Date Added: 12/20/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164616 Tue, 20 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164616 Festive Fun in Sachem Our Sachem schools are in the holiday spirit! Across our buildings, students have been participating in festive, hands-on activities. At Waverly Elementary School, second graders invited their families to join them to make gingerbread houses. Students used frosting to glue graham crackers to milk cartons. They decorated their houses with different kinds of candy and took them home to enjoy. Nokomis Elementary School third graders also participated in holiday treat decorating. Principal Denise Kleinman first read the story, “Snowmen at Night” before students joined their family members to make gingerbread men. The activities are gearing students up for the holidays and getting them excited about the upcoming break! Waverly Gingerbread Houses Slideshow Nokomis Gingerbread Men Slideshow Date Added: 12/19/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164599 Mon, 19 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164599 Cayuga Students Share Holiday Wishes for Others Students at Cayuga Elementary School are supporting the Make-A-Wish Foundation this holiday season. Through a schoolwide effort led by teacher Tina-Marie Mikos, students wrote down their wishes for children with illnesses. They dropped their letters in a special mailbox located in the building’s lobby. For each letter that is received, Macy’s will make a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The activity helps teach children the importance of giving over receiving. Students were excited to send their letters and take part in what has become a tradition at Cayuga Elementary School. Click here for a photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/16/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164560 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 06:00:00 GMT false164560 Hiawatha Staff Member Recognized for Life-Saving Efforts At the Dec. 14 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, Hiawatha Elementary School staff member Jennifer Campanelli was honored for her life-saving efforts. Ms. Campanelli, a lunch aide, performed the Heimlich maneuver on a student who was choking while lining up after lunch. Thanks to her quick actions, the child was safe and able to return to classes. The district also thanked Hiawatha school nurse Mrs. Catherine Nicosia for caring for the child after the incident. Date Added: 12/16/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164527 Fri, 16 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164527 HS North Musicians Perform Holiday Tunes Sachem High School students started the holiday season with songs of merriment. On Dec. 6, the Sachem High School North String Ensemble performed at Atria Hertlin Place Assisted Living in Ronkonkoma. The residents sang along to holiday carols and thoroughly enjoyed the performance by these high school musicians. Date Added: 12/15/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164488 Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164488 Fall Scholar-Athlete Teams Several of our athletics teams have been named Scholar-Athlete Teams for the Fall 2022 season by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Inc. The Scholar-Athlete program highlights the work our student-athletes do inside of the classroom. Congratulations to our following fall teams for receiving this designation: Boys Golf Girls Tennis Gymnastics Boys Cross Country, HS East Boys Soccer, HS East Boys Volleyball, HS East Field Hockey, HS East Girls Cross Country, HS East Girls Soccer, HS East Girls Swimming/Diving, HS East Girls Volleyball, HS East Gymnastics, HS East Boys Cross Country, HS North Boys Soccer, HS North Boys Volleyball, HS North Field Hockey, HS North Football, HS North Girls Cross Country, HS North Girls Soccer, HS North Girls Swimming/Diving, HS North Girls Volleyball, HS North Along with the teams listed above, a number of Sachem students were named scholar-athlete individuals for Fall 2022. Date Added: 12/15/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164500 Thu, 15 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164500 Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser Mr. Lemke and his students at Sachem HS East held a pancake breakfast, raising more than $1,200 for Team Fox, a fundraising program that supports Parkinson’s research. Date Added: 12/14/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164477 Wed, 14 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164477 Section XI Island Federal Scholar Athlete Congratulations to HS North student JT Mankowich for being named a Section XI Island Federal Scholar Athlete. Read more below: http://www.sachemreport.com/2022/12/11/jt-mankowich-named-section-xi-island-federal-scholar-athlete/ Date Added: 12/13/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164448 Tue, 13 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164448 Sagamore Students Send Season’s Greetings to Veterans Members of the Sagamore Cares Community Service Club are wishing veterans a happy holiday season. Throughout the month of November, Sagamore Middle School students sold flags to their peers and teachers during lunch periods. Those who purchased flags wrote down a name of a veteran they know, as well as their branch of service. The flags were then hung in one of Sagamore’s main hallways for all to see. The club raised $150 through selling flags, which will be donated to a local veterans home. While the project started around Veterans Day, it has continued into December and the season of giving. Date Added: 12/13/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164449 Tue, 13 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164449 Nokomis Choruses Perform at Tree Lighting The fourth and fifth grade choruses at Nokomis Elementary School performed for the community at the annual Raynor Park Tree Lighting in Ronkonkoma. The fourth graders performed “Hannukkah Lights” and “Holiday Lights” with flashlight choreography whereas the fifth graders sang “Carol of the Elves,” “Cooroo, Cooroo,” “A Very Merry Christmas” and “Light” using percussion instruments. The chorus students were recognized by the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce for their dedication and passion to entertaining the community. Families enjoyed hot chocolate and watching Santa Claus be escorted to the event by fourteen horses and the Ronkonkoma Fire Department. Date Added: 12/9/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164350 Fri, 09 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164350 Students Spread Holiday Cheer Around Farmingville On Dec. 4, 10 students with Sachem High School East’s Work Based Learning Club took the time to spread holiday cheer throughout the community. Students decorated Triangle Park in Farmingville and helped local families organize items to decorate lamp posts. The volunteers then helped Farmingville Fire Commissioner Salvatore Russo by decorating the firehouse. The club thanks the Farmingville Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring this event. Date Added: 12/8/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164322 Thu, 08 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164322 HS East Students Experience Culinary Arts Center Students taking marketing, hospitality and culinary classes at Sachem High School East got a behind-the-scenes look at the Suffolk County Community College Culinary Arts Center in Riverhead during a recent field trip. Through the East Business Alliance, Maria Camassa of Lucky Lou’s Gourmet Pudding facilitated the experience for students. Forty-six students attended the trip, which began with visiting Suffolk’s student-led bakery and lunch operation. Then, they headed to the lecture hall for a cooking demonstration by professor and Chef Satoko Matthews. The trip wrapped up with a glimpse into the kitchen “classroom” where teachers instructed Suffolk students. Students expressed that this was one of their favorite field trips they had experienced. The business department is looking at future opportunities to collaborate with Suffolk County Community College at its different facilities. Date Added: 12/7/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164285 Wed, 07 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164285 High School Roadmap for 8th and 9th Grade Students Date Added: 12/7/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164280 Wed, 07 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164280 HS North Students View Local Art Sachem High School North students in Amanda Foran, Lauren Gonzalez, Renee Parisi and Victoria Provini’s art classes went on a field trip to The Heckscher Museum of Art to view work from the Long Island Biennial. This exhibition features work from 57 contemporary artists from across Nassau and Suffolk counties created in the last two years. Students were given a tour from museum docents and given the opportunity to respond to a piece with their own artwork as part of the Long Island’s Best competition that takes place in March. Click here to view the photo slideshow. Date Added: 12/5/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164216 Mon, 05 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164216 Student-Athletes Commit to Colleges On Nov. 30, senior student-athletes from the Sachem Central School District signed their national letters of intent to play their respective sports at the collegiate level. During this first round of signings, 32 students committed to continuing their athletic careers after high school. Students and their families wore apparel representing their future schools as they were congratulated by Sachem Athletic Director Gary Beutel and Assistant Athletic Director Philip Torregrosa. The Sachem Central School District thanks its coaches for their commitment to helping student-athletes excel both on and off the field and congratulates all of the student-athletes. HS East Jake Acker – Baseball, Wesleyan University Nick Antinoro – Baseball, Wells College Chris Bartnick – Baseball, College of Staten Island Lauren Brodowsky – Field Hockey, Molloy College Jordyn Calas – Soccer, Post University Tyler Guiliano – Lacrosse, Long Island University Ali Howell – Field Hockey, SUNY Oneonta Jason Kassis – Lacrosse, Mercy College Patrick Krempasky – Baseball, University of Bridgeport Sam Leonard – Baseball, Alcorn State University Alyssa Montalvo – Field Hockey, Western Connecticut University Caitlin O’Hagan – Soccer, Salisbury University Justin Ortiz – Lacrosse, Mercy College Richard Patanjo – Wrestling, Limestone University Jack Pickersgill – Wrestling, Long Island University Jeremiah Slaven – Lacrosse, Limestone University Kyle Smith – Soccer, Stony Brook University Click here to view the slideshow. HS North Kaitlyn Biase – Field Hockey & Lacrosse, Western Connecticut State University Taylor Boes – Soccer, Queens College Mackenzie Giddens – Lacrosse, The College of Saint Rose Jaqueline Kohn – Lacrosse, SUNY Cortland Chris Lally – Basketball, St. Joseph’s University Shane Marconti – Lacrosse, Long Island University Nicholas Meoni – Lacrosse, Quinnipiac University Abigail Morreale – Volleyball, Manhattan College Grace Norelius – Soccer, SUNY New Paltz Brandon O’Neill – Baseball, Central Connecticut State University James Reid – Lacrosse, University at Albany Mackenzie Reilly – Lacrosse, The College of Saint Rose Erin Savarese – Soccer, SUNY New Paltz Alex Singh – Lacrosse, Belmont Abbey College AJ Torres – Lacrosse, Husson University Click here to view the slideshow. Parents: To access all photos from signing day, please click the links below: HS East - https://link.shutterfly.com/pWGfirg0nvb HS North - https://link.shutterfly.com/oHEVDXh0nvb Date Added: 12/1/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164137 Thu, 01 Dec 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164137 Former NBA Player Shares Powerful Message Former professional basketball player, Chris Herren, visited Sachem High School East on Nov. 29 to share a powerful message about substance use prevention and addiction. Tenth graders first watched a video outlining Herren’s basketball career from his high school days in Massachusetts to playing for Division 1 teams to ultimately going pro in the NBA and overseas. Throughout the film, students got a look into Herren’s struggles with addiction during his career. Herren then came out to speak with the 10th graders and share his path to recovery. He empowered students to rethink how they look at addiction and through sharing his own experiences, touched on topics such as drinking and drug use, peer pressure and bullying. Through each presentation, Herren hopes to make a difference in at least one person’s life. Date Added: 11/30/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164124 Wed, 30 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164124 Hiawatha Students Beautify School Hallways Students in the Cricut Club at Hiawatha Elementary School are working to beautify the building through their own designs. Members of the club were challenged with creating a piece of art that they wanted to see in their own halls. Fourth grader Hailey Valentine’s sketch, which reads “Huskies Rule!” was chosen as the first piece to be brought to life. Students worked together to print out the design using a Cricut, or a smart cutting machine. It was hung right off the main hallway for the Hiawatha school community to see as they walk the building. The Cricut Club is working to add more artwork to the building. Next, students will be tasked with creating a design to be placed in the conference room. Date Added: 11/29/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164070 Tue, 29 Nov 2022 07:00:00 GMT false164070 Planting Peace Promises Students at Waverly Elementary School planted peace promises around the building’s grounds. Students at each grade level received daffodil bulbs with a paper peace promise attached. They wrote pledges of things they would do to make for a positive school year. For example, some students pledged to give other compliments, be kind, use positive words and pick up garbage. Pre-K through fourth graders planted the front of the building along Waverly Avenue and fifth graders planted near the main entrance, around the Sue Finnerty Memorial Garden. In the springtime, these daffodils will bloom to beautify the school, but also to remind students of their peace pledges. The schoolwide activity brings the building together while creating a positive school environment and culture of caring. Date Added: 11/29/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=164041 Tue, 29 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false164041 Athletic Hall of Fame Induction Date Added: 11/28/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=163993 Mon, 28 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163993 Sachem High Schools Get in the Spirit of Giving Local businesses teamed up with Sachem High School East and North to make Thanksgiving a little brighter for some members of the Sachem community. Chubs Meats, along with Gino’s Pizza and several other businesses, donated 80 turkeys, 40 for each high school, to be distributed to local families in need. In addition to the turkeys, the student governments at both high schools collected Thanksgiving dinner sides and staples. Students organized the donations and put together baskets to distribute with the turkeys, ensuring families in need have a complete Thanksgiving meal. Students were excited to kick off the holiday season by giving back to the community. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 11/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=163964 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163964 Happy Thanksgiving, Sachem! Thanksgiving festivities took place throughout the Sachem Central School District ahead of the holiday. In addition to the many service projects students engaged in, they also participated in fun activities to get them excited about Thanksgiving. Many buildings at the elementary level held parades, including Chippewa Elementary School. Chippewa’s annual kindergarten parade has taken place at the school for nearly 20 years and mirrors the famous Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Kindergarten students dressed in costumes and marched through the building with balloons in tow while other grade levels lined the hallways, cheering them on. The kindergartners then moved outside to parade for their families. As tradition goes, special guests Mr. and Mrs. Claus ended the parade to kick off the holiday season. Other buildings including Lynwood Avenue Elementary School held turkey trots. Kindergarten through second grade students ran a 50-yard dash, while grades three through five ran a half mile. The top three runners from each grade level earned medals and the winner of each grade level was awarded the opportunity to be the Grand Marshalls in the building’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 23. Students got a taste of Thanksgiving staples at feasts that were held in some of the district’s buildings. At Waverly Elementary School, ENL students enjoyed a feast that celebrated their cultures and holiday traditions. No matter the activity, students were eager to celebrate Thanksgiving with their classmates and teachers. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 11/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=163980 Wed, 23 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163980 Marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Three Sachem Central School District students will march in front of thousands on the streets of New York City During the 96th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Congratulations to Sachem High School East tenth grader Jaden Rudnicki, senior Dylan McKay and Sachem High School North senior Gianna Marchese. Rudnicki, who plays the French horn, McKay who plays the trumpet and Marchese who plays the flute, were selected to be a part of the 2022 Macy’s Great American Marching Band. This group brings together the finest high school musicians to share their talents as they march down Central Park West, Sixth Avenue and head to Macy’s Herald Square. These students auditioned to be a part of the band last December and are three of 185 musicians who were selected to perform. Ahead of the parade, they will participate in a week full of rehearsals and events with the other band members. Not only will these Sachem student-musicians perform for thousands of live viewers, millions will be tuning into the televised broadcast. Date Added: 11/22/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=163930 Tue, 22 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163930 Class of 2023 Trip This November, the Sachem HS East Class of 2023 came together for a trip to the Adventure Park. The senior class worked together on different ropes courses and challenges. A great time was had by all! Date Added: 11/18/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=163798 Fri, 18 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163798 Firsthand Look into Sports Management Industry Students taking sports and entertainment management at Sachem High School East recently visited MetLife Stadium, the home of the NY Giants and Jets, with business teacher, Mrs. Cannetti. Students learned about the brief history of the stadium, including that it is the largest football stadium in the U.S. and only one of two NFL venues to host two franchises. Additionally, the venue accommodates many events other than football games. Students got a firsthand look at the different clubs and suites available to different ticket holders, including the Commissioner’s Club and Giants Legacy Club, which is filled with tokens of Giants history such as trophies and Super Bowl rings. They also stopped at the control room, press box and interview room. The trip gave students insight into behind-the-scenes management and marketing, as well as the enormous operating costs that go into running a professional sports venue. They were able to connect concepts they’ve learned in class to the real world. Students valued the experience and will remember the trip for years to come. Date Added: 11/18/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=163818 Fri, 18 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false163818 Treats for Troops In collaboration with the Farmingville Fire Department, Tamarac Elementary School’s PTA organized a candy drive. Students brought in unopened, excess Halloween candy to be sent to troops overseas. Additionally, some students created cards for military members, thanking them for serving our country. Date Added: 11/16/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161782 Wed, 16 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161782 Business Guest Speaker Business students at Sachem HS East recently heard from Mr. John Hewitt, founder of Jackson Hewitt and Liberty Tax. Mr. Hewitt joined the class virtually to share how he got into his career, tips on being successful and why it’s important to look forward to Mondays! Date Added: 11/16/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161790 Wed, 16 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161790 HS East Student Awarded Prestigious Scholarship Sachem High School East senior Arianna Ciregna has been awarded the Rensselaer Medal. The Rensselaer Medal is a prestigious scholarship opportunity awarded to secondary school students who have distinguished themselves in mathematics and science. If Arianna is accepted to and chooses to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, she will be awarded $30,000 per year in scholarship money for four years. Date Added: 11/15/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161724 Tue, 15 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161724 Holtsville Ecology Center Donation Students in Sachem High School East’s Business and Marketing Honor Society made a large donation to the Holtsville Ecology Center Animal Preserve. Students collected supplies including animal food, grooming tools and toys to be donated. Along with BMHS adviser Ms. Cannetti, guidance counselor Mrs. Koerber helped organize the drive. Mrs. Koerber and therapy dog, Bailey, thanked the honor society for its generous donations. Date Added: 11/14/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161659 Mon, 14 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161659 Honoring Our Veterans Across the Sachem Central School District, students and staff honored veterans through parades, projects and activities. Students learned about the different branches of the U.S. military and how veterans made sacrifices for the country. Grundy Avenue Elementary School invited local veterans to the building for an annual parade. Students lined the bus loop to cheer and applaud the service men and women as they marched through. After the parade, Grundy Avenue became the scene for a heartwarming reunion between a third grade student and her father, who had previously been deployed. Principal Tom Lipani welcomed U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Anthony Brown back to the Sachem community, surprising his daughter, Victoria Brown, in front of the crowd. On Nov. 10, other elementary schools in the district, including Lynwood Avenue and Merrimac, hosted local veterans at their buildings. The veterans, who are family members of Sachem students, gathered for a breakfast which was followed by a parade. Students lined the hallways holding American flags and projects they made in honor of the upcoming Veterans Day. Members of the Interact Club at Sachem High School North honored veterans by writing cards and letters to them. They created the annual Wall of Honor, where students hung photos of veteran graduates while listing their names and branches of military. Additionally, students helped hang flags along the fence outside the high school to pay tribute to their sacrifice and devotion to the country. Click here to view the slideshow. Date Added: 11/14/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161691 Mon, 14 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161691 Sachem Alum Heads to World Cup Joe Scally, a graduate of Sachem HS North, was named to the U.S. Men’s National Soccer Team and will head to Qatar to compete in the World Cup! The World Cup games kick off on Nov. 20. We wish Joe and the entire U.S. Men’s National Team the best of luck! Date Added: 11/10/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161618 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 06:00:00 GMT false161618 Curriculum Night Sachem High School North hosted Curriculum Night on Nov. 7. Eighth and ninth grade students and their families were invited to the building to get information on all of the elective classes that Sachem has to offer. Students participated in a series of curriculum presentations where they learned about course offerings and graduation requirements. Additionally, students were encouraged to visit the classes that they wanted to learn more about. Teachers from each department explained their classes and showcased student projects. Students who previously took these courses were also present to share their experiences with their younger peers. After learning about electives, students chose three classes they are interested in and noted them in eSchool. Later this year, school counselors will meet with students to discuss the classes they picked and help create their schedule for the 2023-24 school year. “This night was such a success due to high student interest in new courses Sachem is offering across all subject areas,” Principal Andrew Larson said. “It is incredible important to give eighth and ninth grade students and their parents the opportunity to explore different pathways to graduation through courses they show a passion for.” Click here to view the Photo Slideshow. Date Added: 11/10/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161602 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161602 Sachem North Football Playoff Game: Saturday 11/12 1:00pm Tickets must be purchased via GO FAN with the attached QR Code to expedite the entrance to our playoff contests. Purchasing tickets is as easy as clicking on your contest once you go to the website. Student tickets ($5) must be purchased with a credit card, apple pay or cash app at the entrance with school ID. This game will also be broadcast as the T&D Sports Orlin & Cohen Game of the Week! Live Stream Link: https://youtu.be/rKSDBDYa4VE Date Added: 11/10/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161583 Thu, 10 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161583 Firsthand Look into Construction Industry Students at Sachem High School East learned all about heavy machinery during a hands-on visit from The Learn Center. The Learn Center, based right in Ronkonkoma, is the only New York State Education Department licensed school to teach heavy equipment operation and safety. It’s an integral member of the Sachem HS East Business Alliance and partners with the school to engage with students. Students taking business, social studies and technology classes got a firsthand look into the construction field from The Learn Center’s owners, the Guidi family. They had the opportunity to network and learn the desirable job skills in the construction field. Some students even operated an excavator in the school’s parking lot. The visit provided students with an in-depth look at a field they can pursue after graduation. Date Added: 11/9/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161566 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161566 Students Learn Culinary Skills in the Classroom This school year, both Sachem High School East and North introduced a new class to teach students culinary skills. The course at North is called essential kitchen skills and teaches students how to become active participants in the cooking process from food prep, to clean-up, along with learning where food comes from. At East, the curriculum is titled cooking essentials. At High School North, students recently learned the “farm to table” concept through harvesting their own food from the school garden. They made their own sweet potato fries using sweet potatoes they grew. Students cured and cut the produce into fry form while practicing safe knife skills. Ultimately, they made a delicious snack and were involved throughout the entire process. Date Added: 11/9/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161570 Wed, 09 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161570 Merrimac Classrooms Promote Social Emotional Learning Social Emotional Learning is an integral part of learning and culture in the Sachem Central School District. As bulletin boards are the billboards of classrooms and hallways, Merrimac Elementary School teachers Danielle Sicari, Allison Dassau, Daniel Celentano and Kim Harvey created boards that foster SEL learning. These boards have positive affirmations and quotes on them to help students through a successful day. Students can use the boards as a tool to self-reflect, control and recognize emotions and remind themselves who they are – brave, kind, loving, smart and strong individuals. Additionally, Merrimac teachers are using spaces in their classroom to support students. In Danielle Sicari’s class, if students feel emotions that are difficult to process in large group settings, they can take a break in the “peaceful place.” This is a safe, controlled and quiet area in the classroom. It gives students the opportunity to initiate the experience and self-regulate independently. Date Added: 11/8/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161529 Tue, 08 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161529 Learning Job Skills in the Classroom Students in Mrs. Tori McDermott’s career and financial management class at Sachem HS East are learning real-world job skills. Students are learning about interviewing, commonly asked questions, appropriate attire and behavior, how to follow up an interview and how to ask for a raise once hired. Once the unit was complete, students applied what they learned during panel interviews with their classmates. Some students had the opportunity to then interview with two special guests, Mrs. Pesce and Mrs. Flanagan. Great job to all! Date Added: 11/7/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160485 Mon, 07 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false160485 Socktober Drive The Kids Care Club at Tamarac Elementary School recently wrapped up its Socktober Drive, collecting pairs of socks for those experiencing homelessness. Students were inspired by “Kid President’s” Socktober initiative. They learned that new socks are one of the most needed, yet least donated items to shelters and donation sites. Tamarac Elementary School dropped the new socks to local organizations including the Outreach Center at Our Lady of Lourdes in West Islip. Date Added: 11/7/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=161498 Mon, 07 Nov 2022 05:00:00 GMT false161498 Red Ribbon Week The Sachem Central School District celebrated Red Ribbon Week from Oct. 24-31. Red Ribbon Week is a campaign to encourage participation in drug prevention activities and take a visible stand against drugs. At Sagamore Middle School, students signed a drug-free pledge on a bulletin board, decorated the hallways with red ribbons and held a sock donation collection for those experiencing homelessness. Additionally, the building invited high school students down for its “Teens as Teachers” workshops, where older students pushed into sixth grade classes to provide important lessons about responsibility and decision-making. Date Added: 11/4/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160452 Fri, 04 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160452 AAC Awareness Month Wenonah Elementary celebrated Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month during October. Led by the building’s speech-language pathologists, students participated in activities to learn about the many different ways in which others communicate while using devices. Students across all grade levels became familiar with core boards, which combine pictures and words of core vocabulary to support communication. Kindergarten through fifth grade students decorated the halls of Wenonah using sentence strips. They were tasked with using the word “on” to see how many sentences they could create. Kindergarten through second graders filled out “All About Me” sheets using picture symbols. Meanwhile, third through fifth graders played games using only core boards to communicate. The AAC Awareness Month activities united the entire school community while promoting inclusivity. Date Added: 11/4/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160460 Fri, 04 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160460 Marching Band Wins State Championship The Sachem Marching Band took home the title of New York State champions in the Large School 3 Division at the New York State Field Band Conference. The band, made up of 62 students from Sachem High School East, Sachem High School North, Sagamore Middle School, Samoset Middle School and Seneca Middle School, traveled to Syracuse, New York, to compete in the championship on Oct. 30. “From the second I saw this band I knew we were going to do great things,” Jay Greengold, senior drum major, said. “I’m so happy for each and every one in this band and I can’t wait for the future.” The band was welcomed home with an escort from the Farmingville Fire Department on Nov. 1. Families, friends and school administrators cheered the student-musicians on as they arrived back at High School East with the coveted Governor’s Cup. Date Added: 11/3/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160418 Thu, 03 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160418 Supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month Throughout the month of October, the Sachem Central School District supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month through initiatives, activities and fundraisers. Students and staff educated themselves and their school communities about the impact of breast cancer and how to promote awareness. Grundy Avenue and Tamarac Elementary Schools held their own “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walks during the school day. Students and staff walked outside of their respective buildings while dressed in pink. The active display of support brought together the school community for a good cause. At Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, students decorated awareness ribbons to display in the building. The ribbons honor family members and friends who have been affected by breast cancer. Students were excited to create an honor wall as a display of support. Many buildings held days for students and staff to wear pink. These efforts united the Sachem school community while recognizing an important cause. Date Added: 11/2/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160356 Wed, 02 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160356 Halloween Spirit on Display Students and staff were in the Halloween spirit on Oct. 31. Across the district’s buildings, students participated in a number of festivities including dressing up, arts and crafts and Halloween-themed classroom lessons. Many of the elementary schools held parades for students to show off their costumes in front of their friends and families. Date Added: 11/2/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160373 Wed, 02 Nov 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160373 Student and Program Celebrated at BOE Meeting The Sachem Central School District Board of Education recognized the success of one of the district’s programs, as well as a student achievement at its Oct. 26 meeting. Sachem High School East senior Adriana Ancilleri was honored for being named the 2022 New York State Champion at a weightlifting competition held in Binghamton. Ancilleri competes in the 45-kilogram weight class category in two events — the snatch, and clean and jerk. She holds nine state records and is a two-time Weightlifting State Organization record holder. Ancilleri noted that she was inspired to pursue weightlifting by her history teacher, Ryan Fatscher. Additionally, high school counselors Nicole Koerber at East and Christine Launer at North provided the board with an update on the district’s therapy dog program. They brought dogs Oakley and Bailey and explained that the program has had an overwhelmingly positive response from students. Date Added: 10/31/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160248 Mon, 31 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160248 Athletic Recruiting Night Date Added: 10/31/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160221 Mon, 31 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160221 BOE Honored by Community Groups At the Oct. 26 meeting of the Sachem Board of Education, members of the board were recognized for their countless volunteer hours and dedication to Sachem students. In honor of School Board Recognition Week, which is celebrated from Oct. 17-21, community organizations including the Sachem Central Teachers’ Association, Sachem Administrators Association, Sachem Supervisors Association, Parent Teacher Association, Sachem Clerical Unit and Sachem Nurses Association, all took time to address the Board. These organizations each made donations in the name of the Sachem Board of Education to local nonprofits as a way to express their gratitude for the continuous contributions the Board has made to the Sachem Central School District. Date Added: 10/28/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160194 Fri, 28 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160194 Financial Aid Information Workshop Date Added: 10/27/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160149 Thu, 27 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160149 Harlem Wizards Visit Merrimac The Harlem Wizards recently visited Merrimac Elementary School and their performance was a slam dunk! The basketball team brought enthusiasm to the building with their show that included tricks, comedy and student and teacher participation. Students were excited to get involved while learning about teamwork, respect, hard work, well-being and kindness. Date Added: 10/26/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160126 Wed, 26 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160126 Bus Safety Campaign Rolls Out The Sachem Central School District welcomed BusPatrol, the leading stop-arm enforcement technology provider, to Hiawatha Elementary School on Oct. 21 to roll out its ‘Thumbs Up’ campaign. District leaders, elected officials, local law enforcement and PTA representatives joined BusPatrol to launch the program that works to educate students on the rules of the road surrounding bus safety. The launch came during National School Bus Safety Week. “From our view, every week should be school bus safety week because our charge is to always keep our students and staff safe,” Hiawatha Elementary School Principal Joe Watson said. The Thumbs Up campaign puts a focus on students, encouraging them to make the right choices and follow instructions from their bus drivers to keep themselves and their peers safe. BusPatrol has developed educational content including animated videos and activity books that were distributed to students at Hiawatha as part of the launch. Date Added: 10/24/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160053 Mon, 24 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160053 Naviance Parent Workshop Date Added: 10/21/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=160006 Fri, 21 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false160006 Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month The Sachem Central School District recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month across its buildings. Hispanic Heritage Month runs from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and honors the histories, cultures and contributions of American citizens who have Hispanic roots. Many activities and lessons revolving around Hispanic Heritage Month took place across Sachem. For example, many art classes worked on projects inspired by Hispanic artists. At Hiawatha Elementary School, Ms. Patricia Puls’ students reimagined the Mona Lisa after viewing Fernando Botero’s version of the iconic painting and painted butterflies inspired by Lourdes Villagomez. Additionally, fifth graders created geometric animals inspired by the artist, Okuda San Miguel. Elementary school counselor Mr. Justin Morales led assemblies that recognized the contributions of iconic musicians of Latin culture. At Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, Mr. Morales discussed the impact of artists including Tito Puente, Celia Cruz and Selena. Additionally, he taught students how to salsa dance, with the help of a special guest, Mr. Morales’ mother. At Tamarac Elementary School, award-winning author Adriana Devers visited students and read one of her stories. During the read aloud, she taught students words in Spanish and embraced the Hispanic culture that influenced her writing. The Foreign Language Honor Society at Sachem High School North held an event to teach their peers about Hispanic Heritage Month. They created a “live museum,” dressing up and acting as famous Hispanic Americans. Spanish classes walked through the museum, asking questions about each individual. Students were eager to learn about the Hispanic culture and the many contributions made by Hispanic Americans. The districtwide celebrations embraced diversity and history. Check out some photos of the celebrations across our buildings below! Date Added: 10/20/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159949 Thu, 20 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159949 BOE Recognizes Lynwood Student’s Recycling Efforts At its Oct. 12 meeting, the Sachem Board of Education recognized current third grader, Kayla Zatyk for her efforts in starting a recycling program as a Lynwood student last year. Kayla worked with Principal Catherine Dulovic to bring recycling bins to the school. She created a petition that her peers signed, then sent an email to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine, who dropped off the bins himself. The Board thanks Kayla for her efforts in bettering the Sachem community. Date Added: 10/19/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159920 Wed, 19 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159920 Building Haunted Mansions Tamarac students are getting into the Halloween spirit with haunted mansions they created. Fifth grade classes engaged in a STEAM project where they were challenged with designing and creating a room in a haunted mansion. Using boxes, students put together dioramas of their rooms. Each class stacked the rooms and placed them side-by-side to build a larger mansion. The mansions are on display outside of the fifth grade classrooms ahead of Halloween. Date Added: 10/18/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159876 Tue, 18 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159876 AP Scholars with Distinction Thirty current students in the Sachem Central School District earned the designation of Advanced Placement Scholars with Distinction for excelling on their 2022 AP exams. The AP Scholar with Distinction status is granted to students who receive an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken, and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Congratulations to the following students: Sachem HS East Lauren Abbatiello, Caitlyn Austin, Caitlin Carey, Jada Drew, Anthony Garenani, Pete Garenani, Evan Gottesman, Zoey Gulotta, Alyssa Khan, Aafia Malik, Tyler McKeon, Ian Mei, Mohid Rattu, Joseph Richetti, Siddharth Sheth, Kyle Smith and Grace Teller. Sachem HS North Sara Breitenbecker, Giovanna Formato, BellaRose Greco, Chloe LaBel, Andrew Macchio, Daniela Mare, Arhum Mudassir, Katherine Perez, Aman Rattoo, Morgan Rietmann, Erin Savarese, Avi Talsania and Angelina Thotam. Date Added: 10/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159843 Mon, 17 Oct 2022 05:00:00 GMT false159843 HS East Student Named Weightlifting Champ Sachem High School East senior Adriana Ancilleri was recently named the 2022 New York State Champion at a weightlifting competition held in Binghamton, NY. Adriana is the holder of nine NYS records and is a two-time Weightlifting State Organization record holder. Congratulations, Adriana! Date Added: 10/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159805 Mon, 17 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159805 BMX Stunt Show ‘Hits the Brakes’ on Bullying Grundy Avenue Elementary School students had a front row seat to a BMX stunt show on Oct. 12. The Dialed Action Sports Team visited the building for an entertaining show that spread positive messages throughout. As the team performed a number of bike tricks that wowed students and staff, they sprinkled in antibullying messaging. Students were encouraged to treat others with kindness, respect and support. The Dialed Action Sports Team explained how they got their opportunities because of their display of compassion and respect and reinforced to students that kindness will help them go far in life. In addition to the antibullying messages, the team taught students about bike safety. They discussed the equipment they wear while riding and explained that safety is their priority. Students were excited to watch a number of tricks and flips performed by the team. The BMX riders even jumped over teachers and Principal Tom Lipani with their bikes, drawing cheers from the crowd! Date Added: 10/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159826 Mon, 17 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159826 Dunk the Principal Students at Hiawatha Elementary School were excited to “dunk” their principal, thanks to a recent PTA membership drive. Principal Joe Watson stepped into the dunk tank, complete with a bathing suit, flippers and life vest. The student body gathered outdoors to watch Mrs. Lewis and Ms. Rostkowski’s fourth grade class have a chance at dunking Mr. Watson underwater. Mrs. Lewis and Ms. Rostkowski’s class recently had the most parents sign up for the PTA during its membership drive. As the winning class, they had to opportunity to dunk the principal during this fun, end-of-school-day event. Date Added: 10/14/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159778 Fri, 14 Oct 2022 05:00:00 GMT false159778 Seneca Community Fair Date Added: 10/14/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159771 Fri, 14 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159771 All-National Musician Sachem High School North student Carly Salzano has been selected as a member of the 2022 National Association for Music Education All-National Honor Band. Carly, who plays the trumpet, was selected for this prestigious honor after a rigorous application and audition process. She first competed at the local, district and state level to become eligible. The 2022 All-National Honor Ensembles will perform this November in National Harbor, Maryland. Carly will join the nation’s top high school musicians to showcase their talents during a concert that celebrates music education and the arts. Date Added: 10/12/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159738 Wed, 12 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159738 Sachem Spirit on Display for Homecoming Sachem spirit was on display across the district ahead of homecoming on Oct. 8. Leading up to the big games at Sachem High School East and North, both schools celebrated with a spirit week that culminated with pep rally on Oct. 7 in the afternoon. Both student bodies gathered at their respective football fields to cheer on fall student-athletes. As each team was introduced and ran out onto the field, students cheered in the stands. The football teams were brought out last, building up the excitement for Saturday’s homecoming game. In addition to pep rally, Sachem High School North held its first homecoming tour. The football team, cheerleaders and Arrowettes traveled by bus to some of the district’s elementary schools to show off their Sachem spirit. Students lined the hallways as the fight song played overhead, wishing the teams the best as they headed into the weekend. The energy carried over to Saturday, where both high schools held community carnivals ahead of kick-off. Sachem North pulled off a homecoming win against Bay Shore, with a final score of 35-7. Despite their best efforts, the Sachem East team lost to Commack 28-21. Pep Rallies North Homecoming Tour Date Added: 10/11/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159716 Tue, 11 Oct 2022 05:00:00 GMT false159716 Merrimac Celebrates Culture of Caring Merrimac Elementary School’s fifth grade classes are creating a culture of caring to kick off the school year. Each 5th grade class brainstormed ways that we care for ourselves, others, our school and community. These ideas were written by students on large letters to create the September bulletin board that hangs proudly in the building. To enforce this culture of caring, students have participated in a number of collaborative activities. Fifth graders assisted their kindergarten buddies with writing their names, worked with classmates on their laptops to learn science vocabulary and helped their peers during an in-class activity. Merrimac fifth graders are excited for a wonderful year! Date Added: 10/11/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159692 Tue, 11 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159692 All-State Musicians Three talented student-musicians in the Sachem Central School District were selected by the New York State School Music Association to perform in the 2022 All-State Music Conference. An additional five students were chosen as alternates. Congratulations to the following: All-State * Sara Christie, HS East – Symphonic Band, French Horn * Dylan McKay, HS East – Symphonic Band, Trumpet * Jeremy Cruz, HS North – Mixed Chorus, Bass 2 Alternates * Gabrielle Dunn-Hickey, HS East – Chorus, Soprano 1 * Jabiel Aqueron, HS East – Chorus, Tenor 2 * Christopher Sneider, HS North – Band, French Horn * Jayson Greengold, HS North – Instrumental Jazz, Trumpet * Jacob Flores Zeranski, HS North – Orchestra, Violin These Sachem students auditioned by participating in solo and ensemble evaluation festivals last spring. They are among the top musicians from school music departments across the state to be selected. “There is a rigorous selection process with committee members from across the state,” Sachem Chairperson for Secondary Music Gerard Giglio said. “These students were selected to sjoin almost 900 All-State musicians who are thoroughly prepared to have an experience of a lifetime in Rochester this December.” The All-State Conference will take place in Rochester from Dec. 1-4. Date Added: 10/7/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159634 Fri, 07 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159634 Commended Students Six Sachem Central School District students were named Commended Students as part of the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Tyler McKeon, Mohid Rattu, Joseph Scimeca and Matthew Weiner from High School East, and to Morgan Rietmann and Ryan Verbanac from High School North. These students are among the 50,000 high scorers on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). They have received Letters of Commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic promise. Although Commended Students do not continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships, some of these students do become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by outside corporations and businesses. The district congratulates these students on their achievement! Date Added: 10/6/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159606 Thu, 06 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159606 Sagamore Teachers Run Tunnel to Towers 5K On Sept. 25, a group of teachers from Sagamore Middle School participated in the Tunnel to Towers 5K. The event symbolized New York City firefighter Stephen Siller’s final footsteps from the entrance of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel to the Twin Towers while paying homage to the firefighters, law enforcement officers and civilians who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Not only did 10 Sagamore teachers participate in the race, the team raised more than $6,000 ahead of the event to honor U.S. military members and first responders. Date Added: 10/5/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159590 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 05:00:00 GMT false159590 Donuts with Desmond Celebrates Summer Reading Wenonah Elementary School students who completed their summer reading logs on time were celebrated by their principal during “Donuts with Desmond.” Dr. Desmond invited these students to a party at the end of the school day on Sept. 23 in Wenonah’s cafeteria. Students were all given donuts and even had the opportunity to participate in a donut-eating contest, where they were challenged with eating a donut hanging from a string. In honor of completing their summer reading projects, they were able to take home books and were given spirit banners to wave proudly. Thank you to the Wenonah PTA for sponsoring this event! Date Added: 10/5/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159573 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159573 SAT/ACT/PSAT Parent Workshop Flyer Date Added: 10/5/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159574 Wed, 05 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159574 Fall Festival Sixth graders at Samoset Middle School came together on Sept. 29 for an afternoon of fall fun. After school, the class participated in outdoor games while enjoying a DJ. Additionally, students participated in a Halloween-themed craft. The event brought the sixth grade class together to kick off the school year. Date Added: 10/4/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159563 Tue, 04 Oct 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159563 Start With Hello Week Wenonah Elementary School participated in Start With Hello Week from Sept. 19-23. The week is a nationwide call to action that encourages students to make new social connections and create a sense of belonging. Wenonah students participated in a number of activities to enforce a culture of caring. They created a “helping hands” tree that was displayed in the school’s lobby and wore green on Sept. 23 to demonstrate unity. Date Added: 9/29/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159422 Thu, 29 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159422 Dot Day Sparks Creativity The Sachem Central School District celebrated creativity, courage and collaboration on International Dot Day, Sept. 15. Based on the book, “The Dot” by Peter H. Reynolds, Dot Day encourages students to “make their mark” and inspires a breakthrough of confidence. Dot Day activities took place throughout Sachem. Many classrooms read the book before displaying their creativity through a number of art projects. Date Added: 9/28/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159391 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159391 Sachem Summer Projects Presentation - September 21, 2022 Date Added: 9/28/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=159402 Wed, 28 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false159402 College Information Night Date Added: 9/26/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157433 Mon, 26 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157433 High School East Student Named National Merit Semifinalist Sachem High School East senior Siddharth Sheth was named a semifinalist in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program. Siddharth was among the approximately 16,000 academically talented high school students from across the nation to be named a semifinalist. High school juniors entered the scholarship program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Semifinalists represent less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, including the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The program’s semifinalists have the opportunity to advance in the competition to win scholarships worth nearly $28 million in total. About 95% of semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing after submitting a detailed scholarship application. Finalists are expected to be announced in February. The district congratulates Siddharth on this outstanding accomplishment and wishes him the best as he advances in the competition! Date Added: 9/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157402 Fri, 23 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157402 Sachem Bowlers Compete in National Tournament Two Sachem High School North members of the varsity girls bowling team competed in a week-long national bowling tournament this July. Cira Arcangel and Emily Kulkarni traveled to Michigan to compete in the Junior Gold National Tournament. Both Cira and Emily qualified to compete in their age bracket alongside 600 of the top female bowlers in the nation and had tremendous success. Cira, a junior, bowled more than 30 games in five days during the tournament, placing 20th out of 600 in the U-18 division comprised of high school juniors and seniors, as well as college freshmen and sophomores. Emily completed the tournament finishing 68 out of 600. This fall, she went off to Molloy University and is a member of the women’s bowling team. Date Added: 9/22/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157359 Thu, 22 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157359 Meet The Elementary School Counselors - September 22, 2022 Date Added: 9/19/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157260 Mon, 19 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157260 PSAT 10 Information Night For Parents of All 10th Grade Students Parents of all 10th Grade Students: Join us on Wednesday, September 21st at 7 pm at North HS Everything you need to know about the PSAT, ACT, and SAT What's the latest data around "Test-Optional" admissions policies? Do SAT and ACT test scores still matter in college admissions? What do you need to know about the Digital PSAT and SAT? Date Added: 9/16/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157222 Fri, 16 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157222 Tamarac Elementary School Celebrates its 50th year Tamarac Elementary School is celebrating its 50th year open. The building held a celebration during the first week of school to kick off the anniversary year. Sachem Central School District retirees, along with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri and Deputy Superintendent Patricia Trombetta, gathered at Tamarac on Sept. 9 during dismissal. Students exited the building, walking past a large number 50 sign as music played in the background. The retirees and Tamarac staff waved to students as their buses pulled out, wishing them the best for this school year. Date Added: 9/14/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157177 Wed, 14 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157177 Honoring Patriot Day in Sachem On Sept. 9, the Sachem Central School District honored the upcoming Patriot Day through a number of events and remembrances. Notably, at Sachem High School North, students held a ceremony at the school’s 9/11 memorial. A student sang a rendition of the national anthem and student essays were read aloud. Students across the district’s buildings participated in activities to remember and honor the men and women who lost their lives during the Sept. 11 attacks. Many students and staff members stood in solidarity by dressing in red, white and blue. Date Added: 9/12/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157099 Mon, 12 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157099 Financial Aid Workshops 2022 Date Added: 9/9/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157054 Fri, 09 Sep 2022 05:00:00 GMT false157054 Parent Workshop Series Date Added: 9/9/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157052 Fri, 09 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157052 Parent Workshop Series Date Added: 9/8/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157010 Thu, 08 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157010 Board of Education Swears-in Student Representatives At the Sept. 7 Sachem Central School District Board of Education meeting, two high school students were sworn-in as Ex-Officio Student Board Members. Alyssa Campbell from Sachem High School East and Matthew Cioffi from Sachem High School North took an oath administered by District Clerk Allison Florio to serve as the student representatives on the board of education. Both students are the student government presidents at their respective schools. Alyssa and Matthew will serve as the student voice on the board of education. The board and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri congratulate them on their new positions. Date Added: 9/8/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=157034 Thu, 08 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false157034 Getting Ready for the School Year Ahead of the first day of school, Grundy Ave School welcomed new students for a building tour and incoming kindergarteners to meet their teachers. We are looking forward to a great year! Date Added: 9/6/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156923 Tue, 06 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156923 Welcome Back! The Sachem Central School District welcomed students back for the 2022-2023 school year on Sept. 6. Students arrived at their respective buildings where they were greeted by administrators and teachers and led to their classrooms. The excitement to return to school was evident among all grades — from pre-k students to seniors. The district wishes all of its students and staff a wonderful year! Date Added: 9/6/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156969 Tue, 06 Sep 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156969 Family Connect Nights 22-23 Date Added: 8/31/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156849 Wed, 31 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156849 Welcoming New Educators The Sachem Central School District welcomed nearly 80 new teachers and teaching assistants during new teacher orientation on Aug. 29. The educators gathered at Hiawatha Elementary School where Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri welcomed the group into the Sachem family. “We come together in our classrooms, in our buildings and in our community. We are there for one another, we support one another,” he said. Dr. Pellettieri thanked the group for their gift of time and dedication to Sachem students. Additionally, Board of Education President Robert Scavo addressed the new teachers, welcoming them into the district. After the opening remarks, the new teachers learned about the district’s mentoring program and participated in presentations to prepare them for the start of the school year. Date Added: 8/30/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156826 Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156826 Superintendent's Letter to the Community - Opening Day Date Added: 8/30/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156817 Tue, 30 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156817 Deputy Superintendent Appointed The Sachem Central School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Patricia Trombetta as its new Deputy Superintendent. Prior to the appointment, Ms. Trombetta served as the district’s assistant superintendent for student support and administration. Ms. Trombetta has been with the Sachem Central School District since 2006 and has more than 15 years of administrative experience. She served as principal at Grundy Elementary School, Sagamore Middle School and Sachem High School North, as well as assistant principal at Sagamore Middle School. Her experience as an administrator at every grade level has led to her proficiency in collaboration, supervision and building relationships with students, staff and families. Ms. Trombetta started her educational career in the classroom as a teacher. She worked in a number of districts and implemented new programs into the curriculum. Throughout her career, Ms. Trombetta has been affiliated with many professional organizations including the Association for Supervision of Curriculum Development and the National Association of Secondary School Principals. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, her master’s degree from Dowling College and a school district administrator professional diploma from CW Post University. “I take great pride in being the new Deputy Superintendent in the district where I went to school and chose to raise my family,” Ms. Trombetta said. “I am excited to work with everyone to move Sachem forward and continue to build on all the Sachem traditions. We are Sachem!” Date Added: 8/26/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156763 Fri, 26 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156763 New Head of Counseling Named The Sachem Central School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Kevin Miller as the new administrator for guidance and college & career counseling. Dr. Miller has worked in the Sachem Central School District for 18 years. Most recently, he served as the assistant principal at Seneca Middle School. In this administrative role, he supervised a number of departments, communicated with students, faculty and parents, held formal and informal observations and oversaw the building’s master schedule. Dr. Miller also serves as the director for SCOPE Educational Services Saturday Enrichment Program, coordinating middle and high school enrichment for more than 100 students. Prior to working as the assistant principal at Seneca Middle School, Dr. Miller was the assistant principal at Sachem High School North for eight years. Additionally, he was a social studies teacher in the district, starting in 2004. As a teacher, Dr. Miller was named Sachem North Teacher of the Year and the Sachem Central Teachers’ Association Educator of Tomorrow Award winner multiple times. “As a Sachem alum, I am very excited to be working with students and their families across the district,” Dr. Miller said. “Sachem is home and I sincerely look forward to assisting all students in reaching their full potential and pursuing their passion.” Dr. Miller received his doctorate in effective middle to high school transition practices from St. John’s University. He earned his master’s degree and advanced graduate certificate from Stony Brook University, and his bachelor’s from St. Joseph’s College. Dr. Miller’s appointment to his new position was effective Aug. 11. Date Added: 8/25/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156744 Thu, 25 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156744 Eagle Scout Beautifies Sachem HS East Incoming junior Aidan Dellomo recently earned his Eagle Scout award after completing a project at Sachem High School East. Aidan worked to beautify a memorial path located near the building’s front entrance. He installed two new benches and put up a memorial plaque honoring various individuals who have passed. Aidan’s goal was to make the area more open and inviting. He received a proclamation from Suffolk County Legislator Anthony Piccirillo for his hard work. Way to go, Aidan! Date Added: 8/24/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156722 Wed, 24 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156722 2022-2023 Bell Schedule Click here to view the bell schedule. Date Added: 8/12/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156610 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 05:00:00 GMT false156610 Outstanding Student-Athletes Recognized by Board of Education At the August 10 meeting of the Sachem Board of Education, the Board recognized several student-athletes and teams for their incredible accomplishments during the spring season on the local, state and national levels. The Sachem High School North varsity softball team was recognized for being named League 1 champions and a Scholar-Athlete team. The team was a finalist in the Suffolk County playoffs and ranked 11th in New York State. Additionally, Mackenzie White was honored for being named All-County, All-Long Island, All-State and League 1 Pitcher of the Year. Sachem High School East’s varsity baseball team was also named League 1 champions and a Scholar-Athlete team. Rich Heyder and Nick Oelcher were designated All-County, All-League and All-Long Island student-athletes. At the national level, two students culminated their track and field seasons at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Philadelphia. Megan Hoffmann placed second in the nation for race-walking, while Abby Callinan placed sixth in the same event. In addition, Hoffmann was named an All-County, All-League and All-Long Island athlete in girls track. A number of individual student-athletes were honored for their achievements. Anna Morrongiello and Emma Parente were named All-Long Island in the first-ever girls flag football season. Christian Mercado received an All-County, All-Division and All-State designation in boys track. Date Added: 8/12/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156587 Fri, 12 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156587 2022-23 Districtwide School Safety Plan Now Available Date Added: 8/9/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156526 Tue, 09 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156526 Sachem Honored by State Athletic Association The New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Inc. honored the Sachem Central School District and specifically, Sachem High School East, in its recent naming of Scholar-Athlete School of Distinction and School of Excellence Award winners. Sachem High School East was designated a School of Distinction for having 100% of its varsity teams qualify and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award during their respective sports season. This year, only 86 schools in the state earned this honor. Meanwhile, the Sachem Central School District as a whole received the School of Excellence Award for having 75% of varsity teams qualify and receive the Scholar-Athlete team award. These awards unite varsity coaches in challenging their teams to achieve a statewide honor. School of Distinction winners will be presented a certificate and commemorative award this fall, whereas School of Excellence winners will be awarded a plaque. Date Added: 8/4/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156497 Thu, 04 Aug 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156497 Finding the Magic Students in the Extended School Year Program at Chippewa Elementary School were treated to a show full of magic on July 21. Magician, Magic Jeff, visited the school to give students an interactive performance complete with a variety of tricks and twists. Students and teachers were called up to the crowd to experience the magic firsthand. All who attended were excited to participate in the activity that aligns with the theme of this year’s program, “finding the magic within you.” Date Added: 7/25/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156336 Mon, 25 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156336 Mental Health Hotline Date Added: 7/20/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156297 Wed, 20 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156297 Summer Fun in Sachem Sachem students are back in the classroom this summer, having fun through a variety of exciting and enriching activities. In collaboration with SCOPE Education Services, the district is offering a free summer program for its students. Throughout July, K-5 students are participating in activities and programs that align with their interests. For example, some chose to participate in a STEAM class like edible science, while others are engaging in a variety of art programs including sculpting and clay creations, origami and jewelry design. Older students have different, yet tailored opportunities to participate in the summer program. Students entering grades 6-8 can take part in activities ranging from chocolate engineering to movie making. Additionally, ELA and math skill building sessions are available to this age range. Students in grades 9-12 are participating in college application and essay writing workshops, as well as SAT prep sessions. The summer program gives learners the opportunity to explore academic topics outside of the typical classroom setting while making new friends who have shared passions. Date Added: 7/18/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156263 Mon, 18 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156263 Sachem Athletics - FinalForms Information and Registration Hello Sachem Athletics Families, The Athletics Department is excited to announce our partnership with FinalForms, an online forms and data management service. FinalForms allows you to complete and sign athletic participation forms for your students. Please review the Intro Letter (Spanish) and Parent Playbook (Spanish) which will help each user through the process of registration and signing of needed documents and medical forms for the upcoming Fall season. Thank You for your cooperation during this transition. Sachem Athletic Department Sachem Central School District 51 School Street Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 Phone: 631-471-1335 Date Added: 7/18/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156266 Mon, 18 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156266 Kevin Kelly Memorial Garden Members of the Grundy Avenue Elementary School community came together to officially reopen the rejuvenated Kevin Kelly Memorial Garden on July 13. The garden was created years ago in honor of late Grundy Avenue teacher Kevin Kelly. It was meant to reflect his interest in science and the outdoors. Just this year, the garden was made into a monarch waystation, a space that provides milkweeds, nectar plants and shelter for monarchs throughout their annual cycle of reproduction and migration. Grundy teachers and co-coordinators of the school garden club, Donna Sherwood and Angela Coffaro, led a ceremony to thank all those who contributed to the new space. It was a true community effort that involved nearly 40 students, custodians, Girl Scouts, faculty members, the PTA and secretaries. Mr. Kelly’s family was present at the ceremony to cut the ribbon and officially open the refreshed garden. The Grundy Avenue garden club made this project its goal for the past school year. Students and staff were grateful for the opportunity to bring this space back to life and give back to the Grundy school community, as well as Mr. Kelly’s family. Date Added: 7/14/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156238 Thu, 14 Jul 2022 04:00:00 GMT false156238 Board of Education Reorganizes for 2022-23 School Year The Sachem Central School District Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting on July 6 in preparation for the 2022-23 academic year. District Clerk Allison Florio swore in new board member Meredith Volpe and re-elected trustee Alex Piccirillo. Both were elected by voters in May and will serve three-year terms, along with Laura Slattery, who will be sworn in at a later date. Additionally, board members Robert Scavo and Sabrina Pitkewicz were elected to serve as the board’s president and vice president, respectively. Dr. Christopher Pellettieri took the oath as superintendent of schools. The board looks forward to another successful school year and the district congratulates its newest trustees. Date Added: 7/7/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=156134 Thu, 07 Jul 2022 17:00:00 GMT false156134 Commencement Ceremony Honors the Sachem High School North Class of 2022 A crowd of family and friends filled the stands of the Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium at Sachem High School North on Friday, June 24, to celebrate the Class of 2022. Graduates came together as a class for the final time as they marched onto the field with “Pomp and Circumstance” playing overhead. The commencement exercises began with the national anthem sung by the Sachem North Symphonic Choir Seniors, as the graduates who are entering the armed services stood before the Class of 2022. Principal Andrew Larson addressed the Class of 2022 with words of wisdom before introducing guest speaker Lawrence Zacarese, vice president for enterprise risk management and chief security officer at Stony Brook University. Mr. Zacarese, who is also a graduate of Sachem North, left students with a message of passion and perseverance. Following the remarks, the top academic scholars of the Class of 2022 were called up to the podium to receive a medal. Salutatorian Samantha Watson was honored in front of the crowd and valedictorian Anna Miller looked ahead to the future, while encouraging her peers to become the authors of their own stories. “We must embrace new characters and plot twists along the way because, you all know, sometimes the best things in life are unexpected,” she said. “I’m sure we’ll face some critics along the way and our plots will certainly be different. But our storylines are forever intertwined by the fact that we walked the halls of Sachem North together.” Continuing the ceremony, class president Nooran Khan delivered a speech, thanking all the members of the Sachem community who helped the Class of 2022 reach this moment, including their beloved teachers. “What I can say on behalf of all the seniors is thank you, to not necessarily what we learned, but to the people who taught us,” he said. “Thank you to the teachers who have made our high school experience unique. Thank you for motivating us, pushing us and teaching us things deeper than the curriculum.” Board of Education President Alex Piccirillo then began the presentation of diplomas alongside fellow trustees and District administration. After the final diplomas were presented, the graduates returned to their seats where they turned their tassels and threw their caps to the sky. Date Added: 6/27/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=155976 Mon, 27 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155976 Sachem High School East Celebrates Class of 2022 On Thursday, June 23, the Sachem High School East Class of 2022 proudly marched out of the building for the last time to “Pomp and Circumstance,” met with cheers and applause from a crowd made up of friends, family and distinguished guests. Graduates created a sea of red caps and gowns on the football field, as they celebrated their achievements while looking ahead to the future. The annual commencement ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by the graduates who will be entering the armed services. It was followed by the performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” from the senior chorale. High School East Principal Louis Antonetti gave up his opportunity to speak to allow a graduating senior to address the class. Earlier this school year, Jamie Anello voiced her positive opinion of Sachem High School East to administration in an email, which left a lasting impression. She was asked to speak at graduation and followed the theme, “It takes a village.” “I can wholeheartedly say the teachers who have crossed my path during my time here are the reason why I’m still going in the right direction,” Anello said. “I was privileged to have numerous teachers who have touched my life beyond anything that can be learned in a textbook. They care about their students’ lives beyond the four walls of their classrooms. It means a lot to know someone is listening, and when a teacher shows that they care, students feel less alone.” Following Anello’s speech, the academic leaders of the class were called up to the podium to receive a medal. Salutatorian Michaela Barresi was acknowledged for her achievements inside and outside the classroom, and valedictorian Antonia Pavek addressed her peers, encouraging them to embrace change. “Today is a momentous checkpoint in our lives,” she said. “Today we must change, as we grow and transition into the people we want to become.” Class president Yousuf Suleman delivered a speech that reflected on the challenges the Class of 2022 overcame. He noted how the class came together to persevere, and reassured graduates that they are not alone. “The past 13 years have provided you with the skills you need to create your own success,” he said. “Rely on those around you. The road to success does not need to be a lonely one.” As remarks concluded, Mr. Antonetti was joined by the Board of Education and District administration to hand the seniors their diplomas. Once the class was confirmed, the seniors turned their tassels and threw their caps in the air, marking the end of their high school careers. Date Added: 6/27/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=155977 Mon, 27 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155977 New Business Official Appointed The Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the appointment of Michele Psarakis, CPA, as the District’s new Assistant Superintendent for Business and Operations. Most recently, Ms. Psarakis worked as the Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations in the West Babylon Union Free School District. She has held this administrative role since 2014 and has been responsible for the fiscal management of the District including budget development and monitoring, supervising payroll and financial accounting. She has experience serving as a member of the Superintendent’s cabinet and the District Emergency Response Team. Prior to working in West Babylon, Ms. Psarakis served as the chief accountant in the Bay Shore Union Free School District, supervising the daily activities of the business office and assisting with annual budget development. Additionally, Ms. Psarakis has experience working as a senior accountant, managing a CPA firm and in accounting administrator roles. Ms. Psarakis is affiliated with a number of professional organizations including the New York State Association of School Business Officials and the Suffolk Association of School Business Officials. She holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, a Master of Business Administration degree and an Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership and Administration. “We are excited to welcome Ms. Psarakis into the Sachem school community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri. “She will be an excellent addition to our District and we look forward to what she brings with her wealth of experience.” Date Added: 6/24/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=155901 Fri, 24 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155901 Nokomis Makes Donation to Last Chance Animal Rescue Nokomis Elementary School recently wrapped up a service-learning project benefiting Last Chance Animal Rescue. Students in Theresa Belluci’s, Jen De Carlo’s and Robyn Greico’s classes presented the organization with a check for $1,056. The donation was the result of a building-wide bracelet sale run by students. Additionally, students created adoption ads that were posted on Last Chance’s social media pages to draw attention to animals in need. Date Added: 6/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=155842 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155842 High School Graduation Ceremonies Sachem High School East and North will live stream their graduation ceremonies. Please visit our YouTube page to view: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNaVI3_F7c0_x4RZy9y-G0Q Date Added: 6/13/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152680 Thu, 23 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152680 Exploring the Earth Through Hands-On Experiments Fourth graders at Merrimac Elementary School are learning about our changing planet. Recently, they explored how rivers have changed the shape of the United States. Through a series of experiments, the students learned how weathering and erosion creates landforms and rock formations. Students in Mrs. Mazzaglia’s class worked together in groups to create a stream table to investigate the effect of the flow of water. During the hands-on experiment, they used materials including soil, sand, toothpicks and water. Students observed pieces of sediment coming loose and forming a delta, the beginning of a canyon formation, and sediments being deposited into their catch pans. In follow-up experiments, students explored how and why rocks form in layers using perfect cast solution. The class completed its unit by learning about fossils and how they are formed. Date Added: 6/22/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=155793 Wed, 22 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155793 Sachem Board of Education Honors Students and Staff At the June 15 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized two student teams for accomplishments in recent events. The Board first acknowledged the students who represented Sachem in the Long Island Special Olympics Spring Games. Student-athletes from Samoset Middle School, Sachem High School East and Sachem High School North took the field on May 21 in a number of events. All athletes took home medals in their divisions. Congratulations to the following participants: Matthew Calpakis, Kevin Dankel, Justin Dunn, Isabella Hurney, Solliana Juarez, Ross Krasnicki, Maximus Marone, Connor Martin, Keegan McAleer, Shane McCue, Christina Morin, Daniel Nistor, Kyle Pelliccione, Nicco Prass, Ruben Presinal and Brianna Scofield. The student recognition continued with honoring Lynwood Avenue’s Destination Imagination Team. The team recently placed fourth in the world for its Fine Arts Challenge. Additionally, the team won first place in the Instant Challenge, which is a timed, creative and critical-thinking exercise that builds teamwork. Congratulations to all seven team members: Cristina Calle, Sofia Lopez, Jack Mitchell, Aarya Pai, Charlotte Percy, Shrey Sheth and Anabella Totino. Additionally, the Board and administration thanked the District’s retirees for their service to the school community. The District wishes the following the best in their future endeavors: Tracy Brennan, Lisa Browne, Susan Cella, Karen Kopf, Regina McBride, Jonathan Metzger, Colleen Moss and Cheryl Semler. Date Added: 6/21/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=155762 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155762 Time Capsule at Sagamore Students at Sagamore Middle School have contributed to a time capsule that has been buried outside the building and contains artifacts from the “COVID times.” Social studies teacher Nancy Smith came up with the idea after she and her students realized that we are living through a historical time period that would be studied by students in the future. Ms. Smith began to collect student work, including drawings, stories, poems and letters, at the end of the school year in 2020 about how students felt during the start of the pandemic. Other social studies teachers in the building also collected student work through the end of the 2021 school year. Additionally, two winners of a poetry contest had their submissions placed in the time capsule, which were read during the ceremony at the time it was buried. One of Sagamore’s tech teachers, Tom McGrath, is creating a sign to be placed where the time capsule is buried. The time capsule will be opened in 25 years – 2047. Date Added: 6/21/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=155776 Tue, 21 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false155776 North Student Accepted into Brookhaven National Laboratory Program Sachem High School North junior Angelina Thotam was accepted into the High School Research Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Thotam will be working with Dr. Ashley Head in the Center for Functional Nanomaterials and will be investigating the behavior of a copper catalyst during methanol formation. The research is ultimately attempting to determine the specific nature of the chemical reaction occurring on the surface of the copper catalyst to improve the process of making methanol from carbon dioxide. Date Added: 6/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152871 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 07:00:00 GMT false152871 The Gold Key Award On June 1st and 2nd senior student-athletes from Sachem East and Sachem North were recognized by Section XI with The Gold Key award. The Gold Key is one of the most established and recognized awards in Suffolk County Athletics. This award represents an athlete’s dedication and commitment to athletics throughout their high school career. In order to be recognized for the gold key, an athlete must have participated and lettered in eight of nine seasons while enrolled in grades ten through twelve. This requires a commitment by the athlete while maintaining a positive balance between athletics and academics. Sachem East: Gavin Apostol Gillian Barresi Michaela Barresi Alyssa Bergo Sarah Bossong Petra Cline Derek Cruz Kelly Dodenhoff Connor Frank Roberto Garcia Michael Garenani Molly Grow Brenin Mahon Kayla McGarvey Anna Morrongiello Ryan Paolicelli Lorraine Podlesny Jinal Rajgor Ariann Robinson Erin Young Kyle Wasson Sachem North: Ella Alba Meaghan Avanzato Brooke Bond Megan Carr Anne Cavanaugh Krysta Churns Nicholas D'Introno Vincent Engel MaKenna Homayoon Anthony Martino Isabella Molinari Alexa Nuzzi Andrew Pawlak Lauren Peralta Daniel Story Caroline Westvig Emma Wilson Date Added: 6/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152845 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152845 The Butch Dellecave Foundation Awards On Sunday June 12th, The Butch Dellecave Foundation, in conjunction with Newsday, and the Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc. gather the best in Suffolk County High School Sports to name the male and female High School Athlete of the Year. This prestigious award honors student-athletes who excel in athletics, academics, and community service. The finalists are named and recognized with an expanded presentation of their accomplishments, on the field of play, in the classroom and within the community. The Sachem nominees from East were Lauren Lucas and Jared Weinhaus and the nominees from North were Grace Calabria and Tyler Davide. Date Added: 6/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152846 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152846 Beautifying Tamarac’s Courtyard Classes at Tamarac Elementary School are working together to clean up the school grounds. Mrs. Devine’s fourth grade students recently joined forces with Ms. Stack’s first graders to plant a sensory garden. Meanwhile, Mrs. Monaco’s third grade class cleaned up the building’s courtyard. The sensory garden idea came about during Autism Acceptance Month. Mrs. Devine and Ms. Stack’s classes were looking for different hands-on activities to promote awareness. First, students worked closely with Mrs. Monaco’s third grade classes to clean up the courtyard. The third graders trimmed tree branches and bushes, raked leaves, placed rocks and prepared the soil. The finished product was a beautiful reading garden that gives all Tamarac students the opportunity to enjoy outdoor learning time. Once the soil was prepared for the sensory garden, Mrs. Devine and Ms. Stack’s classes planted seeds. The garden is designed to provide a calming space for students that stimulate the senses with different textures, scents, sounds and colors. For example, the classes planted grasses, lilacs, lavender, basil, sunflowers, blueberries and raspberries. Students have enjoyed exploring their surroundings at the garden and learning about new things! Date Added: 6/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152847 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152847 Career Day Parade First graders at Hiawatha Elementary School marched outside the building on June 14 for the annual Career Day Parade. Students dressed up as what they aspire to be when they grow up. A number of professions were represented – from astronauts, to veterinarians, to police officers. The first graders performed a song about all different jobs in front of their families and friends before heading back inside. Date Added: 6/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152856 Fri, 17 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152856 Celebrating Flag Day Third and fourth graders at Wenonah Elementary School celebrated Flag Day on June 14. Students invited their families to the building to watch them perform patriotic songs and recite facts about the American flag. Students were excited to share their knowledge and pay tribute to the iconic symbol that stands for freedom and liberty. Date Added: 6/15/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152765 Wed, 15 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152765 Hatching Classroom Chicks and Ducklings Students at Tamarac Elementary School are engaging in an authentic lesson to learn about the life cycles of chicks and ducklings. Third graders in Ms. Monaco’s class collaborated with Ms. Hagerman’s first graders to hatch chicks and ducklings in their classrooms. During science, third graders read a book about birds with their first grade book buddies. As a surprise, Ms. Monaco and Ms. Hagerman brought egg incubators into the classroom. Students made observations as the eggs turned in the incubator. They were able to candle the eggs to see the development of the chicks and ducklings. After 21 days in the classroom, the eggs began to hatch. Students were excited to observe the birds grow and interact with them. The experience provided students with an exciting and engaging way to learn about science. Date Added: 6/13/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152683 Mon, 13 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152683 Wenonah Night with the Long Island Ducks Wenonah Elementary School families enjoyed a night of music and baseball on June 3. The school celebrated “Wenonah Night” with the Long Island Ducks. The annual event benefitted the PTA and featured a pre-game concert performed by the Wenonah 5th grade band, as well as a graduation lineup to recognize the students who are moving up to Samoset Middle School in the fall. The evening was topped off with a Ducks win against the Staten Island Ferryhawks. Date Added: 6/10/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152574 Fri, 10 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152574 Nokomis Garden Provides Hands-On Learning Experience Fifth graders at Nokomis Elementary School are bringing the classroom outdoors through a gardening project. Students in Mr. Papagni’s class started a garden outside of the building from the ground up. It has a variety of crops and flowers including kale, leaf lettuce, marigolds, radishes, snap peas, spinach, sunflowers, swiss chard and tomatoes. Students began the research portion of their project in early May, learning about germination time and plant care. From there, they designed what the garden boxes would look like and mapped out where they would place seeds for each plant, depending on the plant’s size and how much space it would need. Once research was complete, students were ready to get their hands dirty and filled the boxes with five yards of dirt. They planted their seeds and created popsicle sticks to label everything. Finally, students brought in mulch to help improve soil moisture and maintain temperatures. Not only did the fifth graders engage in an authentic, hands-on learning experience, they are excited to watch their plants grow over time and have finished products. Date Added: 6/10/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152606 Fri, 10 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152606 Lynwood Destination Imagination Team Places Fourth Globally Lynwood Avenue Elementary School placed fourth in the world at the Destination Imagination Global Finals! The Lynwood team previously placed first in New York for the elementary level, earning them the trip to the Global Finals in Kansas City, Missouri, from May 21-24. Destination Imagination challenges teams of students to work together to solve open-ended STEAM challenges designed to teach the creative process. Through this, students explore their passions, discover their unique talents and abilities, step out of their comfort zones and learn new skills. Lynwood chose to compete in the Fine Arts challenge this year, creating a skit based on Greek mythology and focused on the theme, “If one person has too much power, it can cause destruction.” The challenge requires the skit to have a costume transformation, an illusion and a trickster, or someone who overcomes a tricky situation. The team created its own songs, and even incorporated a magical tree that acts based on its surroundings to wow the judges. All seven team members – Aarya, Bella, Charlotte, Cristina, Jack, Shrey and Sofia – played an important role in the skit, whether it was acting, writing the script, making costumes, designing props or singing. Not only did Lynwood come in fourth place for the Fine Arts challenge, the team won first place in the Instant Challenge, which is a timed, creative and critical-thinking exercise that builds teamwork. This year, the team had limited materials to build a bridge in five minutes. Additionally, Lynwood earned the Renaissance Award for their excellent understanding of the Instant Challenge. Notably, Lynwood was the only team from Long Island competing in the Global Finals and only one of nine teams from New York. The team was chosen to carry the New York flag for the opening ceremony, where teams from around the world gathered. “It was such an honor to be representing New York and competing against kids from everywhere,” Jack said. “It was so fun to compete against everyone and to come in fourth place, for the specific thing that we did was just awesome.” Destination Imagination provided students with a number of skills, including creative thinking, public speaking and problem-solving, along with memories that will last a lifetime. The District congratulates the Lynwood team on its success! Date Added: 6/9/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152486 Thu, 09 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152486 Sachem Faculty Members Celebrated for Receiving Tenure A number of Sachem Central School District faculty members were recognized for receiving tenure at the District’s Board of Education meeting on June 1. The Board congratulated the teachers, teacher assistants and administrators who received this well-deserved honor: Congratulations to the following: Teachers Laura Acker, Chelsea Blom, Christine Breslin, Lindsey Caggiano, Angela Calatayud, Daniel Celentano, Shelby Contomanolis, Sarah Dayton, Genevieve Diller, Kelly Doherty, Ryan Fatscher, Bianca Ferrantelli, Stacey Furey, Lindsay Galletta, Jillian Gaska, Amanda Hallstein, Elizabeth Hansen, Julianne Hayes, Vincent Juliano, Lorna Leselrod, Kate Mallinson, Anthony Marino, Virginia Meric, Julianne Miller, Meagan Miller, Amanda Namorato, Cody Napolitano, Tiffany Nardolillo, Susan Nielsen, Renee Parisi, Michelle Reinke-Soria, Christopher Schimpf, Jennifer Schiotis, Jennifer Travaglia and Colleen Whitehurst Teaching Assistants Kathleen Bodkin, Annmarie Cleary, Justine Gonzalez, Kristen Harris, Geraldine Hart, Susan Occhipinti, Michele Perotti, Lauren Sico, Melissa Valentine and Victoria Wasson Administrative Personnel Elizabeth Caruana, Danielle Moran, Marie O’Doherty and Kevin Tougher The District congratulates these individuals and wishes them years of success and happiness in Sachem. Date Added: 6/8/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152444 Wed, 08 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152444 Sachem Board of Education Recognizes Student and Staff Accomplishments At the June 1 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized several students and a staff member for recent accomplishments. Vishruth Katti, a fifth grader at Tamarac Elementary School, was honored for placing first in a Suffolk County Math Competition with the only perfect score in the tournament. In addition, he was the districtwide spelling bee champion. Tamarac Principal Dr. Brenda Almendarez-De Bello noted that Vishruth is an exceptional role model to his peers and always demonstrates the desire to help others. Additionally, Sachem High School North student Ethan Francilot was recognized by the Board for being accepted to the 2022 Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University. The program seeks academically gifted high school applicants from across the country. Ethan will be working with an immunologist to complete science research on the immunopathology of the COVID-19 virus. The art department proudly introduced a number of high school students for their outstanding achievements this year. Sachem North ninth grader Jahzara Angelique Reyes was chosen as the Suffolk County Regional PTA Reflections Contest winner. Several students from both high schools were also recognized for receiving ribbons in the Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts show: Dylan Berkowitz, Samantha Christian, Madison Grasso, Lena Paolicelli, Alexander Polakos, Aliyah Serbu and Jack Straub. Lastly, High School North teacher Christy Zummo was acknowledged for being one of 12 teachers from across the country to win a $1,000 classroom grant from Teachers Federal Credit Union. Ms. Zummo’s student who nominated her in this Teacher Appreciation Week contest was present to speak about Ms. Zummo’s impact inside and outside the classroom. Date Added: 6/6/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152379 Mon, 06 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152379 Room for PEACE A former computer lab at Sachem High School East has been transformed into a space for students to go to decompress during the school day. The Room for PEACE was developed as a proactive approach to provide students with access to a calm space with chosen, self-directed activities that promote development of coping skills and self-regulation. It opened this May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month. Students utilizing the room acknowledge its mission statement: Personal choice to Empower themselves by becoming more Aware of their own mental health and wellness and to develop Coping skills and regulate Emotions. Students can choose to sign up and visit the room during their lunch period instead of going to the cafeteria or library. They can partake in a number of quiet, individual activities including meditation, listening to music, coloring, using the essential oil station and drawing on water tablets. It even has a fragrant garden that grows spearmint, peppermint, lavender and lemon balm. School psychologist Dina St. Giles came up with the idea after implementing a virtual calming room during the pandemic. Once school reopened, she had the goal of bringing it to life. “It’s a big building and the cafeteria can be overwhelming,” she said. “As a psychologist working with some students who have anxiety, there was no place like this for them to go. I’ve been thinking about it for a while.” Ms. St. Giles hopes that the Room for PEACE will continue to grow in years to come. Next year, she plans on adding a resource library with tools that focus on wellness, as well as materials that teach students about anxiety and depression. Date Added: 6/3/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152335 Fri, 03 Jun 2022 05:00:00 GMT false152335 Mental Health Awareness Memorial Unveiled The Sachem High School East freshman class government created a mental health awareness memorial that they unveiled on Monday, May 23. Students built a bench and created a beautiful rock garden with rocks on which they painted positive messages and symbols. The unveiling came during Mental Health Awareness Month, which aims to educate the public about mental illness and mental health stigmas. The space is meant to be a place for reflection and peace, while also spreading awareness about mental health. Students dedicated the memorial in loving memory of their friend and peer, Shane Meeks. Date Added: 6/3/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152285 Fri, 03 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152285 Sachem HS North Euro Challenge Team Named National Semifinalists Congratulations to Sachem High School North for earning its way into the national semifinals in the Euro Challenge! The Euro Challenge is an international competition focused on European economic and monetary policy. It gives participants the opportunity to learn about the euro, the single market and other important concepts central to the European Union and macro and microeconomics. Schools from across the country recently competed in nine regional brackets. This year’s Sachem North team accepted the challenge of solving the climate crisis in the nation of Finland. Students recommended policies to allow this nation to “go green.” They gave 15-minute presentations to judges over two rounds, each followed by difficult 10-minute question-and-answer sessions. Students defended their policy recommendations and discussed economic data. Date Added: 6/3/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152306 Fri, 03 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152306 Circus Arts Program Visits Tamarac Elementary School The O-town Circus Academy brought the “Big Top” to Tamarac’s gymnasium for a week-long residency. The program, sponsored by the Tamarac PTA, began with professional coaches performing a mini-circus assembly designed to thrill and inspire kindergarteners through fifth graders. Students were introduced to a variety of skills and equipment used in the circus arts, including juggling, plate-spinning, stilt-walking, flower sticks and yo-yos. Tamarac’s physical education teacher, Ms. Clodagh Harte, has been coordinating the program for more than a decade. “The students always get excited when the circus comes to town,” Ms. Harte said. “The expertise brought by the coaches is exceptional, and the students are delighted to learn from them.” Throughout the week, the coaches hosted daily workshops where students received instruction and practiced their choice of skills. The circus arts program aligns with the physical education curriculum and offers opportunities for students of all abilities to engage in activities that fall outside the scope of traditional sports. Circus week concluded with a culminating performance where fifth grade students showed off their talents to an audience of parents, peers and faculty. Date Added: 6/2/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152236 Thu, 02 Jun 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152236 Sachem Student-Athletes Commit to Continue Athletics in College A celebratory culmination of hard work and dedication took place as Sachem High School student-athletes signed their national letters of intent committing to compete for a variety of athletic programs. In the annual event, celebrated student-athletes participating in baseball, cross-country, field hockey, football, lacrosse, track, soccer, softball, swimming and volleyball committed to colleges across the country to showcase their athletic and academic skills. High School East High School North Date Added: 5/31/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152131 Tue, 31 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152131 Sachem HS North Teacher Wins Nationwide Contest Congratulations to Sachem High School North teacher Christy Zummo for being selected as a winner in the Teacher Appreciation Week Contest run by Teachers Federal Credit Union. Ms. Zummo was awarded a $1,000 classroom grant for inspiring, encouraging and challenging students. She is one of 12 educators from across the country to be selected. Date Added: 5/27/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152101 Fri, 27 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152101 Sixth Grade Students Explore Intricacies of Energy in Hands-On Science Activity Sixth grade students at Samoset Middle School recently participated in a study of energy in science class through a hands-on activity which explored kinetic and potential energy, friction and gravity. As part of the activity, students utilized stock paper to construct roller coasters that they had to roll a marble down to reach a final destination at the bottom. Working collaboratively in groups, students utilized problem-solving techniques to achieve their goal. Date Added: 5/26/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152073 Thu, 26 May 2022 05:00:00 GMT false152073 Merrimac Students Raise Money for ALS Ride for Life Students and staff at Merrimac Elementary School recently hosted an event for ALS Ride for Life where members of the organization paraded through the halls to cheers from students and staff for their amazing efforts to raise awareness for ALS. As part of the event, which was organized by Barbara Montalbano and her Student Lighthouse along with physical education teachers Bobby Romano and Nicole Kessinger, students ran during gym class to raise money for finding a cure for ALS. Date Added: 5/26/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152063 Thu, 26 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152063 Teeny Awards Nominees A number of Sachem High School East and North students were nominated for Teeny Awards for their performances in recent productions. The Teeny Awards, based on the Tony Awards, celebrate excellence in high school theater across the East End of Long Island. Winners will be announced June 5. Congratulations to the following Sachem students who were nominated in their respective categories: Lead Male in a Play Jake Kyranakis, Sachem North Alexander Mahr, Sachem East Ryan Pacella, Sachem East Adam Pollizotto, Sachem North Supporting Female in a Play Kassandra Suarez, Sachem East Brook Tate, Sachem North Nur Yucel, Sachem East Supporting Male in a Play Jabiel Aqueron, Sachem East Ryan Panzarino, Sachem North Lead Male in a Musical Joey Maiello, Sachem North Adam Pollizotto, Sachem North Supporting Female in a Musical Brook Tate, Sachem North Supporting Male in a Musical Alexander Mahr, Sachem East Outstanding Choreography in a Play or Musical Juliana Depersio, Sachem East Outstanding Poster and Playbill Design Savannah Butler, Sachem East Date Added: 5/25/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152017 Wed, 25 May 2022 05:00:00 GMT false152017 Sagamore Students Study the Life Cycle of an Egg Seventh grade students at Sagamore Middle School recently have been exploring the life cycle of quail as part of a study that included an incubator holding eggs in the school’s library. Over several weeks the eggs were held in the incubator for students to view before they hatched following spring break. The young chicks were then returned to Center for Environmental Education and Discovery to be released in the wild on Long Island. Date Added: 5/25/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=152005 Wed, 25 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false152005 Honoring Our First Responders The Sachem Central School District is showing its appreciation for the community’s first responders through a number of events. Many of the District’s elementary schools invited first responders to their buildings for celebrations and parades. Students created posters and cards for police officers and firefighters to show thanks. At Merrimac Elementary School, fifth graders had a question-and-answer session with first responders to gain insight into their day-to-day routines. Nokomis students sang for their special guests, prior to students introducing their family member heroes to the crowd. Waverly held an appreciation breakfast for first responders before students cheered them on at a schoolwide parade. Similarly, Tamarac students participated in a siren parade and presented the First Responders Children’s Foundation with a check for $500. Merrimac Nokomis Tamarac Waverly Date Added: 5/24/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151949 Tue, 24 May 2022 05:00:00 GMT false151949 Color Run Celebrates Unity More than 220 students and staff members from Sachem High School North celebrated unity and diversity with the second annual Color Us United Color Run. The Intercultural Club and Foreign Language Honor Society collaborated to host the event, where students were showered with different colors as they ran, walked and danced along the route outside of the high school. The Color Us United Color Run highlighted acceptance and inclusivity, showcasing the many unique cultures of the world. Additionally, it raised education about the Hindu festival, Holi which is celebrated in India. Holi is also known as the Festival of Spring, or Festival of Colors, and celebrates love and life. Date Added: 5/24/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151920 Tue, 24 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151920 Nokomis Students Lead Service-Learning Project for Animals in Need Students at Nokomis Elementary School in Theresa Bellucci’s, Jennifer Lynn DeCarlo’s and Robyn Grieco’s classes recently attended a presentation from Last Chance Animal Rescue to learn about animal rescues as part of a service-learning project the students are completing. Following the visit, students will be writing adoption ads from the perspective of dogs that are waiting to be adopted. The ads will be featured on social media with pictures of the dogs to help get them noticed and adopted. In addition, students will be selling bracelets with all proceeds benefiting Last Chance Animal Rescue. Date Added: 5/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151900 Mon, 23 May 2022 05:00:00 GMT false151900 HS East Freshmen Class Trip is a Hole in One! On May 13, Sachem East held its first freshmen class field trip at Top Golf – right within the Sachem community! The class officers – Ibrahim Suleman, Arianna Schuman, Jacob Rubbo, Connor Henzel and Diego Gomes Sa Silva – came up with the idea and helped bring it to fruition. Nearly 200 students were in attendance and were excited to celebrate the end of their first year of high school together! Date Added: 5/20/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151870 Mon, 23 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151870 Sachem High School East Student-Artist Featured in Annual Heckscher Museum of Art Exhibit Sachem High School East students recently attended a field trip to the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington with art teacher Katrina Wrigley. Following the trip, students had the opportunity to enter into a juried competition with the possibility of having their artwork exhibited in the museum fora month. High School East student Samantha Christian was accepted for the second year in a row to feature her art in the exhibit, and the museum also printed her piece from last year’s competition this year’s invitations. Date Added: 5/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151882 Mon, 23 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151882 Sachem Board of Education Recognizes Incredible High School Student-Athlete Accomplishments At the May 4 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized several outstanding high school athletic teams for their tremendous accomplishments on the local, state and national levels. The Board recognized the Sachem High School East Arrowettes who ranked first on Long Island in Small Varsity Jazz and Small Varsity Team Performance. Additionally, the Sachem High School East Cheerleading Team was recognized for its first-place finish this season in the Suffolk County Large Varsity Championship. Also honored was the Sachem High School North Arrowettes who won the National Dance Alliance National Championship in Small Varsity Dance. The Sachem High School North Varsity Cheerleading Team was also recognized for winning the Suffolk County Championship and finishing first in New York State in Small Varsity for Division 1. Completing the recognitions were a plethora of athletes who earned All-County, All-Long Island, All-National and All-State recognition in their respective sports. Date Added: 5/20/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151833 Fri, 20 May 2022 05:00:00 GMT false151833 Seneca Middle School Hosts Robotics Competition On Saturday, April 30, Seneca Middle School hosted a robotics competition between Seneca’s robotics team and Westhampton Beach Middle School’s robotics team. Families, friends, faculty and students were all invited as spectators for the event.Each team worked all school year to complete the various modules on the field that correspond with this year’s FIRST Lego League theme, “Cargo Connect.”Seneca’s team edged out Westhampton Beach 1405-1385 in what was a tight match. Coaches Heidi Michta and Michael Lundstrom couldn’t be prouder. “It was great to give these students a chance to demonstrate their efforts and teamwork in front of a crowd,” coach Michta said. “We hope to be able to go to back to competing at the FIRST Lego League competition next year,”coach Lundstrom said. “We are grateful that we were able to host our own competition right here at Seneca this year.” Date Added: 5/20/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151807 Fri, 20 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151807 Board of Education Recognizes Outstanding Student-Musicians At the April 27 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education the Board recognized an outstanding group of student-musicians in grades 9-12 from Sachem High School East and North who recently received honors from the Long Island String Festival, the New York State School Music Association and the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association. Additionally, the Board recognized Sachem High School North junior Daniela Mare who recently was awarded first place in the VFW’s 75th Voice of Democracy essay program. She was awarded a $30,000 scholarship for her essay in response to the prompt, “America: Where Do We Go From Here.” Date Added: 5/19/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151739 Thu, 19 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151739 Nokomis Students Learn Writing Process From Published Author Students from Nokomis Elementary School learned all about the writing process from a published author, who is also a teacher in the building. Fourth grade teacher, Mrs. Jessica Frank has a number of books coming out this year and presented how a children’s book is made to a total of 14 classes. During the interactive presentation, students asked questions about the writing process. In addition, they learned about how a picture book is created and drew their own illustrations. The experience was an engaging way to help students foster a love for reading and writing. Date Added: 5/19/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151784 Thu, 19 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151784 Sachem High School East Students Inducted Into Business and Marketing Honor Society Sachem High School East’s 2022 Business and Marketing Honor Society students held their Annual Induction Ceremony on April 28.They have all met the criteria and credentials, and completed their formal applications and service credits throughout the school year to earn this honor. Grade 12 East Students 1. Vicky Arias-Veloz 2. Aaron Borsuk 3. Spencer Brown 4. Joseph Casserly 5. Matthew DeMeyer 6. Dakota Edwards 7. Zachary Fisher 8. Connor Frank 9. Anastasia Glenis 10. Julia Incerto 11. Sophia Licata 12. Emily Mangan 13. Robert Mahnken 14. John Padormo 15. Ashley Pavan 16. Ashley Reed 17. Sophia Schumm 18. Jason Scofield 19. Peyton Smith 20. Jillian Surrusco 21. Samantha Tax 22. Kyle Wilkins Grade 10th & 11th East Students 23. Lauren Abbatiello 24. Alyssa Agugliaro 25. Francis Andersen 26. Shannon Azzara 27. Derrick Bisaccio 28. Harithryani Chennamshetti 29. Samuel Cheng 30. Kayla Colletti 31. John DeVito (10th) 32. Evan Gottesman 33. Samantha Keresztes 34. Stephen Marone 35. Megan Martinek 36. Richard Minozzi (10th) 37. Jason Moeller 38. Jack Pickersgill 39. Ty Riccobene (10th) 40. Synai Robinson 41. Jaden Rodriguez 42. Alec Torquato (10th) 43. Matthew Weiss 44. Aaron Young Date Added: 5/18/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151708 Wed, 18 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151708 Budget Vote & Trustee Election Results Budget: Yes – 3,148 No – 1,590 Board Election (* 4 elected): Alex Piccirillo - 2,642* Laura Slattery -2,041 * Christopher Buckley Jr. – 1,759 Kelli Burnham – 1,782 Bryan K. Felice – 1,879 Kristin Gelzinis – 1,682 Meredith Volpe -1,916 * Stephanie Volpe – 1,892* Date Added: 5/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151663 Tue, 17 May 2022 06:00:00 GMT false151663 Merrimac Celebrates Battle of the Buildings Victory Merrimac Elementary School recently hosted a Battle of the Schools celebration to honor the 10 Merrimac staff members who were a part of the winning team. Battle of the Buildings is a competition within Sachem that tests staff on trivia questions to raise money for a total of 36 scholarships for seniors from Sachem High School North and East. As part of the celebration, the team was presented with the Sachem Cup by the Sachem PTA Council, and a parade was held in the school building where students cheered on the amazing team. Date Added: 5/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151640 Tue, 17 May 2022 05:00:00 GMT false151640 Sachem North Students Compete in Annual DECA Competition Sachem High School North DECA students recently competed in the Suffolk County Regional Competition and had 16 students qualify for the New York State DECA Competition. Twenty-nine students from Sachem High School North competed in our annual DECA Regional Competition, where students registered to compete in various categories such as Apparel and Accessories Marketing, Business Management and Administration, Business Services Marketing, Financial Analysis, Hospitality Management, Marketing Management, Quick Serve Restaurant, and Sports and Entertainment Management. The following students placed first in Suffolk County for their competition: John Mankowich and Niko Ginis – Entrepreneurship Team Decision Making Taryn Wilcken – Human Resources Management The following students placed second in Suffolk County for their competition: Sonya Bacha – Food Marketing The following students placed third in Suffolk County for their competition: Ave Rush and Aman Ratoo – Travel and Tourism Management Team Decision Making The following students placed fourth in Suffolk County for their competition: Tricia Block – Apparel and Accessories Marketing Nathaniel Stuber – Business Finance Nooran Khan and Kaitlyn Seitz – Buying and Merchandise Management Team Decision Making The following students placed fifth in Suffolk County for their competition: Avi Talsania – Human Resources Management Andrew Metzger – Business Finance The following students placed sixth in Suffolk County for their competition: Tiffany Chen – Quick Serve Restaurant Management The following students placed seventh in Suffolk County for their competition: Christopher Varrichio and Antonio Lombardo – Hospitality Services Team Decision Making The following students placed ninth in Suffolk County for their competition: Isaiah DeJesus – Automotive Services Marketing Date Added: 5/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151629 Tue, 17 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151629 Chippewa Elementary School Hosts First Responder Appreciation Event In recognition of the Sachem communities first responders, students and staff at Chippewa Elementary School recently gathered to thank local heroes for their commitment to keeping our communities safe. As part of the celebratory event, students completed several activities learning about the work first responders do to keep people safe and created cheerful thank-you cards and notes showing their appreciation, which were handed out to those in attendance. Date Added: 5/16/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151590 Mon, 16 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151590 Wenonah Elementary School Joins in Autism Acceptance Month Activities Throughout April, Wenonah Elementary School students and staff celebrated Autism Acceptance Month, with activities led by Wenonah’s speech-language pathologist, Isabella Busch. This month highlighted neurodiversity and inclusion and was a celebration of our differences, with the theme “Dare to Be Different.” Students and teachers participated in read-alouds, spirit week, a door decorating competition and a T-shirt design fundraiser. The winning design was created by fifth grader Jack Woods in Mr. Kolensky’s class. Funds from T-shirt sales were donated to a local organization, Spectrum of Dreams, that supports individuals with autism, and over $2,000 was raised for the organization. Date Added: 5/16/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151606 Mon, 16 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151606 Deputy Superintendent Named Outstanding School Business Official of the Year Congratulations to Sachem Central School District Deputy Superintendent Mr. John O’Keefe on being named 2022 Gregory E. Carlson Outstanding School Business Official of the Year by the Association of School Business Officials. This award recognizes a school business official that has demonstrated excellence in the performance of their duties and responsibilities to their school district and community. Date Added: 5/13/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151524 Fri, 13 May 2022 21:00:00 GMT false151524 Sachem High School Therapy Dogs Date Added:5/12/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151406 Thu, 12 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151406 Sachem East Senior Places Fourth at DECA National Competition Recently, DECA, a national club preparing emerging leaders and entrepreneurs, held its annual International Career Development Conference in Atlanta. Sachem High School East DECA is proud to announce that junior Siddarth Sheth placed fourth nationally in Hotel and Lodging Management! Date Added: 5/12/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151452 Thu, 12 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151452 Lynwood Avenue Students Take First Place in Destination Imagination Competition The Lynwood Avenue Elementary School Destination Imagination team recently took first place at the New York affiliate tournament and will be advancing to Global Finals in Kansas City, Missouri, in May. The team of talented fifth grade students were challenged to tell a tale of a tricky character overcoming a tricky situation. As part of the challenge students needed to research a character found in literature, theater or film and then design and create an art illusion and costume, and create and present a story about the character they chose. Date Added: 5/10/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151320 Tue, 10 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151320 College Commitment Days On April 27th & 28th Sachem Athletics held their spring athletic college commitment day at East HS and North HS where we hosted 89 student-athletes and their families to celebrate these student-athletes looking to further their playing careers at the next level. Below are the links to the photos for our athletes and families to enjoy. East: Click here to view photos North: Click here to view photos Date Added: 5/6/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151225 Fri, 06 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151225 Video: Teacher Appreciation Week In recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week which concludes today, Sachem students had a special message to share with teachers across the Sachem Central School District. Date Added: 5/6/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151247 Fri, 06 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151247 Sachem Student Leads Recycling Effort at Lynwood Avenue Elementary Lynwood Avenue Elementary School second grade student Kayla Zatyk worked in collaboration with building principal Catherine Dulovic to bring recycling bins to her school. Kayla wrote a letter to Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine and had 311 students and staff sign a petition for Brookhaven Town to donate recycling bins. After receiving the letter Mr. Romaine visited Lynwood Avenue to bring in the bins himself. He commended Kayla for her efforts and commitment to recycling to make her community a better place. As part of the visit students learned about the Town of Brookhaven Recycling Program and items that are created from recycled materials. Date Added: 5/5/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151190 Thu, 05 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151190 Sachem Robotics Team Competes in the FIRST Robotics Competition The Sachem Robotics team, consisting of ninth to 12th grade students from both Sachem High School East and North, has been working hard this season, which started the first weekend after the new year. This year the challenge is called “Rapid React.” During the 2022 season the team has competed at the New York Tech Valley Regional in Albany, New York, and the SPBLI Long Island Regional #2 regional at Hofstra University. Both competitions had over 40 teams registered. While at New York Tech Valley the team was able to test and tune its robot on a regulation field for the first time and made it into the quarterfinals but unfortunately was eliminated. The team came home with valuable information about how the robot reacted in a competition compared to on the practice field built in the team’s lab at Sachem High School North. They were able to make minor changes to mechanical components and modified the vision processing software used to aim and determine the distance from the goal. The following week the team went to SPBLI Long Island Regional #2 and tweaked the changes made prior to the regional. After three days of intense competition the team found themselves on the No. 5 seed alliance with West Hampton Beach and Turkey. The team was eliminated from the quarterfinals due to losing the match by one point. Overall, Sachem Robotics Team 263 had a great season and they are already excited for next year. Date Added: 5/5/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=151193 Thu, 05 May 2022 04:00:00 GMT false151193 Waverly Avenue Students Showcase Research Skills Fifth grade students at Waverly Avenue Elementary School recently completed a research project led by library media specialist Louann Cronin in which they learned the intricacies of research and gathering important information using the variety of tools available to them. As part of the project students utilized Chromebooks to select a nonfiction topic for the focus of their project and then gathered information through extensive research. Students wrote thesis statements, made outlines and then utilized their outlines to create a five-paragraph research paper. Among the many topics students covered in their projects included marine life, earthquakes, soccer and volcanos. Date Added: 4/29/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150968 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 05:00:00 GMT false150968 Hiawatha Elementary Activities Spread Awareness and Understanding of Autism Acceptance and understanding were among key concepts emphasized at Hiawatha Elementary School as students across grade levels recently participated in a collection of in-class activities and an outdoor autism awareness walk to share important information about autism. During the weeklong event, students participated in daily in-class activities to spread awareness of autism. Students visited stations to learn what autism is and the ways in which some people with autism communicate, and also participated in sensory activities and high- and low-energy games. Date Added: 4/29/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150966 Fri, 29 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150966 Sachem East Career Event Opens Doors for Future Careers Sachem High School East students recently explored an eclectic assortment of future opportunities during the fifth annual Career Connection event hosted at Sachem High School East. The event that was facilitated by business teacher William Ward and the Work Based Learning Club featured over 45 businesses and organizations and provided an opportunity for sophomores, juniors and seniors to speak with the more than 80 representatives present to learn about these different careers. “I had the pleasure of going to the career event and I enjoyed this event and feel it had an impact on the way I view the careers available in my future,” said student Steven Azzara. “My eyes were opened to jobs I would have never thought of doing or even knew existed.” Through this growing event, students could apply for internships and learn from the experts about industries they could explore as future career paths. Date Added: 4/28/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150910 Thu, 28 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150910 Sachem North Student Selected for Simons Summer Research Program Sachem High School North science research student Ethan Francilot was recently accepted into the 2022 Simons Summer Research Program at Stony Brook University, a highly competitive program which seeks high school applicants from across the country. The fellowship program matches apprentices with faculty mentors to work as part of a team on an original science research project. Ethan will be working with Dr. Berhane Ghebrehiwet to investigate the immunopathology of COVID-19. Date Added: 4/27/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150904 Wed, 27 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150904 Board of Education Recognizes Outstanding Student-Musicians and Top Scholars At the April 13 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education the Board recognized an outstanding group of student-musicians in seventh and eighth grade who recently received honors from the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association and the Long Island String Festival. Additionally, the Board recognized the Sachem High School East Valedictorian Antonia Pavek, Sachem High School East Salutatorian Michaela Barresi, Sachem High School North Valedictorian Anna Miller and Sachem High School North Salutatorian Samantha Watson for their outstanding academic achievements during their time in high school. Date Added: 4/26/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150858 Tue, 26 Apr 2022 06:00:00 GMT false150858 Softball Players Bring Awareness to an Important Cause Last night, the Bay Shore High School and Sachem High School North softball teams played to bring awareness and acceptance to children with autism and other disabilities. The Lady Marauders and Flaming Arrows played with the goal of shedding light on this cause and spreading the message of acceptance. Players wore blue for the cause and after the third inning, both teams ran the bases with any students present that wanted to participate. Date Added: 4/26/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150836 Tue, 26 Apr 2022 05:00:00 GMT false150836 Seneca Middle School Holds Multicultural and Diversity Week Seneca Middle School recently celebrated diversity by creating a Multicultural and Diversity Week with several enriching activities for students to engage in. Seneca’s Prevention Counselor Stephanie Garcia and the world languages department, composed of Ms. Fernandez, Ms. Laudicina, Ms. Markowitz, Ms. Mazzei, Ms. Mednik, Ms. Meric and Ms. Peguero-Collazo, facilitated the activities, which included designing international menus and learning about world dances in the classroom. An Island Empanada food truck selling empanadas was available, and student speakers conducted daily announcements in their home languages like Albanian, Ewe, Farsi, Spanish, Turkish and Urdu. Through these enriching experiences, Seneca students experienced many aspects of cultures from around the world. Date Added: 4/26/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150835 Tue, 26 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150835 Tamarac Elementary Hosts Annual Science Fair Tamarac Elementary School recently hosted its annual science fair where students showcased their science skills through a plethora of exciting projects. Date Added: 4/25/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150809 Mon, 25 Apr 2022 05:00:00 GMT false150809 Waverly Avenue Students Study Planets and Our Solar System Fifth grade students in Cathy Juliano’s class at Waverly Avenue Elementary School recently completed a collaborative project where students researched planets and our solar system. As part of the project, students utilized Chromebooks to select and research the size, distance from the sun, and time of one rotation and revolution around the sun. Culminating their projects, students created posters to share the interesting elements of their selected planet and compared the similarities and differences of their peers’ selected planets. Date Added: 4/25/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150788 Mon, 25 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150788 Beloved Sachem Teacher Matthew “Dezy” DiStefano Wins Humanitarian Award Sachem High School North teacher and coach Matthew “Dezy” DiStefano, who passed away in January 2020 from a rare form of kidney cancer, has been named the winner of the New York State United Teachers Humanitarian Award. A special education teacher and volleyball coach at his alma mater, Sachem North High School, DiStefano is being honored for his inspiring work in creating the DezyStrong Foundation, which has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to help aid in the cost of cancer treatments for patients and assist families in their time of need. The award came following a resolution passed by the Sachem Central Teachers Association, led by President Philip Barbera, which asked New York State United Teachers to consider recognizing members who make significant humanitarian contributions to their communities. DiStefano’s inspiring work galvanized not only the Sachem community, but also attracted the support of professional sports teams and numerous collegiate and high school athletic programs throughout the country. Additionally, the DezyStrong Foundation Infusion Suite was recently opened at Huntington Hospital on Long Island to help make patients more comfortable while undergoing treatments. Date Added: 4/12/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150494 Tue, 12 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150494 Merrimac Students Showcase Reading Skills During Annual PARP Initiative Merrimac Elementary School students have recently been participating in their annual Pick a Reading Partner initiative to encourage reading and a love for literature. As part of the annual initiative, students have been participating in several activities to build enthusiasm around reading. Among some of the themed spirit days were Book Character Day, Pajama Day and Reading Jogs the Mind. Date Added: 4/11/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150458 Mon, 11 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150458 Sachem in the News: News 12 Learns About High School Therapy Dogs Sachem in the News: News 12 Long Island recently visited Sachem High School North to learn more about the high schools therapy dogs. https://longisland.news12.com/she-saved-my-life-therapy-dog-helps-students-at-sachem-hs-north-deal-with-mental-health Date Added: 4/4/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150204 Mon, 04 Apr 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150204 Elementary Students Learn Mindfulness Practices Through Chair Yoga Students at Merrimac Elementary School celebrated social-emotional learning on SEL Day, March 11, when students participated in chair yoga as an activity to promote mindfulness, improve mind and body balance, increase focus and attention, increase flexibility and promote mobility. SEL Day is a day led by SEL4US and the Urban Assembly that invites schools and communities around the globe to celebrate the importance of social-emotional learning. As part of the day Sachem was invited to participate in chair yoga, and Merrimac Elementary along with Lynwood Avenue Elementary teachers participated in a 35-minute chair yoga session. Date Added: 3/31/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150111 Thu, 31 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150111 Sachem East Students Host Robot Battles in the Library Sachem High School East students in Mr. Anson’s Practical Application of Math class recently utilized Spheros to design and build Battlebots to compete in the school library. The students created their designs and used the Spheros, which are programmable spherical robots, to power their robots. After several trial runs and frequent troubleshooting, the students then competed in the inaugural Battlebot Tournament hosted in the library where the groups competed until only one group remained and was named the winner of the competition. Date Added: 3/30/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150100 Wed, 30 Mar 2022 06:00:00 GMT false150100 Student-Authors Named Semifinalists in National Book Challenge Students in Corinna Niski’s class at Cayuga Elementary School were recently named semi-finalists in the Studentreasures Publishing’s National Book Challenge, for which the students worked collaboratively to publish their very own book, “Care About Kindness.” As part of the contest, the students worked together to brainstorm, create a rough copy, revise and illustrate a book to publish focused on kindness. Each student created an individual page of the book where they shared ways to spread kindness through big or small acts. The students’ creative literary work has now moved on to the finals, and on June 15 they will find out if they won the challenge. The top three placing schools will receive grant money to be used to support school activities and initiatives. Date Added: 3/30/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150071 Wed, 30 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false150071 Sachem High School East Students Learn the Intricacies of Sports Management and More Prior to the winter break business students from Sachem High School East’s sports and entertainment management classes and hospitality and tourism classes went on a field trip to Citi Field Stadium, the home of the New York Mets in Queens, New York, with Mrs. Cannetti and Mr. McCaffrey. A Citi Field tour guide gave students a brief history of the stadium and the many things besides baseball that take place there. Throughout the tour, students saw the different types of clubs and suites, restaurants and other venders and amenities that are available to different types of ticket holders. Students were then taken on the field, the dugout and the bullpens. Students also visited the control room and the press box where they learned all about behind-the-scenes management and marketing, including the enormous operating costs that go into running a first-class professional sports venue. Students were informed about the many possible career opportunities involved with hospitality and tourism and sports and entertainment management. The final part of the trip included walking past the entrance to the New York Met’s Clubhouse and taking a peek inside, along with the workout facility, the offices for the coaching staff, the lunchroom, the batting cages and the indoor sprinting track. Date Added: 3/30/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150069 Wed, 30 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150069 Waverly Avenue Students Seek Inspiration From Famous Artist Students in Susan Kinsey’s fourth grade art class at Waverly Avenue Elementary School recently learned about famous American landscape painter Winslow Homer. Culminating their study of watercolor, students viewed a video about the artist to gain further appreciation for the medium that they recently used to create their own works of art. Date Added: 3/28/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=150016 Mon, 28 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false150016 Sachem Board of Education Recognizes Outstanding Student and Staff Accomplishments At the March 23 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized a large group of student-musicians earning honors through the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association and the Long Island String Festival Association. Additionally, Sachem High School North math teacher Wendy Parente was recognized for being accepted as a Master Teacher in the New York State Master Teacher Program, joining a select group of over 1,200 distinguished K-12 educators across New York. To receive this prestigious honor, teachers must complete a rigorous application and evaluation process which includes a test, presentation on an area of expertise, an essay and interview. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149963 Fri, 25 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149963 Lynwood Students Blend History and Technology Through Hands-On Learning Lesson History and technology came together to inspire students in Mrs. O’Shea’s fifth grade class at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School as they worked on a unit on early civilizations and created their own ancient pyramid. As part of the project students studied the location, culture, religions, governments, advancements and fall of the Aztec, Inca and Maya civilizations. With the support of technology integration specialist Ms. Haas, the students learned how to use a computer program called Tinkercad to create and design their pyramid. Once their creations were complete, they were printed on the 3D printer to bring their visions to life. Date Added: 3/24/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149896 Thu, 24 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149896 Waverly Avenue Students Study Sequencing in Writers Workshop Creativity flourished in Kristin Weston’s first grade class at Waverly Avenue Elementary School as students participated in an activity to create personal narratives as part of writers workshop. Through their work on the assignment students learned the importance of sequencing and selecting words to designate when things took place in their story to establish a beginning, middle and an end. To accompany their stories students drew colorful illustrations to complete their creative literary works. Date Added: 3/24/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149890 Thu, 24 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149890 Sagamore Students Explore Percussion Instruments in Music Class Sagamore Middle School students in Gerard Giglio’s eighth grade music class have been exploring the rich history of African and Latin instruments and music as part of a unit on world drumming. As part of the lesson, students learned essential skills associated with percussion instruments such as rhythm, playing with others and different musical styles. Additionally, students utilized their Chromebooks to view and listen to different music to inspire them and assist in emulating the different styles. Date Added: 3/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149833 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 06:00:00 GMT false149833 Sachem Central School District Board of Education Honors Student-Athletes At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, outstanding student-athletes from Sachem High School East and North were recognized for their incredible performance on the field, earning All-Academic, All-County, All-League, All-Long Island and All-State honors. Date Added: 3/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149830 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149830 Elementary Music Festival Concert On March 8th, over 220 5th graders from across Sachem’s 10 elementary schools performed at Sachem East HS in the 64th Annual Elementary Music Festival. Our student performers were greeted with a huge audience and put on a great performance. Thank you to the teachers that rehearsed them and to our community for continuing to support the arts! Date Added: 3/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149827 Wed, 23 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149827 Chippewa Elementary Students Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, students across grade levels at Chippewa Elementary School participated in a plethora of St. Patrick’s Day-themed activities with their classmates. Date Added: 3/17/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149633 Thu, 17 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149633 Middle School Students Celebrate With Mardi Gras-Themed Activities Seventh grade students at Sagamore and Seneca middle schools recently completed a Mardi Gras unit in Mrs. Mednick’s class. As part of the activities, student completed essays, sampled a traditional Mardi Gras cake called king cake, and created Mardi Gras masks to use at their masquerade ball. Date Added: 3/15/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149544 Tue, 15 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149544 Sachem East Student Artwork Selected for Juried Art Show Sachem High School East senior Ciara Torres recently had her painting, “Still-life in Tempera” accepted into the Juried Art Show at The Atelier at Flowerfield. Ciara’s painting was created in Ms. DelVallez’s Drawing and Painting 1 class. For the assignment, students were required to work from observation and develop forms using a limited pallet of premium tempera paint. Ciara paid attention to detail and often stayed after school to perfect her work. The art event provides art students with an opportunity to build their portfolio, as well as promotion and exposure of their works in The Atelier’s exhibition hall for a four-week period. The juried show also provides the winners with a scholarship to one free class and an Atelier one-year membership. Date Added: 3/14/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149512 Mon, 14 Mar 2022 04:00:00 GMT false149512 Testing Parent Letter 2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149466 Fri, 11 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149466 Sachem East Student Selected to Perform in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Sachem High School East student-musician Jaden Rudnicki was recently selected to be part of the 2022 Macy’s Great American Marching Band. As a member of this band, he will be marching in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City this November. To gain this outstanding achievement Jaden auditioned and was selected to perform as a member of this prestigious band in one the country’s most notable parades. Date Added: 3/10/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149417 Thu, 10 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149417 Parochial Transportation Registration IMPORTANT REMINDER: Registration is now open for Private and Parochial School transportation for the 2022-2023 school year. The deadline for registration is April 1st. Visit the link to learn more: http://www.sachem.edu/departments/transportation https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149237 Fri, 04 Mar 2022 18:00:00 GMT false149237 Community Legislative Forum - March 16th https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149235 Fri, 04 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149235 Video: Sachem Students Spread Kindness Through Participation in P.S. I Love You Day Students and staff across the Sachem Central School District participated in heartwarming events and activities this February in recognition of P.S. I Love You Day, an initiative that looks to eliminate bullying and promote mental health awareness. At elementary schools around the district, students were joined virtually by peer education students from Sachem high schools who led inspiring assemblies on kindness and being proud of who you are. At Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, peer educators joined students virtually to lead them through an activity exploring ways to be kind to themselves and others. At Hiawatha Elementary School, first grade students in Mrs. Smith’s class participated in a P.S. I Love You Day scavenger hunt where they searched throughout the school building for a collection of important words to complete the activity. The words students found while participating in the hunt included listen, share, play, together, wave, kindness, smile and care. Students across Merrimac Elementary School filled a cutout of a foot with positive words and messages to align with the theme of this year’s P.S. I Love You Day, “One step at a time.” The events that were held throughout the building were facilitated by students from the Student Lighthouse Team and helped to bolster the importance of kindness throughout their school building. “I think P.S. I Love You Day is important to participate in so we can help students not feel alone,” said Rachel, a fifth grader at Merrimac. “It makes me happy to help with these activities and let people know they are loved.” At Cayuga Elementary School, students filled out friendship chains, sharing ways that students can build meaningful friendships, that were then connected and displayed throughout the school to inspire kindness. Additionally, students wrote kind messages to their fellow students on Post-it notes, and fourth grade student Joslyn Richardson led the Cayuga Kindness Challenge where students collected plastic bottles to be recycled, with the funds donated to P.S. I Love You Day. Date Added: 3/1/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=149076 Tue, 01 Mar 2022 05:00:00 GMT false149076 Sachem North Students Study Global Citizenship Through the Pulsera Project Sachem High School North recently served as a gateway to vibrant cultural art as part of the Pulsera Project, which introduces the art of Nicaraguan artisans to people around the world. Leading High School North’s effort, students from the Interact Club and Christy Zummo’s Spanish classes created a colorful display selling a vast collection of the handwoven bracelets, purses and headbands. The proceeds go directly to the Pulsera project, a nonprofit organization that connects Pulsera artists with well-paying, fair trade jobs, scholarships, health care and access to housing for them and their families. Each unique piece comes with a tag that includes the artist’s name and photo so purchasers can see who their item was made by. Through the project, students learn about fair trade and social issues in Latin America and promote global citizenship throughout their school community. Date Added: 2/24/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=148962 Thu, 24 Feb 2022 06:00:00 GMT false148962 Sagamore Gold Basketball Team Finishes Season Undefeated The Sagamore Middle School boys gold basketball team recently finished their season with an undefeated record, with 10 wins and zero losses. The hardworking team of student-athletes led by coach Stephen Bachy dedicated themselves to the sport and their fellow teammates to work together to achieve this incredible accomplishment. The team, which is a combination of seventh and eighth grade students, is the first middle school basketball team at Sagamore to finish a season undefeated since the 1999-2000 season. The players are grateful to their fans, parents and community for their support this season. Date Added: 2/24/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=148955 Thu, 24 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false148955 Sachem Souper Bowl of Caring Competition Collects Food for Those in Need The Sachem High School East Interact Volunteer Club and Sachem High School North Interact Volunteer Club recently competed in the Souper Bowl of Caring III, which is a canned soup drive competition between the two clubs that ran the entire month of January and beginning of February. Coming into this year, East and North were tied, with East winning in 2020 and North winning in 2021. This year Sachem North collected 669 cans and Sachem East collected 2,892 cans, winning back the coveted Souper Bowl of Caring Trophy. Overall, the outstanding effort by all of the students netted 3,561 cans of soup to help feed many in need. Date Added: 2/23/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=148917 Wed, 23 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false148917 Sachem North Students Showcase Proficiency in Spanish Commands Students in Christy Zummo’s Spanish 3 classes at Sachem High School North wrote and performed demonstration speeches to show their mastery of Spanish commands. As part of the lesson students chose something to teach their classmates and demonstrated “how to” completely in Spanish. The topics students presented ranged from baking, cooking, art, crafts, life skills, music, sports and cultural practices. Some students presented in class, while other created videos, enhanced with graphics, sound effects and music. Through acting out visuals and simple commands, students were able to follow along and understand the material being presented to them in an authentic context. Date Added: 2/18/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147626 Fri, 18 Feb 2022 06:00:00 GMT false147626 Tamarac Elementary Celebrates 100th Day of School In celebration of the 100th day of school, students at Tamarac Elementary School were welcomed into the school building by cheerful music and a balloon arch before they participated in activities focused on the number 100. As part of the day’s activities students and staff wore unique shirts they created featuring 100 of an item. The collective celebration served as an engaging opportunity to explore key math concepts and celebrate the completion of 100 days of school. Date Added: 2/18/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147602 Fri, 18 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147602 Waverly Students Bring Storybook Characters to Life Fictional characters fueled a recent activity at Waverly Avenue Elementary School as fifth grade students in Susan Kinsey’s art class utilized egg cartons to create three-dimensional art. For the project, students researched storybook characters on their Chromebooks and printed out images as a visual reference to help create their sculptures. The students sketched out their ideas to scale to match the same size cardboard they would be using. They then used papier-mâché to build up the snouts and glued on the egg cartons to the cardboard. As part of the project students learned to mix acrylic paint to match the colors of their characters. The challenge of the project was to take a two-dimensional image and translate it into three-dimensional sculpture. Date Added: 2/16/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147475 Wed, 16 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147475 Merrimac Elementary Students Participate in ‘Month of Code’ Merrimac Elementary School students recently celebrated their annual Hour of Code initiative, a national movement to bring computer science into schools and guarantee at least an hour a year of exposure to coding. Library media specialist Lisa Martinez and art teacher Jenna Motroni felt that one hour of computer coding for the year just wasn’t enough and decided to provide students with an expansive coding experience as part of the month’s activities. Students across grade levels were actively involved in coding activities during their art and library classes with Mrs. Motroni. Students learned how to use Ozobots, working through various challenges and creating paths for the robots to follow. During library, kindergarten and first grade students learned basic coding skills using the Smart Board to give directions to a gingerbread person on how to return safely home and also coded with directional movements such as up, down, left, right and jump. Library students in grades 2-5 learned different coding styles, including block coding, scratch and Javascript, using games through the website Code.org. During the Month of Code, students are actively engaged in coding activities that promote problem-solving skills, risk taking, critical thinking and creativity, fully immersed in a monthlong celebration of computer science education. Date Added: 2/10/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147328 Thu, 10 Feb 2022 06:00:00 GMT false147328 Waverly Avenue Students Begin Adventures in Research Fifth grade students at Waverly Avenue Elementary School recently began a research project led by library media specialist Louann Cronin in which they will learn the intricacies of research and gathering important information using the variety of tools available to them. As the beginning step to their project, students learned about outlines and began filling them out to organize the information they would need for their specific topics. Date Added: 2/10/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147303 Thu, 10 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147303 Lynwood Avenue Students Fuel a Love for Literature Through Book of the Month During January, students across grade levels at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School read their book of the month, which was “Giraffes Can’t Dance” by Giles Andreae. As part of the schoolwide initiative, students read the book and focused on vocabulary and the character traits of fairness and caring throughout the book. Date Added: 2/9/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147264 Wed, 09 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147264 Fall Athletic Honors 2021-2022 Date Added: 2/8/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147223 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 17:00:00 GMT false147223 Private and Parochial Transportation Registration IMPORTANT REMINDER: Registration is now open for Private and Parochial School transportation for the 2022-2023 school year. The deadline for registration is April 1st. Visit the link to learn more: http://www.sachem.edu/departments/transportation Date Added: 2/8/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147212 Tue, 08 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147212 Sachem Girls Varsity Bowlers Named League Co-Champions The Sachem girls varsity bowling team recently completed its regular season with a record of 11-1 and tied with Longwood for the Suffolk County League Championship. The talented girls varsity team consists of Sachem High School North students Cira Arcangel, Shannon Darby, Emily Kulkarni and Haley Schreiber and Sachem High School East student Arianna Ciregna. Following its outstanding regular season performance, the team will next compete in the Suffolk County Tournament on Feb. 12 in Sayville. Date Added: 2/4/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147153 Fri, 04 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147153 Hiawatha Elementary Fifth Graders Study Mayan Communication Fifth grade students at Hiawatha Elementary School in Mrs. James’, Mrs. Maloney’s and Mrs. Sigillio’s classes recently learned about the Mayans through a hands-on activity learning the language they used to communicate. As part of the lesson, students learned about the native glyph language the Mayans used and then duplicated the Mayan glyphs to create a codex book. Once they organized the glyphs onto the codex book, they then labeled the pages using the Mayan number system and created their own glyphs representing their name. Date Added: 2/3/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147098 Thu, 03 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147098 Sachem East DECA Club Continues to Future Competition The Sachem High School East DECA Club recently had 21 students qualify to compete at the state competition. The club, led by business teacher and adviser William Ward, had five students place in the top three in their specific category, three of which earned first-place honors. The talented students will continue to display their business savvy as they participate in the state competition, which will take place virtually from Feb. 7-14. Date Added: 2/2/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147051 Wed, 02 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147051 Board of Education Announcement 2-2 Date Added: 2/1/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=147025 Tue, 01 Feb 2022 05:00:00 GMT false147025 Sachem Students Participate in NYSSMA All-State Conference The Sachem Central School District music department would like to congratulate the following students for being selected to participate and perform in the New York State School Music Association’s All-State Conference. These talented students were chosen to represent Sachem at the statewide conference based on their hard work and excellence in musical performance. The conference took place last month from Dec. 2-5 in Rochester, New York. Sara Christie, Sachem High School East, Alternate (French Horn) Caiden Cook, Sachem High School North, Alternate (Trumpet) Skylar Hedlund, Sachem High School East, Alternate (Alto 2) Luke Landry, Sachem High School North, Alternate (Snare Drum) Colin Marcel, Sachem High School East, Alternate (Trombone) Dylan McKay, Sachem High School East, All-State Symphonic Band (Trumpet) Vincent Palermo, Sachem High School North, All-State Vocal Jazz Ensemble (Double Bass) Adam Pollizotto, Sachem High School North, Alternate (Tenor 2) Sebastian Rose, Sachem High School North, All-State Symphonic Band (Oboe) Ava Rush, Sachem High School North, Alternate (Soprano 1) Carly Salzano, Sachem High School North, All-State Symphonic Band (Trumpet) Additionally, both Vincent Palermo and Carly Salzano from Sachem High School North were chosen to participate and perform in this year’s All-National Honor Ensembles. This prestigious event is taking place from Jan. 22-24. Congratulations to Sachem’s amazing student-musicians! Date Added: 1/27/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=145951 Thu, 27 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145951 Operation Gratitude Lifts Spirits of Heroes for the Holidays Last month, students at Chippewa Elementary School have been participating in Operation Gratitude, a buidingwide effort to collect items for a platoon of soldiers serving overseas. As part of the effort, students and staff have collected a wide-variety of items to send to the approximately 350 servicemen and women and have included handmade heartfelt cards sharing kind words and thanks for their sacrifices for our country. Date Added: 1/26/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=145893 Wed, 26 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145893 Sachem Board of Education Recognizes Outstanding Community Service At the Dec. 5 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized Seneca Middle School eighth grade student Nicholas Golding for his outstanding effort during the school’s Soctober sock drive. Nicholas used the power of social media to spread awareness to his family, friends and community members to get help and was able to collect over 1,200 pairs of socks to benefit those in need. Date Added: 1/18/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=145662 Tue, 18 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145662 Sachem Student-Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent On Dec. 15, senior student-athletes from Sachem High School East and Sachem High School North signed their national letters of intent to play their respective sports at the NCAA level. This first round of signings consisted of 33 students from 10 different sports representing 26 different colleges and universities. Thank you to all of the high school coaches for their commitment to helping student-athletes excel both on and off the playing field. East Chelsey Weber Women’s Lacrosse Hofstra University Daniella Boss Women’s Lacrosse Frostburg State University Olivia Richter Women’s Lacrosse Southern Connecticut State University Mackenzie LaMonica Women’s Lacrosse Long Island University (LIU) Julia Nowak Women’s Lacrosse Notre Dame College Siobhan Meyer Women’s Volleyball Westfield State University Gillian Barresi Women’s Soccer University of Saint Joseph Michaela Barresi Women’s Soccer St. Joseph’s College Erica Urbancik Women’s Soccer St. Joseph’s College Madison Apicella Women’s Soccer Adelphi University Ariann Robinson Track and Field Northeastern University Rich Heyder Baseball New Jersey Institute of Technology Caroline Aspuru Field Hockey Hartwick College Anamaria Plaia Field Hockey Ramapo College Lauren Lucas Field Hockey Hofstra University North Brooke Bond Track and Field Lynn University Samantha Watson Women’s Swimming Salisbury University Christopher Varrichio Men’s Swimming SUNY Geneseo Maeghan Avanzato Women’s Lacrosse Thomas Jefferson University Riley Eaton Women’s Lacrosse Fairleigh Dickinson University Caelan Connors Women’s Lacrosse Southern Connecticut State University Kysta Churns Women’s Lacrosse Wingate University Grace Nolan Women’s Lacrosse Walsh University Alexa Nuzzi Women’s Lacrosse Long Island University (LIU) Nicholas Elarde Men’s Lacrosse Western Connecticut University AJ Martino Men’s Lacrosse Adelphi University Nick Naccarato Men’s Lacrosse Pace University Tyler Davide Men’s Lacrosse Long Island University (LIU) Alex Pfeiffer Men’s Lacrosse Albany University Kelly Licata Women’s Soccer SUNY New Paltz Emma Wilson Women’s Soccer Pace University Joe Cruz Football Syracuse University Date Added: 1/11/2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=145481 Tue, 11 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145481 Remote Learning Resources Click here to visit the Remote Learning Resources Page https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=145306 Thu, 06 Jan 2022 05:00:00 GMT false145306 Schoolwide Effort Brings Smiles This Holiday Season Students and staff at Cayuga Elementary School came together to support the Make-a-Wish Foundation this holiday season through a collective showcase of holiday cheer. As part of the schoolwide effort facilitated by special education teacher Tina-Marie Mikos, students across grade levels wrote wishes that they had for sick children and deposited them in a special mailbox within the school building. With each letter that is collected, Macy’s will donate a dollar to the Make-a-Wish Foundation to make the dreams of sick children come true. Throughout the holiday season, students have participated in lessons on kindness and ways they can help improve their school community and beyond. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144992 Wed, 22 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144992 Merrimac Spreads Holiday Cheer Through Social and Emotional Learning Activities Students at Merrimac Elementary School have been getting in the holiday spirit through a collection of social and emotional learning activities as part of a 10-day countdown to spread kindness throughout the school community. Mrs. Aue and Ms. Loffredo read “Be Kind” by Pat Zietlow Miller and built a fireplace bulletin board made with words of kindness. Each stocking hung on the fireplace will be filled with kind messages from their peers. Ms. Gagnon’s third grade class read “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” by Dr. Seuss and then held a class discussion about kindness and the true meaning of the holidays. Students wrote words of advice to the Grinch, such as how he can become a happier and kinder person, appreciate family and friends and make the most of the holiday season. Students then made ornaments to decorate the tree. Mrs. Peters’ class read “Snowflake Bentley” by Jacqueline Briggs Martin, which emphasized that every snowflake is one of a kind. The class discussed personal strengths and what makes each individual special before students crafted snowflakes representing each student’s uniqueness. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144843 Fri, 17 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144843 Sachem High School North Interact Club Joins in International Cleanup This year, the Sachem High School North Interact Club participated in the International Coastal Clean with Keep Islip Clean. Students cleaned up and documented all trash collected in an effort to compile data for researchers to better understand what is polluting the earth's waterways. This is the 10th year the Interact Club has participated in this international clean up. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144857 Fri, 17 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144857 Seneca Student’s Kindness Shines Through Sock Drive Effort During October, Seneca Middle School students participated in an event called Socktober. Every day, students brought in socks to donate to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. One student in particular took this challenge and exceeded the original goal of obtaining at least 200 pairs of socks. Seneca eighth grade student Nicholas Golding has a passion for helping those who are less fortunate and in need. Nicholas used the power of social media and spread awareness to his family, friends and community members to get help and was able to collect over 1,200 pairs of socks. To date Seneca has collected over 1,500 pairs of socks for people of all ages, thanks to Nicholas and Seneca students and their families. All donations, including fundraising efforts from the Baking for Change Club, will be donated to Long Island Coalition for the Homeless. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144790 Thu, 16 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT false144790 Waverly Students Plant Flowers to Promote Peace Students across grade levels at Waverly Elementary School recently participated in a special school tradition that promotes peace throughout their school community and beyond. As part of the yearly tradition, students wrote pledges on how they can make Waverly Elementary a better place. They then walked outside the school to plant daisy bulbs that will bloom into beautiful flowers in the spring, reminding each student of their promises to promote peace. Additionally, students participated in a weeklong series of activities focused on peace and ways to spread kindness in their everyday lives. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144759 Thu, 16 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144759 Sachem Students Learn Machine Operator Skills Sachem High School East students recently experienced the intricacies of heavy machine operation during a visit from The Learn Center in Ronkonkoma. The visit facilitated by business teacher William Ward also introduced students to various careers available in the world of heavy machinery. As part of the visit, professionals from The Learn Center taught students about safety, unloading and transport of heavy machinery and also allowed students to operate a mini excavator. Later this year, The Learn Center will visit Sachem High School North to share the same information with students there. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144735 Wed, 15 Dec 2021 07:00:00 GMT false144735 Merrimac Elementary School Honors Veterans With Hall of Honor Following Veterans Day, Merrimac Elementary School held a parade throughout the school building that honored veterans from the community. The veterans in attendance followed the route throughout the school building to cheers from students and staff honoring their sacrifices for our country. As part of the celebration of veterans, Merrimac created a hall of honor where students and staff could submit photos to be added to the wall of veterans who are important to them. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144734 Wed, 15 Dec 2021 06:00:00 GMT false144734 Wenonah Students Ask Insightful Questions Through Literary Learning Students at Wenonah Elementary School in Mrs. Kay’s fifth grade class have been learning to identify the different questions to ask when reading a story to gather essential information. As part of the English activity students practiced asking thick or thin questions. Thick questions are those that require more thought and thin questions are those for which not much additional effort is required. During the lesson students applied their knowledge of thick and thin questions to their independent reading to help better understand what they are reading. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144525 Wed, 08 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144525 Sachem East Sends Sweets to Local Heroes The Sachem High School East Volunteer Club recently ran Operation Gratitude to collect leftover Halloween candy for deployed troops, local military units, veterans and first responders. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144484 Tue, 07 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144484 Sachem Physical Education Teacher Receives Amazing Person Awards Cayuga Elementary School physical educator Amanda Stallone recently received the 2021 Amazing Person Award for the Technology Section of New York at the 83rd Annual New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Conference. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144366 Thu, 02 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144366 Sachem High School East Shares Thanks With Veterans Sachem High School East recently hosted its first Grati-Tuesday when students participated in a letter writing campaign to show their appreciation to veterans as part of their building wide Project Happiness initiative. Students wrote cards during their lunch periods and created 150 cards in just five lunch periods. Additionally, students watched videos during lunch explaining the science of gratitude, the power of gratitude, humor around gratitude and demonstrating how gratitude can change the brain through practice. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144318 Wed, 01 Dec 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144318 Wenonah Students Study Decision-Making Skills Fifth grade students at Wenonah Elementary School have recently been participating in the Too Good for Drugs program as part of a 10-week, one day a week program to learn about the danger of drugs and how to make safe and healthy decisions. As part of the program students practice sound decision-making techniques and learn to identify a good and bad friendship. Additionally, students learn strategies to identify and remove themselves from peer pressure situations and ways to contact an adult if they need help. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144166 Wed, 24 Nov 2021 21:00:00 GMT false144166 Lynwood Wall of Honor The Lynwood Community decorated ribbons to honor family members and friends who have been affected by cancer. The ribbons are displayed in Lynwood’s front lobby on their “Honor Wall.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144164 Wed, 24 Nov 2021 17:00:00 GMT false144164 Chippewa Elementary School Holds Thanksgiving Parade Today, Chippewa Elementary School hosted a Thanksgiving parade where students and staff showcased a collection of creative costumes and posters. Before and audience of family and friends, the parade procession was greeted by cheers as it followed a short loop outside of the school building. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144150 Tue, 23 Nov 2021 07:00:00 GMT false144150 Samoset Middle School Hosts Sixth Grade Fall Festival Last month, Samoset Middle School hosted a sixth grade fall festival for students to meet new friends and enjoy a collection of games and activities outside. As part of the activity students enjoyed music played by a DJ, a photobooth and refreshments while enjoying time with their classmates. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144155 Tue, 23 Nov 2021 06:00:00 GMT false144155 Lynwood Avenue Elementary School Hosts Thanksgiving Parade Today, Lynwood Avenue Elementary School fifth grade students hosted a joyous Thanksgiving parade complete with creative costumes, colorful posters and musical performances. As part of the parade, fifth grade students followed a parade route which took them through the school building where students in the other grade levels gathered outside of their classrooms to cheer them on. Incorporated within the parade were performances from the fifth grade band and chorus who played and sang songs as they passed by students and staff who were excited to see the parade pass by. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144147 Tue, 23 Nov 2021 06:00:00 GMT false144147 Sachem East Students Showcase Creativity in Studio and Art Sachem High School East students in Ms. DelVallez’s Studio and Art class completed a nature-themed illustration utilizing colors and patterns to bring their vivid creations to life as part of a recent class activity. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144084 Mon, 22 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144084 Chippewa Students Celebrate Fall Festivities At the conclusion of last month, kindergarten students at Chippewa Elementary School read “The Creepy Carrot” before selecting a pumpkin to bring home and continue in the fall spirit. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=144002 Thu, 18 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false144002 Sachem East Student Creates Website to Assist Teens in Managing Stress Sachem High School East senior Sara Ann Mauro recently completed a community service project for her Girl Scout Gold Award by creating a website to assist teens in mitigating stress. As part of the comprehensive project Sara Ann created a website, stressinteens.com, with a seven-part video series where she shares helpful information on how to deal with stress. The website includes topics such as what stress is, time management, exercise and sleep. Inspired by the increase in stress brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, she put together this resource to assist other teens in dealing with the stress she felt during this time. Sara Ann plans to study biomedical engineering on a pre-med track when she attends college in the fall. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143953 Wed, 17 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143953 Waverly Avenue Students Study Native American Symbols and Storytelling Fourth grade students at Waverly Avenue Elementary School recently participated in a lesson in which they learned interesting information about Native Americans and the means they used to communicate. As part of the activity students learned how stories were shared through the use of symbols and drawings to either document an important event or leave information for someone else to find. Additionally, students examined symbols and identified the correlation they have to the way we still use symbols today. During the activity students viewed a Native American story and tried to decipher the message before attempting to accurately document a story they heard using symbols. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143903 Tue, 16 Nov 2021 06:00:00 GMT false143903 Sachem Central School District Board of Education Recognizes Outstanding Student Achievements During the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education the Board recognized a collection of outstanding students for their academic accomplishments and volunteer efforts outside of the classroom. As part of the recognition the Board honored Sachem High School East junior Adriana Ancilleri, who recently completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project: adding the “Healthy Hearts for Happy Kids” trail to the Town of Brookhaven’s Holtsville Wildlife and Ecology Center fitness track. Additionally, the Board recognized Michaela Barresi, Anastasia Glenis, Alexis Ly, Andrea Reina and Adam Todd from Sachem High School East and Dilip Reddy Kusuma, Joseph Schiano and Taryn Wilcken from Sachem High School North, who have been named commended students in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. At the end of September, about 34,000 of the approximately 50,000 highest scorers were chosen for this honor based on their PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test results. All eight students boast impressive academic résumés, including enrollment in numerous Advanced Placement courses, integral involvement in clubs and memberships in a plethora of honor societies. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143902 Tue, 16 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143902 Grundy Avenue Hosts Annual Parade Honoring Local Veterans In honor of Veterans Day, students across grade levels at Grundy Avenue Elementary School held a parade recognizing veterans from each branch of the United States military. Students gathered in front of the school building to cheer for the veterans as they walked the short parade route. As part of the day’s activities, fifth-grade students had the opportunity to ask the veterans questions about their experiences in the military, such as the places they traveled and the uniforms they wore. The veterans spoke to the students about the importance of teamwork, communication and creating connections with people who are different from themselves. Throughout the Sachem Central School District, schools have recently participated in various activities honoring the bravery and commitment of military members across the country. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143690 Wed, 10 Nov 2021 06:00:00 GMT false143690 Sustainable Reinvestment Plan Revitalizes Districtwide Infrastructure Over the past several years the Sachem Central School District has made exponential strides to improve the infrastructure across the district’s school buildings, athletic fields and surrounding property through a sustainable reinvestment strategy. Through the implementation of this progressive plan, the district is able to complete necessary health and safety projects without having to pierce the tax levy cap. Such projects have included roof replacements and renewal of the aging bus fleet as priority items. With this model of budgeting for capital projects, the district has seen great success and completed self-funded capital projects through budget appropriations and reserves totaling $35,166,722 with no borrowing or interest costs. Projects completed as part of this included the purchase of 30 large buses, the replacement of turf athletic fields at High School East and North, the running tracks at Sagamore Middle School and High School East, new lockers at High School North and Sagamore and Seneca Middle Schools, and a wide-variety of projects throughout the district to ensure our facilities adhere to Americans with Disabilities Act, Office of Civil Rights and EPA compliance. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143680 Wed, 10 Nov 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143680 Local Fire Departments Share Lifesaving Lessons (Video) https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143479 Thu, 04 Nov 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143479 Tamarac Students Showcase Halloween Spirit During Annual Parade In the spirit of Halloween, students across grade levels at Tamarac Elementary School hosted a Halloween parade where they showcased their creative costumes to family and friends in attendance. Throughout the district, elementary schools held similar parades showcasing the student’s costumes leading up to Halloween weekend. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143266 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 05:00:00 GMT false143266 Sachem North Science Students Lend Their Skills to Environmental Research The Sachem High School North Science National Honor Society recently went on a field trip to Sunken Meadow State Park to participate in “A Day in the Life of the Nissequogue River” as part of the “Day in the Life” program sponsored by Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Long Island Pine Barrens Commission and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The collaborative effort partners school groups with environmental science professionals to collect data at multiple locations throughout an aquatic ecosystem to get an overview of the health of that watershed. As part of the trip, students from 10 different schools sampled various locations along the Nissequogue River. They collected water chemistry data, seined for fish, conducted a terrestrial wildlife survey, took soil samples and analyzed surrounding land use. In the coming weeks, students will collaborate with these other groups and agency professionals to upload, share and analyze data for the entire Nissequogue River system. The specific site the students visited, Sunken Meadow Creek, a tributary of the Nissequogue, is the product of a long-term estuary restoration project. In the past, Sachem North students have aided in the restoration project by helping plant salt marsh plants and participating in long-term habitat monitoring and data collection with environmental science nonprofit and government professionals to document positive changes there for over 10 years. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143246 Fri, 29 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143246 Esports Team Shares Successes at Board of Education Meeting At the Oct. 20 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Sachem Esports team led by advisers Carrie Dansky and Chris Schimpf shared important information about the club, such as its history in the district, the success they have had in competition and their rapid growth. During the presentation, members of the esports team answered questions from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri and Board members and shared the importance of this growing club in the Sachem community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143140 Wed, 27 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143140 Sachem Board of Education Recognized During Board Appreciation Week During the Oct. 20 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the nine esteemed members of the Board were recognized for their tireless efforts representing the students, staff and members of the Sachem community. Numerous organizations, including the Sachem Administrators Association, Sachem Classroom Teachers Association, Sachem Clerical Association, Sachem Nurses Association, Sachem Supervisors Association, Special Education Parent Teachers Association, and the Sachem custodial, maintenance, facilities and security unions, all presented the Board with tokens of appreciation or made donations in their name for their continuous, outstanding contributions to the Sachem Central School District and community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=143105 Tue, 26 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false143105 Sachem Students Build a Foundation for Carpentry Careers Sachem High School East students in James Byrne’s Career Training Program Carpentry class have been hard at work learning the intricacies of carpentry. As part of their hands-on carpentry experience, students have been assembling floor joists, subfloors and framing out walls. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=140527 Fri, 22 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false140527 Sachem East Student Leads Project for Healthy Hearts Sachem High School East junior Adriana Ancilleri recently completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project, which added the “Healthy Hearts for Happy Kids” trail to the Town of Brookhaven’s Holtsville Wildlife and Ecology Center fitness track. Following over a year of planning, the trail was completed and adds a collection of eight healthy activities for children to participate in along the walking trail to promote fitness and social and emotional health. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=140453 Thu, 21 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false140453 Sachem Welcomes Two Elementary School Counselors This year, the Sachem Central School District welcomed two new school counselors to serve the elementary buildings in the district. Katie Healy and Justin Morales have joined the Sachem Central School District to assist students in working well together, adjusting to a new school or grade level, setting goals, and building study, leadership and decision-making skills. Additionally, the new counselors will be able to assist parents with understanding the developmental changes of childhood, improving parent-child communication and providing additional learning support. These professionally trained counselors will serve as essential liaisons that identify student needs and ensure academic, personal, social and emotional success. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=140476 Thu, 21 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false140476 Big Air BMX Maneuvers Reinforce Antibullying Importance Students across Hiawatha Elementary School recently attended an antibullying assembly program hosted by Dialed Action Sports which combined exciting BMX tricks with essential information on bullying and ways to alleviate its effects to form a peaceful school community. As part of the captivating assembly, the team from Dialed Action Sports demonstrated BMX tricks for the students while sharing their empowering antibullying message. They asked students to remember the 3 Rs: recognize what bullying is, refuse to be a bully and participate in those harmful actions, and react by reaching out for help from the appropriate people to assist them in the situation. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=140390 Tue, 19 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false140390 Waverly Avenue Students Showcase Artistic Expression During Dot Day Students at Waverly Elementary School in Susan Kinsey’s art class celebrated International Dot Day with bright and beautiful paintings inspired by “The Dot,” by Peter H. Reynolds. Social and emotional learning chairperson Lauren Gonzalez visited the class to interview students about how the book made them feel, and students responded that they felt excited and that they could make better art. The worldwide celebration of art is renowned for the positive message it shares about the teacher-student connection and how creativity and confidence in a student’s life are key. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=140276 Thu, 14 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false140276 Merrimac Students Celebrate Dot Day Merrimac Elementary School’s student-artists were busy at work creating art inspired by the book, “The Dot.” As part of the Dot Day celebration, students across grade levels worked collaboratively to create a large mural made of colorful dots. Their final work of art will be displayed for all to see and to spread enjoyment through their collective creativity. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=140236 Wed, 13 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false140236 Merrimac Students Manifest Mindfulness With Introduction to Yoga Students at Merrimac Elementary School in Danielle Gagnon’s third grade class have recently participated in yoga activities to practice essential mindfulness techniques. As part of the activities, students progress through various yoga poses which focus on flexibility and concentration and also increase self-esteem and self-awareness. “Through 20-plus years of teaching and practicing experience, I have the learned that the mat is a mirror and the mat becomes magical,” Gagnon said. “Once the students become comfortable on the mat, try new poses, breathe and learn to self-regulate, that all transfers into the outside world, the classroom.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=140058 Mon, 04 Oct 2021 04:00:00 GMT false140058 Sachem Welcomes Service Dogs to High School Buildings At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board was introduced to two new, furry friends, Oakley and Bailey that will soon be joining the Sachem school community as service dogs in both High School East and North. The dogs will be available in the future through the guidance office to help students with stress management and anxiety and to boost morale in the school buildings. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=139955 Thu, 30 Sep 2021 05:00:00 GMT false139955 Sachem High School North Holds Court Dedication Ceremony On Tuesday, Sept. 21, Sachem High School North held a heartwarming ceremony where the gymnasium court was dedicated to past Sachem teacher Matthew “Dezy” DiStefano who tragically passed away from cancer in January 2020. The emotional ceremony celebrated the incredible life of Dezy and the everlasting mark he left on the Sachem community through his time as an athlete, teacher, coach and overall inspiration, sharing his message of positivity and hope through his mantra, “We Get To.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=139947 Thu, 30 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false139947 Testing Purposes - Disregard Test https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=139742 Wed, 22 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false139742 Sachem High School North Holds Pep Rally Sachem High School North held their pep rally today prior to their homecoming game tomorrow against Walt Whitman High School. As part of tomorrow’s events, a homecoming carnival will begin at 11 a.m. and will feature carnival games, music, food trucks and a circus before kickoff at 2 p.m. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=138156 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 05:00:00 GMT false138156 Dezy Court Dedication - Tuesday, September 21 at 5:30 P.M. Dezy Court Dedication Tuesday, September 21 at 5:30 P.M. Join Us as We Honor Matt "Dezy" Distefano *Note: All Attendees Must Wear Masks https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=138155 Fri, 17 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false138155 Sachem Student-Athlete Named to Newsday’s Top 25 Gymnasts List for Fall Season Sachem High School East sophomore Riley McPartland has been named to Newsday’s Top 25 Gymnasts for the fall 2021 season. https://www.newsday.com/sports/high-school/gymnastics/top-25-gymnasts-for-fall-2021-season-1.50360413 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=138102 Wed, 15 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false138102 Sachem High School North Holds 9/11 Memorial Rededication Ceremony On Friday, Sept. 10, Sachem High School North hosted a 20th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Rededication Ceremony to unveil the newly refurbished memorial which honors the lives lost during that tragic day in history and the sacrifices made by first responders. The touching ceremony began with an opening address from building principal Andrew Larson, followed by heartfelt words from local elected officials Sen. Phil Boyle, Legislator Nick Caracappa, Legislator Anthony Piccirillo and Assemblyman Doug Smith that echoed the importance of remembering the day and fostering a stronger sense of togetherness. Additionally, the ceremony was attended by members of the Ronkonkoma Volunteer Fire Department. Beginning a new tradition at Sachem High School North, the names of 24 Sachem community members who lost their lives that day were read and 24 flags were flown in front of the school building in remembrance of those individuals. Concluding the ceremony, members of the Sachem High School North Orchestra played as those in attendance laid roses at the base of the new granite towers that stand at the memorial as a reminder to future generations of students and staff to never forget. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=137992 Fri, 10 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false137992 BOE Regular Meeting - September 10, 2021 7:00 PM via Zoom https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=137964 Fri, 10 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false137964 Sachem Welcomes Students for First Day of School https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=137955 Thu, 09 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false137955 Sachem Student-Author Recognized by the NYSSBA At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, Aviah Singh was recognized by a representative from the New York State School Boards Association who presented the district with the Champions of Change Award. The district received the award for Aviah’s authorship of her antibullying book, “Be You. Be Cool. Be Kind.” The Champions for Change Award is presented to districts whose students or a particular student take action to create positive change in the world. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=137932 Wed, 08 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false137932 Sachem Welcomes Three New Elementary Principals This summer, the Sachem Central School District Board of Education was proud to appoint three new principals at Chippewa, Lynwood and Merrimac elementary schools. Catherine Dulovic joins Lynwood Elementary School as the new principal after most recently serving as a third grade teacher at Lynwood. A veteran educator who has taught in the Sachem Central School District since 2004, Mrs. Dulovic has been an integral part of the Sachem school community serving on curriculum writing teams across subject areas, fostering the development of digital citizenship through responsible technology use in the classroom and designing meaningful lessons utilizing reading, writing and math workshop methods. Elizabeth Tucci joins Merrimac Elementary School as principal after most recently serving as the assistant director for special education in the Sachem Central School District for five years. During her time in her previous position, Mrs. Tucci had direct oversight of the speech, hearing and vision departments, chaired the committee on preschool special education and the committee on special education and participated in professional discussions related to curriculum enhancement, effective teacher evaluation and technology for staff and students. Michael Saidens Joins Chippewa Elementary School as the new principal of Chippewa Elementary School after most recently serving as the executive director for pupil and personnel services in the Locust Valley School District. Prior to his time in the Locust Valley School District, Mr. Saidens served as the executive director of student services in the Sachem Central School District and was principal of Tamarac Elementary School for nine years. We welcome these three new principals to the Sachem school community and wish them well as they begin the new school year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=137824 Wed, 01 Sep 2021 04:00:00 GMT false137824 Back To School Planning 2021-2022 School Year Following our Board of Education meeting this past week, we will be offering an opportunity to gather feedback for our Back to School Plan as it stands currently, from the community. Please join us on Wednesday, August 25th, at 5:00 pm-6:30 pm via Zoom: Click Here During our forum, we will review all current information and allow for a Q&A via chat at the conclusion. This forum will be recorded and posted for those that may not be able to attend. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=137664 Mon, 23 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false137664 Bill Batewell Alumni Field Dedication Please join us on Saturday August 7th at 10 a.m. as we remember longtime Sachem coach and teacher Bill Batewell by dedicating the baseball field at Sachem High School North in his honor. This event will take place at the baseball field located behind Samoset Middle School. Rain date August 10 at 5 p.m. if needed. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131989 Thu, 05 Aug 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131989 CANCELLED: BOE Regular Meeting - August 4, 2021 7:00 PM https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131893 Thu, 29 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131893 2021-22 District-Wide Safety Plan Now Available for Comment The 30-Day Public-Comment Period for Sachem's District-Wide School-Safety Plan is Now Open As per NYS, Sachem's District-Wide School-Safety Plan is open for public comment for a period of 30 days. This 30-day period will conclude on August 23rd and the Board of Education will adopt the plan at the September 1st meeting. Any person(s) wishing to comment on the District-Wide Safety Plan should contact Mr. John O'Keefe, Deputy Superintendent, at jokeefe@sachem.edu. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131827 Thu, 22 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131827 Letter to Government Officials for 2021-2022 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131771 Thu, 15 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131771 Sachem Central School District Board of Education Holds Annual Reorganization Meeting On July 7, the Sachem Central School District Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting where newly elected trustees Michael J. Isernia Esq., Sabrina Pitkewicz and Vincent Reynolds were sworn in to serve their three-year terms. Alex Piccirillo was sworn in as Board of Education president and Robert Scavo was sworn in as Board vice president for the 2021-2022 school year. Additionally, Dr. Christopher Pellettieri was sworn in to serve as the district’s superintendent for the 2021-2022 school year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131777 Thu, 15 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131777 High School North 9/11 Memorial Refurbishment Project In preparation for the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, Sachem High School North has recently begun a project to refurbish the existing memorial at the school building. The refurbishing project, which will take place during the summer months, will include the replacement of the current towers with new ones and the addition of a new patio area, lighting upgrades and plantings. The new towers which will be added to the memorial were a donation from Continental Marble and Tile of Ronkonkoma. We are extremely excited about the improvements being made and look forward to a rededication ceremony that will be held at the end of the summer. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131738 Wed, 14 Jul 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131738 Annual Commencement Celebrates High School North Class of 2021 Smiles and cheers from family and friends welcomed a distinguished group of graduating seniors on June 25 to a sun-covered field for the Sachem High School North commencement ceremony honoring the Class of 2021 and celebrating their collective accomplishments. As “Pomp and Circumstance” carried through the air, the excited graduates took the field at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium for the last time as students of the Sachem Central School District. The commencement exercises then began with the national anthem performed by the Sachem North Symphonic and Treble Choir Seniors, conducted by Cara Caliendo. Principal Andrew Larson began his address by recognizing several students who would be entering the armed services following graduation. As he continued, he spoke to the great hopes he has for this outstanding class and their future. “When I look at you, I am in awe of the immeasurable potential and talent you possess,” he said. “You have proven yourselves on the field, on stage and in the classroom and are now ready to go out into the world and show everyone what a Sachem graduate can do.” Valedictorian Erika Sneider then took the stage and reflected on what her fellow classmates have overcome and the great things they will achieve next in life. “I am so grateful to have grown up with all of you,” she said. “I know we are going to change the world in ways both big and small, and I couldn’t be prouder to graduate with all of you today. So, as we leave Sachem North and move on to what comes next and pursue our dreams, make sure you look around and soak it all in because we have a bright future ahead.” Continuing the ceremony, class president Nicholas Maloney delivered an insightful speech, sharing a history of the Sachem Central School District and how the visions of great success held by the founders of the district have been met by graduating classes such as theirs. Board of Education President Alex Piccirillo then began the presentation of diplomas. After the final diplomas were presented, cheers and applause echoed across the field as students emphatically threw their caps to the sky, exiting the field as alumni of the Sachem Central School District. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131504 Mon, 28 Jun 2021 05:00:00 GMT false131504 Sachem East Celebrates Class of 2021 Graduates A sun-filled sky greeted an enthusiastic crowd of family, friends and distinguished guests at the Sachem High School East commencement ceremony on June 24, honoring the tremendous achievements of the Class of 2021. Those assembled wished them well as they began the next chapter of their lives. As a sea of smiling seniors took to the field adorned in red caps and gowns, the commencement ceremony at Sachem East began with the recognition of the graduates who would be entering a branch of the armed services. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and “The Star-Spangled Banner” was then performed by the Sachem High School East Symphonic Choir. High School East Principal Louis Antonetti offered the seniors heartfelt advice to carry into all areas of their lives. “Our time on this planet is limited, but our time here always reveals the truth about ourselves and others,” he said. “We get one life, we get one body to keep healthy, one mind to keep at peace. They say all you need to achieve happiness is a fit body, a sound mind and a house full of love, and all three things take work to achieve.” During a lighthearted address that followed, valedictorian Mackenzie Szlosek reflected on an inspirational poster in her father’s office on which a river navigated a rock that blocked its path. She shared words of encouragement based on this image with her fellow graduates. “I can promise you that not much in life will present a greater challenge than a global pandemic did,” she said. “We will succeed and achieve as a result of our built-up persistence and tenacity, stay with the current and carry on no matter how large or jagged the rocks may seem, because in the end, it is the river that emerges victorious.” Class president and salutatorian Jayden Reilly then delivered a speech that highlighted the importance of time and how imperative it is to make the most out of each moment. “I believe we have been given a new perspective on how we should use, value and cherish our time,” he said. “Time is the one resource that money can’t buy. It is the one resource that you are currently wealthier than Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates in, and regretfully, it is the one resource we always take for granted.” As the congratulatory remarks concluded and the diplomas were presented, family and friends cheered emphatically as the new graduates threw their caps to the sky, exiting the field as alumni of Sachem High School East. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131497 Mon, 28 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131497 Click Here to Watch the Graduation Livestream Sachem High School East- Thursday, June 24, 2021 at 4:00pm Sachem High School North- Friday, June 25, 2021 at 4:00pm Click Here To Watch The Livestream https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131371 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 16:00:00 GMT false131371 Sachem East Students Showcase Business Expertise This year, the Sachem High School East DECA Club, led by business teacher William Ward, won numerous awards in the annual DECA Competition. In addition, the club participated in several engaging community activities, including volunteering to work with the Farmingville Chamber of Commerce for the holidays. They also received a community service commendation from the District for their assistance in creating this year’s Virtual Career Event. Congratulations to these incredible students on all of their efforts and accomplishments this school year! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131360 Thu, 24 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131360 Sachem Board of Education Celebrates Outstanding Staff Achievements At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized outstanding staff members for their honorable service to the district. As part of the meeting, the Board recognized those retiring this year as well as those who received SCOPE Awards. Bevin Llanes was awarded for Community Service, Mary Pepe for Teacher Service, Kathleen McCabe for Support Staff Service and Jose Cruz and Stacie Spatafora-DiCio for Administrator Service. The honorees received a personalized plaque in recognition of their outstanding achievements. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131346 Wed, 23 Jun 2021 05:00:00 GMT false131346 Sachem East Hosts Interactive Virtual Art Exhibition Sachem High School East students in Katrina Wrigley’s Studio Art, Drawing and Painting II and Advanced Placement Art and Design courses recently created interactive art exhibitions showcasing their work. Please view the outstanding student creations at the link below. Click Here To View https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131332 Wed, 23 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131332 Tamarac Looks Back in Time With Civil War Wax Museum Fifth grade students from Tamarac Elementary School recently created a Civil War wax museum displaying several prominent figures from this important period in American history. During the monthlong project, students chose and researched an important person from the Civil War era and created posters and reports explaining key details about their selected historical figure. Among the people researched were Clara Barton, Mathew Brady, Stonewall Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, Harriet Beecher Stowe and Harriet Tubman. Concluding their project, students dressed as their selected historical figure and stood frozen in the hallway as a visual representation of this time period. Students and staff from throughout the building viewed the students’ incredible work as they walked throughout the wax museum. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131276 Tue, 22 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131276 Hiawatha Hosts Virtual Career Day Hiawatha Elementary School students in Lori Onesto’s first grade class recently hosted a virtual career day showcasing careers available to students through several presentations from professionals in the field. As part of the virtual career day presentations, students learned about different careers from a police officer, an electrician, an occupational therapist, a hospital transporter and educators in different subject areas. Students could ask the professionals about their occupations to learn more about each specific career. As part of the comprehensive career day event, students participated in activities to further explore their skills and interests. Later in the month, students dressed up as a professional in a career they may want to pursue and shared facts about that occupation. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=131109 Thu, 17 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false131109 Merrimac Elementary Curates Collection of Creations for Future Students Students and staff at Merrimac Elementary School viewed a showcase filled with items from the school’s history from a time capsule left by Merrimac students in 1989. They then closed the time capsule with new items from current Merrimac students. As part of the display, students were able to view the past items as well as the work of their peers that is going to be placed in the time capsule. It will be sealed and returned to its place for future Merrimac students to open. Among the work included from current students are projects from each grade level, such as detailed reports sharing important events which happened in recent time, current trends, things students of today like to do, how this year was different due to the challenges presented during the COVID-19 pandemic, favorite memories of Merrimac students and “We Get To” activities in honor of Matthew “Dezy” DiStefano who tragically lost his battle with cancer in January of 2020. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129941 Wed, 16 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129941 Sachem Hosts Inaugural Dezy Strong Cross-Country Run Last month, the Sagamore Red Hawks, the Samoset Eagles and the Seneca Yellow Jackets participated in the inaugural Dezy Strong Cross-Country Run at Sachem High School North. The event honored the late Matt “Dezy” DiStefano, his family and the Dezy Strong Foundation. Matt was a proud teacher and coach in the Sachem Central School District who battled every day until the very end. His motto, “We Get To,” has inspired the entire Sachem community as well as other districts throughout Long Island. “Having Matt’s family in attendance and honoring them was very special,” race coordinator and Samoset teacher and coach Jimmy Byrne said. “Matt was pumped when I told him my idea a few weeks before he passed.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129877 Tue, 15 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129877 Sachem Schools Come Together to Spread ALS Awareness School communities came together to support an important cause, as students from Sachem High School East, Sachem High School North and Sagamore Middle School walked to raise awareness for ALS and money for the ALS Ride for Life. It was the first in-person walk that the ALS Ride for Life foundation has held since before the pandemic. Much of the multi-building effort was orchestrated by Sachem High School East’s Student Government officers, including East valedictorian Mackenzie Szlosek, who is responsible for bringing the “ride” to East in her freshman year and has worked diligently to make it a tradition at her school. Additionally, Amanda Campbell secured a police escort for the event, which greatly increased the safety of the participants. She drew a poster for Mrs. Pendergast of her late husband and founder of the ALS Ride for Life foundation, Dr. Christopher Pendergast. Mrs. Pendergast greeted the East students at the start of the walk. The other officers, Anthony Amesti, Meghan Dittmar and Sydney Niemann, helped plan and promote the event as well as personally raised money that helped Mr. Gallo and Mr. Jannace to far exceed the expectations of an event that was limited in scope due to COVID-19 restrictions. At the walk, ALS patient and survivor Paul Weisman took over in Chris Pendergast’s place as the “leader of the pack.” Mr. Gallo and Mr. Jannace took turns pushing his wheelchair from East to Sagamore to Chippewa, where those participating in the walk were greeted by cheers first from students at Sagamore and then from fifth grade students at Chippewa Elementary School. The Sagamore eighth graders involved in the walk, along with Mr. Parkinson, raised almost $600, which contributed to our overall donation of $1,600 in memory of Mr. Pendergast’s life. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129791 Fri, 11 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129791 Technology Lends Hand in Volume Calculation Lesson Volume and technology created a perfect pair during a recent activity at Waverly Avenue Elementary School, as fifth grade students in Emily Cole’s class utilized the Tinkercad design program to create structures of a certain volume. With assistance from technology integration specialist Keri Haas, students used Chromebooks and Tinkercad to design an object that added to a specific volume. Using different size cubes, students made changes and adjustments until their designs were perfect. Concluding the monthlong project, students used a 3D printer to turn their digital designs into physical creations, showcasing their precise volume calculations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129698 Thu, 10 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129698 Chippewa Students Inspired to Learn Through Literature In honor of Autism Awareness Month, students in Tara Scully’s third grade class at Chippewa Elementary School participated in a comprehensive activity exploring disabilities and conditions. As part of the lesson, the class read the picture book “We Are All Wonders” by R.J. Palacio, which inspired the students to learn more about the different types of people there are in the world. Each student chose to research a disability or condition that someone may have and utilized the computer program PebbleGo to gather research for their project. Concluding the activity, students shared what they learned with their classmates during enlightening individual presentations which discussed a wide variety of conditions and disabilities. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129599 Tue, 08 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129599 Updated Mask Guidance - June 7 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129573 Mon, 07 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129573 ENL Students Showcase Magnificent Metalwork Through Welding Project A recent project at Sachem High School East in Keith Connelly’s English as a new language technology class taught students about welding and offered a chance to hone their skills. As part of the project, students utilized MIG welders to create metal artwork showcasing their name or initials. The students worked to heat and bend the metal into their desired letter shapes and then join them through the welding process. Additionally, students cleaned up their welds using grinders to achieve the perfect finish. For the final step in their project, students painted their creations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129493 Fri, 04 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129493 Universal Pre-K Program 2021 At Sachem Central School District https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129414 Thu, 03 Jun 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129414 Sachem East Senior Named Top Finisher in International Writing Contest Sachem High School East senior Aman Rahman was recently awarded second place in the sixth annual Narrative magazine Tell Me a Story High School Contest for his original poem, “Ivy.” As part of the international contest including work from students ages 15-18 that was subject to an extensive judging process, Aman’s poem will be published in Narrative magazine alongside many of today’s best writers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129244 Thu, 27 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129244 Elaborate Chalk Art Spreads Inspiration and Motivation to School Community Last month, art students across Sachem High School North shared inspiring messages with students and staff as part of a comprehensive project that colorfully covered the sidewalks in front of the school building. As part of the schoolwide initiative which was facilitated by the art department, the students’ creative chalk drawings shared inspiring quotes, images and affirmations, inspired by growth mindset, to motivate the school community. Students studied chalk artists whose styles span from Japanese anime to botanical drawings inspired by South America, planned their designs and then brought their unique artwork to life right outside of the Main Entrance. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129190 Wed, 26 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129190 Board of Education Dedicates Board Room to Salvatore Nicosia At the May 5 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized four outstanding students who were named valedictorian and salutatorian at High School East and High School North. The meeting began by recognizing High School East valedictorian Mackenzie Szlosek and salutatorian Jayden Reilly and High School North valedictorian Erika Sneider and salutatorian Hannah Saglimbeni for their incredible dedication to academics. In addition, high school music students earning honors from the New York State School Music Association and the National Association for Music Education for displaying incredible proficiency vocally or playing their respective instrument were recognized. Concluding the recognition portion of the meeting, the Board of Education dedicated the Board room to Salvatore Nicosia, a dedicated community member, author, educator and social worker who was a longtime advocate for education and frequent attendee of the Board of Education meetings. Mr. Nicosia passed away in September at the age of 92. He dedicated his life to promoting quality education and worked tirelessly to spread its importance wherever he went. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129141 Tue, 25 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129141 Social-Emotional Learning Art Activity Helps Students Identify Feelings Social and emotional learning led the way during an art activity at Tamarac Elementary School, as fifth grade students participated in a lesson facilitated by art teacher Alexis Curcio and Social and Emotional Learning Chairperson Lauren Gonzalez. As part of the comprehensive lesson, students learned about the African American artist Aaron Douglas and the art he released during the Harlem Renaissance. Through studying his art, students identified how the people depicted in his art may have been feeling by identifying how different facial expressions show emotion. Before they began the activity, each class participated in a meditation and shared how they felt after engaging in the meditation. Students then utilized mirrors and Sharpie markers to draw photobooth-style self-awareness portraits of themselves displaying their emotions. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=129071 Fri, 21 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false129071 Sachem 2021-2022 Budget Results and Trustee Elections Results Budget: Yes Trustees: Michael J. Isernia Sabrina Pitkewicz Vincent Reynolds https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128929 Tue, 18 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128929 Sachem East Science Research Student Earns Special Award Sachem High School East senior Louis Augier was recently awarded the special NASA Earth System Science Project Award for his research project presented at the annual Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. Louis’s research project examined how changes to the design and dimensions of wing designs either increase or decrease their efficiency. Utilizing the science lab in Dr. Michael Vaccariello’s science research class, Louis designed a variety of wings using the Auto CAD program and then 3D printed them before testing his designs in a wind tunnel within the lab. As part of the annual science fair, this award is presented to student projects matching specific criteria that best demonstrate insight into Earth’s interconnected systems and incorporate studies of the different components of Earth systems, their interactions and their evolution over time. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128832 Mon, 17 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128832 Hiawatha Students Explore Animals and Their Unique Habitats Students in Tracy Walter’s and Carol Karson’s second grade classes at Hiawatha Elementary School recently concluded a unit on habitats by creating their own habitat dioramas. Students used scientific methods to study animal habitats, researching a specific animal and the habitat in which it lives, including plant life and other natural elements around it, before creating and presenting their dioramas and reports to their peers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128716 Thu, 13 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128716 Sachem Graduation Ceremony Information Sachem High School East Graduation Thursday, June 24th @ 4:00 pm. Sachem High School North Graduation Friday, June 25th @ 4:00 pm. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128719 Thu, 13 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128719 Sachem Student-Artist to Showcase Work at Annual Art Exhibition Sachem High School East junior Samantha Christian was recently named as one of 83 artists to showcase her artwork, “Overwhelmed,” at the Heckscher Museum of Art’s Long Island: Best Young Artists at the Heckscher Museum exhibition. Each year, the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington hosts a juried high school art exhibition which serves as the culmination to a competition that involves high school art students analyzing works of art on display at the museum and choosing one to use as inspiration for their own creation. In addition to Samantha’s outstanding accomplishment, she also received the Heckscher Achievement Award and the Huntington Fine Arts Honorable Mention. The exhibition will be open to the public from April 24 to May 23. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128656 Wed, 12 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128656 2021-2022 Budget Newsletter https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128666 Wed, 12 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128666 Merrimac Students and Staff Rally Support for ALS Ride for Life An important cause energized students and staff at Merrimac Elementary School as they recently participated in a monthlong initiative to raise money and awareness for ALS and the ALS Ride for Life, founded by Chris Pendergast. In honor of Pendergast, who sadly passed away in October 2020, students and staff at Merrimac created a plan to recreate his famous annual feat of traveling from Montauk to Yankee Stadium to raise awareness for the disease. Throughout the month, during physical education class, the school ran or walked their desired distance which collectively added to the distance traveled during Pendergast’s ride. In addition to the school’s distance goal, the building also met its monetary goal of raising $1,200 through donations for the ALS Ride for Life. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128609 Tue, 11 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128609 Seneca Students Celebrate Diversity During Weeklong Event Students at Seneca Middle School recently participated in a cultural diversity week to help celebrate diversity and embrace cultures from around the world. The event, facilitated by Seneca Middle School’s foreign language teachers Brooke Failey-Ramirez, Lorie Fernandez, Grace Markowitz, Virginia Meric and Diamela Peguero-Collazo and prevention counselor Stephanie Garcia, encompassed socially distanced dance workshops, an international lunch menu and student speakers sharing the daily announcements in their native languages, such as Greek, Gujarati, Italian, Turkish and Vietnamese. Seventh and eighth grade students learned dances from around the world, including Italy’s tarantella, Cuba’s cha cha, Dominican Republic’s bachata, Ireland’s step dance and Colombia’s cumbia. The interactive experience served as a great way for the students to express themselves and learn about the immense diversity found around the world. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128525 Fri, 07 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128525 Sachem Student-Athletes Commit to Continue Athletics in College A celebratory culmination of hard work and dedication took place as 36 Sachem High School student-athletes signed their national letters of intent on April 27 and 28, committing to compete for a variety of athletic programs. In the annual national letter of intent signing event, which followed a collection of safety protocols, student-athletes participating in baseball, basketball, cross-country, diving, field hockey, football, lacrosse, track, soccer, softball, swimming and volleyball committed to colleges across the country to showcase their athletic and academic skills. The event was livestreamed on the Sachem Central School District YouTube page and can be viewed at: Sachem East NLI Signing Sachem North NLI Signing Sachem East Slideshow Sachem North Slideshow https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128475 Thu, 06 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128475 Wenonah Horticulture Study Plants Seeds for Great Success The cultivation of delicious crops was at the forefront of a recent yearly initiative at Wenonah Elementary School, as students across grade levels geared up to raise different fruits and vegetables in the building’s numerous growing areas. Fourth and fifth grade students created pallet gardens to be placed outside each second and third grade classroom for students to plant an assortment of lettuces, radishes and herbs. They also constructed growing trellises for kindergarten and first grade students to plant and care for snow peas. As part of the expansive study of the growing process, students start seeds inside using both traditional pots and a hydroponic system. As the year progresses, younger students will be paired with older students to hold buddy planting events to transfer the seedlings to their permanent growing place in either the pallet gardens or one of the school’s raised garden beds. Each year, this outstanding effort led by students and staff produces hundreds of pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables which are donated to Island Harvest and distributed to families in need. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128394 Wed, 05 May 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128394 Lynwood Avenue Students Foster a Friendly School Community An essential lesson focusing on understanding and acceptance recently took place at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School as second grade students in Christine Breslin’s class participated in an activity for Autism Awareness Month. The lesson, which was facilitated by social-emotional learning chairperson Jonathan Chiaramonte, explained the intricacies of the autism spectrum and the ways people with autism may interpret sounds, situations, feelings and emotions differently than the students may. Students asked questions about autism and shared about friends and family they know who have autism to build a better understanding of their differences and similarities. Concluding the activity, students shared reasons why it is important to be accepting of others and ways that they can help to create a more inclusive school community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128220 Fri, 30 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128220 Sachem High School East Hosts Museum Walk Displaying World Cultures The Sachem High School East Diversity Club recently held a museum walk with socially distant exhibits featuring information and activities from various cultures around the world. The museum exhibits created by the club’s outstanding effort featured countries including China, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Nigeria, Pakistan, Portugal and Taiwan. Among the activities on the museum walk were Chinese yo-yo and Irish step-dancing lessons, as well as games from each culture that students could play at each exhibit. As students passed in the halls throughout the day, they enjoyed live music from a one-string guitar native to East Asia and stopped by exhibits to learn about cuisines, holidays and other fun facts about world cultures. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128172 Thu, 29 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128172 Chippewa Students Study Early American Colonists Fourth grade students in Jennifer Levy’s class at Chippewa Elementary School recently participated in an activity in which they created posters to protest the taxes imposed on American colonists by King George in 1765. As part of the lesson, students learned that King George III imposed unfair taxes on the colonists, which angered them and led to protests with signs. Additionally, students learned the origin of the saying “No taxation without representation,” signifying the colonist’s lack of representation in the English government, and its contrast to the American government of today. Students used their unique creativity to craft their very own signs to display as part of their new knowledge of the struggles the colonists faced during this time in American history. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128119 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128119 Bits of Broadway! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128120 Wed, 28 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128120 Hiawatha Elementary Outdoor Walk Spreads Awareness and Understanding of Autism Acceptance and understanding were among key concepts emphasized at Hiawatha Elementary School as students across grade levels recently participated in a collection of in-class activities and an outdoor autism awareness walk to share important information about autism. During the weeklong event, students participated in daily in-class activities which featured creating “I Am” posters depicting how everyone is unique and blue Post-it notes sharing what they learned about autism to stick on their classroom door. They explored mindfulness and calming strategies, created puzzle pieces showcasing their creativity and how everyone is different, and listened to daily announcements from fifth grade students sharing facts about autism. As part of the outdoor walk, students visited stations to learn what autism is and the ways in which some people with autism communicate, and to participate in sensory activities and high- and low-energy games. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128087 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128087 R.O.S.A. Final Exam Schedule 2021 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=128085 Tue, 27 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false128085 Wenonah Students and Staff Participate in Autism Acceptance Month Students and staff across Wenonah Elementary School have recently begun their celebration of Autism Acceptance Month through a collection of enlightening activities and events to educate and raise awareness of autism. Each week, speech language pathologist Bella Eccleston has shared a video read-aloud of a book that focuses on autism acceptance, kindness and celebrating the unique qualities in ourselves and others. This week, the students enjoyed “Spoon” by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Teachers then utilized the activities provided and put their own unique twist on them to share these important ideas with their students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=127919 Thu, 22 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127919 Sachem High School East Tradition Raises Money for Community Members Late last month, the Sachem High School East Student Government Club ran its annual March Madness event virtually to raise money and awareness for important causes. The event featured no in-person spectators, but the classes that participated were excited to see their peers take part in the traditional three-point and slam dunk contests and a new spikeball tournament that the officers of the club now hope to make a tradition at High School East. Additionally, the Treble Choir, ICONIC, the junior varsity and varsity cheerleading teams, and the junior varsity and varsity Arrowettes performed during the event. As a result of the outstanding student effort, all of the money raised will go to a COVID-19 food relief fund at the Town of Brookhaven. The club will begin the spring push to raise money and awareness for the ALS Ride for Life in memory of Dr. Christopher Pendergast, who lost his battle with the disease this past October. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=127801 Mon, 19 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127801 Sachem Board of Education Recognizes Incredible Student-Athletes At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, 11 incredible student-athletes were recognized for their outstanding performance and dedication to academics and athletics in their respective sports. Among the students recognized by the Board included Sachem High School East students Briella Russo, who received Newsday All-Long Island second team honors in cheerleading; Ashley Pavan, who was named All-League, All-Conference and All-County in basketball; and Mackenzie Szlosek, who earned All-Academic, All-League, All-Conference and All-County honors in basketball. From Sachem High School North, Grace Calabria received All-County and Newsday All-Long Island first team recognition in cheerleading; Kennadie Hallum received All-League, All-Conference and All-County recognition in basketball and Jenna Lo Cascio earned All-County and Newsday All-Long Island second team honors in cheerleading. In addition, Francis Anderson, Quin Honan, Christopher Varrichio and Brandon Wone earned All-League and All-County recognition in swimming, and Emily Kulkarni received All-League and Newsday All-Long Island team honors in bowling. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=127647 Wed, 14 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127647 2021 Sachem Summer Enrichment With Child Care 2021 Sachem Summer Enrichment With Child Care https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=127498 Fri, 09 Apr 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127498 Waverly Elementary Creates Through Vibrant Color During a recent exploration of famous artists, third grade students at Waverly Avenue Elementary School in Susan Kinsey’s art class participated in a lesson where they took inspiration from artist Henri Rousseau to create their own paintings. Using Rousseau’s painting “Tiger in a Tropical Storm” as inspiration, students utilized paper painted with tempera paint in a gradient, oil pastels and construction paper as part of their creative works of art. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=127207 Fri, 26 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127207 Board of Education Recognizes Outstanding Student Performance in Athletics At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized six outstanding student-athletes for their exemplary efforts both in the classroom and on the athletic field. Among the students recognized for their accomplishments were Sachem North junior Grace Calabria for being named Newsday All-Long Island First Team in cheerleading; Sachem North junior Emily Kulkarni for being named to the Newsday All-Long Island Team in bowling; Sachem North senior Cameron Lee for receiving the News 12 Scholar Athlete Award for his performance in football, wrestling and lacrosse; Sachem North senior Jenna LoCascio for being named to the Newsday All-Long Island Second Team in cheerleading; Sachem East senior Briella Russo for receiving Newsday All-Long Island Second Team recognition in cheerleading and Sachem East junior Nick Walker for being named Newsday Athlete of the Week and to the Newsday All-Long Island Team in bowling. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=127166 Thu, 25 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127166 Hiawatha Students Explore Mathematics in Pi Day Celebration Students at Hiawatha Elementary School recently participated in the annual celebration of the mathematical constant Pi with a collection of math activities as part of Pi Day. During the celebration, fifth grade students learned that Pi is used to determine the circumference of a circle and how it is included within the equation. Additionally, students graphed the number and held a competition showcasing who could remember the most numbers in the Pi sequence. Culminating the day, students enjoyed a lunch consisting of personal pizza pies donated by Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=127118 Wed, 24 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127118 Sagamore Students Study Intricacies of 3D Printing Students at Sagamore Middle School in Mrs. Spatola and Mrs. Gelderman’s sixth grade math classes recently learned about computer aided design using math terms. With help from Sagamore librarian Mrs. Bucher, students were introduced to Tinkercad, a website where students can design their own nameplates. Among the math concepts discussed included dimensions, parameters, millimeters, axis, inequality terms, degrees, scale and proportions. Students worked within specific dimensions to design a base using length, width and height and also had to decide if they wanted their nameplates to be on one horizontal plane or on two planes, horizontal and vertical. As part of the lesson, teacher- and librarian-led discussions focused on the real-world applications of 3D design and printing and the many industries that utilize the technology, including ways it was used in the medical field during the COVID-19 pandemic. Once their designs met the required parameters established by Mrs. Spatola and Mrs. Gelderman, Mrs. Bucher printed their designs on the MakerBot 3D printer in the library. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=127025 Mon, 22 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false127025 Art Students Share Inspiration Through Community Mural Creative rock stars in Lauren Gonzalez’s studio art class explored what is needed to successfully learn through a community mural and how to inspire and create to be a part of a community. After honing in on each student’s unique voice and inner nature through the creation of a “zine,” students joined together to discuss overarching themes conducive to a positive learning environment that is inclusive for all. The larger-than-life skills and character traits identified by the students were determined through a series of mindfulness and meditation practices and will be displayed as a reminder for all to see. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=126974 Fri, 19 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false126974 Tamarac Students Celebrate 100th Day of School In celebration of the 100th day of school, students at Tamarac Elementary School recently participated in activities focused on the number 100. Students across grade levels participated in numerous activities, including counting to the number 100, wearing shirts they created featuring 100 of an item and dressing as if they were 100 years old. The collective celebration served as an engaging opportunity to explore key math concepts and celebrate the completion of 100 days of school. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=126918 Thu, 18 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false126918 Virtual Curriculum Guide Sachem is proud to offer a huge selection of electives in the areas of English, Math, Social Studies, Science, Art, Music, Health, Physical Education, Family Consumer Science, World Languages, Business and Technology. This virtual curriculum guide is an in depth explanation of the courses found in the "Guidance Handbook." We are asking all students and parents to review all of your options, speak with your teachers and see your school counselor before finalizing your schedule for the 2021-2022 school year. Virtual Curriculum Slide Presentations https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=126903 Wed, 17 Mar 2021 04:00:00 GMT false126903 Parents of Secondary Students: Return to School Form Parents of Secondary Students: Return to School Form https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=126640 Wed, 10 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126640 SACHEM ATHLETICS FALL SPECTATOR UPDATE Indoor Sports: No more than two spectators per athlete may be permitted. Home spectators only Outdoor Sports: No more than two spectators per athlete may be permitted. Home district will decide if visiting spectators will be permitted. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=126486 Thu, 04 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126486 Video: Kindness and Caring Shine During Districtwide P.S. I Love You Day Celebration Across the Sachem Central School District, students and staff collectively blanketed the district in purple attire and heartwarming lessons and activities in a special show of support for mental health awareness, as part of the annual celebration of P.S. I Love You Day on the second Friday in February. As part of their weeklong celebration promoting kindness, students across grade levels participated in social-emotional learning activities that let them share uplifting messages with their peers. Students completed activities such as creating Kindness Grams, sharing kind messages with classmates they normally would not socialize with to create deeper connections throughout the school community. They also crafted puzzle pieces showcasing ways they have lifted others up in the past and created cards for a random classmate showcasing reasons friends are special. Several buildings created virtual resources for students to visit to expand the reach of this celebration of kindness and mental health awareness. Daily postings of mental health messages with the theme of “Together, We Will Rise” promoted kindness, self-love and self-care. The day allowed students to thank and acknowledge members of the Sachem community who lift them up, make their day and make others feel valued by filling out a form to send them a special postcard. For several years, Sachem has participated in P.S. I Love You day in a proactive effort to prioritize student's mental health and normalize expressing their feelings in a safe and caring environment. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=126346 Tue, 02 Mar 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126346 Tamarac Students Showcase Power of Kindness Through Creativity Kindness, creativity and an exploration of technology came together for an engaging activity at Tamarac Elementary School, as third grade students in Kathleen Devine’s class used Ozobots in celebration of P.S. I Love You Day. As part of the activity facilitated by technology integration specialist Claudia Camassa and art teacher Alexis Curcio, students used photographs of their own hands making the peace sign in American Sign Language. They then color coded a path around the photos to command movements from the Ozobots. Using different colors, students selected movements for the Ozobots to complete along the path, such as slow, fast, turbo, zigzag, spin and back walk. Culminating the activity, students joined their peace sign photos around a large heart drawing which connected all of the peace signs, forming a singular path for the Ozobots to travel together. The collective creation of peace which formed the track for the Ozobots further symbolized the theme for P.S. I Love You Day this year, which is “Together We Rise.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=126121 Tue, 23 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false126121 Board of Education Recognizes Student-Author At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized Nokomis Elementary School fifth grade student Aviah Singh for publishing a book she wrote. “Be You. Be Cool. Be Kind.” was recently written by Aviah and published where it is now available for purchase online. The book outlines numerous situations students could encounter during the school day and how to effectively navigate them using positivity, kindness and inspiration. “I wanted to write this book to spread kindness,” Aviah said. “I wanted to tell all of my stories to help kids in elementary school better understand these situations.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=125868 Fri, 12 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125868 Merrimac Students Come Together Through a Magnificent Mural Merrimac Elementary School students in Jenna Motroni’s art class recently participated in an activity inspired by artist Faith Ringgold and her mixed media quilt paintings. As part of the activity students learned about the artist’s life, artwork and discussed the element of unity in art. The class then discussed the multiple meanings of the word unity and how one meaning is a connection between a group of people. Students linked this idea of unity to how they felt about this year in school, discussed how things felt different and how they physically weren’t able to meet together as a school community like in years past. Using students’ unique artistic creations, Jenna Motroni created a new type of connection, a unity mural, throughout the school community by joining each individual student art piece to create a collage out of various colors of construction paper. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=125489 Wed, 03 Feb 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125489 Sagamore News Club Publication Congrats to theSagamore News Clubon their publication! (To view this publication, you must be logged into your Sachem account. Enjoy!) https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=125423 Fri, 29 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125423 Sachem Remembers Matthew “Dezy” DiStefano (Video) Click here to view the video https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=125340 Thu, 28 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125340 State Mandated Health Examination Form Click here to view the form https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=125282 Tue, 26 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125282 Hiawatha Students Share Hope and Dreams in Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. This month, Hiawatha Elementary School teachers Lori Furnell and Jennifer Schiotis developed a project where students learned about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. They watched videos from his “I Have a Dream” speech to further their knowledge on the historic figure. Students then shared their own hope and dreams for the future. They then filled their boards with visual images to motivate them to accomplish their dreams and to gain inspiration. Throughout the project students made connections with each other as they shared their common aspiration for the future. Through the creation of their vision boards, students used photographs as talking points and connected over having the same flag, sharing details about their culture and how they want to see the future. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=125339 Sun, 24 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125339 2021 NYSSMA Virtual Solo & Ensemble Festival Registration is now Open! For more information on festivals and the online registration form link, please visit our Music & Fine Arts website by clicking here. Riverhead Piano Festival registration deadline: January 15th – fast approaching! West Islip Jazz, Guitar and Drum set festival registration deadline – January 29th Sachem Solo & Ensemble Festival registration deadline – February 26th Middle Country All-State Festival registration deadline – March 26th https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=125012 Thu, 14 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false125012 District Officially Appoints Principal of Tamarac Elementary School The Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the official appointment of Dr. Brenda Almendarez-DeBello as principal of Tamarac Elementary School. Dr. Almendarez-DeBello was appointed at the Jan. 6 meeting of the Board of Education. Dr. Almendarez-DeBello previously joined Tamarac after most recently serving as an assistant principal at Sachem High School East since 2017. Prior to her time as an assistant principal at High School East, Dr. Almendarez-DeBello served as an administrative intern and a bilingual mathematics teacher in the Uniondale Union Free School District at the Lawrence Road Middle School for five years. Within these roles, she aided in creating measures to facilitate testing procedures for administration, proctor schedules and student accommodations as well as developed and provided various professional development workshops for teachers. Prior to this, Dr. Almendarez-DeBello taught mathematics for eight years at Intermediate School 93 for the New York City Department of Education. Dr. Almendarez-DeBello received her Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in psychology from University at Albany, formerly the State University of New York at Albany, and her Master of Science in education from St. John’s University, where she also completed an advanced certificate in school building leadership and received her Doctor of Education degree in educational administration and supervision in 2019. “Dr. Almendarez-DeBello has served as our interim principal at Tamarac since the beginning of this school year and has proven herself time and time again as an outstanding leader and educator,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Pellettieri. “I trust you will join me in congratulating her in her official new capacity.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124893 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false124893 Message from the Superintendent on Tamarac Principal appointment https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124894 Fri, 08 Jan 2021 05:00:00 GMT false124894 Click Here For Schedule Distance Learning Resources https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124566 Wed, 23 Dec 2020 13:00:00 GMT false124566 Lynwood Students Spread Cheer and Happiness for Holiday Season A collaborative learning lesson at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School in Sheryl Amallobieta’s fourth grade class spread smiles and cheer during the holiday season as students participated in a social-emotional learning activity exploring positive ways to address negativity. As part of the class’s daily lesson on social-emotional learning, students were joined by the remote learning students via Google Meet to participate in the collaborative activity. The class was visited by a bad elf who shared negative thoughts and feelings with the class, and the students shared ideas on how to change these feelings in a positive way. During the lesson, students heard the story of “The Giving Tree” and identified the important message found within the story. Concluding the activity, students named a large cutout tree that was placed in their classroom and wrote special messages of kindness and encouragement to spread kindness within their classroom and beyond. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124697 Wed, 23 Dec 2020 07:00:00 GMT false124697 Sachem Winter Musical Performances https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124688 Wed, 23 Dec 2020 06:00:00 GMT false124688 Literacy and Technology Combine for Holiday Fun A recent activity in Christina Alfano’s kindergarten class at Tamarac Elementary School joined literacy and technology for an engaging holiday-themed activity using Ozobots. To begin the lesson, students listened to the story of the gingerbread man before creating a story map and arranging the characters in the order in which they appeared in the story. Students then glued pictures of the character on a sheet of paper and used color-coded sequences for the Ozobots to navigate throughout the story. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124674 Tue, 22 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false124674 Cayuga Student Named Youth Scholar of Mathematics Cayuga Elementary School student Maximillian Le was recently named a Youth Scholar of Mathematics by the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students at SUNY Old Westbury. Maximillian was selected as part of a group of 82 students from across Suffolk County. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124658 Mon, 21 Dec 2020 12:00:00 GMT false124658 Students Use STEAM Lesson to Create Special Snowflakes A recent study of a winter wonder in Cathy Dulovic’s third grade class at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School led students on an exploration of snowflakes and their endless intricacies. As part of a unit on literacy, students read the story “Snowflake Bentley” by Wilson Bentley, in which they learned about Bentley’s passion for photographing different snowflakes. Students watched a biography on Bentley and viewed a collection of the unique snowflakes he has captured in his photographs. During a STEAM activity, students utilized Q-tips and marshmallows to create their very own unique snowflakes using the photographs they reviewed for inspiration. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124626 Mon, 21 Dec 2020 06:00:00 GMT false124626 Seneca Students Spread Thoughtfulness With Care Packages to Community Seneca Middle School students in the SADD Club recently created care packages for residents of local nursing homes. As part of the students’ collaborative efforts, they wrote thoughtful letters of hope and included items within the packages the residents would enjoy, such as word searches, crossword puzzles, coloring books, puzzles and blankets. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124609 Mon, 21 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false124609 Sachem Student-Athletes Commit to Continue Athletics in College A joyful culmination of hard work and dedication was on display as 20 Sachem High School student-athletes signed their national letters of intent on Dec. 9 and 10, committing to compete for a variety of prestigious athletic programs. As part of the annual national letter of intent signing event which followed a collection of safety protocols, student-athletes participating in sports including baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse and soccer committed to colleges across the country to showcase their athletic and academic prowess. The cheerful event was livestreamed on the Sachem Central School District YouTube page and can be viewed here (East) (North). https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124555 Fri, 18 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false124555 Sachem COVID Testing Initiative FAQ Dear Sachem Families, Attached you will find the latest information we have complied on the COVID - 19 NYS Yellow, Orange, Red Zones and testing initiative. To date we have not been declared in any of the three zones. The Willingness to Test Survey is included in the FAQ as well. There will be a livestream discussion this upcoming Monday, December 21st at 3 pm on the Sachem YouTube channel for those that would like to join us. COVID Testing FAQ District COVID Info Page https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124568 Fri, 18 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false124568 Message from the Superintendent: Stranger Danger Attached is a letter regarding a recent incident and parent guidelines for reviewing stranger danger with students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124378 Tue, 15 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false124378 Message from the Superintendent: Snow Days Good morning all, We are looking at what could be a rather large snow event Wednesday night into Thursday. We will be tracking this and hope to make the call Wednesday afternoon/evening if models stay the same. Right now we are looking at some models saying almost a foot of snow. NYSED sought out districts late this summer to take part in a pilot to turn snow days into remote learning days. They will gather information and data from those pilot schools and make a determination as to what they will have all schools do in future years. We are not one of the pilot districts, therefore we would simply be off on any snow day this year. We actually have up to 5 snow days built into our calendar without losing breaks as they currently exist. As always in a Pandemic year, this is the plan as it currently exists. Christopher J. Pellettieri Ed.D. Superintendent https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124343 Mon, 14 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false124343 Second Grade Students Explore the Intricacies of Weather Students at Nokomis Elementary School in Danielle Neimeth’s second grade class recently explored weather as part of a unit utilizing technology to create graphic organizers to showcase their newfound knowledge. As part of the unit on weather, students worked with technology integration specialist Claudia Camassa using Google Meet learn how to use Jamboard to created graphic organizers to share information they know about weather. In addition, students asked questions to expand their knowledge on the subject. Some of the questions asked included: What is the difference between cloudy and partly cloudy? Why are trees bare in the winter? How does a tornado form? As the unit progresses, the questions students asked will be highlighted to expand their knowledge on the subject. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124255 Thu, 10 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false124255 Waverly Students Share Messages of Peace and Togetherness Students across grade levels at Waverly Elementary School recently participated in a special school tradition that promotes peace throughout their school community and beyond. As part of the yearly tradition, students wrote pledges on how they can make Waverly Elementary a better place. They then walked outside the school to plant daisy bulbs that will bloom into beautiful flowers in the spring, reminding each student of their promises to promote peace. Additionally, students wrote ways to be kind to one another and created a peace quilt with an assortment of individual squares that will be displayed on the cafeteria windows. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124155 Mon, 07 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false124155 National Merit Scholars Recognized at Board of Education Meeting At the Nov. 18 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, three exceptional students were honored for their recent achievement of being named as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Sachem High School North seniors Nishta Boghra and Mili Das and Sachem High School East senior Natalie Machado were recognized with certificates of achievement from the district and shared information about their academic interests. In addition, Sachem High School North senior Cameron Lee was sworn in to serve as a student member of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education. Sachem High School East senior Mackenzie Szlosek will be sworn in at a later meeting. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=124016 Thu, 03 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false124016 Virtual Calming Room Provides Resources for Managing Stress and Anxiety As an additional resource for students to alleviate stress during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sachem High School East school psychologist Dina St. Giles created an interactive area of calming materials to utilize throughout the year called the Virtual Calming Room. The Virtual Calming Room contains a host of resources that may help promote a sense of calm and reduce stress. The available techniques found within the site are designed to reduce stress and anxiety when practiced. The Virtual Calming Room is a place for students, families, faculty and staff to find tools to help learn some techniques or skills to manage or regulate emotions through a collection of links to YouTube videos and other websites with sensory information that can assist in managing emotions and feelings. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=123981 Wed, 02 Dec 2020 05:00:00 GMT false123981 Sachem Students Explore the Intricacies of Literature Sachem High School North students in Sara Rivadeneyra’s English 10 Honors class recently enjoyed the warm weather and sunshine as they continued their reading of “Lord of the Flies.” As part of their study of the literary work, students reviewed vocabulary words and a plethora of essential literary devices such as theme, imagery, allusion, metaphor, simile, alliteration, author’s purpose and juxtaposition. Additionally, students created masks showcasing images and symbols that represent a main character they selected from the story and chose a quote from the novel that describes them. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=123656 Thu, 19 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false123656 Sachem Science Research Student Recognized by Board of Education At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized an exceptional student-scientist who was recently selected to publish her work in a professional scientific journal. Sachem High School East student Christine Meiselbach, a senior in Michael Vaccariello’s science research class, has been selected to publish her research, “Earthworms Eisenia Fetida Recover from Roundup Exposure,” in Applied Soil Ecology. Additionally, Sachem High School North and East were recently recognized by Sen. Monica Martinez’s office as Scholar Athlete Schools of Distinction. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=123580 Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false123580 Sachem Students Remember Soldiers and Their Sacrifices In observance of Veterans Day, students across grade levels at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School dressed in red, white and blue as they placed American flags in front of the school building as a show of support and remembrance for veterans of the United States military. Across the Sachem Central School District, students participated in activities learning about veterans and remembering their sacrifices for our country. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=123581 Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false123581 Chippewa Students Explore Pumpkin Properties Chippewa Elementary School students in Debra Jean Furey’s kindergarten class recently participated in an activity exploring the characteristics, properties and growing process of pumpkins during a hands-on lesson. To begin the lesson, students examined the inside matter and seeds from the pumpkins and shared their observations. At the conclusion of the lesson, the class planted the seeds in hopes of having their very own pumpkin plants grow in the spring. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=123583 Tue, 17 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false123583 Public Comment Period for School Safety Plan The 30-Day Public-Comment Period for Sachem's REVISED District-Wide School-Safety Plan is now open. On September 7th, the Governor passed legislation requiring edits to the "Pandemic" section of our plan. As per NYS, Sachem's District-Wide School-Safety Plan is open for public comment for a period of 30 days. This 30-day period will conclude on December 15th and the Board of Education will adopt the plan at the December 16th meeting. Any person(s) wishing to comment on the District-Wide Safety Plan should contact Mr. John J. O'Keefe, Deputy Superintendent at jokeefe@sachem.edu. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=123500 Mon, 16 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false123500 Sachem Science Research Student Recognized by Board of Education At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized an exceptional student-scientist who was recently selected to publish her work in a professional scientific journal. Sachem High School East student Christine Meiselbach, a senior in Michael Vaccariello’s science research class, has been selected to publish her research, “Earthworms Eisenia Fetida Recover from Roundup Exposure,” in Applied Soil Ecology. Additionally, Sachem High School North and East were recently recognized by Sen. Monica Martinez’s office as Scholar Athlete Schools of Distinction. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=123330 Mon, 09 Nov 2020 05:00:00 GMT false123330 NYSED Parent Dashboard NYSED Parent Dashboard - https://data.nysed.gov/parents/ https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=123081 Fri, 30 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false123081 Literature Leads Students on a Successful Scavenger Hunt Students turned into mystery solvers during a recent lesson in Liana Rosenman’s first grade class at Cayuga Elementary School as they participated in a scavenger hunt after reading “Find Duck and Goose a Pumpkin.” To begin the lesson, students created story maps to help them find the treasure. After arranging the steps in the correct location on their maps, the class went outside to find several clues, leading them to the treasure. By working together to locate the clues, students found the pumpkin prize at the end of the scavenger hunt. To conclude the activity, the class reviewed their predictions for what the treasure would be. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=123047 Thu, 29 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false123047 Sachem Student-Musicians Chosen for NYSSMA All-State Twelve talented student-musicians from Sachem High School North and East were selected to showcase their musical mastery during the 2020 New York State School Music Association’s All-State performance, which will take place virtually in December. From High School East, Kayleigh Di Brico has been selected to play the violin in the string orchestra, Natalie Hartmann has been selected as an alto to perform in the treble chorus and Valerie Mei has been selected to play violin in the symphony orchestra. Additionally, Annabella Cataldi and Angelina Colon have been chosen as alternates to perform in the chorus. From High School North, Nistha Boghra will play the flute in the wind ensemble, Francis Chalk will perform as a tenor in the mixed chorus, Mili Das will play the violin in the symphony orchestra, Brett Lynott and Austin Sidito will perform as tenors in the mixed chorus and Courtney Sullivan will perform as a soprano in the treble chorus. Molly McLean has been selected as an alternate to perform in the chorus. The competitive selection process for selecting an All-State musician includes teacher recommendations, audition scores during NYSMMA solo evaluations and exemplary participation in other performing organizations. Approximately 7,000 students audition for the eight All-State performing groups and just under 900 are selected to participate annually. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122979 Wed, 28 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122979 Remote Learning Academy and New Bell Schedule Letter https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122940 Mon, 26 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122940 Congrats to Sagamore's Published Poets! Four talented 8th graders at Sagamore have been selected for publication in the Young Writers' Association's 2020 poetry anthology. The theme for the poems is "Through Their Eyes," and the poems express a unique perspective on an event. Gianna Erbis is publishing "American Revolution," Rebecca Wagonfeld is publishing "The Book," Alexia Dutton is publishing "Counting Down," and Emma Santos is publishing "Displaced." Sagamore is very proud of our outstanding writers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122942 Sun, 25 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122942 Sagamore, from the Eyes of a New Student by Edwin Andrade Cabrera (7th grade) Even though this is an unusual school year, I am really glad that I moved from Mastic and I now attend Sagamore Middle School. The reason why I love Sagamore is because I like all my teachers, and they are very nice to me. My favorite subjects are math and English class. I also like the food and the creativity on the walls. My most favorite part of school is everything. I like all the classrooms because they have a lot of detail. My favorite room is the English room, because it has some nice decorations in the back of the room. All of these things are really nice about Sagamore, and I’m so glad I moved here. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122943 Sun, 25 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122943 Sagamore Clubs! by Samantha Kouba (7th Grade) Although school is very different because of Covid-19, Sagamore is still holding clubs! There are so many clubs like Yearbook Club, Authors and Artists, Couch to 5k, Buddies Club, Diversity, and more. There are so many fun and interesting clubs like the Critter Club where they bring in different animals. Sometimes shelter owners or co-workers will come in and talk to you about their shelter and bring in an animal. Drama is also a lot of fun. First you try out to be in the show, and then if you get selected, you practice for multiple months. In the past they have done productions like The Lion King, Legally Blonde and more. Last year they were meant to perform Frozen, but then couldn’t because of Covid-19, so they will let 6th graders audition and continue Frozen this year. If you don't want to be on stage but you want to be part of the Drama activities, then you join the Lighting and Sound Club. In Lighting and Sound, you control the lighting and sound for drama. The clubs this year will either be “hybrid, in person, or fully virtual.” The list of clubs and the calendar for meetings are posted on the Sagamore website. It is not too late to join a club, so get involved and have some fun this year! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122900 Sat, 24 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122900 Directions for students to access their classes in the Remote Academy Go to Google.com and sign in with your Sachem Google Account Next go to Classroom.Google.com Here you will see all of your Google Classroom cards Accept any invitations for classes to which you have been invited https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122897 Fri, 23 Oct 2020 21:00:00 GMT false122897 Sachem Board of Education Recognized During Board Appreciation Week During last night’s meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the nine esteemed members of the Board were recognized for their extraordinary efforts as representatives for Sachem students, staff and community members. The recognition of the Board began with a joyful performance by a quartet of violinists from Sachem High School North. Numerous district organizations, including the Sachem Administrators Association, Sachem Classroom Teachers Association, Sachem Clerical Association, Sachem Nurses Association, Sachem Parent Teachers Association Council, Sachem SEPTA, Sachem Supervisors Association, and the Sachem custodial, maintenance, facilities and security unions all presented the Board members with tokens of appreciation or made donations in their name for their continuous outstanding contributions to the Sachem Central School District and community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122851 Thu, 22 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122851 Three Sachem Students Named Semifinalists in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program Sachem High School North seniors Nishta Boghra and Mili Das and Sachem High School East senior Natalie Machado have been selected as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Students selected as semifinalists in this prestigious scholarship program excel in multiple Advanced Placement courses while achieving great academic success in extra- and co-curricular activities, among other academic accomplishments. Approximately 1.5 million juniors from high schools across the country entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of 16,000 semifinalists represents 1% of U.S. high school seniors, who now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,600 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million. In February, more than 90% of the semifinalists will be selected to advance to finalist standing and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122811 Wed, 21 Oct 2020 05:00:00 GMT false122811 Outdoor Activities Practice Mindfulness Methods Students at Merrimac Elementary School in Danielle Gagnon’s third grade class have recently participated in weekly indoor and outdoor yoga activities to practice essential mindfulness techniques. As part of the activities, students progress through various yoga poses which focus on flexibility and concentration. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122800 Wed, 21 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122800 Sagamore's Feathered Friend On Friday, a tiny bird entered the cafeteria. It traveled to the Little Theater and then the hallway. A few teachers and a custodian made a valiant effort with trying to coax our feathered visitor to fly out of a window. He went through a duct in the ceiling to the band room. Currently he is in the auditorium. Hopefully he can contribute his song to our musical ensembles! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122725 Mon, 19 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122725 Distance Learning Schedules https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122559 Fri, 09 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122559 REMINDER: The Sachem Legislative Committee Meeting REMINDER: The Sachem Legislative Committee will be holding a meeting tonight, October 6, at 7:30pm. The meeting will be held virtually, however the community may view the meeting on the Sachem Schools YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNaVI3_F7c0_x4RZy9y-G0Q?fbclid=IwAR2ku0ogg6uLPwbjI-DpM_1Mt5lzdpe5rUG2mLW6hrb3PiKdJmahiK4D_Oc https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122461 Tue, 06 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122461 Update on Sachem North – Oct. 4 After consultation with the Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health and out of an abundance of caution to allow more time for contact tracing it has been decided that the district will keep North HS in distance learning for an additional two days. We plan to reopen North HS for in person learning therefore on Wednesday October 7th. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122428 Mon, 05 Oct 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122428 Sachem in the News: Cayuga First Day Click here to read the article https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=122124 Mon, 21 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false122124 First Day 2020-2021 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121878 Wed, 09 Sep 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121878 Important SAT Location Update The August 29, 2020 SAT will be held at Sachem North High School instead of Samoset Middle School due to construction at Samoset Middle School. We will start checking students in at 7:20 a.m. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121541 Tue, 25 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121541 District Appoints Next Superintendent of Schools Following a rigorous search and screening process, the Sachem Central School District Board of Education is proud to announce the appointment of the district’s next Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christopher Pellettieri. Dr. Pellettieri will begin his role in the district on September 1, 2020. Prior to joining Sachem, Dr. Pellettieri served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction in the Rockville Centre Union Free School District for 12 years, where he led the district in implementing progressive curriculum and development initiatives which greatly enhanced the educational experience for students across grade levels. As part of his oversight of the district’s instructional technology, Dr. Pellettieri successfully piloted a digital Earth Science Portal to replace the course textbook, spearheaded a 1:1 program utilizing iPads in grades 4-12 and led the district’s recent Chromebooks initiative at the high school level. Additionally, he helped develop and maintain the district’s Foreign Language Elementary Program and aided in the development of International Baccalaureate for all in junior-year English and social studies classes. Bolstering his impressive administrative résumé, Dr. Pellettieri worked closely with the Rockville Centre Education Foundation and has helped garner over $500,000 in grants for the district, including the building of a STEAM lab, robotics programs K-12, an Innovation Lab at South Side High School and a weather station at South Side Middle School. “After reviewing countless qualified candidates to serve as our district’s next superintendent, it was clear Dr. Pellettieri possessed the progressive skillset and vision to continue our district’s commitment to educational excellence and student success,” said Sachem Central School District Board of Education President Alex Piccirillo. “We are proud to welcome him to our community and are confident he will serve our students, staff and families well.” Dr. Pellettieri has been an Education Policy Fellow at NYU’s Teachers College, attended the Harvard Future of Learning program, is the immediate past president of Nassau Association of District Curriculum Officials, and is on both the Curriculum and Instruction Executive Council and the Digital Age Teaching and Education executive boards for Nassau BOCES. He also serves on several advisory boards at Molloy College, including ENL, Special Education and Teacher Preparation. Adding to his diverse collection of professional accolades, in 2014 he was honored as the Nassau BOCES Fred Podolski Leadership and Innovation in Technology Visionary Award recipient. Dr. Pellettieri’s first article, “Don’t Fall in Love with Paper”, a piece on leadership techniques, was published in Vanguard magazine in 2009. Dr. Pellettieri also teaches as an adjunct professor for Molloy College in its graduate education program for future administrators. “It is with great honor and excitement that I now humbly join the Sachem Central School District family as superintendent of schools,” Dr. Pellettieri said. “I am excited to work collaboratively with the Board of Education, administrators, staff and community stakeholders to continue to provide valuable educational opportunities and experiences to the students of Sachem.” Dr. Pellettieri earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees and professional diploma in history, secondary education from Queens College and earned his doctorate in instructional leadership from St. John’s University. <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:"Cambria Math"; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536870145 1107305727 0 0 415 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-536859905 -1073732485 9 0 511 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-unhide:no; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoChpDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; mso-default-props:yes; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.WordSection1 {page:WordSection1;} https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121462 Mon, 17 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121462 The 2020-2021 District Calendar Summary has been updated as of 8/13/20. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121385 Fri, 14 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121385 Summer Parent Tech Workshops and Support https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121370 Thu, 13 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121370 Commitment For Remote Instruction for 2020-2021 School Year https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdUXP2haCaP7WIBs6i7H2BUy_4fqcOOlvCr8d8ExtH_mmgeoA/viewform https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121371 Thu, 13 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121371 Sachem Re-Opening Plan https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121971 Thu, 13 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121971 Message on Reopening Plan Submission Dear Sachem Families, Earlier today, the Governor released a list of 107 school districts that allegedly had not submitted reopening plans for in-person instruction and the Sachem Central School District was mistakenly included in that document. Please be assured that our district’s reopening plan was in fact submitted to the New York State Department of Education by the July 31 deadline and a copy of that plan was subsequently posted to the district’s website, as required. The error in including Sachem in the list released today appears to have been a miscommunication, as the Department of Health was not supplied with a copy of the district’s plan after it was submitted to the State Education Department. This error has been corrected and we have been assured that both the SED and DOH have received a copy of our plan. Sincerely, John O’Keefe, Interim Superintendent of Schools https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121313 Mon, 10 Aug 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121313 Re-Entry Plan – July 31, 2020 Click here to view the plan https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121158 Fri, 31 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121158 District-wide Safety Plan The 30-Day Public-Comment Period for Sachem's District-Wide School-Safety Plan is Open. As per NYS, Sachem's District-Wide School-Safety Plan is open for public comment for a period of 30 days. This 30-day period will conclude on August 25th and the Board of Education will adopt the plan at the August 26th meeting. Any person(s) wishing to comment on the District-Wide Safety Plan should contact Mr. John O'Keefe, Interim Superintendent of Schools at jokeefe@sachem.edu. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121176 Fri, 31 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121176 Sachem High School East Hosts Celebratory Commencements The Sachem High School East Class of 2020 celebrated the conclusion of their senior year with a series of separate graduation ceremonies over the course of July 23-24. Held on the football field, the ceremonies followed strict guidelines to ensure the health and safety of all in attendance. This included requiring masks when social distancing could not be maintained and seating individual families a minimum of six feet apart. The ceremonies opened with a prerecorded version of “Pomp and Circumstance” echoing across the field before Principal Lou Antonetti took the podium. He began by recognizing the students who will be serving in the armed forces, and then addressed the graduates with an encouraging message about embracing adversity as they move through life. “Be thankful for the adversity we face,” he said. “If you do not face adversity in life, you will never know what your true character is and what you are made of. There are a lot of moments in life — some perfect, some imperfect — but appreciate all of them, because we only get one life.” The class’s top 25 students were then recognized before the leading member of that group, valedictorian Christian Berberich, delivered an address to his fellow graduates. “School has been challenging in more ways than I can count,” Berberich said. “We have gotten through everything by relying on the people that matter most to us…that is why, if I could leave on any note, it would be this: Value the relationships you make in your life, for it is the people in your life who make it truly worth living.” Concluding the ceremony, students received their diplomas by entering the stage in an alternating fashion, maintaining six feet of distance at all times. After accepting their diplomas, they had the opportunity to commemorate the experience with a photo before leaving the stage. The students then ceremoniously turned their tassels and exited the field as the newest alumni of Sachem High School East. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121113 Wed, 29 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121113 Sachem High School North Celebrates Class of 2020 Seniors The Sachem High School North Class of 2020 was recently honored during a collection of graduation ceremonies held July 23-24 at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium. To ensure safety, strict guidelines were put in place, such as requiring masks when social distancing was not possible and seating individual families a minimum of six feet apart. The ceremonies began in traditional fashion, with “Pomp and Circumstance” playing over the stadium speakers before Principal Patti Trombetta took the stage. She began by acknowledging those students who would be serving in the armed forces, which was aptly followed with a recorded rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” performed by the seniors-only symphonic choir. She then addressed the graduates-to-be with a congratulatory speech. “This has certainly been a very difficult school year,” Trombetta said. “Life is filled with highs and lows, valleys and peaks that will test your resilience, that will push you to overcome challenges. The lessons you learn along the way to the top will only make you stronger and better.” Acknowledging the unique year they had come through, she added, “Never has a graduating class been called upon to step into the future with more purpose, vision, passion, energy and hope. I have all the faith in the world that you will not disappoint. All the things that you have dealt with up until this point make you who you are, and I know the best is yet to come.” The top 25 students were then recognized, and Sachem North valedictorian Melissa Guercio delivered a sentimental speech to her fellow classmates. In her address, she reflected on her time as a student at the high school and the impact her teachers had on her. “Don’t forget about everyone you will leave behind as you head off to college,” she advised. “Don’t forget about your family, friends and teachers, and keep in touch with the people who have made a difference in your life; you never know what can happen.” Students then entered the stage to receive their diplomas, which were conferred by Sachem Board of Education President Alex Piccirillo, in an alternating fashion to maintain social distancing. They also had the opportunity to commemorate the milestone moment with a photo. Closing out the commencement exercises, they were led in the traditional turning of the tassels before exiting the field, poised to enter the next chapter of their lives as Sachem High School North alumni. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=121115 Wed, 29 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false121115 Class of 2020 Graduation Ceremonies Sachem High School East and North Class of 2020 graduation ceremonies will be held July, 23 & 24. To view ceremony times please view the official letters from each high school. Each ceremony will be livestreamed on our official district YouTube channel here. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118708 Wed, 22 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false118708 Update re: East Senior Portraits for the 2021 Class Please review thoroughly this important message below for East Senior Portraits for the 2021 class: We will be hosting various sessions for Senior portraits over the next several weeks and later in the fall. Due to COVID-19, the studios we are working with have guidelines in place to help ensure everyone’s safety. Based upon your preference, you may choose from the following: * Prestige Lifetouch- Dates to choose from are 7-27-7/31 & 8/3-8/4. Seniors must come prepared with their own attire, including formal and cap/gown for individual sessions. Appointments will be held at the school. Refer to the postcard mailed home for contact information to schedule. If you need to utilize a photographer provided cap/gown, appointments will be scheduled in the fall. Dates are forthcoming and will be shared soon. * Jo-Art Photography- Sessions are for any family that will need a cap/gown provided by the photographer, and do not want to wait until the fall. These appointments will be held in Jo-Art’s studio in Sayville on an individual basis. The studio is utilizing an ultraviolet cleaning system between each sessions. Dates are forthcoming and will be shared soon. Kindly note that social distancing practices must be adhered to. Face masks must be worn at all times. Seniors will be able to remove their mask for actual picture taking. Thank you, Erin Hynes & Lou Antonetti https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118675 Mon, 20 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false118675 Graduation Letter to the Class of 2020 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118654 Fri, 17 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false118654 Re-Entry Planning Click here to visit the Re-Entry Planning page https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118617 Wed, 15 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false118617 Sachem Names New Interim Elementary Principal The Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the appointment of Dr. Brenda Almendarez-DeBello as the new interim principal of Tamarac Elementary School effective July 1. Dr. Almendarez-DeBello joins Tamarac after most recently serving as an assistant principal at Sachem High School East since 2017. Prior to her time as an assistant principal at High School East, Dr. Almendarez-DeBello served as an administrative intern and a bilingual mathematics teacher in the Uniondale Union Free School District at the Lawrence Road Middle School for five years. Within these roles, she aided in creating measures to facilitate testing procedures for administration, proctor schedules and student accommodations as well as developed and provided various professional development workshops for teachers. Prior to this, Dr. Almendarez-DeBello taught mathematics for eight years at Intermediate School 93 for the New York City Department of Education. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in psychology from University at Albany, formerly the State University of New York at Albany, and her Master of Science in education from St. John’s University, where she also completed an advanced certificate in school building leadership and received her Doctor of Education degree in educational administration and supervision in 2019. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118510 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 05:00:00 GMT false118510 Sachem Board of Education holds annual reorganization meeting The Sachem Central School District Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 1, where new Board trustees Matthew Baumann and Robert Scavo and re-elected trustee James Mancaruso were sworn into office by District Clerk Allison Florio to begin their three-year terms. Alex Piccirillo was elected as the Board of Education president for the 2020-21 school year and Sara Wottawa was elected as the vice president. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118496 Tue, 07 Jul 2020 04:00:00 GMT false118496 Graduation Letter to Governor Cuomo https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118313 Thu, 25 Jun 2020 05:00:00 GMT false118313 Find Summer Meals Click here to visit the Food Services page https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118296 Thu, 25 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false118296 Letter to Community Re: Discrimination https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118314 Thu, 25 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false118314 The Sachem Budget has passed! Congratulations to Board of Education Trustees, Baumann, Mancaruso and Scavo. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=118006 Wed, 17 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false118006 Elementary Community Letter Moving Up Update https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=117880 Tue, 16 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false117880 Extension of Time to Receive Ballots for Annual Budget Vote and Board of Education Election Governor Andrew Cuomo, in Executive Order 202.39, issued on June 8, 2020, has extended the deadline for the receipt of mailed ballots, only, until June 16, 2020. The actual date of the vote, by law, remains June 9, 2020. The executive order allows for the district to receive ballots that may be lagging through the post office. Per the governor's order, the ballot drop box will be removed from the front of the District Office at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9 and ballots which are hand delivered to said building, after that time, will not be included in the count. The tabulation of the votes will commence on Tuesday, June 16, 2020. The Board of Education will meet to accept the results upon the completion of the count. Thank you. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=117697 Thu, 11 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false117697 SCOPE Childcare Information https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111623 Tue, 09 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false111623 Awards Night Videos Sachem High School North Senior Scholarship and Awards Night Video - Click here on June 10th after 7:00 pm to watch: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t-povMkKik0vVloHngi8MIXnk-t7aXWQ/view?usp=sharing_eil&invite=CPf-yqYF&ts=5ed5a2d6 East Senior Awards Night Video: https://drive.google.com/file/d/10T82f3t_JFeKdBYdvNX1g7rcL0dIFbWE/view?usp=sharing https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=117637 Fri, 05 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false117637 Elementary Community Letter - Report Cards and Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=117476 Thu, 04 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false117476 Sachem Budget Newsletter 2020-2021 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=115193 Tue, 02 Jun 2020 04:00:00 GMT false115193 Community Letter - May 28, 2020 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=115049 Thu, 28 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false115049 Superintendent Search The application has closed. District Wise Search Consultants and the Board are working on the next steps. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=114847 Thu, 21 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false114847 Grundy Avenue Elementary School Welcomes New Principal The Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the recent appointment of Thomas Lipani Jr. as the new principal of Grundy Avenue Elementary School, effective July 1, replacing Laura Amato, who will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2019-2020 school year. Mr. Lipani currently serves as the assistant principal of Sawmill Intermediate School in the Commack School District, where he has held the position for the past year. During his time in Commack, he chaired the In-School Support Team with the goal of evaluating academic performance and social relationships to identify struggling students and provide additional student support. Additionally, Mr. Lipani led biweekly curriculum discussions, chaired committees to determine necessary accommodations for students with academic or medical needs and co-chaired the School Building Management Team, as well as organized a health and wellness day. Prior to his time at Sawmill Intermediate School, Mr. Lipani was an elementary classroom teacher in the Sachem Central School District for 15 years, a principal’s aide for three years and the assistant supervisor for the Sachem Extended School Year Program for two years. “I consider myself both blessed and humbled to be given the responsibility of serving the Sachem family as principal of Grundy Avenue Elementary School,” Mr. Lipani said. “As a Sachem graduate and a classroom teacher at Wenonah Elementary School for 15 years, I understand what a fantastic and hardworking community this is. I will do my best to continue the great traditions built at Grundy and work collaboratively with staff and families to provide the highest quality, student-centered education that is focused on the whole child.” Mr. Lipani holds a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education and special education from Dowling College, a Master of Arts degree from Stony Brook University and an advanced certificate in educational leadership from LIU Post. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=114822 Tue, 19 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false114822 Student Belongings Retrieval https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=114581 Mon, 11 May 2020 05:00:00 GMT false114581 Notice of BOE Special Meeting May 11 @ 7pm https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=114580 Mon, 11 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false114580 Schools to Remain Closed Through End of School Year Good afternoon Sachem, This afternoon, Governor Cuomo announced that schools will remain closed for the remainder of the 2019-2020 academic year due to Covid-19. Please know that we have been working with our administrators, teachers and staff to prepare for end of the year events and continued Distance Learning. Once we review all associated information, we will share further guidance and plans. We miss you all. Stay safe and keep up the great work! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=114418 Mon, 04 May 2020 04:00:00 GMT false114418 May 1st Lights On Celebration https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=114345 Thu, 30 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false114345 Fourth Quarter Grading Practices https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=114193 Thu, 23 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false114193 Message from the Superintendent - April 8 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113864 Wed, 08 Apr 2020 04:00:00 GMT false113864 Distance Learning Starts 3/30/20 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113565 Mon, 30 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false113565 Sachem Online Resources for Students Sachem Online Resources https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113001 Fri, 27 Mar 2020 17:00:00 GMT false113001 Registration Information English Registration Letter Spanish Registration Letter https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113454 Fri, 27 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false113454 March 26, 2020 Update on Childcare https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113406 Thu, 26 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false113406 Resources for Students, Families and Employees https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113404 Thu, 26 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false113404 Community Letter - Device Loans https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113405 Thu, 26 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false113405 Sachem Distance Learning Update 3-24-2020 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113334 Tue, 24 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false113334 Update to Sachem Community 3/21/20 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113307 Mon, 23 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false113307 SCOPE Emergency Childcare Information https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=113038 Mon, 16 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false113038 Special Board Meeting - 3/14/2020 Special Board Meeting - Executive Session Saturday, March 14, 2020 12 PM NOON https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=112904 Sat, 14 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false112904 March 14 SAT Postponed The SAT scheduled at Samoset Middle School in the Sachem School District on Saturday March 14th has been postponed. The new date of the test is Saturday March 28th. Students registered for the March 14th test need not take any action at this time, the College Board will contact them through their account. If you have any questions please contact the College Board. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=112839 Fri, 13 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false112839 Coronavirus Update - Updated 3/16/2020 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=109511 Thu, 12 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false109511 Sachem North Wins National Dance Championship Sachem North won its first National Dance Alliance Kick national championship in the Small Varsity Division after a dashing performance this past weekend. The Flaming Arrows also earned the prestigious Grand Champion honor as the top team of the entire NDA competition. Their scores of 95.45 in the kick routine and 94.9 in pom were exceptional. “I am speechless,” said Sachem coach and alumnus Katie Prusinski. “Our team danced amazing this weekend, and when things weren’t going as we hoped we continued to push and believe.” In fitting tribute to Sachem alum Matt DiStefano, who passed away recently after a fight with cancer, Prusinski pointed out that her team is fortunate to be champions. “#WeGetTo be NDA National Grand Champions,” she said, using DiStefano’s lasting quote and mindset. Congratulations to all student-athletes, coaches and their families on the honor! #GoArrows https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111873 Thu, 12 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false111873 Sachem Students Take Top Spots in Regional The Sachem High School East DECA club participated in the annual DECA regional competition held at Suffolk County Community College on Jan. 8. Representing a diverse range of subject areas, 12 Sachem students were awarded trophies and placed in the top 10 in their respective events. These students will have the opportunity to compete in the State Career Conference in Rochester, New York, on Feb 26. Trophy winners Nicholas Abbatiello: Financial Services Logan Catalanotto: Automotive Service Marketing Evan Gottesman: Quick Serve Restaurant Management Emma Hannigan: Business Services Marketing Therese Krawchuk: Business Services Marketing Gina Lelo: Accounting Applications Jessica Neumann: Financial Services Jayden Reilly: Entrepreneurship Shruthi Sathyanarayan: Principles of Finance Ari Shaffar: Automotive Service Marketing Siddharth Sheth: Hotel and Lodging Management Aaron Young: Retail Merchandising https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111874 Thu, 12 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false111874 Sachem Spellers Face Off in Annual Competition A group of spectacular spellers from Sachem High School North took their talents to the stage for the fourth annual North Spelling Bee, led by Patrick Barry and Jonathan Weston and hosted by the Sachem North English Department. Following two in-class rounds held on previous days, each grade-level champion competed in the final round to be named the schoolwide champion in the building auditorium on Feb. 14. The freshman champion was Alex Chopyk, the sophomore champion was Henry Pimentel, the junior champion was Marin Koferl and the schoolwide and senior champion was Graham Burdick. Graham secured the title of schoolwide spelling champion after successfully spelling the word “auspicious." https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111892 Thu, 12 Mar 2020 04:00:00 GMT false111892 Sachem Student Chosen to Present Research at National Expo Sachem High School East senior Ryan Meehan has been selected to present his research at theAmerican Chemical Society’s Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo, Mar. 22-26 in Philadelphia. Ryan’s presentation, “Reduction of carbon monoxide poisoning in proton exchange membrane fuel cells via application of gold/ruthenium nanoparticle monolayer,” has very important implications for alternative energy solutions. The research targets fuel exchange and optimizing fuel cells for efficiency. Ryan began his research over the summer at the Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces at Stony Brook University with two students from Nevada and Massachusetts. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111701 Fri, 06 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false111701 Student-Artists Use Technology as Painting Tools An artist-inspired activity in Alexis Curcio’s art class at Tamarac Elementary School gained a technology twist as second grade students used Spheros to paint vibrant, colorful creations with help from Technology Integration Specialist Claudia Camassa. Using the Sphero robots, students paired up with a classmate to create Jackson Pollack-inspired action paintings after reading “Action Jackson” by Jan Greenberg and Sandra Jordan. Students used their newfound knowledge of Pollack’s work to drag neon paint across their papers. Concluding the activity, students viewed each other’s unique creations using a blacklight and shared what they liked about their peers’ paintings. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111609 Thu, 05 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false111609 Sachem Schools Celebrate Black History Month Throughout February, in celebration of Black History Month, students across the Sachem Central School District have been participating in a collection of lessons on prominent African American art, music, poetry, and men and women in history. In elementary schools around the district, students learned about Ruby Bridges, an elementary school student who at 6 years old was one of the first African Americans to desegregate a public school. Students learned about Bridges and then discussed the similarities they shared with each other. Additionally, students read Scholastic news articles on historical African American icons such as Mary McLeod Bethune, Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson and Harriet Tubman. At the secondary level, students reflected on the civil rights movement and the nonviolent acts of Martin Luther King Jr. through civil disobedience. Students also watched the movie “Remember the Titans,” which tells the true story of the mandated integration of T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria, Virginia, during the civil rights era of the 1960s. Students needed to identify examples of discrimination before explaining how the community and individuals overcame them. As part of a study on the Roaring ’20s, students looked at the Harlem Renaissance and how African Americans contributed to the culture of the United States through the rebirth of African American music, literature, poetry, art and dance, showcasing key members of the movement including Louis Armstrong, Langston Hughes, Claude McKay and Bessie Smith. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111580 Wed, 04 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false111580 Real Data Sheds Light on Unique Learning Experience The use of real data provided a valuable learning opportunity for sophomore and junior Algebra II students at Sachem High School North during a mortgage consultation event that served as the culmination of a project-based learning lesson. Students in Wendy Parente’s, Christopher Russo’s and Richard Schaentzler’s Algebra II classes recently hosted a mortgage consultation event where over 200 students worked with real data to calculate mortgage information for their clients. Family, administrators and staff served as clients and provided practice data for the project. Prior to their consultations with clients, students attended an informational seminar with mortgage expert Tom Sullivan from Evolve Bank & Trust in which they further explored the complex calculations. During the project, students reviewed the current mortgage status of the clients and evaluated it to determine whether refinancing was or was not a beneficial option. At the conclusion of the project, students met with their clients and shared the information they had found. The authentic learning experience served as a hands-on practical application of curriculum concepts and empowered students with knowledge to make responsible financial decisions in the future. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111424 Mon, 02 Mar 2020 05:00:00 GMT false111424 Board Recognizes Outstanding Fall Athletes At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized an outstanding group of fall sports athletes and athletic teams for their tremendous accomplishments during their seasons. To begin the recognitions, Director of Health and Physical Education, Health Services and Athletics Gary Beutel honored the Sachem High School East girls field hockey team for winning the Suffolk County and Long Island championships. Next, the Sachem High School North boys volleyball team was honored for completing their season undefeated, winning the Suffolk County and Long Island championships and being New York State finalists. Concluding the recognitions, individual athletes were honored for their accolades that included All-Academic, All-County, All-Long Island and All-State selections. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111341 Thu, 27 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false111341 Sachem Student Presents Research at National Summit Sachem High School East science research sophomore Asweel Mehaboob has been selected to present his research at the American Medical Informatics Association’s 2020 Informatics Summit on Mar. 24 in Houston. Asweel’s research was selected from approximately 500 submissions spanning content areas including translational bioinformatics, clinical research informatics, implementation informatics and data science. As part of his expansive research, Asweel has worked with a team of college students at Stony Brook University over five weeks to develop and created an application for people with neurodegenerative diseases that improves touch accuracy on touchscreen devices. The application aims to ensure easier touchscreen device use for people suffering from conditions such as Parkinson’s and Huntington’s disease. “Doing this research was a great experience,” Asweel said. “It was very interesting to assist people suffering such complex diseases. It is incredible to know that I can already contribute to assist people with these types of conditions.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111295 Wed, 26 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false111295 19-20 NYS Assessments Parent Letter 19-20 NYS Assessments Parent Letter March 2020 19-20 NYS Assessments Parent Letter March 2020 - Spanish https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111308 Wed, 26 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false111308 Board of Education Recognizes Outstanding Musical Accomplishments At the Jan. 29 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board recognized a large group of student-musicians for their participation in music ensembles on the county, state, regional and national levels. Students were honored for receiving recognition on numerous levels, including All-National, All-State, All-County, SCMEA Division 3 and LISFA. The District congratulates these students on their tremendous musical accomplishments. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111231 Tue, 25 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false111231 Video: P.S. I Love You Day 2020 On Friday, Feb.14, students and staff across the Sachem Central School District participated in P.S. I Love You Day, an initiative that promotes mental health awareness. Throughout the week, students participated in activities aimed at spreading kindness across their school community and beyond. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=111191 Mon, 24 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false111191 2020 Winter Break Activities https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=110894 Thu, 13 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false110894 Student Ingenuity Revs Up at Sagamore Speedway For 20 years, Tom McGrath’s seventh grade technology classroom at Sagamore Middle School has transformed into the Sagamore Speedway to culminate a lesson on aerodynamics with a wooden racecar competition between classmates. The elaborate raceway serves as the test center for the wooden cars students creatively design that incorporate engineering and design principals to reach a desired outcome. The detailed process requires students to brainstorm ideas, create a design, cut and customize their car before adding the finishing touches with elaborate paint schemes. The aerodynamically designed and pneumatically powered racecar competition is the culminating event of the unit and draws great excitement from its competitors. Peers face off in head-to-head races on the two-lane track until a winner is determined from the bracketed format of the competition. Additionally, a separate competition is held to determine the most aesthetically pleasing car. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=109436 Fri, 07 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false109436 Hiawatha Takes Storybook Character to Court The multipurpose room at Hiawatha Elementary School transformed into a courtroom as fifth grade students participated in mock trial proceedings, where the famous storybook character Goldilocks was tried for her suspected crimes against the Three Bears. To prepare for the event, the students worked with lawyer Glen Vogel to learn about the fundamentals of the American legal system and take part in activities to reinforce the concepts. The students then put their knowledge to the test by acting out a case based on the children’s book. Each student held different roles in the mock courtroom as they brought the scripted trial to life. A jury composed of third grade students listened to testimony from the cast, which included the Big Bad Wolf, Chicken Little, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. The activity allowed students to strengthen their public-speaking skills and learn to identify characters’ points of view through analyzing questions and answers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=109351 Wed, 05 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false109351 Private or Parochial School registration for Transportation Welcome to the Private or Parochial School registration for Transportation Dear Parents / Guardians: Effective immediately, we will begin accepting applications for private school transportation for the 2020-2021 school year ahead of the April 1st deadline (as per NYS Law). In an effort to streamline the process we will no longer be mailing paper applications to each household. We are now using electronic filing for transportation applications. Your application must be completed and submitted before April 1, 2020. No late applications will be accepted. It is our recommendation to apply for Transportation even if there is a chance you will not need it. You can cancel the request for transportation if needed at a later date. Keep in mind that an individual form needs to be completed for each child attending a private or parochial school. If you decide to change the school of attendance after completing the application you must notify the Sachem Transportation Department before the April 1st deadline, otherwise it will be processed as a late application. If this is your child’s first time applying for transportation to a Private or Parochial School, you will have to fill out the forms on the link below and bring them to Central Registration Office at 51 School Street Lake Ronkonkoma. The office is in the Samoset Middle School in the “A” entrance. 2020-21 Private School Registration Packet If your child is currently receiving a Sachem CSD provided bus to school and your address has not changed please click on this link below and fill out the form. If your address has changed, contact the transportation department for clarification before the April 1st deadline. An e-mail generated receipt will be sent to you stating that your child is registered for transportation. This is the only correspondence you will receive until the last week in August when the parent portal becomes available. Continuing Transportation Form Verification of District Residency to Request Textbooks Verification of District Residency is required each school year to receive textbooks for Private and/or Parochial School students. Please complete this form and fax to the Office of Instructional Support & Assessment.Fax number: (631) 471-8983. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73507 Tue, 04 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false73507 Seneca Students Showcase Engineering Expertise Smiles and cheers from sixth grade students at Seneca Middle School in Michael Lundstrom’s Technology class were abundant as they participated in a robotics unit in which they competed in a challenging competition with their peers. As part of the robotics unit spanning several weeks, student groups worked collaboratively to assemble a Vex Robot kit that would be used in the competition. The intricate build process emphasized engineering principles, teamwork and interpersonal skills to create a successful robot. Following the build process, student groups competed in matches where they were awarded points for completing specific tasks with their remote-controlled robots, such as lifting small blocks and balls, transporting them across the course and dropping them into a designated container. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=109209 Mon, 03 Feb 2020 05:00:00 GMT false109209 Sachem Board of Education Celebrates Flaming Arrows State Champs It was a packed house during the Sachem Central School District’s Jan. 15 board of education meeting, as members of the board honored the Sachem Flaming Arrows marching band for conquering the New York State Field Band Conference Large School Division 3 championship title. The Flaming Arrows were led by band director Thomas Carroll, as they took the field at Syracuse University in October 2019 for the competition. The group of nearly 100 students claimed the state title with their flawlessly executed “RemiX” performance, which is an adaptation of Beethoven’s “Symphony No. 5.” The district congratulates the band on this incredible and memorable accomplishment. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=109051 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false109051 Community Letter-Matthew Dezy DiStefano https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=109028 Tue, 28 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false109028 Waverly Showcases Coding Skills Students at Waverly Avenue Elementary School in second, third, fourth and fifth grade recently participated in a hands-on activity utilizing the coding website Scratch as part of a lesson during the weeklong Hour of Code initiative. Led by library media specialist Louann Cronin, students worked independently using laptops to explore the vast coding capabilities of the website. Students coded motion, sound, appearance and setting for a scene that incorporated a character of their choosing. The activity allowed students in fourth and fifth grade to improve upon the skills they have learned participating in similar activities in the past. In addition, first grade students were introduced to the coding program Kodable to establish introductory coding skills before participating in more advanced lessons in the future. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108981 Fri, 24 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false108981 Sachem Students Explore New York City Historic Locations Prior to the winter recess, Sachem High School students in Kristen Cannetti’s College Marketing class and Keith McCaffrey’s Hospitality and Tourism class took a daylong trip exploring several notable locations in New York City. The trip began at Macy’s Herald Square location where students learned how America’s largest store has grown over the last 150 years and how its four-year, $400 million renovation improved the retailer’s already established infrastructure. Led by a tour guide, students learned about the history of Macy’s, retailing approaches, special events and holiday traditions while exploring each department and floor on the famous wooden escalators. Students then traveled uptown to Radio City Music Hall for a specialized tour where they examined the interior design of the famous venue. Highlights of the tour included interior design of the magnificent grand foyer, the massive 1.8-million-cubic-foot auditorium, original aluminum statues, eight elegant lounges, the impeccable Roxy Suite, and the lighting booth and projection room. The in-depth tour concluded with a stop in the Rockettes dressing room and a meet-and-greet with one of the Rockettes right before she went on to star in the “Christmas Spectacular” show. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108925 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 06:00:00 GMT false108925 Grundy Avenue Explores Emerging Tech Tools Patience and problem-solving were key components of a recent lesson at Grundy Avenue Elementary School as fifth grade students explored Sphero, a programmable educational robot. As part of the introductory lesson led by library media specialist Melissa Lawler, students learned to navigate the controls of the device as they worked collaboratively to guide their group’s robot. Concluding the activity, students participated in races showcasing their new skills. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108897 Thu, 23 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false108897 Grundy Avenue Steers Clear of Bullies Combating bullying was the focus of a recent two-day program at Grundy Avenue Elementary School as fourth and fifth grade students attended the Steer Clear of Bullies program presented by Child Abuse Prevention Services. During the activities, students shared their feelings and practiced identifying expressions associated with specific feelings. Additionally, students went over the ways that feelings are shown, such as physical, verbal and situational, and learned the signs of cyberbullying and strategies to avoid those situations. As the program concluded, students were encouraged to be good friends, classmates and family members and always spread kindness. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108476 Fri, 17 Jan 2020 15:00:00 GMT false108476 Chamber of Commerce Honors Student’s Dedication to Community Sachem High School East senior Nicolas Gesuele was recently recognized for his outstanding commitment to community service and dedication to helping others by the Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce as he was named an honorary member. Nicolas was honored as the first recipient of this distinct honor at the chamber’s meeting on Oct. 2. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108445 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:00:00 GMT false108445 Free Throw Championship https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108645 Tue, 14 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false108645 Seneca Students Explore the Science of Mixtures Sixth grade students at Seneca Middle School in Brian Bartalomy’s science class recently participated in a lab activity identifying parts of a mixture and accomplishing the separation of the mixture by physical means. To begin, students reviewed the six ways to separate a mixture: filtering, evaporation, distillation, magnetism, picking the mixture apart or using a centrifuge. Students then worked collaboratively to observe and identify the characteristics of several mixtures, including iron shavings, sugar, white rice and beans, and separated the mixtures. After completing the lab activity, students answered questions about the methods they used, further solidifying their newfound scientific knowledge on mixtures. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108444 Mon, 13 Jan 2020 15:00:00 GMT false108444 Sachem Board of Education Honors Distinguished Retiree At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the Board honored retiree Sue Tuttle for her dedicated service to the district as the director for student services. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108443 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 15:00:00 GMT false108443 Winter & Spring Programs 2020 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108494 Thu, 09 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false108494 Wenonah Shows Support for Soldiers Overseas An extraordinary display of giving shined bright at Wenonah Elementary Schools as students across grade levels gathered numerous donations for members of the United States military stationed overseas as part of a campaign sponsored by New York State Sen. Monica Martinez. The effort led by several fifth grades students collected 502 letters for soldiers and 817 food and personal hygiene items. As the letter writing campaign persisted across the school building, students learned about deployed veterans and the sacrifices they make each day. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=108442 Wed, 08 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false108442 Fall Post Season Honors https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=107014 Fri, 03 Jan 2020 05:00:00 GMT false107014 Nokomis Community Service Warms Hands and Hearts First grade students at Nokomis Elementary School recently turned an idea into reality just in time for the holidays. After reading “The Mitten Tree,” students developed an idea to provide gloves to a local homeless shelter in Ronkonkoma, New York. As part of the students‘ effort, they wrote and read announcements about their fundraiser each morning, made posters and visited classrooms to present the idea to their peers. With help from the Nokomis community, students have created a bountiful tree full of different winter clothing, including hats, scarves, gloves and mittens. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=101162 Fri, 20 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false101162 United States Military Member Returns Home for the Holidays Just in time for the holidays, retired Navy Corpsman HM3 and Marine 1st Lt. Lyndon Jayroop, who currently serves as an intel and security portfolio manager for the United States Department of Defense, arrived home from a six-month deployment in Afghanistan to surprise his daughter, Julieanna Lawrence-Yaisien-Jagroop, a third grade student at Wenonah Elementary School in the Sachem Central School District. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=101117 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false101117 Dezystrong Foundation Night January 2 2020 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=101077 Thu, 19 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false101077 Sachem Central School District Appoints New Executive Director for Special Education The Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the appointment of Michael Saidens as the new executive director for special education. Mr. Saidens accepts the position after most recently serving as the principal of Tamarac Elementary School for 10 years. The vacancy left by Mr. Saidens will be filled by an interim principal, ArleneWild, who joins Sachem from the Smithtown Central School District where she served as a principal for 15 years. In addition to Mr. Saidens’ time as the principal of Tamarac Elementary School, he previously held the position of principal at the Early Childhood Center and Pre-School in East Islip for five years, was the assistant principal of Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School in the Harborfields Central School District for two years and was a teacher at Mills Pond Elementary School and Accompsett Elementary School in the Smithtown Central School District for six years. Mr. Saidens holds a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Clemson University, a master’s degree in special education from Dowling College and a professional diploma in school district administration from Stony Brook University. Adding to his expansive résumé in education, Mr. Saidens has New York State certification in school district administration, elementary education and special education. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=101063 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 06:00:00 GMT false101063 Hiawatha Students Tune Into STEAM Sounds The science of sound was on display during a recent activity at Hiawatha Elementary School as fifth grade students in Tara Sigilo’s class rotated between five stations in the building’s STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) room. During the expansive lesson on music and sound, students rotated between stations that included activities such as building a harp with straws and rubber bands, determining which surface causes the greatest vibration with a tuning fork and hitting a drum with different drum sticks to see which material would cause the most disruptive vibration. The lesson served as a creative opportunity for students to explore vibration, reverberation and sound waves through engaging hands-on design challenges and observation-based tasks. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=101062 Wed, 18 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false101062 Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame Inducts Class of 2019 The Sachem Alumni Association inducted the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2019 on Saturday, December 14. This marked the fifth induction class of the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame, which had its first ceremony in 2003 and not again until 2016. The Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2019 includes the following: -Billy Alvino, Class of 2005, baseball -Laura Conlon-Delorey, Class of 1981, swimming -Richie Doyle, Class of 1982, soccer -Erin Silvering-Grey, Class of 1998, cross-country, winter track and spring track -Larry Huggins, Class of 1979, baseball and football -Crystal Jones, Class of 1985, track & field -Dennis Kramer, Class of 1993, lacrosse and football -Diana Lopez Soltan, Class of 2003, soccer and lacrosse -Lauren Lopez, Class of 2003, soccer and lacrosse -John Matheis, Class of 1979, football, basketball and lacrosse -Tina Moon, Coach, field hockey -Sean O’Hara, Class of 1992, wrestling and coach -James O’Neal, Class of 1996, football -Dominick Savino, Coach, basketball -Eric Sopracasa, Class of 1995, lacrosse -Steve Tuttle, Coach, golf, football, baseball, bowling -Christina Hope Walsh, Class of 1986, field hockey -Chris Wayrich, Class of 1991, gymnastics #GoArrows https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98944 Tue, 17 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98944 Circle of Dance Showcases Students’ New Skills First grade students at Merrimac Elementary School recently performed several choreographed dances for an audience of family and friends as part of the Circle of Dance program. During the program, students learned essential dance skills, such as balance, coordination and flexibility, while memorizing each of their individualized dance routines. Working together through eight practice sessions, students also learned the importance of teamwork and collaboration while working to perfect their routines. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98876 Mon, 16 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98876 Flowers to Bloom Into Promises for Peace Students across grade levels at Waverly Elementary School recently attended a special assembly that promoted peace throughout their school community and beyond. As part of the event, each student at Waverly Elementary School was asked to write an essay on what peace means to them. Then, during the assembly, several students were selected to read their essays to fellow classmates, allowing the students to reflect on the ideas of their peers. Continuing the connection to promoting peace throughout Waverly, the students organized a fundraiser to benefit The Team Jesse Foundation, which provides education and support to families of fallen soldiers in honor of Staff Sgt. Jesse Williams. The students sold Team Jesse bracelets and presented the money they raised to the parents of Kevin Mincio, founder of The Team Jesse Foundation. To conclude the event, all students wrote pledges on how they can make Waverly Elementary a better place. They then walked outside the school to plant daffodil bulbs that will bloom into beautiful flowers in the spring, reminding each student of their promises to promote peace. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98833 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98833 Board of Education Letter Regarding HPV Vaccination https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98828 Fri, 13 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98828 Reminder!- Elementary Parent-Teacher conferences on 12/17 & 12/19 The dismissal times are as follows: 11:15 am-Nokomis and Merrimac 12:00 pm-Grundy, Waverly, Tamarac, Wenonah, Cayuga, Hiawatha, Lynwood, Chippewa https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98801 Thu, 12 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98801 MetLife Stadium Tour Enhances the Understanding of Big Business On Nov. 13, Sachem High School East students from the Sports and Entertainment Management classes attended a field trip to MetLife Stadium to gain expert insight from business executives and learn the history of the sports venue. As part of the immersive experience, students learned many real-life elements of marketing and management, beginning with MetLife’s sponsorship deals with Pepsi and Verizon. They then learned how the franchises did their advertising and publicity from the 1920s and how it has evolved for today’s market. Students also learned how the stadium was designed and constructed, including how they convert the stadium from the Giants to Jets between games. Additionally, tour guides shared in-depth information on professional sports, college-level sports, hosting special events such as the Super Bowl, and revenue MetLife generates from hosting lavish weddings, bar mitzvahs, sweet 16s and other private events. As the tour progressed, students visited key areas of the stadium, including different types of clubs and suites available to ticket holders, the planning room for Super Bowl XLVIII, the outside of the New York Giant’s locker room and the sidelines of the field. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98699 Tue, 10 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98699 Sachem North Boys Track Runs for Food Drive The Sachem North boys winter track team took to the frigid Lake Ronkonkoma streets during the first Saturday of their season in their 14th annual Run for Hunger to help support the Sachem North Thanksgiving Food Drive. The boys ran from Sachem North to Stop & Shop with money they raised to purchase items to aid the already bountiful efforts put forth for the school’s food drive. Led by seniors Dan Audia, Pat Clancy, Jake Fitzgerald, Kevin McMahon, Anthony Mileti, Pat Morales, Faisel Sadar, Devin Snow and Ian Wollman, the team bundled up and ran the unusual workout. “Today is not about training; it is about giving back,” Clancy said. Sadar echoed the sentiment. “We are very fortunate in many aspects of our lives, and helping our team support our school community is a great way to kick off the season,” he said. “The run was not very far, but that is not the point,” Wollman added. “It is a great way to come together as a team for an incredible cause.” The North boys track team is coached by Vin Juliano, Bryan Rogers and Joe Zarzycki. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98519 Thu, 05 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98519 Smith Point Light Show https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98487 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98487 Parade of Lights https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98486 Wed, 04 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98486 VIDEO: Sachem Hosts Career Connection Events Last month, students at Sachem High Schools North and East participated in the 3rd annual Career Connection Event. Led by William Ward and the Sachem Business Department, students met with over 40 business leaders and representatives to explore future career paths and opportunities. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98454 Tue, 03 Dec 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98454 Sachem East, Sachem North Donate Nearly 2,000 Food Boxes to Feed Community Outstanding as always, Sachem East and Sachem North together filled nearly 2,000 food boxes for this year’s Thanksgiving food drive. This food will feed families across the Sachem community and Suffolk County region. Students and staff began collecting items as early as the summer in hopes of creating awareness and gathering as much as they could for the sake of helping others. As always, a special shout out to the “Dirty Dozen” student group at Sachem North for their major efforts to gather more than 1,680 boxes alone. Happy Thanksgiving, all! #WeAreSachem https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98365 Wed, 27 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98365 Two Thumbs Up for Sachem East Drama As always, the Sachem East Drama Company performed a dazzling and splendid rendition of a famous play. Students and staff presented their first production of the school year with their take on “The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940,” a comedy by John Bishop that premiered in 1987. It is based on a compilation of several 1940s mystery movies. The crew, talent and all support staff did an outstanding job. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98301 Tue, 26 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98301 Sachem North Performs Thrilling Rendition of ‘Cyrano de Bergerac’ Students displayed beauty and grace during this year’s Sachem North fall drama production of “Cyrano de Bergerac.” The play is originally from 1897 and written by Edmond Rostand. We already can’t wait for the next drama coming up in 2020. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98302 Tue, 26 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98302 Sachem Librarians Attend Regional Institute On Tuesday, Nov. 5 librarians from across the Sachem Central School District attended the Long Island School Library Systems’ 6th Regional Institute. At the Institute, librarian and former American Library Association President Dr. Barbara Stripling discussed her reimagining of the Information Fluency Continuum, a curriculum that librarians can follow that emphasizes information literacy and inquiry skills. During lunch, the keynote speaker was television journalist Cheryl Wills, who spoke about her newest book, “A Hidden Figure from the Civil War: Emma,” chronicling her search for her ancestors who were slaves. Afterwards, the librarians participated in workshop sessions ranging from primary sources and historical records, to stress management for librarians, to byte-size coding and TeachingBooks databases. Additionally, Sagamore Middle School library media specialist Sandy Bucher presented a session called “Coding with Sphero Bolts” in which she spoke about using Sphero Bolts in the library and in the classroom, across the curriculum, and how students could learn to code by drawing, block coding or Java Script. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98239 Mon, 25 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98239 Interact Club Constructs Wall to Honor Veterans In honor of Veterans Day, Sachem High School North students in the Interact Club, led by adviser Christy Zummo, recently constructed a wall recognizing Sachem alumni who have served or currently serve in a branch of the United States military. As part of their efforts, students contacted recent High School North alumni and those who responded were featured on the wall with their picture and branch of service. In addition to the wall, students and staff were able to show support for veterans in their life by writing their name on a yellow ribbon to be hung in a designated place in the building. The wall is now a temporary addition to the building’s hallway, but the club plans to create a permanent fixture after compiling a full list of Sachem alumni who have served in the military, to recognize them for their selfless service to our county. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98171 Thu, 21 Nov 2019 06:00:00 GMT false98171 Swimming Success for Sachem East and Sachem North Both the Sachem East and Sachem North swim teams had great success this past season. Some swimmers will continue at the upcoming state meet as well. For Sachem East, after going 5-4 overall and 4-1 in league play, nine girls competed at the Suffolk County championship meet. Freshman AvaGrace Monti qualified for the state championship meet in Ithaca, New York, on Nov. 22-23 in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:08.50. She placed No. 7 out of 31. Monti also had a personal best in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:17.68, placing No. 9 out of 21. “This is AvaGrace Monti’s first year on the varsity team and is extremely excited to represent the team in Ithaca,” Sachem East coach Kathleen Dugan said. Senior diver Amanda Freund finished her high school diving career with a No. 13 placement at the county meet. “Freund is one of our hardest workers and sweetest girls,” Dugan said. “She is a true teammate and selfless person who is always cheering on her teammates and competitors.” Other individual competitors from Sachem East: sophomore Paige Levine: 200- and 500-yard freestyle, 2:08.40, 5:39.44; senior Alejandra Przybylo: 100-yard fly (1:07.79); freshmen Faith Maddox: 100-yard free (:59.47); sophomore Ava Corrigan: 100-yard back (1:06.01); and junior Valerie Mei: 100-yard breast (1:16.60). In relays: 200 medley relay, 2:01.03 – Sarah Chapnick, Maddox, Monti, Przybylo; 200 freestyle relay, 1:49.31 – Levine, Monti, Nicole Orellana, Alejandra Przybylo; 400 freestyle relay, 4:03.24 – Corrigan, Levine, Mei, Orellana. In the pool at Sachem North, the team had a 6-2 record and were 4-1 in league play, tied for first place. The following girls made the state qualifying meet: Alyssa Golden and Alexandra Martinez, eighth grade; Morgan Rietmann, ninth grade; Katherine Howard and Samantha Watson, 10th grade; and Christen Wolffer, 11th grade. Golden, Howard, Martinez, Rietmann and Watson were All-League. The biggest highlight for the team was defeating Ward Melville in a dual meet during the regular season since Ward Melville went on to win the county title. Ava Davis and Lydia Hicylimas made their diving debuts and did very well in leagues. Davis is an eighth grader and Hicylimas is in seventh grade. “We have a very young team and a very bright future,” Sachem North coach Al Scott said. “I am very proud of this team and look forward to the next several years.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98154 Thu, 21 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98154 Wenonah Hosts Annual Pumpkin Chuckin’ Competition Design and engineering principles propelled students during a recent competition at Wenonah Elementary School, where fifth grade students were challenged to construct a catapult that could perform best in three challenges, testing distance, power and accuracy. Separated into teams, students constructed their catapults from household materials such as spoons, rubber bands, popsicle sticks and canned vegetables. Once the creations were finalized, the students competed with their classmates to select the winning team from their class that would move on to the grade-level competition. At the conclusion of the testing phase, the students competed in a schoolwide competition, yet again testing distance, power and accuracy. To the cheers of their fellow classmates, students competed in several rounds before a winner was named for the best overall catapult and best distance catapult. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98110 Wed, 20 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98110 Chippewa Crafts Pumpkins for a Cause Festive decorations held a greater purpose for fourth grade students at Chippewa Elementary School as they crafted pumpkins to raise money for the DezyStrong Foundation established by Matthew DiStefano, a Sachem High School North teacher battling cancer. As part of the annual tradition, students crafted unique pumpkins to be entered into a competition in which the students voted for the winner by putting coins into a bag, one for each pumpkin. On voting day, Matthew DiStefano stopped by to thank students for their efforts and to check out some of the crafty creations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98058 Tue, 19 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98058 Festival of Trees and Lights https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=98092 Tue, 19 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false98092 Board of Education Hears Social and Emotional Learning Update At the Nov. 6 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, administrators, staff and students gave an engaging presentation on social and emotional learning and the ways it is being implemented through progressive districtwide activities and initiatives. Lynwood Elementary School Principal Danielle DeLorenzo provided a look into how SEL is incorporated on the elementary level, Jonathan Chiaramonte shared an update on the peer education programs at the high school level, and the Director for Physical Education, Athletics, and Health Services Gary Beutel and Administrator for Physical Education Shannon McEntee spoke about how SEL is being integrated into health and physical education classes. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94943 Fri, 15 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false94943 Staff Attends Superintendents Conference Day On Tuesday, Nov.6, the Sachem Central School District hosted a comprehensive Superintendents Conference Day, which included many professional development opportunities for staff and faculty members. As part of the daylong program, those in attendance chose sessions from a list of enriching topics that included an educational book talk with Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham, mindfulness practices, math education, growth mindset, small-group literacy instruction, beginner’s yoga, social and emotional learning, a mindfulness dance class and the use of Google software. This year, harnessing the diverse educational expertise of teachers in the Sachem Central School District, the majority of the professional development sessions were led by Sachem teachers themselves, sharing their knowledge with their fellow staff members. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94924 Thu, 14 Nov 2019 07:00:00 GMT false94924 Sachem Middle Schoolers Compete in Districtwide Cross-Country Meet Over 120 middle schoolers from the Sagamore, Samoset and Seneca cross-country teams competed on the Sachem East 1.5-mile cross-country course. The tri-meet, used to determine the top overall team and individual performers from across Sachem’s three middle school teams, was dubbed the Jeff Stone Memorial XC Meet, a nod to former Sachem teacher and coach Jeff Stone. Coach Angermaier (Sagamore), coach Byrne (Samoset) and coach Michta (Seneca) had their squads prepared for a large invitational-style cross-country meet, something that many of the middle schoolers were able to experience at the Sunken Meadow Invitational earlier in their season. Additionally, the athletes all arrived at Sachem East in plenty of time to preview the challenging course composed of grass, trails, rolling hills and one very challenging hill climb. Despite the many challenges presented by the tough course, athletes and teams were still able to manage several stellar performances. On the girls side, Kayley Catalano (Seneca) was able to best the rest of the Sachem competition with an impressive time of 10:23. Following her were Lexi Martoscia (Sagamore) in second, Madison DeRosa (Seneca) in third, Shania Barravecchio (Seneca) in fourth and Samantha McCullagh (Sagamore) in fifth. There were nearly 50 total finishers in the girls race. The team title was won by Seneca (24 points) in a close race over Sagamore (31 points), with Samoset finishing third (80 points). On the boys side, the top overall finisher was Jack Reigger (Samoset) in a time of 9:51. Following him were Thomas Koeppel (Seneca) in second, Paolo Calvacca (Samoset) in third, Alec Torquato (Sagamore) in fourth and Michael Lubniewski (Seneca) in fifth. The boys race had over 70 total finishers. The team title was won by Seneca (32 points) over Samoset (44 points) and Sagamore (50 points). https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94814 Thu, 14 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false94814 Wenonah Hosts Halloween Parade A rainy day didn’t scare away students and staff at Wenonah Elementary School from a day of fun as they held their annual Halloween parade displaying a vast collection of unique costumes. In a special display, all staff members throughout the building dressed as a character from the popular movie series, “Toy Story.” Throughout the district, several festive Halloween parades were held to showcase students’ costumes following lessons on the origin of Halloween. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94786 Wed, 13 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false94786 Streak Continues – Sachem North Wins Another County Title Sachem North boys volleyball has not lost a match in Suffolk County since November 2017. Though the team was pushed to the brink in five sets against Smithtown West in this year’s Suffolk County championship, the Flaming Arrows finished strong and captured another county title. Sachem is 17-0 this season and will face the winner of Nassau County’s Class A final in the Long Island championship on Nov. 19 at Farmingdale State College. It will play either Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK or Massapequa. Prior to the county final, Sachem had only lost three sets this season. The team is looking to defend its Long Island crown and win another state title after finishing as runners-up last season. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94759 Tue, 12 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false94759 Long Island Championship Achieved, Next Up – States The journey continues for Sachem East field hockey, which captured a Class A Long Island championship by beating Massapequa 3-0 this past weekend. Bridget Abraldes scored two goals and recorded an assist. Meghan Higgins scored the other goal for Sachem. The Arrows, 18-0 this season, will now play in the NYSPHSAA championship against Maine-Endwell on Nov. 16. The match will take place at Williamsville North High School at 12:30 p.m. Follow along on @SachemSchools for updates. #GoArrows https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94697 Mon, 11 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false94697 Business Students Prepare for Career Connection Event In preparation for the upcoming annual Career Connection events at both High School North and High School East, students assisted business teacher William Ward with pre-event tasks ahead of the much-anticipated event. Students assisted with table settings, centerpieces, promotional flyers and worksheets that included helpful information when attending the event such as business attire, characteristics of a positive attendee and suggested prompts when meeting a business professional. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94647 Fri, 08 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false94647 Cayuga Celebrates 50 Years of Learning On Oct. 18, members of the Sachem community gathered for a celebratory event commemorating the 50th anniversary of Cayuga Elementary School and their commitment to excellence in education during that time. They daylong event began with congratulatory welcome addresses by building principal Matthew Wells; Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham; the mayor of Lake Grove, Robert J. Scottaline; and retired Cayuga teacher Susan Heppeler. Additionally, several current students shared their reasons why Cayuga is a special place to them. As the events continued, building retirees and guests were led on student-guided tours throughout the school where they learned interesting facts about Cayuga Elementary. In the cafetorium, guests enjoyed performances by members of the High School North chorus who were Cayuga alumni. As the chorus members performed, guests viewed an expansive slideshow of photos from the past and present. To conclude the day’s celebration, a time capsule from 1969 was opened to reveal interesting items from the past that included a class yearbook, school assignments and tape recordings from past students. Current Cayuga students carried on the time capsule tradition by adding their own items to the capsule, to be opened again in 50 years. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94604 Thu, 07 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false94604 Peer Education Students Share Words of Wisdom Sachem High School North freshmen recently gathered for a powerful assembly program led by seniors in Jon Chiaramonte’s peer education class, who shared encouraging insight on managing the emotions students encounter in high school. As part of the assembly, seniors showed photos from their freshman year and spoke of how they have been resilient and grown during their time as Sachem students, overcoming obstacles in their path. The freshmen spoke also about how they’ve grown since middle school, and resources were identified that are available to students in a time of need. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94590 Wed, 06 Nov 2019 07:00:00 GMT false94590 Sachem Debuts Pep Bands at Football Games New to the stands at Sachem football games this year was a pep band. Playing the school fight song and keeping the crowd entertained between plays, the band was a welcome addition to add pride and spirit at both Sachem North and Sachem East this past fall season. There are about 20 students at North and 10 at East who perform in their respective bands as an extracurricular ensemble. North’s band is advised by David Jaklitsch, and Robert Flahavan heads up the group at East. “These are kids who love to play and are involved in school activities in general,” Jaklitsch said. “They will generally join any meaningful opportunity to play more music. Some of them specifically enjoy supporting the football team, while others have never seen a game and can’t follow the action. In the end, everyone is having fun. There has been quite a lot of positive feedback from school administration and community members, so that makes the kids proud to be a part of the pep band!” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94769 Wed, 06 Nov 2019 06:00:00 GMT false94769 Sachem Gymnastics Wins League Championship The Sachem girls’ gymnastics team has won a League II championship for the first time in six years and finished the regular season with an undefeated campaign. The Flaming Arrows will compete in the Suffolk County team championships on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 4 p.m. at Connetquot High School. “We are all very excited and proud of what the team has accomplished this year,” Sachem coach Jan Zettwoch said. A number of girls also qualified for the individual Suffolk County championships on Friday, Nov. 8 at 4 p.m. at Babylon High School. Only the top 30 girls per event in Suffolk County qualify for this meet, so it’s quite an accomplishment. Sachem has four student-athletes competing: Summer Matlat (floor exercise), Riley McPartland (all-around), Lillian Noriega (vault, uneven bars, balance beam) and Samantha Woodburn (uneven bars). Good luck to all of our student-athletes competing at their upcoming events. #GoArrows https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94510 Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:00:00 GMT false94510 Lynwood Student Leads Fundraising Campaign Lynwood Avenue Elementary School third grade student Molly McHenry recently brought an idea to reality as she developed a fundraiser to benefit students in her school community. Molly brought her idea to the school social worker, Cathy Rafferty, to raise $1,000 through a coin drive to purchase 50 new backpacks full of school supplies for Lynwood students in need. Molly created and distributed flyers to spread awareness of her goal to collect funds for the backpacks. Through Molly’s incredible efforts she donated 25 backpacks full of school supplies this September. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94486 Mon, 04 Nov 2019 05:00:00 GMT false94486 Sachem Students Attend LIU Business Summit A recent visit to LIU Post created real-world business management experience for Sachem High School East business students and students who work at the school store, The Arrow Zone. During the visit, students met with Dr. Robert Valli, dean of the School of Business at LIU Post, and representatives from the LIU school store management team to share business skills and techniques. Among the topics covered were accounting, fiscal practices, inventory control and pricing strategies. The partnership created a plethora of learning opportunities for students at both schools and will continue in the future as the student groups share best practices for how to mitigate operational challenges. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94452 Fri, 01 Nov 2019 04:00:00 GMT false94452 2019 Special Olympics Polar Plunge Poster https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94382 Thu, 31 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false94382 Video: Sachem Students Visited by Local Life Savers In honor of Fire Prevention Month, this October students across the Sachem Central School District were visited by local fire departments to learn about fire safety and how to remain safe in an emergency situation. As part of the districtwide presentations, firefighters performed numerous demonstrations showcasing department vehicles such as ambulances, fire engines and ladder trucks. Additionally, students viewed tools and equipment used by firefighters in emergencies. Concluding these informational visits, firefighters held Q&A sessions with students to answer any additional questions. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94311 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false94311 Sachem Wins NYS Marching Band Championship All season the Flaming Arrows have been consistently turning in very strong marching band performances across Long Island. And there was something special brewing leading up to the New York State Field Band Championship Show in Syracuse on Sunday, Oct. 27. Sachem outperformed the competition and captured a New York State Marching Band championship, finishing the season on top. The Flaming Arrows turned in a performance good enough for an 85.550 score, beating out Greece (83.550) and Hicksville (82.600) for top honors. Sachem’s marching band continues to uphold the tradition of excellence it has performed with for decades. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94253 Mon, 28 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false94253 Arrow Up for Downs at Sachem North High school sports can be about a lot more than wins and losses. Sachem North football hosted its “Arrow Up for Downs” event on Friday, Oct. 18 honoring students and community members who have Down syndrome. A number of students met with varsity football players during the school day and had an incredible experience running out of the blowup head dress on the field prior to Sachem North’s game against Walt Whitman High School. Students were named honorary captains and joined players from both teams during the coin toss before the game. They wore Sachem football jerseys and were overjoyed to be part of the action thanks to the coaches, teachers and staff members who helped organize the event. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94211 Fri, 25 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false94211 Sachem Board of Education Recognized During Board Appreciation Week During last night’s meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the nine esteemed members of the Board were recognized for their extraordinary efforts as representatives for Sachem students, staff and community members. Numerous district organizations, including the Sachem Administrators Association, Sachem Classroom Teachers Association, Sachem Clerical Association, Sachem Nurses Association, Sachem Supervisors Association, Sachem Parent-Teacher Association Council and the Sachem custodial, maintenance, facilities and security unions all presented the Board with tokens of appreciation or made donations in their name for their continuous outstanding contributions to the Sachem Central School District and community. Among others, a donation was made to the DezyStrong Foundation, a foundation established by Matthew DiStefano, a Sachem High School North teacher currently battling cancer. The organization’s mission is to individuals with cancer access to experiences that directly instill mental well-being. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94129 Thu, 24 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false94129 Merrimac Students Take the Lead Future leaders filled the cafetorium at Merrimac Elementary School as students in third, fourth and fifth grades gathered for an inspiring leadership assembly introducing schoolwide leadership roles and habits for success. As part of the assembly, students listened to projects led by students in years prior that made a difference in the community and learned how they can participate in similar projects this school year. Additionally, students learned about the importance of being a role model in their school building and reviewed schoolwide leadership roles, such as morning greeters. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=94112 Wed, 23 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false94112 Sachem East Wins Big on Homecoming Another big win for Sachem East football came in front of an excited crowd during homecoming. The Arrows beat Brentwood 38-7 to cap off a wonderful week of spirit-filled activities. Prior to the game students and staff attended a carnival on the grounds, taking part in fun activities. Sachem’s Ryan Paolella was named MVP of the game, played in honor of Vinny DeRiggi each year between the Arrows and Indians. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92862 Mon, 21 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92862 Collaborative Art Project Finds New Home This summer, the Sachem Central School District Administration Office received some new artwork thanks to third grade students at Waverly Avenue Elementary School. As part of a lesson in Susan Kinsey’s art class focused on weaving, last year’s third grade students across the building learned about the history of weaving, how it was used throughout Native American culture and the extensive process of making cloth material. For their project, students created circle weavings using cardboard and yarn to create individual circles that were then combined to create one large, vivid display of color. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92808 Fri, 18 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92808 Merrimac Elementary Turns Back Time Students throughout Merrimac Elementary School gathered in excitement for a special assembly that showcased items from a time capsule left by Merrimac students in 1989. As part of the assembly, students reviewed a collection of popular items from 30 years ago such as a Merrimac T-shirt, materials from the nurse’s office and classwork that included self-portraits, students’ wishes for the world and learning activities students engaged in at that time. Later this year, Merrimac alumni will visit the school to view the materials their class left and view the items current students will be placing within the time capsule to be reopened years from now by future Merrimac students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92736 Wed, 16 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92736 Sagamore’s Cross-Country Team By Emma Santos & Syed Dawood, 7th grade So far, 2019 has been an enjoyable year for the Sagamore cross country team. Currently, the ground-breaking runners have held a repetitive score, continuously being triumphant. Ms. Angermeier is the coach of the exceedingly successful team. Everyone is undergoing strong ecstatic vibes running for the Sagamore cross-country team. Our fellow team member Demarco Heron states, "Cross-country is pretty fun." To commence practice, the team jogs around the school's field hockey field. After jogging, as a team, we collectively stretch together in sets. Depending on the day, our coach prepares an exercise for us to practice. Usually, after practicing, we run the one-mile course, which is a perimeter of the school field. Cross-country is a running sport enjoyed nationally, and we recommend trying the sport one day. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92592 Thu, 10 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92592 Sachem Student Selected as Future Medical Leader This past June, Sachem High School North junior Solbright Llivicura attended the National Leadership Academies’ prestigious Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston. Students selected to attend the conference are recommended by their teacher or guidance counselor for leadership ability, academic achievement and dedication to science and related fields while also holding a GPA of 3.25 or above. The three-day conference included numerous invigorating medical seminars, which explored topics such as genetics, biomedical engineering, nanotechnology, regenerative medicine, real-time brain imaging and the advancement of modern medicine, led by world-renowned scientists and leaders in medicine. Speakers included winners of the Nobel Prize, award-winning young inventors and prominent medical school deans. “It was an eye-opening experience, I loved it,” Solbright said. “I had the opportunity to meet people from across the country and gain excellent insight on ways to succeed in the future.” Solbright is enrolled in Advanced Placement Statistics and is an integral member of several clubs, including the Cultural Club, Leos Club, Making Connections Club, Robinhood Club and the STEM Club. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92536 Tue, 08 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92536 Sachem Students Named AP Scholars At the conclusion of the 2018-2019 school year, the College Board recognized 293 Sachem High School junior and senior students as Advanced Placement Scholars for their extraordinary performance on Advanced Placement Program exams. At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, 127 of the Advanced Placement Scholars who are now seniors at either Sachem High School North or East were recognized for their outstanding achievement on the challenging exams. The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers academically excelling students an opportunity to enroll in college-level courses while still in high school to earn college credit. The College Board recognizes varying levels of achievement based on students’ performance on the course exams. Among the varying levels of recognition students received included recognition as AP Scholars, receiving a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams, AP Scholars with Honor for attaining an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams, AP Scholars with Distinction for achieving an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams and the National AP Scholar for receiving an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92437 Thu, 03 Oct 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92437 Sachem Secondary Departmental Testing Calendar The Secondary Departmental Testing Calendar was created to honor our students'ability to prepare for assessments by minimizing the amount of tests taken at once. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92281 Fri, 27 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92281 Fourteen Sachem Seniors Named National Merit Commended Students Fourteen Sachem Central School District seniors have been named as commended students in the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program. At the end of September, about 34,000 of the approximately 50,000 highest scorers were chosen for this honor based on their PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test results. Each of the 14 Sachem students chosen as commended students boasts impressive academic résumés, including enrollment in challenging Advanced Placement courses, exemplary involvement in clubs and in a wide variety of honor societies. Selected as commended students this year are Anika Banerjee, Ahmet Buyukbayraktar, Lara Fitzpatrick, Katelyn Frawley, Miranda Garcia-Cassani, Tiffany Lin, Kaya Manolt, Alena Thotam and Alexa Wienclaw from High School North and Joseph Dachinger, Benjamin Luckow, Ryan Meehan, Nicholas Mulieri and Elizabeth Reimer from High School East. Each student selected received letters of commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic performance and now become candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporations and businesses. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92282 Fri, 27 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92282 Sachem Student-Musicians Chosen for NYSSMA All-State Nine talented student-musicians from Sachem High School North and East were selected to showcase their musical mastery during the 2019 New York State School Music Association’s All-State Festival at the Rochester Convention Center in Rochester, New York, from Dec. 5-8. From High School East, Natalie Hartmann has been selected as an alto to perform in the mixed chorus. Additionally, Kayleigh Di Brico and Valeria Mei have been selected as alternates to play the violin. From High School North, Emily Ashby will perform as a soprano in the mixed chorus, Brett Lynott will perform as a tenor in the mixed chorus and Nistha Boghra will play the flute with the symphonic band. Selected as alternates, Mili Das will play the violin, Alyssa Koza will sing in the chorus as a soprano and Ryan Sojka will play the saxophone. The arduous selection process for selecting an All-State musician includes teacher recommendations, audition scores at the NYSMMA solo evaluation festival during the prior spring and exemplary participation in other performing organizations. Approximately 7,000 students audition for the eight All-State performing groups and just under 900 are selected to participate annually. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92266 Thu, 26 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92266 Sachem Students Celebrate Dot Day In celebration of International Dot Day, elementary students across the Sachem Central School District participated in challenging activities that expressed their unique creativity and showcased their artistic abilities. Dot Day is a worldwide celebration of creativity which arose as a byproduct of the Peter H. Reynolds book, “The Dot.” The book depicts the story of a little girl who is shy about expressing her artistic abilities. Following some encouragement from an art teacher, she becomes inspired by a tiny dot she put on a piece of paper and from that dot creates multiple works of art. At Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, first grade students in Christine Breslin’s class watched a video of “The Dot” author creating his own drawing from a dot and then used his creation as inspiration for their own works of art. Student drawings included butterflies, people, flowers and animals. Second grade students in Christal Satterfield’s class began their activity by reading the popular book together. Continuing the activity, students made their own colorful drawings on coffee filters, representing each student’s individual artistic vision, which were then combined into one large collective masterpiece. Fifth grade students in Mary Scoll’s class crafted a buddy dot quilt by creating unique dot-inspired drawings on a paper circle, cutting them in half and then combining them with a partner’s to form a whole circle. In another lesson, second grade students in Tara Erb’s class inspired their classmates’ creativity by offering encouraging words to each other. In the activity, students used coffee filters as their canvases to paint colorful designs that then were dipped in water to allow the vibrant colors to run together. As the day continued, Dot Day activities throughout the district celebrated creativity, and each emphasized the importance of embracing individuality. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92231 Wed, 25 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92231 Sachem North Highlights Homecoming With Victory A week filled with pageantry, spirit and pride was underscored by victory for Sachem North during 2019 homecoming festivities. Students and staff enjoyed a homecoming dance, carnival and parade around the track leading up to the football game on Saturday afternoon. On the gridiron, Sachem beat Bay Shore 12-8. The Flaming Arrows went 98 yards after stopping Bay Shore on the 2-yard line with 7:49 left in the game. The game-winning drive was spurred along thanks to two clutch catches by Dylan Reilly, who totaled 62 receiving yards. Quarterback Sam Walker threw a 15-yard pass to his brother Josh Walker with 2:24 left in the game to put Sachem ahead for good. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=92171 Mon, 23 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false92171 The agenda for the 9/18/19 BoE meeting is now available for viewing https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90431 Tue, 17 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90431 Notice of Public Hearing - September 18 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90802 Thu, 12 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90802 Suffolk County Police - Zero Tolerance for School Threats https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90740 Wed, 11 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90740 Parent Workshop Series https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90702 Tue, 10 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90702 Aquarium Trip by Arrdah Zaman The Environmental Courtyard Club and Critter club went on a wonderful trip last May which was a fun experience for everyone. The activities that we did included the educational portion, touring around, and the seal show. The educational portion of the trip taught us about clams, starfish, and snails. The touring portion of the trip allowed us to roam around the aquarium with chaperones and that included the butterfly exhibit and the bird cage. The last portion of the trip was the seal show. Overall, the aquarium trip was a wonderful experience. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83474 Fri, 06 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83474 First Day Photos https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90594 Wed, 04 Sep 2019 06:00:00 GMT false90594 Important Video Reminder https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90572 Wed, 04 Sep 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90572 Sachem Welcomes 78 New Faculty Members On Aug. 27, the Sachem Central School District hosted a new teacher orientation program for 78 teachers and teaching assistants who will be joining the district for the 2019-2020 school year. To begin the informative program, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham welcomed the new educators and delivered remarks on the district vision. The educators were then introduced to district administration and members of the Board of Education. As the daylong orientation continued, those in attendance reviewed expectations for student achievement, instructional focus areas, classroom management techniques and building resources. The annual orientation program provided new teachers an essential opportunity to familiarize themselves with district policies and procedures, while creating valuable connections with fellow faculty and staff. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90502 Fri, 30 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90502 Earth Day Contest Mrs. Grant (Environmental Club) and Mrs. Esp (Critter Club) held a poster contest for Earth day, with the theme "Save our Species!" Students and staff were invited to vote on their favorites. Congratulations to our winners, and many thanks to all students who participated! The winners are: 1st Place: Alexia Dutton and Jason Beaulieu 2nd Place: Chloe Walsh 3rd Place: Jordan Dinner and Sophia Hammond https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90469 Thu, 29 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90469 Authors and Artists of Sagamore The Sagamore News was published in June of 2019. Congratulations to the club members! To view the fantastic artwork and articles in the June, 2019 Sagamore News, click here First Edition, Fall of 2016 Spring Edition, 2017 Sagamore News of 2018 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90471 Thu, 29 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90471 Congratulations to Bridget Mitchell! Bridget came in second place in a writing contest run by the Suffolk County Executive and Asian-American Advisory Board. The theme of the writing contest was promoting cultural understanding and social harmony. Bridget is to be awarded $150 at a ceremony honoring her and several other outstanding writers from Suffolk County. Sagamore is very proud of Bridget and all of the students who entered. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90470 Thu, 29 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90470 Sachem Central School District Administrators Gather for Annual Retreat Administrators from across the Sachem Central School District recently gathered at the Sachem Public Library for the annual administrative retreat in preparation for the 2019-2020 school year. The retreat created an opportunity for central office administration and building administrators to review the district vision and collectively analyze instructional practices and building procedures prior to the new school year. As part of the retreat, the administrators reviewed mindfulness and meditation practices, expectations for student achievement and instructional technology available in the district this year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90463 Thu, 29 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90463 Pine Barrens Discovery Day https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90472 Thu, 29 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90472 Superintendent’s Welcome Back https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90457 Wed, 28 Aug 2019 05:00:00 GMT false90457 Immunization Information August 2019 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90435 Wed, 28 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90435 Important Information Regarding Changes to the AP Registration Period Registration for the 19-20 AP Exams will take place September 16-October 16. Read to learn more https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90389 Mon, 26 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90389 Homecoming Carnival - Sept 21 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90406 Mon, 26 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90406 Sachem North Carnival Flyer 2019 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90370 Thu, 22 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90370 2019-20 School Year Reminder Video https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90343 Wed, 21 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90343 Immunization Information August 2019 This is a reminder that the New York State Department of Health is no longer permitting nonmedical exemptions for school vaccinations requirements for children attending day care and pre-K through 12th grade in New York State. Children who have previously been granted nonmedical exemptions must now be vaccinated to attend or remain in school. For additional information, including guidance on the latest immunization requirements please see the links below: August 16, 2019 FAQ 2019-2020 Immunizations Requirement Chart Medical exemptions information https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90327 Tue, 20 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90327 Sachem Summer Construction Update Throughout the Sachem Central School District this summer, various projects have been taking place to improve the infrastructure of our buildings and enhance the safety and security of our students, staff and faculty members. At all 15 of our instructional buildings and the District Office, two-layer security vestibules and an electronic visitor management system are being installed to bolster the security of our buildings. Upon arriving at our schools, visitors will be asked for the purpose of their visit using an external speaker system and, if approved, will be permitted access to the internal vestibule. All will be required to provide the building’s security staff with photo identification, which will be scanned against various internal and external safety databases using the visitor management system. Once fully vetted, the visitor will be authorized to enter the building and proceed to the approved location. In several of our buildings, including Cayuga, Chippewa, Hiawatha, Merrimac, Nokomis, Tamarac, Wenonah, High School East and High School North, the security vestibules are being built within the existing footprint of the building, with the current entrance lobby serving as the vestibule. Sagamore, Samoset, Seneca and Waverly require buildouts to accommodate the vestibules. Lynwood and Grundy require only minor buildouts to provide the space necessary for the vestibule construction. In addition, the district is completing a partial roof replacement at Waverly Elementary School, replacing the pool pump, filter and chlorination system at High School North, installing a fiberglass gas tank and a partial parking lot replacement at the district transportation yard, refinishing the stage at all of our elementary buildings and conducting miscellaneous asphalt work at various locations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90305 Mon, 19 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90305 Samoset Middle School Appoints New Assistant Principal At the conclusion of a lengthy search and screening process, the Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the appointment of Timothy Rodgers as a new assistant principal at Samoset Middle School, filling the vacancy left by Thomas Desmond after he was appointed principal of Wenonah Elementary School. Mr. Rodgers joins Samoset from P.S./I.S. 178, where he served as the K-8 dean of students since 2017. He was responsible for the social-emotional development and the restorative discipline process of students and was instrumental in the development of a check-in and check-out progress monitoring system for middle school classes. While serving as the dean of students, he also collaborated with teachers and administrators on a weekly basis, participating on many school teams, such as the child study team, school leadership team, building response team, school safety team and the school intervention team, and in the math department to promote STEM initiatives. Prior to his time as the dean of students, Mr. Rodgers was a health and physical education teacher at P.S./I.S. 178 for four years and a health and physical education teacher at P.S. 334 for four years prior to that. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in physical education with a certification in teaching and a master’s degree in health education with a certificate in teaching from the State University of New York at Cortland and an initial certificate in school building leadership from The College of Saint Rose. “I am excited to take on the role of assistant principal at Samoset Middle School, and I look forward to working with a collaborative staff, enthusiastic students and caring families,” Mr. Rodgers said. “I am honored to work with a dynamic administrative team, and I look forward to supporting all the wonderful programs and activities that Samoset Middle School has in place to enrich students’ academic experience.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90295 Fri, 16 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90295 Sachem High School East Welcomes New Assistant Principals Following a rigorous screening process, the Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the appointment of Matthew Perlongo as the new assistant principal at Sachem High School East, filling the vacancy left by Andrew Larson, who has accepted a position as the principal of Hiawatha Elementary School. Mr. Perlongo joins High School East after serving in numerous administrative capacities, most recently as the dean of students at the STEM Magnet School/Woodhill Intermediate School in the Huntington Union Free School District. During his time there, Mr. Perlongo managed the discipline of more than 800 students, aided in the creation and monitoring of RTI plans and assisted the principal in day-to-day building operations. In addition, Mr. Perlongo held the position of assistant principal at the Western Suffolk BOCES Regional Summer School and as the Summer STEM Academy director at the Huntington Union Free School District, where he conducted observations of staff and coordinated special education accommodations for students. Mr. Perlongo holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications from University at Albany and a Master of Arts degree in secondary mathematics education from Adelphi University. He has completed the Educational Leadership Certificate Program at Stony Brook University. “Growing up and attending school in the Sachem community gave me a true understanding of what makes this such a special place,” Mr. Perlongo said. “I am honored to be given the chance to serve the district that provided me with such great experiences and opportunities.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90290 Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:00:00 GMT false90290 Hiawatha Elementary School Welcomes New Principal Following the completion of a competitive screening process, Andrew Larson, a longtime employee of the Sachem Central School District, has been named the new principal of Hiawatha Elementary School. For seven years, Mr. Larson worked as an elementary classroom teacher at Waverly Avenue Elementary School before serving as an assistant personnel administrator at the Sachem District Office for one year. As part of his expansive administrative experience, Mr. Larson was an assistant principal at Sachem High School North for one year and most recently was an assistant principal at Sachem High School East for five years, where he effectively supervised various departments, coordinated home teaching services and established a clear and consistent system of student support. Mr. Larson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in child study from St. Joseph’s College and a Master of Science degree in education and educational administration and supervision from St. John’s University. In addition, he has two New York state certifications: a permanent certification in pre-K to grade 6 and a professional certification in school building leadership. “It is a tremendous honor to be a new member of the Hiawatha community,” Mr. Larson said. “I’m looking forward to meeting all of the great families who call Hiawatha their home.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=90278 Thu, 15 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false90278 Wenonah Elementary Welcomes New Principal The Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the appointment of Thomas Desmond as the new principal of Wenonah Elementary School, filling the vacancy left by Christine DiPaola following her retirement. After a thorough screening process, Mr. Desmond joins Wenonah Elementary, bringing a wealth of administrative experience. He most recently served as an assistant principal at Samoset Middle School for six years and previously as an assistant principal at Sachem High School East for one year. During his time at Samoset Middle School, Mr. Desmond’s leadership was instrumental as the liaison for the Samoset Building Leadership Team and also in the development and institution of a proactive positive behavioral reinforcement program. Mr. Desmond holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology, a Master of Science degree in secondary education and an advanced graduate degree in school building and district leadership, all from Stony Brook University. In addition, Mr. Desmond is pursuing his doctoral degree in administration and supervision from St. John’s University. “I am so incredibly honored to have been selected principal of Wenonah Elementary,” Mr. Desmond said. “I look forward to collaborating with all stakeholders to enhance the academic and socio-emotional programs offered to our students. It will be equally important for me to maintain many of the traditions which have contributed to Wenonah’s reputation of excellence.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=89159 Tue, 13 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false89159 Sachem Welcomes New Director of Guidance–College and Career Counseling The Sachem Central School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Latisa Graham as the new director of guidance–college and career counseling following an extensive interview and screening process. Mrs. Graham joins Sachem from the Hempstead Union Free School District where she served as a guidance counselor for 17 years at Hempstead High School. During her time there, Mrs. Graham was selected as a member of the Intervention Support Team, where she assessed the response to intervention for all students and organized and reviewed behavior intervention plans to help students maintain academic progress. Additionally, Mrs. Graham organized and implemented character education modules into semester classes, organized college tours and visits from college representatives to increase student knowledge of the college admission process and administered career planning, college placement and scholarship attainment. Prior to her accomplished career as a guidance counselor, Mrs. Graham worked as an English teacher in the Westinghouse Evening High School for two years and at Hempstead High School for four years. Among her abundant academic accolades, Mrs. Graham earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in secondary English education from LIU Post, a Master of Science degree in education, an advanced certificate with a concentration in guidance counseling from the City University of New York Brooklyn College and an advanced certificate in education administration at The College of Saint Rose. “I see my role as one that has transformed drastically throughout the years to meet the demands of a changing world,” Mrs. Graham said. “My title is one that is all inclusive, as one who advocates for students, works with teachers, administrators, parents and community members to provide the necessary academic, social, personal, mental, college and career development. It is my desire as director to inspire, collaborate, advocate and support counselors and students alike toward their full potential, to meet the challenges and rigor of our mandates, as well as to celebrate every victory, may it be small or large, along the way.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=89140 Mon, 12 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false89140 Hiawatha Students Explore Colonial Times A series of lessons on the colonial times that took place last school year sent fourth grade students at Hiawatha Elementary School back in time as they participated in several activities that recreated aspects of that important time in American history. Through their exploration of colonial times, students researched everyday life, games, transportation, food, clothing and commerce. As part of the engaging activities, students practiced penmanship with quill pens and ink, performed math on slate boards and reinforced their spelling and geography skills during a bee. During an event that culminated their expansive study, students dressed up in attire that was popular during that time period. In addition, family and friends were invited for an outdoor picnic where they made checkerboards, spinning tops and played colonial games. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=89063 Mon, 05 Aug 2019 04:00:00 GMT false89063 Science Steals the Stage at Samoset An eccentric science showcase took over Samoset Middle School last school year as sixth grade students observed scientific experiments conducted with common household materials, led by Stephen “The Dirtmeister” Tomecek, founder of Science Plus Inc. and a former geologist. For the past 15 years, Tomecek has been returning to Samoset to deliver an engaging educational presentation which combines many science concepts students cover during the school year. As part of the hourlong presentation, students reviewed areas such as force, motion, energy and gravity while revisiting the ideas of famous scientists like Galileo and Isaac Newton. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86953 Wed, 31 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false86953 Students Embark on a Life Science Safari An expansive study of animal species was the main focus of third grade students in Julie Celecia’s class at Waverly Avenue Elementary School last school year during an individual research project exploring different animals. As part of the project, students utilized laptop computers to compile information on the animal they chose, including koalas, snakes, foxes, red pandas, bears, zebras and frogs. Through their research, students identified important characteristics that were unique to their specific animal such as life cycle, diet, habitat, classification and behavior. Adding an additional technology component to the project, students used the Tinkercad program to design a model of their chosen animal and 3D print them for display. Concluding the project, students read their assembled project books with their peers to share their newfound knowledge on the animals they selected. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86943 Tue, 30 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false86943 Wenonah Students Change the Tune of Trash The importance of reducing, reusing and recycling was instrumental during a workshop at Wenonah Elementary School during the school year that taught students across grade levels the importance of environmental conservation through repurposing household trash. As part of the educational program led by the Bash the Trash organization, students learned different ways to reuse and repurpose trash to create unique musical instruments. Additionally, students learned about the science of sound and the different classifications of instruments, including brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion. Using trash and recyclable materials from home, students collaboratively worked to create personalized instruments mimicking popular instruments found in a band. Concluding the program, students gathered together for a group performance where they showcased their instruments and the variety of sounds they make. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86911 Thu, 25 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false86911 2019-2020 District Safety Plan Attached you will find the proposed district safety plan for the 2019-2020 school year. The plan is available for community review for a 30 day comment period. Please email your comments or questions to districtsafetyplan@sachem.edu. The plan will go before the Board of Education for adoption on August 28, 2019. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86900 Thu, 25 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false86900 Sachem Vehicle & Equipment Auction Auction Website https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86202 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 05:00:00 GMT false86202 Sachem Student Recognized by County Legislator Suffolk County Legislator Thomas Muratore recognized and presented a proclamation to Lauren Breuer, a senior at Sachem High School North in Ronkonkoma. Lauren Breuer is the recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award and the Suffolk County Principals Leadership Award. She has shown leadership skills by being class president for all four years of her high school career. She has demonstrated a true passion for helping others through fundraising efforts and extensive community service hours at both a nursing home and an animal rescue center. Additionally, Lauren coordinated multiple fundraisers for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in memory of her late grandmother, Loretta. “Ms. Breuer is a selfless, giving young woman with a bright future ahead of her,” Legislator Muratore stated. “I was happy to recognize her efforts. As the owner of two rescue dogs, I am personally grateful for her volunteer work at the animal shelter. I wish Lauren all the best as she attends the Fashion Institute of Technology this fall.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86198 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false86198 Sachem Computer Excess Auction Auction Website https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86203 Wed, 24 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false86203 Art Brings Literacy to Life for First Graders A visit from Seneca Middle School students to Merrimac Elementary School during the school year showcased a creative connection between art and literacy, with the goal of encouraging young students to explore stories found in books. Over the course of several months, eighth grade students in Jessica Ramsay’s class brainstormed ways to get younger students excited about reading. The art students decided they would create pottery to accompany a book they liked as a physical representation of a story’s character or something found within the story. Some student-groups took on the challenge of creating their own book, storyboarding ideas, drawing illustrations and writing the stories. As part of the creative process, students studied elements of design and the techniques necessary to create the clay sculptures they envisioned. “This project was fun because we were able to turn characters from a story into real life using clay,” eighth grade student Arianna Ciregna said. “The first graders get to see us older students create something as part of an interactive activity and see how far you can really take a project.” As the culminating event to the project, the Seneca students visited all Merrimac first grade classes, where they read their books and passed around the sculptures they created to bring their literature to life. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86180 Mon, 22 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false86180 Technology Creates Collaboration Among Community Solder joined together more than wires during the Build It Forward Project at Sachem High Schools East and North as students worked collaboratively with the Sachem Public Library to assemble a pair of 3D printers constructed of mostly 3D printed parts. The yearlong collaborative effort created an important community connection in which the Sachem Public Library aided students in the assembly of a fully functional 3D printer. Working to construct individual printing devices, 3D Printing students at High School North and Computer Repair Technician students at High School East conferred with library staff as they referenced plans and printed parts of the printer on a 3D printer they had in the classroom. “Pooling our resources and working with open source designs and software, our students can collaborate in the planning, printing, building and even refining of the parts and pieces necessary for the project,” said Administrative Assistant for Instructional Technology Jack Renda. “As we integrate with our technology department and the focus of our elementary STEAM lessons in problem-solving and innovating, we know this real-world application will be an outstanding learning experience.” Together students reviewed the intricate plans before printing each piece of the printer that they were tasked with constructing. As part of the tedious construction process, students displayed their knowledge of wiring, electronics, electronic communication and the installation of firmware and software. With the completion of the extensive project, the connection will continue between the library and school district as they plan to utilize the two 3D printers to create other printers for middle school and elementary school buildings throughout the district in the future. “We are thrilled to be partnering once again with the Sachem Public Library on this project,” Renda said. “Together, we continue to build great relationships with our buildings and libraries, and are excited for the opportunity our students will receive learning in depth about the inner workings of these devices as we build them.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86124 Thu, 18 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false86124 Tamarac Turns Back Time With Technology A study of a prominent point in history at Tamarac Elementary School led fourth grade students on a unique educational journey last school year that coupled elements of technology and history. As part of the curriculum unit on the American Revolution, Tamarac fourth graders began their expansive history project by researching important figures such as Benjamin Franklin, Molly Pitcher, Paul Revere, Deborah Sampson and George Washington. To accompany their research, the creative students constructed bottle figures that replicated the figures they selected for their project. With help from technology integration specialist Claudia Camassa, students then utilized Scratch coding software and Makey Makey kits to animate their bottle characters with recordings of their voice to tell the story of their involvement in the American Revolution. At the culminating event for the project, students displayed their unique projects and bottle figures for an audience of family and friends to observe and experience the interactive presentation. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=86100 Tue, 16 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false86100 Sachem North Students Set Sail Sachem High School North 8:1 special education students and Mr. Olsens’ senior social studies class enjoyed some fun in the sun this past school year as they attended the Special Education Fishing Trip out of Captree. For more than 10 years, students have attended this exciting trip at the end of the year in a celebration of fun, fishing and friends. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85396 Mon, 15 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false85396 2019 Summer Volleyball Clinic https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85394 Mon, 15 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false85394 Sachem Board of Education holds annual reorganization meeting The Sachem Central School District Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 2, where new Board trustee Jim Kiernan, Alex Piccirillo and re-elected trustee Sara Wottawa were sworn into office by District Clerk Allison Florio to begin their three-year terms. Laura Slattery was re-elected as the Board of Education president for the 2019-20 school year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85349 Thu, 11 Jul 2019 12:00:00 GMT false85349 Learning Practices to Preserve the Earth Earth-conscious practices were at the forefront of a workshop conducted during the school year for first grade students at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School led by professionals from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County. As part of the Once is Enough educational program, students learned why it is important to reduce, reuse and recycle items they use each day. During the workshop, students were challenged to select whether an item should be composted, reused or recycled. Students also learned how to make recycled paper by adding shredded paper and water to a blender to create paper pulp. Students pressed the water from the paper pulp and let it dry to create their very own recycled paper. The visit served as a timely addition to the first grade project-based learning initiative in which students learn ways to reuse and recycle materials to benefit the environment. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85341 Wed, 10 Jul 2019 20:00:00 GMT false85341 Board Honors Distinguished Retirees At the June meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the district recognized a group of Sachem faculty and staff members who are retiring from their positions at the conclusion of the 2018-2019 school year. Among those honored for their years of dedicated service to the district were administrators, teachers, teachers’ aides, clerical staff, nurses, food service workers and bus drivers. In addition, Board of Education student representatives Nicholas Ambrosino and Kaylee Bowman were thanked for their time representing the students of both Sachem High School North and East. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85340 Wed, 10 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false85340 Sachem Spring Student-Athletes Garner Top Honors Congratulations to All-Sachem student-athletes for receiving postseason honors in their respective spring sport. These student-athletes are recognized for their accomplishments and exceptional performances. These recognitions are awarded by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Section XI, Suffolk County Coaches Associations, and other sports-related foundations. Sachem East Postseason Award Winners Baseball: Scholar Athlete Team Kevin Carricato: All-League Roman Dorosh: All-League, All-County Andrew Oakland: All-Academic Rafe Schlesinger: All-League Don Willie: All-League, All-County Boys Lacrosse: Scholar Athlete Team Mike DeMola: All-Division Mike Efron: All-Division A.J. Kiernan: All-County Timmy Livingston: All-County Gino Luchetti: All-County Luke Mangan: All-Division Jack Murphy: All-Division Rafael Rodriguez: All-Division Girls Lacrosse: Scholar Athlete Team Emily Allingham: All-Division, All-Tournament Marissa Cuevas: All-County Kaylee La Monica: All-Division Kristen Shanahan: All-County, 3rd Team All-American Rachel Weber: All-Division Morgan Zimmerman: All-County Honorable Mention Softball: Scholar Athlete Team League Champions Jessica Berger: All-Division Lauren Lucas: All-League, League 1 Field Player of the Year, All-County Mikayla Manalo: All-Division Hailey Puglia: All-County, Exceptional Senior Game Offensive Player of the Game Gabrielle Visconti: All-Tournament Team Large School Boys Track: Scholar Athlete Team Christian Berberich: All-League, All-Division Ryan Famiglietti: All-League Vito Giambanco: All-League Mark Kmiotek: All-League Dan Leonard: All-League, All-Division Michael Mullen: All-League Matthew Pietzak: All-League Adriel Robinson: All-League, All-Division Girls Track: Scholar Athlete Team/League Champions Jasmine Ahmed: All-Academic, All-League, All-Division, All-County Marcela Araujo: All-League Angelina Colon: All-League, All-Division Arya Deshpande: All-League Lindsay Dodenhoff: All-League, All-Division, All-County Amanda Harnos: All-League Farah Kuchicki: All-League, All-Division Kayla Manel: All-League Chiara Marziali: All-League Sabrinna Mena: All-League Julianna Mercado: All-Academic, All-League Arianna Moore: All-League, All-Division Anna Murphy: All-League, All-Division Victoria Scheller: All-League Marissa Scimeca: All-League Marissa Sciotto: All-League, All-Division Lauren Trejo: All-League, All-Division, All-County, All-State Alexis Violi: All-League, All-Division Sachem North Postseason Award Winners Baseball Fred Forgione: All-League Steven Kienzle: All-League Frank Letterese: All-Academic Jake Pierre: All-League, All-County Boys Lacrosse Scholar Athlete Team Matthew Griffin: All-Division Ryan Kinsley: All-Division, All-County Anthony Mancino: All-Division, All-County Christian Quadrino: All-Division, All-County Frank Quadrino: All-Division Girls Lacrosse: Scholar Athlete Team Corinne Amato: All-Division Erin Avanzato: All-County Honorable Mention Megan Biase: All-County Cassidy Griffin: All-Division Alyssa Licata: Overall Division 1 Unsung Hero Gianna Mott: All-Division Carolyn O’Brien: All-County, All-American Honorable Mention Softball: Scholar Athlete Team Kyra Bello: All-Division Samantha Butler: League 1 Pitcher of the Year, All-County Keira Mahoney: All-County Jacklynn Sidito: All-League Boys Track: Scholar Athlete Team Nick Ambrosino: All-League Joe DiChiara: All-League, All-Division Mike Fasano: All-League Elijah Menella-Singleton: All-League Jaden Manella-Singleton: All-League, All-Division Vidit Parikh: All-League Vin Tripi: All-League Chris Ventre: All-League Pat Wisti: All-League Girls Track: Scholar Athlete Team Analiese Fabrizi: All-League, All-Division, All-American Amber Farruggio: All-League, All-Division, Academic All-County Kayla Garcia: All-League Gia Giudice: All-League, All-Division Catherine Houston: Academic All-County, All-Division Jayda Jones: All-League Jamie Loyst: All-League, All-Division Jordyn Mcdonnell: All-League, All-Division, All-County Bella Molinari: All-League, All-Division Jess Nischo: All-League, All-Division, Academic All-County, All-County Lexi Panagatos: All-League Molly Ramirez: All-League, All-Division Emma Rowan: All-League Sachem Combined Team Postseason Award Winners Girls Golf: Scholar Athlete Team Boys Tennis: Scholar Athlete Team/All-Academic Team Griffin Bello: All-Division Jeremy Borsuk: All-League Phillip Filipkowski: All-League Tanay Karnik: All-League Sam Middleton: All-County Arif Rashid: All-League Tommy Syron: All-Division Joseph Traina: Sportsmanship Award https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85304 Mon, 08 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false85304 Sachem East Celebrates 2019 Graduates A sun-filled sky greeted an enthusiastic crowd of family, friends and distinguished guests at the Sachem High School East commencement ceremony on June 27, honoring the tremendous achievements of the Class of 2019 and wishing them well as they begin the next chapter of their lives. As a sea of seniors took to the field adorned in red caps and gowns, the 15th commencement ceremony at Sachem East began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by the graduates who would be entering a branch of the armed services. High School East Principal Louis Antonetti offered the seniors a noble challenge to stand above the rest as they embark on their future journeys. “What is common in the world is people who see problems, complain and critique,” he said. “Be uncommon, be part of the group that finds solutions and stays positive, and always have the mentality of ‘I will find a way.’” During a lighthearted address that followed, valedictorian Vincent Zhang concluded his speech with words of encouraging advice directed at his fellow graduates. “Persistent self-reflection is the only way we are able to judge our success and, ultimately, the legacy we leave for others,” he said. “The relationships, memories and experiences you make will define your impact on yourself, on others and on society, so do not be afraid of change. It is the only way we can reach our best self.” Class President Joseph Traina then delivered a celebratory speech that turned back time and emphasized memories from the Class of 2019’s collective experiences that made their journey as Sachem students special. As superintendent of schools, Dr. Kenneth Graham reflected on all that the graduates have achieved and he spoke with great promise of what they will accomplish in the future. “This class has been involved with so many actions to make positive changes in the community,” he said. “Our students have been involved in food drives, blood drives, St. Baldrick’s and even fundraisers for one of Sachem East’s own students battling cancer. The actions of each and every one of our graduates have made and will continue to make a big impact on the world around us.” As the congratulatory remarks concluded and the diplomas were presented, family and friends cheered emphatically as the new graduates threw their caps toward a setting sun, exiting the field as alumni of Sachem High School East. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85244 Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false85244 Annual Commencement Celebrates High School North Class of 2019 Smiles and cheers from family and friends welcomed a distinguished group of graduating seniors on June 28 to the Sachem High School North commencement ceremony honoring the Class of 2019 and celebrating their plentiful accomplishments. As “Pomp and Circumstance” carried through the air, the excited graduates took the field at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium for the last time as students of the Sachem Central School District. The commencement exercises then began with the national anthem performed by the Sachem North Symphonic Choir Seniors, conducted by Cara Caliendo. Principal Patti Trombetta began her address by recognizing several students who would be entering the armed services following graduation. As she continued, her address gracefully outlined the wishes she had for the Class of 2019 as they move into the future. “I wish you always play hard, take chances, give everything and have no regrets,” she said. “Every day, take a moment to just take it in. You owe it to yourself to make the most of every moment.” Assistant Principal Coleen Flanagan then presented the top 25 academic students with medals, ending with salutatorian Miguel Maramara and then welcoming valedictorian Amy De Lury to the stage to address her fellow graduates in a speech that highlighted the unique nature of the school community they shared. “I look at the Class of 2019 and I see so many differences between us – whether it be religion, beliefs, culture, interests or career paths,” she said. “In a class of 527 seniors, there are so many differences between us. Yet I can see similar traits between all of us as well – our kindness, our achievements, our sense of humor and our acceptance of what’s to come. And then there is a factor that united us all – the Sachem community.” Continuing the ceremony, Class President Lauren Breuer delivered a heartfelt speech to her classmates that reflected on their time as Sachem students, the plentiful lessons they learned together and how they will apply their experience to thrive in the future. Presenting the Class of 2019 was Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham, whose speech empowered students to embrace the changes that lie ahead. “By adapting to the changes ahead of you, being malleable, you will be better prepared to face and overcome challenges,” he said. “Life after Sachem schools is going to present new, exciting and tough challenges to each of you. I hope that you are better prepared to face these challenges as a result of your experiences here in Sachem, and I hope you are ready to change!” After the final diplomas were presented, cheers echoed across the field as students propelled their caps to the sky, exiting the field as alumni of the Sachem Central School District. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85245 Tue, 02 Jul 2019 04:00:00 GMT false85245 Care Bears This year Sagamore 6th and 7th graders made over 48 Care Bears in Family and Consumer Sciences. This project was part of a community service unit. The bears were distributed to local Fire Departments and Police Stations for children involved in a crash, fire or some sort of trauma. Our Sagamore students did an outstanding job!! . https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85081 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false85081 Italian Classes Travel to the Metropolitan Museum of Art On Wednesday, May 29, Mr. Massimo’s and Mrs. DiMaggio’s Italian 4 Honors classes from both Sachem High School North and East went on a field trip to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan. For the last few weeks, students in Italian 4 Honors have been learning all about the Italian Renaissance and its contributions to the modern world. They explored a variety of topics, such as how the architectural innovations of Brunelleschi and the inventions of Leonardo DaVinci would change the world. Students were introduced to some of the masters of Italian art, such as Bernini, Botticelli, Donatello, Michelangelo and Raphael, as well as other important figures of the time like Machiavelli and Galileo. To enhance the experience, Mr. Massimo came up with a scavenger hunt that would challenge the students while they strolled through one of the greatest museums in the country. Working in teams, students had to use what they learned in class to decipher clues that would lead them to not just the paintings and sculptures of Italian masters such as Bernini, Canova, Caravaggio and Michelangelo, but also to other famous masterpieces from all over the world, such as the paintings of Monet, Rembrandt, Vermeer and van Gogh, and the sculptures of Rodin and Degas, just to name a few. As they wandered through the halls of the Met, students had the chance to appreciate more than just art. They discovered artifacts from ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome, weapons and armor from the Middle Ages, and rare musical instruments, such as Stradivari violins and the world’s oldest piano, not to mention the rock-and-roll exhibit. After leaving the museum, students ate their lunch in beautiful Central Park before boarding the bus back home. The field trip was a wonderful experience for everyone. For many, it was their first visit to the Met; for others, their first to a museum. Students seemed to truly appreciate being able to see for themselves, in person, beautiful works of art by the world’s greatest masters and amazing artifacts from all over the world and from throughout human history. However, what really made the trip special was how it brought to life so much of what they have learned in the classroom. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=85089 Wed, 26 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false85089 Wenonah Celebrates Flag Day With Patriotic Display Friends and family recently gathered at Wenonah Elementary School’s cafetorium for a patriotic ceremony and a presentation by third grade students honoring the extensive history and heritage of the American flag. As part of the patriotic display, students dressed in red, white and blue read poetry that included facts about the American flag. Students also performed a collection of patriotic songs such as the national anthem, “Yankee Doodle Dandy” and “God Bless America.” Concluding the ceremony, a group of students performed a flag-folding display before students exited the cafetorium to the song “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84984 Tue, 25 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84984 Student Standouts Inducted Into National Honor Societies This year, hundreds of students at Sachem High School East and North joined illustrious groups of students across the United States as they were inducted into national honor societies for several academic topics. Inductees were honored for their accomplishments in ceremonies that celebrated their high level of achievement in each area. The students’ profound dedication to academic excellence earned them spots in the Art, Business and Marketing, English, Foreign Language, History, Math, Science, Technical and Tri-M national honor societies. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84943 Mon, 24 Jun 2019 05:00:00 GMT false84943 Nokomis Partners With Last Chance Animal Rescue Two fifth grade classes at Nokomis designed and ran a donation drive to benefit Last Chance Animal Rescue. Organized by teachers Jen De Carlo, Lisa Grant and Robyn Grieco, their efforts generated $500 in donations, as well as food, toys, beds and supplies that can be used at adoption events each weekend. Students created flyers, wrote and presented commercials, made posters and collected items for dogs and cats in foster care. They also sold bracelets during lunch periods to raise funds. Diane Magnani and Jenny Adams, representatives from Last Chance Animal Rescue, visited the school to thank the classes for their amazing work. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84966 Mon, 24 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84966 Schools Recognized as High Achieving and High Progress Under New York’s Every Student Succeeds Act Plan On June 18, the State Education Department identified 562 high-achieving and high-progress schools throughout New York State. Under the New York State Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) Plan, Recognition Schools in the 2018-19 year have high academic achievement, student growth and graduation rate, and have made progress during the 2017-18 school year. Each Recognition School will receive a certificate of recognition from Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. We are pleased to announce that Sachem High School East and Sachem High School North have earned this Recognition status. Recognition Schools are identified as such because they are among the top performing under ESSA for performance, student growth and/or graduation rate; met or exceeded either the school or state measures of interim progress for English language arts, mathematics, rate of chronic absenteeism, and college, career, and civic readiness. There were 55 high schools on Long Island that earned this distinction, 25 of which are in Suffolk County. Congratulations to our students, teachers, administrators, staff and parents for their effort and achievement of such high recognition! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84882 Fri, 21 Jun 2019 05:00:00 GMT false84882 2019-2020 Elementary School Start and End Times This is a reminder that the Sachem Central School District has made the following adjustments to the elementary school start and end times, effective September 2019. Elementary School will be as follows: Early buildings (Merrimac and Nokomis) 8am-2:30pm Late buildings (Cayuga, Chippewa, Grundy, Hiawatha, Lynwood, Tamarac, Waverly, Wenonah) 8:45am-3:15pm. These changes take effect for the 2019-2020 school year. Information on the SCOPE Childcare program may be found at http://www.sachem.edu/departments/child_care Additional information regarding transportation and instrumental performing groups will be shared at a later date. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84880 Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84880 Seneca Remembers National Heroes Last month, in honor of Memorial Day, Seneca Middle School students, staff and community members honored past and present veterans for their service and sacrifice to our country at the inaugural Field of Honor Ceremony. In a patriotic display of their collective support, flags purchased by students in honor of military veterans, friends and relatives who served in the armed forces waved in front of the school. The proceeds that resulted from the day’s events were donated to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars organization and the Team Jesse Foundation, a group that provides support to the families of fallen soldiers. Additionally, over the course of the year a team of family and consumer science students arrived at school early each morning to bake cinnamon bits that were on sale throughout the building. Each year the students select an organization to donate their profits to, and this year the students chose to donate their proceeds to benefit veterans. During the ceremony, those in attendance recognized a number of honored guests, including members from the VFW Memorial Post 400 and John DiNaro, a local artist who created a sculpture that was placed alongside the display of flags to act as a monument of freedom for years to come. Accompanying the memorial ceremony were performances by student-musicians in the orchestra and band who performed songs throughout the event that included “America the Beautiful,” “God Bless America” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84901 Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84901 Students Share Stories of Strength The speech-language department at Sachem High School North recently hosted an inspiring celebration in honor of disability awareness that showcased the courageousness of 12 incredible students. For more than 15 years, students from the speech-language program have delivered heartwarming speeches outlining the struggles they have faced throughout their lives. In front of an audience of parents, faculty and fellow students, the speakers shared inspirational messages about how they overcame adversity to reach their goals both academically and in other aspects of their lives. “Your disabilities do not define who you are. It is only you who defines you,” senior Christina Aurisano said. “Other people perceive you; they do not define you.” The student presenters concluded their speeches by sharing their plans for the future and some hopeful words of encouragement for their peers who may also face adversity. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84846 Thu, 20 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84846 Chippewa Hosts Annual Mini Marathon Sweat, smiles and friendly competition were on display at the recent Chippewa Mini Marathon, where students, staff and family members ran in the annual race in honor of two former Chippewa students, Grace Peshkur and Josh Mileto. For 12 years, the daylong event rich in tradition has drawn enthusiastic crowds of family and friends as they cheered on each grade level as they ran their designated course. Wearing their mini-marathon shirts donated by the PTA, fourth and fifth grade students completed a full-mile course; the other grade levels ran a shorter distance. Additionally, parents, teachers and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham joined in on the day’s excitement as they completed the course. “Each year the enthusiasm has grown from the kids,” second grade teacher and event organizer Mary Bernhard said. “Students talk about setting goals, beating times and trying to do better than they did last year. What I have noticed over the years is the camaraderie that the students show for one another. Nobody crosses the finish line last or without cheers from the crowd supporting them to finish, whether it be walking, running or both.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84775 Wed, 19 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84775 Lynwood Hosts Autism Awareness Assembly In recognition of Autism Awareness Month this past April, Lynwood Avenue Elementary School fourth and fifth grade students gathered for a heartwarming assembly led by a pair of Lynwood alumni. Ryan Faivus and Sean Schneider, current seventh grade students at Sagamore Middle School, visited the school to share details of their friendship. Ryan is a student with autism who was befriended by Sean, who overlooked their differences and focused on their similarities, which built a long-lasting friendship. As Sean spoke to the Lynwood students, he reiterated the importance of not judging a book by its cover and that a lifelong friendship can start with something as simple as a hello. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84715 Tue, 18 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84715 Merrimac Students Study Water Cycle A flurry of facts filled the air at Merrimac Elementary School as fourth grade students learned about the aquifer system, precipitation and how Long Island is supplied with safe, clean water during an educational assembly program led by a representative from the Suffolk County Water Authority. During the assembly, students learned several interesting facts about the Earth’s composition, states of water and the processes which occur for water to be used in homes across Suffolk County. Additionally, students learned about the three layers of the aquifer system and how harmful pollutants can leach into our drinking water as they observed a groundwater simulator which mirrored this process. The engaging educational assembly program served as a timely addition to the fourth grade study of the water cycle. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84661 Mon, 17 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84661 St. Joseph's 2019-2020 Girls Basketball https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84662 Mon, 17 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84662 Student Creativity Shines at Annual Art Show Sachem High School North special education students in Christine Baratta’s class displayed countless crafty creations as part of its annual art show at the conclusion of the 2018-19 school year. In its sixth year at High School North, the art show was a culminating event to a yearlong exploration of numerous famous artists and their chosen mediums. Students created works of art inspired by famous artists’ works, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s rub art, Jasper John’s block art, Wassily Kandinsky’s concentric circles, Henri Matisse’s cut art, Henry Moore’s sculptures and George Seurat’s pointillism. Along the way, students learned about different art techniques, mediums and the many categories of art. The vibrant display was attended by fellow classmates, teachers, members of administration, members of the Board of Education, family and friends who were led throughout the art exhibit by the talented artists. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84587 Fri, 14 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84587 Making Connections Through Conductivity A study of conductive materials connected directly to coding for fourth grade students in Lenore Lounsbury’s class at Wenonah Elementary School. As part of the hands-on activity, students paired up to use the Makey Makey kits and explore materials that are conductive, such as carrots, celery and Play-Doh. Adding an additional component to the activity, students connected the Makey Makey kits to laptop computers where they used the Scratch coding software to animate a character. Using both technology components, students were able to code their character to complete a series of movements and commands using the wired circuits they created with the Makey Makey kits. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84538 Thu, 13 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84538 Lynwood Takes the Top Spot in Dancing Competition A team of Lynwood Avenue Elementary School fifth grade students showcased their elegance and grace as they danced their way to a first-place finish at Dancing Classrooms Long Island’s Colors of the Rainbow Team Match on May 21 at Barton Elementary School in Patchogue. The team-based competition that included 60 students representing five schools from across Long Island was a community celebration for students who participated in the 10-week, 20-lesson Dancing Classrooms program. For 10 years, Lynwood fifth graders have participated in the dance programs that teaches eight ballroom dances, a line dance and a folk dance while incorporating elements important to dance such as teamwork, respect, self-confidence and nonverbal communication. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84504 Wed, 12 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84504 Sachem High School East Valedictorian and Salutatorian Announced Vincent Zhang and Joseph Nestor Tan are Sachem High School East Class of 2019’s valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Vincent and Joseph excelled and reached the top of their class through tireless persistence in academics. Vincent is an accomplished science research student who this year was selected as a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar by the Society for Science & the Public. Among his other scientific accomplishments, Vincent presented his research at the 2018 Materials Research Society Conference in Boston and also presented his research on a study to identify gray matter lesions in the subcortical structures of the human brain brought on by multiple sclerosis at another conference last year. He is enrolled in a number of Advanced Placement classes, including Computer Science, Economics, English, Environmental Science, Government and Politics and Physics C. Complementing his impressive academic résumé, he is a member of Class Government and the Chess Club, the vice president of the Science Honor Society and the treasurer of the Math Honor Society. Salutatorian Joseph is a talented cello player who has performed in several prominent music festivals during his time in high school, including those hosted by the Long Island String Festival Association, the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education and the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association. In addition to his musical accomplishments, Joseph is enrolled in many challenging Advanced Placement classes such as Calculus BC, Chemistry, Comparative Politics, Computer Science, English, and Government and Politics. Beyond the classroom he is an active member of the Select Strings Ensemble, the treasurer of Class Government and the president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Joseph plans to attend Stony Brook University following graduation to study computer science with a minor in music. These two outstanding students will receive their diplomas with the Sachem High School East Class of 2019 at the commencement ceremony on June 27. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84439 Tue, 11 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84439 Sachem High School North Valedictorian and Salutatorian Amy DeLury and Miguel MaraMara have been named the Sachem High School North Class of 2019 valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. The impressive student standouts have displayed relentless commitment to academic excellence throughout their high school experience. Valedictorian Amy DeLury boasts countless academic accolades, including her participation in challenging Advanced Placement courses such as Calculus BC, English Literature, Economics and Physics C. Amy serves as an integral participant in the Economics and Finance Club and Model United Nations. In addition, Amy is an accomplished student-scientist as part of the High School North Science Research Program, where she earned the consecutive top three finishes in the Long Island Brain Bee and advanced to the second round of the prestigious Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. Adding to her long list of impressive academic accomplishments, this year she was selected as a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Amy plans to continue her academic journey at Johns Hopkins University where she will study neuroscience. Miguel has a longstanding commitment to academic achievement which earned him the title of salutatorian for the Class of 2019. As part of his extensive résumé, Miguel is enrolled in Advanced Placement Biology, Calculus C, Economics, English, Psychology and Physics. Complimenting his challenging coursework, Miguel is a member of the Economics and Finance Club and the president of the Math Honor Society. Miguel aspires to attend Columbia University to study mechanical engineering on a premedical track. These two incredible students are set to receive their diplomas with the Sachem High School North Class of 2019 at the commencement ceremony on Friday, June 28. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84440 Tue, 11 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84440 Waverly Artists Race the Clock During Competition Anticipation hung in the air at Waverly Avenue Elementary School as teams of fifth grade student-artists raced the clock during the inaugural Art Chopped Competition, which mimicked the popular Food Network Television show “Chopped.” Over three rounds, students were provided with a box filled with various supplies and a list of specifications their artistic creation had to follow for that round. During each timed round, students worked expeditiously to create a work of art that met all of the specifications while using all of the materials provided. At the completion of each round, teams presented their work to a panel of three judges who judged the work based on creativity, collaboration and the use of materials. After each round, teams were eliminated based on the judges’ decisions until a winner was selected. Concluding a competitive final round, Team Powerful Painters was selected as the winner of the competition. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84365 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 05:00:00 GMT false84365 Sachem North Rallies Behind Student Through St. Baldrick’s Sachem North’s Interact Club recently held a St. Baldrick’s event to raise money for cancer awareness and research while rallying behind a student who has been battling cancer for the last five years. The club organized a day of events that was full of laughter, silly competitions and positive energy. Dominick Strebel is an incredible young man, full of life and energy, an honors student, social, involved in athletics and an all-around awesome kid who tries his hardest and never complains. What most people don’t know is that every day he is battling cancer and has been in treatment all year. During the weeks leading up to the St. Baldrick’s event, he was having a particularly difficult time with his treatment and struggled to make it into school. A group of nine of his friends stayed after school each day to help plan the events and fundraiser. “Our only goal was to make the day fun and positive for all students, as that is how Dom handles his struggles day to day,” said Sachem North Interact Club adviser, Christy Zummo. Dom came to the event accompanied by his mother, father, uncle and grandmother, who saw him honored at the event that was inspired by his spirit. “The boys and Dom ran all of the events, and we got as many students from the stands involved in the competitions as we could – blanket drag, potato sack races, dizzy hockey stick, tug-of-war – even ending with a gymnasium filled with kids doing the Cotton-eyed Joe and other line dances,” Zummo said. “The day was filled with positivity, laughter, and hilarity, and we accomplished the goal of making our friend feel supported, loved and very special. He is not alone and has an army of support behind him. It was inspiring to be a part of. It was an uplifting day for all involved.” To make it even better, the event raised more than $8,000 for the St. Baldrick’s Foundation. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84364 Mon, 10 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84364 Business Students Take Learning Behind the Scenes Sachem High School students recently gained valuable industry insight from numerous professionals in a vast range of career areas as part of the annual New York Jets Sports Business Day Career Exploration Field Trip at MetLife Stadium. Students from Sachem High Schools East and North in Lisa Anthony’s and William Ward’s sports management classes learned from high-profile Jets executives whose roles are integral to the success of the Jets organization. Students participated in engaging conversations on the executive’s roles and how they obtained their positions. Throughout the day, students learned about marketing, media content, community relations, finance and accounting, team merchandise, information technology and event operations, among several other areas in the organization’s operation. As part of the unique experience, students were granted behind-the-scenes access to 10 key stadium locations, including the press box, locker room, premium clubs and the field. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84259 Thu, 06 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84259 STEM Activity Challenges Talented Math Students A group of high-achieving fourth and fifth grade math students at Chippewa Elementary School recently participated in a STEM challenge during an activity held for the Math Olympiads. During their recess period, a group of math super-students led by teacher Courtney Gordon challenged themselves with a STEM activity that required students to build the tallest tower possible using 12 plastic eggs and a small amount of Play-Doh. Working together, each student group developed a design for their tower and used problem-solving techniques to accomplish the task. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84224 Wed, 05 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84224 Gives Kids a Smile Day https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84172 Tue, 04 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84172 Tamarac Showcases Student-Artists Tamarac Elementary School recently transformed into an expansive art gallery where eclectic student art filled each hallway as part of the second annual art show, which displayed pieces from students across grade levels. The buildingwide display featured creative projects that included Romero Britto-inspired animal paintings by kindergarten students, paintings inspired by the famous Henri Matisse goldfish painting by first grade students, onomatopoeia paintings accompanied by sculptures and a comic strip by second grade students, paintbrush sculptures and traditional porcelain Chinese plates by third grade students, International Women’s Day folk art by fourth grade students and self-portraits using Osmos and iPads by fifth grade students. On the day of the art show, family and friends viewed the incredible displays of student work, which included a special blacklight room that illuminated select artwork from the year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84167 Tue, 04 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84167 Sachem Hall of Honor Class of 2019 Honored The latest class of the Sachem Hall of Honor was inducted on Saturday, June 1 at Sachem High School North. Each year the Sachem Alumni Association honors its most successful alumni and puts their plaque on the wall in the center of the school. The Hall of Honor debuted in 2017. This year’s inductees include: • Maureen Brush, Class of 1963, Sachem Teacher and Administrator. • Michael Cleary, Class of 1980, Founder and CEO, Canyon Consulting. • Frank Iacono, Class of 1987, Business and Finance Executive. • Scott Lewers, Class of 1983, EVP at Discovery Channel. • David J. Mehlhop, Class of 1982, Captain, U.S. Air Force. • Rudolph FX Migliore, Class of 1964, Attorney at Law. • Katie Siek, Class of 1996, Professor of Informatics at Indiana University. • Monica P. Wallace, Class of 1986, New York State Assemblywoman. • Lawrence Zacarese, Class of 1993, Assistant Chief of Police at Stony Brook University. There are now 30 inductees who have received this prestigious honor since its inception. Learn more about the Hall of Honor and the Sachem Alumni Association at SachemAlumni.org. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84139 Mon, 03 Jun 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84139 Students Celebrate Local Heroes Earlier this month in recognition of Police Appreciation Week, students across the Sachem Central School District participated in a plethora of events and activities that honored men and women in law enforcement and their unwavering commitment to protect the citizens of the Sachem community. At Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, students welcomed members of law enforcement and first responders, including local volunteer firefighters, New York City firefighters and those working as emergency medical service members. Students thanked the brave individuals before asking them a series of prepared questions about their career. Additionally, students at Grundy Avenue Elementary School recently honored members of law enforcement at dismissal as students handed out thank-you cards on their way to board their school buses. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84091 Fri, 31 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84091 Board Honors Esteemed Artists and Musicians At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, four talented high school student-artists were recognized for their success at a competition hosted by the Bay Area Friends of the Fine Arts. Additionally, 25 exceptional student-musicians were honored for their outstanding performances that earned them high NYSMMA scores for their play on their respective instruments. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=84025 Thu, 30 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false84025 Student-Athletes Commit to Future in College Athletics At the latest national letter of intent signing day, dozens more of Sachem’s finest student-athletes committed to the next chapter of their lives. At ceremonies at Sachem East and Sachem North, students took photos with their families and friends while signing their letters of intent. Hundreds of student-athletes have signed with colleges at various points during the school year. Sachem East Name Sport College/University Angel Pineda Football Alfred State/DIII Derek Harmsworth Football Misericordia/DIII George Doherty Football Western Connecticut State University/DIII Chris Bock Men’s Lacrosse SUNY Brockport/DIII Gino Luchetti Men’s Lacrosse SUNY Farmingdale/DIII Matteo Asher Men’s Lacrosse SUNY Oswego/DIII Michael DeMola Men’s Lacrosse SUNY Farmingdale/DIII Tyler Jordan Men’s Lacrosse University of Scranton/DIII Gabrielle Visconti Softball Kings College/DIII Emily Allingham Women’s Lacrosse University of Rochester/DIII Nicole Johnson Women’s Lacrosse SUNY Maritime/DIII Olivia Vetter Women’s Lacrosse St. Joseph’s College/DIII Joelle Vetter Women’s Lacrosse St. Joseph’s College/DIII Kathy Lopez Women’s Soccer SUNY Farmingdale/DIII Lauren Blando Women’s Soccer SUNY Oneonta/DIII Jasmine Ahmed Women’s Track University of Scranton/DIII Casey Biggers Women’s Volleyball SUNY Oneonta/DIII Emily Venturi Women’s XC & Track St. Joseph’s College/DIII Kaitlyn Curry Women’s XC & Track SUNY Farmingdale/DIII Lexi MacAneney Women’s XC & Track Cortland State/DIII Pyper Cline Women’s XC & Track St. Joseph’s College/DIII Sachem North Name Sport College/University Frank Arena Baseball SUNY New Paltz/DIII Jake Pierre Baseball Mount Saint Vincent/DIII Connor Pietrowski Baseball SUNY New Paltz/DIII Lou LaRocco Baseball SUNY Old Westbury/DIII Frank Letterese Baseball SUNY Farmingdale /DIII Nick Canales Football Wilkes University (PA)/DIII Nick Gambino Football Western Connecticut State University/DIII Dominic Altrui Men’s Soccer St. Joseph’s College/DIII Frank Letterese Men’s Soccer SUNY Farmingdale /DIII Gabriel Cruz Men’s Soccer New Paltz/DIII Kristian Diaz Men’s Soccer St. Joseph’s College/DIII Liam Park Men’s Soccer Purchase/DIII Steven Rojas Men’s Soccer Oswego/DIII Bradley Anacreon Men’s Basketball Wilkes University (PA)/DIII Cole Stassi Men’s Lacrosse Keiser University/NAIA Frank Quadrino Men’s Lacrosse SUNY Brockport/DIII Michael Bellomo Men’s Lacrosse SUNY Brockport/DIII Michael Calpakis Men’s Lacrosse Suffolk County Community College/NJCAA Sawyer Davis Men’s Lacrosse College of Mount Saint Vincent/DIII Trey Aronow Men’s Lacrosse Western Connecticut University/DIII Christine Esposito Women’s Lacrosse St. Joseph’s College/DIII Jessica Nischo Women’s Track & Field SUNY Geneseo/DIII Corinne Amato Women’s Soccer Rochester Institute of Technology/DIII Kaila Hinchman Women’s Soccer SUNY Farmingdale /DIII Lauren Makely Women’s Soccer Cedar Crest/DIII Meaghan Lombardo Women’s Soccer SUNY Oneonta/DIII Alexis Cavalieri Women’s Volleyball SUNY Farmingdale /DIII Lauren Harmer Women’s Volleyball St. Joseph’s College/DIII Carsyn Rachuta Women’s Volleyball SUNY Oneonta/DIII Veronica Miessmer Women’s Volleyball St. Joseph’s College/DIII https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83995 Wed, 29 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83995 Nokomis Cereal Drive Reaches 10,000 Boxes Nokomis Elementary School made a delivery of 850 boxes of cereal to St. John’s Food Pantry. This is the ninth year the school has supported St. John’s with a delivery of cereal, bringing Nokomis’s all-time total to almost 10,000 boxes. The students from Mrs. Clifford, Mrs. Erb and Mrs. Gambino’s first grade class teamed up with Mrs. Coope and Mrs. Tutton’s fourth grade class to make this happen. Each day they collected, counted, reported and stacked the stage with this treasure. Many of the students met with their teachers at Stop and Shop, on a Saturday morning, where the community donated more cereal from their shopping carts. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83945 Tue, 28 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83945 Spring Student-Athletes Receive Golden Keys Sachem student-athletes who have completed eight or more varsity athletic seasons from their sophomore through senior years were honored with a Gold Key Award from the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and Section XI, Suffolk County athletics. Sachem North Gold Key Recipients Matthew Aliano, Corinne Amato, Nicholas Ambrosino, Erin Avanzato, Ian Carollo, Giavanna Carr, Matthew Carr, Thomas Ciavarella, Timothy Colgan, Danielle Czarnecki, Justin Droutman, Amber Farruggio, Dylan Kelly, Matthew Kruse, Sean Lutin, Deirdre Mc Breen, Jordyn Mc Donnell, Daniel Mc Kay, Jessica Mc Mahon, Gianna Mott, Angela Newland, Jessica Nischo, Carolyn O'Brien, Krista Ogden, Vidit Parikh, Mikayla Pulido, Emma Ramirez, Mary Reed, Maximiliano Rinaldi, Emma Rowan, Utsav Shah, Jessica Sommers, Vincent Tripi, Christopher Ventre, Patrick Wisti, Emma Zanfardino Sachem East Gold Key Recipients Jasmine Ahmed, Nicholas Alonzo, Jeilyn Balbuena, Mason Bila, Pyper Cline, Alyssa Cortes, Kaitlyn Curry, Lindsey Dodenhoff, Ryan Famiglietti, Lauren Faust, Jared Jackson, Nicole Johnson, Anthony Licata, Lexi Mac Aneney, John Madigan, Isabelle Makinen, Sam Matlat, Daniella Meyer, Brooke Papele, Skylar Papele, Gianna Pepitone, Allison Rinfret, Dylan Lenin Santos, Jessica Schaefer, Jeremy Shaffar, Gillian Singer, Nicholas Stainkamp, Kaylee Vanella, Emily Venturi, Vincent Zhang https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83876 Fri, 24 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83876 Sachem Student Secures Shark Camp Scholarship Sachem High School North sophomore Jacob Karavias was recently selected as one of only two eighth to 12th grade students nationwide to be awarded the O’Seas Conservation Foundation’s Greg Norman Shark Camp Scholarship. The Montauk-based nonprofit organization O’Seas Conservation Foundation, led by world-renowned shark biologist Dr. Craig O’Connell, integrates shark conservation efforts with youth education. The mission of the organization is to secure the future of marine life and oceans through local shark research efforts that directly involve youth as a means to educate, inspire and train these future leaders of marine conservation. Throughout the camp, Jacob will get top-notch marine biology training and participate in an authentic science research experience. He will assist Dr. O’Connell and his crew as they deploy small-scale longlines to assess the shark species living along the New York coastline. The majority of the sharks captured are small; however, Dr. O’Connell has captured thresher, blue, sandbar, mako and even white sharks during his past sampling. Upon capture, sharks are immediately tagged, data recorded, dehooked and released. In addition, the O’Seas Conservation Foundation has other projects that will certainly prove this opportunity a life-changing experience. Some of these activities include live-feed baited camera trap activities, a tuna troll-cam, active shark tracking, baited remote underwater video system deployment and whale vocalization research. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83845 Thu, 23 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83845 Budget Vote Results https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83762 Wed, 22 May 2019 06:00:00 GMT false83762 Students Become Official Authors and Illustrators A collaborative project at Chippewa Elementary School recently combined literacy, math and art as first grade students in Donna Gianfortone’s class published their very own book, “A World of Math.” Inspired by a love for math, students in Gianfortone’s class set out to publish a book that depicted where math is present in our everyday lives. Each student wrote a page for the book and created an illustration to accompany their writing, showcasing their artistic abilities. At the conclusion of the project, students attended a “red carpet event” where family and friends were invited to hear the first reading of their new literary masterpiece before celebrating their impressive accomplishment. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83789 Wed, 22 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83789 Sachem Teams Top Annual Envirothon Competition Two teams of Sachem High School North student-scientists recently showcased their scientific prowess as they secured top finishes at the 21st Annual Long Island Envirothon on April 30. Out of 32 teams participating in the regional competition, Sachem North Team-1 earned a first place finish in oral presentation and first place overall for both Nassau and Suffolk counties. The winning team featured senior Emily Gelardi, juniors Kaya Monolt, Alena Thotam and Caitlin Tucker, and sophomore Catalina Vera, who navigated hands-on tests in five environmental science categories which included aquatics, forestry, wildlife, soils and this year’s current issue, “Agriculture and the Environment: Knowledge and Technology to Feed the World.” Additionally, Sachem North Team-2, composed of juniors Anika Banerjee, Miranda Garcia-Cassani and Madison Tutone paired with sophomores Grace McGowan and Andzelika Tislenko, earned second place in Suffolk County. Also included in the challenging competition is an oral presentation for which students are given an environmental problem and are required to research the issue, prepare a solution and orally present their results to a panel of judges. The reference materials that students must master for each content area are extensive, and the preparation for the 10-minute, project-based-learning style presentation requires an enormous amount of extracurricular time and commitment. As first place winners, each team member received $500 and a local field guide and was awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to compete at the New York State Envirothon in Geneva, New York, on May 22 and 23. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83647 Mon, 20 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83647 Chippewa Students Team Up to Create Tall Towers A collaborative effort from third-grade students at Chippewa Elementary School in Amy DeJesus’ class made for a successful STEM activity, as students worked together to assemble the tallest tower they could. Working in teams, the third-graders discussed their designs before they began to assemble their towers using only the index cards provided. Throughout the activity students implemented problem-solving skills to overcome obstacles that affected their original designs. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83572 Fri, 17 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83572 Recent Article on School Budget Vote and Board Election https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83578 Fri, 17 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83578 Waverly Learns to Care for Canines A group of furry, four-legged friends paid a visit to Waverly Avenue Elementary School recently as part of a workshop that taught first grade students basic dog care and safety. For more than 10 years, the Suffolk Obedience Training Club has visited Waverly to educate students on the responsibilities of owning a dog and the proper way to safely approach a dog for the first time. Throughout their recent workshop with first grade students, the dogs’ handlers demonstrated a series of commands that showcased the animals’ remarkable intelligence. Concluding the workshop, students used their newly acquired skills to meet each of the dogs that participated in the lesson. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83526 Thu, 16 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83526 Teamwork Shines Through Circle of Dance Recently at Hiawatha Elementary School, each first grade class performed a creative, choreographed dance for an audience of kindergarten students and their fellow first graders as part of the Circle of Dance program. During the program, students learned essential dance skills, such as balance, coordination and flexibility, while memorizing each of their individualized dance routines. Working together through eight practices, students also learned the importance of teamwork and collaboration while working to perfect their routines. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83472 Wed, 15 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83472 Budget Radio Show 2019 Click here to listen https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83438 Tue, 14 May 2019 06:00:00 GMT false83438 Grundy Avenue Walks the Great Wall of China Technology took third-grade students at Grundy Avenue Elementary School on a trip across the world during a recent activity that utilized Google Expedition headsets to explore the Great Wall of China. With help from technology integration specialist Claudia Camassa, the third-graders used the virtual reality headsets to visit iconic locations along the Great Wall such as the Gubeikou Pass, the Long Fortress, the Simatai Section and the Tower. At each stop along the virtual trip, students learned interesting information about the area. The virtual visit to the Great Wall served as a culminating activity to lessons on China that explored economy, government, geographic features, tourist areas and culture. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83432 Tue, 14 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83432 SCOPE Summer Enrichment & Extended Day Programs https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83415 Mon, 13 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83415 Sachem Named Runner-Up at 2019 Eurochallenge The Sachem Eurochallenge team of Isha Kinare, Stephanie Michael, Connor Patton and Lauren Peralta finished in the runner-up bracket out of over 80 participating schools from 15 states. The Eurochallenge event, which takes place in New York City, puts some of the most focused social studies and policy-driven students in a very competitive environment. A number of these students also compete in the Federal Reserve Challenge as well. This was the fourth straight year Sachem North reached the national semifinals. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83379 Mon, 13 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83379 Merrimac Raises Money for the Special Olympics A recent student-led service-learning project at Merrimac Elementary School helped raise money for an incredible cause, as students across grade levels rallied together to collect money for the Special Olympics. Fourth-grade student Gabriel Nagel developed a plan to raise money for the Special Olympics and brought his idea to Building Principal Veronica DeCicco to make it a reality. Gabriel held a coin drive where students donated spare change, and he also organized a kickball tournament with various incentives for the winning team. Additionally, Gabriel reached out to the popular Long Island organization John’s Crazy Socks, which came to Merrimac to host an assembly program for students. Before the assembly, students learned about Down syndrome, what the Special Olympics are and about the inspirational story of John’s Crazy Socks. John’s Crazy Socks is a father-son team which was co-founded by John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome. During the assembly, John shared information about the Special Olympics and how he never lets Down syndrome hold him back. To conclude the assembly, John answered questions prepared by the students and presented Gabriel with his own special socks. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83324 Fri, 10 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83324 Wenonah Takes It Back to the Future An elaborate collection of student projects and local history was recently showcased at Wenonah Elementary School’s Back to the Future Community Night where students, family and friends enjoyed an assortment of activities throughout the building. The expansive list of available displays and events, focused on the history of Sachem, Wenonah and the Lake Ronkonkoma community, included a vintage toy and collectables display, a history of Sachem football, a history of the Ronkonkoma Fire Department, a past Wenonah teachers meet-and-greet, a 1980s guess-who bulletin board and a time capsule display. In addition, students could participate in several history-themed activities, such as Dancing Through the Decades, a vintage video arcade, face painting and “guess the theme song” game. Family and friends could enjoy additional displays of student projects such as a fourth grade recreation of Lake Ronkonkoma, complete with notable landmarks, and Spheros that were coded to take viewers on a tour of the recreated town. Also, students in kindergarten presented their project, “Toys Are Still a Favorite Past Time;” first grade students made a “Flat Stanley Travels Back in Time” display; second grade students made a “Time Travel Through Space History” display; third grade students collected year-in-review newspaper articles; fourth grade students presented a green-screen project; and fifth grade students presented “The Life of a Wenonah Student: Past, Present and Future.” The event also offered other forms of themed entertainment, including live performances and a car show featuring vehicles from different decades. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83266 Thu, 09 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83266 Sachem Student-Athletes Sign On For Next Chapter Seventeen student-athletes from Sachem East and Sachem North combined signed their national letters of intent to play at Division I or II schools. A ceremony was held at both schools on May 3 to honor these students and their families. There were similar ceremonies in the fall and winter as well, all based around the signing day deadlines set forth by the NCAA. More than 100 student-athletes from Sachem across the Division I, II, III and Junior College levels will graduate in 2019. More photos from the event are available via Facebook.com/SachemSchools. Sachem East • Jeilyn Balbuena, Track, East Stroudsburg • Sal Carricato, Baseball, Eckard • Lindsey Dodenhoff, XC/Track, Stony Brook • Ryan Famiglietti, Track, Siena • Stephen Hollis, Soccer, Bloomsburg • Timmy Livingston, Lacrosse, Caldwell • John Madigan, Football, Sacred Heart • Kaylee Maier, Field Hockey, Molloy • Isabelle Makinen, Track, Iona • Daniella Meyer, Track, Marist • Andrew Oakland, Baseball, Pace • Nick Sanacore, Soccer, NYIT • Liam Sheehy, Basketball, Pace Sachem North • Nick Ambersino, XC/Track, Fairfield • Erin Avanzato, Lacrosse, Jefferson • Jordyn McDonnell, XC/Track, Hofstra • Hailey Wetherbee, Swimming, Stony Brook https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83145 Tue, 07 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83145 2019-2020 Budget Newsletter https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83197 Tue, 07 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83197 VIDEO: Teacher Appreciation https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83115 Mon, 06 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83115 Blood Drive Flyer - Waverly PTA https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83110 Mon, 06 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83110 Seneca Chefs Secure Fourth Consecutive Win Five Seneca Middle School student-chefs showcased their cooking creativity as they secured a first place finish at the ninth annual Junior Iron Chef competition held at Whole Foods Market in Lake Grove. For the fourth consecutive year, Seneca assembled a team of talented student-chefs who finished first amongst junior chefs from across Long Island. All students attended the competition with a prepared recipe and cooked their dish in the allotted one-hour cook time. The educational cooking event encourages students to learn and execute the culinary skills necessary to prepare dishes essential for a healthy lifestyle. The competition promotes the use of local food to support farmers and the environment. Each recipe was judged on taste, presentation, creativity, use of local ingredients, use of USDA ingredients, healthy choices and cafeteria readiness. Each team worked closely with its family and consumer science teachers to develop recipes and practiced for many hours leading up to the contest. Seneca’s team, “The GOATS,” composed of eighth grade students Leah Ferrara, Sofia Iacono, Andrew Macchio, Gianna Scolaro and Jackie Volo, secured the first place finish with their dish, Caribbean Breakfast Salad. The winning dish consisted of a fluffy French toast base topped with a hearty slice of grilled pineapple, topped with an arugula salad covered in a raspberry Dijon glaze. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83042 Fri, 03 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83042 Tamarac FINtastic 5K Run-Walk https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83044 Fri, 03 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83044 Business Students Practice With a Pro Sachem High School East business students engaged in hands-on learning in William Ward’s class during a recent visit from mindSHIFT Senior Manager for Human Resources, Janelle Alberigo. To begin the special visit, Alberigo explained the role of someone who works in human resources, the career path she followed and the versatility of the position she holds today. With the guidance of Alberigo, students participated in mock interviews in which they pretended to be a human resources manager. They received bad interview calls and calls in which the interviewee was well prepared. Throughout the informative, hands-on activity, students gained insight into this and other aspects of the human resources profession. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=83007 Thu, 02 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false83007 Student-Musicians Honored by Board of Education At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education on April 17, 41 extraordinary student-musicians were recognized for their selection to participate in the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association’s annual All-County Festival. Students in band, orchestra and chorus were selected for this great honor based on previous New York State School Music Association scores and teacher recommendations before being selected by the SCMEA Board. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82944 Wed, 01 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82944 VIDEO: Wavery Art Competition - Chopped https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82960 Wed, 01 May 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82960 Board Recognizes Exemplary Winter Athletes On April 3, the Sachem Central School District Board of Education recognized a collection of extraordinary athletic teams which excelled in their respective sports during the winter season. Teams honored included the Sachem High School North Arrowette team who secured a National Dance Alliance national title for team performance, a small varsity jazz national championship and an award for technical excellence. Also, the Sachem High School North cheerleaders were named Suffolk County champions and also won the first state championship in program history. The Sachem High School East varsity wrestling team won the League I Dual Championship and the League I Tournament Championship before going on to finish first as the Section XI Duals Champion. In addition to the impressive team accomplishments, numerous students were also recognized for receiving All-League, All-County or All-State honors. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82894 Tue, 30 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82894 Sachem Students Create Worldwide Connections Students at Sachem High School East continue their long-standing tradition of exchanging letters with pen pals at Collège Privé Jean Yole in Les Herbiers, France, which connects students through the use of a world language. Les Herbiers is a city in the western part of France in the Loire region. Each year, freshman French students at High School East are assigned a pen pal and consistently exchange letters throughout the yearlong class. These new relationships allow students to create meaningful connections to the French language. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82860 Mon, 29 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82860 Technology Helps Create Connections to Curriculum Curriculum connections were plentiful for students at Sachem High School North during a recent visit from the Sachem Public Library, as students engaged in several activities utilizing high- and low-tech educational tools. During science and math classes, students across grade levels experimented with educational technologies that emphasized science, technology, engineering and math. Students used Magical Magnets to create three-dimensional figures, structures and shapes in addition to testing their design abilities using Strawbees and Legos. Exploring more complex technologies, students used the Autodesk program to improve their freehand drawing skills and fuel interests in digital art. Additionally, students tried on virtual reality headsets and used iPads to control mBot robots. The visit from the public library allowed students to explore current curriculum concepts using a versatile selection of educational materials. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82769 Wed, 24 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82769 Hiawatha Book Initiative Unites School Community Students, faculty and staff at Hiawatha Elementary School recently participated in a buildingwide reading initiative that fostered a collective love for learning through the Andrew Clements book, “Frindle.” One Book, One School is an annual initiative at Hiawatha that provides each student and staff member with a copy of the same book to read. This year’s book, “Frindle,” is about a boy who renames a pen a “frindle” and it eventually becomes a new word in the dictionary. In celebration of the initiative, Hiawatha hosted a family event on Feb.28 organized by librarian Kim Walker and art teacher Nicole Healy where students and their family members created invisible ink, bookmarks and made new words in addition to other engaging activities. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82740 Tue, 23 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82740 Chippewa Takes Learning Long Distance A cross-country connection between an Alaskan elementary school and second grade students in Mary Bernhard’s class at Chippewa Elementary School led to an eye-opening look inside a school community much different from their own. As part of the yearlong project, students in Bernhard’s class have been communicating with students in Alaska in an interesting way. They have been taking photos with Flat Stanley’s around their school community and sharing places they go around Long Island. Then, the Alaskan students did the same. Through this interactive project, Chippewa students learned about numerous aspects of Alaska, including climate, population, landscape and animals. Later this year, Bernhard plans to set up a video chat between each class for the students to meet face to face. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82714 Mon, 22 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82714 Professional Artist Shares Lessons in Cultural Creations Creativity flourished at Waverly Avenue Elementary School as second-grade students in Susan Kinsey’s art class were led through the Day in Clay instructional workshop presented by professional artist, sculptor and potter Cliff Mendelson. As part of the hands-on workshop, students learned how Native American ceramic vessels are made and about their connection to world cultures. Using some of his brilliant work as examples, Mendelson discussed the history of art in Asian, Greek and Native American cultures and how its applications are alive in the world today. Guided by Mendelson, students created their own individual clay vases using the style and techniques of the Native Americans. The various symbols, patterns and imagery of their culture were utilized in the students’ artwork as they explored the tradition that is rich in ceramic history. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82680 Fri, 19 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82680 Sachem East Girls Track Claims League Title While gathered in the Brentwood High School bleachers for their post-meet discussion, the young women of Sachem East track and field waited to hear the meet’s final score. They had been prepared for a tough contest; not only did the Brentwood squad pose some difficult match-ups for Sachem in sprints and jumps, but the Arrows were dealing with a group of their own seniors who were sleep-deprived and out of rhythm from their annual senior trip to Washington, D.C. Likewise, the meet interrupted normal training routines as they found themselves hosted at Brentwood a day later than expected thanks to a weather cancellation the previous day. As the meet developed, and several early events were split between Brentwood and Sachem, it would be difficult for an outsider to recognize the growing lead for Sachem. Brentwood won seven out of the 14 open events. This should have made the meet a virtual toss-up. To help limit the damage done by these seven Brentwood victories, however, several Sachem team members stepped up to secure a third-place finish in the 400-meter dash, the triple jump and the shot put. Sachem was also able to claim key points in the other events won by Brentwood, with a second-place finish in the 100-meter dash, a second- and third-place finish in the 200-meter dash, a second- and third-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles, and a second- and third-place finish in the high jump. Without these points secured in events won by Brentwood, it was likely the meet would have come down to the wire or ended with a Brentwood victory. Sachem was able to flex its own muscle, as well, dominating with a first- and second-place finish in the 100-meter hurdles, a first- and second-place finish in the 800-meter run, a first- and third-place finish in the discus, a victory in the long jump, and a sweep of first through third in the 1,500-meter run, race walk and 3,000-meter run. Before the 4x100-meter, 4 x 400-meter and 4x800-meter relays started, victory had already been secured. When the dust settled and the team gathered in the bleachers to recap the meet, the final score stood at 91-59, good enough for Sachem East to claim a 2019 league title. The news of a league title, their fourth in the last five years, came with plenty of smiles and cheers, but the real celebration occurred one week earlier at Sachem when they defeated league rival Longwood 83-67, on April 10, in a head-to-head match-up of the best two teams in the league. The victory over Longwood avenged last year’s loss to the eventual county champions and set up the April 16 showdown with Brentwood to finish the job. That job now complete, Sachem looks ahead to some serious training through spring break, senior day on April 29 and the start of championship season that kicks off at the St. Anthony’s Invitational on May 3 and 4. There have been many key players on the track thus far in the season: in the sprints and jumps are Jasmine Ahmed, Jeilyn Balbuena, Arya Deshpande, Julianna Grillo, Erica Hecht, Kylie Koerner, Isabelle Makinen, Julianna Mercado, Daniella Meyer, Arianna Moore, Gianna Pepitone, Victoria Scheller and Jaidyn Simmons; in the mid-distance and distance are Lindsey Dodenhoff, Lexi MacAneney, Chiara Marziali, Sabrinna Mena, Anna Murphy, Jessica Schaefer, Sydney Sherbitsky, Lauren Trejo, Emily Venturi and Alexis Violi; in the throws are Ericka Craig, Kaiya Fragala, Farrah Kuchcicki, ToniAnn McNerney, Ashley Nash and Marissa Scimeca; in the race walk are Marcela Araujo, Angelina Colon, Lauren Faust, Amanda Harnos, Kayla Manel and Marissa Sciotto; and finally newcomers to the squad are Gillian and Michaela Barresi, Molly Grow, Jamie Levin, Anna Morrongiello, Erica Urbancik and Jaidyn Wolfe. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82643 Thu, 18 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82643 2019-2020 Proposed Budget Presentations https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82650 Thu, 18 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82650 Middle Schools Participate in Italian Celebration In honor of Fat Tuesday and the Carnevale season, seventh grade Italian classes at Sachem middle schools learned about the Carnevale celebration and the ways it was celebrated hundreds of years ago in cities throughout Italy. As part of their study, students watched videos that explained the deep-rooted history of Carnevale. Students focused their research on Venice, which is most well-known for its costumes, masks and long-standing traditions that are still celebrated in modern times. Classes crafted masks that represented the alter ego they decided to portray during their masquerade ball and interviewed one another in the target language. Concluding the activity, students celebrated Fat Tuesday with a party of their own where they sampled delicious Italian food typical of Carnevale. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82594 Wed, 17 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82594 Sachem Business Students Head to Federal Reserve American high school students will gather to compete in the annual Euro Challenge contest at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on May 2. Following regional contests, a total of 25 teams from across the country, including our very own from Sachem North, will travel to New York City for the semifinal and final rounds. Students compete by showcasing their financial literacy and knowledge of the European Union and its single currency, the euro. Participating teams prepare a detailed presentation of current economic conditions in one of the 19 countries that share the euro, and proceed to make policy recommendations to improve that country’s competitiveness, human capital and sustainable growth. This year’s contest takes on special importance as the euro celebrates its 20th anniversary. Since its launch in 1999, the euro has brought stable prices, lower transaction costs, more transparent and competitive markets, and increased trade. “The Euro Challenge is a unique learning opportunity for young Americans that teaches students about financial literacy and policy making from an EU perspective,” said Moreno Bertoldi, special advisor to the ambassador and head of the Economic and Financial Affairs Section at the Delegation of the European Union to the United States. “It also highlights that the EU is the largest economic partner of the United States. Since we launched the Euro Challenge in 2006, I am proud to say that hundreds of American students have participated in this exciting competition.” The top five winning teams will receive monetary awards generously provided by the Moody’s Foundation. The top two placing teams will receive a free trip to Washington, D.C., also sponsored by the Moody’s Foundation, to present solutions to the embassy of the country they researched. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82557 Tue, 16 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82557 Sachem Student Receives Awards for Outstanding Service Sachem High School North senior Lauren Breuer was recently awarded the Suffolk County Principals Leadership award and was named a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award for her continued efforts focused on improving her school community through community service initiatives. Lauren boasts an impressive academic résumé. She is enrolled in several Advanced Placement classes such as English, Government and Politics, and Spanish. In addition to her academic accomplishments, Lauren has been class president for each of her four years at High School North and an active member of the Buddies Club, Leadership Club and Mentors Club. She is also a member of the Business, Foreign Language and National honor societies. “I just love to help people,” Lauren said. “If I can help just one person, no matter how big or small, that makes all the hard work worth it.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82494 Mon, 15 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82494 PARP Celebration Sheds Light on an Important Lesson Kings and queens filled the cafetorium at Wenonah Elementary School for a magical celebration of literacy and learning as part of the building’s monthlong Pick a Reading Partner initiative. As the PARP assembly began, the magical kingdom on Wenonah was under siege by a ferocious dragon. At the beginning of the month, students learned that if they read books it would protect Wenonah from the dragon. With each book the students read, a brick was added to their kingdom. The bricks were represented by old cereal boxes that now showcased information about the books the students read. As the theatrical assembly continued, building administrators and staff acted out the enchanting fairy tale dressed in vibrant costumes. At the conclusion of the production, students discovered the dragon was not scary at all; he just wanted to visit Wenonah to read all of its wonderful books. The engaging performance shared the popular sentiment that you should never judge a book by its cover. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82425 Fri, 12 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82425 Sachem East Uses Models to Study Extinction Sachem High School East students in Daniel Egbert’s new Evolution Science elective recently worked cooperatively to use cutting-edge 3-D printers to create models of extinct, fossilized creatures. With the help of High School East librarian Jacque Wrightson, students learned how to use two programs, Thingiverse.com and Tinkercad.com, that enabled them to import and modify existing templates to create their models. Research on each species, as well as the mechanisms of fossil formation, were also studied as part of the project. Concluding the project, students presented their models and research findings to their class. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82381 Thu, 11 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82381 Samoset Studies the Effects of Force and Motion A series of science stations at Samoset Middle School reinforced important curriculum concepts for sixth-grade students during a recent workshop led by the Brookhaven National Laboratory. As part of the hands-on workshop, students rotated between stations that examined science topics, including gravity, motion, friction and force. At one station, students were tasked with constructing a roller coaster for a marble to travel through while being mindful of how speed and momentum affected the marble’s travel. At another station, students examined how different surfaces can affect travel and distance as they rolled a toy car down a ramp. While testing each surface, students collected data on the tests they conducted. In an additional station, the students studied energy transfer by playing a game where they hit one marble into another, knocking it from a circle and reflecting on the result that speed and force had on the collision. This timely visit from the Brookhaven National Laboratory served as an engaging review to conclude the recent science unit on force and motion. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82336 Wed, 10 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82336 Annual Internship and Career Connection Opens Doors to Opportunity Sachem high school students recently explored an eclectic assortment of future opportunities during the second annual Internship and Career Connection hosted at Sachem High School North. The expansive event featured 28 local businesses and organizations that provided junior and senior students with information on future career and internship opportunities. The long list of groups who participated in the event included the New York Jets, Sachem Public Library, Nichols College, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Seeds of Achievement, the Boy Scouts of America, Splish Splash, RE/MAX Real Estate, Techworks, Civil Air Patrol, the United States Marine Corps, Long Island Community Hospital, the United States Army, RG Financial Investment Solutions, the United States Navy, Ronald McDonald House, Bob’s Stores, National Tax and Financial Services, New York City Police Department, American Pools, Keiser University, RFC Fence, Suffolk County Police Department, Accucare Health, the National Guard, First National Bank, FDNY and the Guitar Guy. During the event, which was organized by the Sachem Business Department, hundreds of students conversed with business representatives to further their knowledge in their areas of interest. Assisting with the daylong event were a group of Sachem High School North business students, who arranged tables and escorted the representatives to the gymnasium. Once the event had concluded, business teacher William Ward reflected on how it impacted the students. "The beautiful thing about having success as a business teacher and creating an event with students, colleagues and professionals is that the impact, like waves, continues to manifest and pay dividends further than the eye can see." https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82304 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 05:00:00 GMT false82304 Chippewa Creates Crazy Pudding for St. Patrick’s Day Chippewa Elementary School third-grade students in Amy Dejesus’ class recently made green leprechaun pudding in recognition of St. Patrick’s Day. As part of the activity, third-graders observed ingredients being combined and watched how the properties changed as liquid was added to the powder ingredients. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82286 Tue, 09 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82286 Sachem Hosts Conference Led by Prestigious Geneticist Students and staff from multiple Long Island school districts converged on the Sachem High School North auditorium for a genetics program presented by nationally renowned genetics educator Dr. Sam Rhine. In its 14th year at Sachem High School North, the one-day genetics conference designed for community members, high school students and their teachers provided key insight for students interested in careers in medicine, biological research or other life science careers. This year’s conference spanned topics that included the genetics of common single-gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis and sickle cell anemia, to more complicated polygenic conditions, such as obesity, cancer, arthritis and Alzheimer’s disease. In addition, recent advances within the field of genetics and information regarding the widely popular ancestry testing, currently directly available to consumers, was also discussed. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82245 Mon, 08 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82245 Sachem Artist’s Talents Shine at Art Exhibit Sachem art teachers Alexis Curcio and Renee Parisi recently represented student-artists from Tamarac Elementary School and Sagamore Middle School at the Suffolk County Art Leaders Association’s Children’s Show on March 16 at Old Town Hall in Babylon. The exhibit featured a mixed collection of two-dimensional and three-dimensional art from students across Suffolk County in grades K-8. The fourth-grade art that was featured from Tamarac Elementary School included poured landscape reflections inspired by Australian artist Kate Shaw and Native American-inspired spirit animal paintings representing animals students felt connected to. Additionally, Tamarac third-grade artists created Chinese porcelain plates inspired by their recent study of China. Students from Sagamore Middle School created two-dimensional pieces as part of their acrylic color study in which students used the grid method to render their portraits to a larger size. They then chose a color scheme and applied different shades and tints of that color to their face, filling the background with a complementary color. In other incredible displays of art, students made observation drawings, name-design projects and a transformation diptych. In addition, Sagamore students also created three-dimensional sculptures representing something manmade and something found in nature. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82179 Fri, 05 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82179 Students Advocate Against Smoking on Kick Butts Day On March 20, a national day of activism known as Kick Butts Day, seventh-grade health education students across all three middle school buildings in the Sachem Central School District had a common message for their peers: Stay away from harmful tobacco products. In honor of Kick Butts Day, student volunteers shared this important message, empowering youth to make smart choices, stand up against big tobacco organizations and educate others on the dangers of tobacco product use. The districtwide participation in the initiative consisted of a collaborative effort from building drug and alcohol counselors and health education teachers. The students’ participation in the initiative served as a timely connection to their recent unit on substance abuse prevention and lessons on the importance of advocacy. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82145 Thu, 04 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82145 Sachem Student Named Finalist in 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program Sachem High School North senior Amy DeLury has been selected as a finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Amy excels in her Advanced Placement courses, including calculus, economics, English literature and physics. In addition to her continued academic success, she is also an integral participant in multiple extra- and co-curricular activities, such as the Economics and Finance Club and the Model United Nations Club, in which she is a delegate. Adding to her distinguished academic résumé, Amy has been successful as a science research student, having placed third at the Long Island Brain Bee this year and having been selected for last year’s Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Professor for a Day program. During the latter, she worked to examine protein homeostasis in health and disease. Additionally, Amy and a partner were selected to advance to the second round of the prestigious Long Island Science and Engineering Fair. Approximately 1.6 million juniors from high schools across the country entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The 15,000 finalists now continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million. Those who have been selected as Merit Scholarship winners will be announced between March and June. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=82068 Wed, 03 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false82068 Author Sets the Stage for Greek Mythology Greek mythology conquered conversation at Samoset Middle School during a recent assembly program for sixth-grade students led by author and illustrator George O’Connor. The inspiring assembly program took students on a journey through O’Connor’s experiences as a student just beginning to draw, to the tips and techniques he still uses today to excel as an author and illustrator. O’Connor walked students through his Greek mythology-based book series, “Olympians,” providing students an opportunity to test their knowledge of the most famous Greek gods and goddesses and the mythological stories they star in. Concluding his presentation, O’Connor showcased his quick drawing style during an impressive 25-second drawing demonstration of Greek god Zeus, where he emphasized the importance of working through your mistakes instead of taking them as failures. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80533 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 05:00:00 GMT false80533 Sachem Robotics Places Second on Long Island Sachem’s robotics team took second place at the Long Island Regional championships at Hofstra University in March. Aftershock 263 competed against 48 teams from across Long Island and international teams from Brazil, China, Norway and Turkey. Sachem competed in a best-of-three final and narrowly missed winning. These student-engineers worked hard for a three-day tournament featuring some of the best and brightest math and science students in the region. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80525 Tue, 02 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80525 Readers as Leaders Event Celebrates Literacy and Learning Grundy Avenue Elementary School recently celebrated the birthday of Dr. Seuss with a special celebration of literacy, as students across the building listened to stories read by prominent members of the school and community as part of the building’s annual Readers as Leaders event. During the collaborative event, multiple guest readers shared stories with students that promoted literacy and learning. Those in attendance included, but were not limited to, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Legislator Bill Lindsay, New York State Assemblyman Doug Smith, New York State Sen. Phil Boyle, Suffolk County Police Officer Keith Murphy and Newsday sports writer Tom Rock. After each guest concluded their chosen story, students asked questions related to their specific careers and roles within the community, gaining interesting insight from the distinguished visitors. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80484 Mon, 01 Apr 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80484 Board of Education Honors 2019 Valedictorians and Salutatorians At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, members of the Board honored four distinguished students for their outstanding academic performance and continued dedication to educational excellence. From Sachem High School North, Amy DeLury was recognized as the valedictorian of the 2019 senior class and was also honored for her selection as a National Merit Scholarship finalist. Additionally, Miguel Maramara from High School North was recognized as the salutatorian of the 2019 senior class. Continuing the recognitions, Vincent Zhang was honored as the Sachem High School East Class of 2019 valedictorian and congratulated for the incredible accomplishment of being named a semifinalist in the Regeneron Science Talent Search, an honor achieved by only six students in Sachem’s history. To conclude the recognitions, Joseph Nestor Yu Tan was recognized as the High School East Class of 2019 salutatorian. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80416 Fri, 29 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80416 ABC's of Bullying https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80415 Fri, 29 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80415 SCOPE Honors the Contributions of Five From Sachem Five members of the Sachem Central School District community were honored for their dedication and commitment to education at the Scope Education Services 18th Annual Awards Dinner on March 18. Laura Slattery, president of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, received the School Board Service award. Ms. Slattery has been a resident of the district for over 40 years and has served as a member of the Board since 2015. Her commitment to the Sachem Central School District gleams through her continued work advocating for all students, staff and community members within the district. Paula Attard-Lowis was honored with the Support Staff Services award. Ms. Attard-Lowis is a Sachem graduate who has worked as a clerk in the personnel office. Her 41 years of experience serve as an invaluable resource when she assists in tasks imperative to the success of the district. Sue Tuttle, director of student services, received the Administrator Service award. Ms. Tuttle has served the Sachem Central School District for 30 years and held positions as a teacher assistant, special education teacher, assistant coordinator and director of student services. Ms. Tuttle currently oversees a large department which is dedicated to serving Sachem students with special needs as well as their families. Sheryl Amallobieta, a fourth-grade teacher at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, was honored with the Teacher Service award. Ms. Amallobieta has worked in the district for 18 years. She held various roles, including a technology integration specialist, before becoming a classroom teacher. Her student-centered classroom prepares students for the 21st century through her implementation of project-based learning that creates a diverse instructional experience and empowers all students. Emily Frosina, Sachem High School North special education teacher, received the Community Service award.During her years of commitment to the students of Sachem, Ms. Frosnia has been involved with the Polar Plunge and has raised large amounts of money as the team captain for several years. Additionally, Ms. Frosnia is also involved with Island Harvest and has plans to refurbish the courtyard at High School North to include a real working garden with areas for meditation and reflection. “This night was a great opportunity for us to honor people in Sachem who continue to make a difference,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham. “It was a great celebration.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80374 Thu, 28 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80374 Sachem North Model UN Delegates Have World at Fingertips Model UN delegates from Sachem North traveled to New York City to participate in the National High School Model United Nations Conference in March. This event is organized by the International Model United Nations Association and hosts schools from Africa, Asia, Europe and South America as well as the United States. Opening ceremonies were held in the General Assembly Hall of the United Nations Headquarters. Over the four days, students participated in debates on topics such as suicide prevention, environmental crime and explosive waste. “Our students had the opportunity to learn from and make friends with students from countries like Egypt, Jordan, Italy, Germany, and El Salvador, among others,” said Tara Jurow, a student-delegate from Sachem. Delegates attended a speaker series featuring the founder of MUN Impact and representatives from Rustic Pathways, an organization that provides students with educational opportunities throughout the world. The keynote speaker was Susan Rice, U.S. ambassador to the UN from 2009-2013 and national security advisor from 2013-2017. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80317 Wed, 27 Mar 2019 20:00:00 GMT false80317 Merrimac Students Collaborate to Save Sea Turtles Third-grade students at Merrimac Elementary School recently attended a Save the Sea Turtles assembly presented by the Riverhead Foundation, where third- and fifth-grade students learned the importance of protecting Long Island’s sea turtle population. As part of their effort to help the sea turtles, students at Merrimac created a service learning project fundraiser and raised enough funds to adopt 16 sea turtles. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80316 Wed, 27 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80316 Lynwood Avenue Takes on Destination Imagination For the past few years, teams from Lynwood Avenue Elementary School have been participating in Destination Imagination. They were at it again this month at a regional tournament in Ossining, New York. The Destination Imagination program encourages teams of learners to have fun, take risks, focus and frame challenges while incorporating STEM, the arts and service learning. Participants learn patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas, and the collaborative problem-solving process. Teams showcase their solutions at a tournament. Lynwood’s fourth-grade team chose the Fine Arts Challenge: Game On. For this challenge, the team needed to create and present a story that integrates research of a team-selected game, create and present a game gizmo that causes an action or event to occur, design and create a container that goes through a transformation, design either the game gizmo or the container to be a technical element, and create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength and talents. Lynwood’s fourth-grade team members are Zhara Chaudhry, Kacey Geluso, Zach Guerrido, Emma Rudge, Ananya Sood and Abygail Wottawa. The fourth-grade team chose the Scientific Challenge: Medical Mystery. For this challenge, the team needed to research the human body and medical conditions that affect the human body, create and present a story about a medical mystery that affects a human character, design and build a representation that shows the medical mystery and at least one symptom, present an action or scene that is shown from two or more perspectives at the same time, and create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength and talents. The fifth-grade team members are Hannah Barkin, Ava Barrett, Dianna Burns, Jack Cordero, Kyle Fink, Keya Pai and Saiyum Sheth. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80298 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false80298 Waverly Avenue Masters Stop-Motion Movies During an innovative art activity at Waverly Avenue Elementary School, fourth-grade students were recently introduced to stop-motion animation with the help of art teacher Susan Kinsey and technology integration specialist Keri Haas. Students began the activity by storyboarding the scene that they were going to record and then presenting their ideas to their classmates for feedback. Utilizing the Google Slides program on laptop computers, student groups worked together to carefully move each piece within the scene while taking photos periodically to create the animation. Over three art classes, students used problem-solving skills to develop new techniques that created smoother animations to achieve their desired results. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80268 Tue, 26 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80268 Sachem Business Students Compete in State Competition A group of students from Sachem East and Sachem North recently participated in the DECA State Career Conference that was held at the Riverside Convention Center in Rochester, New York. Students come to compete in over 40 different competitive events. This year’s DECA State Career Conference welcomed more than 2,300 attendees. The DECA team consisted of Sachem East seniors Matthew Ely and Alyssa Dark; juniors Emma Hannigan, Therese Krawchuk and Gina Lelo; sophomores Logan Catalanotto, Nicholas Jason and Jayden Reilly; and Sachem North junior Stephen Iadanza. Students competed in categories including marketing, entrepreneurship, finance, business management, and hospitality and tourism, completing a wide range of tasks, from presenting their written business proposals to solving real-world business problems in a role-play scenario. In addition to the competition, Sachem students participated in leadership seminars and activities that focused on strengthening their ability to solve problems, work as a team and network with others. DECA prepares emerging leaders and entrepreneurs in marketing, finance, hospitality and management in high schools and colleges around the globe. Utilizing lessons learned from DECA, students become academically prepared for college and career in the previously mentioned fields while also becoming community oriented by gaining an appreciation for the benefits of service and their potential impact on the community and world. DECA also helps push students to become professionally responsible with ethics, integrity and high standards while becoming experienced leaders by practicing key leadership skills such as goal setting, consensus building and project management. Both advisers, Lisa Anthony (East) and Tom Sullivan (North), would like to congratulate all the students who participated in DECA this year. Congratulations to the following DECA students who placed top 10 in their respective competitions: Emma Hannigan – Business Services Marketing exam, Jayden Reilly – Entrepreneurship exam and Therese Krawchuk – Business Services Role Play. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80257 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 06:00:00 GMT false80257 Italian Fat Tuesday Celebrated at Sachem’s Middle Schools In honor of ‘Fat Tuesday’ (‘mardi gras’ to most but martedi grasso to Italians) and the carnival season, the 7th grade Italian classes at all middle schools in the district learned about ‘Carnevale’ and how it was celebrated hundreds of years ago in various cities throughout Italy. Students watched videos about the history of ‘Carnevale’, with a focus on Venice, which is the most well-known for its costumes and masks and also about how most traditions are still celebrated in modern times. Our students made masks which represented the alter ego they decided to portray during our masquerade ball and interviewed one another in the target language. They also celebrated ‘Fat Tuesday’ with a party of their own, at which they sampled delicious Italian food typical of ‘Carnevale’. The 7th graders had a blast and their favorite part was definitely watching the video of the Battle of Oranges (Battaglia delle Arance), which takes place every year in the small, northern Italian city of Ivrea. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80209 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80209 Students Take Steps Toward a Healthy Heart As part of the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge, students at Nokomis Elementary School have been learning heart-healthy habits and implementing them through exercise. Before school, students recently attended a one-day program where they engaged in heart-healthy exercises and games that elevated students’ heart rates and taught them about the importance of exercise. As part of the initiative, during gym classes students will continue to learn more about the importance of exercise and how to take care of their heart. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80210 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80210 2018-2019 Snow Day Related Calendar Changes https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80254 Mon, 25 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80254 Reading Sparks Magical Kickoff Event Hiawatha Elementary School students recently kicked off their Pick a Reading Partner program with a dazzling display that connected literacy and magic, thanks to Joe Holiday’s Reading Rocks Magic Show. Students across grade levels attended the kickoff assembly program where magician Joe Holiday used books as inspiration for many of his impressive magic tricks. With help from student volunteers, Holiday continued to amaze the crowd throughout the show while referencing several notable books, including the Harry Potter series. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=80166 Fri, 22 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false80166 Button Makers Combine Mythology and Technology Sixth-grade students at Seneca Middle School recently participated in a mythology-themed activity creating button pins, inspired by the Rick Riordan book, “The Lightning Thief.” With help from the Sachem Public Library, students were taught how to assemble their own button pins before they pressed the buttons together using one of the library’s button presses. Students made buttons from one of six premade designs before creating their own mythology-themed illustrations to be turned into buttons. The activity was an opportunity for the students to review key areas of the popular book as part of their unit on gods and goddesses. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=79114 Thu, 21 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false79114 SCOPE Summer Enrichment & Extended Day Programs https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=79124 Thu, 21 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false79124 Sachem Student-Athletes Earn Top Winter Sports Honors Congratulations to the student-athletes listed below for receiving postseason honors in their respective winter sports. These student-athletes are recognized for their accomplishments and exceptional performances. These recognitions are awarded by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Section XI, Suffolk County coaches associations, Newsday and other sports-related foundations. Sachem East Postseason Award Winners Cheerleading Scholar-Athlete Team Melissa Bossong: All-Division Jessica Laudato: All-Academic Hannah Shapiro: All-County Boys Basketball: Scholar-Athlete Team Chris Boothe: All-League Ryan Kennedy: All-Academic Liam Sheehy: All-League Girls Basketball: Scholar-Athlete Team Emma Lange: All-League, All-County Mackenzie Szlosek: All-League, All-County Samantha Szatkowski: All-League Boys Winter Track: Scholar-Athlete Team Christian Berberich: All-League Joe Berberich: All-League Dan Leonard: All-League Long Jump, County Champion, All-County Matt Pietzak: All-League Girls Winter Track: Scholar-Athlete Team League 1 Champions Bridget Abraldes: All-League Jasmine Ahmed: All-League, Academic All-County Marcla Araujo: All-League Angelina Colon: All-League Arya Deshpande: All-League Lindsey Dodenhoff: All-League, All-County Chiara Marziali: All-League Sabrina Mena: All-League Julianna Mercado: All-League, Academic All-County Melisa Merone: All-League Arianna Moore: All-League Anna Murphy: All-League Ariann Robinson: All-League, All-State Marissa Sciotto: All-League Lauren Trejo: All-League, All-County, All-State Kaylee Vanella: All-League Alexis Violi: All-League Rachel Weber: All-League Wrestling: League 1 Dual Champs League 1 Tournament Champs Section XI Duals Champs Lucas Coniker: All-League Steve Dorman: All-League, All-County Mark Kmiotek: All-League, All-County Tom Marks: All-League Sam Matlat: All-League, All-County Trevor Murray: All-League Ryan Paolella: All-League Angel Pineda: All-League, Outstanding Wrestler, All-County Brendan Syrop: All-League Luis Valdez: All-League Ryan Wahl: All-League Jared Weinhaus: All-League, All-County, Suffolk County Champion, All-State Sachem North Postseason Award Winners Cheerleading: Scholar-Athlete Team County Champions State Champions Emily Heinssen: All-Division Julia Lange: All-Academic Madison Wruck: All-County Ariana Yasso: All-County Boys Basketball: Scholar-Athlete Team Bradley Anacreon: All-League, All-Conference James Butler: Unsung Hero of League 1, Joseph Petillo: All-Academic Girls Basketball: Scholar-Athlete Team Corinne Amato: All-Academic Erin Avanzato: All-Academic Hailey Hallum: All-League Kennadie Hallum: All-League, All-Conference, All-County Julia Turano: All-League, All-Conference Boys Winter Track: Scholar-Athlete Team Matthew Aliano: All-League Nicholas Ambrosino: All-League Michael Bailey: All-League, All-County (Honorable Mention) Ian Carollo: All-League Tim Colgan: All-League Alex Jean: All-League Matt Kruse: All-League Daniel McKay: All-League, All-County (Honorable Mention) Steve Medina: All-League Jaden Mennella-Singleton: All-League, All-County (Honorable Mention) Vidit Parikh: All-League Devin Scavuzzo: All-League Vincent Tripi: All-League Chris Ventre: All-League, All-County (Honorable Mention) Girls Winter Track: Scholar-Athlete Team Annaliese Fabrizi: All-League Gia Giudice: All-League Katie Houston: All-League Jordyn McDonnell: All-League, All-County Christina Molinelli: All-League Jessica Nischo: All-League, Academic All-County Mikayla Pulido: All-League Molly Ramirez: All-League Jessica Sommers: All-League Wrestling: Scholar-Athlete Team Andrew Alfieri: All-League Adam Barker: All-League Michael Barker: All-League Nick Cruz: All-League Brian Eichler: All-League Vinny Engel: All-League Matt Keegan: All-League Sean Lutin: All-League J.T. Mankowich: All-League John Mendes: All-League Eric Wetherbee: All-League Sachem Combined Team Postseason Award Winners Boys Bowling: Scholar-Athlete Team League Champions Liam Beaucamp: All-League John Clark: All-Conference Justin DiMaggio: All-League Hunter Levine: All-State Nick Walker: All-League Girls Bowling: Scholar-Athlete Team Cira Arcangel: All-League Nistha Boghra: All-Academic Shannon Darby: All-Academic, All-League, All-County Amanda Gildersleeve: All-League,All-Academic Emily Kulkarni: All-League,All-League Kayla Manarino: All-Academic Amanda Naujokas: All-League, All-County, All-State Kristie Wadler: All-Academic Boys Swimming: Scholar-Athlete Team Sean Combs: All-League Avery Davis: All-League, All-County Mike Dowd: All-League, All-County, All-State Ryan Engel: All-League, All-County Quin Honan: All-League, All-County https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=79068 Wed, 20 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false79068 Google Applications Bring Learning to Life An exciting addition to a unit on ecosystems and food chains was incorporated during a recent activity at Merrimac Elementary School in Lisa Mazzaglia’s fourth-grade class, with help from Technology Integration Specialist Claudia Camassa. As part of the students’ study on ecosystems and the elements they are composed of, students utilized iPads and the Google Expedition Augmented Reality program to see the food chain come alive. Looking through the iPad, students were able to point the devices at certain markers on the floor that created digitized models of components found in the food chain, such as producers, consumers, omnivores, herbivores, carnivores and scavengers. Among the animals that came to life through the digital software were bears, deer and vultures. As a culminating activity, students organized a food chain from start to finish using each of the components they studied throughout the unit. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=79000 Tue, 19 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false79000 Sachem Spellers Honored by Board of Education At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, members of the Board honored Krish Rashan, the winner of the annual districtwide Elementary Spelling Bee, and two students from each elementary school who were named the winner and runner-up of their respective building spelling bees. Students were congratulated for their tremendous efforts during each spelling competition and for their extraordinary spelling ability. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=78875 Mon, 18 Mar 2019 12:00:00 GMT false78875 Board of Education Honors Student-Musicians On Feb.27, the Sachem Central School District Board of Education honored several outstanding student-musicians participating in the band, orchestra or chorus who were selected as the top musicians from their respective school by the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association. Middle school students were honored as Division 2 selections and high school students in ninth and 10th grade were honored as Division 3 selections. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=78874 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 19:00:00 GMT false78874 Waverly Raises Awareness, Funds for St. Baldrick’s Waverly Avenue Elementary School’s generosity and community spirit were on full display at its annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation event this year. The school raised over $22,000 for St. Baldrick’s, an organization that raises money to fight childhood cancer. Historically, Waverly has carried the torch for Sachem in this specific fundraising effort, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last decade. Other buildings across the district will hold St. Baldrick’s events throughout March. This year’s honoree at Waverly, Kayla Sperro, was on hand as more than 45 students and staff had their heads shaved in front of a packed cafeteria. Sperro, 15, is a Sachem student who is batting osteosarcoma. To learn more about St. Baldrick’s and donate to Waverly’s efforts, click here. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=78829 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 12:00:00 GMT false78829 Elementary Day Information for the 2019-20 School Year https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=78923 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false78923 Sagamore Writers Twenty talented Sagamore 7th graders are published authors. Their "Stranger Sagas" short stories were selected by the Young Writers Association, and published in an anthology of writers from New York. Their stories are very creative and suspenseful. We are very proud of their accomplishments! If anyone would like to purchase a copy, please contact Mrs. Gennosa at Sagamore Middle School. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=78924 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false78924 Amazing Art Displays by Mahdi Hassanali Did you notice some of the great art that is being displayed all across the school? Examples of this are the beautiful tree, the bulletin board displays, and the “Pop Up Gallery” that Ms.Grempel and Mrs. Parisi have been working on. Sagamore is extremely lucky to have these two art teachers, who are incredibly talented and have their mind set on making our school a better place. These extraordinary pieces shown below are made by students all across the building who have put in the time and effort to make them. Ms.Grempel and Mrs.Parisi have been hard at work trying to introduce art into our lives and definitely deserve a thank you. Next time you see one of these talented women, be sure to thank them for all they’ve done for our school. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=78925 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false78925 Middle School Musicians Share Experiences Fifth-grade music students recently visited middle schools throughout the district to prepare for the transition to middle school music programs. The visits are an opportunity for students to become better acclimated to the experiences they will encounter while practicing and performing on the middle school level. Each year, elementary school students across the district who participate in band, orchestra or chorus travel with their peers to the Sachem middle school they will attend. On this recent trip, the fifth-graders met with the music teachers they will learn from and gained key insight on things they may encounter as part of middle school music instruction. Continuing the experience, students joined their respective ensembles where they performed a series of warm-up exercises before performing as part of a large ensemble for the first time. Concluding the visit, fifth-graders asked the upperclassman questions about their music experience thus far and for advice on what to expect as they continue their musical careers after elementary school. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=78828 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false78828 Pulsera Project Creates Connection Among Cultures Sachem High School North recently served as a gateway to vibrant cultural art as part of the Pulsera Project, which introduces the art of Nicaraguan artisans to people around the world. Leading High School North’s effort, students from the Interact Club and Christy Zummo’s Spanish classes created a colorful display selling a vast collection of the handwoven bracelets, purses and headbands. The proceeds go directly to the Pulsera project, a nonprofit organization that connects Pulsera artists with well-paying, fair-trade jobs, scholarships, health care and access to housing for them and their families. Each unique piece comes with a tag that includes the artist’s name and photo so purchasers can see who their item was made by. Through the project, students learn about fair trade and social issues in Latin America and promote global citizenship throughout their school community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=78794 Wed, 13 Mar 2019 19:00:00 GMT false78794 Chippewa Students Study the Science of Insects Chippewa Elementary School students were recently introduced to areas of biology and entomology with help from two assistant professors from the Department of Biology at Farmingdale State College. Cell biologist Dr. Azad Gucwa visited Donna Gianfortone’s first-grade class and Laura Seguna’s fourth-grade class to guide students through a hands-on learning activity utilizing foldscopes and paper microscopes. As part of an additional activity, Dr. Carly Tribull taught students about entomology and the importance of insects as she spoke about her unique collection of insects. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=78766 Wed, 13 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false78766 Fun With Animation Lays a Foundation for Future Coding An introduction to animation and code was part of a recent lesson for first-grade students at Grundy Avenue Elementary School, led by Technology Integration Specialist Claudia Camassa. To begin the activity, Camassa read an excerpt from the Joshua Funk book, “How to Code a Sandcastle,” where students were introduced to popular coding terms like block code, sequencing and looping. Using iPads, students then accessed the coding program Scratch Jr. to choose a character, customize a background and then select commands for their character to follow. The activity was an excellent introductory experience for students, as they will participate in additional coding activities in the future. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77755 Tue, 12 Mar 2019 06:00:00 GMT false77755 Fairy Tales Told by Technology Fifth-grade students at Waverly Avenue Elementary School turned to technology to tell popular fairy tales during a recent English language arts activity in Kristina Fulcher and Danielle Sexton’s class. Using Ozobots, students retold the popular fairy tale “The Three Little Pigs” by sketching paths for the Ozobots to follow. Along the paths, students illustrated key moments in the story and added color elements to the paths that caused the Ozobots to spin before continuing on the path. As part of the unique activity, students explored the importance of several key story elements such as character development, plot and conflict. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77735 Tue, 12 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false77735 Sachem Creates a Buzz at Annual Brain Bee Six Sachem High School Science Research students from High Schools North and East attended the 2019 Long Island Brain Bee, held at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell on Feb. 9. Sachem High School East students Asweel Mehaboob, Zul Norin and Elizabeth Reimer joined Sachem High School North students Nistha Boghra, Amy Delury and Miranda Garcia-Cassani to attend the annual competition that gives interested students a venue to explore multiple disciplines associated with the study of the brain. The bee also exposes them to career opportunities in neurology, neurosurgery, psychology and neuroscience. The one-day competition is comprised of three components: a written test on brain facts, laboratory demonstrations on normal and pathological human brain and spinal cord specimens, and a test to identify the anatomical structures and functions of a real human brain. Senior Amy Delury placed third in this year’s competition, her third consecutive top three finish. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77711 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 19:00:00 GMT false77711 Crazy Combination Creates a Sweet Reaction Two popular sugary treats were the main components of a recent STEAM lesson for kindergarten, first- and second-grade students at Merrimac Elementary School that explored chemical reactions and states of matter. As part of the experiment, students attempted to predict the outcome of mixing Mentos candy with diet Coca-Cola. After writing their predictions, teachers Brooke Sarfati and Katy Wilkinson took the students outside to conduct the experiment. Swiftly dropping the Mentos into the soda created a fizzy stream that erupted towards the sky. Students observed in amazement until the majority of soda left the bottle. Following the experiment, students learned that the reaction was caused by nucleation which occurred on the porous surface of the Mentos candy, causing the formation of carbon dioxide molecules that needed to escape. Concluding the activity, students sketched their observations and viewed videos on similar experiments incorporating a variety of variables. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77687 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 04:00:00 GMT false77687 Student Collaboration Highlights African-American History A collaborative effort provided impressive results as kindergarten students in Jennifer Collins’ class joined their fifth-grade book buddies in Amanda Hallstein’s class at Chippewa Elementary School for a project that honored prominent African-American men and women in history. As part of the project celebrating Black History Month, student groups researched information on their selected individual and created timelines using chronological order to outline their lives. While organizing the presentations, fifth-grade students focused on text structure to clearly and concisely deliver the information. Concluding the project, students presented their work to a room of their peers on the influential individual they selected. Among the prominent figures chosen were Fredrick Douglas, Barack Obama, Rosa Parks, Jackie Robinson and Harriet Tubman. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77634 Fri, 08 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77634 Annual Convention Brings Specialists to Seneca Before midwinter recess, Seneca Middle School transformed into a bustling hub for art and literature as several established authors and illustrators visited to share their specialties with students as part of the annual Sene-Con convention, now in its second year. Throughout the day, seventh-grade students traveled around the building to a number of classrooms dedicated to specific presentations by talented authors and illustrators from multiple disciplines. Origami artists Shrikant Iyer and Jacqueline Billig taught students precise folding sequences to form origami art creations, such as a swan, that the students practiced. Graphic designer and illustrator David O. Miller shared beginner tips for drawing in three dimensions. He continued his tutorial on the fundamentals of sketching by guiding students through several character drawings and emphasizing the students’ ability to create things with the technology available to them. An art workshop presented by Imagine That! introduced students to famous artist Jackson Pollack’s work where students learned about the artist before recreating his work using his unique drip paint style. Continuing the focus on art, Marvel artist Billy Tucci spoke to students about his approach to art and the hard work that lead to the position he holds today. Tucci displayed a collection of his work for students to see and answered numerous questions about his profession. Additionally, the Manga style of drawing prominent in Japan was represented by comic artist Misako Rocks! as she demonstrated the unique techniques associated with the medium. As part of a captivating combination of art and storytelling, Christopher Agostino painted several students’ faces to coincide with folktales he told from around the world. His theatric renditions of numerous folktales captivated his audience, some ending with a surprising reveal of the face he painted on his chosen volunteer. This year, students also learned tips and tricks from ventriloquist Jonathan Geffner as they practiced numerous techniques of the trade together. Another unique addition to this year’s convention was African fabric painting with Mrs. Cole-Lacey, in which students utilized paint and several pattern stamps to design and create a unique piece of art on a section of cloth. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77595 Thu, 07 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77595 Living History Museum Celebrates Black History Month A celebration of African-American art, music and poetry recently took place at Sachem High School East as part of a Harlem Renaissance Living History Museum in honor of Black History Month. Led by members of the History Honor Society and club adviser Tracey Melandro, students created a vibrant display of African-American culture that highlighted achievements in art, music, literature and sports. Throughout this month, students researched a specific area of African-American culture and developed engaging ways to present the information to their peers. Some of the unique ways students presented the information was by creating a “poet tree” where students added pieces of poetry, a station where students could recreate art from the Harlem Renaissance and another station where they could add a note to a board about what inspires them. While the museum was open, high school students across grade levels patiently waited to view each informative display highlighting some of the most prominent African-Americans in history. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77571 Wed, 06 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77571 Students Put Their Heart Into Breakout EDU A collaborative effort among students was key to cracking the code during a recent Valentine’s Day-themed Breakout EDU activity in Allison Poffenbarger’s third-grade class at Grundy Avenue Elementary School. As part of the challenging activity, students were tasked with solving multiple puzzles to get clues that would provide the combinations for a series of locks. The students’ goal was to open the box that held Cupid’s bow and arrows after he locked them in the box last year and forgot the combination. Working together, the student groups successfully solved each puzzle and unlocked the box. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77506 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 06:00:00 GMT false77506 Wenonah Cares Supports North Shore Animal League The latest service learning project from Wenonah Elementary School was to support animals. The Wenonah Cares organization and Building Leadership Team completed a project dubbed “Be a Friend to Paws and Claws.” Students and staff collected pet supplies and donated over 180 items to the North Shore Animal League. Follow @WenonahSchool on Twitter to learn more about all of the wonderful community service programs at Wenonah happening throughout the school year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77491 Tue, 05 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77491 Gaining Essential Insight Through Talks on Technology Library media specialists from across the Sachem Central School District recently gathered at the Sachem High School North library for an informative professional development opportunity that emphasized best practices for students and staff when utilizing the numerous educational technologies available to them. As part of the workshop, the library media specialists explored key areas of technology such as tech literacy, the capabilities of connecting coding and curriculum concepts, and the fundamentals of keyboarding. In addition, the expansive training opportunity emphasized the importance of online safety and the dangers of cyberbullying, including ways to immediately enhance the understanding of these essential areas and foster the positive practices of productive digital citizens. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77468 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 07:00:00 GMT false77468 College Fair Spring 2019 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77460 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 06:00:00 GMT false77460 Sachem North Captures NYS Cheerleading Championship Sachem North cheerleading put a cherry on top of its season by capturing a New York State championship. The Flaming Arrows traveled to Rochester, New York, and came home with a Division I Large School title. This was the encore performance to winning a Suffolk County title just weeks ago. Sachem shared the state spotlight with Rocky Point and Mount Sinai, helping in a trifecta win for Section XI, as all three won state titles in their respective divisions. More images and clips from the tournament are available on the @SachemSchools Twitter feed. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77433 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77433 Parent Education Series https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77459 Mon, 04 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77459 Sachem Students Shine at Prom On Feb. 8, three Sachem students attended the fifth anniversary of Night to Shine, an unforgettable prom night experience for people with special needs ages 14 and older. Together, Sachem students Samuel Crean, Shane McCue and John Wylie arrived at the prom in a limousine and each student was named prom king of the joyous event before they enjoyed dancing and enjoying a fun time with their peers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77376 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 21:00:00 GMT false77376 Taking a Bite Out of the Breakfast Industry Students at Sachem High Schools North and East interested in careers in marketing gained valuable industry insight through hands-on experience as part of a recent project in William Ward’s College Marketing class. The project challenged students to design their own unique breakfast cereal and create a marketing plan to accompany their product. As part of the marketing plan, students needed to identify their target market, develop product ideas, and collaborate with their group members to choose a cereal name, packaging, distribution outlets and price. The intricate product designs mirrored those of cereals found in grocery stores now including nutritional facts, games and bar codes. To conclude the project, students delivered presentations that grabbed the attention of their audience and persuaded them to invest in the cereal they created. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77375 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77375 Internet Safety Letter https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77363 Fri, 01 Mar 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77363 Board Recognizes Excellence in Athletics At the Feb.13 meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, several athletic teams were recognized for their extraordinary accomplishments during the fall season. Beginning the recognitions, the Sachem East girls cross-country team was honored for its incredible season where it was named division champions, Suffolk County champions and a Scholar Athlete team. Next, the Sachem East girls field hockey team was recognized for its outstanding undefeated season in which it won the Section 11 championship, a Long Island championship and made an appearance in the New York State tournament. Continuing the recognitions, the Sachem North boys volleyball team was recognized for its incredible achievements this season as it was named the Section 11 champions, won the Long Island championship and finished second at the New York State tournament. Concluding the recognitions, 14 student-athletes were honored for their individual accomplishments in academics and sports, being named All-County, All-State or All-American athletes. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77330 Thu, 28 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77330 Studying the Science of Natural Disasters Towering waves, structure-shaking winds and ground-crumbling earthquakes were all topics of discussions in Caitlin Thompson’s Natural Disasters class at Sachem High School East, a science elective for students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. As part of the course, students learned about natural disasters that occur around the world, such as earthquakes, volcanos, wild fires, tornados, blizzards, floods and plagues. Students examined numerous causes of these disasters using knowledge from several specific areas of science, including meteorology, geology and Earth science. During a recent activity examining the power of hurricane-force winds, students were tasked to construct a miniature hurricane-proof building with the ability to withstand extreme winds. Using tape, pipe cleaners, string and tongue depressors, students assembled buildings capable of holding the load of a tennis ball while also withstanding high winds simulated by a fan. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77292 Wed, 27 Feb 2019 21:00:00 GMT false77292 District Crowns Top Speller at Annual Spelling Bee A faceoff between the top 20 Sachem spellers took place during the annual fifth-grade districtwide spelling bee on Feb. 6 at Grundy Avenue Elementary School. For more than 20 years the Sachem Central School District has showcased the top two spellers from each building at the districtwide event. As champions on the building level representing their respective elementary schools, the 20 word wizards met for a chance to be named the top speller. This year’s bee was judged by a trio of Sachem administrators, Nokomis Elementary Principal Denise Kleinman, Wenonah Elementary Principal Christine Dipaola and Waverly Elementary Principal Thomas Desmond, with Grundy Avenue Elementary School Principal Laura Amato serving as the official pronouncer. At the conclusion of the intense competition, KrishRajan from Grundy Avenue Elementary School was named the winner after successfully spelling “preamble.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77291 Wed, 27 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77291 Students’ Activity Honors Black History Month A prominent African-American figure was at the center of a recent activity for third-grade students in Julie Celecia’s class in honor of Black History Month. As part of their introduction to biographies, students selected books on Ruby Bridges, an elementary school student who at 6 years old was one of the first African-Americans to desegregate a public school. Students utilized several research methods, including books and online research tools, to gather information on the extraordinary life of Bridges. Students learned about the civil rights movement and the numerous hardships she endured while in school. Concluding their research, students compiled a collection of information highlighting key areas from her life and selected character traits in Bridges that they admire, creating an informative hallway display for all Waverly students to see. In an additional activity, students in Katie Hoey’s first-grade class learned about prominent African American jazz musicians such as B.B. King. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77255 Tue, 26 Feb 2019 06:00:00 GMT false77255 Two National Dance Titles for Sachem North The Sachem North Varsity Arrowettes had a strong performance at this year’s National Dance Alliance championships this past weekend in Orlando, Florida. Sachem won two National Dance Alliance national titles: Small Varsity Jazz and Small Varsity Team Performance. The squad also placed second in Small Varsity Kick as well. Sachem North has now won 13 national titles in events spanning the last 10 years. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77256 Tue, 26 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77256 Lynwood Students Celebrate 100 Days One hundred was the magic number for students during a collection of activities in Nicole Stumpf and Bianca Ferrantelli’s kindergarten class as part of a 100th day of school celebration. Throughout the day’s celebration, students participated in several math, science and hands-on STEM activities including the number 100. Rotating between separate stations, student groups built structures from 100 Legos, colored 100 gumballs in a gumball machine, stacked 100 cups as high as they could and counted by 10 to 100 to organize a group of puzzle pieces. The activities commemorating the 100th day of school encouraged students to use teamwork, be creative and problem-solve to complete each task. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77225 Mon, 25 Feb 2019 21:00:00 GMT false77225 Chippewa Celebrates the Chinese New Year Elements of traditional Chinese culture covered the halls of Chippewa Elementary School in celebration of Chinese New Year on Feb. 5 as students participated in a collection of activities highlighting the country. Before the celebration, third-grade students throughout the building crafted Chinese lanterns, masks and painted messages in Mandarin to be displayed throughout the building. In addition, students became experts on Chinese culture, learning intriguing facts about the country and its citizens’ way of life. Concluding the celebration, students enjoyed a Chinese food lunch where they spoke about the Americanized items served and those served as a part of a traditional Chinese meal. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77208 Mon, 25 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77208 Sachem North Cheer Wins Suffolk County Championship For the second straight season, the Sachem North cheer squad won a Suffolk County championship. Edging out Connetquot by just 3.85 points, Sachem lived up to the high expectations set last season by the Flaming Arrows, competing this year as defending champions. “We are very happy that we were able to win another Suffolk County championship for Sachem North,” Sachem coach Danielle Gresalfi said. “These girls pushed through a lot of adversity these past few weeks, so ending with winning the Suffolk County title was great for us all.” Gresalfi said their goal each week is to always be better than the week before. “We are very proud as coaches to be part of a program that has such great tradition and such a huge support group of families, friends and fans,” she added. Sachem North will now turn its attention to the NYSPHSAA cheer championships in Rochester on March 2. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77089 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 06:00:00 GMT false77089 Sachem East Chess Dominance Continues Thanks to the performance by Samuel Sylia at this year’s Suffolk County chess championship, Sachem East has produced champions in three of the last four years. The chess dynasty is alive and real in Sachem. Sylia went undefeated for all five of his matches for a clear win ahead of over 50 players from across Suffolk County. “Sam mentioned that he felt well prepared for playing chess, and also felt mentally tougher than his opponents,” said adviser and science teacher Dr. Stephen Wefer. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=77090 Wed, 20 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false77090 Students Put Their Hearts Into Valentine Box Project The happiness of others is on the minds of students and staff at Waverly Avenue Elementary School as part of their ongoing Valentine Box project that shares the love of reading with children across Long Island. For more than 10 years, the initiative organized by Beth Ryan and Deb Mergott has rallied the support of Sachem students, staff and community members to make creative Valentine’s Day boxes filled with snacks, drinks, small toys and, most importantly, new books to be distributed to children in need. “It truly is a community effort,” Mergott said. “We know that these boxes make Valentine’s Day a little brighter for so many children.” With the help of Waverly Avenue fifth-grade students, the assortment of boxes is organized and delivered by Sachem Facilities personnel to various organizations that benefit the less fortunate. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=76045 Fri, 15 Feb 2019 07:00:00 GMT false76045 Sachem Stands Together on P.S. I Love You Day Students and staff across the Sachem Central School district participated in a collection of heartwarming events and activities last week in recognition of P.S. I Love You Day, an initiative that looks to eliminate bullying and promote mental health awareness. At elementary schools around the district, students were joined by peer education students from Sachem High School East and North who led inspiring assemblies on kindness and being proud of who you are. As part of the assemblies, peer educators facilitated activities showcasing the power of a compliment and how one simple act of kindness can change someone’s day. During an activity at Cayuga Elementary School in Jaimie DiPalma and Kristin Ruhs’ second-grade class, students created kindnessgrams in which students wrote a list of compliments to one of their peers and shared it aloud to the class. With bright smiles, students read and received compliments until the entire class had shared. At Sachem High School East, peer education students encouraged faculty, students and staff to visit the Peer Education Station where they could design and decorate a puzzle piece that highlighted the qualities that make them unique. The assembled puzzle will remain displayed in the hallway, representing the unique characteristics found in the individuals throughout the school building. “The puzzle pieces are a representation of how we are all unique individuals, but together we create a beautiful school community,” said High School East senior Hope Froehlich. “Each piece is a representation of exactly who you are because you have the ability to design it yourself.” At the conclusion of the week, students and staff dressed in purple to foster kindness, create a welcoming environment and signify that no one is ever alone. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=76031 Fri, 15 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false76031 2019-2020 District Calendar Summary Now Available https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75962 Thu, 14 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75962 Cultivating Creativity on Kid Inventors Day Last month, students across grade levels at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School participated in a plethora of hands-on activities showcasing their creativity as part of Kid Inventors Day. Concluding their study of penguins, kindergarten students designed and constructed a raft that would remain buoyant while holding a paper penguin. Using a select amount of straws and tape, students collaboratively constructed their rafts before testing their capabilities. Following the activity, students reviewed the building and design process and ways they could have improved their designs. In third grade, students continued their study of buoyancy and states of matter during an exciting activity in which students designed a boat made from tin foil that could hold the greatest number of pennies. As the activity progressed, students collected data on their vessels and how they performed. Continuing the day of creativity, coding was incorporated into a challenging activity for fourth-grade students. They used the Scratch program to code a robot to complete various tasks such as traveling through space and playing basketball. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75955 Wed, 13 Feb 2019 06:00:00 GMT false75955 Jared Weinhaus Wins Suffolk County Wrestling Championship A sweet victory in the 99-pound Suffolk County championship capped off a successful tournament for Sachem East’s Jared Weinhaus. He pinned each of his opponents en route to the crown, which he ultimately won by defeating Ward Melville’s Christian Lievano with a pin in 1:32. Weinhaus’ season continues when he heads to the New York State wrestling tournament in Albany on Feb. 22-23. Sachem East placed ninth as a team with 79 total points. Steve Dorman, Mark Kmiotek and Sam Matlat placed sixth, while Angel Pineda placed fifth for Sachem East. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75921 Wed, 13 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75921 Igniting an Interest in Engineering and Science Feats of physics were on full display at Sachem High School North as students in Robert Wentzel’s Rocket and Aircraft Design class assembled and tested personal hovercrafts as part of a recent project. Applying several laws of physics to determine the force needed to lift their hovercrafts, students tested the pressure produced by a leaf blower and determined they would have sufficient output to lift the vehicles from the ground. Using pool liner and plywood, students assembled their hovercrafts before testing them with help from members of their group. As the project progresses, students will modify their personal hovercrafts to maneuver the hallways of the school building. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75878 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75878 All afterschool and evening activities canceled today 2-12-19 Good morning Due to the weather we are canceling all afterschool and evening activities, including PM child care. Thank you and enjoy the rest of the day. Kenneth E. Graham https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75854 Tue, 12 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75854 Lego Robotics at Seneca Middle School Seneca’s Lego robotics team competed in the First Lego League Robotics Qualifier event at Mineola High School. The team members include Christopher Acosta, Taylor Califano, Jackson Catalano, Michael Lubniewski, James Ryan, Matthew Scavo, Hannah Thomas, Matthew Vilbig and Ryan Zhu. They are led by co-coaches Heidi Michta and Michael Lundstrom, both teachers at Seneca. The qualifier event consisted of four judging opportunities: project, core values, robot presentation and the robot game. Each year there is a theme which influences each of these events. This year’s theme was “Into Orbit.” Each team had to “identify a human physical or social problem faced during long-duration space exploration within our Sun’s solar system and propose a solution.” Seneca’s team researched radiation in space and its effects on the humans that work in the space stations. At the competition students presented their findings and their solution in a creative way in front of an audience of judges and parents. The rookie team also completed a mission in the robot game, and it was a huge success for them at the qualifier. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75820 Mon, 11 Feb 2019 06:00:00 GMT false75820 LAXIN' FOR AUTISM 2019 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75792 Mon, 11 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75792 VIDEO: PS I Love You Day https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75802 Mon, 11 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75802 Building a Foundation for Future Educators As part of a collection of informative lessons on infants, toddlers and preschoolers, students at Sachem High School East in Debra Lopez’s Child Development class worked with children from the community to study the social and emotional aspects of play. Children ages 1-5 came to visit the high school class so students could observe critical points in their growth, such as physical, social, emotional and intellectual development. During the visits, students guided the children through numerous age-appropriate activities, such as finger painting and using rolling pins and cookie cutters with Play-Doh. For students interested in pursuing a career in education or child care services, the Child Development class is an excellent introductory opportunity to gain valuable experience working with young children. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75693 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75693 Free Throws for Kayla https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75698 Thu, 07 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75698 Retired Police Officer Shares Lessons on Life During a recent assembly program at Samoset Middle School, eighth-grade students heard from Paul Failla, a retired Suffolk County police officer of 27 years, and a professional actor, writer, producer and author who spoke to students about the importance of values and leadership. Failla covered several topics such as diversity, respect, modeling after positive role models, making good choices, health and wellness and how to be a responsible digital citizen. Using these topics, Failla engaged students in interactive conversations on issues critical to their development. Through these inspiring conversations, students were empowered to create a school climate of civility, respect and acceptance. “There is nothing in your life that you cannot attain,” Failla told students. “When you put your heart into something, your soul will light the path.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75602 Tue, 05 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75602 Grundy Avenue Students Lead Fundraising Effort Suffolk County Legislator Bill Lindsay III recently presented Grundy Avenue Elementary School fifth-grade students Michael Rivera and Cole Friedman with a proclamation in recognition of their extraordinary efforts collecting winter clothing for families in need as part of the legislator’s annual Community Coat Drive for Every Child’s Dream. Earlier this school year, Michael and Cole approached building Principal Laura Amato with an idea to collect winter coats, blankets, gloves, hats and scarves for people in need. Deciding that they would contribute the donations they received to Legislator Lindsay’s coat drive, the ambitious duo created posters, made announcements and a donation box to raise awareness of the cause throughout the school. The students collected 12 full bags of various winter clothing for donation. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75553 Mon, 04 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75553 VIDEO: January News Roundup https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75483 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 14:00:00 GMT false75483 Flapjack Fundraiser Breakfast at Applesbee's https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=75496 Fri, 01 Feb 2019 05:00:00 GMT false75496 Important June 2019 Calendar Announcement! DATE CHANGE Merrimac Elementary 5th grade moving up will take place at Sachem East High School on Wednesday June 19, 2019 at 5pm. Waverly Elementary 5th grade moving up will take place at Sachem East High School on Thursday June 20, 2019 at 7:30pm. All other elementary schools 5th grade moving up ceremonies will take place as scheduled on the district calendar. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=74004 Thu, 31 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false74004 Creating the Next Generation of Lifesavers For more than 30 years, middle school students across the Sachem School District have participated in a skills-based program, learning myriad valuable lifesaving skills during health education classes. As part of the districtwide CPR initiative, seventh-grade students learn proper CPR procedure, the Heimlich Maneuver for choking situations and how to administer an automated external defibrillator in the case of a cardiac arrest. Students practice proper technique while simultaneously reviewing different scenarios and how to safely and effectively use their lifesaving skills if needed. “This program empowers a future generation of lifesavers,” Chairperson for Secondary Health Education Lori Hewlett said. “The program has even inspired some students to enter into the medical field as a result.” Throughout the years, the initiative has expanded to include the certification of faculty and staff across the district and has introduced fifth-grade students to hands-only CPR. At the conclusion of the middle school program, students who successfully complete a written and practical certification exam receive an official CPR certification card from the American Heart Association. “I feel that I can now help people in need instead of being a bystander,” said Shantel, a seventh-grade health education student. “Our training has made me feel confident in the lifesaving skills we have learned.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=74008 Thu, 31 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false74008 Sachem Health Educator Honored With Suffolk Zone Award On Thursday, Jan. 17, Sachem High School East Health Education teacher Patricia Broderick was honored by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, receiving a Suffolk Zone Professional Award as the Secondary Health Education Teacher of the Year. Recipients of this award are nominated by their colleagues for their extraordinary work as an educator and professional contributions to their school and community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73969 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 06:00:00 GMT false73969 Seneca Students Attend Robotics Qualifier On Saturday, Jan. 26, Seneca Middle School’s Lego robotics team competed in the First Lego League Robotics Qualifier event at Mineola High School with team members Christopher Acosta, Taylor Califano, Jackson Catalano, Michael Lubniewski, James Ryan, Matthew Scavo, Hannah Thomas, Matthew Vilbig and Ryan Zhu, led by co-coaches Heidi Michta and Michael Lundstrom, both teachers at Seneca. The qualifier event consisted of four areas scored by judges: project, core values, robot presentation and the robot game. Each year, a theme is selected that influences each of the judged events. This year’s theme was “Into Orbit” and each team was tasked with identifying a physical or social human problem faced during long-duration space explorations within our solar system and to propose a solution. The team of Sachem students focused on researching radiation in space and its effects on the humans who work in the space stations. After completing their project, students presented their findings and solution in a creative way to the panel of judges. The students successfully completed each task and displayed extraordinary teamwork to accomplish their goals. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73962 Wed, 30 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73962 Board Recognizes Incredible Student Achievement in Music During the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, multiple student musicians in performing groups, including the chorus, orchestra and band, were recognized for their extraordinary performances at the New York State School Music Association’s All-County and All-State Conferences. Additionally, one student was selected to perform at the Eastern Division Conference. The selected students were chosen to perform at these prominent music conferences based on their NYSMMA solo scores given earlier this school year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73923 Tue, 29 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73923 New Math Units Add to Student Success Recognizing the diverse academic needs that are essential to the success of our students, the Sachem Central School District has developed a new Elementary Math Workshop curriculum aligned with the requirements of the New York State Education Department’s revised Mathematics Learning Standards. In advance of the 2018-19 school year, a group of Sachem administrators and educators developed a consistent framework for equipping elementary students with a deep understanding of the mathematical concepts necessary to have continued success throughout their education. With the implementation of these new units, the district has created a foundation of common skills, strategies and vocabulary terms for teachers to deliver a symmetrical instructional experience for students across each elementary building. This foundation ensures all grade K-5 students receive instruction on similar concepts in alignment with middle school coursework, enabling a smooth, successful transition to upper grade levels. “As a district, we know how important it is to develop flexible mathematical thinkers with good number sense,” said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Erin Hynes. “We are committed to meeting each student where they are in the learning process and moving them towards mastery as quickly and efficiently as possible, using research-based strategies.” With this new curriculum, students engage in hands-on, manipulative-based, cooperative learning, while facilitating an enjoyable educational experience. Additionally, the inclusion of small-group instruction strives to enable students to build upon foundational skills and work towards mastery of essential math skills. Enhancing the Student Experience with Seventh-Grade World Languages As research notes that those who study a second language at a younger age experience tremendous benefits and increased fluency, the district’s seventh-grade students at each middle school have begun learning French, Italian or Spanish this year, a program of study that previously began in the eighth grade. As part of the introductory experience, which replaces the flex period, students take part in a foundational study of either language and work to optimize educational opportunities. With the addition of world language instruction in seventh grade, students now have an additional year to establish key primary language skills that they will cultivate in future language courses. Empowering Innovators Through Talks on Technology The use of technology and the internet has become an imperative tool for student discovery, learning and research. As students advance through their education, new technological devices, programs and practices emerge that challenge them in ways different than ever before. As a district, it is of the utmost importance that we educate students to become skilled users of such technology and empower them with the knowledge to be responsible digital citizens. With this idea in mind, the Sachem Central School District actively educates students on existing technology and encourages students to eventually create technology of their own. Through the study of the internet, students learn how to responsibly research for information and identify credible sources. As students continue to explore the capabilities of current technology, educators expose students to collaborative online learning environments to safely monitor student interactions as they become familiar with today’s digital landscape. Moving forward, the district will continue to offer opportunities to learn from experts on the latest educational technologies, including the importance of safe and responsible internet use through student assemblies and parent workshops. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73833 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 14:00:00 GMT false73833 Seneca Robotics Students compete in their first competition! On Saturday, January 26th, 2019 Seneca’s Lego Robotics Team competed in the first Lego League Robotics Qualifier event at Mineola High School. The team members are Matthew Scavo, Hannah Thomas, Michael Lubniewski, Christopher Acosta, Jackson Catalano, James Ryan, Taylor Califano, Ryan Zhu and Matthew Vilbig. They are lead by co-coaches, Heidi Michta and Michael Lundstrom, both teachers at Seneca. The qualifier event consists of 4 judging opportunities: Project, Core Values, Robot Presentation and the Robot Game. Each year there is a theme which influences each of these events. This year’s theme was Into Orbit. Each team was faced with this specific problem to “identify a human physical or social problem faced during long duration space exploration within our Sun’s solar system and propose a solution.” Our team focused on researching radiation in space and its effects on the humans that work in the space stations. At the competition students presented their findings and their solution in a creative way in front of judges, parents, or anyone who came to cheer them on at the competition. They were successful in completing a mission in the robot game and worked as a team the entire day. It was a huge success for a rookie team at the qualifier! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73887 Mon, 28 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73887 VIDEO: Sagamore Studies the Science of Circuits https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73822 Fri, 25 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73822 World Cooking Class Serves Up Delicious Dishes Students at Sachem High School East have been showcasing their culinary expertise recently during a World Cooking class that guides students through an expansive introduction to cuisines and cultures from around the world. In the class, students study international cuisine from areas such as Africa, Asia, the British Isles, the Caribbean, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Latin America and Spain. Each week, students begin learning about a new cuisine and several areas of the associated culture, such as common traditions, cooking utensils, health benefits and common ingredients used in the dishes. For their most recent cuisine, the advanced culinary students studied Chinese and Japanese dishes, cooking pork lo mein, sesame chicken and sushi. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73787 Thu, 24 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73787 Cultivating Positive Relationships Through Project Kindness Students across each Sachem Central School District middle school have recently participated in the Project Kindness initiative led by seniors in Jonathan Chiramonte’s Peer Education class at Sachem High School North. This year, seniors from the Peer Education class met with all sixth-grade students and shared important messages about acceptance. With the assistance of the peer educators, students participated in several activities and games that made them more familiar with their fellow classmates as they broke barriers and recognized the commonalities that exist amongst one another. Throughout the day, the ideas of the “power of hello” and how a few simple words can change someone’s day were reiterated. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73728 Wed, 23 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73728 Sachem East Wrestling Wins League I and Section XI Dual Meet Titles An improbable run as the fifth seed in the tournament resulted in a team championship for Sachem East wrestling. The Arrows stormed past No. 1 Eastport-South Manor in the semifinals and defeated No. 2 Rocky Point, a three-time defending champion, in the finals to capture a Section XI dual meet championship on Saturday, Jan. 19 at Bay Shore High School, a neutral venue. In dramatic fashion, it came down to the final match at the hands of Sachem’s Luis Valdez, who pinned his opponent and pushed the Arrows ahead with a 42-37 victory. It’s worth noting that two weeks prior the Arrows also won a League I dual meet championship after knocking off Central Islip on the road. Next up: Sachem will wrestle in the League I tournament on Feb. 2 at Ward Melville. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73671 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 21:00:00 GMT false73671 Sachem East Track and Field Wins 4th Consecutive League Title When Sachem East took the track on Sunday morning for the Section XI League I championship meet, they did so in a slightly different position than usual. Despite a fall season which saw the XC squad earn their third Suffolk County title in four years, they entered this winter season knowing that due to the graduation of so many talented student-athletes across multiple track disciplines (distance, sprints, throws and racewalk) that this season’s expectations would be more than slightly altered. In fact, in the weeks leading up to the meet, untimely illness and injury made the team’s scoring prospects even more challenging. While team expectations were slightly different for a squad that had won three consecutive league titles heading into this year’s meet, their mindset was unaltered. In the days leading into the meet, Sachem East rallied around core team principles of trusting themselves, trusting each other, maintaining a calm and focused approach and establishing a team lineup that could cover as many of the 15 track events as possible. Rather than deferring to the rest of League I’s top teams (Longwood, Sachem North and Ward Melville), the squad embraced the idea of the challenge of discovering where among this list they could finish. When the dust settled at Suffolk Community College West on Sunday, Jan. 20, Sachem East found itself in a position familiar to past players that felt brand new to this year’s team: atop the podium in League I with a total of 104 points ahead of Longwood (72 points), Ward Melville (71 points) and Sachem North (58 points). The victory is the fourth consecutive league title for Sachem East and its eighth victory in the last 13 years. The victory was also the 12th consecutive League championship meet seeing the Arrows score over 100 points, a feat accomplished this year by a squad that truly embraced the full team mentality. Key figures in scoring include: Julianna Mercado (55 hurdles and 4x200-meter relay), Arya Desphande (55 hurdles and 4x200-meter relay), Bridget Abraldes (600 meters and 4x400-meter relay), Ariann Robinson (600 meters and 4x400-meter relay), Lauren Trejo (1,000 meters and 4x400-meter relay), Lindsey Dodenhoff (1,500 meters and 3,000 meters), Sabrinna Mena (1,500 meters and 3,000 meters), Marissa Sciotto (racewalk), Angelina Colón (racewalk), Marcela Araujo (racewalk), Jasmine Ahmed (high jump and 4x400-meter relay), and Arianna Moore (high jump). Seniors Lindsey Dodenhoff and Jasmine Ahmed each clinched individual League titles in the 3,000 meters and high jump, respectively. Adding to the scoring were Kaylee Vanella (55 hurdles), Chiara Marziali (3,000 meters), Gianna Pepitone (4x200-meter relay), Erica Hecht (4x200-meter relay), and Melissa Merone, Anna Murphy, Alexis Violi and Rachel Weber (4x800-meter relay). https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73670 Tue, 22 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73670 Technology Teaches Basics of Direction At Cayuga Elementary School, third-graders in Stacy Heinz’s class took the fundamentals of direction to new heights when they created miniature cities that were paired with a unique piece of educational technology to practice cardinal and intermediate directions. Using Spheros, spherical computerized objects controlled by handheld devices, students carefully navigated several miniature cities crafted by their peers. Each student group developed a specific sequence of directions to follow which reinforced the use of all directions found on a compass rose. Each creative city included different architectural features, such as tunnels, bridges and buildings, that served as an added level of difficulty for students as they directed the Spheros through the courses. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73610 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73610 Clothing Drive - January 26 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73609 Fri, 18 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73609 Harnessing Imagination With STEAM Activities Fueled by creativity and collaborative inspiration, first-grade students in Kendra Bernagozzi’s class at Hiawatha Elementary School visited the building’s STEAM room to participate in several challenging hands-on activities with their classmates. As an introduction to the STEAM room, student groups visited six stations that allowed their creativity to flourish. Incorporating several basic design concepts, students built cup towers and structures with Legos, arranged pattern blocks, crafted three-dimensional paper sculptures and worked with plastic gears. As students rotated through each station, they were continuously encouraged to try their best, explore, ask questions and learn from the mistakes they made while working on each activity. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73565 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73565 Cyber Safety & Security Seminar https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73563 Thu, 17 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73563 New Technologies Complement Curriculum Concepts Hands-on activities were plentiful at Seneca Middle School during a visit from Sachem Public Library members that introduced students to a number of new technology-based learning devices and low-tech building components. During technology classes, members from the Sachem Public Library brought several devices for students to explore. Among the available technologies were iPad Pros equipped with software for those interested in digital art, Osmo tablets to assist students in drawing and tangrams, which challenged students’ hand-eye coordination and critical thinking skills. In addition, students navigated small programmable robots called mBots through a course using iPads. Complementing the high-tech learning tools, students applied design and engineering concepts to low-tech tactile learning materials while building figures and structures with Strawbees, Legos and magnetic shapes. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73508 Wed, 16 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73508 Student Roundtables Open Doors for Student-Directed Discussion For the second consecutive year, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham and various members of the administration visited each school building throughout the Sachem Central School District to gain valuable insight on building culture and student concerns through student roundtable discussions. At each school building, principals selected a group of students from varying activity and grade levels to meet with Dr. Graham to discuss a wide range of topics. The roundtable discussions also provided students across the district with an opportunity to voice the ideas and opinions of their peers. Topics covered during each discussion included student engagement in class, safety and security, school culture, ways to combat bullying, the availability of extra- and co-curricular activities and ways to further support student success. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73476 Tue, 15 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73476 Free Throw Competition https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73478 Tue, 15 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73478 VIDEO: Igniting an Interest in Engineering and Science https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73456 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 06:00:00 GMT false73456 Sachem Fall Student-Athletes Honored With Postseason Recognition Congratulations to the Sachem student-athletes listed below for receiving postseason honors in their respective fall sports. These student-athletes are recognized for their accomplishments and exceptional performances as awarded by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Section XI, Suffolk County coaches associations, Newsday and other sports-related foundations. Sachem East Fall Postseason Award Winners Boys Varsity Cross-Country: Scholar-Athlete Team Christian Berberich: All-League, All-Division, All-County Joe Berberich: All-Division, All-County Ryan Famiglietti: All-Division, All-County Girls Varsity Cross-Country: Scholar-Athlete Team Division Champions County Champions Lindsey Dodenhoff: All-League, All-Division, All-County, Honorable Mention All-State Chiara Marziali: All-Academic, All-League, All-Division, All-County Sabrinna Mena: All-League, All-Division, All-County Melissa Merone: All-League, All-Division, All-County, All-Long Island, Fifth Team All-State Anna Murphy: All-League, Honorable Mention Alexis Violi: All-League Varsity Field Hockey: Scholar-Athlete Team Division Champions County Champions Long Island Champions Bridget Abraldes: All-Academic, All-Division Katie Allen: All-Academic, County All-Tournament, All-Long Island, All-State Emily Allingham: All-Academic, All-County Honorable Mention, State Sportsmanship Marissa Cuevas: All-State, County All-Tournament Lindsey Gelderman: All-Academic, All-Division Brooke Hughes: All-Academic Lauren Lucas: All-County Honorable Mention, All-Long Island Kaylee Maier: All-Academic, All-County Fran Manzella: County All-Tournament Ashley Massaro: All-Academic, Unsung Hero Nicole Mostupanick: All-Academic, County All-Tournament Kate Piazza: All-Academic Danielle Pompa: All-Academic Erin Schaefer: All-Academic Kristen Shanahan: All-Academic, County All-Tournament, All-Long Island, All-State Joelle Vetter: All-Academic Olivia Vetter: All-Academic Gabrielle Wells: All-Academic Morgan Zimmerman: All-County Varsity Football: Jason Bruno: All-Division Kyle Ellis: All-Division Second Team Vito Giambanco: All-Division AJ Kiernan: All-Division, All-County Mark Kmiotek: All-Division Ryan Micheli: All-Division Second Team Ryan Paolella: All-Division, All County Adriel Robinson: All-Division Second Team Boys Varsity Soccer: Scholar-Athlete Team Nick Addamo: All-League Stephen Hollis: All-Conference Nick Sanacore: All-Conference, Academic All-County Girls Varsity Soccer: Scholar-Athlete Team Division Champions Lauren Blando: All-Division Abby Carroll: All County Billiegean Hennessey: All-Division Brooke Papele: All-Division Skylar Papele: All-County, All-State Gabby Richetti: All-County Boys Varsity Volleyball: Scholar-Athlete Team Richard Baumann: All-Division Honorable Mention Andrew Oakland: All-Academic, All-Division Honorable Mention Quincy Rooi: All-Division Honorable Mention Liam Sheehy: All-County Selim Soysal: All-Division Patrick Stevenson: All-County Girls Varsity Volleyball: Scholar-Athlete Team Casey Biggers: All-Classification Molly Jandris: All-County Tournament, Suffolk Elite 8, All-Long Island, Third Team All-State Angelina Scichilone: All-League Meghan Smith: All-League Samantha Szalkowski: All-Classification, All-County Tournament Girls Varsity Swimming: Scholar-Athlete Team Sarah Chapnick: All-League Emma Krolikiewicz: All-League Paige Levine: All-League Alyssa Mei: All-League Valerie Mei: All-League Alejhandra Przybylo: All-League Gabriela Pucilowski: All-League Kyra Russ: All-League Sachem North Fall Postseason Award Winners Boys Varsity Cross-Country: Scholar-Athlete Team League Champions Matt Aliano: All-League, All-County Nick Ambrosino: All-Academic, All-League, All-County Tim Colgan: All-League, All-County Matt Kruse: All-League, All-County Vidit Parikh: All-League, All-County Vinny Tripi: All-League, All-County Girls Varsity Cross-Country: Scholar-Athlete Team Jordyn McDonnell: All-League, All-Division, All-County, All-Long Island, All-State Molly Ramirez: All-League, All-Division, All-County Ashley Graetzer: All-League Honorable Mention Deirdre McBreen: All-League Honorable Mention Varsity Field Hockey: Scholar-Athlete Team Megan Biase: All-Division Goalie Paeton Hartmann: All-State Erika Sneider: All-Division Jessica Sommers: All-Tournament Kasey Volz: All-Tournament Marina Zumbrunn: All-Division Varsity Football: Scholar-Athlete Team Nick Canales: All-Division Second Team Nick Cruz: All-Division Second Team Nick Davide: All-Division First Team Nick Gambino: All-Division First Team, “Golden 11” Scholar Athlete Ryan Kinsley: All-County, All-Division First Team Mike Scicolone: All-Division Second Team Boys Varsity Soccer: Scholar-Athlete Team Dom Altrui: All-Academic Gabriel Cruz: All-League Frank Letterese: All-League Paolo Mejia: All-League Liam Park: All-Conference Steven Rojas: All-Conference, All-County, All-State, All-Region Girls Varsity Soccer: Scholar-Athlete Team Corinne Amato: All-Division, All-Academic, All-County Erin Avanzato: All-Division Kaila Hinchman: All-Division Lauren Makely: All-County Boys Varsity Volleyball: Scholar-Athlete Team Division 1 Champions Suffolk County Champions Long Island Champions New York State Finalist John Curaro: All-Division, Libero of the Year Jack Driscoll: All-County, All-Long Island, Suffolk County and Long Island Player of the Year, All-State A.J. Fitzgerald: All-County, All-Long Island, All-State C.J. Johnson: All-County, Tournament MVP Chris Lehnert: All-Division, Rookie of the Year Mark Williams: All-County Tyler Ziems: All-County Girls Varsity Volleyball: Scholar-Athlete Team Lexi Cavalieri: All-Conference Lauren Hadzigeorgiou: All-League Lauren Harmer: All-County Tournament Team Keira Mahoney: All-County Tournament Team Veronica Meissner: All-League Carsyn Rachuta: All-County Academic, All-League, League II Defensive Player of the Year Girls Varsity Swimming: Scholar-Athlete Team Alyssa Golden: All-League Katherine Howard: All-League Terressa La Francesca: All-League Alexandra Martinez: All-League Morgan Rietmann: All-League Samantha Watson: All-League Hailey Wetherbee: All-League Sachem Combined Team Postseason Award Winners Boys Varsity Golf: Scholar-Athlete Team David Agresti: All-League Danny Shay: All-League Girls Gymnastics: Scholar-Athlete Team Sarah Bompane: All-League Rayna Ilario: All-League Toni Manente: All-League Summer Matlat: All-County Isabella Matz: All-League Grace McGowan: All-League Lillian Noriega: All-League Ariana Tehranchipour: All-League Samantha Woodburn: All-County Anna Wright: All-League Girls Varsity Tennis: Scholar-Athlete Team Kyra Bello: All-County Mili Das: All-County Miha Gainacopoulos: Team Sportsmanship Nikita Karnik: All-League Jackie Lindsey: All-County Jordyn Ribaudo: All-League Julie Rowan: All-League Kristen Vito: All-League https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73455 Mon, 14 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73455 Sachem East Student Earns Regeneron Scholar Honors Sachem High School East senior Vincent Zhang has been named a Regeneron Science Talent Search Scholar by the Society for Science & the Public. Vincent was one of 300 esteemed young scientists selected from a group of 1,964 applicants spanning 601 high schools in 48 states, two U.S. territories and eligible students living in seven other countries. Vincent’s research, “MRI Texture Analysis for Detection of Axillary Lymph Node Metastasis in Breast Cancer Patients,” was among submission topics ranging from medicine and health to bioengineering, physics, genomics, mathematics, material science and behavioral science. Scholars were selected based on their extraordinary research abilities, commitment to academics and innovative thinking. “What is most impressive about this accomplishment is that Vincent has already gained recognition for the work he has done at the Garcia Polymer Lab, and now he has attained national recognition for his work with breast cancer at Stony Brook Medical School’s Radiology Lab,” Sachem High School East science research teacher Dr. Michael Vaccariello said. “In the 17 years that I have been a science research teacher, these combined accomplishments are truly unprecedented.” Later this month, 40 student-scientists will be selected as Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists, who will compete this March in Washington, D.C., for more than $1.8 million in awards provided by Regeneron. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73409 Fri, 11 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73409 Utilizing Math to Create Musical Connections Recently, students in the fifth-grade band at Hiawatha Elementary School have been expanding their musical knowledge by studying rhythmic values in music notation. As a part of the rhythm studies unit, students have discussed fractions and completed an assignment called “Rhythm Math,” in which they added note values to find the sum. Throughout the year, students will further explore rhythms through interactive lessons and activities. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73373 Thu, 10 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73373 Samoset Technology Students Test Towers Recent tests of student-constructed towers exemplified compression, tension and torsion as part of a lesson on load forces in Kim Latkovich’s Introduction to Technology classes at Samoset Middle School. Before the activity students researched bridges and the complex truss systems that add to their overall structural integrity. Arch, cable-stayed, cantilever and truss bridges were among the types researched. Student teams carefully constructed towers utilizing Balsa wood, glue and cardboard gussets for added strength, with the goal of supporting the greatest vertical load possible. Following construction, each group’s tower was tested by gradually pouring sand into a hanging bucket until the structure failed. The load was then weighed and recorded to compare with the designs of their peers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73336 Wed, 09 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73336 Chippewa Students Climb to the Top With Study of Landforms Geography came to life for third-grade students at Chippewa Elementary School during a recent hands-on activity examining different landforms found around the world. Students in Amy DeJesus’ class engaged in a lesson in which they studied several landforms and their construction. As a culminating activity to the lesson, students used salt dough to carefully sculpt their chosen landform. Students crafted hills, mountains, plains, plateaus, valleys and volcanoes. To conclude the activity, students showcased their artistic abilities as they painted their landform creations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73292 Tue, 08 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73292 Grundy Brings Biographies to Life Fifth-grade students at Grundy Avenue Elementary School recently took their computer skills to the next level with guidance from Library Media Specialist Melissa Lawler and Technology Integration Specialist Claudia Camassa during an engaging activity that coupled coding and research. To begin the activity, students selected a prominent figure in history which they then researched. After making their selection, students gathered books for their research, allowing them to practice notetaking and to gather facts to include in a computer presentation. Students selected notable figures such as Neil Armstrong, Simone Biles, Albert Einstein, LeBron James, Hellen Keller and Lionel Messi. Using the coding software Scratch, students will animate images of their prominent figures to move in ways that may correlate with their specific profession. At the conclusion of the coding process students will present their completed presentations to their class. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73238 Mon, 07 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73238 Winter Concerts Wow Family and Friends The symphonic sounds of brass and string instruments radiated holiday cheer throughout the Sachem Central School District before the holiday recess, during numerous winter concerts performed by musical groups across grade levels. Following many hours of preparation, student-musicians in band, chorus and orchestra on the high school, middle school and elementary grade levels performed an entertaining assortment of holiday songs to audiences of family and friends. In an exciting surprise performance during the Wenonah Elementary School concert held at Samoset Middle School, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham, building principal Ms. DiPaola and teachers Mrs. Abreu, Ms. Ahrem, Ms. Stellato and Mrs. Varca accompanied the band for a song, making music with kitchen utensils. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73192 Fri, 04 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73192 Samoset Students Explore World Cultures Students from Samoset Middle School gained valuable insight into the unique characteristics of different countries, cities and cultures from around the world during a recent assembly program led by photographer and world traveler Michael Harrold. As part of the captivating presentation, Harrold explained several weapons, tools and toys that he acquired from trips to more than 75 countries. He wowed the auditorium of sixth-grade students with photos from his travels to places including Burma, Dubai, Egypt, Greece, India and Thailand. Students learned about ceremonial clothing, different religions, animals and native foods in addition to how each culture utilizes the natural resources available to them. Harrold concluded his presentation with a motivational message to students. “Don’t stop learning when you leave the classroom,” he said. “Become citizens that continue to learn throughout your life. Become lifelong learners.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73156 Thu, 03 Jan 2019 05:00:00 GMT false73156 Performance Shares Songs and Holiday Cheer Prior to the holiday recces, students across grade levels at Merrimac Elementary School enjoyed a cheerful holiday performance by the Squeaky Clean Band that covered an assortment of seasonal favorites. As part of the musical performance, students sang along to popular holiday tunes such as the “Dreidel Song,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” Throughout the show, the talented band interacted with the students during several holiday-themed trivia games that challenged the students’ knowledge of various holidays. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=73023 Fri, 21 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false73023 Holiday Letter from the Superintendent https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72903 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 13:00:00 GMT false72903 Sachem Students Explore Computer Science Throughout the month of December, students across the Sachem Central School District have been exploring computer science through participation in a diverse collection of coding activities offered by the worldwide Hour of Code initiative. For elementary school students, Hour of Code acts as an introductory experience to coding in which students become familiar with basic computer science terminology and explore the prevalence of code in everyday life. Students learned how algorithms act as a series of steps to complete a task by participating in an activity that outlined each exact step needed to brush their teeth. At Lynwood Avenue Elementary School, the concept of algorithms were reinforced for kindergarten students as they played code hopscotch, following the instructions of labeled floor squares to reach the end of the path. Students around the district also utilized laptops to access additional block-coding activities on the Scratch coding website and HourofCode.com. Students at Sachem high schools also used Scratch coding to program interactive stories with block coding on a more intricate level. Choosing from the numerous commands available, students creatively weaved together a custom animated story. As part of the coding activities, students learned about the countless computer science career opportunities available to them in a variety of industries. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72962 Thu, 20 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72962 Sachem Student Attends Informative Medical Conference This past June, Sachem High School East senior Julianna Mercado attended the National Leadership Academies’ prestigious Congress of Future Medical Leaders in Boston. Students selected to attend the conference are recommended by their teacher or guidance counselor for leadership ability, academic achievement and dedication to science and related fields while also holding a GPA of 3.25 or above. The three-day conference included numerous invigorating medical seminars, which spanned topics such as genetics, biomedical engineering and the advancement of modern medicine, led by world-renowned scientists and leaders in medicine. Speakers included winners of the Nobel Prize, award-winning young inventors and prominent medical school deans. Additionally, students viewed a livestreamed surgery and asked the surgeon questions in real time. “It was an incredible experience to watch a live surgery take place,” Julianna said. “As an aspiring medical professional, this was an invaluable opportunity.” Julianna is enrolled in several Advanced Placement classes and is a multisport athlete participating in both varsity track and the Arrowettes. She plans to pursue a degree in biology after graduation with aspirations of attending medical school. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72902 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72902 An Interview with the Courtyard/Environmental Club By Sana Zahid, 8th grade The Courtyard/Environmental Club brings together people who want to help improve the environment. Helping clean the courtyard, decorating the courtyard, and running the recycling programs at Sagamore are just some of the things they take part in. Not only does the club provide a great opportunity to make a difference, it also brings people together and provides memorable experiences. I interviewed the club, and these were some of the responses by members: What made you start the club? “I was very upset because our school building didn’t have a recycling program. Recycling is a really important part of the environment. When Sequoya joined Sagamore, they had an environmental club and when the director recycled I wanted to take over”. -Mrs. Grant Director of Environmental Club. Why did you join the club? “I like helping the environment and hanging out with my friends.” -Mateo Capraro Why did you join the club? “Mrs. Grant is fun to hang out with and I like helping the animals.” -Dylan Conelli What do you like to do in the club? “I like to help the environment and hangout with my friends.” -Samuel Cheng How many years have you been in the club and what made you stay? “I stayed in the club for three years because I like helping the environment, and the small group of people make it better.” -Arrdah Zaman https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72912 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72912 Holiday Greetings The Authors and Artists Club at Sagamore Middle School wrote cheerful messages of gratitude on over 1,000 Christmas cards for recovering soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Marchitto family gave the club a giant head start with over 200 cards completed at home. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72913 Wed, 19 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72913 Local ‘Eggspert’ Helps Students Crack the Case A mysterious student discovery prompted a second-grade study of bird eggs at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School. After a second-grade student stumbled upon a bird egg during recess earlier this year, students were determined to identify what type of bird the egg came from. In class, students began researching numerous species of birds found on Long Island and compared their eggs to the one that was found. Students observed the egg and gathered information on the color, size and shape to make a prediction based on their research. Each class chose one type of bird it believed the egg came from and presented its reasoning to all second-grade classes. Peter Walsh, the education director of the Seatuck Environmental Association, visited students and delivered a presentation on the different species of birds found throughout Long Island. Students learned the essential characteristics used in identifying birds, such as their beak length and thickness and feather coloration. In addition, students explored different eggs from birds around the world, such as the ostrich. With the help of Mr. Walsh, the egg discovered by the students was determined to be from a mourning dove. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72852 Tue, 18 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72852 Creating Connections With Samoset Students and Staff Samoset Middle School hosted its sixth-grade Making Connections Breakfast that students enjoyed with a collection of staff members, including teachers, guidance counselors, social workers, the building principal and assistant principals. Students are selected through teacher nominations to attend the breakfast, where they participate in icebreaker activities to foster connections with peers and staff members throughout the building. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72808 Mon, 17 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72808 Lynwood Avenue Students Study Their Surroundings The grounds of the Lynwood Avenue Elementary School served as an invigorating outdoor classroom for first-grade students who recently completed a full day of outdoor learning on a sunny November day. As part of the international Outdoor Classroom initiative, the Lynwood first-graders engaged in educational activities outside, including outdoor reading and nature walks where they observed their surrounding environment and collected samples to write about and discuss with their peers. On the nature walk students gathered acorns, leaves, sticks, rocks, feathers and removed litter along the way. Additionally, students in Gwendolyn Levesque’s class took part in a lesson examining decaying foods and the best way to create compost. After participating in a guided discussion about food waste, the class started the beginning stages of an experiment to discover what container pumpkin would decay in the fastest. Separate pieces of pumpkin were put into a paper bag, Ziploc bag, shoebox and Tupperware to observe. In the weeks to come, students will revisit the containers outside to record data on what container allowed the food waste to decompose the fastest. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72718 Fri, 14 Dec 2018 14:00:00 GMT false72718 Seneca Students Explore College Campuses Seneca Middle School sixth-grade students got a glimpse into the college experience during a field trip to LIU Post and Adelphi University this October. As part of the trip, students were introduced to the opportunities available in college and learned about programs in communications and business, in addition to numerous other areas of study. Students toured the grounds where they saw the collection of elements that creates a college campus. As the trips continued, students joined in a communications class at LIU Post where students engaged in classroom discussions. The visits to each college campus served as a valuable introductory experience to higher education as the students advance through each grade level. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72664 Wed, 12 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72664 Laying the Foundation for Healthy Habits After several weeks of extensive training and preparation, students from Sachem High Schools North and East came together to educate sixth-grade students across Sagamore Middle School as part of the Teens as Teachers Substance Abuse Prevention and Education Program Club and course. During their recent visit to Sagamore Middle School, the trained peer educators facilitated interactive lessons on how to build self-confidence and resist the pressures to use alcohol and drugs. Utilizing the researched-based Too Good for Drugs curriculum, the trained student educators empower sixth-grade students with the skills to make healthy decisions that lead to a substance free life. “It is important for younger students to have positive role models,” said Elizabeth Reimer, president of the Teens as Teachers Club. “This course teaches students how to navigate middle and high school by making healthy decisions, managing emotions and setting positive goals to achieve.” The peer educators who participate in the program will travel to each Sachem middle school as part of a four-workshop series educating sixth-grade students on these healthy strategies. “The sixth-graders are not the only ones who benefit from this program,” said Chairperson for Secondary Health Education Lori Hewlett. “The peer educators build valuable leadership skills, improve communication skills, build confidence and contribute to the success of fellow students. Our program has expanded by acting as a model which other school districts seek to emulate.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72640 Tue, 11 Dec 2018 06:00:00 GMT false72640 Sachem Students Honored With Suffolk Zone Awards Four Sachem students were recently honored with Suffolk County Zone Awards presented by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Honored this year were Sachem North’s Bella Lorenzo and Nick Gambino, as well as Sachem East’s Lindsey Gelderman and Andrew Oakland. To be considered for this honor, students must maintain an A average or 90 percent average in high school physical education classes, maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher at the completion of his or her junior year, contribute to the overall positive tone of the physical education class as well as the school, be a leader in class activities and demonstrate the ability to accept responsibility for regular class tasks. Additionally, these students are leaders in schoolwide activities both on and off the field, and are role models in physical education classes by achieving a high level of physical fitness as determined by individual accomplishments recognized by the district. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72617 Tue, 11 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72617 VIDEO: #WeAreSachem https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72577 Mon, 10 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72577 Technology Connects Literacy and Learning Fourth-grade students at Tamarac Elementary School connected literacy and learning during a recent library lesson that utilized laptops in a unique way. Led by library media specialist Lori Capozzi, students connected a recent reading assignment with elements of technology. Students began reading the fiction book “The One and Only Ivan” by K. A. Applegate and answered numerous questions about the story using Google HyperDocs. Students learned how authors incorporate descriptive language to appeal to all five senses of the reader. In addition, students examined how the choice of descriptive words can entertain, persuade, inform and educate those reading different forms of writing. Further creating a connection to technology, once the students identified the main character as a gorilla, they then researched the animal to better understand the author’s inspiration for writing the story. As students’ progress through the activity they will be presented with additional questions to collaboratively answer with their peers using Google HyperDocs. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72516 Fri, 07 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72516 Science Research Teacher Attends National Conference This September, Sachem High School East Science Research teacher Dr. Michael Vaccariello was selected to attend the Society for Science & the Public’s Research Teachers Conference in Washington, D.C., to share best practices for supporting students in conducting original scientific research. As one of the 200 esteemed science research educators chosen from 1,000 applicants nationwide, Dr. Vaccariello had the opportunity to attend several specialized breakout sessions led by fellow educators aimed at assisting students reach their research goals. Among the sessions available were tips on finding local mentors, helping students write scientific research papers, securing summer research opportunities for students and assisting students in the selection of research topics. “Research is a complicated process,” Dr. Vaccariello said. “It requires follow-through, perseverance, creativity and problem-solving, which leads students to cultivate patience, improve upon a positive attitude and engage in creative problem-solving skills in order to conclude their experiments in a successful manner.” In addition to the informational presentations, educators gained further knowledge about world-class science research competitions such as the prestigious Regeneron Science Talent Search, which will feature the research of Sachem students this winter. “The Sachem Science Research program provides our high school students with invaluable experiences and skills for advanced professional degrees and careers,” Dr. Vaccariello said. “Throughout this process, students are introduced to more complex modes of thinking and analysis, and must stretch their intellectual talents. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to attend this conference.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72479 Thu, 06 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72479 Local Author Empowers Students Through Inquiry A longtime Sachem resident, author and retired educator Sal Nicosia recently visited fifth-grade students at Hiawatha Elementary School to share the importance of civic engagement. Author of the book “Empowering Our Children To Be More Effective in the Political Process,” Nicosia is a passionate advocate for educating and empowering students to ask questions and be engaged members of the community. Mirroring the advice in his book, Nicosia answered several student questions such as how he became so involved in the community, how he began his career and his motivation to continue his work. This November, in honor of New York State History Month, students engaged in social studies activities exploring the voting process, local laws and various areas of government. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72457 Wed, 05 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72457 A Study of Citizenship Showcases Care for Community The fundamentals of good citizenship in community, classroom and family were at the forefront of a recent lesson in Donna Gianfortone’s first-grade class at Chippewa Elementary School. During the lesson, students learned the various attributes that make a good citizen, and the class then organized a recycling project as a way to display its good citizenship. As the ongoing project continues, the class will donate the funds it raises to a different organization every two months. This month, the donation will be made to Horstmann Heroes. George Horstmann, a student in the class, has diabetes and helped to educate his peers on the condition. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72429 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 21:00:00 GMT false72429 Student-Scientists Aid in Restoration of Local Waterways Last October, Sachem High School North students in Monica Marlow’s Advanced Placement Environmental Science class attended a field trip at Sunken Meadow State Park to monitor and aid in an estuary restoration. Working with Long Island Sound Study, New York Sea Grant, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, New York State Parks and Save the Sound since 2010, students collected baseline data prior to and have been monitoring the progress since a dam was removed in 2012 to restore tidal flow to 132 acres of estuary habitat. Alongside agency professionals, students tested water quality and samples for organisms and caught numerous fish, including baby flounder, sea robin and blackfish. The presence of these species serves as a great indicator of the success of the restoration project thus far. “I see tremendous value in involving our students in this long-term project,” Marlow said. “It provides a memorable opportunity to engage in hands-on learning and generate excitement for the AP curriculum, as well as help students take ownership and responsibility for our local waterways.” The students will be presenting their data at the Open Space Stewardship Program celebration at Brookhaven National Laboratory this spring. The conference provides students an excellent opportunity to interact with professional scientists and other motivated high school students in the environmental science field. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72383 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72383 2018 Holiday Light Show https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72406 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72406 2018 Festival of Trees and Lights https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72405 Tue, 04 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72405 Sachem Student-Athletes Grab Top Recognition on Long Island It was a rewarding season for Sachem’s student-athletes. Aside from a number of championships, many students and coaches were honored as being some of the best in their sports across Long Island. The following student-athletes were named Newsday First Team All-Long Island selections for fall 2018: – Katie Allen, field hockey, Sachem East – Jack Driscoll, volleyball, Sachem North – A.J. Fitzgerald, volleyball, Sachem North – Molly Jandris, volleyball, Sachem East – Jordyn McDonnell, cross-country, Sachem North – Melissa Merone, cross-country, Sachem East – Kristen Shanahan, field hockey, Sachem East Shanahan was also named Newsday’s Suffolk County Field Hockey Player of the Year, while Driscoll was named Newsday’s Suffolk County Player of the Year in boys’ volleyball. Special congratulations to Sachem North volleyball coach Matt Rivera and Sachem East cross-country coach Dan Schaub on being named Newsday Suffolk County Coach of the Year in their respective sports. #GoArrows https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72365 Mon, 03 Dec 2018 07:00:00 GMT false72365 VIDEO: Sachem November Review https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72326 Mon, 03 Dec 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72326 Sachem Students, Staff and Community Combine to Feed Over 2,000 Families on Thanksgiving The holiday giving spirit is stronger than ever in Sachem. Students and staff across the district combined efforts to donate more than 2,000 boxes for Thanksgiving food drives this year. Even more special, food donated from Sachem buildings helps to feed families within the Sachem community, thanks to various organizations who distribute the items. Led by the Student Government at both Sachem North and Sachem East, food was collected in every building throughout the school district. Student groups from every school, including Sachem North’s “Robin Hood Kids” and the “Dirty Dozen,” were responsible for these districtwide efforts. For weeks, students were seen at local food stores drumming up support and donations, leading up to this miraculous and meaningful culmination. Thank you, Sachem! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72301 Fri, 30 Nov 2018 20:00:00 GMT false72301 Sachem Students’ Expand Repertoires at PEAK Music Festival The musical talents of 28 Sachem Central School District fourth-grade elementary school students shined during the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s 10th annual Parents, Educators and Kids Music Festival at Northport High School on Oct.27. Approximately 200 students from 32 Suffolk school districts were represented during the PEAK Festival where they participated in several musical workshops exploring areas such as world drumming, folk dance, ukulele and bucket drumming lead by Sachem music educator Dr. Dylan Benson. The gifted student-musicians shared these musical experiences with family members before the festival concluded, with a performance comprised of the top fourth-grade elementary musicians from Suffolk County. “The PEAK Music Festival is an excellent opportunity for students to perform music of all different genres and mediums on a grander scale than that of the general music classroom,” said Laura Wasdo, Sachem chairperson for elementary music. “These experiences engage students in performances with hundreds of other peer musicians.” For the 10th consecutive year, Cayuga Elementary School music teacher Jennifer Fischer organized the festival. Music educators participating in the workshops are encouraged to draw inspiration from the activities they attend and incorporate elements into their own classroom lessons. Congratulations to the following students who were selected to take part in this event: Camron Amallobieta Kaeylyn Califano Nicholas Carusillo Samuel Chase Sarina Chiello Emmaline Craner Christine Darmanin Hannah Dente Liam Dodge MaggieLyn Fernandes Cora Gillespie Gabriella Guerra Brynn Halloran Cameron Holub Kylie Hughes Ethan Klug Ryan Lamm Brett McKeon Sadie Poach Chase Reynolds Derek Roper Isabella Schwaner Isabella Sinclair Erik Spera Jacob Steffens Ava Storzinger Alex Tavares Olivia Wherry https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72289 Fri, 30 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72289 Sachem Students Chosen for NYSSMA All-State Six distinguished student-musicians from Sachem High Schools North and East were selected to showcase their musical mastery during the 2018 New York State School Music Association’s All-State festival at the Rochester Convention Center in Rochester, New York, from Nov. 29 to Dec. 2. From High School East, students Timothy Demott and Ralf Jean-Francois will perform with the mixed chorus, while Rachel Sauer will perform with the symphonic band. From High School North, students Morgan Tiller and Joseph Albano have been selected for the mixed chorus and Sofia Sangiorgio for the symphonic band. “Selection for the All-State performing groups is a rare honor earned by only the most talented, dedicated and hardworking students,” said David Jaklitsch, the chairperson for secondary music. “These amazing young musicians have worked at the highest possible level for many years and under many teachers, studying both in and out of school to attain this accomplishment. We are all very proud to have these exceptional students represent Sachem as some of the best in all of New York State.” The selection process for an All-State musician is rigorous and includes teacher recommendations, audition scores at the NYSSMA solo evaluation festival during the prior spring and participation in other performing organizations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72238 Thu, 29 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72238 Grundy Avenue Students Bake Pumpkin Bread Sweet smells permeated the air during a recent activity at Grundy Avenue Elementary School as fourth-grade students began to prepare the ingredients to bake a traditional fall-themed treat. During the lesson in Dawn Chmela’s class, students reviewed a list of ingredients and measurements before they carefully combined each one into a mixing bowl. As the students worked together to get the precise measurements, Chmela reiterated the importance of teamwork to accomplish a goal. Using an electric mixer, students carefully combined the ingredients: canned pumpkin, cinnamon, eggs, flower, nutmeg, salt and vegetable oil. As the activity concluded, students poured the mixture into individual miniature loaf trays before baking their homemade pumpkin bread. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72177 Wed, 28 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72177 Nokomis Students Craft Character Pumpkins Creativity flourished for fourth-grade students during a fun-filled pumpkin project that created a unique combination of art and literacy at Nokomis Elementary School. For the fall-themed project, each fourth-grade student selected and read a realistic fiction book which they then wrote a report and review on. In addition to the written report, students selected their favorite character from the story and transformed a pumpkin into that character. Throughout the project, teachers emphasized the importance of numerous writing elements, including spelling, punctuation, sentence and paragraph structure. At the conclusion of the project, the pumpkin characters lined the halls for students across the building to vote on to select a favorite pumpkin. As students explored the projects, cups were placed at each pumpkin to collect change to raise money for breast cancer research through the Sachem Central Teachers’ Association. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72139 Tue, 27 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72139 Sachem Librarians Receive Awards for Professional Contributions Two librarians from the Sachem Central School District recently received awards for their remarkable contributions to literacy and learning at a meet and greet of the Suffolk School Library Media Association on Oct.19 at the Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site. Sachem High School North librarian Madelyn Haussner received the 2018 SSLMA Outstanding Contribution to the School Library Profession Award for her efforts in leading SSLMA at both the local and state level. Haussner served as the president of SSLMA for the past four years and previously held positions as the vice president and treasurer. In addition, she is on the executive board for the New York Library Association – Section of School Librarians, which represents approximately 600 Suffolk County and Nassau County school librarians. Her illustrious accomplishments include initiating the statewide conference with the Long Island School Media Association, the New York Library Association, the Section of School Librarians and SSLMA, held in 2018 on Long Island and attended by over 350 school librarians and administrators. Haussner also co-chaired the Knickerbocker Raffle, which raised over $3,400 in scholarships, and held an instrumental role in determining the need to establish a Subject Area Committee for School Librarians under New York State United Teachers. She participates in many professional organizations, including the American Association of School Librarians, the American Library Association, the ASCD (formerly the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development), NYSUT and SSLMA. She continually mentors school librarians and advocates for the school librarian profession. Through her professional affiliations, she brings new teaching ideas to enhance the school library program at Sachem High School North. “I would like to give a huge thank-you to the Sachem High School North administration for their continued support,” Haussner said. “I am humbled and thankful for the opportunity to serve the SSLMA organization in this leadership capacity.” Librarian Sandy Bucher received the 2018 SSLMA Library Technology Grant for her library program at Sagamore Middle School. Her grant application, “Simple Circuits and Computer Coding with Makey Makeys and Scratch,” provided her with $500 to spend on acquiring 12 Makey Makey kits, an electronic invention tool that allows users to connect everyday objects to computer programs. Bucher demonstrated a Makey Makey activity at the meeting along with her colleague, Carrie McGuire, Eastern Suffolk BOCES Model Schools technology integration specialist, who helps integrate technology at Sagamore. “The Makey Makey kits are used for real-world, hands-on applications that students are very excited about,” Bucher said. “Instead of using traditional paper worksheets, they are manipulating these tools and problem-solving in an exploratory way.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72085 Mon, 26 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72085 Annual Feast Reflects on First Thanksgiving Fall festivities filled the halls of Waverly Avenue Elementary School as fifth-grade students enjoyed a feast of seasonal dishes prior to Thanksgiving as part of an ongoing building tradition. Before the feast began, fifth-graders read articles depicting key elements of the first Thanksgiving that occurred in 1621. The students learned that during the feast held by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag Indians there was an abundance of venison, fish and corn and a variety of native fruits and berries. Across the district, students on each grade level participated in similar feasts where they reflected on the historic first Thanksgiving and enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving meal with their peers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=72018 Wed, 21 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false72018 Lynwood Avenue Elementary Celebrates World Kindness Day As part of a schoolwide celebration of World Kindness Day on Nov. 13, students at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School gathered for a heartwarming assembly program which showcased numerous acts of kindness that the building had participated in this year. World Kindness Day is an initiative which highlights good deeds in the community and focuses on the positive power and ability of kind acts to connect people from all ethnic backgrounds, religions and regions of the world. Throughout the assembly the ideas of kindness, empathy and inclusion were reiterated as they were present in each of the student-led acts of kindness. It was announced at the assembly that each Tuesday, Lynwood students will participate in Kindness Tuesday, when they will continue their ongoing celebration of kindness. At the conclusion of the presentation, each student received a shirt sporting the slogan “Lynwood Runs on Kindness,” courtesy of the Lynwood Avenue Parent Teachers Association. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71974 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71974 2018 Sachem Aftershock Robotics Team 263 Clothing Drive https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71967 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71967 Thanksgiving Letter from the Superintendent https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71966 Tue, 20 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71966 Student-Scientists Examine Popular Fall Candy During a recent science activity at Samoset Middle School, sixth-grade students examined the physical and chemical properties of the popular Halloween treat candy corn. Using a graduated cylinder and a triple beam balance, the student groups used equations to determine the volume and weight of a piece of candy corn. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71936 Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71936 Science Research Student Presents at Distinguished Conference Sachem High School East science research student Vincent Zhang was recently selected to present his research at the 2018 Materials Research Society Conference in Boston on Nov.29. The MRS Fall Meeting and Exhibit serves as a key forum to present research to an interdisciplinary and international audience. Vincent’s work, “The Influence of Exposure to TiO2 Nanoparticles on Staphylococcus Aureus Infection,” addresses the health issues related to nanoparticles found in our environment. “Vincent is an outstanding research student,” said High School East Science Research teacher Michael Vaccariello. "With the exception of publishing research in a scientific journal, presenting work at a professional conference is the highest goal for any high school science research student." Last year, Vincent presented his research on a study to identify gray matter lesions in the subcortical structures of the human brain brought on by multiple sclerosis. He is formalizing this work to submit to the 2019 Regeneron Science Talent Search. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71855 Fri, 16 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71855 Cayuga Students Craft With Candy Corn The basic principles of engineering and design were at the forefront of a recent second-grade activity at Cayuga Elementary School that challenged students’ ingenuity with two simple supplies. Second-graders in Faith Baker’s, Jaimie DiPalma’s and Kristin Ruhs’ classes were tasked with constructing the tallest towers they could using only 100 toothpicks and a cup of candy corn. To begin the activity each student group drafted a design which they would follow using the supplies provided. As the construction of their towers began, students worked collaboratively to problem-solve throughout the difficult build process. “You had to be very gentle because the candy corn could break easily,” said Allie, a second-grade student who participated in the activity. “My favorite part was finally getting our tower to stand.” Throughout the activity, teachers reiterated the importance of developing solutions for problems that arose during the lesson and working together with their peers to reach their goals. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71803 Thu, 15 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71803 Important Message November 15, 2018 - All evening activities are canceled due to tonight's inclement weather. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71841 Thu, 15 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71841 Grundy Avenue Holds Veterans Day Parade In honor of Veterans Day, students across grade levels at Grundy Avenue Elementary School held a parade recognizing veterans from each branch of the United States military. With flags waving in the air, students gathered in front of the school building to cheer for the veterans as they walked the short parade route. As part of the day’s activities, fifth-grade students had the opportunity to ask the veterans questions about their experiences in the military, such as the places they traveled, food they ate and the uniforms they wore. The veterans spoke to the students about the importance of teamwork, communication and creating connections with people who are different from themselves. Throughout the Sachem Central School District, each elementary school has recently participated in various activities honoring the bravery and commitment of military members across the country. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71784 Wed, 14 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71784 Special Programs Teach Student Safety Students at Sachem High School East recently attended special programs spanning a variety of speakers and experiences as part of National Teen Driver Safety Week. On Monday, Oct.22, a member of the Empower, Assist, Care Network discussed with all health classes numerous ways to stay safe as a driver. On Tuesday, Oct. 23, Marianne Angelillo came to High School East to speak with health classes and the Students Against Destructive Decisions club about her son’s death in a drunk driving crash. Suffolk County Deputy Sheriff Tom Indence and Deputy Sheriff Philip Doukas also visited each health class to discuss driving under the influence. Students learned the dangerous effects alcohol has on the central nervous system by wearing alcohol-impairment goggles and performing simple tasks. In addition, Isai Fuentes from Mothers Against Drunk Driving came to High School East to present the Power of Youth program, which encourages students to be safe and empowers them to make good decisions. Through the efforts of these individuals and agencies, students learned useful tips to remain safe within a vehicle as a passenger and while driving. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71739 Tue, 13 Nov 2018 07:00:00 GMT false71739 Wenonah Students Take a Stand Against Bullying Throughout the month of October, students across Wenonah Elementary School have participated in numerous activities designed to educate students about bully prevention and the effects it has on others as part of National Bullying Prevention Month. As part of this monthlong effort, Principal Christine DiPaola visited classrooms to read books with a bullying component and generated discussion with the students on what to do if they are being bullied. Each afternoon, Bully Bulletin announcements were made, which explained the difference between conflict and bullying and types of bullying, and gave tips on how to combat the matter. Additionally, students wore blue shirts and “be a buddy, not a bully” wristbands each Monday as a visual symbol of their collective efforts to stomp out bullying. Lastly, YMCA Family Services and the Suffolk County Police Department held a parent presentation on cyberbullying and ways to identify and prevent it. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71717 Tue, 13 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71717 Sachem North Wins Long Island Championship, Eyes State Championship They’re not done yet, and they’re certainly enjoying every second of this ride. The Sachem North boys volleyball team achieved its latest milestone, winning a Division I Long Island championship Saturday, Nov. 10 after defeating Nassau County’s Plainview-Old Bethpage, 25-17, 25-11, 25-22. This marks the program’s first Long Island title since 2015. “I’m just really proud of our guys,” Sachem coach Matt Rivera said after the match. “It’s a great feeling every time we set out to do something, and we’re able to see our guys win their final game on Long Island. This group in particular worked so hard since the season started. Every day, just grinding it out. For them to achieve their goal of winning a Long Island championship, and the way they did, I’m just really happy for them.” Sachem, now 18-0 on the season, turns its attention to the New York State tournament Saturday, Nov. 17 in Albany. Follow @SachemSchools via Twitter for updates from the state tournament. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71700 Mon, 12 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71700 Letter from the Superintendent - Closing or Delay of School https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71649 Fri, 09 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71649 Chippewa Students Explore New Sport As part of a recent physical education class, third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students at Chippewa Elementary School learned floorball, courtesy of a program sponsored by the New York Islanders hockey team. During the unit, students learned numerous hockey skills, such as stick handling, passing and shooting. As the students progressed with their new skills, they were then put to the test in several floorball games before they collectively played a game of traditional floorball. The floorball unit served as an excellent opportunity to introduce a new sport to students and strengthen the skills of students who were familiar with hockey. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71592 Thu, 08 Nov 2018 06:00:00 GMT false71592 Sachem Student Attends Prestigious Science Conference This past June, Sachem High School East senior Eram Alam attended the National Leadership Academy’s prestigious Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders in Boston, Massachusetts. Students selected to attend the conference are recommended by their teacher or guidance counselor for leadership ability, academic achievement and dedication to science and technology while also holding a GPA of 3.5 or above. Eram is enrolled in numerous Advanced Placement classes and is a member of Student Government, the treasurer of the Diversity Club and the vice president of the National Honor Society. The three-day conference includes a collection of seminars lead by Nobel Prize winners and industry-leading inventors. The annual event draws more than 1,000 students from across the country and showcases several captivating technological advancements. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71541 Wed, 07 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71541 Nokomis Students Study New York State As part of a recent project on New York State, fourth-grade students across Nokomis Elementary School explored numerous geographic features of the state and learned the essential components of a map. Incorporated within each creative project, students labeled identifiable landforms such as the Catskill and Adirondack mountains, the Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes. Each map also included the state capital, bordering states and the Atlantic Ocean. Completing their projects, students added a compass signifying the cardinal directions and a key to identify the symbols found throughout the map. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71508 Tue, 06 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71508 Sachem Board of Education Recognized During Board Appreciation Week During the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, the seven esteemed members of the Board were recognized for their tireless efforts representing the students, staff and members of the Sachem community. Numerous organizations, including the Sachem Administrators Association, Sachem Classroom Teachers Association, Sachem Clerical Association, Sachem Nurses Association, Sachem Supervisors Association, Special Education Parent Teachers Association, and the Sachem custodial, maintenance, facilities and security unions, all presented the Board with tokens of appreciation or made donations in their name for their continuous outstanding contributions to the Sachem Central School District and community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71484 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 13:00:00 GMT false71484 Sachem East Girls XC Best in Suffolk County Just 10 days after Sachem East claimed the overall team title at the Section XI Divisional championships, the girls cross-country squad returned to Sunken Meadow with eyes set on winning the Suffolk County championship, a victory that would punch the team’s ticket to next week’s state championship meet. Everyone knew it would be a difficult task to accomplish. Last week, Sachem East’s victory at the divisional meet was a narrow one, as each of the top five teams – Smithtown, Ward Melville, Commack and Bay Shore - were separated by a mere 25 points. With all five teams ranked in New York State’s top 25, and all five teams back for a shot at winning Suffolk County’s overall title, everyone expected a hotly contested race. When the dust (and mud) settled on a wet and windy day at Sunken Meadow, Sachem East stood at the top of Suffolk County’s podium, beating out the best that the rest of Section XI was able to throw at them. Led by Junior Melissa Merone (third, 19:33) and senior Lindsey Dodenhoff (8th, 20:00), it was ultimately the strength of Sachem’s main pack that was the difference in team scoring. Senior Chiara Marziali (18th, 20:56), sophomore Sabrinna Mena (19th, 20:56) and sophomore Alexis Violi (42nd, 21:45) separated Sachem from the top pack of five teams, with senior Lexi MacAneney (58th, 22:30) and sophomore Anna Murphy (60th, 22:33) providing critical backup in the crucial sixth and seventh positions. The victory is the second consecutive cross-country title for Sachem East and its fourth in the last five years. “Today was all about the team,” said senior Lindsey Dodenhoff. “We fought and struggled for each other and all of us – even those not racing in our top seven today have grown so much throughout the summer and fall.” This year’s victory was particularly sweet with Sachem returning only two out of the seven athletes that toed the line for last year’s county championship. It began the season as a relatively unknown group, but have certainly changed that perspective in the last two weeks of racing. Up next, Sachem East will race at the New York State championship meet where it looks to take a top-five position in a field which includes two teams currently ranked nationally, Fayetteville-Manlius and Saratoga Springs, along with the current top runner in the nation, Katelyn Tuohy from North Rockland. The state championship will be held this year at Sunken Meadow State Park Saturday, Nov. 10, with races starting at 9:00 a.m. and Sachem racing at 9:30 a.m. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71471 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 06:00:00 GMT false71471 Victory! Sachem East Field Hockey Rolls to LIC The team needed only one goal and a stellar defense to win it all. Sachem East did it again, and won a Class A Long Island championship after beating Massapequa, 1-0, on Saturday, Nov. 3. Kristen Shanahan scored the game-winning goal with 27:16 left in the contest to give Sachem its first Long Island crown in field hockey since 2014. Sachem’s Marissa Cuevas recorded the shutout in net. The Flaming Arrows are now 18-0 this season. The run to a New York State title continues on Saturday, Nov. 10 in the state semifinals against Williamsville North High from Section VI. Check @SachemSchools via Twitter for updates during and after the action! #GoArrows https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71472 Mon, 05 Nov 2018 05:00:00 GMT false71472 Sachem October 2018 Review https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71382 Fri, 02 Nov 2018 04:00:00 GMT false71382 Local Fire Departments Share Lifesaving Lessons During the month of October, local fire departments across the Sachem Central School District visited each of the 10 elementary buildings to educate students on the importance of fire safety for annual Fire Prevention Week. As part of the numerous districtwide presentations, firefighters performed several engaging demonstrations highlighting the unique abilities of the department’s equipment. Students watched in awe as firefighters descended more than 70 feet from a ladder truck, removed car doors as part of an extrication drill and watched firefighters adorn self-contained breathing apparatuses and fire gear. In addition to the demonstrations, firefighters explained in detail several fire safety lessons and ways to stay safe in emergency situations. Concluding each visit, firefighters held question-and-answer sessions with students to answer any additional questions. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71342 Thu, 01 Nov 2018 04:00:00 GMT false71342 Undefeated Arrows Win Suffolk Field Hockey Title Sachem East field hockey captured the Suffolk County Class A field hockey championship for the first time since 2014. Sachem, undefeated at 17-0 this season, beat Northport, 3-1, on Tuesday night at neutral Patchogue-Medford High School. Sachem East was led in scoring by Kristen Shanahan, who recorded two goals, and Emily Allingham. The Arrows aim for a Long Island title and will face Massapequa Saturday, Nov. 3 at 6:30 p.m. at Berner Middle School in Nassau County. Congratulations and good luck to the team! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71287 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false71287 Transition Fair - November 3rd, 2018 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71293 Wed, 31 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false71293 Sagamore Celebrates Unity Day Students and staff across Sagamore Middle School recently celebrated Unity Day in a collective effort to eliminate bullying in their school community and beyond. Unity Day is a worldwide initiative with the goal of preventing bullying through active social change and ensure that all youth are safe and supported in their schools, communities and online. Each day, Sagamore Middle School staff and students wore similar hats, shirts and colors to raise awareness of the issues associated with bullying. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71240 Tue, 30 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false71240 A Noteworthy Duet of Music and Technology An energized audience of sixth-grade students filled the auditorium at Samoset Middle School for a recent assembly led by Brent Daniels, an award-winning composer, producer, sound designer and recording artist. Daniels, whose most recent work has appeared in numerous notable movie trailers, wowed students with his ability to improvise and create music using only sounds he created himself. With help from several student volunteers, Daniels brought to life a musical production composed of words spoken by the students. Throughout the assembly, students learned about several areas of sound design, including different ways to make sound and digital sampling techniques. At multiple points during the production process, Daniels reiterated the accessibility of technology that is capable of mirroring the musical production he and the students crafted. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71197 Mon, 29 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false71197 Sachem Students Named AP Scholars The College Board recently recognized 126 Sachem High School students as Advanced Placement Scholars for their extraordinary performance on Advanced Placement Program exams. The College Board’s Advanced Placement Program offers academically excelling students an opportunity to enroll in college-level courses while still in high school to earn college credit. The College Board recognizes varying levels of achievement based on students’ performance on the course exams. At Sachem High School East, 25 students were recognized as AP Scholars, receiving a score of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams. These students were Emily Allingham, Sophia Antonelle, Diana Atoian, Samantha Autar, Samaa Baig, Kristen Bashen, Nicholas Corvi, Lauren Faust, Jocelyn Fisher, Rebecca Grunski, Victoria Hyl, Jared Jackson, Ryan Kinsella, Kayla Krempasky, Caitlin MacDermott, Nicholas Mulieri, Michael Mullen, Rachel Sauer, Abigail SeMonte, Danielle Spak, Maira Suleman, Nicholas Traina, Isha Trivedi, Aaron Ullger and Julianna Viola. Attaining an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams, 14 students from High School East were named AP Scholars with Honor. These students include Jessica Cormier, Amira Farag, William Gavin, Gwendlyne Guido, Lana Ho, Winnie Lam, Thomas Marks, Vincent Marzitello, William Monderine, Dylan Lenin Santos, Miranda Seely, Alexa Storzinger, Celia Toral and Alfredo Viera. Twenty-three students from High School East were recognized as AP Scholars with Distinction for achieving an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams. Students who received this honor are Eram Alam, Nicholas Alonzo, Valentina Arrieta, Ulfeen Ayevan, Rohan Bapat, Emma Berk, Mibitha Biju, Luke Burk, Alyssa Cortes, Tanay Karnik, Ryan Kennedy, Ian Limjoco, Alyssa Mei, Julianna Mercado, Yash Pande, Nicholas Sanacore, Jennifer Seibert, Jeffery Shaffar, Nicholas Smith, Joseph Tan, Sean Tierney, Joseph Traina and Vincent Zhang. Earning the highest honor presented to an AP Scholar was Vincent Zhang. He was named a National AP Scholar for receiving an average score of at least 4 on all AP exams taken and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these exams. In addition, Sachem High School North boasts 26 AP Scholars. These students are Nicholas Ambrosino, Zaria Brathwaite, Nishkreencha Chowdhury, Megan Cooke, Madison Eaton, Dylan Flaxman, Daniel Gernert, Emily Ingraffia, Hannah Kimura, Isabella Lorenzo, Carmine Lucidi, Matthew Lucyk, Allison Marvelli, Patrick Melfi, Christopher Moriarty, Erin Netuschil, Alper Ozdemir, Connor Perron, Sahana Ramrakhiani, Andrea Rodas, Marissa Sheldon, Christian Stilwagen, Christopher Ventre, Samantha Weckesser, Angela Zheng and Tyler Ziems. Twenty-one students receiving recognition as an AP Scholar with Honor from High School North are Raymond Calascibetta, Christopher Duong, Amber Farruggio, Emily Gelardi, Paeton Hartmann, Catherine Houston, Hui Fang Huang, Christopher Korth, Deirdre McBreen, Daniel Mckay, Emily Papazian, Mariana Perron, Isabella-Ros Quaranta, Emily Rowan, Sofia Sangiorgio, Rachael Severino, William Sexton, Ustav Shah, Sofia Vallecillo, Nicholas Wodzenski and Emma Zanfardino. Being recognized as AP Scholars with Distinction are 16 High School North students, including Corinne Amato, Erin Avanzato, Adam Barker, Albert-Alexi Bregonia, Amy DeLury, Christopher Dibenedetto, Casey Fox, Chris George, Masi Kinare, Miguel Maramara, Carmine Passarella, Drew Racz, Taylor Rijos, Maximiliano Rinaldi, Nicholas Sexton and Natalie Sill. Last year, 193 graduating seniors from Sachem High Schools were recognized at various levels as AP Scholars. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71072 Thu, 25 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false71072 Spectrum of Dreams Aids Students in Need At the start of the 2018-2019 school year, the Spectrum of Dreams Foundation generously donated 35 backpacks for students in need at Sachem High School North. Throughout the year, Spectrum of Dreams, a locally founded nonprofit organization, provides a number of enriching educational opportunities for students across the district. These past initiatives have included sponsoring several college scholarships for Sachem students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=71025 Wed, 24 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false71025 Furry Friend Shares Methods of Meteorology The science of meteorology shined through during a recent educational assembly at Merrimac Elementary School that explained numerous weather concepts in a unique way. As the assembly began, all second-grade classes were greeted by an unfamiliar face. Schmitty the Weather Dog, the pup with a nose for weather adorned in vibrant yellow rain gear, was ready to share meteorology knowledge with the eager students. Incorporating a unique musical element into the lesson, Schmitty’s owner, Meteorologist Ron, taught students about numerous different storms, including the difference between hurricanes and tornados. Continuing the engaging event, student volunteers answered various questions identifying the five forms of precipitation: rain, sleet, hail, snow and freezing rain. At the conclusion of the assembly, teachers were invited to sing the weather songs along with the students. Throughout the month of October, Schmitty the Weather Dog will make several stops throughout the Sachem Central School District. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70971 Tue, 23 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70971 Fun, Community Spirit and Victory for Sachem East During 2018 Homecoming There is nothing like a big victory on homecoming. Sachem East football beat Patchogue-Medford, 27-0, to cap off a spirited week of pride and fun on Saturday, Oct. 20. Adriel Robinson led Sachem with 159 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Ryan Paoella had 71 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Led by the efforts of Student Government and Class Government, Sachem East had a number of themes during spirit week, from TV Tuesday to Sachem spirit day. Sachem East invited its peers from Sachem North for a school showdown one evening, where they competed in various spirited contests, from pie eating to tug-of-war. Later in the week the school celebrated with a pep rally and crowned homecoming royalty. Senior royalty included Thomas Syron (king), Miranda Seeley (queen) and Ian Limjoco (jester). Joshua Mileto was named honorary homecoming king. Junior royalty included Michael Efron (prince), Kristen Shanahan (princess) and Nicholas Addamo (jester). Sophomore royalty included James Walsh (duke), Julia Luchetti (duchess) and Nicholas Grottola (jester). Freshman royalty included Asweel Mehaboob (count), Gabriella Erdmann (countess) and Patrick Bell (jester). The weekend began with a newly minted homecoming carnival and, of course, ended with a win on the gridiron. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70909 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70909 Polar Plunge - Saturday, November 17, 2018 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70936 Mon, 22 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70936 Surplus Auction - Ending 11/5 Auction Website https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70858 Fri, 19 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70858 Six Seniors Named National Merit Commended Students Six Sachem Central School District seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program. At the end of September, about 34,000 of the approximately 50,000 highest scorers were chosen for this honor based on their PSAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test results. All six students boast impressive academic résumés, including enrollment in numerous Advanced Placement courses, integral involvement in clubs and memberships in a plethora of honor societies. Selected to receive this honor are Sebastian Caparas, Alyssa Mei and Vincent Zhang from Sachem High School East and Mansi Kinare, Miguel Maramara and Carmine Passarella from Sachem High School North. The selected students received letters of commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic performance and are candidates for special scholarships sponsored by corporate businesses. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70810 Thu, 18 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70810 Captivating Speaker Shares Inspiring Messages With Students “We should all outline our lives in pencil, not pen,” Rohan Murphy loudly projected across the Samoset Middle School auditorium to an audience of eighth-grade students. Murphy, a motivational speaker from Islip, New York, encouraged his student audience to try new things and to not be afraid to fail in the process. In his second year speaking at Samoset Middle School, Murphy shared the humbling story of his journey through life as a man with no legs. A successful high school wrestler, collegiate wrestler and Penn State University graduate, Murphy outlined his struggles growing up disabled and undeniably inspired the audience with his fearless determination to succeed in the stories he shared. Murphy emphatically challenged students to embrace each challenge in life and to never give up, to be inclusive, not exclusive and to look past excuses. The presentation closed with a question-and-answer period before Murphy left students with one last inspiring message. “Everyone has a choice to be average, good or great. Choose to be great, choose to be the greatest you that you can be.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70711 Tue, 16 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70711 Bacteria Grows Infectious Passion for Science The scientific method was on full display at Waverly Elementary School as students recently participated in a hands-on science experiment that emphasized each specific step in the scientific method. Fifth-grade students in Kristina Fulcher and Lynn Kmiotek’s class carefully followed each step of the scientific method as they began an experiment that will eventually finish with a stink later this school year. The goal of the experiment is to determine how fast mold will grow on bread after being exposed to varying conditions that could affect it. Preparing one sample, students used their unwashed hands as they placed a piece of bread into a ziplock bag that was then sealed. For another, they used hand sanitizer before handling the bread sample. Following a strict procedure, each sample was placed into a bag and labeled to reflect how the bread was handled. As part of the experiment, students also learned how to develop a hypothesis, label and track data, and about numerous types of bacteria, fungus and germs that cause mold. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70689 Mon, 15 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70689 Samoset Receives Donation From Local Chamber of Commerce The Lake Grove Chamber of Commerce recently organized a school supply fundraiser that collected five backpacks filled with various school supplies. The school supplies were generously donated to the Sachem business department and will be distributed to students in need at Samoset Middle School. The business department is actively engaged with numerous chambers throughout the district in expanding internship and job opportunities and providing additional educational events for students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70611 Fri, 12 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70611 Wiggling Worms Tested Student Ingenuity at Waverly Elementary Sweet treats served as challenging STEAM supplies in a recent third-grade activity at Waverly Avenue Elementary School that required students to utilize precise planning principles to problem solve. Students in Gina Menechino’s class worked in pairs to save Fred, a gummy worm whose boat had capsized. Using only paper clips, the third-graders were tasked with the challenge of putting a circular Lifesaver gummy around Fred to save him from the treacherous waters. To begin, students first planned how they would approach their task by imagining solutions, explaining how it would work and then testing their plan. Each pair worked diligently to put the Lifesaver around Fred in the time given to complete the activity. At the conclusion of the activity, Menechino emphasized the importance of revisiting and revising previous plans to efficiently problem solve. Students who did not complete the task on the first try were then able to try their revised plans. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70538 Wed, 10 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70538 Industry Expert Lends Insight to Future Business Leaders Mission, vision and value were a few key components emphasized during a recent innovative business workshop at Sachem High School East led by Dr. Robert Valli, dean for the School of Business at LIU Post. Students in Keith McCaffery’s Virtual Enterprise class attended an inspiring presentation that provided assistance for students in the development of innovative business ideas for this year’s Virtual Enterprise competition. The yearlong Virtual Enterprise class teaches upperclassmen valuable business skills as they navigate each aspect of a complete business plan. Throughout the year, the simulated student businesses will compete with other student groups from across Long Island, New York State, the United States and internationally at a plethora of competitions throughout the school year. Dr. Valli emphatically spoke to students about the importance of adapting to adversity quickly, how to effectively and efficiently utilize available resources and how to create connections between varying industries to benefit your business. As the workshop came to a close, Dr. Valli reiterated the importance of creating a business team consisting of asymmetrical collaborations to optimize brainstorming while developing business concepts and ideas. To begin the competition season, students will participate in the 2018 National Elevator Pitch Competition, which will be held this October. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70492 Tue, 09 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70492 Chippewa Students Get Set for the Big Stage It was lights, camera, action for third-grade students at Chippewa Elementary School during a recent interactive educational presentation that introduced students to the fundamentals of acting. A creative drama presentation led by Karen De Mauro, a Broadway acting coach for more than 20 years, guided students through numerous elements of acting, including the importance of focus, objects, characters, motive and place. Students were challenged to use their imaginations to envision themselves in several settings, such as on a boat in the year 1492 with Christopher Columbus and in a New York City alleyway navigating imaginary broken glass on the floor. To conclude the activity, students participated in several improvisation exercises that tested their ability to problem solve quickly. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70426 Thu, 04 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70426 Peer Mentors Guide Students to Success Sachem High School North has enhanced the existing homeroom period with an advisory element that introduces members of the Peer Mentor Club to freshman and sophomore students in an effort to develop new relationships and provide academic advice and support. Led by advisors Grace Cervini and Mary Kuerner, the 200-member Peer Mentor Club at High School North is the largest peer mentor group in New York State. Each year, the club members are professionally trained through the New York State Mentoring Program to provide one-on-one assistance to fellow students. “As a ninth-grader, my mentor really helped me through the start of high school,” said student mentor and current junior, Mason Stassi. “I want to be able to help students in the same way.” Each peer mentor works with a specific homeroom group where they lead numerous teambuilding activities to strengthen connections among students, provide academic support and generate group discussions to help new students become socially acclimated to their new environment. “Our job as mentors is to help new students make connections in the building as they begin high school,” said Mike Pellomo, a senior. “Providing guidance as a mentor has been one of my greatest experiences in high school.” As the year continues, the student mentors will act as an informational resource to students during the homeroom period, providing valuable insight into building activities, special events and educational opportunities. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70369 Wed, 03 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70369 September 2018 - A Month In Review https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70346 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 06:00:00 GMT false70346 Silly Substance Teaches States of Matter States of matter were the topic of discussion during a recent hands-on science activity in Emily Cole’s fifth-grade class at Waverly Avenue Elementary School. As the experiment began, students carefully proceeded through each step of the scientific method, including creating a hypothesis, identifying the procedure for the experiment, conducting the experiment and then recording data. The purpose of the experiment was to determine which state of matter the substance they created would be in. Mixing cornstarch, water and food coloring, the students created a substance called Oobleck that they then observed to determine the state of matter to be recorded in their conclusion. After carefully observing the Oobleck, students determined that the substance could be found in either a solid or a liquid state. The Oobleck remained a solid when left in the bowl and transformed into a liquid once it was removed. At a later date, students will do further research on Oobleck and other substances that can be found in multiple states. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70328 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70328 Arrowette Dance Clinic 2018 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70334 Tue, 02 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70334 Efficient and Sustainable Schools Over the past several years, the Sachem Central School District entered into three energy performance contracts (EPC) in an effort to reduce energy consumption, reduce our carbon footprint and control future costs. An energy performance contract is provided to school districts in New York State to engage an independent, third-party engineering firm for the purpose of performing a comprehensive energy audit. Such an audit specifically looks for improvements that can be made that fully pay for themselves. The EPC is expected to carry no financial impact to the district’s taxpayers and has the potential to be cash positive. Before any work can be done, the proposed projects are forwarded to the New York State Education Department, where they are reviewed by engineers in NSYED’s Facilities Planning Department to ensure that the construction design complies with all federal, state and local regulations, as well as to confirm the calculations on the projected savings. The Sachem Central School District has been a leader in these projects and, in 2013, became the first school district in New York State to install a wind turbine. Some of the other projects completed over the past few years to many of our schools include: exterior insulation and new siding, interior lighting system upgrades and occupancy sensors, upgraded energy management system, boiler controllers and boiler replacements, wireless clocks, pipe and valve insulation, steam trap replacements, waste oil heaters in repair garages, computer management system, heat reclaim system, domestic hot water system upgrades, vending machine controls, chiller replacement, synchronous belts, window film and window replacements, and various weatherization projects districtwide. In March 2015, the district entered into its third EPC, which is a comprehensive project totaling $21.7 million. Included in this contract were a number of energy savings initiatives, including: 1.05 megawatts of cogeneration, 2.19 megawatts of solar power (over 8,600 panels districtwide), replacement of more than 1,000 exterior lighting fixtures with energy-efficient LEDs, water conservation upgrades, replacement of inefficient air handler motors, new boiler/burner controllers, kitchen hood exhaust fan controllers, plug load controllers, A/C compressor controllers, freezer compressor controllers and energy-efficient transformer replacements. Sachem is utilizing cogeneration plants at both high schools and all three of its middle schools. The plants are natural gas-powered generators that operate during the heating months. These units supplement our existing boilers to produce heat with an added by-product of 1.05 megawatts of electricity. It is estimated that EPC Phase III will save 8.8 million kilowatt hours annually – the equivalent environmental impact of over 1,998 acres of planted trees, 756,938 gallons of gasoline and 15,460 barrels of oil. Estimated emission reductions in one year would include 14.7 million pounds of carbon dioxide and 28.5 metric tons of sulfur dioxide. This EPC will also save 291,000 gallons of water from low-flow faucets and aerators that have been installed. Each of these projects demonstrates Sachem’s lasting commitment to efficient and sustainable schools. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70230 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 12:00:00 GMT false70230 3-8 Assessment Results & Parent Letters are Now Available 3-8 assessment results and parent letters are accessible through eSchool for any child who took the exam. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70276 Mon, 01 Oct 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70276 Lynwood Avenue Takes a Stand Against Social Isolation An inspiring collaborative effort spanning grade levels at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School resonated throughout the halls recently as numerous teachers led activities combatting social isolation for Start with Hello Week as part of the Sandy Hook Promise. Second-grade students in Michele Tuminelli’s class read “Wilson Sat Alone” by Debra Hess to begin a conversation on how their actions impact others. As the activity continued, students participated in an icebreaker game using M&Ms. One by one, an M&M was taken from the pack by each student and they had to share a memory that corresponded with the color. Among the stories shared were a time when they were sad, a time when they were excited and a time when they made a good choice. In Gwendolyn Levesque’s first-grade class, students learned the importance of not leaving their peers out, how their actions can impact others and ways they can be nice to their classmates. As the activity progressed, students participated in partner shares where they conversed with one of their classmates, identified something they had in common and then spoke more about that topic together. This continued as the students rotated partners and created new friendships. Start with Hello Week is an initiative developed to raise awareness and educate teachers, students and the community on the effects of social isolation. Throughout the week, classes at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School continued to participate in activities to reduce social isolation and create connections within the classroom, school and community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70208 Fri, 28 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70208 Story Sparks Inspiration for Inclusive Classrooms At Seneca Middle School, a story of inclusion and togetherness inspired sixth-graders in Clarissa Reardon’s classes to foster a classroom culture that encompassed the entire school community. To begin the activity, students read the Amy June Bates book, “The Big Umbrella,” in which a child carries a big red umbrella on a rainy day down a city street, welcoming countless characters of every size, shape and appearance to escape the rain under the umbrella. As the child continues on the trip, with many newfound friends, the umbrella continues to grow in size to fit more and more characters beneath it. The inclusive message resonated with students in Reardon’s classes, and they created puzzle pieces showcasing unique character traits found in themselves on each piece. The pieces were then placed together under their very own big umbrella, demonstrating the idea that although different, they all fit together. Through the activity, students reinforced several essential writing skills, including grammar, punctuation and spelling. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70179 Thu, 27 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70179 Kindergarteners Spread Peace to Peers Spreading peace took precedence in Nicole Stumpf and Bianca Ferranteli’s kindergarten class at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School as students participated in activities celebrating the International Day of Peace, which is on Sept. 21. The day’s activities began by students reading “The Peace Book” by Todd Parr and learning the meaning of peace. The kindergarteners then collectively brainstormed how they can bring peace to their class. Together the students determined that sharing, making friends, listening to each other and being kind were all ways to have a peaceful classroom environment. Concluding the activities, students sponge-painted peace signs on paper plates, incorporating vibrant colors into their crafts. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70133 Wed, 26 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70133 Presentation on Active Shooter Overview and Basic Survival Strategies https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70155 Wed, 26 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70155 Sagamore Showcases Extracurricular Opportunities at Club Fair At Sagamore Middle School, students across grade levels had the opportunity to explore the numerous extracurricular opportunities available to them during a recent club fair that showcased 25 clubs students can join this year. During their lunch period, students met with club advisers where they learned about each club available to them. Among the clubs offered this year are American Sign Language, Art Club, Coding Club, Critter Club, Debate Club, Mathletes, Student Government and Suburban Olympics Club. The clubs provide additional opportunities to strengthen curriculum concepts covered during the regularly scheduled school day and allow students to explore myriad other interests. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70104 Tue, 25 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70104 Updated Elementary Curriculum Guides Are Now Available Click here to view the Curriculum & Instruction Page https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70090 Tue, 25 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70090 Sachem North Caps Homecoming With Thrilling Victory In dramatic fashion, Sachem North threw an unforgettable homecoming weekend this year. The Flaming Arrows beat Pat-Med, 17-14, off the leg of sophomore Will Szewczuk, who drilled a 35-yard field goal in overtime. “It’s unreal,” said Szewczuk, who missed two field goals during regulation and overcame in-game adversity to be the hero. “To hit something like that is great and I’m glad to have helped the team.” Students had been celebrating all week leading up to the game with spirit festivities. From a pep rally on the field to a homecoming dance, a first-ever carnival on Saturday afternoon and a club parade around the track, every event was well received and attended by large numbers of students, staff and alumni. Homecoming royalty were honored during the dance on Friday night. Among those honored were seniors Nick Gambino (King), Meaghan Lombardo (Queen) and Austin Ziegler (Jester); juniors Matt McCord (Prince), Ally LaSala (Princess) and Kelly Curran (Jester); sophomores Vinnie Giordano (Dutch) and Meagan O’Halleran (Duchess); and freshmen Trey Morstaht (Count), Sarah Contrast (Countess) and Zachariah Miller (Jester). On the gridiron, Gambino, a senior quarterback, was 17-for-34, throwing for 218 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He connected with Josh Walker on a 52-yard touchdown pass. Sam Walker also rushed for 11 carries, 17 yards and one touchdown. Ryan Kinsley had six catches for 71 yards. Justin Wank had 17 carries for 52 yards. With his passing performance, Gambino reached the 1,000-yard passing mark for his career. The win is also the first career victory for Sachem head coach and alum Dave Caputo. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70058 Mon, 24 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70058 Holbrook 2018 Fall Cleanup https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70057 Mon, 24 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70057 Sachem Senior Receives Long Island Scholar-Artist Award Sachem High School East senior Miriam e Silva was recently selected as one of 20 students to receive the Long Island Arts Alliance Scholar-Artist Award for her continued excellence in academics and the art of photography. Silva was enrolled in the Professional Photography program at the Bixhorn Technical Center at Eastern Suffolk BOCES during the 2017-2018 school year, where she was nominated for the opportunity to receive the award. As part of the arduous selection process, Silva was required to maintain an unweighted grade point average of 90 or higher and submit a portfolio of her work, including an essay to be assessed by a panel of artists and art educators. Silva was honored for her accomplishment at the Scholar-Artist Awards Kickoff program hosted by New York State Regent Roger Tilles on Sept. 12 at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at LIU Post. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70024 Fri, 21 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false70024 Grundy Avenue Celebrates Creativity on International Dot Day In celebration of International Dot Day, students across Grundy Avenue Elementary School expressed their creativity through a number of challenging activities and engaging artistic projects. Dot Day is a worldwide celebration of creativity which arose as a byproduct of the Peter H. Reynolds book, “The Dot.” The book depicts the story of a little girl who is shy about expressing her artistic abilities. Following some encouragement from an art teacher, she becomes inspired by a tiny dot she put on a piece of paper and from that dot creates multiple works of art. After reading the popular book, third-grade students in Angela Coffaro and Allison Poffenbarger’s classes both participated in a dot-themed STEAM activity that emphasized design concepts and teamwork. The student groups were asked to design and construct the tallest tower they could utilizing multicolored dot stickers and index cards. As the students continued through the activity they were encouraged to identify design flaws and work together to develop alternative designs. Also joining in on the Dot Day celebration were second-grade students in Tricia Troise and Kerri Krouse’s class who crafted unique masterpieces starting from a single dot on a piece of cardstock. In an additional activity, second-grade students in Tara McCormack’s class joined their fifth-grade book buddies in Briann Degan’s class for a collaborative STEAM activity. In groups of four, the book buddies were asked to build a structure out of Dots candy and toothpicks that could effectively hold the weight of a textbook. Throughout the activity the students used the unsuccessful designs to brainstorm amongst their peers and incorporate problem-solving techniques to accomplish their goals. As the day continued, the Dot Day celebration fostered a creative environment buildingwide and emphasized the importance of individuality through each student activity. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=70002 Thu, 20 Sep 2018 18:00:00 GMT false70002 Sachem Student Named Semifinalist in 2019 National Merit Scholarship Program Sachem High School North senior Amy DeLury has been selected as a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Amy excels in multiple Advanced Placement courses, including calculus, economics, English and physics. In addition to her continued academic success, she is also an integral participant in multiple extra- and co-curricular activities, such the Eurochallenge Club, in which she serves as a mentor, and the Model United Nations Club, in which she is a delegate. Adding to her impressive résumé of academic accomplishments, Amy has seen great success as a science research student, having placed second at the Long Island Brain Bee last year and having been selected for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Professor for a Day program. During the latter, she worked to examine protein homeostasis in health and disease. “I am very excited,” Amy said, when asked about her accomplishment. “It is a great honor to be selected as a semifinalist for this scholarship.” Approximately 1.6 million juniors from high schools across the country entered the 2019 National Merit Scholarship program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of 16,000 semifinalists represents 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors, who now have the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 7,500 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $31 million. In February, more than 90 percent of the semifinalists will be selected to advance to finalist standing and about half of the finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship, earning the Merit Scholar title. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=67927 Tue, 18 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false67927 Sachem East 2018 Homecoming Carnival https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=67939 Tue, 18 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false67939 Samoset Students Remember September 11 In remembrance of the tragic events that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, seventh-grade history students at Samoset Middle School recently attended an informative presentation, “A Responder’s Perspective,” led by trained first responder Rudy Princi. For seven years, Princi has spoken to Samoset students about his experience as a volunteer at ground zero, where he acquired necessary medical supplies as a liaison and performed triage services for those who required medical assistance. The presentation served as an opportunity for students to hear a firsthand account of the events that took place 17 years ago. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=67893 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false67893 Sachem North Homecoming Carnival https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=67894 Mon, 17 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false67894 Lake Ronkonkoma Historical Society Annual Fall Festival https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65951 Fri, 14 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65951 Sachem Educator Named New York State Secondary Health Teacher of the Year The Sachem Central School District’s Chairperson for Secondary Health Education, Lori Hewlett has been named the Secondary Health Teacher of the Year by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. A distinguished educator in the district for 34 years, Hewlett received numerous nominations from fellow colleagues before she completed a rigorous application process and was selected for this great honor. Among her plethora of professional accomplishments, Hewlett has been the vice president of the Suffolk Zone for the NYS AHPERD for six years, is a national spokesperson for the American Heart Association and has educated thousands of students in lifesaving skills utilizing her vast number of first-aid instructor certifications. “What an honor it is to be selected as the NYS AHPERD Secondary Health Teacher of the Year,” Hewlett said. “It has been my professional aspiration for 34 years to create a high-quality, skills-based, authentic health education program and culture that empowers students to achieve optimal health. When I first started teaching, my administrator shared with me his educational philosophy, ‘If you make every decision with students in mind, you will never make a bad decision.’ Those words have driven me to represent our students and Sachem in creating a model health education program that other districts seek to emulate.” Hewlett will be honored at the NYS AHPERD 81st Annual Conference at Turning Stone Convention Center in Verona, New York, on Nov. 14. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65926 Thu, 13 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65926 Faculty and Staff Gather for Superintendent’s Conference Day As part of a tradition in its second year, the entire Sachem Central School District faculty and staff gathered to listen to encouraging words from district leaders and participate in staff development initiatives as part of Superintendent’s Conference Day on Sept. 4. The bleachers at the Sachem High School East football field were filled with faculty and staff members who were welcomed with inspirational words from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham. “We come together today to continue our work of creating strong connections with all of our students across the district,” Dr. Graham said. “We are here to reflect on how we create these valuable connections and to celebrate some of what we have accomplished along the way.” Board of Education President Laura Slattery also greeted the faculty and staff with encouraging words on the impact they have within the Sachem community. “To our teachers, nurses, social workers, psychologist, custodial, clerical and maintenance staff and every other Sachem employee, you have all made a difference in the lives of children, and that is why there is so much pride in living, working and going to school in Sachem,” Slattery said. “The Board of Education looks forward to working together to make this a successful year.” The immense gathering also provided an opportunity to recognize numerous dedicated district personnel who have been employed within the Sachem Central School District for 30 years. Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Kristin Capel-Eden read the name of each employee and presented them with a certificate honoring their momentous accomplishment. As part of the event, the district was honored to welcome New York State Regent Roger Tilles, who spoke to the audience of educators about the importance of their roles as teachers within the community. At the conclusion of the presentations, faculty and staff members attended various staff development programs held throughout the district. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65811 Fri, 07 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65811 First Day of School Sachem students were greeted with sunshine and smiles on the first day of school. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65755 Wed, 05 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65755 Sachem Welcomes New Faculty Members On Aug. 28, the Sachem Central School District hosted an informative new teacher orientation program for approximately 50 teachers and teaching assistants. To begin the daylong program, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham greeted the new educators and outlined the vison of the district. The educators were then introduced to district administration and members of the Board of Education. As the orientation continued, the new Sachem educators reviewed expectations for student achievement, instructional focus areas and classroom management techniques. The orientation program allowed the educators to familiarize themselves with district policies and procedures, while engaging in informative conversations with fellow faculty members and staff. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65700 Tue, 04 Sep 2018 20:00:00 GMT false65700 Freshman Orientations Welcome Incoming Students Sachem High School East and North recently welcomed the incoming classes of 2022 at the annual freshman orientations this August. Principals at each high school greeted the new students and their families as they introduced various administrative members and reviewed building policies and procedures. The guidance department then led students through an informative presentation on the numerous resources available to them. Concluding the orientation, students and parents had the opportunity to tour the building with their class schedules and locate their lockers in preparation for the first day of school on Sept. 5. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65701 Tue, 04 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65701 Important Letter from the Suffolk County Police Department https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65685 Tue, 04 Sep 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65685 Sachem Central School District Administrators Attend Annual Retreat Administrative members from each of the Sachem Central School District’s 15 buildings recently attended the annual administrative retreat hosted at the Sachem Public Library. The retreat served as an opportunity for central office administration and building administration to review key areas of instruction as they prepare for the new school year. During the retreat, the administrators reviewed project-based learning concepts, student offerings and literacy instruction across content areas for each grade level. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65611 Wed, 29 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65611 Superintendent’s Office Hours https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65588 Tue, 28 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65588 Sachem High Schools Host Inaugural Freshman Academies As the 2018-19 school year approaches, both Sachem High Schools East and North welcomed the incoming classes of 2022 with a morning of informative presentations and interactive activates aimed to familiarize the new freshmen with building layout and academic opportunities, as part of the newly implemented Freshman Academy. At Sachem High School North, following a day of hands-on workshops and teambuilding group sessions, Sachem alumnus Chris Vaccaro welcomed the incoming freshmen as he highlighted opportunities available to students and notable alumni that thrived as Sachem students. The freshmen were then introduced to members of the Peer Mentor Club, who will be providing assistance throughout the year as they become acclimated to the building. The Peer Mentor Club members answered questions about the freshman experience and what to expect as they begin high school. Freshmen at Sachem High School East were welcomed by building administrators before being introduced to the Project Happiness initiative, which was implemented as a key component of the building’s culture last year. Students were then led on guided tours to multiple key locations throughout the building that they will visit during their time as high school students. Randomly assigned student groups then participated in six, 25-minute workshops that further explored the main principles of Project Happiness, mindfulness and meditation techniques, how to easily access building information and what events and clubs are available to students. In addition to the annual freshman orientations, the new Freshman Academy experience serves as a hands-on, discussion-based introduction to each high school that engages students in activities with their fellow peers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65581 Tue, 28 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65581 District Hosts Scholastic Literacy Leaders’ Institute Sachem High School East hosted the Scholastic Education Long Island Literacy Leaders’ Institute on Aug. 15, which provided 150 educators from numerous school districts across Long Island with a plethora of professional development opportunities. With over 50 Sachem teachers in attendance, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham offered a warm welcome to all attendees before Elizabeth Oakes-Lani, an account executive from Scholastic, explained the agenda for the day’s enriching activities. The breakout sessions covered literacy topics including classroom culture, educational approach, 21st-century learning skills, independent reading and how to effectively harness the power of families to support learning. At the conclusion of the daylong event, the participants had the opportunity to reflect on the topics covered and engage in a question-and-answer period with the esteemed presenters. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65552 Fri, 24 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65552 eSchool Parent Portal Letter https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65518 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65518 Welcome Letter from the Superintendent https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65515 Tue, 21 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65515 Envirothon Club Volunteers for Great Brookhaven Cleanup This year, under the direction of club adviser Monica Marlowe, the Sachem High School North Envirothon club volunteered at the Walter S. Commerdinger Jr. County Park in Lake Ronkonkoma. As part of the Great Brookhaven Cleanup, the students helped to remove garbage, environmental debris and invasive species from the park grounds. The experience served as an introduction to a local open space and was an excellent opportunity to volunteer within the Sachem community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65495 Mon, 20 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65495 Sachem Central School District Names New School Transportation Supervisor The Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the appointment of Joseph Cervone as the new school transportation supervisor following the retirement of the district’s previous school transportation supervisor, Stephen Shadbolt, after 14 years of dedicated service to the district. Mr. Cervone joined the district on Aug. 13 from Eastern Suffolk BOCES, where he served as the transportation specialist. Prior to his current position at BOCES, Mr. Cervone served as the site and fleet supervisor for Montauk Bus, where he managed three yards and an expansive fleet of 400 buses in the New York metropolitan area. Throughout his career Mr. Cervone has displayed a vast knowledge of school bus safety, 19A driver requirements, regulatory compliance, vehicle maintenance, efficient routing and the ability to manage the requirements of special-needs students. To ensure a smooth transition this summer, Mr. Shadbolt will assist Mr. Cervone on a part-time basis as he becomes familiar with the inner workings of the Sachem Transportation Department. “Following our extensive screening process led by a committee composed of numerous district office administrators, [we found that] Mr. Cervone possessed the safety expertise, transportation experience and the leadership ability that made him the ideal candidate for this supervisory position,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham said. “It is an honor to welcome Mr. Cervone to the Sachem family.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65452 Thu, 16 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65452 Students Shine Through Summer in Extended School Year Program For the 33rd year, the Sachem Extended School Year program is supporting the diverse needs of special education students throughout the district with an expansive collection of activities that reinforce curriculum concepts covered during the school year. As part of the program, more than 72 of the district’s most dedicated and caring professionals deliver an enriching educational experience to the 250 students enrolled this summer. In addition, a number of student volunteers from both the middle school and high school level lend their time throughout the summer to assist the teachers and staff. The creative SESY staff has chosen STEAM to be the theme for this summer’s program. As part of the full instructional program, which includes traditional art, physical education and music components, the program also incorporates a plethora of challenging STEAM activities to align with this year’s theme. Adding to the comprehensive program, students also participate in water safety instruction once a week at the Sachem High School East pool and visit numerous community establishments for education that aims to enhance consumerism, social and work skills. “This is a program designed for heroes and staffed by champions,” SESY Principal Trish Auletta said. “Our students work so hard on academic, social, physical and management skills. They humble and amaze us daily with their efforts, tenacity and smiles.” At the culmination of the program, students across grade levels deliver a vibrant production to an audience of family and friends that sharpens their art, music, movement and speech articulation skills. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65432 Tue, 14 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65432 Vibrant Exhibit Showcases Student Creativity Sachem High School North special education students in Christine Baratta’s class displayed countless crafty creations as part of its annual art show at the conclusion of the 2017-18 school year. In its fifth year at High School North, the art show serves as a culminating event to a yearlong exploration of numerous famous artists and their chosen mediums. Students studied artists such as Savlador Dalí, Gustav Klimt, Edvard Munch, Georgia O’Keeffe and Jackson Pollack, among several others. Along the way, students learned about different art techniques, mediums and the many categories of art. “Our study of art allows students to express their creativity,” Baratta said. “It is amazing to witness how creative the students have become when given the opportunity.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65393 Thu, 09 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65393 Child Care Reminder https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65396 Thu, 09 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65396 Child Care Registration Deadline August 16, 2018 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65388 Wed, 08 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65388 Waverly Elementary School Welcomes New Principal Following an extensive search and screening process, the Sachem Central School District is proud to announce the appointment of Kevin Tougher as the new principal of Waverly Elementary School, filling the vacancy left by John Ruggero who has accepted a position with the North Babylon School District. Mr. Tougher will be joining Waverly after serving as an elementary teacher for 12 years within the Sachem Central School District at Cayuga Elementary School. During his time at Cayuga, Mr. Tougher served as a teacher leader and an integral participant on numerous districtwide committees, including APPR, the Curriculum Council, Elementary Report Card and Elementary Resolutions. In addition to his expansive committee involvement, Mr. Tougher has demonstrated expertise in the development of new curriculum during revisions to Sachem’s elementary ELA, social studies and mathematics curricula. As a leading voice across the district, Mr. Tougher has also facilitated a plethora of districtwide professional development initiatives. Mr. Tougher holds a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from James Madison University, a Master of Science degree in elementary education from Long Island University and a post-master’s certificate in educational leadership from Stony Brook University. “It is with great enthusiasm that we welcome Mr. Kevin Tougher as the new principal of Waverly Elementary School,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham. “Throughout this process it was clear that Mr. Tougher possesses the personality, elementary school experience, curriculum expertise and the dedication to Sachem that makes him the ideal candidate for this leadership position.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65361 Mon, 06 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65361 Elementary Students Make Waves With Sea Life Science Chippewa Elementary School first-grade students in Lauren Mundy’s class showcased their passion for sea life during a culminating event that displayed all of the sea life-themed activities they completed during the month of June. As part of the yearly sea life celebration, students participated in a plethora of activities that explored the multidimensional topics that encompass the ocean. Students researched the habits of fish and other sea life, sketched observational drawings, studied sea life vocabulary and were visited by a scuba diver for an informative presentation. At the conclusion of the event, students showed family and friends their completed dioramas that represented seascapes and portrayed a number of creatures, such as dolphins, octopus, sharks, squid, and whales, and included many different species of fish. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65336 Thu, 02 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65336 Authors and Illustrators Share How-To Books First-grade student authors and illustrators from Julie Celecia’s class at Waverly Avenue Elementary School showed off their most recent work during a display showcase for family and friends. As part of a classroom unit exploring nonfiction writing, students wrote and illustrated a step-by-step book on how to accomplish a task. During the activity, students practiced arranging steps in sequential order, brainstorming, and editing independently and with a partner. Among the topics covered by the students were how to change a car battery, how to make an ice cream cone, how to make slime, how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and how to make a pizza, along with multiple others. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65321 Wed, 01 Aug 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65321 Suffolk County Legislature Honors Regional Envirothon Winners A team of five Sachem High School North student scientists who captured a first-place finish at the 20th annual Long Island Regional Envirothon competition this April was honored for its achievement at the meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature on Tuesday, June 19. The winning team, composed of Chris Eagler, Miranda Garcia-Cassani, Emily Gelardi, Emily Hudak and Molly Kearns, confidently navigated the five subject areas of this year’s competition, bringing home the win. In addition, Anika Banerjee, Kaya Manolt, Alena Thotam, Caitlin Tucker and Madison Tutone, a second team from Sachem High School North, finished in third place. The first-place team advanced to the state competition, where it placed seventh out of 58 teams from across New York State. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65309 Tue, 31 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65309 Vegetables Fill Tamarac Tower Gardens First- and fifth-grade book buddies at Tamarac Elementary School recently utilized tower gardens to gain valuable insight into the importance of homegrown fruits and vegetables. The book buddies from Jennifer Crane’s first-grade class and Trisha Schneider’s fifth-grade class collaboratively studied the importance of a crop’s environment as they checked the acidity and water levels of the soil throughout the growth cycle. Within the self-watering tower garden, the students grew basil, Bibb lettuce, lavender, peppermint and romaine lettuce. Students tracked the success of the garden in a journal as they followed the progress of the individual crops. Concluding the horticulture lesson, the student buddies came together for a special feast where they enjoyed a harvest of their fresh, homegrown vegetables. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65290 Mon, 30 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65290 Summer Concert Series at Raynor Beach County Park https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65291 Mon, 30 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65291 Interactive Game Show Puts Students in the Spotlight Merrimac Elementary School students proved trivia savvy during an interactive game titled The Brain Show this June, which challenged participants across grade levels on a variety of curriculum concepts. Utilizing three buzzer podiums, student teams faced off as the show’s host asked questions covering a multitude of topics, including art, geography, language arts, history, math, music and science. To win, a team had to receive 300 points by answering three questions correctly. The engaging game show acted as an exciting compliment to curriculum learning as the school year came to a close. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65268 Fri, 27 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65268 Community Project Scores Student Restaurant Tour A Nokomis Elementary School second-grade student recently had the opportunity to tour a community cornerstone as her diorama project garnered special recognition from Applebee’s Grill + Bar. Aviah Singh took a trip to the Applebee’s located in Patchogue to show off her diorama, which replicated the popular dining establishment. As part of the trip, Aviah was given a tour of the restaurant, her picture was placed on the wall and she was treated to a dinner with family and class teacher, Danielle Neimeth. Aviah crafted the creative diorama as part of a recent project exploring local communities. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65263 Thu, 26 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65263 Future Educators Flourish Through Hands-On Learning For Sachem High School students interested in a career in education, the Child Development class provides a hands-on learning experience that allows future educators to apply classroom concepts at the elementary level under the direction of the class’ teacher. After the completion of Child Development I, which covers the beginning stages of life and the lifecycle, senior students have the opportunity to enroll in Childhood Development II, where they explore educational concepts that apply to classroom learning. Through the class, students create lesson plans, study classroom management, special education, education methods and education theory. As part of the course, students return to the Sachem elementary school they once attended to assist a classroom teacher for three hours each week, totaling 36 hours by the completion of the course. For the final evaluation, students deliver a lesson they prepared to the class they have been working with over the previous weeks. “Our class allows students to clearly see what a future career in education would look like,” Child Development teacher Debra Lopez said. “It helps to develop concrete ideas about what grade level they would like to teach and where they would excel most as an educator.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65256 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65256 Students Help Pen Pals Tour Tamarac Technology helped to connect classrooms when Tamarac Elementary School students created a virtual field trip for their pen pals at Dayton Elementary School in Manorville during an activity that utilized the DoInk app. Third-grade students in Gloria Monaco’s class used scripts written on Google Docs to explain specific destinations around the school building that they showed to their pen pal friends. With help from Technology Integration Specialist Claudia Camassa, students recorded their assigned sections in front of a green screen and then used the DoInk app to layer the video and images on top of one another. The integration of the DoInk app allowed students to incorporate written and hands-on lessons to connect with their pen pals in an exciting way. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65240 Tue, 24 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65240 Recycling Made Cents for Waverly Students Project-based learning inspired fifth-grade students at Waverly Elementary School to go above and beyond as they developed a contest to promote recycling across the building. A group of students in Danielle Sexton and Kristina Fulcher’s class developed the initiative after being asked the question of how they can help the environment. They then collaborated to develop a buildingwide recycling contest, where the grade level who recycled the most plastic water bottles would receive a pajama, movie and popcorn party. Through rigorous promotion, the students spread the word about the contest and also created signs for each garbage can in the building. At the completion of the contest, the student effort earned $30 in recycled water bottles, which was used to purchase the reward for the fourth- and fifth-grade students who won the contest. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65223 Mon, 23 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65223 Sachem Leads the Way in Competitive ESports For the Gamers Club at Sachem High School North, a tri-tournament competition this June for the game “Overwatch” provided students with a chance to compete in person against gamers from other school districts on Long Island. Held on June 6 at Waypoint Gaming in Garden City, the tournament is the first of many where Sachem North will be competing as part of the High School Esports League. The tournament, which also featured teams from Bay Shore and St. Anthony’s high schools, allowed the student gamers to compete in the same area rather than over the internet. At the completion of the tournament, the Sachem North gamers tied for first place with the team from Bay Shore High School. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65206 Fri, 20 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65206 High School Students Explore Educational Technologies Students at Sachem High School East applied curriculum concepts to a number of engaging educational technologies supplied by the Sachem Public Library this May. Expanding upon classroom topics, students utilized Legos and Strawbees to creatively design figures and structures. They explored more complex technologies while working with iPads to control mBots and Spheros, and incorporated geometry knowledge to arrange Tangrams as part of the Osmo set. Classes had the opportunity to visit the technology display throughout the week and students could revisit during their lunch period to further explore the items available. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65188 Thu, 19 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65188 Sachem Students Attend Barcode Long Island Symposium This June, four Sachem High School North students attended the annual Barcode Long Island Symposium led by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center, in collaboration with Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory and the American Museum of Natural History. Barcode Long Island uses DNA barcoding to explore, document and track biodiversity on and around Long Island through experiments led by student research teams. Kaya Manolt, Caitlin Tucker and Madison Tutone developed a research project titled “The effect of vegetated buffer zones on aquatic biodiversity,” comparing both water quality and presence of indicator species at two local ponds. Nistha Boghra researched “The biodiversity of a restored estuary” by sampling water quality and organisms at Sunken Meadow State Park. As part of the symposium, each student presented a poster displaying their research and interacted with peers, educators and world-renowned scientists. Among the notable guests was Dr. James Watson, famous Nobel Prize laureate, molecular biologist, geneticist and zoologist, best known for being a co-discoverer of the structure of DNA in 1953. To begin their rigorous research, the students first dedicated countless hours to refine the design of their projects before performing the procedures of professional scientists. To move forward with their research, the student scientists needed to meet the strict guidelines set by Barcode Long Island and receive approval from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center staff scientists. The students collected up to 20 organisms from water samples for each project. Next, with guidance from Sachem High School North science teacher Monica Marlowe, Barcode Long Island educators, scientists from Brookhaven National Laboratory in 2017 and Stony Brook University in 2018, they worked to isolate and amplify the DNA of each organism to positively identify each species. Out of the seven viable samples that were submitted for sequencing, two came back with novel sequence data when aligned with available data on the genetic sequence database GenBank. The novel sequence data is significant because no other scientist has yet sequenced these organisms in the cytochrome oxidase I barcode region and these students will be credited with the publication of this sequence information. “Caitlin, Kaya, Madison and Nistha have collectively dedicated an impressive amount of extracurricular time and energy in the completion of their projects and the pursuit of scientific advancement,” Marlowe said. In March of this year, collectively, the Sachem scientists sequenced another 26 samples, resulting in seven additional novel sequences to be published in GenBank. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65167 Wed, 18 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65167 Statement from Dr. Kenneth Graham, Superintendent of Schools It is with deep sorrow that the district has learned that an incoming senior at Sachem North High School tragically passed away last night. We are currently not aware of the cause of death. Our thoughts and prayers are with the individual’s family and friends during this difficult time. Support services will be available as of8 a.m. todayat both high schools. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65153 Tue, 17 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65153 Spring 2017/18 Athletic Post Season Honors https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65151 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMT false65151 Future Aspirations Shine Bright at Hiawatha Elementary It was a glimpse into a bright future for first-graders at Hiawatha Elementary School when they took the stage dressed in outfits signifying careers they aspire to have in the future. Representing a vast number of professions, each first-grade student delivered a brief presentation to the crowd about the job they wish to have in the future. The careers chosen by the students included baseball players, construction workers, chefs, detectives, doctors, police officers, nurses, teachers and veterinarians. The event served as an engaging activity that coincided with the first-grade unit on careers. As part of the unit, students created their first résumé and researched the different careers that interested them. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65146 Mon, 16 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65146 Sachem Board of Education Holds Annual Reorganization Meeting The Sachem Central School District Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 11, where new Board trustee Meredith Volpe and re-elected trustees Bill Coggin and Laura Slattery were sworn in to office by District Clerk Allison Florio to begin their three-year terms. Laura Slattery was elected as the new Board of Education president and Dorothy Roberts was elected vice president for the 2018-19 school year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65136 Fri, 13 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65136 Colonial Fashion Takes Center Stage at Grundy Avenue An assortment of outfits from long ago graced the improvised runway at Grundy Avenue Elementary School during a fashion show that depicted a number of prominent styles from the colonial period in America. Fourth-grade students navigated the cafeteria runway showing off their colonial outfits to classmates and family members while students read aloud explanations of what each student wore. A number of popular accessories from the time period were highlighted, including aprons, bonnets, bifocal glasses, straw hats, suspenders and wicker baskets. In addition, multiple students dressed in outfits that represented important jobs during the time period such as blacksmiths, carpenters and farmers. As part of the curriculum unit on colonial life, the activity served as an excellent visual representation of fashion during an important time in American history. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65116 Thu, 12 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65116 Sachem Educator Honored With Teacher of Excellence Award Lynwood Avenue Elementary School third-grade teacher Cathy Dulovic was honored this year by the office of Senator Phil Boyle with the Teacher of Excellence Award for the Sachem Central School District. Dulovic was recognized for her unique instructional approach that engaged her students in the learning process and developed deep relationships. Throughout the year, Dulovic challenged students through collaborative learning activities that encouraged students to explore how they can become better citizens. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65094 Wed, 11 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65094 Sachem Student-Athletes Are Golden A combined 41 student-athletes from Sachem East and Sachem North were recognized with Golden Key Awards this year. This honor is the highest in Section XI that a student-athlete can receive for sports participation and given to individuals who letter in eight seasons in grades 10-12. This year there were nine award winners from North and 32 from East. Sachem North Abigail Bandle Nicole Batinsey Rebecca Block Allaura Dashnaw Molly Kearns Grace Lipponer Ryan McCann Gabriella Mott Caitlyn Sinram Sachem East Justin Allone Peter Argerakis Anna Arrigo Shayna Arrigo Christina Artusa Margaret Atwood Chelsea Benedict Bryan Brown Andrew Campbell Selvi Chhabra Jordan Chong-Gayle Angela Consalazio Hayley DiCarlo Kaitlyn Famiglietti Kayli Manalo Aliya Hope Martin Imani Star Martin Lucas Moreno Mackenzie Murphy Caitlin O’Hehir Shannon O’Keefe Rachel Orellana Lauren Paolucci Michaela Parker Christopher Quenstedt Evan Rasco John Roach Rachel Ruggiero Hunter Savino Domenick Scaglione Sophia Tavantzis Alexa Torres https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65083 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 05:00:00 GMT false65083 Mad Science Workshop Wows Hiawatha Students Hiawatha Elementary School fourth- and fifth-grade students explored the many wonders of science by creating crafty chemical concoctions during a workshop presented by Mad Science. With the help of guest speaker Xenon Zach, students took part in experiments that tested different properties of chemicals. They learned about substances that are hydrophilic and are attracted to water as well as substances that are hydrophobic and repel water. Student groups participated in an experiment that showcased the hydrophobic properties of certain chemicals by pouring hydrophobic sand on top of water and gently putting their finger into the sand layer without getting wet. As part of an additional experiment highlighting the unique properties of various chemicals, students created colorful art using shaving cream and water-based paints. Shaving cream is both a hydrophobic and hydrophilic substance that absorbed and rejected the various colors that were then swirled in circles, creating vibrant artwork. Throughout the activity Xenon shared helpful tips with students so that they can recreate similar experiments at home with everyday household items. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65074 Tue, 10 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65074 Samoset Math Students Get ‘Empowered’ To review lessons taught throughout the school year in an exciting way, seventh-grade math students at Samoset Middle School participated in hands-on activities as part of the Empower program. The initiative incorporates engaging, standards-based math fluency activities that implement daily math practices. Students worked collaboratively in groups, rotating through multiple stations utilizing manipulatives such as dice, a deck of cards and dominoes to answer a plethora of math questions. The wide-ranging activities reinforced a strong understanding of the concepts students would encounter on the day of the final. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65047 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65047 Important Information for the Sachem Class of 2019 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=65050 Mon, 09 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false65050 High School East Senior Receives Horatio Alger Scholarship Following a rigorous application process, Sachem High School East senior Angelica Knudson has been selected to receive the Horatio Alger State Scholarship. The Horatio Alger State Scholarship is awarded to students across the country who have encountered and risen above difficulties. The application process includes numerous short essay questions and a large essay describing a challenge the applicant has overcome. Angelica is enrolled in Advanced Placement literature, government and politics. She has been playing violin since fourth grade and is an active member of several clubs, including the Gay Straight Alliance, History Honor Society and Students Against Destructive Decisions. She plans to attend Hobart and William Smith Colleges to study English education following graduation. “I am very grateful for this opportunity,” Angelica said. “At times life may seem unclear but with persistence anything is possible.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64999 Fri, 06 Jul 2018 14:00:00 GMT false64999 Elementary Moving Up Ceremonies Celebrate Students’ Successes A plethora of joyous moving up celebrations recently took place in the Sachem Central School District, recognizing the transition of fifth-grade students from elementary to middle school. They served as a delightful opportunity to recognize excellence in education and allowed the students to reflect on their elementary school experience. At each of the building ceremonies, held at either Sachem High School North or East, students took the stage of the auditorium dressed to impress as they received a diploma signifying their graduation from elementary school. As part of the ceremonies, each building recognized a number of students for outstanding performances across all areas of the curriculum, in addition to separate awards for attendance, citizenship and leadership. A long-standing Sachem tradition, the goal of each ceremony is to celebrate past student accomplishments and empower students to continue on the path of educational success as they advance on to middle school. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64998 Thu, 05 Jul 2018 14:00:00 GMT false64998 Sachem Produces Strong Showing at Brookhaven National Lab Science Fair Three elementary school students from the Sachem Central School District thrived during the recent Brookhaven National Laboratory Elementary Science Fair, as they secured two first-place finishes and an award for honorable mention. Nokomis Elementary School fourth-grader Arianna Flores finished in first place for her experiment that examined how nanosilver found in common household products affects the growth of pond life. Merrimac Elementary School fifth-grade student Nicholas Prosa received first place for his experiment that determined the healthiest hand drying option, paper towels or hand dryers, and Audrey Prego, a third-grade student from Waverly Elementary School, was awarded honorable mention for her experiment on sleep. To advance to the BNL Elementary Science Fair each student had to be awarded first place at their respective elementary school science fair. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64990 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64990 Planting Seeds for a Fruitful Future Wenonah Elementary School students cultivated a passion for horticulture during a number of recent activities in preparation for the planting of a plethora of crops at the school, which will be harvested over the summer. In its third year at Wenonah, the “Giving Garden” provides fifth-grade students with an opportunity to experience a vast number of horticultural concepts before preparing a garden they will maintain from the end of each school year into the summer on a volunteer basis. Students learn about the parts of a plant, when is the best time to grow certain vegetables and what yields a successful crop. This year, students planted basil, beans, beets, corn, cilantro, dill, Long Island cheese pumpkin, okra, peas, peppers and zucchini among other vegetables. Students across each grade level were responsible for growing a seedling that would be planted in the garden once it sprouted. All harvested crops from the garden are donated to the local nonprofit organization, Island Harvest. To date, the garden has provided hundreds of pounds of fresh produce to food banks on Long Island. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64976 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64976 Sachem Science Researchers Celebrated at Annual Symposium The Sachem science research department recently hosted its annual symposium at High School North in celebration of the tireless work displayed by the student-scientists throughout the school year. The symposium served as an opportunity to honor the science research students from grades 9- 12 for their continued dedication to science and their progressive research efforts. To begin the event, guest speakers Angelica Franqueiro and Daniel Waxman, seniors at Sachem High School North and East respectively, presented their research to an auditorium full of family and fellow research students. Next, Samantha Meadows, a Ph.D. candidate in neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medicine and a High School East alumnus, spoke about how Sachem shaped the beginning years of her academic experience, the importance of goal setting and how to effectively plan for the future. “Science research is an important area of your academics because it allows you to fuel your own learning,” Meadows told the student-filled audience. “The power of your research is that you can do something that can change the world.” As the symposium concluded, 10 graduating seniors were recognized for their accomplishments in the science research program, and all attendees were welcomed to view posterboards of the students’ work on display in the gymnasium. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64958 Fri, 29 Jun 2018 20:00:00 GMT false64958 Lynwood Sings in Celebration of the American Flag Students across Lynwood Avenue Elementary School recently gathered in celebration of Flag Day during a patriotic remembrance ceremony honoring the American flag and all that it represents. Dressed in red, white and blue and waving flags, students across grade levels stood together around the building flagpole as three service members performed a commemorative flag folding ceremony. As the 13 precise folds were executed, Building Principal Dr. Danielle DeLorenzo read aloud what each fold represents. After the folding of the flag was complete, the three service members raised the flag, before all in attendance recited the Pledge of Allegiance in unison. As part of the ceremony, four students read their winning essays to an audience of family, friends and their peers about what the American flag means to them. Concluding the ceremony, students sang several patriotic songs, including the national anthem and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64957 Fri, 29 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64957 Retirees and Special Olympics Stars Recognized at June Board Meeting During the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, a number of invaluable faculty and staff were celebrated as they announced their retirement, and several Wenonah Elementary School Special Olympics athletes and volunteers were honored for their performance during the Spring Games. To begin the recognitions, Special Olympics student athletes and volunteers from Wenonah Elementary School were recognized for their countless hours of preparation and the outstanding performance of the athletes at the event at Hampton Bays High School May 6. To conclude the recognitions, 51 staff members were celebrated for their tireless dedication to the district, as they are set to retire at the conclusion of this school year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64926 Thu, 28 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64926 Celebrating the Sachem High School North Class of 2018 Family, friends and distinguished guests cheered as a sea of smiling graduates adorned in black caps and gowns filed onto the football field for the annual commencement ceremony honoring the Sachem High School North Class of 2018. As the ceremony began, members of the select choir beautifully performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” before High School North Principal Patricia Trombetta welcomed the Class of 2018 with a powerful speech that spoke to her belief in the graduates’ abilities to succeed. “There are going to be challenges and obstacles along the way, but I have the utmost confidence that you are prepared and able to accomplish anything you put your mind to,” Trombetta said. “Follow your dreams and let the world know that you are on your way.” Continuing the ceremony, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham delivered a speech on the value of the connections students have made during their experience in the Sachem Central School District and the tremendous accomplishments they have made thus far. “Graduates, we followed you as a class and watched with great pride as you have accomplished so much. The Class of 2018 should be incredibly proud of all they have done while here at Sachem,” he said. During an inspiring speech that followed, Class of 2018 valedictorian Abigail Bandl echoed her confidence in her fellow graduates and herself to accomplish great things as they begin the next chapter of their young lives. “One thing that I can say for sure is that our time at Sachem has prepared us for what lies ahead,” Abigail said. “All of us sitting here today are fully equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle the world and make an impact.” As the ceremony came to a close, students moved their tassels from right to left, signifying their graduation. With pastel blue skies above, students threw their caps into the air with a celebratory cheer as they closed the chapter on their experience as students in the Sachem Central School District. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64912 Wed, 27 Jun 2018 20:00:00 GMT false64912 Sagamore News - A Student Publication The Authors and Artists Club at Sagamore Middle School published their 2017-18 edition of The Sagamore News in June. Students in grades 6 - 8 collaborated to publish articles about clubs, special events, and field trips. They included an advice column, a word search, interviews with two staff members, book and movie recommendations, artwork, and more. To access your free online copy of the Sagamore News, click on the link below. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ibjCgCtXrM6BuGCoJ9Jod1J73_2a3MTq/view?usp=sharing The Authors and Artists Club invites all 2018-19 students to enter the "Summer Memories" contestin September. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64953 Wed, 27 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64953 Sachem High School East Graduates Celebrate Milestone A sea of successful students – the graduating Class of 2018 – blanketed the football field at Sachem High School East as they prepared to receive their diplomas as part of the annual commencement ceremony celebrating the momentous milestone. The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance, led by the graduates who will be entering a branch of the armed services, and a warm welcome from Sachem High School East Principal Louis Antonetti, who reflected on the value of the challenging yet rewarding experiences the graduates will encounter in life. “With fear comes a discomfort level that will force you to see what you are made of,” Antonetti said. “So, graduates, please savor the obstacles that you encounter in life. In the short term they will be difficult, but later on the character they build is immeasurable.” Class of 2018 valedictorian Tharini Prakash then delivered an empowering speech to her fellow classmates that called on them to continue to be courageous as they move into the future. “It is our responsibility to make a real difference with the lessons that we have learned: to be brave, to stand up for what is right, to demand equality, to have empathy and be kinder than we need to be,” Tharini said. “I am proud of what we have accomplished thus far and look forward to seeing what we all do in the future.” As the ceremony continued, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham reflected upon the impact of the connections the graduates have made during their high school experience. “When you move on from here remember the lessons you learned from the people throughout the Sachem Central School District,” he said. “To me, these relationships are what define our district. These relationships define the spirit of ‘We Are Sachem.’” As the congratulatory remarks concluded, members of the Class of 2018 crossed the stage one-by-one to receive their diplomas, and family and friends emphatically cheered as the new graduates threw their caps to the sky, leaving the field alumni of Sachem High School East. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64911 Wed, 27 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64911 VIDEO: Sachem High School East Graduation https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64868 Mon, 25 Jun 2018 20:00:00 GMT false64868 VIDEO: Sachem High School North Graduation https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64859 Mon, 25 Jun 2018 06:00:00 GMT false64859 VIDEO: Merrimac Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64858 Mon, 25 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64858 VIDEO: Hiawatha Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64796 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 20:30:00 GMT false64796 VIDEO: Tamarac Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64797 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 19:00:00 GMT false64797 VIDEO: Grundy Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64795 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 18:00:00 GMT false64795 VIDEO: Chippewa Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64726 Fri, 22 Jun 2018 12:00:00 GMT false64726 VIDEO: Waverly Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64725 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 21:30:00 GMT false64725 VIDEO: Nokomis Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64724 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 19:30:00 GMT false64724 VIDEO: Cayuga Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64723 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 17:30:00 GMT false64723 VIDEO: Wenonah Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64697 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 16:00:00 GMT false64697 VIDEO: Lynwood Moving Up https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64696 Thu, 21 Jun 2018 12:00:00 GMT false64696 Covered Wagons Carry New Lessons for Merrimac Students A crafty combination of durability and ingenuity steered students to success during a recent activity at Merrimac Elementary School focused on the westward expansion of the United States. As part of the lesson that explained the historic 1803 expansion that followed the Louisiana Purchase, each fifth-grade class was challenged to design a miniature covered wagon that could traverse a simulation of the rough terrain that pioneers encountered on their journeys. Student groups were supplied with bottle caps, cardboard, straws and tinfoil to assemble a prairie schooner capable of protecting cargo simulated by blocks. The covered wagons were led over a canyon, mountains, plains and a river, all while being sprayed by water to represent rain. Following the initial tests, students had the opportunity to revise their designs and attempt to cross the treacherous terrain again. Through the covered wagon activity students learned a plethora of additional information, including the journey of Louis and Clark, the details of the Louisiana Purchase, the doctrine of manifest destiny and the countless challenges the pioneers faced. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64612 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 18:00:00 GMT false64612 Classroom Concepts Shine Through Art Activity A complex collaboration of art and math recently challenged fifth-graders in Susan Kinsey’s art class at Waverly Avenue Elementary School as a special guest – the school’s principal – led an origami activity that reinforced multiple math vocabulary terms. Throughout the activity, John Ruggero guided students through a precise folding sequence that created a three-dimensional box out of six square sheets of paper. Along the way, he incorporated geometric terminology to identify each fold. The terms included edges, faces, vertices and different shapes such as isosceles triangles, right triangles, parallelograms and trapezoids. The collaborative activity allowed students to couple math curriculum concepts with the interesting art of origami. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64611 Wed, 20 Jun 2018 12:00:00 GMT false64611 Outstanding Students and Staff Honored at June Meeting At the most recent meeting of the Sachem Central School District Board of Education, several students and faculty members were recognized for their outstanding achievements and continued success. To begin the recognitions, three elementary school students were honored for their impressive showing at the Brookhaven National Laboratory Elementary Science Fair. Nokomis Elementary School fourth-grade student Arianna Flores was commended for winning first place for her experiment that examined the effects of nanosilver on pond life; Merrimac Elementary School fifth-grade student Nicholas Prosa was celebrated for earning first place for his experiment that determined the healthiest hand drying option; and Waverly Elementary School third-grade student Arianna Prego was congratulated for receiving honorable mention for her experiment on sleep. Concluding the celebration, 13 newly tenured teachers were praised for their dedication and professionalism. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64608 Tue, 19 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64608 Sachem Student Named National Merit Scholarship Winner Sachem High School North senior Paige Menneci has been selected as a 2018 National Merit Scholarship winner in recognition of her outstanding academic achievements and dedication to excellence in education. Paige was selected among approximately 7,500 other students to receive the National Merit Scholarship out of the nearly 1.5 million entrants from across the United States. Among her academic accolades, Paige has been an Advanced Placement student since ninth grade and also serves as the co-president of the Drama Club, vice president of the Music Honor Society and secretary of the National Honor Society. “Paige is an amazing young lady,” High School North Principal Patricia Trombetta said. “She excels in everything she does. The best thing about Paige is her genuine positive outlook on life. She has a smile that lights up the room and her personality is just as warm. She is a true asset to our building and she has definitely left her mark on Sachem North.” Paige plans to pursue a degree in music industry and songwriting at The College of Saint Rose after graduation in June. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64458 Mon, 18 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMT false64458 Nokomis Takes on Trivia at Nickelodeon’s Double Dare Nickelodeon Television Network called on Nokomis Elementary School students for a special promotional event held at MTV Studios in Manhattan recently, where students engaged in a number of exciting challenges as part of the hit game show, “Double Dare.” Three Nokomis students, Natasha Bogdanoff, Kaila Hazarian and Dana Stumpf arrived with their teachers, parents and Kidsday editor, Pat Mulloolly, at MTV Studios and were treated to interviews with original Double Dare host, Marc Summers, and the new host, Liza Koshy. Following the interviews that serve as a component of their recent Kidsday reporting, students were asked to participate in the game, which consisted of trivia questions, physical challenges and an obstacle course. Finishing first in the challenge, the Nokomis Kidsday reporters were rewarded by being covered in the unforgettable Nickelodeon green slime. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64459 Mon, 18 Jun 2018 12:00:00 GMT false64459 High School North Hosts Inaugural Career and Internship Alliance Students at Sachem High School North recently attended the inaugural Career and Internship Alliance event to explore various careers available to them following graduation. Hosted in the Sachem North gymnasium, the event allowed students in their junior or senior year to speak with a number of different business representatives about what to expect if they choose to pursue a career in that particular field. Companies featured at the event included, but were not limited to, American Pools, eMagin Corporation, Grassi Franchise Services, Hamptons Baseball, Keri Fields Interiors, LIM College, Nichols College and RFC Fence. Students rotated through the multiple display tables and discussed the countless areas of interest open for exploration as they approach the end of their high school experience. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64452 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 17:00:00 GMT false64452 Student-Athletes, Coaches Honored at Board of Education Meeting At its final meeting of May, the Sachem Central School District Board of Education honored a collection of extraordinary student-athletes and coaches for their outstanding performance during their respective athletic seasons. To begin the recognitions, Sachem High School East field hockey coach Tina Moon was recognized for her 19 years of dedication to the Sachem Field Hockey program. Moon was selected as the Suffolk County Field Hockey Coaches Association Coach of the Year and was also named Field Hockey Coach of the Year by Newsday. Next, Sachem High School North girls varsity basketball coach, James Mellor, was recognized for being awarded Coach of the Year by the Suffolk Country Girls Basketball Coaches Association. Concluding the recognitions, 11 student-athletes were recognized for receiving All-American, All-Long Island, All-State or Player of the Year honors. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64451 Fri, 15 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64451 Student Expedition Shines Light on Historic Landmark Sand and sun were plentiful for fourth-grade students at Hiawatha Elementary School during a recent trip to the Fire Island Lighthouse, where students explored various areas of the historic landmark. During the enriching adventure, students learned about important areas surrounding the lighthouse such as the shoreline and its ecosystem. As part of the visit, students, teachers, parents and Principal Kathleen O’Farrell climbed to the top of the lighthouse to experience the wonderful view and learn how light refraction influences the beam from the lighthouse’s lamp. The trip served as an excellent hands-on connection to the fourth-grade unit on the history of New York. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64231 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 20:00:00 GMT false64231 Sachem Student Selected for Prestigious Leadership Conference Sachem High School East freshman Jason Griff has been selected to attend the prestigious Global Young Leaders Conference hosted by Envision. The 10-day conference held in Washington, D.C. and New York City that begins June 18 aims to expose student leaders to the challenges associated with international diplomacy and foster a plethora of skills necessary to excel during international affairs in future careers. The conference boasts a diverse attendance of students from across the United States and over 145 countries. As part of the conference, Jason will visit a number of international embassies and local monuments, participate in global issues workshops and hone the communication, decision-making and negotiation skills essential to leadership roles. “I look forward to interacting with the many international students from around the world,” Jason said. “It is an incredible opportunity to act as an ambassador for the United States.” This is Jason’s second opportunity to attend a conference hosted by Envision. In sixth grade, Jason attended the Junior National Young Leaders Conference held in Washington, D.C. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64230 Mon, 11 Jun 2018 12:00:00 GMT false64230 History Stands Trial at Lynwood Avenue Elementary A notorious historical mystery captivated a classroom of fourth-grade students at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School as they attempted to determine if the Boston Massacre was an act of murder or self-defense. Equipped with imitation quill pens and detective notepads, students in Sheryl Amallobieta’s class inspected numerous clues found throughout a simulated crime scene that represented the events that took place the day of the Boston Massacre. Students rotated between six stations where they reviewed different evidence, including artwork created by a British artist, Paul Revere and an unknown artist. The students learned to determine the difference between evidence obtained from bias and unbiased sources as they inspected each piece of artwork. As students continued to gather evidence, each group stopped at several stations where they listened to firsthand and secondhand accounts from witnesses, examined written clues and saw physical evidence up close. As the investigation concluded, students used the evidence they gathered to make inferences and record a final conclusion on who is at fault for the historic event. As part of the classroom unit on the Revolutionary War, the activity provided students with an engaging hands-on experience that revisited a pivotal event from that time. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64199 Fri, 08 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64199 High School North Rocks Their Abilities The Speech-Language Department at Sachem High School North recently hosted an inspiring celebration in honor of Disability Awareness Day. In front of a packed audience of parents, faculty and fellow students, graduating seniors from the speech-language program delivered heartwarming speeches outlining the struggles they have faced. During their speeches, each student spoke about the numerous ways they overcame their disabilities to excel in and out of the classroom. “I never let my ADHD stop me from doing what I wanted to do,” senior Daniel DeLorenzo said, “and your disability shouldn’t stop you, either.” The student presenters concluded their speeches by sharing their plans for the future and some hopeful words of encouragement for their peers who may also face adversity. “If you have a learning disability, whether it be big or small, there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel,” senior Veronica Broder said. “You need to push through all of the bumps in the road; at the end of the day, it was just a bad day, not a bad life, and remember, everything happens for a reason.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64149 Thu, 07 Jun 2018 06:00:00 GMT false64149 Wenonah Fifth-Grade Band Knocks It Out of the Park The Wenonah Elementary School fifth-grade band put on a masterful musical performance at a recent Long Island Ducks baseball game at Bethpage Park in Central Islip as part of a PTA fundraising event. The band performed four songs: “Dance Celebration,” “Let’s Go Band,” “Tambora” and “William Tell Overture.” In honor of the game, the band changed the final song, “Let’s Go Band,” to “Let’s Go Ducks.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64127 Thu, 07 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64127 Sachem Hall of Honor Class of 2018 Inducted The second class of the Sachem Hall of Honor was inducted on June 2, 2018. At a ceremony held in the central corridor of Sachem High School North, 11 of Sachem's finest alumni were honored with the highest recognition given by the district's alumni association. Among those being honored: • Kristen Marie Bowes Burke, Class of 1994: Esquire. • Christopher T. Gentile, Class of 1977: Entrepreneur and Inventor. • Louis Gregory, Class of 1996: Federal Government Director and Business Executive. • Eileen A. Keneck, M.D., Class of 1981: Assistant Professor of Pediatrics. • Michael Lau, Class of 1986: Music Executive. • William J. Lindsay III, Class of 1990: Suffolk County Legislator. • Nan J. Morrison, Class of 1979: Business Executive. • James Ryan, Class of 1989: Pastor. • Sam Ryan, Class of 1987: Sportscaster. • Gerard P. Schrang, Class of 1974: FDNY Fire Fighter, who died bravely on Sept. 11, 2001. • Lifetime Achievement Honoree: Michael J. Timo Jr., Class of 1969: Board of Education Trustee and Fire Chief. A number of inductees were on hand Friday at the high school giving mentor sessions to a combined 900 students. The Sachem Hall of Honor is completely supported by the Sachem Alumni Association. You can learn more about these inductees and the Sachem Alumni Association at SachemAlumni.org. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64084 Wed, 06 Jun 2018 19:00:00 GMT false64084 Chippewa Students Connect to Conductivity Chippewa Elementary School fifth-grade students explored the engineer profession and developed their problem-solving skills as they utilized Makey Makey kits to discover exciting electricity concepts. The Makey Makey kits supply students with a small circuit board and multiple connectors to use as they explored conductivity. In addition to the kits, students incorporated numerous other conductive materials to complete their circuits. Students used Play Doh to create electric bongo drums and bananas to assemble a piano. Led by Library Media Specialist Ciara Harte, students experimented with different combinations of connections to find the most effective circuit. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64074 Wed, 06 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64074 Lynwood Avenue Goes Global With Destination Imagination For the past few years, teams from Lynwood Avenue Elementary School have been participating in Destination Imagination. The Destination Imagination program is a fun, hands-on system of learning that fosters students’ creativity, courage and curiosity through open-ended academic challenges in the fields of STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics), fine arts and service learning. Our participants learn patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and their ideas, and the collaborative problem-solving process. Teams may showcase their solutions at a tournament. The overall vision of Destination Imagination is to develop opportunities that inspire the global community of learners to utilize diverse approaches in applying 21st-century skills and creativity. This year, Lynwood’s fourth-grade team chose the fine arts challenge, “Change of Tune.” It recently competed at the Global Challenge in Knoxville, Tennessee, and placed No. 33 out of 84 teams from across the world. Led by Lynwood teacher Cathy Dulovic, for this challenge teams needed to create a two-act musical that would include a change in plans, create and integrate music and lyrics into both acts, create a spectacle that highlights an unforgettable event in the story using two production techniques, integrate a set change that utilizes technical methods, and create and present two team choice elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength and talents. The Lynwood Tigers told its story with original songs and music as well as humor, rhyme, sound effects and a variety of musical instruments. Utilizing the components of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics), the team solved the Destination Imagination Change of Tune Challenge. It created a set change that utilized the technical methods of magnetism and simple machines, and incorporated a spectacle that utilized two production techniques including dance and props. The team choreographed an original dance that combined team-created lasso ribbon rhythmic sticks with baton twirling, handheld instruments and original lyrics that express the characters’ happiness. The team did extremely well at the regional tournament held on March 10 at Anne M. Dorner Middle School and Claremont Elementary School in Ossining, New York. It finished in first place in its challenge category and had the highest main challenge score and team choice element score. The team advanced to the New York State Affiliate Tournament that was held on April 7 in Binghamton and finished in second place at this state tournament, allowing it to advance to Global Finals. “During our trip to Global Finals, the team had the opportunity to showcase their challenge solution to a larger, more diverse audience at a global level,” Ms. Dulovic said. “Students also experienced how other students from around the world solved their challenge. There were many opportunities to interact with other cultures through international events, a costume ball (with student-created costumes), as well as pin trading throughout the tournament.” Students interacted with teams from countries including Australia, Canada, China, Indonesia, Mexico, Poland, Qatar, Singapore, South Korea and Turkey, as well as many states throughout the U.S. The students were extremely excited to explore, learn from and communicate with students from other countries. In addition, all Global Finals participants were provided with ongoing opportunities to learn new skills, hear from industry experts, participate in a variety of creative, STEAM-based activities and attend a variety of workshops and expos that foster imagination, creativity and teamwork. “It was an amazing experience for all!” Ms. Dulovic said. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64049 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 06:00:00 GMT false64049 Cosmetology Students Explore the World of Wigs Hair industry specialists paid a visit to Sachem High School North and East recently as cosmetology students attended an informational presentation exploring the multidimensional world of wigs. Hair solution experts Nancy Kurfurst and Gail Sanderson from Wig Allure in Lake Grove delivered an eye-opening presentation on the expansive background of the wig industry. Students learned about the numerous types of hair solutions available to those who have experienced medical or natural hair loss. Additionally, they were introduced to different wig materials, how to choose the best option for each particular customer and the extensive work that goes into the production of a wig. “We measure our day in hugs,” Wig Allure owner Ms. Kurfurst said. “It is a moving experience to give someone back the thing that they lost.” As part of the cosmetology class unit on wigs, the presentation allowed students to ask industry leaders questions about their specific area of the hair profession. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64012 Tue, 05 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false64012 Waverly Goes Full STEAM Ahead With PARP During the month of March, the Pick a Reading Partner program at Waverly Elementary School fueled student’s love for literacy as they engaged in a number of reading activities based on the Full STEAM Ahead theme. As a culminating event, students rejoined their teachers and classmates from last school year to celebrate their continued literary strides. During the gathering, which was a first for the school, the groups had the opportunity to read a story together, reflect on the school year to date, revisit friends and share stories of the books they have read. PARP concluded on March 20 with an assembly program with popular children’s author Alicia Klepeis, where they asked questions and further explored their love for learning. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63949 Mon, 04 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63949 High School Engineering Students Set Sail Student designs proved seaworthy during a recent engineering class activity held in the Sachem High School North swimming pool – a project that examined key properties of a successful sea craft. As part of the classroom lesson, students in Robert Wentzel’s engineering class explored buoyancy, stability and drag before they worked diligently to design cardboard boats that could successfully hold a student sailor. After constructing a prototype, students converted their calculations to build a full-scale version utilizing one 4-by-8-foot sheet of cardboard. For the culminating event, each student group brought its boat to the pool for a friendly competition. If the boat floated, the students were given credit for buoyancy; if the boat did not flip, they were given a credit for stability; and, based on their placement in an elimination race, students earned points for drag. The winning entry in the race was the “SS Declan,” captained by Chris Sexton, Logan Theodorou and Matt Ingraphia. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63919 Fri, 01 Jun 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63919 Science Lessons Plant Seeds to Recycle at Lynwood Elementary Earth-conscious concepts sprouted from several recent science lessons in Gwendolyn Levesque’s first-grade class at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School. Ms. Levesque’s class explored a number of Earth science topics aimed at the conservation and revitalization of Earth’s resources. In an activity focused on recycling, students studied different ways that items could be repurposed. Students watched a video showing how used car tires are repurposed as an alternative material for roads. Mirroring this process, students crushed Cheerios into fine crumbs that were then added to plaster of Paris to create their own miniature roadways. During an additional activity, students crafted cups out of newspaper that they used to plant sunflower seeds. The lesson taught students about recycling by using the old newspaper for an alternative purpose. Through the lesson, students were introduced to the concept of biodegradability – they learned that the newspaper would break down over time and allow the roots to grow freely in the soil. Continuing the lesson on plants, Levesque’s class studied the many different types of plants, the various parts of a plant and the process of photosynthesis. Concluding the activity, students carefully planted flower seeds inside of a cup and watered them. Just in time for Earth Day, the student activities coincided with the class unit on life science. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63821 Thu, 31 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63821 The Samantha A. Liberti Memorial Foundation https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63818 Thu, 31 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63818 Sachem Student-Athletes Recognized for College Commitments During a recognition event on May 24, student-athletes from Sachem East and Sachem North were honored for making commitments to play sports at their respective colleges. Nearly 60 students were joined by their parents and coaches to take photos in their college garb. There were nearly 150 students honored like this throughout the year. That means roughly 10 percent of our total graduating class intend to play sports at the collegiate level. A full gallery of images from these signing events is available on Facebook.com/SachemSchools. SACHEM NORTH Alec Lehnert / Men’s Volleyball / Lewis University (DII) Connor Pallmann / Men’s Volleyball / Lewis University (DII) Matthew Russo / Men’s Volleyball / SUNY Polytechnic Institute (DIII) Daniel LaRosa / Men’s Volleyball / SUNY New Paltz (DIII) Tara McGovern / Women’s Volleyball / Plattsburgh State University (DIII) Kellianne Dempsey / Women’s Volleyball / Farmingdale State College (DIII) Samantha MacPherson / Softball / College of Staten Island (DIII) Emily Sannuto / Softball / College of Staten Island (DIII) Gabriella Servedio / Softball / John Jay College (DIII) Michael Reid / Football / Alfred University (DIII) Michael Chapparo / Football / Alfred University (DIII) Will Leuck / Football / Alfred University (DIII) Alezandro Aponte / Football / Keiser University (NAIA-TSC) Joseph Gagliardi / Football / SUNY Maritime College (DIII) Joseph Pennisi / Football / Hudson Valley CC (NJCAA) Gabriella Mott / Women’s XC/Track / St. Thomas Aquinas College (DII) Rebecca Block / Women’s XC/Track / SUNY Plattsburgh (DIII) Julia Boris / Women’s XC/Track / St. Joseph’s College (DIII) Molly Kearns / Women’s Track and Field / Sacred Heart University (DI) Emily Stallone / Field Hockey / Keuka College (DIII) Jessica Fleischer / Cheerleading / Morehead State University (D1) Ryan Sullivan / Baseball / Maritime (DIII) Kyle Olson / Baseball / Adelphi University (DII) Jack Gonzalez / Baseball / St. Thomas Aquinas (DII) Joe Strazza / Baseball / Wesley College (DIII) Marisa Sergio / Women’s Lacrosse / Western New England University (DIII) SACHEM EAST Shayna Arrigo / Women’s XC and track / Manhattan College (DI) Angela Consalazio / Women’s XC and track / SUNY Geneseo (DIII) Kaitlyn Famiglietti / Women’s XC and track / Towson University (DI) Caitlin O’Hehir / Women’s XC and track / Loyola University Maryland (DI) Rachel Ruggiero / Women’s XC and track / Stony Brook University (DI) Chelsea Benedict / Women’s Track and Field / Saint Joseph’s College (DIII) Devin Perez / Men’s Volleyball / Saint Joseph’s College (DIII) Matt Kmiotek / Football / LIU Post (DII) Kyle Farrell / Football / Morrisville State University (DIII) Chris Park/ Football / St. John Fischer (DIII) Jon Shaw / Football / Shaw University (DII) Frank Addamo / Men’s Soccer / Hartwick College (DIII ) James Perrone / Men’s Soccer / SUNY Geneseo (DIII) Dylan Stalzer / Baseball / Berry College (DIII) Nick Communale / Baseball / Misericordia University (DIII) Jimmy Baker / Baseball / Eastern University (DIII) Alyssa Signor / Women’s Basketball / Saint Joseph’s College (DIII) Nicky Pagnotta / Men’s Lacrosse / Suffolk County Community College (NJCAA) Richie Polizzi / Men’s Lacrosse / Molloy College (DII) Nick Bucholz / Men’s Lacrosse / SUNY Farmingdale (DIII) John Krumm / Men’s Lacrosse / Anna Maria College Massachusetts (DIII) Chris Koumanis / Men’s Lacrosse / SUNY Farmingdale (DIII) Anthony Romano / Men’s Lacrosse / Suffolk County Community College (NJCAA) Richie Vetter / Men’s Lacrosse / Saint Joseph’s College (DIII) Jared Walker / Men’s Lacrosse / Suffolk County Community College (NJCAA) Richie Everoski / Men’s Lacrosse / Sage College (DIII) Ryan Meigel / Men’s Lacrosse / Suffolk County Community College (NJCAA) Kyle Sentuli / Men’s Lacrosse / SUNY Farmingdale (DIII) Mason Lein / Men’s Lacrosse / SUNY Farmingdale (DIII) Brandt O’Hara / Men’s Lacrosse / SUNY Maritime (DIII) https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63796 Wed, 30 May 2018 20:00:00 GMT false63796 Hiawatha Holds Inaugural Autism Awareness Walk Students and staff showcased their support for a worthy cause during Hiawatha Elementary School’s inaugural Autism Awareness Walk. Throughout the month of April, students celebrated autism awareness by participating in multiple interactive activities during the week leading up to the walk. Students decorated puzzle pieces, wore blue on Thursday and listened to daily facts about autism on the morning announcements each day. A sea of students dressed in blue circled the building in a show of collective support. Each class held a banner that was decorated with puzzle pieces and words of encouragement. Moving forward, Hiawatha Elementary plans to make the walk a tradition that continues to raise awareness for the cause. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63778 Wed, 30 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63778 Sachem Celebrates Law Enforcement During Police Week In recognition of the countless men and women who serve as members of law enforcement throughout the Sachem community, elementary schools across the district recently hosted numerous appreciation celebrations in honor of Police Week. As part of these activities, students learned about various levels of law enforcement and how their tireless work helps keep the community safe. Students drew pictures, crafted cards and wrote thank-you notes to show their appreciation. At several schools during dismissal, members of law enforcement and students traded high-fives as they handed out their crafts and thanked the officers for their dedication to the communities they serve. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63743 Tue, 29 May 2018 05:00:00 GMT false63743 Teens as Teachers Making a Difference in Sachem Sachem’s Teens as Teachers Class and Club were honored at the 2018 Interfaith Anti-Bias Task Force Annual Spring Convocation and Awards Breakfast at the Suffolk County Legislature building. Sachem’s Teens as Teachers is a health education substance abuse prevention education initiative taught at Sachem East and North High Schools. The course and club were developed to proactively address the growing problem of substance use and abuse among our students. It uses the peer education model, which encourages students to work collaboratively to educate their middle school peers on how to stay drug-free and empower them with the skills to make health-enhancing decisions. The Peer-to-Peer Substance Abuse Education program uses peer educators to serve as advocates, group facilitators, discussion leaders and credible role models for successfully resisting peer pressures. The skill-based lessons facilitate include goal setting, communication skills, managing emotions and resistance skills. Both peer educators and those they teach are benefited by increased self-esteem and increased knowledge and skills about health and drug-related issues, and develop advocacy and leadership skills. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63722 Tue, 29 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63722 Calendar Revision - May 25th, 2018 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63275 Fri, 25 May 2018 06:00:00 GMT false63275 Grundy Students Show Support for Autism In celebration of Autism Awareness month, students and staff from Grundy Avenue Elementary School joined together to raise awareness and funds for a special cause. Throughout the building, students and staff dressed in autism awareness shirts and bracelets that were sold to raise money for the Spectrum of Dreams Foundation. Additionally, students decorated countless creative puzzle pieces that lined the hallways of the building. During the month, students learned about the autism spectrum as they watched various videos and listened to announcements each day in which a number of prominent role models with autism were highlighted for their outstanding achievements. As a culmination to the monthlong initiative, the school presented a $1,025 check to the Spectrum of Dreams Foundation President Tim Szlosek. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63597 Fri, 25 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63597 Athletics and Community Service Honored at May Board Meeting The Sachem Board of Education recently recognized three sports teams for their outstanding seasons and four students for their contributions during its May meeting. The Sachem North varsity cheerleading team was recognized for its first-place finish in the Suffolk County Division I Large School championship this season. The team boasts top three finishes in each of its Division I Large School competitions this season. Sachem East girls cross-country and track and field teams were collectively recognized for a dominant 2017-2018 season, easily navigating Section 11 on their way to a Suffolk County winter track and field championship. In addition, four Seneca Middle School students were recognized for their continued commitment to supporting the Sachem community. Paige Brunsma, Nickolas Fieschel and Francesca Natale were recognized for their help during Grundy Avenue’s Halloween Spooktacular. The student trio assisted in numerous areas of the event and ensured its overall success. Concluding the recognitions, Abbey Walsh was honored for her efforts assembling a holiday season display featuring numerous pictures of faculty and staff from throughout the building. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63598 Thu, 24 May 2018 05:00:00 GMT false63598 Students Go Modern and Digital With Grundy Tech Club The Grundy Avenue Elementary Tech Club meets monthly in the library with the goal of exposing students to technology they would not normally use during the school year. From graphic design programs where students created their own company, to Google Expedition using virtual reality glasses to climb Mount Everest and go to the Museum of Natural History, it has been a fun experience for everyone involved. “They loved this,” said Melissa Lawler, who runs the library and is the Tech Club adviser at Grundy. Students also spent a week working with Ozobots, small programmable robots, and a program called Story Board to map out digital stories with online cartoon strips. Most recently, students wrote scripts about their Grundy memories and filmed the scenes using a green screen, allowing them to write, shoot and edit their own videos. Clearly, the Tech Club takes extracurricular activities to a diversified and educational level. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63583 Thu, 24 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63583 Student Chefs Share Winning Recipes With Sachem Staff During a display of culinary expertise three teams of Sachem chefs from Seneca Middle School shared their award-winning recipes with cooking managers from each of the Sachem Central School District’s 15 buildings. The three teams of students who placed at the recent eighth annual Junior Iron Chef competition held at Whole Foods Market in Lake Grove prepared the original dishes they created. Each delicious recipe, which was composed of all USDA-approved, cafeteria-ready ingredients and were served with careful presentation, were then taste tested by cooking managers from across the district. Teams worked in unison as they navigated the Seneca cafeteria kitchen for the first time while they managed their one-hour cook time with precision. The first-place team, Team Golden Girls, plated their Jardin Burrito filled with eggs, guacamole, Monterey jack cheese, peppers, onions, black beans and corn that was paired with a delicious mango salsa. The third-place team, the Greek Goddesses, presented their Greek omelet, coined Demeter’s Dish, that was filled with potatoes and paired with tzatziki sauce, and the fourth-place team, the Slice and Dicers, served their savory breakfast quesadilla. “Today was incredible,” District Chairperson for Family and Consumer Science Mary Louise Faller said. “We were able to give back to our food service staff by preparing a few of our delicious dishes and the students got to show off their culinary techniques.” The event allowed food service staff to observe each step of the cooking process and gather ideas to bring back to their own buildings to incorporate into the lunch menu. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63542 Wed, 23 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63542 Sachem Budget has Passed. The Sachem School District Budget has passed. Full results can be seen at the link below. View the Sachem Budget Results https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63237 Tue, 22 May 2018 07:00:00 GMT false63237 Sachem Science Duo Shines Through Brain Imaging Research Innovation and collaboration serve as the staples for success in the science research laboratory at Sachem High School East as two juniors continue to conduct advanced brain imaging research in connection with the Department of Radiology at Stony Brook University. Since September, Ian Limjoco and Vincent Zhang have been working side by side on a study to identify gray matter lesions in the subcortical structures of the human brain brought on by multiple sclerosis. With help from a special high-powered computer provided by Sachem administration, the students have the ability to remotely access anonymous patient data and run analysis software to analyze fMRI brain scans. Utilizing the ITK-Snap 3D imaging software, the duo creates segmented renderings of patient data that is then studied in an effort to improve brain analysis techniques in the scans of multiple sclerosis patients. The students hope to identify where impairments become apparent in the patient’s bodily function by identifying the location of the lesions in the gray matter. “This is the closest we have come to working with human subjects,” Limjoco said. “This program has allowed us to advance our research through human connection.” The ongoing collaborative research efforts led by Dr. Tim Duong, Stony Brook University’s vice chair for research, radiology, provides the Sachem scientists with countless educational opportunities as they progress through their research. Working in connection with medical students, Limjoco and Zhang have had the chance to attend college-level pillar courses studying MRI radiology and access labs that aren’t normally available to students until graduate-level college courses. “All of the institution-level research we conduct is an incredible introduction that supports my pre-medical aspirations,” Zhang said. Limjoco and Zhang recently presented their research at the Long Island Science Congress at St. Anthony’s High School and aim to continue their gray matter research into the summer. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63513 Tue, 22 May 2018 05:00:00 GMT false63513 Waverly Celebrates Cinco De Mayo A festive Cinco De Mayo celebration recently immersed a class of Waverly Elementary School fourth-grade students in a collection of fun cultural activities. Students in Jennifer Savio’s class participated in a number of activities as they reflected on different aspects of Mexican heritage. As part of the informative celebration, students learned important phrases in Spanish such as hello, goodbye, please and thank you. The class also reflected on the history of Cinco De Mayo and learned that the day is a celebration of the Battle of Puebla in 1862. Continuing the activities, students enjoyed churros as they listened to popular Mexican music. Concluding the fun-filled celebration, students decorated their own sombreros with colorful glitter, pompoms and various other decorative supplies. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63492 Tue, 22 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63492 Sachem High School North Valedictorian and Salutatorian Abigail Bandl and Kaylyn Spotton are Sachem High School North Class of 2018’s valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. The two well-rounded student standouts have shown a relentless commitment to academic excellence during their four years of high school. Among countless academic accolades, valedictorian Abigail is the president of the National Honor Society and an active participant in the Foreign Language, History, Math, Science and Tri-M honor societies. She has played trombone for nine years and has been a member of the varsity field hockey team for three years, serving as a team captain for two seasons. In addition, Abigail is a four-year member of the winter track team and a two-year member of the spring track team where she was a captain this year. Continuously challenging herself academically, she is enrolled in a number of Advanced Placement classes, including calculus, chemistry, government and politics, English, psychology and Spanish. Abigail will be attending Binghamton University to study biomedical engineering this fall. “A high school experience is what you make of it,” Abigail said. “Sachem has provided me every opportunity to make my dreams come true.” Salutatorian Kaylyn also has an impressive academic résumé. She is an active member of the Foreign Language, History, Math, National and Science honor societies and boasts a successful five-year athletic career as a varsity gymnast, beginning in eighth grade. Kaylyn has continuously challenged herself academically by enrolling in multiple college-level courses, including Advanced Placement biology, chemistry, English, B.C. calculus and economics this year alone. She will continue her academic journey at the Stevens Institute of Technology this fall, where she will study chemical biology. “During my time at Sachem I have made so many great relationships with my teachers,” Kaylyn said. “I have been able to learn so much from their professional experiences.” The two Sachem standouts will receive their diplomas during the commencement ceremony on June 22. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63462 Mon, 21 May 2018 05:00:00 GMT false63462 Sachem High School East Top Students Announced Tharini Prakash and Tim Chiu have been named Sachem High School East Class of 2018’s valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Tharini and Tim excelled to rise to the top of their class after 13 years of persistent academic excellence. Tharini, the valedictorian for High School East, is a National Merit Scholarship Finalist and boasts an unweighted grade point average of 99.1846. She is enrolled in multiple Advanced Placement classes, including calculus, economics, English, environmental science, French and physics. Complementing her impressive academic résumé, she is also the treasurer of Class Government and a member of the Outdoors Club. Tharini plans to study economics and politics in college following graduation. “Sachem has so many special teachers who have helped me choose my career path,” Tharini said. “Their passion in the careers they have chosen inspire me.” Tim, this year’s salutatorian, has a longstanding commitment to academic achievement that earned him an unweighted grade point average of 98.4083. Selecting a collection of challenging upper-level classes, he is enrolled in Advanced Placement computer science, government and politics, literature, physics I and statistics. In addition to his challenging course schedule, Tim is a member of the English, Math, National and Tri-M honor societies. He plays violin in the string ensemble and has been a yearly participant in New York State School Music Association festivals. Beyond the classroom, Tim is a member of the varsity tennis and golf teams and has served as the captain of the tennis team since 10th grade. Tim plans to attend Georgetown University following graduation to study neurobiology on a premedical track. “The people I have met and the friends I have made at Sachem cannot be matched,” Tim said. “All of the friendships are what has made high school a truly special experience.” These two spectacular students will receive their diplomas with the rest of their class at the commencement ceremony on June 23. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63439 Mon, 21 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63439 Outstanding Physical Education Students Honored The Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance recently recognized 26 Sachem students for their outstanding character, leadership and performance in the Physical Education program. The one male and one female student selected from each of the district’s 10 elementary schools and three middle schools were honored during an awards dinner in Bay Shore on May 2. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63404 Fri, 18 May 2018 05:00:00 GMT false63404 Peer Education Project Encourages Inclusion Peer Education students at Sachem High School North shared a powerful message recently through the release of a video project for the song “This is Me,” performed by Keala Settle from “The Greatest Showman” soundtrack. The student project aims to spread feelings of empowerment, inclusion and being proud of who you are. Click here to view the project https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63405 Fri, 18 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63405 ‘Frozen’ Faces Depict History for Hiawatha Students Prominent figures stood suspended in time throughout the gymnasium of Hiawatha Elementary School, as second-grade students dressed up like historical role models for the 10th annual Hiawatha Wax Museum. Students incorporated various props into their displays, such as posters and short informational essays filled with facts about the person they chose to portray. As the second-graders remained frozen in their poses, students throughout the building had the opportunity to walk through the wax museum. Parents also visited and learned about the many significant people from history the students represented. The “wax” figures included Susan B. Anthony, Neil Armstrong, Albert Einstein, Henry Ford, Steve Jobs, Barack Obama and George Washington, among many others. The annual wax museum aligns with the nonfiction genre studies element of the English language arts curriculum, in which students choose biographies of historical figures to research. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63317 Thu, 17 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63317 Sachem Finishes First at Regional Envirothon A team of five Sachem High School North students secured a first-place finish at the 20th annual Long Island Regional Envirothon environmental studies competition on April 25. Seniors Chris Eagler, Emily Hudak and Molly Kearns teamed up with junior Emily Gelardi and sophomore Miranda Garcia-Cassani as they navigated the five subject areas of this year’s Envirothon. The topics included the four recurring subjects of aquatics, forestry, soils and wildlife, and rangeland management served as the current issue for this year. During the competition, students cycled throughout the subject stations, where they answered a collection of multiple-choice questions that incorporated hands-on elements, including various equipment, maps and audiovisual devices. As part of the competition, students were given an environmental issue for the focus of an oral presentation that is delivered to a panel of judges. Students underwent extensive preparation during their free time leading up to the detailed 10-minute presentation. As first-place winners, each team member received $500 and a local field guide and was awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to compete at the New York State Envirothon in Geneva, New York, on May 23 and 24. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63282 Wed, 16 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63282 2018-19 Budget Information To view the budget information as well as the budget newsletter, please visit this link: http://www.sachem.edu/board_of_education/budget_information To listen to the May 2nd, 2018 Budget Hearing Presentation Audio, please visit this link: http://www.sachem.edu/Assets/1819_Budget_and_Financial/5-3-18BudgetHearing.mp3?t=636610264678570000 Find your Polling Place - Click Here https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62816 Tue, 15 May 2018 06:00:00 GMT false62816 Teachers Share Favorite Stories A special selection of stories was on display at the Grundy Avenue Elementary School library recently as part of the building’s celebration of National Library Week. Lining the library shelves was a collection of staff-selected stories chosen for students to take home and read. Each book was labeled with the name of the teacher who selected the book as one of their favorites. Once students read one of the teachers’ picks they were asked to provide their own review on the story for other students to see before checking out their own book. The initiative served as a unique addition to the library for the special celebration of literacy and learning. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63202 Tue, 15 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63202 SMILE! Sachem North Drama Produces Smash Hit for Spring Theater Starring seniors Matthew Mazer, Sofia Medaglia, Paige Menneci and Kailey Valenti, with a supporting cast of over 40, “Smile” is an effervescent musical spectacular set in the 1980s about the friendships formed and the bonds of family tested over the course of putting on a student beauty pageant. Sachem North Drama produced this play as part of its spring theater performance. It was directed by Stefan Kelleher and the pit was conducted by Mike Carroll. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63171 Mon, 14 May 2018 05:00:00 GMT false63171 Students Learn Facts About Epilepsy Third-graders at Waverly Elementary School recently attended an informative presentation delivered by the Epilepsy Foundation, which taught students important facts about epilepsy and seizures. Through an interactive puppet show, “The Kids on the Block,” relatable, everyday interactions between young students were presented, with a focus on openly discussing epilepsy. The presentation aimed to debunk myths and misconceptions surrounding epilepsy and inform students on what to do if a friend or classmate experiences a seizure. Following the presentation, students asked questions to gain further insight about the disorder. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63148 Mon, 14 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63148 Merrimac Hosts Inaugural Family STEAM Night Parents marveled at countless crafty creations made by students during Merrimac Elementary School’s inaugural Family STEAM Night on April 19. The family event served as an opportunity for each grade level to showcase a specific classroom project that students participated in as part of STEAM instruction. First-graders created kites, second-graders crafted musical instruments, third-graders made recycled paper, fourth-graders constructed robots from recycled materials and fifth-grade students showed off their Ozobot Olympic course. Throughout the building, a number of exciting activities were taking place for families to enjoy. Sachem Aftershock robotics team towed a wagon with one of their past robots, the Sachem Public Library provided STEAM activities for families to take part in and the art room was dedicated to design and construction challenges with Legos. In addition to the night’s festivities, the winner of the fifth-grade science fair was announced. Nicholas Prosa and his project that determined if hand dryers or paper towels are a healthier hand drying option will be moving on to the science fair at Brookhaven National Laboratory on May 5. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63059 Fri, 11 May 2018 05:00:00 GMT false63059 World Championship Exposure for Sachem Robotics Sachem Robotics Team 263, Sachem Aftershock, competed at the FIRST World Championships in Detroit from April 25-28. Aftershock was one of 67 teams in the Curie Subdivision and was ranked No. 22 after the qualification matches, which placed them as one of the top-two ranked Long Island teams that attended the championships. Sachem was granted a qualification bid to the world championships after a spirited performance at the Long Island Regional Competition at Hofstra in early April and another strong performance at the Palmetto Regional FIRST Robotics Competition, as well as similar performances earlier in the season. Aftershock placed eighth coming out of the Long Island event. Attending the competitions, both on Long Island and across the country, were an amazing experience for the team members, mentors and family members that traveled to the event. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63058 Fri, 11 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63058 Sachem Ice Hockey Club Flyer https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63057 Fri, 11 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63057 FINtastic 5K Run/Walk https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=63046 Fri, 11 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false63046 Wenonah Community Night Brings a Breath of Fresh Air During a collaborative display of community, family and friends, Wenonah Elementary School transformed its classrooms into a collection of informative activities for all to enjoy as part of its annual community night held on April 19. The theme for this year’s community night was “The Air Around Us” and was the basis for each of the exciting activities taking place throughout the building. As part of the theme, students engaged in a number of lessons during classroom instruction that focused on a wide range of careers and concepts involving air. Serving as an exciting kickoff event, on April 18, students were treated to a unique presentation on hot air balloons given by Captain Lee Teitsworth of the Liberty Balloon Company from Groveland, New York. Teitsworth performed a partial inflation demonstration from which students learned how a balloon reacts to wind. During the introduction to ballooning, students learned about the importance of weather, physics and aviation concepts that contribute to a balloon’s successful flight. On the night of the event, the school cafeteria was lined with booths represented by local vendors and community members who have careers associated with air. Students and their families visited booths led by BeeWitched Bee Local Honey and Bee Products, CPI Aerostructures, Patient AirLift Services, St. Charles Hospital CPR educators and a commercial airline pilot, among many others. Around the building, students had the opportunity to fly a plane using a flight simulator with help from private pilot Brian Schulman, Skype with meteorologist Chris Bruin from The Weather Channel, learn how sound waves move through the air and view air-themed projects created by students on each grade level. The fun continued at multiple other stations where students spoke with scuba divers, learned about birds and bird feeders, crafted egg carton helicopters and constructed paper airplanes. In addition to the night’s festivities, the student chorus put on a perfect performance of air-themed songs, including “Defying Gravity” from the world-renowned Broadway musical “Wicked.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62998 Thu, 10 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62998 Sachem Accepted to Tri-State Consortium As part of the Sachem Central School District’s continued commitment to enhance educational opportunities, the district has recently been accepted as a member district to the Tri-State Consortium. The Tri-State Consortium is a dynamic learning organization focused on providing assistance to member districts through reoccurring evaluations designed to support student success in high-performing districts. Led by trained educators from the Consortium, these collaborative assessments use multiple sources to identify district strengths and create a framework that encourages future growth. “Being accepted as a member district to the Tri-State Consortium provides a powerful opportunity for members of administration and educators on all levels to continue conversations focused on instructional advancement,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham. On July 1, Sachem officially becomes one of more than 40 member districts located across Connecticut, New Jersey and New York. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62957 Wed, 09 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62957 Middle School Musicians Share Experience Seneca Middle School music students shared their performance experience with fifth-grade musicians from Grundy Avenue, Merrimac, Nokomis and Tamarac Elementary Schools during the annual moving-up music visit. The visit was an opportunity for elementary students to become better acclimated to the various experiences they will encounter while practicing and performing on the middle school level. The fifth-grade students were able to ask the middle school musicians questions about their experience, including when they received their instruments, what extra music opportunities are available to them and how lessons are taught in a large group setting. Following the opportunity for questions, band and orchestra students separated into their respective ensembles for a large group performance that joined middle and elementary school students together. The band performed “The Great Gate of Kiev” by Modest Mussorgsky and the orchestra performed “Dragon Slayer” by Rob Grice. Each Sachem middle school welcomes students from its feeder elementary schools for a similar music experience each year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62906 Tue, 08 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62906 Kevin Alter Opioid Addiction Presentation - May 21 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62853 Mon, 07 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62853 Learn more about the proposed 18-19 Sachem CSD school budget on 91.9 WSHR (see dates and times) Sat 5/5 at 10am, Sun 5/6 at 6am & 5pm, Monday 5/7 at 6am, Tuesday 5/8 at 7pm, Wednesday 5/9 at 10am - additional dates and times to come https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62845 Sat, 05 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62845 Winter Athletics Post Season Honors 17-18 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62813 Fri, 04 May 2018 05:00:00 GMT false62813 Waverly Goes Wild With Library Research Student-zoologists took over Waverly Elementary School recently after an animal assignment introduced fourth-graders to the many research tools and techniques available at the library. With help from Waverly library media specialist Louann Cronin students embarked on the trimester long project that explores a multitude of animals from around the world. Students selected an animal they wanted to research and then utilizing the BOCES School Library System Virtual Reference Collection navigated through multiple databases to collect information on their animal. Once students gathered information from the articles they discovered, they inserted photos into their lap books – a mini-book that students create to record details of their studies – and began to compose an essay on their animal. Student animal selections included wolves, lions, goats and bears, among many others. The animal research project introduces students to important research tools they will use throughout their educational journey and serves as a complementary connection to the fourth-grade unit on animals. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62789 Fri, 04 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62789 Cracking Into Gravity Concepts As part of a recent curriculum lesson on gravity, third-grade students at Hiawatha Elementary School participated in an exciting “eggsperiment” exploring the science behind a free-fall. All third-graders were asked to compile assorted household materials that they could fit into a small milk container to protect an egg. Working in teams, students crafted their protective containers filled with various materials, such as cotton balls, cereal, feathers and tissues, that would be dropped from the roof of the school building. To increase the chances of a safe descent, several student groups added parachutes to their containers. Each student-designed container was tested by being dropped from the roof by Principal Kathleen O’Farrell. To conclude the lesson, students discussed the effects of gravity on the world around us and how they could improve their designs. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62734 Thu, 03 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62734 Budget Newsletter Now Available Click here to view the newsletter https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62749 Thu, 03 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62749 When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Music A perfect performance recently wowed an audience of family and friends as second-grade students at Waverly Elementary School performed their musical, “Lemonade.” All students were dressed in colorful costumes to resemble characters from Mother Goose nursery rhymes as they performed different scenes. Led by music teacher Bonnie Businski, the second-grade performers had been hard at work since January practicing their lines and songs for the performance. Through the songs and scenes from the play, the message “when life gives you lemons, make lemonade” echoed throughout the cafetorium. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62709 Wed, 02 May 2018 20:00:00 GMT false62709 Amy DeLury Named Professor for a Day Sachem High School North science research junior Amy DeLury was among 16 high school students from New York City and Long Island chosen to participate in the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Professor for a Day program, examining protein homeostasis in health and disease. The program serves as an opportunity for Amy to expand upon her extensive prion research and hear the latest innovative ideas from leading investigators in the field. In addition to her work in science research, Amy is currently enrolled in a number of challenging Advanced Placement classes, including chemistry, language and composition, physics, Spanish and U.S. history. “I love science research because you can choose any project you like,” Amy said. “It is just like ordinary problem-solving but your solutions can change the world.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62609 Tue, 01 May 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62609 Student Community Service Recognized at April Meeting During its second meeting this April, the Sachem Central School District Board of Education recognized students for their extraordinary commitment to community service. Waverly Elementary School fifth-grade student Casey Lynch was recognized for the organization of a fundraiser that collected donations and raised awareness for pancreatic cancer. Through Casey’s efforts, Waverly raised over $700 that was donated to the Lustgarten Foundation. Continuing the special student recognitions, the fourth- and fifth-grade student lighthouse teams from Wenonah Elementary School were recognized for their continued excellence assisting those in need throughout the community. The student group was commended for their participation in the Kindness and Justice Challenge where students worked to increase their understanding of empathy. In addition, the students organized fundraisers to generate donations and raise awareness for Down syndrome and animal shelters. The recognitions serve as a recent addition to the monthly Board of Education meetings and aim to showcase student community-service initiatives throughout the district. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62587 Mon, 30 Apr 2018 21:00:00 GMT false62587 The Unity Project Showcases Community Connections A dazzling display of community collaboration between Sachem Central School District students and community is currently a focal point of the Sachem Public Library garden, thanks to an interactive public art venture known as The Unity Project. The goal of this global movement is to create a healthy dialogue between members of opposing political parties in an effort to depolarize politics and enhance civic education across the country. The project aims to remove the adversarial stigma between political parties and create a community committed to solving the problems they face as a society. Students from the Sachem High School East National Art Honor Society assembled a structure for The Unity Project with help from adviser Katrina Wrigley and her husband Dane. The larger-than-life structure helps celebrate how individuals’ unique qualities and strengths tie each other together. For the installation, students and community members connected a piece of yarn to a post labeled with a description of a specific identity. As participants’ yarn began to intertwine with others, the complex labyrinth of yarn showcased the true interconnectedness of the community. The completed display will remain on exhibit at the Sachem Public Library until May 12. In addition, the artistic work of district middle and high school students is also on display at Sachem Public Library as part of its Teen Art Show. These pieces will remain in the gallery until the end of the April. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62485 Fri, 27 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62485 Sachem Students Decode Long Island Biodiversity Six Sachem High School North science research students making up two teams recently worked to expand their genetics knowledge through the Barcode Long Island program. The program, led by the Cold Spring Harbor DNA Learning Center and in collaboration with the American Museum for National History, Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University, aims to enhance student understanding of the interdependence between humans and the natural environment. Each team of Sachem students developed a project to investigate biodiversity on Long Island and submitted a written proposal to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory for its annual symposium. Once accepted, the student-scientists took to the field to collect water quality data and biological specimens. Students then recently utilized the genetics lab at Stony Brook University to complete gel electrophoresis before sending the DNA samples out to be sequenced. Students worked alongside professional geneticists to extract and amplify DNA from almost 40 organisms. Through the Barcode Long Island program students gain an authentic science research experience harnessing the capabilities of genetics labs they would not otherwise have access to until college. Following the student research, each team will create a poster that will be presented to peers and professionals at the annual symposium held at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center. Last year, a team of Sachem students discovered two organisms that have never been sequenced for DNA before. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62439 Thu, 26 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62439 SCOPE Summer Enrichment & Extended Day Programs Click here to view the flyer Register Here https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62423 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62423 Sachem Teams Up for Technology Technology transcended grade levels at Sachem High School North as students throughout the building explored numerous educational technologies during a collaboration between the library at High School North and the Sachem Public Library. During the Sachem Public Library’s studio tour, the library at High School North bustled with students engaged in the latest technologies. High-tech devices offered were drones, mBots, Ozmo drawing tablets and a virtual reality headset simulator. Students interested in creative design and engineering could explore lower-tech options such as Strawbees and Legos. “It was a really interesting experience,” student Joe Ennisi said as he waited on line to experience the VR headset. “These activities really make you think outside the box.” The introduction to the new technologies encouraged students to expand on curriculum concepts through tactile learning. Click here to view a video from the event. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62391 Wed, 25 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62391 Exploring the Wonders of Wizardry Magic and mystery filled Allison Poffenbarger’s classroom at Grundy Avenue Elementary School as her fifth-grade students participated in multiple engaging, Harry Potter-themed STEAM activities throughout the day. As part of the English language arts curriculum, students recently completed the first book of the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.” Looking to make cross-curricular connections, Poffenbarger then developed collaborative thinking and problem-solving skill-building activities based on the story. Separated into four groups representing each house depicted in the book, the students began work on each activity in timed 30-minute increments. Students were challenged to create a contraption capable of launching the “Golden Snitch” the greatest distance possible. Equipped with rubber bands, tape, scissors, string and paper towel rolls, the students were free to design and construct the most efficient launcher. In a different activity students were asked to design a marble maze mirroring the one in Gringotts Bank. Each maze was required to have three turns and use 3 feet of paper towel rolls, among other objects, to transfer the marble. Continuing the fun-filled activities, students crafted their own wands out of various materials provided. Students wrapped their wands in pipe cleaners and string and covered them with colorful glitter to show off their wizardly crafts. As part of another activity, students were tasked with designing the longest dragon possible out of paper towel rolls. As the culminating activity to the day’s events, each group raced to the finish in a Harry Potter-themed Breakout EDU activity, navigating clues from the popular novel. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62308 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62308 2018-2019 Budget Presentation Schedule https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=62325 Tue, 24 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false62325 Sachem Students Get International Education at Model U.N. Conference Students with the Sachem North Model United Nations Club participated in the National High School Model United Nations international conference in March. Accompanied by adviser Dr. Afxendiou and chaperoned by Mrs. Marcazzo-Skarka, they joined thousands of other students at the New York Hilton Midtown for a weekend of debates and discussions. Delegates from schools around the world come to New York City for a unique conference hosted by the International Model United Nations Association. This year, Sachem’s delegation represented the nation of Jordan. They met with Mrs. Samar Sukkar, one of six delegates representing the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in the United Nations, for a question and answer session. Students also had the opportunity to visit the United Nations for the opening ceremony, which was held in the General Assembly Hall. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61295 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 05:00:00 GMT false61295 Towers Test Students’ Teamwork Critical thinking fueled student designs recently as all fifth-grade students at Merrimac Elementary School participated in a STEAM activity aimed at enhancing student collaboration. The activity, led by Merrimac art teacher Jenna Motroni, challenged student groups to design and construct the tallest tower possible out of predetermined amounts of spaghetti, tape and string, which at the end of the build would have to hold a marshmallow at its peak. Students were given a 20-minute build time to carefully construct a functional tower out of the limited resources provided. “It is fun to teach students traditional concepts in a unique way,” Ms. Motroni said. “Students get to work on solving different problems through teamwork.” At the conclusion of the activity, students collectively discussed alternative construction approaches that could improve the design of their towers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61256 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false61256 Blood Drive and Health & Safety Expo - Waverly Ave. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61250 Mon, 23 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false61250 Sachem Resident Shares Music Knowledge Soft notes and musical magic flowed through Nokomis Elementary School recently as Sachem resident Donna Basile held an informative assembly on the recorder for all third-grade students. A former music educator from the Harborfields Central School District, Basile holds a vast knowledge of the recorder and shared this insight with Nokomis students. Beginning in the third grade, all students across the district are introduced to the recorder and begin learning various scales and songs as part of the music curriculum. During the assembly Basile periodically integrated the history of the recorder dating back to the 15th century. Students learned about seven different sized recorders ranging from the Garklein to the great bass. After showing students each recorder, Basile demonstrated the unique pitch of the varying instruments by performing familiar melodic songs. The assembly provided students added knowledge about their instruments before taking the stage this May for the annual third-grade recorder concert. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61201 Fri, 20 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false61201 Sports Physicals Information Click on the appropriate link below to access the necessary medical documents for try outs. These are the ONLY forms that will be accepted by the district for athletic try outs: • Sachem School DistrictPhysical Form • Sports Medical Update Form (Green Card) Click on the appropriate link below for important sports physicals information including free physical exam dates/times & paperwork submission dates/times: •Fall 2018-19 6th Grade Students Trying Out for Arrowettes •Fall 2018-19 7th & 8th Grade Students Trying Out for Any Athletic Team (including Arrowettes and Cheerleading) •Fall 2018-19 9th Grade Students Trying Out for Any Athletic Team (including Arrowettes and Cheerleading) •Fall 2018-19 10th, 11th, 12th Grade Students Trying Out for Any Athletic Team (including Arrowettes and Cheerleading) https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61234 Fri, 20 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false61234 Merrimac Students Stand Out With Supplies Surprise A collaborative effort at Merrimac Elementary School created connections between literacy and community service through a student-organized Pick a Reading Partner theme for the month of March. Two fifth-grade students, Brooke Storan and Meadow Murphy, teamed up with second-grade student Lorenzo Vargas to develop a PARP theme that encouraged reading throughout the building, while also collecting school supplies for less fortunate students at Merrimac and other schools in Sachem. The student trio coined the PARP theme, “Supplies Surprise,” and set a goal to collect a plethora of school supplies while logging reading time along the way. The students held two assembly programs informing students of the various incentives associated with the program they organized. For students in kindergarten, first- and second-grade, once they reach 200 minutes of reading they earn a sheet of quotes to decorate that will be given to the recipients of the school supplies. Fourth- and fifth-grade students that reach 150 minutes of reading earn raffle tickets that will be drawn to select the students who would help organize the collected supplies before they are distributed. As part of the unique initiative, each grade has been assigned a different group of supplies to donate. The schoolwide goal for “Supplies Surprise” is to reach 150,000 minutes of reading by the end of March. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61175 Thu, 19 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false61175 Sachem Student Named Town of Brookhaven Student of the Month Sachem High School North Senior Emma Hirt was named Town of Brookhaven Student of the Month for February by Councilman Kevin LaValle. Emma excels in a number of Advanced Placement classes and is an integral participant in multiple extracurricular activities. She is the president of Student Government, a member of the Model United Nations and sits as a student representative on the Sachem Central School District Board of Education. Emma plans to pursue a medical degree at Drexel University after graduation. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61137 Wed, 18 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false61137 Sachem Robotics Qualifies for World Championships After a spirited competition at the FIRST Robotics Long Island Regionals this past weekend at Hofstra University, Sachem’s Aftershock 263 robotics team has qualified for the world championships. These talented student-engineers will head to Detroit from April 25-28 and compete with the very best robotics teams in the country. Coming out of the qualifying matches on Saturday morning at Hofstra, Sachem Aftershock earned a place as a seed team heading into alliance selection for the playoff matches. The team played as part of the third alliance, a group of teams/schools competing together, which made it as far as the semifinals. Because of the team’s overall competitive performance at both the Long Island Regional, as well as previously at the Palmetto Regional, Aftershock 263 was invited to Detroit. The team placed eighth overall at the Long Island Regional. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61114 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 05:00:00 GMT false61114 Student Volunteerism Recognized at April Board Meeting During its April meeting, the Sachem Board of Education recognized three schools within the district for their exemplary community service efforts. Grundy Avenue Elementary School was recognized for the extraordinary volunteer work of third-grade student Bret Auricchio. Bret organized the Grundy Avenue Breast Cancer Awareness Walk that raised $1,200 last October. From Samoset Middle School, eighth-grade student MaKenna Homayoon was recognized for her continued commitment to giving back to the community. MaKenna was the leading collector in the Long Island Cares food drive, which raised over 10,000 pounds of food for families in need. Additionally, MaKenna continues to raise awareness for epilepsy and participates in the Buddies Club helping special-needs students. Also recognized for their continued community support through volunteerism were the students of the Kids Care Club at Tamarac Elementary School. The students’ collective efforts created countless letters for soldiers, organized food drives and made blankets for children staying in the pediatric units of local hospitals. Concluding the special recognitions, the Sachem Central Teachers’ Association was honored for the organization of the Pink Night Out Breast Cancer Awareness fundraiser that raised $20,000. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61072 Tue, 17 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false61072 Basketball, Fundraising, School Spirit Define March Madness Sachem’s annual March Madness tradition has been a staple for the student body for more than 20 years. Students spend the days enjoying a spring spirit week where each day promotes a different fun theme – America, decades, school pride – and the week culminates with a basketball tournament featuring both staff and students. This year saw the creation of a Sachem Showdown event where both Sachem East and Sachem North came together for activities one evening. From tug-of-war to balloon pops and other engaging activities, the students made the best of the cross-district event and wish to expand it in the future. At Sachem East, the March Madness fundraiser was combined with an effort to raise funds for the ALS Ride for Life organization. Student Government officers handed a check in the amount of $1,500 to ALS patients Dr. Christopher Pendergast, Paul Weisman and Frank Wojcik. “People left that day speaking of actually getting chills listening to Dr. Pendergast speak to the students through his eye-gaze computer while the entire gymnasium was so quiet,” said Michael Jannace, a teacher and club adviser at Sachem East. “What a beautiful scene! The care and respect demonstrated at Sachem East helped to spread awareness of this deadly disease with no cure.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61043 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false61043 Kindness Rocks at Hiawatha Hiawatha Brownie Troop 92 painted and sprinkled kindness rocks by the 3rd & 4th grade areas. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=61059 Mon, 16 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false61059 Superintendent Gains Insight Through Student-Directed Discussion To gain important insight on building culture and student concerns, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham and various other members of the administration continuously participate in a student-directed roundtable at each building throughout the district. As part of the periodic visits, student representatives of varying school activity levels are selected by each building principal to meet with Dr. Graham to discuss the questions and concerns of their peers. The roundtable discussions provide students across all grade levels the opportunity to have their voice heard by administrative members. Among the numerous topics highlighted during each discussion were student engagement in class, safety and security, school culture, and extra- and cocurricular activities. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=60972 Fri, 13 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false60972 Science Erupts at Waverly Waverly Elementary School fifth-graders had a blast during a recent STEAM activity exploring the geographic and scientific elements of volcanoes. As part of the students’ study, each group selected a volcano from around the world to research. After students collected information on their chosen volcano they created colorful informational posters displaying interesting facts and characteristics about the unique landforms. As part of the activity students utilized Play-Doh to sculpt miniature replicas of their volcanoes. To mirror a volcanic eruption, students were provided with a collection of ingredients that they used to conduct experiments to develop a combination that would produce the best eruption. Students determined a calculated mixture of baking soda and vinegar created the best eruption and added red food coloring to mimic the color of flowing lava. Throughout the activity each student group referred back to the key principals of the design and engineering process to assess areas that needed improvement and incorporated new design ideas to complete their goals. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=60938 Thu, 12 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false60938 Tamarac Student Takes a Duck to Class In celebration of fifth-grade student Jacob Rubbo being named a TD Bank “Take a Duck to Class” essay contest, Tamarac Elementary School was visited by the Long Island Ducks for a special program. As part of the contest, students across Long Island were challenged to write an essay about a hero in their community. Jacob chose to write about a close family friend and President of the Spectrum of Dreams Foundation Tim Szlosek. After his son Shane was diagnosed with autism, Mr. Szlosek started the nonprofit organization to help children with special needs acquire the financial resources necessary to enhance their quality of life. Jacob’s essay earned the attention of the contest judges, as he chose to recognize an unconventional type of hometown hero. “Tim made the Spectrum of Dreams Foundation because he wants to help kids like Shane get the resources they need,” Jacob wrote in his essay. “He did something very nice and helpful for kids with autism. I am so happy to know such an amazing person.” To begin the assembly, all Tamarac students filled the gymnasium to celebrate Jacob’s accomplishment. Following praise from Principal Michael Saidens, Jacob read his essay aloud to the audience of his peers before being presented with a Visa gift card by TD Bank Vice President of U.S. Field Marketing Strategy Eric Fishon and TD Bank Lake Ronkonkoma store manager Ed Pesapane. Concluding the visit, Jacob and his classmates enjoyed a game of Wiffle ball with Ducks mascot QuackerJack and the Ducks Street Team. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=60895 Wed, 11 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false60895 Lynwood Elementary Dances the Night Away Elegance and grace filled the gymnasium at Sachem High School East recently as Lynwood Elementary School fifth-grade students took part in the Dancing with the Lynwood Stars culminating performance as part of the Dancing Classrooms program. In its ninth year at Lynwood, the 10-week Dancing Classrooms program teaches students eight ballroom dances, a line dance and a folk dance. As students worked through numerous dance classes, teamwork, respect, self-confidence and nonverbal communication were continuously emphasized by teaching artist Jessica Heins. As a culmination to their study, the students performed the merengue, foxtrot, rumba, waltz, tango, swing and polka for a packed crowd of family and friends. Each dance was prefaced with a student-led demonstration showcasing the cadences for each step the students learned. In between the performances, students read essays reflecting on their dance experiences. To conclude the fun-filled night, members of the audience were asked to join the students in a large group dance demonstration. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=60814 Mon, 09 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false60814 William Gavin to Attend Washington Journalism and Media Conference Sachem High School East junior William Gavin has been selected as a national youth correspondent and invited to attend the prestigious Washington Journalism and Media Conference held at George Mason University this summer. As part of the conference curriculum, William will participate in hands-on learning led by industry-leading professionals from a number of media backgrounds. The participating youth correspondents will learn through decision-making simulations that prompt students to face similar creative, practical and ethical pressures they will encounter in media and journalism careers. In addition, the student-participants will enjoy expert insight from multiple guest speakers during the weeklong conference. William is enrolled in a number of Advanced Placement classes, including composition, biology and U.S. history. Complementing William’s enrollment in multiple challenging courses is a robust cocurricular résumé, as he is active in the Chess Club and the Diversity Club. He plans to pursue further journalism in college, with a focus on political journalism. “I look forward to meeting many well-known journalists during the conference,” William said. “I am excited for the experience to learn from the professionals.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=60771 Fri, 06 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false60771 Holocaust Survivor Visits Seneca Eighth-grade students at Seneca Middle School recently attended a captivating assembly program presented by Holocaust survivor Irving Roth. As a young boy, Mr. Roth was separated from his family and taken to Auschwitz, where he was forced by Nazi soldiers to work long hours with very limited food. Mr. Roth survived his time at Auschwitz but was transported to Buchenwald, another concentration camp that was liberated in 1945. Mr. Roth spoke with students about the numerous social injustices he endured when German soldiers took over Czechoslovakia and how his family was forced into hiding in Hungary. His stories depicted the horrible living conditions he faced during his time at Auschwitz and how his ordinary way of living was taken from him by Nazi soldiers. Following the assembly Mr. Roth joined a small group of students for refreshments and answered student-prepared questions about his experiences. Students asked about his connection with other survivors, family and current world issues. The visit from Mr. Roth serves as an excellent introduction to upcoming lessons on social injustice as part of the humanities unit. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=59636 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false59636 Security Summit Update https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=59638 Wed, 04 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false59638 Delectable Dishes Secure Top Finishes for Seneca Chefs Four Seneca Middle School students turned up the heat as they used their superb cooking skills to secure a first-place finish at the eighth annual Junior Iron Chef competition held at Whole Foods Market in Lake Grove. For the third consecutive year, Seneca students finished first among countless junior chefs from across Long Island. All middle and high school-age students came to the competition with a prepared recipe and cooked their dish in the allotted one-hour cook time. The educational event encourages students to learn and execute the culinary skills necessary to prepare dishes essential for a healthy lifestyle. The competition promotes the use of local food to support farmers and the environment. Students are encouraged to create new healthy vegetarian or vegan-based options that can be easily implemented into the school cafeteria menu. Each recipe was judged on taste, presentation, creativity, use of local ingredients, use of USDA ingredients, healthy choices and cafeteria readiness. Each team worked closely with its family and consumer science teachers to develop recipes and practiced for many hours leading up to the contest. Team Golden Girls was named the first-place finisher after presenting its winning dish, the Jardin Burrito – “jardin” translates to “garden” in Spanish. It was filled with eggs, guacamole, Monterey jack cheese, peppers, onions, black beans and corn and was paired with a delicious mango salsa. In addition, Team Greek Goddesses placed third with a Greek omelet coined Demeter’s Dish that was filled with potatoes and paired with tzatziki sauce. Placing in fourth was the final Seneca team, the Slice and Dicers, which received a special award for its teamwork, order and professionalism. “Congratulations to all of our students for their hard work and dedication,” District Chairperson for Family and Consumer Science Mary Louise Faller said. “It was a great day for Sachem.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=59586 Mon, 02 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false59586 Cosgrove, Mellor Take Home Top Basketball Honors Sachem may not have won a girls basketball championship during the year, but for many other reasons it was a banner season. Sachem East’s Danielle Cosgrove was named Suffolk County Player of the Year by Newsday and the Suffolk County Girls Basketball Coaches Association, and Sachem North’s James Mellor was named Suffolk County Coach of the Year, also by the coaches’ association. Cosgrove, who was named League I Player of the Year, is the third player from Sachem East to win the honor, after Katie Doherty (13-14) and Meagan Doherty (11-12). The Notre Dame-bound Cosgrove finished her career with 1,573 points, the second most in Sachem East history, and 1,037 career rebounds, an overall Sachem record. Mellor, a Sachem alumnus, is the first Sachem coach since 1987 to win the honor. Risa Zander, an inductee of the Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame and Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame, won it that season. “It was definitely unexpected to have my name called when they gave this award, but very exciting as well,” Mellor said. “When you are sitting in a room with over 50 coaches, many of whom you have become good friends with over the years and respect, it is an honor to be recognized as a top coach. Much of the credit goes to the girls on the team for performing at high levels all year long.” Sachem North was 14-8 this season and 8-6 in League I, a bounceback season after not qualifying for the playoffs for a few years. The Flaming Arrows, ranked No. 10, upset No. 7 West Babylon in the first round of the Suffolk County Class AA playoffs and lost to county finalist Hills East in the second round. In other honors, Sachem East’s Kaitlyn Wolff was named All-League for the first time in her four-year varsity career. Alyssa Signor earned All-Academic honors and freshman Mackenzie Szlosek earned League I Co-Rookie of the Year. From Sachem North, Annie Keenan was named All-County, All-League and All-Academic, while Lisa Galante and Kennadie Hallum were also All-League. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=60780 Sun, 01 Apr 2018 04:00:00 GMT false60780 April 6 Reminder for Secondary Students Please be advised that April 6 will be an A Day. Thank you and enjoy your break! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=59548 Fri, 30 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false59548 2017-2018 Calendar Revisions https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58292 Thu, 29 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false58292 High School East Project Happiness Sachem High School East was recently chosen by Project Happiness as one of 10 high schools from across the United States to receive a scholarship to establish a Happiness Club supported by the “Life’s Good: Experience Happiness” corporate social responsibility platform. On March, 20, High School East was featured on the Discovery Education channel’s Virtual Field Trip: Discover Your Happy. Click the link below to see the video. https://www.learnexperiencehappiness.com/curriculum https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58465 Thu, 29 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58465 Sachem Student Delegates Inspire Diplomacy at Model UN Conference Imagine a scene where high school students were diplomatically solving the world’s problems. Now imagine all that taking place on the second floor at Sachem High School North. In one engaging and fulfilling day of international relations, students from Sachem North ran a highly successful Model United Nations Conference on Saturday, March 17. This is the seventh time the school has hosted such an event. Students debated real-life topics and important policy issues in the following areas: the European Union, the General Assembly, the Historical Security Council, the Humans Rights Council, UN Women and the World Health Organization. Each student and school is assigned a country and research topic and then developed a working knowledge of that area prior to the conference. The event featured teams from five other high schools on Long Island – Connetquot, Eastport-South Manor, Patchogue-Medford, Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK and Ward Melville. “Model UN allows students to learn about world issues and become global citizens,” said Caitlyn Humann, a Sachem North student who served as Secretary General of the Model UN. “It allows us to be passionate about positions of debate and yet listen to the positions of other delegates, as we are willing and able to compromise. It sharpens our public-speaking skills and prepares us best for our future.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58400 Wed, 28 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58400 Celebrating Literacy With Readers as Leaders As part of a special celebration commemorating the birth of Dr. Seuss, students across Grundy Avenue Elementary School listened to stories read by prominent members of the school and community as part of a Readers as Leaders event. During the collaborative event, multiple guest readers shared stories with students promoting literacy. Those in attendance included, but were not limited to, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, New York State Sen. Phil Boyle and Suffolk County Police Officer Keith Murphy. After each guest concluded their chosen story students asked a series of questions related to their specific careers, gaining interesting insight from the distinguished visitors. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58331 Tue, 27 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58331 Car Show & Family Craft Fair Sunday, May 6 at Sachem North https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58349 Tue, 27 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58349 Private and Parochial School Transportation Registration Click here to visit the Transportation page https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54408 Mon, 26 Mar 2018 06:00:00 GMT false54408 Sachem Hosts Legislative Forum The Sachem Central School District recently hosted a legislative forum in an effort to strengthen the lines of communication between community members and representatives of state and local governments. The legislative forum, held in the Board of Education room at the central office, provided Sachem students and community members a platform to voice their school-related questions and concerns. Those in attendance included New York Assemblymen Michael Fitzpatrick and Dean Murray as well as representatives from the offices of New York State Senators Phil Boyle, Thomas Croci and John Flanagan. “We are fortunate to have a district legislative committee that is actively involved in advocating for our students,” said Superintendent of Schools Kenneth Graham. “We are thankful to the entire committee, especially the committee chair Dana Platin, for planning the forum. The evening highlighted the collaborative approach taken between the residents, the school district and our elected officials to address the issues that concern them most. We are thankful to all of our elected officials and their representatives who attended the forum and really listened to the concerns of our school district’s community members. It is through this type of collaboration that we will hopefully see the greatest changes for our district.” Important topics highlighted during the community discussion were finance, school safety and security and a range of proposals addressed in the state budget. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58305 Mon, 26 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58305 Community Notice: Universal Pre-Kindergarten Application https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54910 Mon, 26 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false54910 Sagamore's St. Baldrick's Event 2018 By Emily Brodsky and Gina Sacco, 7th grade Sagamore Middle School's St.Baldrick’s event on March 16th was a lively and fun event for the teachers and student body. The Sagamore Arrowettes and Cheer Team showed off their fantastic talents in the gym for all the students and teachers to see. There were also many volunteers who had a chance to play Minute-to-Win-It games, as well as the chance to pie a teacher in the face, in honor of pie day, at the event. Most importantly, many students and staff members volunteered to shave their heads, and several girls cut off inches of their very own hair to donate it to make wigs. For many of the shavees, it was not their first time participating in the event either. For those who shaved their heads for three years or more, students won awards for their continued donation to childhood cancer and were inducted into the League of Legendary Heroes. Sagamore raised over $12,000 this year with a 7th grade student, Joseph Sciara, donating the most. That money will be donated to childhood cancer research to help save the lives of child cancer patients. The amazing event could not have taken place without all of the brave students from Sagamore who raised money and gave up their hair. Many thanks to Mrs. Clark (Ms. Alexander), Mrs. Gustavsen, Mr. Berger, and the many others who volunteered to make this a great event. Slideshow of Sagamore's St. Baldrick's Event 2018 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58244 Sun, 25 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58244 First Place for Lynwood Avenue Destination Imagination Team Lynwood Avenue Elementary School has picked up where it left off last year with massive success in the Destination Imagination competition. The school’s fourth-grade team captured first place in the program’s Eastern Regional Tournament held this past week at Somers Middle School in upstate New York. This team chose the Fine Arts Challenge in which students were tasked with creating a two-act musical. For this they had to design, create and integrate music and lyrics into both acts. They also created a spectacle that highlighted an unforgettable event in the story using two production techniques, as well as having had to integrate a set change that utilized technical methods. Finally, they had to create and present two “team choice elements” that showed off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength and talents. The team consisted of Hannah Barkin, Ava Barrett, Dianna Burns, Jack Cordero, Kyle Fink, Keya Pai and Saiyum Sheth, and, of course, their team coach, Mrs. Dulovic. The Destination Imagination program, a cocurricular activity at the school, encourages teams of learners to have fun, take risks, focus and frame challenges while incorporating STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), the arts and service learning. Lynwood’s participants learn patience, flexibility, persistence, ethics, respect for others and the collaborative problem-solving process. These talented fourth-graders will continue to progress to larger tournaments throughout the spring. We will keep you updated on their fun and impactful educational journey. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58187 Fri, 23 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58187 Elementary Students Perform 60th Annual Music Festival Concert Musical mastery was on full display at the 60th annual Elementary Music Festival Concert held at Sachem High School North on March 6. Nearly 300 students from all 10 elementary buildings came together to put on a spectacular performance. The performers were chosen by their respective music teachers based on a comprehensive audition process and each student committed to three out-of-school rehearsals to prepare for the concert. Students performing with the band, orchestra and chorus were directed by Ms. Krug, Ms. Montanye-McBride and Ms. Murphy, respectively. The chorus was accompanied by Mrs. Kelting and assisted by Ms. Schievelbein. Additionally, Ms. Schaefer assisted the orchestra, Ms. Degenhardt assisted the band and Chairperson for Secondary Music, Dr. Comito, provided assistance to each performing group. “I could not be more proud of the students’ incredible performance,” said Chairperson for Elementary Music Ms. Wasdo. “Congratulations to all students and staff on a phenomenal concert.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58108 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58108 Notice: March Board of Education Meeting RESCHEDULED https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58113 Wed, 21 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58113 Merrimac Lighthouse Team Channels Leadership, Spirit Merrimac’s Student Lighthouse Team is developing leadership skills while committing to serve their school. Throughout the year, students work on school improvement and community service projects, while planning leadership events. Past contributions to the school community include a leadership garden, support for service learning project implementation, bus driver recognition breakfasts, sharing classmates’ ideas with the team for school improvement planning and the creation of a video to teach leadership habits. Merrimac Principal Veronica DeCicco said student empowerment is important because it inspires them to become leaders. Speaking with the students about leadership, she said, has helped them understand what it means to be a leader, because they see how their behavior reflects their actions. “Since the start of the program, we have seen a change in the students’ thinking, which is the result of students realizing they have the power to change the culture of their school,” DeCicco said. So far, students have completed several projects in the school, and at an upcoming assembly, they will give a presentation on the different elements of the project. The Student Lighthouse Team was the catalyst for schoolwide student-led leadership roles. Such roles include greeters, student ambassadors, tour guides, meteorologists and hallway monitors. The roles will change throughout the school year. “Through the student-led projects, it is a chance to focus on each child’s strengths,” said Barbara Montalbano, a teaching assistant and Student Lighthouse Team coordinator at Merrimac. “They share and explain the culture of Merrimac.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58057 Tue, 20 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58057 Sachem Raises Major Support for St. Baldrick’s St. Baldrick’s has long been a vibrant point of community service and spirit in Sachem. This year multiple schools combined to raise more than $70,000, a district record for this particular charity. Waverly Avenue Elementary School led the charge, with more than $48,000 in donations, in support of 85 people who shaved their heads for cancer awareness. “This is a great way for our Waverly students, parents and staff to make connections to the world around them and the importance of doing for others who are less fortunate,” said Waverly Principal John Ruggero. Sagamore has raised more than $11,000 so far and will generate more donations this week through its “Sagamore Spikes Out Cancer” volleyball tournament. Sachem East raised $7,800 and Sachem North raised $6,500. At the event at Waverly that featured hundreds of students and parents in attendance, there were also a number of students, teachers and principals from around the Sachem district who took part, showing an incredible amount of shared support from various buildings. “St. Baldrick’s is a great way for kids to connect to the world and pay it forward,” said Kristina Fulcher, a teacher at Waverly who helped organize the event this year. To see a full gallery of images from St. Baldrick’s events across the district, please visit Facebook.com/SachemSchools. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=58200 Mon, 19 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false58200 Nokomis Students Report on Summer Fun Nokomis Elementary School fifth-grade students in Jennifer DeCarlo and Robyn Griecos’ class strengthened their writing skills by crafting creative stories as student journalists for the Kidsday program at Newsday. In its third year at Nokomis, the Kidsday program helps students take their writing to the next level as they apply their skills in a unique way. Students wrote reviews on movies, books and other various activities to be published in Kidsday, a section in Newsday written by kids for kids. As part of the program students participated in three workshops led by Kidsday Editor Pat Mullooly. During the workshops students practiced generating ideas for stories, answering advice letters from other students and creating illustrations to accompany their stories. In addition to the reviews, students conducted interviews and focused on writing articles about fun activities for the summer months that will be published in the summer edition of Kidsday this June. The Kidsday program creates a complementary connection to the fifth-grade English language arts curriculum, reinforcing skills such as narrative and opinion writing. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56925 Fri, 16 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false56925 The Real Facts on Vaping and E-Cigarettes A K-8 Districtwide Parent only Presentation Tuesday, March 27 at Sagamore MS 7:00 PM https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56898 Fri, 16 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false56898 Project Happiness Comes to Sachem High School East Sachem High School East has been chosen by Project Happiness as one of 10 high schools from across the United States to receive a scholarship to establish a Happiness Club supported by the “Life’s Good: Experience Happiness” corporate social responsibility platform. High School East was named an Official Happiness School based on its enthusiasm, creativity and commitment. Project Happiness is a nonprofit organization based in Cupertino, California. Founded in 2009, Project Happiness aims to teach people how to develop happiness strategies for life. The goal of the program is to reach 5.5 million youth with learnable happiness skills over the next five years, and this is just a first step. As a pilot program, the club will lay the foundations for a positive environment for students who experience great amounts of stress during this time in their lives, as well as create a ripple in the school community. “We were thrilled to learn Sachem East was chosen to be one of 10 schools in the country to participate in this Project Happiness movement,” Principal Louis Antonetti said. “This program will allow us to adopt a mindfulness program that will help students cope with stress while developing skills for self-reflection.” The Happiness Club at High School East will use activities and strategies from the Project Happiness handbook and curriculum to support students’ efforts to build happiness habits for life. The material has been used in over 120 countries and is science-based, drawing on aspects of positive psychology, neuroscience, mindfulness and social-emotional learning. The purpose of being an official Happiness School is to create a culture that supports people, rather than tears them down, and fosters an environment where authenticity and individual strengths are celebrated. Students will be encouraged to listen to their inner friend, rather than their inner critic, and develop emotional resilience along with grit. As part of the initiative, High School East was visited by a Discovery Channel television crew to film “Discover Your Happy,” a program that will air on March 20 on Discovery Education. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56814 Thu, 15 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false56814 K-8 Vaping Community Forum Reschedule https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56846 Thu, 15 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false56846 Curriculum Council and Wellness Committee: Sign Up for Remind https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56795 Wed, 14 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false56795 Board of Education Recognizes Continued Volunteerism At its second meeting of February, the Sachem Board of Education recognized three schools within the district for their extraordinary volunteer efforts. To begin the recognitions, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Erin Hynes commended all buildings throughout the district for their continued volunteerism. Sagamore Middle School was recognized for the organization of three student-driven initiatives, including a Christmas card drive that collected 700 cards for troops stationed overseas, a coat drive that collected eight bags of coats for Sachem families, and a hat, glove and sock drive that collected over 75 items for those affected by hurricanes Harvey and Irma. From Lynwood Elementary School, the Student Lighthouse team was recognized for the organization of its annual Thanksgiving food drive, which assisted 29 Lynwood families this year. In addition, the student group collected various holiday items that were donated to 30 Sachem families. Continuing the special recognitions, social worker Karen Grieco from Nokomis Elementary School was recognized for her ongoing efforts to organize charitable events for the benefit of the overall Sachem community. Concluding the special recognitions, the district fifth-grade spelling bee champion, Gavin Flynn from Grundy Avenue Elementary, and runner-up, Sara Vetter from Tamarac Elementary School, were recognized for their spelling prowess. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56780 Wed, 14 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false56780 (NEW DATE) Sachem Community Security Summit – March 20, 2018 NEW DATE! The Sachem Central School District Invites District Residents to Attend Our Community Security Summit March 20, 2018 from 8 - 9:30 pm At Seneca Middle School Please Register at this link: https://goo.gl/forms/6pC8NqbKlrWkZ8Ds2 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56591 Tue, 13 Mar 2018 14:00:00 GMT false56591 Lynwood Elementary Students Break Down Erosion Proactive designs propelled Lynwood Elementary School first-grade students in Corinne Hinteman’s class as they used construction to stop destruction during a STEAM activity focused on coastal erosion. The goal of the activity was for each student group to construct a wall capable of withstanding conditions that replicated erosion. To begin the activity students were supplied with clay, cloth, cotton balls, Popsicle sticks and tape. Utilizing the provided supplies students began design and construction of their walls that would need to withstand 20 simulated waves created by Hinteman. The walls separated sand from water and the success of each wall was determined by the amount of sand that floated from the shoreline into the water. Following the initial test students made improvements before the walls were tested again. Concluding the activity, each group engaged in a student-directed discussion about design improvements that could have positively affected the outcome of their experiments. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56714 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false56714 Sachem’s Margaret Atwood Wins Racewalk State Championship Another track season gone by, and another dominant racewalking performance for Sachem. Sachem East’sMargaret Atwood captured a New York State championship in the 1,500-meter racewalk. She won with a time of six minutes, 49 seconds. “At this meet, a lot of people have a lot of energy,” she told Newsday after the race. “So, when I first went out, a couple girls went out really hard. But, I didn’t have it to scare me, so I just stayed close and maintained my pace throughout the race.” Atwood follows in the footsteps of Sachem racewalk greats Lauren Harris, who holds a number of national indoor and outdoor records and currently competes at Marist College, and Maria Michta-Coffey, a two-time Olympian and Sachem Hall of Famer, who has been a mentor and coach for Atwood, as Michta-Coffey still supports the program to this day. Sachem East’s Chelsea Benedict placed sixth in the racewalk with a time of seven minutes, 19 seconds. In the 600-meter race, Sachem East’s Jess Nischo finished at No. 16 with a time of one minute, 38 seconds. Sachem North had a strong showing in the 1,500-meter run as Jordyn McDonnell (4:45.06) and Molly Ramirez (4:45.97) placed ninth and 10th, respectively. Longtime track and field Sachem coach Alex Young said he could not recall a time in the last 30 years when two Sachem runners finished in the top 10 in a state championship 1,500-meter run like this. Sachem East’s 4x800 relay of Shayna Arrigo, Bridget Abraldes, Kaitlyn Famigletti and Rachel Ruggiero finished fifth in the state with a time of nine minutes and 17 seconds. Abraldes, Arrigo, Famigletti and Angela Consalazio also ran the 4x400 relay and finished at No. 8 with a time of four minutes and six seconds. Sachem North’s Molly Kearns threw 34-11.00 in the shot put, which was good enough for No. 17 in the state. On the boys’ side, the single competitor at states was Sachem East’s Justin Allone, who finished at No. 16 in the 3,200-meter run in a time of nine minutes, 33 seconds. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56695 Mon, 12 Mar 2018 04:00:00 GMT false56695 Technology Equals Results for Tamarac Students During a recent mathematics unit at Tamarac Elementary School third-grade students utilized technology to add a special spin to traditional topics. With the help of iPads, students in Kenneth Kuveke’s class participated in a fraction review activity using the educational Quizizz app. Quizizz allows educators to create review activities covering a myriad of topics from across the curriculum depending on the current area of study. The live leaderboard feature of the app helps teachers identify areas in which students are experiencing difficulty and then tailor follow-up conversations to review the material. The incorporation of iPads into the classroom curriculum creates an engaging environment for students to sharpen their skills in an interactive way. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56645 Fri, 09 Mar 2018 20:01:00 GMT false56645 Senecon Takes Seneca by Storm Prior to midwinter recess Seneca Middle School transformed into a literacy pop culture convention center as established authors and illustrators came to share their specialties with students. To begin the day, all seventh-grade students gathered in the auditorium for an assembly presentation by award-winning author Paul Volponi. During the assembly students gained expert insight into the creative process and answered various trivia questions highlighting different aspects of world cultures. As the students continued through the day, a number of classrooms were dedicated to additional presentations led by authors and illustrators from multiple disciplines. Origami artists Shrikant Iyer and Jacqueline Billig taught students precise folding sequences to form origami art creations. Graphic designer and illustrator David O. Miller shared beginner tips for drawing in three dimensions. He continued his tutorial on the fundamentals of sketching by guiding students through several Star Wars character drawings. An art workshop presented by Imagine That! introduced students to famous artists, such as Jackson Pollack. Following the brief art history lesson students went on to recreate artwork using Pollack’s unique drip painting style. Representing the Manga style of drawing prominent in Japan, comic artist Misako Rocks! demonstrated the unique techniques associated with the medium. Maintaining the focus on literature and art, Marvel artist Billy Tucci spoke to students about his approach to art and the hard work that lead to the position he holds today. In a captivating combination of art and storytelling, Christopher Agostino painted students’ faces to coincide with folktales he told from around the world. Complementing the presenters of art and literature were members from the Sachem Public Library that made books available for checkout and brought various studio robots for students to experiment with. Concluding the fun-filled pop culture event, students and teachers faced off in an exciting Star Wars-themed trivia game. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56530 Thu, 08 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false56530 Stylist Workshop Shares Valuable Industry Insight Tips and tricks were plentiful at a recent stylist workshop for cosmetology students in the career and technical education program at Sachem High School North. The student stylists gathered around as Nico Merritt and Joe Nati from Hattori Hanzo Shears demonstrated advanced haircutting techniques on Principal Patricia Trombetta. The professionals covered a plethora of salon topics, including approaches and techniques for achieving a variety of hairstyles and the importance of selecting the proper scissors for the desired cut. Students became better acquainted with popular tools of the trade, including shears, multipurpose shears and texturizers, and explored the benefits of different scissor materials. Throughout the hands-on workshop, Merritt emphasized the importance of not cutting hair on “autopilot” and actively advancing the application of their skills to become a better stylist. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56488 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false56488 New Elementary Report Card Information Please review the new elementary report card letter below. For your convenience, we are offering two Parent Academy training sessions to answer any questions and to give further insight. Kindly RSVP using either the Google Form link below or by emailing the Office of Curriculum and Instruction. This helps us to prepare for the size of our audience. • Google Form Link: https://goo.gl/forms/Xfjx3MjB9ikWA5Qt1 • Email: ehynes@sachem.edu https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56489 Wed, 07 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false56489 P.S. I Love You Day Showcases Student Kindness Kindness and friendship radiated throughout the halls of Cayuga Elementary School earlier this February as students and staff participated in a collection of special activities as part of P.S. I Love You Day. P.S. I Love You Day was organized as a nonprofit organization by sisters Brook and Jaimie Dipalma after the tragic loss of their father in 2010. Jaimie, a fifth-grade teacher at Cayuga Elementary School, organized a series of activities during the week to promote kindness and take a stand against bullying. The special day in its eighth year has transformed into a nationwide initiative with more than 100 schools participating across the country. “P.S. I Love You Day helps create a support system for students at school and beyond,” Dipalma said. “I hope that after this day students see how powerful a small act of kindness can be.” To kick off the week’s activities students on each grade level joined Sachem High School North teacher Jonathan Chiaramonte and his peer education class as they worked with students on games promoting self-esteem and the importance of being kind to others. The next day students went on to create kindnessgrams, writing supportive messages to classmates they don’t normally interact with. The kindnessgrams were distributed throughout the classroom and read aloud to fellow classmates on P.S. I Love You Day, at the end of the week. Drawing inspiration from this year’s theme to “go the extra mile,” students joined in a walkathon through the halls of the building to raise funds and awareness for the cause. Each year the proceeds collected from the day are donated to the Long Island Crisis Center. Blanketing the walls of Cayuga were countless reflective drawings and banners made by each grade level that showcased the impact kindness has had in the students’ lives. P.S. I Love You Day was the culminating event to a week of caring and kindness. The school became a sea of purple as students donned the color to represent unity as one collective support system. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56442 Tue, 06 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false56442 Dental Health Review Makes Students Shine Wenonah Elementary School Life Skills students learned important dental hygiene practices as part of an informative presentation given by Kiddsmiles Pediatric Dentistry. As part of the life skills class curriculum, a representative from Kiddsmiles taught students the importance of dental hygiene and what to expect during a visit to the dentist’s office. Students learned the most effective technique to use when brushing their teeth, foods that cause tooth decay and other foods that can improve their dental health. Throughout the presentation students were called upon to practice the skills covered during the activity. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56381 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false56381 Free Parenting Workshops https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56386 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false56386 A letter from the SCSSA regarding a social media threat that was circulating through Long Island Schools. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=56414 Mon, 05 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false56414 High School East Takes the Stage in ‘Sweeney Todd’ Sachem High School East drama students took to the stage this March to perform “Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,” by Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler. The remaining performances are scheduled for Fri., March 2 and Sat., March 3 in the Sachem High School East auditorium. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at the door. The story tells the tale of a famed barber who returned to work above a struggling pie shop under an alias after being wrongly sentenced to life in prison. Working with the baker, Mrs. Lovett, the pair sought vengeance against the corrupt judge that sentenced Todd and end up traveling down a path with deadly consequences. The leading cast is composed of Colin Kwasnik as Sweeney Todd, Cecilia Antonelle as Mrs. Lovett, Ralf Jean-Francois as Judge Turpin, Jordan Dupre as Anthony Hope, Angelina Pagan as Johanna Barker, Cara Arbucci as Beggar Woman, Sam Krompinger as Adolfo Pirelli, Sophia Antonelle as Tobias Ragg and Nick Marrone as Beadle Bamford. The production includes multiple talented support staff and crew members that add to the seamless execution of the performance. “Before beginning this play, we all knew the high level of difficulty associated with achieving success during this production,” Drama Director Kenneth Dobbins said. “As always, with our vast array of talent, we have success. Congratulations to cast, crew, orchestra and all parents who helped us in reaching our dream.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55913 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55913 NYS Grades 3-8 State Assessment Letter English Assessment Letter Spanish Assessment Letter https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55928 Fri, 02 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55928 Merrimac Students Travel Through Time Merrimac Elementary School students traveled back in time to the height of the Revolutionary War as part of a Google Expeditions activity, exploring many significant points in 18th-century American history. As an enhancement to the classroom curriculum, every fifth-grade class at the school embarked on a guided tour through the 1700s, visiting historically important sites. Students encountered pivotal events of the war such as the Boston Massacre, the Battle of Lexington and Paul Revere’s midnight ride. In between the virtual visits, the fifth-graders answered questions related to the historical destinations they had witnessed. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55865 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55865 2018-2019 District Calendar Approved At their meeting on Wednesday, February 28th, the Sachem Board of Education approved the District Calendar for the 2018-2019 school year (see below). This calendar was developed using information provided by the New York State Education Department regarding proposed changes to attendance regulations. These changes are reflected in this calendar in the form of a later end date to the school year. The New York State Board of Regents is scheduled to vote on these changes at their April meeting. Should these regulations be revised or not approved, the Board will amend the District calendar accordingly. This abbreviated version can serve as a reference in planning your personal calendars for next year. Please note that the comprehensive district calendar with dates and events (including activities such as elementary conference days) will be developed over the next few months and will be published on the district website in July of 2018. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55866 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55866 Sachem Legislative Forum, Thursday March 8, 2018 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55856 Thu, 01 Mar 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55856 Creating Buzz at Long Island’s Brain Bee Two Science Research students from Sachem High School North recently showed off their neuroscience skills at the Long Island Brain Bee, held at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra University on Feb. 3. The annual competition gives interested students a venue to explore multiple disciplines associated with the study of the brain and exposes them to career opportunities available in neurology, neurosurgery, psychology and neuroscience. Competing among 35 other high school students from Nassau and Suffolk counties, junior Amy DeLury placed second and freshman Nistha Boghra received a certificate of completion for her participation in the contest. The one-day competition is comprised of three components: a written test on brain facts, laboratory demonstrations on normal and pathological human brain and spinal cord specimens, and a test to identify the anatomical structures and functions of a real human brain. "I am impressed by the dedication displayed by Amy and Nistha,” Science Research teacher Gregg McGrath said. “Both students devoted significant time and energy to learning about the brain and nervous system prior to the competition. They were both great representatives of Sachem High School North." The event concluded with a lunch, during which the students were able to converse with experts in brain biology on concepts and ideas covered in the competition. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55814 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55814 Free Seminar for Parents and Students Looking to Enroll in College Thursday, March 8, 2018 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55823 Wed, 28 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55823 Sachem Students Meet at Spelling Showdown Sachem’s super spellers showed off their skills at the annual fifth-grade districtwide spelling bee on Feb.7 at Chippewa Elementary School. For more than 20 years the Sachem Central School District has showcased the top two spellers from each building at the districtwide spelling bee. As champions on the building level, the 20 students met for the chance to be named the top speller. Each year the bee is held at the school of the previous year’s winner. This year’s contest was judged by Merrimac Elementary Principal Veronica DeCicco, Lynwood Elementary Principal Danielle DeLorenzo and Waverly Elementary Principal John Ruggero, with Chippewa Principal Patricia Aubrey serving as the official pronouncer. Following a rigorous flurry of words, Gavin Flynn from Grundy Avenue Elementary School was named the winner after successfully spelling the winning word, “impetuousness.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55776 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 14:00:00 GMT false55776 Sachem North Cheer Wins Suffolk County Championship Sachem North is your Suffolk County Division I Large School champion for 2018. The Flaming Arrows competed in the championship tournament on Saturday, Feb. 24 at West Islip High School. Both Sachem North and Sachem East competed at the national championships in early February as well. Both placed among the top programs in the country at Walt Disney World. Sachem North placed fourth in the large school division of the UCA Nationals, and Sachem East, competing in the small school division, placed ninth. The Suffolk cheerleading schedule is unique in that these teams get to compete at nationals before the county tournament. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55749 Tue, 27 Feb 2018 13:00:00 GMT false55749 2018 National Merit Scholarship Finalists Announced Sachem High School East senior Tharini Prakash and High School North senior Paige Mennici have been named finalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Tharini is president of the English Honor Society, treasurer of class government and a member of the Outdoors Club. She is enrolled in a plethora of Advanced Placement classes, including physics, economics, calculus, literature, environmental science and French. Tharini plans to pursue a degree in economics and politics at one of her top three school choices: Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania or Yale University. Paige has had perfect NYSSMA scores since eighth grade and was selected to the all-state chorus ensemble this year. She is the co-president of the Drama Club, vice president of the Music Honor Society and secretary of the National Honor Society. Paige plans to pursue a degree in music industry and song writing at The College of Saint Rose. Approximately 15,000 students have been selected as finalists based on a number of rigorous academic requirements. The nationwide pool of finalists represents less than 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring from each state. Beginning in March and concluding in June, 7,500 finalists will be notified that they have been chosen to receive a Merit Scholarship. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55724 Mon, 26 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55724 Valentines for Veterans Showcase Student Support Students throughout the Sachem Central School District spread gratitude and support for U.S. military veterans by creating more than 1,000 Valentine’s Day cards for them. As part of the community initiative sponsored by the Office of Suffolk County Legislator William Lindsay of the eighth district, students inscribed personalized messages on colorful heart-shaped cards, expressing their appreciation to the nation’s veterans. They dressed up their vibrant creations by applying paper doilies and stickers to them. In addition to the cards, several district schools assembled Valentine’s Day bags, which were donated to Veterans Affairs hospitals across Long Island. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55560 Tue, 20 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55560 9th - 12th Grade Districtwide Parent Only Event Thursday, March 15, 2018: The Real Facts On Vaping and E-Cigarettes https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55529 Tue, 20 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55529 Parent Presentation - 9th-12th Grade - E-Cigarettes and Vapors - March 15 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55527 Tue, 20 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55527 K-8 Districtwide Parent Only Event Wednesday, March 7, 2018: The Real Facts On Vaping and E-Cigarettes https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55528 Tue, 20 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55528 Parent Presentation - K-8th Grade - The Real Facts on Vaping and E-Cigarettes - March 7 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55526 Tue, 20 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55526 Sachem Student-Engineers Are No Strangers to Success The Sachem Aftershock Robotics team is poised for another successful competition season following two consecutive first-place finishes, captured during the FIRST Robotics Regional Long Island Competition sponsored by the School Business Partnerships of Long Island. The team, composed of 117 male and female students from both Sachem High School East and North, worked countless hours honing its design, engineering and production skills in preparation for a grueling competition season, which began after the annual kickoff announcement Jan. 6. Each offseason the student-engineers submit proposals for side projects to continue their work exploring multiple aspects of the engineering field. With help from the club advisers, students design and build worm drive transmissions and write software for vision systems, among other challenging projects. New additions to the team compete in two offseason competitions utilizing last year’s robot to become familiar with all aspects of the competition environment. The robotics team provides an opportunity for students to explore the multifaceted engineering profession through the hands-on application of designs and ideas. Students engage in mechanical, electrical and software engineering with help from club advisers James Byrne, Andrew Cifuini and Robert Wentzel. Along the way students also receive key insights from Gary Dibicari, software advisor Jim Tripi, and new Sachem teacher and robotics team alumni Michael Lundstrom. “Aftershock Robotics helps students gain confidence communicating their ideas,” Wentzel said. “Students create worldwide connections while working on a common goal.” The FIRST Robotics Competition announces a different game each year with varying objectives the students’ creation must complete efficiently. This year’s game is called “Power Up.” Once the game for the year is named, the students spring into action, brainstorming and identifying the problem before developing subsystems to effectively accomplish the tasks. This season the robotics team will be competing in two regional competitions. On Feb. 20 the students reach the end of the allotted build time for their robot. The robot is then crated and shipped off for the first competition of the season, the Palmetto Regional FIRST Robotics Competition on March 1 in South Carolina. Continuing the competition season, the team is aspiring to win its third consecutive Long Island Regional title on Apr. 12 at Hofstra University. Upon winning either of the two regional competitions, the team gains admission to the worldwide FIRST Championship held April 25-28, at the Cobo Center in Detroit. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55497 Fri, 16 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55497 Virtual Enterprise Students Receive Stanford Scholarship Sachem High School North senior Isabella Martinalbert and Sachem High School East senior Andrew Scavo have been chosen to receive the full-tuition Stanford scholarship from Long Island University Post for their outstanding academic achievements and participation in the Virtual Enterprise International class. Isabella is an active participant in student government, a member of the yearbook committee and a member of the color guard for the Sachem Flaming Arrows Marching Band. In addition to her participation in extracurricular activities, Isabella is enrolled in multiple Advanced Placement classes, including economics, literature and calculus. Isabella plans to attend LIU Post where she will major in accounting before pursuing her master’s degree in business administration. Excelling throughout his time at Sachem, Andrew is a member of the varsity baseball team, a member of student government and the Buddies Club. Beginning his college education with a head start, Andrew has already received 30 college credits from enrollment and successful completion of many Advanced Placement classes such as calculus, physics, economics and English. Andrew remains undecided where he will attend college, but plans to pursue a degree in either finance or accounting. “Being involved in the finance department in our Virtual Enterprise class has helped solidify my choice to continue on with finance in college,” Andrew said. “Virtual Enterprise allowed me to break out of the traditional classroom experience and apply real-world ideas and creativity to our work.” Also recognized for his participation in the Virtual Enterprise program, Sachem High School East senior Nicholas Camoia has been offered a partial scholarship to LIU Post. Nicholas is undecided where he will attend college but is focused on obtaining a degree in a business-related field. To be considered for the Stanford scholarship, students must have participated in the Virtual Enterprise International class, have at least a 92 unweighted high school average and a SAT score of 1250. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55393 Wed, 14 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55393 Board Recognizes Special Students at February Meeting At their February meeting, the Sachem Board of Education recognized several talented student-musicians from across the district and three student groups for their volunteer efforts. Beginning the special recognitions, Chairperson for Secondary Music Dr. Justin Comito announced the students who were selected to take part in this year’s All-County and All-State music festivals. Those chosen for the prestigious concerts ranged from grades six to 12 and included both instrumental and vocal performers. Sachem High School East Student Government members were honored as well. The students were commended for organizing the annual Thanksgiving food drive, which garnered enough food to feed 300 families in need throughout the Sachem community. Also recognized were Merrimac Elementary School students Gabriel Nagel and Sarah Nagel, who coordinated their school’s “Kicking for a Cause” fundraiser to benefit victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The siblings inspired their peers to donate hundreds of nonperishable food items. Additionally, the members of Merrimac’s Student Lighthouse Team were recognized for their coat drive that yielded more than 150 coats and 200 winter accessories for families in need. Concluding the special recognitions, Hiawatha Elementary School second-grade teachers and student class representatives were honored for their monthly volunteer projects that have benefited countless people throughout the Sachem community and beyond. The group collected more than 40 boxes of coats, made holiday cards for veterans and collected items to donate to pediatric cancer patients to make their hospital stays more comfortable. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55324 Tue, 13 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55324 Waverly Student Organizes Special Fundraiser Waverly Avenue Elementary School fifth-grade student Casey Lynch took an idea to fruition as he organized a fundraiser to raise money for a cause that hits close to home. Casey’s father John Lynch was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and after successful treatment beat the disease. After approaching Waverly Principal John Ruggero with a written proposal, Casey put a plan into action to benefit the Lustgarten Foundation’s research on pancreatic cancer. He contacted the Lustgarten Foundation, which provided purple bracelets for Casey to sell for one dollar each to raise donations. Casey vigorously promoted the fundraiser by making a morning announcement, creating flyers to display around the building and encouraged his peers to help spread the word of the cause. Concluding the fundraiser, Casey and his classmates were visited by the Lustgarten Foundation Vice President of Development Linda Gruskiewicz. Ms. Gruskiewicz spoke to the students about the significance of pancreatic cancer research and the difficulties associated with the diagnosis. Following the informational discussion, Casey presented the Lustgarten Foundation with a check for the funds he raised in the amount of $700. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55276 Mon, 12 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55276 Sachem Has Strong Showing at Winter Track Championships All they do is win! In their latest show of dominance, the Sachem East girls track and field team won the Suffolk County championship meet last weekend at Suffolk County Community College-Western Campus in Brentwood. The win was the third consecutive winter title for Sachem East, a streak that is the third-longest in the history of Suffolk County, and also sets them up for the possibility of the coveted “Triple Crown,” a team title in cross country, winter track and spring track in the same academic year. Sachem East last completed the Triple Crown during the 2015-2016 academic year. If they can pull off the difficult feat again this spring, they would join Bay Shore as the only team in Suffolk history to record the Triple Crown more than once. This year’s championship saw Sachem East score 83 total points over close competition from Longwood (45 points), Ward Melville (42 points), Sachem North (40 points), William Floyd (40 points) and Bay Shore (38 points). The meet featured all 21 of Suffolk’s large-school teams. Sachem East’s only event winners were Margaret Atwood (racewalk) and the 4 x 800-meter relay of Bridget Abraldes, Shayna Arrigo, Rachel Ruggiero and Rachel Weber. Kaitlyn Famiglietti (600 meters), Shayna Arrigo (1,000 meters), Rachel Ruggiero (1,500 meters) and Lindsey Dodenhoff (3,000 meters) all took second place in their individual events, and the combination of Angela Consalazio, Kaitlyn Famiglietti, Brooke Papele and Lauren Trejo took second in the 4 x 400-meter relay. Adding to the point total for Sachem was Jeilyn Balbuena, Chelsea Benedict, Sabrina Mena and Melissa Merone. Ramirez Wins Big: From Sachem North, Molly Ramirez was electric in the 1,500-meter race, finishing first with a time of 4:52.24. The 1,500-meter was expected to be one of the most exciting and competitive races of the day. Ramirez was keeping tabs on Singh from Bay Shore the entire race and it was a close finish right down the home stretch until she won. Next Up: The Section XI state qualifier meet is on Feb. 12, also at SCCC Brentwood. The meet will determine which athletes will represent Section XI at the state championships on March 3 in the 17 different individual and relay events. #GoArrows https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55223 Fri, 09 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55223 Waverly Students Show Off Animal Artwork Colorful creations were plentiful at Waverly Avenue Elementary School as fifth-grade students created animal bobble heads as part of an art activity exploring ceramics. Utilizing ceramic clay, students in Susan Kinsey’s art class used their hands to sculpt cats and dogs for their bobble heads. Students used toilet paper rolls as armatures to create the body of their animals and then shaped the animal’s heads from pinch pots, a molding technique achieved by pinching the thumb and forefinger to form a bowl-shaped mold. As part of the lesson in ceramics, students learned each step of the kiln firing process to produce finished ceramic sculptures. Students began with the initial firing, called the bisque fire, before applying a glaze to their sculptures and placing them in the kiln for the final firing, known as the glaze fire. Throughout the building, each grade level is participating in a ceramics activity to encourage manual dexterity and support the creative process. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55188 Thu, 08 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55188 Notice of Public Auction https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55113 Wed, 07 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55113 Sagamore Students Learn Tricks of the Trade It was lights, camera, action for Sagamore Middle School sixth-grade social studies students as they were joined by two television news professionals as part of an ongoing newscast project. Students in Jessica Frank’s World History class stepped into the spotlight as part of an ancient civilizations unit with a special spin. Each student transformed into a news anchor where they presented elements of the civilizations they studied. Students delivered news reports on numerous aspects of ancient cultures, such as cooking, fashion, dance, technology, weather and sports. As a key component to the newscast project, students received helpful insight from two prominent local news professionals. Students were visited by Jamie Stuart, Emmy-winning News 12 Long Island sports anchor and reporter, and Joe Cioffi, meteorologist on FiOS1 News and WPIX-TV Channel 11, for two separate assembly presentations. Beginning with an assembly for all the sixth-grade students, Stuart described his job as a sports anchor and reporter and how he reached the position he holds today. He encouraged students to always work hard and take the time to approach problems in a constructive way. Following the assembly, Stuart worked with small groups from Jessica Frank’s class, offering advice on how to effectively deliver their newscast and how to write and edit their scripts. During a separate assembly presentation, Cioffi spoke with students about the basics of meteorology and elements of forecast maps. Demonstrating his expertise in meteorology, Cioffi identified an area of incoming rain, announcing that it should begin any minute. Students were astonished when the rain began outside shortly after. Continuing the visit, Cioffi coached students in front of the green screen as they worked on delivering their ancient weather reports. In its first year at Sagamore, the addition of the news show project into the class curriculum engages students in a unique way. With help from librarian Sandy Bucher, students utilize library resources to research the topics they will be reporting on. While gaining knowledge on ancient civilizations, the students also explore many aspects of being part of a news production. Students write and edit scripts, conduct interviews and then deliver the prepared newscast in front of a green screen with the help of Technology Integration Specialist Carrie McGuire. The green screen was used to add realistic settings behind the student news anchors as their segments were recorded. “This project gives students a much greater experience than what they learn from the textbook alone,” Frank said. “Students take the information they obtain through research and bring it to life.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=55083 Tue, 06 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false55083 Merrimac Students Share Accomplishments A special celebration of student accomplishment spread throughout the halls of Merrimac Elementary School, as students revisited their teachers and classmates from last school year and shared in each other’s collective accomplishments as part of a Leadership Notebook Reunion project. The Leadership Notebook acts as a tool for students to track their progress as they continue through their education at Merrimac. Students utilize the notebook to graph test results, collect special recognitions, track leadership roles and set academic goals. At Merrimac, the Leadership Notebook also creates motivation for student participation in service-learning projects, such as the Pet Education Project organized by two students in October. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54994 Mon, 05 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54994 Sketching Science Concepts for Review Sachem High School East Advanced Placement Environmental Science students put their creativity to the test as they created detailed diagrams of complex science concepts in preparation for their upcoming midterm exam. Working in small groups, the students used water-soluble markers to draw illustrations of various topics they had been studying this year. With guidance from their teacher, John Crisci, the students created visual representations of such topics as carbon and nitrogen cycles, the greenhouse effect, ozone layer, soil profiles and the Earth’s wind belts. After the diagrams were complete, the students rotated between the group projects and listened as their peers discussed their charts. Students were also encouraged to replicate each group’s project in their notebooks for further review and future reference. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54904 Fri, 02 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54904 Lynwood Avenue Digs Deep to Study Aquifer Science A special science topic intrigued students at Lynwood Avenue Elementary School as they attended an educational program on the Long Island aquifer system presented by the Suffolk County Water Authority. Each third-grade class at Lynwood listened to important facts about the aquifer system on Long Island – including the different components of the system – and how homes are supplied with clean water. A demonstration using red dye showed students how easy harmful chemicals can leach through the ground into the water supply and create unsafe drinking water. Throughout the presentation students asked questions and discussed ways to limit pollution in their everyday lives. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54863 Thu, 01 Feb 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54863 Board Recognizes Extraordinary Student Volunteerism at January Meeting During its January meeting, the Sachem Board of Education celebrated multiple students for their extraordinary volunteer efforts. Cayuga Elementary School second-grader Adrianna Esposito was recognized for organizing a toy drive, which collected 550 toys for families in need within the Sachem community. Also recognized was a group of students from Sachem High School North for their participation in a recent toy and food drive. The incredible effort by the students collected 1,364 boxes of food for Sachem’s annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and countless toys during the Festival of Trees and Lights, one of the community’s largest toy drives. Concluding the student recognitions, a large group of student leaders from Chippewa Elementary School were recognized for their continued volunteerism and community support organizing clothing and food drives. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54827 Wed, 31 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54827 Grundy Students Talk Safety Tips Kindergarten students talked safety at Grundy Avenue Elementary School during a recent injury prevention program provided by the Trauma Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. Through the workshop, each kindergarten class was visited by two Stony Brook nurses, Kristi Ladowski and Christine Pfundstein, who shared important tips to stay safe and avoid injury. Students learned about the importance of correctly wearing a seatbelt when riding in a car and a helmet when riding a bicycle. Using two eggs, one with a protective case around it representing a helmet and one without, the students saw how easily the unprotected egg cracked and the protected egg remained safe. Additionally, each class participated in a teddy bear clinic where students suited up as a doctor and performed patient care on one of their own stuffed animals. Dressed in protective hair nets, face masks and rubber gloves, students began by assessing the condition of their patient, identifying injuries and making recommendations on how to stay safe next time. Completing the teddy bear clinic, the student-caregivers applied bandages and splints to their injured fluffy friends. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54773 Tue, 30 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54773 Mindful Meditation at Nokomis Third-grade Nokomis Elementary School students in Jennifer Swenning’s class worked on mindful meditation practices as they engaged in a yoga class led by class mom Lisa Zimmerman. Each month, the class participated in yoga sessions and learned multiple poses, including warrior, child, cat, cow and tree. During each session, Ms. Zimmerman emphasized the practice of slow, controlled breathing and being cognizant of body position. As a part of each class, students worked to improve core strength, balance, flexibility and effective breathing techniques. With the help of calming music, the students concluded each yoga class with meditation to promote calm and focus throughout the school day. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54722 Mon, 29 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54722 Principal Panasci Talks Pizza Sagamore Middle School Family and Consumer Sciences students recently learned the steps to preparing a popular Italian food, as Principal Frank Panasci delivered a demonstration on how to make pizza. As part of the food preparation unit, seventh-grade students in Michelle Esp’s, Kristin Barnes’ and Judy-Lyn Ciancarelli’s family and consumer sciences classes learned the various steps to create a delicious pizza. For his first job, Principal Panasci worked at Eddie’s Pizza located in Lake Ronkonkoma, where he picked up key insight into the pizza business, which he shared with the students. Principal Panasci discussed the importance of preparing each ingredient and how pizza places grind cheese and make dough. To the surprise of the students, Principal Panasci even demonstrated his expert dough-spinning skills for each class. Concluding the instructional lesson, students enjoyed a sample of the pizza they learned to create. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54688 Fri, 26 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54688 Student Activity Honors Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Empathy was on the mind of students throughout Wenonah Elementary School recently as students participated in a two-week kindness challenge in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. As part of the character education curriculum at Wenonah, students took part in the Kindness and Justice Challenge that included multiple activities aimed to foster an inclusive learning environment. During Mismatched Shoe Day, students wore two different shoes to school to generate conversation on seeing things from the perspective of someone else. Other special themed activities that occurred during the week included Backwards Day when students wore a shirt backwards to represent that once something hurtful is said it can’t be taken back. During an activity named Mix It Up, students were assigned to sit at a different table during their lunch period and make conversation with a student they didn’t know. The activity was a valuable opportunity for students to meet new people and make new friends. Faculty and staff also took part in the challenge by participating in the Mix It Up activity. Teachers sat with colleagues they don’t normally sit with at a recent staff breakfast. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54636 Thu, 25 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54636 Sachem East Captures League I T&F Championships Can you say dynasty? The Sachem East girls’ varsity track and field team won the 2018 Suffolk County League I championship this past weekend at Suffolk County Community College Brentwood. The victory is the third consecutive league title for Sachem East, which has now also won seven of the last 11 league championships. The league meet, the first team scoring meet of the entire winter season, pits each of the nine League I teams against each other with a scoring format of 10 points to first place, eight points to second place, six points to third, four points to fourth, two points to fifth, and one point to sixth in each of the individual and relay events. A score of 136 points (good for ninth all-time in league meet history) outdistanced Sachem East from the remainder of League I’s top teams: Longwood (81 points), Brentwood (58 points), Ward Melville (52 points) and Sachem North (50 points). Taking home the title of individual event league champion were Margaret Atwood (racewalk), Bridget Abraldes (1,000 meters), Lindsey Dodenhoff (3,000 meters), Michaela Parker (shot put) and Rachel Ruggiero (1,500 meters). The combination of Bridget Abraldes, Shayna Arrigo, Brooke Papele and Lauren Trejo took home a league title (and meet record) in the 4x400 meter relay – not to be outdone by teammates Kaitlyn Famiglietti, Melissa Merone, Rachel Ruggiero and Rachel Weber, who brought home the league title in the 4x800 meter relay. Adding to the scoring total for Sachem East was Jasmine Ahmed, Jeilyn Balbuena, Chelsea Benedict, Angela Consalazio, Arya Deshpande, Sabrinna Mena, Anna Murphy and Sam Piezzo. The league meet serves as a preview for the Large School Suffolk County championship, which will take place on Sunday, Feb. 4 at Suffolk Brentwood. The meet will include the top teams from League I (Brentwood, Longwood, Sachem East, Sachem North and Ward Melville) but will also feature all of League II and a portion of League III, most notably Bay Shore, Connetquot, Huntington, North Babylon and Smithtown East. The meet is expected to be very tight at the top as Sachem East seeks to win its third consecutive winter county title. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54589 Wed, 24 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54589 Sachem Students Are a Step Ahead Two times each week, a Lynwood Elementary School classroom transforms into a magnificent dance hall as fifth-grade students practice popular ballroom dances. In its ninth year, the program teaches students dance skills that improve nonverbal communication, problem-solving and teamwork. Student partners practice in unison as they first review the steps by counting aloud together, then add music to each dance. During the 10-week program designed by Dancing Classrooms Long Island, Teaching Artist Jessica Heins and Educational Liaison Alison Armbruster guide students through seven dances, including the merengue, foxtrot, rumba, waltz, tango, swing and polka. At the culmination of the program, the students put on a performance for their parents showcasing their new dancing skills. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54558 Tue, 23 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54558 Sachem Students Are All Business With Virtual Enterprise High school students in the Sachem Central School District are receiving real-world business experience as part of the Virtual Enterprise class. In its third year at Sachem, the Virtual Enterprise class teaches upperclassman valuable business skills as they navigate each aspect of a complete business plan. Guided by teacher Keith McCaffery, Sachem High School East has two student-run business firms and High School North has one firm, led by Business Chairperson Thomas Sullivan. Students at both schools have the opportunity to earn college credits as they continue through the program. At the beginning of the full-year class, each student submits a résumé and interviews for their desired position within the firm. The virtual business mirrors a traditional organizational environment and is broken up into different departments, including human resources, marketing, sales, finance and information technology, which are all overseen by a management team. Students collaborate to develop a business name, logo, website and various promotional materials such as brochures, business cards, product catalogs and a commercial. High School North’s virtual business, Mobuilt, is a technology company focused on selling cutting-edge devices whose products include televisions, cell phone cases and drones. The firm’s flagship product is a pair of shoes that generates energy with each step that is used to charge your cell phone. 2-Pure International, one of the Sachem High School East-based firms, is a culturally driven meal delivery service. The business provides traditional meals from countless cultures around the world, such as Latin American empanadas and bratwurst from Germany. The business offers a subscription service ranging from one to 12 months aimed to expand their customers’ cultural palate. In addition, High School East students created a second firm called U-Create. This company is a monthly box subscription service that provides products to customers at a lower price by bundling items. Customers can choose from four categories including beauty, pets, fitness and technology. The monthly subscriptions are broken up into three options, bronze, silver and platinum, which represent the number of items per box. “Virtual Enterprise allows us to take our business where we want it to go,” said senior and Mobuilt CEO Jeanine Cerqueira. “Whether it is technology, clothing or both, we can use our ideas to expand the market.” As part of the Virtual Enterprise class, the student businesses competed in a business plan competition and trade show at Farmingdale State College. The student firm competed against 35 other student-run firms for a chance to attend the Virtual Enterprises International Business Plan Competition taking place in New York City Apr. 16, at the Microsoft Technology Center. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54503 Mon, 22 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54503 Tri-State Consortium Self-Study Click here to view the study https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54448 Fri, 19 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54448 30 Years of Lifesaving Skills in Sachem Sachem Middle School students are ready to react when it comes to emergency situations, thanks to a districtwide CPR initiative, which started in 1988. For 30 years, seventh-grade students throughout the Sachem Central School District middle schools have been learning a wide variety of lifesaving skills. Within their health education classes, students learn the proper CPR procedure, the Heimlich Maneuver for choking situations and how to use an automated external defibrillator in the case of a cardiac arrest. They begin by surveying the situation, designating a bystander to call for help and then beginning emergency care once they assess the patient’s condition. Using lifelike CPR manikins, the students also practice effective chest compression depth, cadence and how to deliver rescue breaths. “This class creates the next generation of lifesavers,” said Chairperson for Secondary Health Education Lori Hewlett. “This initiative prepares our students for emergency situations and empowers them with lifesaving skills.” After the completion of a written and practical certification exam, each student receives an official CPR certification card from the American Heart Association. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54395 Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54395 Curriculum Council Presentation https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54414 Thu, 18 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54414 Student Breakfast Encourages Creating Connections Collective conversations fostered connections as Samoset Middle School students interacted with teachers and building administration outside of the traditional classroom structure during a recent program. As part of the Making Connections initiative proposed by Principal James Horan, the building leadership team organized the event as a chance for teachers and students to converse in a different setting. After enjoying breakfast, attendees divided into groups and participated in an activity that involved passing around a numbered beach ball with six corresponding questions. Members of the group passed the ball among themselves and depending on what number was facing them answered a question from the prepared list. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham was also in attendance during the event and eagerly joined in with a group to participate in the activity. The focus of the program was to enhance communication within each group and facilitate relationships between building administrators, teachers and students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54353 Wed, 17 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54353 Grundy Avenue Students Race the Clock Problem-solving, collaboration and teamwork were at the center of a recent challenge Grundy Avenue Elementary School third-grade students worked to solve as they participated in a Breakout EDU activity. As part of the event, each class raced the clock as it attempted to solve puzzles to determine the combination to open each lock within a secure box to reach a prize. In the allotted 45-minute time period, student teams worked together as they solved reading puzzles that gave them clues to the next portion of the challenge. Breakout EDU is an activity that encourages students to work collaboratively while incorporating creativity, communication and critical thinking skills. Each activity can be adapted to the current curriculum and includes a wide variety of subjects such as ELA, math, science and history. At the conclusion of the activity, each student group reflected on its Breakout EDU experience. Students explored what they learned during the activity, what problem-solving methods worked well and what they can do to improve next time. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54304 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54304 Superintendent's Letter on Vaping & E-Cigs https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54289 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54289 Curriculum Council Committee Meeting Tonight! Time: 6:30 pm Location: Samoset Room A Presentations: Project Based Learning, Review of Curriculum and Instruction Initiatives We encourage all community members to join us. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54320 Tue, 16 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54320 Sachem Students Seek the Lost Treasure of Newton Intense focus guided students at Sachem High School East as they worked through math equations during a Breakout EDU activity to find the lost treasure of Newton. Calculus students in Scott Kennedy’s math class were separated into two teams and challenged to solve a series of calculus equations to get clues, tools, keys and combinations to unlock five different locks. Within the collection of locked boxes held the clue to the location of Newton’s lost treasure. With both teams successfully completing the task and finding the final clue, the students claimed their treasure, which was a tasty snack securely locked away in Dr. Kennedy’s file cabinet. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54257 Fri, 12 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54257 Sachem Student-Athletes Honored With Fall Recognition Congratulations to our Sachem student-athletes listed below for receiving postseason honors in their respective fall sport. These student-athletes are recognized for their accomplishments and exceptional performances. These recognitions are awarded by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Section XI, Suffolk County coaches associations, Newsday and other sports-related foundations. Sachem East Fall Postseason Award Winners Boys Varsity Cross-Country Scholar-Athlete Team Justin Allore: All-League, All-Division, All-County Christian Berberich: All-League, All-County Joe Berberich: All-League, All-County Kevin Engel: All-County Ryan Famiglietti: All-League, All-County Girls Varsity Cross-Country Scholar-Athlete Team League 1 Champions Division 1 Champions County Champions Bridget Abraldes: All-League Shayna Arrigo: All-League, All-Division, All-County Margaret Atwood: All-Academic Lindsey Dodenhoff: All-League, All-Division, All-County Kaitlyn Famiglietti: All-Academic, All-League, All-Division, All-County Melissa Merone: All-League, All-Division, All-County Rachel Ruggiero: All-Academic, All-League, All-Division, All-County Varsity Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete Team Katie Allen: All-County Emily Allingham: All-Tournament Marissa Cuevas: All-County Katie D’Amico: All-County Kyra D’Amico: All-Tournament Lauren Lucas: All-Tournament Kaylee Maier: All-County Kayla Miranda: All-Academic Michelle Parker: All-County Kate Piazza: Unsung Hero Award Emily Rodriguez: All-County Kristen Shanahan: All-State, First Team All-Long Island Morgan Zimmerman: All-Tournament Varsity Football Tyler Butkevich: All-Division Thomas Cappello: Individual Scholar-Athlete Dan Carroll: All-Division, All-County, Individual Scholar-Athlete, First Team All-Long Island Anthony Ciraolo: Individual Scholar-Athlete Ryan Coope: Individual Scholar-Athlete Anthony D’Amico: Individual Scholar-Athlete Justin Dobies: Individual Scholar-Athlete Kyle Farrell: All-Division, Individual Scholar-Athlete Andrew Kiernan: Individual Scholar-Athlete Marcus Lopez: Individual Scholar-Athlete Cameron Lynch: Individual Scholar-Athlete Thomas Marks: Individual Scholar-Athlete Nicholas Marracello: Individual Scholar-Athlete Ryan Micheli: Individual Scholar-Athlete Chris Park: All-Division Daniel Pearo: Individual Scholar-Athlete Jon Shaw: All-Division, All-County Boys Varsity Soccer Scholar-Athlete Team William Ade: All-League Lucas Beer: All-League Sunny Gu: All-Conference James Perrone: All-Conference, All-County Girls Varsity Soccer Scholar-Athlete Team Morgan Debenedictis: All-County Jules Matyas: All-League Brooke Papele: All-County Skylar Papele: All-County Boys Varsity Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Team Richard Baumann: All-Division Honorable Mention Robert Chalk: All-Academic, All-Division Andrew Oakland: All-Academic Devin Perez: All-Division Honorable Mention, All-Tournament Gavin Qiuery: All-County Liam Sheehy: All-Division, All-Tournament Deniz Soysal: All-Academic, All-County Dylan Stalzer: All-Division Honorable Mention Girls Varsity Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Team Casey Biggers: All-League Cierra Dolan: All-Classification, All-County Tournament Molly Jandris: All-County, All-County Tournament, Second Team All-Long Island Sarah Mangan: All-County, All-County Academic, All-County Tournament, League 1 Player of the Year Shannon O’Keefe: All-League Samantha Szatkowski: All-League Girls Varsity Swimming Scholar-Athlete Team Jennifer Atkins: All-League Shannon Byrne: All-League Jessica Freund: All-League, All-County Alyssa Mei: All-League Erin Mullery: All-League Kaitlyn Poli: All-League Sachem North Fall Postseason Award Winners Boys Varsity Cross-Country Scholar-Athlete Team Vidit Parikhr: All-League, All-Division, All-County Vincent Tripi: All-League, All-Division, All-County Girls Varsity Cross-Country Scholar-Athlete Team Allaura Dashnaw: All-League Jordyn McDonnell: All-League, All-Division, All-County Molly Ramirez: All-League, All-Division, All-County Varsity Field Hockey Scholar-Athlete Team Abigail Bandl: All-County Honorable Mention Michaela Califano: Unsung Hero Paeton Hartmann: All-State Molly Kearns: All-Division Grace LaRocco: All-County Honorable Mention Grace Lipponer: All-County, Second Team All-Long Island Isabella Lorenzo: All-Tournament Carolyn O’Brien: All-County, Second Team All-Long Island Emily Stallone: All-Division Vicky Taylor: All-Tournament Varsity Football Matthew Chirichella: Individual Scholar-Athlete Nicholas Davide: Individual Scholar-Athlete Shane Donovan: Individual Scholar-Athlete Matthew Finder: Individual Scholar-Athlete Joseph Gagliardi: Individual Scholar-Athlete Nicholas Gambino: Individual Scholar-Athlete William Leuck: Individual Scholar-Athlete Nicholas Lofaro: Individual Scholar-Athlete Anthony Marasak: Individual Scholar-Athlete Alexander Martin: Individual Scholar-Athlete David Martinez: Individual Scholar-Athlete Michael Reid: Individual Scholar-Athlete Michael Scicolone: Individual Scholar-Athlete Boys Varsity Soccer Scholar-Athlete Team League 1 Sportsmanship Award Dominic Altrui: All-Academic Ryan Plate: All-League, Participated in the Suffolk-Nassau Senior All-Star Game Steven Rojas: All-Conference Eddie Sanchez: All-League Girls Varsity Soccer Scholar-Athlete Team Erin Avanzato: All-Conference Jenna Blank: All-County Caitlyn Humann: All-Conference Stephanie Radakovic: All-County Boys Varsity Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Team League Champions Jack Driscoll: All-County, Second Team All-Long Island A.J. Fitzgerald: All-County, Rookie of the Year Dan LaRosa: All-County, First Team All-Long Island Alec Lehnert: All-County Connor Pallmann: All-County, First Team All-Long Island Matt Russo: All-Division Girls Varsity Volleyball Scholar-Athlete Team Alexis Cavalieri: All-League Jessica Comito: All-League Kellianne Dempsey: All-Division Lauren Hadzigeorgiou: All-League Annie Keenan: All-Academic Giana Tufano: All-Academic, All-League, All-Conference Girls Varsity Swimming Scholar-Athlete Team Teressa LaFrancesca: All-League Sachem Combined Team Postseason Award Winners Boys Varsity Golf Scholar-Athlete Team Nick Campo: All-League Brian Leckie: All-League Girls Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete Team Summer Matlat: All-County Grace McGowan: All-League Kaylyn Spotton: All-County Ariana Tehranchipour: All-League Samantha Woodburn: All-County Anna Wright: All-League Girls Varsity Tennis Scholar-Athlete Team Kyra Bello: All-Conference Krystle Chukwuanu: All-League Mili Das: All-League Jackie Lindsay: All-League Vanessa Loutran: All-Conference https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54269 Fri, 12 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54269 Drawn Lines Lead to Vibrant Math Creations Samoset Middle School math students explored the unique capabilities of graphing straight lines as they participated in a holiday-themed activity introducing students to quadratics. Eighth-grade honors students in Alicia Kroczynski’s math class learned how plotting straight lines can lead to creating curves. Utilizing KhanAcademy.org, students observed how quadratics were applied in the environmental modeling of grass in the Disney Pixar film “Brave.” After watching videos on how the graphic designers incorporated straight lines to create realistic curves, the students began to work on their own creations. Using straight lines to connect a combination of dots, the students created various holiday objects such as a Christmas tree star, a snowman and a poinsettia. During the activity students also became familiar with popular quadratics vocabulary like axis, rays, angles and parabolic arches. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54214 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54214 District Calendar Important Information https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54222 Thu, 11 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54222 Sachem Students Explore Artists’ Creations As a complement to the classroom curriculum, Sachem High School North art students had the chance to take an up-close look at several famous pieces of artwork during a recent field trip to the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington. The exhibit included Andy Warhol, who conceptualized the Pop Art movement, and Romare Bearden, who was a pioneer of African-American art in the 20th century. Students viewed pieces from each famous artist as they came together in groups to discuss the works of art and share their thoughts. This opportunity provided students an authentic experience with the process of analyzing and responding to works of art. Attending this program will qualify them to enter the Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at the Heckscher Museum competition. Their submitted artwork must be inspired by a piece of art currently on exhibit at the museum and must be accompanied by an artist’s statement. The artist’s statement should reflect the connection between the work on exhibit and their own creation. If selected, their work will hang in the Heckscher Museum of Art from March 17 to April 15, 2018. The evaluators for the contest are interested in the art students’ thought process and what inspired each student to create their own piece. They want to see how the participating art students think outside the box. During the trip, museum educators provided examples of how other previous students made such connections, which showed the Sachem High School North students that the boundaries for creativity, interpretation and exploration are endless. Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at the Heckscher Museum is the only juried art competition on Long Island that offers high school students the opportunity to show their artwork in a museum setting. More than 40 schools will submit over 400 works of art, and from those submissions, only about 85 pieces will actually make it into the show. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54191 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54191 Drivers Education Information Now Available! Click here to view the information for Sachem North Click here to view the information for Sachem East https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54183 Wed, 10 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54183 Notice of Curriculum Council Meeting - January 16th The next Curriculum Council Meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 16th at 6:30 PM in the Conference Room A at Samoset Annex. Updates to the curriculum and project based learning will be discussed as well as a Q & A session will be held. All Sachem community members are welcome. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54158 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 06:00:00 GMT false54158 Hiawatha Students Talk Pencil Drawing A special gift presented to Hiawatha Elementary School Principal Kathleen O’Farrell and art teacher Nicole Healey recently sparked a special conversation about the intricacies of pencil drawing with students in art class. Yvonne Pineiro, a grandmother of two Hiawatha students and a local artist, presented the school with a detailed pencil drawing of the school’s mascot, the Hiawatha Husky. Pineiro was inspired to draw the husky because of her grandchildren’s love for their school. Ms. Healey has put the drawing on display in the art room and has used the work to educate each grade level on the art of pencil drawing and the level of difficulty associated with the medium. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54143 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54143 Important Information About the Spring 2018 Driver Education Program https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54140 Tue, 09 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54140 Sachem Students Visit Atria Hertlin Place Waverly Avenue Elementary School’s fifth-grade select chorus spread the holiday spirit in the Sachem community recently as they visited Atria Hertlin Place, an independent living facility in Lake Ronkonkoma. Lead by music teacher Bonnie Businksi, the students sang holiday songs to the facility’s residents. Following the chorus performance, the students enjoyed conversation with those in attendance. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54126 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 06:00:00 GMT false54126 Sachem Schools Explore with Google Expedition Students and staff in the Sachem Central School District’s middle schools recently traveled the world as they participated in activities utilizing Google Expedition’s virtual reality technology. Without even exiting their classrooms, middle school students and staff were amazed by the 360-degree view provided by the Google Expedition goggles as they visited historic cultural landmarks such as Machu Picchu of Peru and other various Aztec and Inca civilizations. Earth science students were also able to take a virtual trip to the Grand Canyon as part of a geology lesson. As the schools continue to integrate this technology into classroom instruction, teachers and staff attend professional development workshops to fully harness the capabilities of this innovative technology. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54105 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54105 Additional Board of Education Meeting - Executive Session Only Meeting will be held Wednesday, January 17, 2018 at 7:30pm in the Board of Education Room. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=54107 Mon, 08 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false54107 World Language Class Shares Helpful Tips Sachem High School North tenth-grade world language students put their skills to the test as they presented how-to speeches to their classmates demonstrating assorted activities. Students in Christy Zummo’s Spanish class incorporated the commands learned in class into their how-to demonstrations. Each speech included an introduction, a list of supplies needed, the steps necessary to complete the project or task and a conclusion. The student-presenters also included a vocabulary list with English translations to help classmates follow along. Speeches ranged from how to play a sport to the construction of a craft to how to follow a specific cooking recipe. Along with working on their Spanish commands, the speeches provided students with an opportunity to advance their presentation and public-speaking skills. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53999 Wed, 03 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false53999 Sachem Students Create Connections A sense of community radiated throughout the halls of Hiawatha Elementary School as the Peer Education class from Sachem High School North visited to share a special lesson with fourth- and fifth-grade students. During the event, High School North seniors in Jonathan Chiaramonte’s Peer Education class delivered an important message about acceptance – noting that everyone has more in common than one may sometimes think. With the assistance of the high school mediators, students participated in a collection of classroom activities that made them more familiar with their fellow classmates. One game incorporated a numbered beach ball and each number correlated with different questions for the students to answer. Students shared things that they were afraid of, their initial feelings on moving up to the next grade level and people who inspire them. Another activity, named Cross the Line, called for students to listen to a series of questions and take a step forward when they identified with the question. “Activities like Cross the Line give students the chance to get to know their peers on a different level,” said senior Nick Cariello. “Through their participation, they learn that we share similar qualities, feelings and experiences.” Concluding the day’s activities, students returned to their classrooms where they reflected upon their experiences from a day of recognizing the commonalities that exist among their peers. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53932 Tue, 02 Jan 2018 05:00:00 GMT false53932 Goldilocks Goes on Trial The multipurpose room at Hiawatha Elementary School transformed into a courtroom as fourth- and fifth-grade students participated in mock trial proceedings, where the famous storybook character Goldilocks was tried for her suspected crimes against the Three Bears. To prepare for the event, the students worked with lawyer Glen Vogel to learn about fundamentals of the American legal system and take part in various activities to reinforce the concepts. The students then put their newfound knowledge to the test by acting out a fictitious case based on a series of famous children’s books. Each student assumed different roles in the mock courtroom as they brought the scripted trial to life. A jury composed of third-grade students listened to testimony from the cast, which included the Three Bears, Chicken Little, the Big Bad Wolf and Goldilocks herself. The activity provided students an opportunity to strengthen public speaking skills and the ability to identify characters’ points of view through analyzing questions and answers. Each separate class trial was overseen by a special guest judge, including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham who oversaw one class’ proceedings as the students continued their theatrical legal lesson. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53782 Fri, 29 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53782 Sagamore Critter Club Educates on Animal Rescue and Awareness Sagamore Middle School has a “critter club,” with involvement from more than 100 students from grades six through eight. Adviser Michelle Esp said the club educates students on animal rescues, shelter work and local organizations, gathers food and animal supplies to help local shelters, sponsors fundraisers from which all proceeds donated go to local shelters, educates students on responsible pet ownership and develops student awareness of career choices in animal care. So far this year, the club has had members from Long Island Rabbit Rescue and Jungle Bob as guest speakers, and has had experiences with Almost Home Rescue, Avalon Park and Preserve, Bideawee, S.T.A.R. Foundation, Sweetbriar Nature Center and Suffolk County SPCA. The club also raised money for hurricane relief for dogs and cats with a Swedish fish raffle, and in December it will be baking dog biscuits for another fundraiser. “Jungle Bob visited Critter Club and brought in some fascinating reptiles to observe,” wrote Giavonna Perkins in an article for the school paper. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53766 Thu, 28 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53766 Reading Buddies Build Successful Bridges Together Classroom collaboration sparked creativity as kindergarten and fifth-grade reading buddies at Nokomis Elementary School teamed up during a recent STEAM activity inspired by a popular fairy tale, “The Gingerbread Man.” Keri VanDeVenter’s kindergarten class joined Lisa Grant’s fifth-grade class and worked collaboratively to construct a bridge capable of safely transferring the Gingerbread Man from one side of a river to the other. Before students began the hands-on activity, they examined elements of a story, such as setting and conflict, and conducted a test to see what would happen if the Gingerbread Man were to fall into water. Beginning the construction process, the teams worked together to draw designs before constructing one from the supplies provided. The supplies included plastic cups, straws, pipe cleaners, tape and marshmallows. After the bridges were constructed the buddies tested their bridges in front of the other groups and explained the important design elements they incorporated to accomplish their goal. Each team of buddies successfully tested their bridge and all students enjoyed gingerbread cookies as a celebratory snack. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53765 Wed, 27 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53765 Sachem Elementary Schools Spread Holiday Cheer During the holiday season, elementary schools throughout Sachem Central School District have held delightful musical holiday programs for family members and fellow students to enjoy. At Waverly Elementary School, kindergarten students presented their holiday program in which they sang several songs to an audience composed of their families and peers. Students preformed songs such as “Jingle Bells,” “It’s a Small World,” “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “The Dreidel Song.” Waverly Elementary Principal John Ruggero participated in the performance, narrating the popular holiday book “The Night Before Christmas” in between the songs. Guided by music teacher Bonnie Businski, the students prepared for several weeks, memorizing each song and the hand motions that accompanied them. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53764 Fri, 22 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53764 Letter from the Superintendent - December 2017 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53668 Wed, 20 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53668 Tamarac Students’ Crafting Skill Shines Tamarac Elementary School students in Deborah Allocca’s fifth-grade class acquired a creative new skill as part of a community service project to help a family in need during the holiday season. Each year, students in Mrs. Allocca’s class give up their recess period to learn the art of knitting. Students work independently as they knit one square each that is then combined to form a large, multicolored blanket to be donated to a family in need. Students excelled as they surpassed their original one-square goal, knitting multiple squares each. Eventually they incorporated multicolored designs into their squares. The blanket will be donated to a family adopted by Mrs. Allocca’s class, along with various other clothing items and toys for the holiday season. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53609 Tue, 19 Dec 2017 06:00:00 GMT false53609 Cayuga Elementary Goodwill is Consistent and Plentiful A number of community service efforts go on at Cayuga Elementary at any given time. Recently, the building created a Coin Wars campaign utilizing spare change to help raise money for hurricane victims. Mrs. Grossi’s and Mrs. Bennett’s classes won pizza parties for generating the most money. In total, the school raised $2,573.96 for this initiative. In October, the school had a Socktober campaign, netting an incredible 2,603 pairs of socks to be donated to the area’s homeless this year. Follow all of Sachem’s social media pages, @SachemSchools, for daily updates on the many wonderful acts of kindness, volunteerism and community service happening in all buildings. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53592 Tue, 19 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53592 Cayuga Elementary Second Grader Is Holiday Hero Adriana Esposito wants to change the world. The Cayuga Elementary School second grader orchestrated a massive holiday toy drive that has caught the attention of the entire community. Esposito, with the help of her parents and teachers, helped spearhead a toy drive that generated 549 items that will be distributed to children in need within the Sachem community this holiday season. “I learned that there are many kids who don’t get toys for Christmas and this year they will,” said Adriana. After collecting about 300 toys from family and neighbors who donated to her cause, the Fraternal Order of Police donated $1,100 and Sachem Sports Club followed suit with another $500 in donations. Toys R Us in Lake Grove gave 10 percent off purchases and allowed her to come in for private shopping time last weekend. This project quickly outgrew the Cayuga community’s needs and will benefit Sachem North’s toy drive as well. “She’s always trying to figure out how she can change the world and make it better,” said Adriana’s mother, Joanna. “We are so proud of her. She cares more about others than she does herself.” Go to Facebook.com/SachemSchools to see more images from a press event held with Adriana and her family, as well as video of her speaking about her volunteerism. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53741 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 21:00:00 GMT false53741 ‘Professor for a Day’ at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Sachem High School East Science Research sophomore Ryan Meehan was among 16 high school students from New York City and Long Island chosen to participate in Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Professor for a Day program. Ryan attended the “Plant Genomes & Biotechnology: From Genes to Networks” professional conference on Nov. 30. Throughout the workshop, Ryan learned about the development and use of biotechnology and genomic tools in economically important plant species, such as forest and fruit species, cereals, legumes and medicinal plants, and the reasons why these species are profoundly important to human civilization. Additionally, he was able to take a firsthand look inside the world of professional researchers and learn how they interact, share ideas and learn from each other. As part of the district’s Science Research program, Ryan has been studying the effects of ecological changes on living systems for the past two years. His research emphasizes the fact that human health is directly linked to environmental health. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53563 Mon, 18 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53563 Sachem Student-Athletes Named All-Long Island A number of student-athletes from Sachem were named All-Long Island performers for the fall season. On the gridiron, Sachem East’s Danny Carroll, who was also named Suffolk County’s top defensive player, earned First Team All-Long Island honors. In field hockey, Sachem East’s Kristen Shanahan, who led her team with 25 points – 15 goals and 10 assists – also pushed the Arrows into the Suffolk County championship game. Sachem East field hockey coach Tina Moon was named Suffolk County Coach of the Year for a season in which her sixth-ranked Arrows defeated No. 11 Smithtown West, No. 3 Northport and No. 2 Eastport-South Manor in the playoffs. Sachem North’s Grace Lipponer and Carolyn O’Brien were both named to the All-Long Island second team in field hockey. For boys volleyball, Sachem North’s Connor Pallmann was First Team All-Long Island after posting a team-high 209 kills and 37 aces, and Dan LaRosa also took home First Team recognition as Long Island’s top libero. On the second team for boys volleyball was Sachem North’s Jack Driscoll. Molly Jandris from Sachem East was Second Team All-Long Island in girls volleyball. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53667 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53667 Ice Hockey Blackout Night 2017 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53492 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53492 Sachem Celebrates Festival of Trees and Lights Sachem celebrated one of its most popular events of the year on the weekend of Dec. 9-10 when the Festival of Trees and Lights (FOTAL) was held at Sachem High School North. What serves as one of the largest toy drives in the Sachem community also is a way for it to gather and share the holiday spirit. The toy drive this year netted thousands of items that will be distributed to students across Sachem. With the help of social workers in the buildings, children are identified who may not get the full experience of opening gifts for the holidays. More than 150 students receive toys they put on their holiday wish list. “Over the past few months, the Sachem community has been raising money through fundraisers and donations to donate to our toy drive, which gives back to those in the community during the holiday season,” said Caitlyn Humann, senior class president. “It’s a great community event.” Added Lauren Breuer, junior class president: “Students work with the staff very closely to see what the kids in schools want for Christmas, who aren’t privileged. We work together to make their Christmas dreams come true.” FOTAL also packed craft vendors from the area into the gym, and Santa Claus also was there to take photos. Various school clubs decorated trees and placed them in the gym for people to vote on. The winners are shipped to Stony Brook Children’s Hospital each year for others to enjoy. “The Festival of Trees and Lights is a great way to bring together our community,” said freshman Molly Pierce, a student leader. “We bring in vendors from all over who get to share their holiday crafts and foods with families and bring them holiday joy.” A highlight video, including interviews with student leaders, has been posted on Facebook.com/SachemSchools! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53489 Fri, 15 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53489 Sachem Students Tap Into Coding During the month of December, students across the Sachem Central School District participated in a collection of computer science activities in honor of the worldwide Hour of Code initiative. For younger students, the Hour of Code initiative acts as an introductory experience to the world of computer science, covering programming as well as an exploration of how coding technologies are present in everyday life. For older students, the district’s continued participation in Hour of Code provides them with an opportunity to expand their prior coding knowledge as they explore more challenging areas of the discipline. Elementary students throughout the district learned about algorithms and how they act as a list of steps to complete a task. Utilizing Code.org, students engaged in interactive games that included creating their own lists of instructions to move a character through a computer-generated maze. At Wenonah Elementary School, fourth- and fifth-grade students chose to forgo recess and help kindergarten students as they embarked on their first coding experiences. Around other schools within the district, students participated in multiple “unplugged” coding activities, taking coding away from computers and integrating hands-on activities challenging students in other areas of coding. Ozobots were incorporated into code lessons as students controlled the tiny robots through color-coded commands written on paper. As student grade level increased so did the level of difficulty in the coding challenges they faced using the Ozobots. Middle and high school students took on more advanced coding activities as they navigated through drag-and-drop coding tasks before breaking up into teams to compete in robot races using mBots. Students also programmed the robots to move throughout different mazes. mBots are an all-in-one educational robot that allows students to experiment in programming, electronics and robotics. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53470 Thu, 14 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53470 Sachem Students Honored with Suffolk Zone Awards Four students from Sachem were recently honored as the school district’s 2017 Suffolk County Zone Student Award winners. Sachem East’s Ryan Coope and Mackenzie Murphy and Sachem North’s Dan LaRosa and Caitlyn Humann received the recognition, which is presented by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. To be considered for this honor, students must maintain an A average or 90 percent average in high school physical education classes, maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher at the completion of his or her junior year, contribute to the overall positive tone of the physical education class as well as the school, be a leader in class activities and demonstrate the ability to accept responsibility for regular class tasks. Additionally, these students are leaders in schoolwide activities both on and off the field, and are role models in physical education classes by achieving a high level of physical fitness as determined by individual accomplishments recognized by the district. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53633 Wed, 13 Dec 2017 22:00:00 GMT false53633 ‘Life Is a Dream’ at Sachem North The Sachem North Drama Company performed their rendition of “Life is a Dream” on Dec. 7 and 8 and have a third and final performance scheduled for Friday, Dec. 15 at 7:30 p.m. The play tells the story of a prince who must learn empathy and compassion for others before assuming his throne. It’s a 17th-century classic of European theater written by Calderon de la Barca that explores many of the same questions that continue to intrigue us today: What does it mean to be a ruler? What responsibility does a leader have to their people? And what part does love play in allowing us to see ourselves in the other? The leading cast includes Alexa Adler as Arminda, Joey Albano as Clotaldo, Julia Albino as Estrella, Sonny Bergamini as Segismundo, Graham Burdick as Astolfo, Meghan Elberti as Basilia, Katelyn Frawley as Julia, Matthew Mazer as Armand, Paige Menneci as Rosaura and D’Angelo Treston as Clarin. More than 70 students were involved in various roles, from actors and actresses to the stage crew and support staff, for this production. “I believe what they’ve accomplished represents a significant step forward for the drama company,” said Stefan Kelleher, Sachem North’s faculty adviser and director. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53412 Wed, 13 Dec 2017 21:30:00 GMT false53412 Lynwood’s Musical Makerspace Inspiring ingenuity hit a high note as Lynwood Elementary School fifth-grade students constructed musical instruments in their makerspace room out of everyday household items. Students in Tara Trimboli’s fifth-grade class turned ordinary items into musical instruments as they collaborated to build various types of sound-making inventions. The students incorporated everyday items found around a home such as paper towel rolls, paper plates, shoeboxes, rubber bands, corn kernels and balloons. Each student was challenged to construct a functional sound-making instrument using only the items provided. Throughout the activity students were encouraged to revisit designs to make improvements as they continued through the construction process. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53407 Wed, 13 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53407 Wenonah Weighs In on Hurricane Relief During a recent hurricane relief fundraiser, fourth- and fifth-grade students on the Wenonah Elementary School Lighthouse Team incorporated mathematics into their community service project. The Lighthouse Team is composed of fourth- and fifth-grade student leaders who organize fundraising initiatives to benefit people in need across the country. As part of the hurricane relief fundraiser aimed to benefit the victims of hurricanes Harvey and Irma, the students incorporated mathematics into the service project as they used addition to arrive at a total amount of food donated in pounds before it was picked up for donation. In total, the students raised 958.1 pounds of food, which was donated to nonprofit organization Island Harvest. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53353 Tue, 12 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53353 Hiawatha Second-Graders Making a Difference With Community Service Over the past few years Hiawatha Elementary School has been encouraging its second-graders to be more active participants in the community. Each month they participate in a different community service project. This year a student in Tiffany Cioffi’s class, who is in remission from pediatric cancer, inspired a food donation drive. “When I found out that Athena was a cancer survivor, I wanted to find a way to incorporate this into our community service learning,” said Ms. Cioffi. Athena was featured in ads for Burlington Coat Factory promoting pediatric cancer awareness, and her family participated in a video for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Ms. Cioffi reached out to Athena’s mom at the beginning of the year, and they worked together to think of a way “to make a small difference and to put some smiles on [patients’] faces.” “She shared with me that a majority of the children undergoing treatment are on steroids and have compromised immune systems,” said Ms. Cioffi. Since many patients and their families spend long hours at the clinic during their treatments, to make their visits a little more comfortable they collected individual pre-packaged snacks, K-cups and tea bags for them. “Even though it’s a second-grade, yearlong project, we also try to get our staff and the rest of the building involved by putting it on our Hiawatha website to keep everyone informed of how they can help,” she said. “I feel like the kids are really starting to understand how their actions are making a positive impact on others, and I think that having that connection with Athena made the drive even more important and personal,” added Cioffi. Next up, in the spirit of giving back to the community, they are sending holiday cards to the residents at the Long Island State Veterans Home in Stony Brook and in January they are hosting a coat drive for the Federation of Organizations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53322 Mon, 11 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53322 Sachem Students Spread Safety During a recent visit to the Sachem Central School District’s middle schools, Sachem High School East and North students enrolled in the Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities class presented lessons regarding the dangers associated with drug use to sixth-grade students. As part of the high school course, students are transformed into teachers, equipped with the skills to educate students on the dangers of drugs and the importance of making healthy choices throughout life. As part of the Too-Good-For-Drugs curriculum, the high school students deliver a series of lessons as they periodically visit the district middle schools, delivering students valuable information to lead healthy lives. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53259 Fri, 08 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53259 Sachem’s Salon of Opportunity Students at Sachem High School East and North are learning about the skills needed to succeed in a multimillion-dollar business as part of the district’s career and technical education cosmetology class. Putting lessons into practice, the students are not only learning trade skills but are putting them to use in their own salon, offering a plethora of services to fellow students and staff. As part of the cosmetology class, the students practice techniques in hair coloring, cutting and styling, while also learning the intricacies of nail and makeup services. “The cosmetology class is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience,” said High School East senior Jessica Hennessy. “We are given the chance to explore multiple different areas of cosmetology, which is a huge benefit.” Throughout the class, students can participate in workshops run by industry-leading professionals and gain practical career experience during multiple shadowing opportunities. After successful completion of the course requirements, the students are eligible to earn a New York State cosmetology license. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53238 Thu, 07 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53238 Superintendent's Letter to the Community Regarding Driver Education Program https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53208 Thu, 07 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53208 Girl Sprouts https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53176 Wed, 06 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53176 Sachem East, Sachem North Cheer Earn Bids to Nationals The Sachem East and Sachem North cheer teams competed at the 2017 UCA Empire Regional championship on Saturday at Nassau County Community College. After their performances, both schools received bids to the National High School Cheerleading championship to be held at Walt Disney World in February of 2018. Competing in the Large Division, Sachem North took first place overall. The last time Sachem North won the Large Division was 2009 when coaches Danielle Gresalfi and Jaclyn Tomasello competed for the Flaming Arrows. “Going into this competition our goal was to hit the routine we’ve been working on over the past few weeks,” said Gresalfi. “I continuously told my girls to trust the process and focus on hitting. When it was time to compete the girls hit an amazing and energetic routine with zero deductions. This routine was probably one of the most difficult and creative Sachem North has put out in some years.” Sachem East, competing in the Small Division, placed second. “We have a very young team,” said Sachem East coach, Tylor Grimm, “only four seniors, so we were very happy with their performance.” Both teams will compete at the Section XI competitions next Saturday at Longwood. They will both compete every weekend until Nationals in February. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53191 Wed, 06 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53191 Girl Scout Holiday Light Show @ Smith Point County Park https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53175 Wed, 06 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53175 Nokomis Multicultural Feast Nokomis Elementary School third-grade students embarked on travel around the world as part of an interactive social studies lesson. Each third-grade student wrote a report about a country from their heritage, exploring important elements such as its flag and prominent foods eaten in the area. The students then presented their reports to fellow classmates, answering questions and showing off items such as different forms of currency from around the world. Concluding the multicultural study, students indulged in a feast of prepared dishes from the locations explored. The feast featured dishes such as empanadas from Argentina, sausage bread from Italy, kebabs from Poland, Irish soda bread from Ireland and German chocolate cake. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53142 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53142 Robotics Breakfast Fundraiser at Wahlbergers https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53139 Tue, 05 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53139 Sachem North Lends Hand with Habitat for Humanity Students from Sachem High School North recently helped build a home in East Patchogue through Habitat for Humanity. Open to leadership students at the high school, the activity was organized by Leslie Zanone, a social worker at Sachem North, and Jonathan Chiaramonte, a social studies teacher. “We hope to get more classes involved,” said Zanone. “There has been a tremendous amount of interest in the school from students and teachers. We believe that Sachem North students could organize six builds a year, and that would be a dream! “It is a very real experience for the students, and a concrete way for them to give their time and energy for the cause. We already have students asking to go back again in the spring,” said Zanone. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53090 Mon, 04 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53090 Wenonah Students from Readers to Chefs Wenonah Elementary School students in Heather Porciello’s Life Skills class turned story elements into tasty treats as they learned to follow the steps of a recipe. Students first read the book “The Old Lady That Swallowed a Bat” by author Lucille Colandro. After completing the book, students participated in a sequencing activity where they glued picture cutouts of story events in the order they occurred in the story. The class then connected literacy to life skills as they began following a recipe to bake bat cookies. Gathering the necessary supplies one by one, the students worked together until all ingredients were combined. Throughout the cooking activity, students carefully followed the recipe, incorporating measuring cups, a microwave oven and an electric mixer when needed. At the conclusion of the activity, the student-chefs added wings to complete their bat cookie creations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53034 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 21:00:00 GMT false53034 Chippewa Celebrates 50 Years of Education Chippewa Elementary School recently celebrated 50 years of education during a day filled with special activities remembering the past. The day began by recognizing past teachers and staff in attendance through special words by current Principal Patricia Aubrey before a ceremonial ribbon-cutting ceremony. A time capsule sealed in 1968 by former staff members was opened and the contents displayed in the multipurpose room to showcase the preserved treasures from the past. Among the contents found within the capsule were old photographs of students and various documents displaying current trends of the time. Additionally, the day included several connections to the students’ social studies curriculum, as students were challenged to pick a past era and study what was popular during that time. Students created comparison posters showcasing current trends and how they contrasted with ones of the past. The posters were displayed amongst the time capsule artifacts for the visitors to enjoy as they viewed the collection of items. Concluding the special day was a parade throughout the building lead by past teachers and staff, followed by each kindergarten class dressed in holiday costumes. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53033 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53033 Nesconset Fire Dept. Holiday Fair & Santa Parade https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=53047 Fri, 01 Dec 2017 05:00:00 GMT false53047 Waverly Elementary Pledges for Peace Students across grade levels at Waverly Elementary School recently attended a special assembly promoting peace throughout their school community and beyond. They helped to plant seeds of kindness as they wrapped daffodil bulbs in peace pledges that were planted in front of the school. As part of the character education curriculum, each student at Waverly Elementary School was asked to write an essay on what peace means to them. Then, during the assembly, several students were selected to read their essays to fellow classmates, allowing the students to reflect on the ideas of their peers. Continuing the connection to promoting peace throughout Waverly, the students organized a fundraiser to benefit the nonprofit organization The Team Jesse Foundation, which provides education and support to families of fallen soldiers in honor of SSG Jesse Williams. The students sold Team Jesse bracelets and raised $400, which they presented during the assembly to the parents of Kevin Mincio, founder of The Team Jesse Foundation. To conclude the event, all students wrote pledges on how they can make Waverly Elementary a better place. They then walked outside the school to plant daffodil bulbs that will bloom beautiful flowers in spring, reminding each student of their promises to promote peace. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52995 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 21:00:00 GMT false52995 Wenonah Students Weave Webs Design, research and critical thinking helped guide fourth-grade students to success in Lenore Lounsbury’s class at Wenonah Elementary School. They recently worked together in teams to weave webs capable of catching a stapler dropped from a height of one meter. The students began the STEAM-based activity by first learning the job of an engineer and the processes they follow to create successful designs. With this newfound knowledge, the student-engineers then researched the many ways in which spiders spin their webs before beginning to design their own creations. Equipped with a clothes hanger, 15 feet of yarn and 6 inches of tape, students worked in groups to carefully weave intricate webs to accomplish the goal. Throughout the activity emphasis was placed on recognizing design flaws and correcting them until their webs succeeded. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52994 Thu, 30 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52994 Rockets Take Learning Sky High Physics equations fueled learning outside of Sachem High School North as students in Robert Wentzel’s Rocket and Aircraft Design class gathered to test launch multistage rockets they had constructed. Prior to launch, students worked through various physics calculations to ensure the overall safety and success of their rockets. The student-engineers calculated the thrust necessary to reach 30 miles per hour while allowing the rockets to maintain a straight flight path. Also, students determined the speed at which their rocket had to fall to make a safe landing and then designed their parachutes accordingly. During the testing phase a focus was placed on unique design elements such as tube and fin size and how each component affected the rockets’ flight. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52917 Wed, 29 Nov 2017 20:00:00 GMT false52917 Sachem Girls Gymnastics Coach Honored Sachem girls gymnastics coach Mike Nowakowski was recognized as Assistant Coach of the Year by the Suffolk County Girls Gymnastics Coaches Association this season. Nowakowski was honored for his dedication and service to the team, which wrapped up competition in November. “We are so proud and happy for him,” said Sachem gymnastics head coach Jan Zettwoch. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52916 Wed, 29 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52916 Merrimac Elementary Kicking for a Cause Two Merrimac Elementary School siblings went above and beyond as they organized a kickball tournament aimed at collecting nonperishable food items and cleaning supplies to donate to the nonprofit organization Island Harvest, benefiting those affected by the devastating hurricanes Harvey and Irma. As part of the Leader in Me program, third-grade student Gabriel Nagel and fifth-grader Sarah Nagel organized the engaging benefit to involve all students of Merrimac Elementary by creating friendly competition amongst classes. With help from gym teachers Robert Romano and Nicole Kessinger, the drive was arranged so that every two days each class’ donations would be tallied to arrive at that class’ total score. Adding an interesting twist to the drive, the inclusion of cleaning supplies as bonus items counted as 15 points added to the class totals. During each gym class throughout the week, every point scored by students during the kickball games was added to their overall totals. The Leader in Me is a program that provides students the opportunity to organize a service learning project that will contribute to the community. Each proposed project is presented to students and staff before implementation. The student duo worked together to create flyers and announcements to promote the Kicking for a Cause drive throughout the building. The fundraiser provided students across all grade levels an opportunity to synergize and work towards a common goal while having fun. “With the Leader in Me program our students have developed valuable skills such as leadership, communication, empathy and teamwork, all of which have contributed to a school culture that values project-based learning, goal setting and critical thinking,” said Merrimac Principal Veronica DeCicco. “All of the students learned a valuable lesson about contributing as a community.” As a result of the school’s generosity, hundreds of items were donated to the cause. At the conclusion of the drive, Michelle Nelson’s kindergarten class, Peter Gentzlinger’s first-grade class and Lorraine Alvarez’s fifth-grade class were presented with trophies donated by Port Jefferson Sporting Goods to be displayed in their classrooms as the three winning classes. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52842 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 21:00:00 GMT false52842 Sachem Students Absorb Storm Science The science behind weather events wowed second-grade students in Tiffany Cioffi’s class at Hiawatha Elementary School as the students participated in an engaging STEAM experiment creating a rain cloud simulation in a jar. As part of a science unit focusing on weather, students have been actively observing weather patterns, identifying different types of precipitation and learning how the water cycle works. The experiment began with a mason jar partially filled with water, representing air. Then shaving cream was added on top of the water to represent clouds. In a separate container, water and food coloring were mixed together to represent rain. Simulating the process in which clouds become oversaturated and begin to rain, the student scientists used an eyedropper to carefully drop water onto the cloud until it reached the point of saturation and leaked through the shaving cream cloud into the water below, simulating rainfall. Acting as true scientists, the students used data collected during their experiment to draw conclusions about why a cloud starts to rain. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52841 Tue, 28 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52841 Thanksgiving Food Drives Bring Out Best in Sachem Students, Staff Sachem was at its finest on Tuesday morning when students and staff across the district came together for one last push for the annual Thanksgiving food drive at both Sachem High School East and Sachem High School North. The high schools combined to generate more than 1,600 boxes this year. “This is probably one of the most impactful things we can do in our schools,” said Emma Hirt, president of the Student Government at Sachem North. “Every year we average over 1,000 boxes, and it’s amazing. It’s really cool when you’re finished and see how many families we’re going to feed this Thanksgiving.” Students began in September generating funds and items and have worked extremely hard over the last two weeks sorting, packing and shipping the boxes. “It’s a great feeling knowing that we’re doing something that goes to people in our community and helps them out,” said Erin Mullery, the Student Government president at Sachem East. The boxes were shipped out on Tuesday afternoon to various local churches, food pantries and other organizations. “You see the best of everybody come out around this time,” said Damon Gallo, a Student Government adviser at Sachem East. “We’re doing something that directly affects people. We’re able to give someone a Thanksgiving meal that otherwise may not have one. This is community service, this is civics. The students love the fact they can help out people in our community.” For Sachem North teacher and Student Government adviser Jonathan Chiaramonte it’s about inspiring the next generation of volunteers in the building, knowing that dozens of alumni will be out doing good in the world after their impactful experience at Sachem. “The reason we want so many students involved is because we don’t want it to end here,” said Chiaramonte to a crowded auditorium during a food drive assembly on Tuesday. “We want them to do that in their dorms in college and continue this. None of us need to be here to make that change. So many students of ours have gone on and done fundraisers like this. We want you to be inspired to continue a life of service.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52808 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 06:00:00 GMT false52808 Tamarac’s Thanksgiving Adventure Kindergarten students at Tamarac Elementary School explored a plethora of Thanksgiving-themed activities as they worked through multiple stations examining aspects of Native American culture. Accompanied by their parents, the kindergarten students in Jamie Onorato and Dara Goz’s class moved throughout the room participating in hands-on activities, including fishing for numbers, reading symbol stories and creating various Native American items. These items included such things as wampum bags, miniature teepees and totem poles. The enriching activities from the Thanksgiving adventure make direct connections to the grade level’s social studies curriculum, in particular their study of the first Thanksgiving. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52788 Mon, 27 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52788 Wenonah Read to Feed Wenonah Elementary School connected literacy and learning during a recent community service initiative – the Read to Feed food drive. The initiative, which benefited the Sachem Food Pantry located at Sachem High School North, works through a pledge system. For every 75 minutes of reading accomplished outside of school, a friend or family member donated a food item to the participating classes. Throughout the drive the students watched the donations add up, as colored feathers representing the classes were added to a turkey-themed bulletin board. In addition to the literary connections, the drive also incorporated mathematics, as students tracked all weekly donations and used the data to graph their progress. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52745 Wed, 22 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52745 Notice of BOE Meeting - November 27, 2017 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52749 Wed, 22 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52749 Tamarac Teacher Turns Broken to Beautiful Art students at Tamarac Elementary School have been working toward something special this year as part of a recycled rainbow-crayon reward program promoting teamwork, respect and recycling within the classroom. Students across grade levels in Alexis Rae Curcio’s art class have been displaying teamwork and togetherness as they work to earn 100 class points, points that are assigned in recognition of good behavior. Once the point goal is achieved, the students receive a multicolored recycled crayon produced by Ms. Curcio. To make the colorful creations, students and staff throughout the building were encouraged to drop off their broken crayons, which Ms. Curcio then melted down in different molds to form various shapes. Throughout the students’ time in art class, the importance of reusing and recycling was emphasized. To date, several students have received multicolored crayons and are eagerly integrating their multicolored effects into their creative works of art. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52672 Tue, 21 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52672 Black Friday Blood Drive https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52665 Tue, 21 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52665 Pumpkin Chuckin’ Challenge at Wenonah Design and engineering principles propelled students during a competition at Wenonah Elementary School in which fifth-grade students were challenged to construct a catapult that could perform best in three challenges, testing distance, power and accuracy. Separated into teams, the student-engineers participated in an engaging design activity that incorporated several aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Beginning with design, students were tasked with sketching two separate plans they believed would obtain the best results. Picking one design, the students then constructed their catapults using household materials such as spoons, rubber bands and popsicle sticks. Once the creations were finalized, the students then carefully used their catapults to launch miniature pumpkins and competed in three different challenges. The first challenge tested accuracy, in which the goal was to launch five cotton balls into a cup. Next, the power of the catapult was tested as the students pushed their catapults to the limit, launching a marshmallow as far as possible. Finally came the tower test, in which accuracy and power were combined to topple a tower of plastic cups using miniature pumpkins. Furthering the connection to the design principles necessary to construct a successful catapult, students tracked their test launch results and graphed the effectiveness of angle adjustments and how they correlated to launch distance. Using the data collected from the accuracy test, students also calculated the accuracy percentage derived from fractions. At the conclusion of the testing phase the students competed amongst each other in a schoolwide competition. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52623 Mon, 20 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52623 Sachem Elementary Student Takes the Lead On Oct. 27, the field behind the Grundy Avenue Elementary school was blanketed by students and staff members in pink supporting a great cause – raising awareness for breast cancer during a student-organized walk. Leading the charge during the event was student-coordinator and advocate Bret Auricchio. Bret, a Grundy third-grader, took the lead on this initiative last month to raise money for the American Cancer Society. After realizing the success these walks have had elsewhere in the district, Bret was confident that his school could make a significant impact. He developed a plan for the event from start to finish, including creating and reading daily announcements and designing and distributing flyers for the students to bring home to their families. Reflecting on Bret’s actions, Principal Amato remembered a quote from renowned American cultural anthropologist Margaret Mead, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” As a result of student and faculty participation throughout the building, the breast cancer awareness walk raised a total of $1,100. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52593 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 06:00:00 GMT false52593 Nokomis Elementary Veteran Visit Shortly before this year’s Veterans Day, students at Nokomis Elementary School welcomed past Nokomis student, High School North alumni and recent United States Marine boot camp graduate Amadeus Garay-Reyes for a special visit. Over the past few months, third-grade students in Laura Clifford and Tara Erb’s class, including Amadeus’ younger brother Tyler, have been in contact with the new Marine during his time in boot camp, sending messages of encouragement, along with questions about his experience as a beginning military member. Amadeus replied to students with answers to their questions and thanks for their unwavering support. During the in-class visit, Amadeus thanked the students personally for their kind words and encouraged them to always try their best in everything they do. He continued the visit by answering more questions for the students and explained what Veterans Day means to him. Concluding the eventful day, Amadeus was surprised by his favorite teacher Bill O’Neil, who was his inspiration growing up. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52563 Fri, 17 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52563 The Festival of Trees & Lights @ North https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52519 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 06:00:00 GMT false52519 Collaborative Construction Builds Bridges at Grundy Avenue Fourth-grade students at Grundy Avenue Elementary School came together to complete a common goal as they applied basic engineering principles to construct a bridge capable of holding an added load. Students in Donna Marie Sherwood’s class were challenged with the task of creating a bridge that could withstand an unspecified amount of added stress. To begin the activity, students learned about the engineering process and how different shapes withstand force. It was determined that a triangle was the strongest shape and would be a valuable design element to incorporate into their bridges. Students were broken up into teams, and each group was provided with toothpicks and Dots candy to assemble the strongest bridge. With a designated span of 6 inches to cross between student desks, each member of the team shared ideas as they navigated through their respective bridge constructions. At the conclusion of construction, students tested each bridge, adding blocks until their bridge broke. Throughout the activity, teamwork was emphasized, and how with input from all team members each goal becomes more attainable. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52501 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52501 Reptiles, Reptiles, and More Reptiles! By Giavonna Perkins Sagamore Middle School’s Critter Club was visited by Jungle Bob on November 15, 2017. Jungle Bob is a specialist when it comes to all kinds of reptiles. Jungle Bob visited Critter Club and brought in some fascinating reptiles to observe. First, Critter Club members saw and felt Rosy, a cool, scary and hairy tarantula that was the size of a human palm. Then Critter Club met two slithery and sly snakes that had wildly colored patterned skin. The little one was about one and a half feet long. The little one also had red and black stripes on its skin. The larger snake was about two feet long with an unusual pattern that was green, yellow, and tan. One student got to wear it as a necklace. We learned that every snake is unique in its own special way. Next, we saw a bearded dragon. I fell in love with it quickly because it was tiny and cute. The bearded dragon had yellow skin that felt like rubber and it had a blue tongue. When I held the dragon the wrong way, I got scared because the dragon looked like it was about to scream. Now I’m wondering, do bearded dragons actually scream? Turns out I loved the bearded dragon and it was a fascinating experience, one I will never forget. Lastly, Critter Club met Castro who is an iguana that was four feet long. This interesting critter was from Cuba and he was nineteen years of age which is pretty old. The iguana ate a live bug. In conclusion, being a Critter Club member gives me a lot of opportunities to learn, see and meet new animals. You can also visit Jungle Bob at his stores. JUNGLE BOB’s Reptile World: www.junglebobreptileworld https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52497 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52497 Aftershock Robotics Team Clothing Drive https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52496 Thu, 16 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52496 Outstanding Sportsmanship Teams Recognized The following teams have been recognized by Section XI for exemplifying the standards of sportsmanship for the fall season: • JV East Field Hockey • Sagamore Field Hockey • V East Football • JV North Football • V North Boys Soccer • JV East Boys Soccer https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52671 Wed, 15 Nov 2017 12:00:00 GMT false52671 Sachem Students’ Talents Shine at PEAK Music Festival The musical talents of 22 fourth-grade students from across the Sachem Central School District were recently on display and applauded during this year’s Parents, Educators and Kids Festival hosted by the Suffolk County Music Educators Association. Approximately 200 students from 32 Suffolk school districts were represented during the PEAK Festival at Northport High School, where they participated in various enriching musical workshops. The gifted student musicians had the opportunity to play the recorder in a peer ensemble and perform songs for an audience as part of a chorus comprised of other top fourth-grade musicians from Suffolk County. The PEAK Festival is an opportunity for the musicians to experience new and exciting music that they may not have been exposed to before, while allowing parents and educators to join in on the fun. The workshop sessions included activities such as world drumming, folk dance, ukulele and musical theater. Music educators participating in the workshops are encouraged to draw inspiration from the activities they attend and incorporate elements into their own classroom lessons. “PEAK provides students, parents and music teachers a unique experience participating in workshops and performances together,” said Jennifer Fischer, Sachem music teacher and co-chairperson for the PEAK Festival. “The smiles on the faces of all those involved during the performance speaks volumes about the festival.” Congratulations to the following students who were selected to take part in this event: Cayuga Elementary (Teacher - Amy Beck) Aidan Pardi Lilliana Surbito Alexcis Tramontana Matthew Umbenhower Merrimac Elementary (Teacher - Debbie Degenhardt) Gianna Fitzpatrick Elizabeth D’Agostino McKenna Dembinski William Knaub Jordyn Simone Grundy Avenue Elementary (Teacher - Alyssa Gallagher) Krish Rajan Wyatt Straub Hiawatha Elementary (Teacher - Marjorie Kelting) Catarina Dutra Isabella Meichner Justin Perry Kiera Reichel Abigail Tannacore Wenonah Elementary (Teacher - Grace Kim) Alexa DyReyes Jonathan Giraulo Melanie Marchionna Abigail Rabbitt Nokomis Elementary (Teacher - Christina Schaefer) Delilah Creter Alyssa Tappin https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52467 Wed, 15 Nov 2017 06:00:00 GMT false52467 A World of Opportunities for Sachem Students At a recent Board of Education meeting, several Sachem Central School District faculty members and students delivered a comprehensive presentation on the career and technical education programs offered at both Sachem High School East and North, a program that encompasses technology, business, and family and consumer science disciplines. Chairperson Keith Connelly spoke about how the technology program creates a unique learning environment for students and places an emphasis on the hands-on learning experience. Students are challenged with real-world applications as they work to problem solve and deploy the skills acquired through their study of engineering, carpentry or various computer-related topics. All aspects of the workplace are integrated into the school day through the high school Virtual Enterprise course. As Chairperson for Business Thomas Sullivan explained, this live global business course simulates the profession and calls for students to develop new business models and plans from the ground up. The course places a focus on college and career readiness and enables students to practice imperative business skills such as communication, personal finance, problem solving and technology. Mary Faller, the department chairperson for family and consumer sciences, spoke about the vast cosmetology program offered by the district. Through this program, students are not only provided with the opportunity to learn from various professionals about hair, nail and skin care, they also gain greater hands-on experience in an industry worth an estimated $445 billion. The input of the students during the presentation solidified the programs impact on their educational experience. Students Melissa Pankus and Jessica Hennessy assisted in the cosmetology presentation and students Alec Roberts, Andrew Scavo, Hannah Shapiro and Jeanine Cerqueira provided insight on the Virtual Enterprise class. Student Andrew Scavo spoke about how the non-traditional VE classroom setting provides students the opportunity to gain self-confidence, explore all aspects of the business world and acquire a number of skills needed to succeed. “The CTE programs offered at Sachem provide students a strong foundation in their chosen career path that will propel them to continued success in their future education or career choice,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham. “The students participating in the various programs offered by the district are able to earn college credits and multiple state-recognized certifications as they work towards graduation. It is a great opportunity to take learning out of the textbook and enable students to make connections to subjects they are particularly interested in.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52428 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 21:00:00 GMT false52428 Sachem Gymnastics Wins Co-League Championship The Sachem girls gymnastics team finished the season in a three-way tie for a League II championship. They were in the lead with Kings Park and Patchogue-Medford all season. Overall, the Flaming Arrows finished seventh in all of Suffolk County after a successful outing at the Suffolk County Individual championships held at Hauppauge High School on Nov. 9. Three student-athletes competed at the county championships. They were Kaylyn Spotton on vault, bars and beam, Samantha Woodburn on bars and Summer Matlat on bars, floor and as an alternate on beam. Spotton was ranked No. 1 on vault in Suffolk County this season and will be an alternate on the state team that will compete in the state championships on March 3 at Cold Spring Harbor High School. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52454 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52454 Sachem Student-Athletes Sign National Letters of Intent On Thursday, Nov. 9, multiple student-athletes from both Sachem High School East and Sachem High School North signed their National Letters of Intent to play college sports next year. “It’s always a proud day for Sachem when our student-athletes sign their National Letters of Intent to play at the next level,” said Sachem Athletic Director Gary Beutel. “These individuals have dedicated themselves academically and athletically in order to achieve this success. We wish them the best of luck in their future academic and athletic careers. We know they will represent Sachem proudly at their future institutions.” The following students were recognized: Sachem North -Grace Lipponer, Manhattan College, lacrosse -Ashley Perrini, NYIT, lacrosse -Hailey Rhatigan, Mercer University, lacrosse Sachem East -Justin Allone, Seton Hall University, cross country -Taylor Calvagna, Hartford College, lacrosse -Danielle Cosgrove, University of Notre Dame, basketball -Pete Engelken, Marist College, lacrosse -Craig Leonard, LIU Post, baseball -Daniel Palermo, Iona College, baseball https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52423 Tue, 14 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52423 Sachem Students Share Kindness Sachem ROCKS – Reach Out Choose Kindness Sachem. A simple acronym with a meaningful message is blanketed across the new kindness rock garden in front of Sachem High School North thanks to a program to promote kindness in a unique way. An initiative that began in Andrea Biblow, Carrie Dansky, Jamie Durkin, Cheryl Haugie and Lauren Puleo’s communication skills classroom as a hands-on activity for speech and language students has transformed into a project with much more meaning. Painting by the dozens, these students are working to transform ordinary rocks into colorful pieces of art inscribed with uplifting messages of kindness. Once completed, the rocks are then placed outside, creating a vibrant kindness garden in front of the school. During this ongoing project, students have received special help from members of the Suffolk County Police Department, fellow students and parents, as all were invited to participate and create their own colorful kindness rocks. Extending the garden further, transition program students who work throughout the Sachem community practicing life skills in a real-world setting have been placing decorated rocks at their destinations, spreading kindness wherever they go. All who have participated are encouraged to include the hashtag “Sachem ROCKS” on their designs in order to help spread the kindness project beyond the borders of the school community. Throughout the month of November, opportunities for students to create their own rocks will be offered within the building to continue to promote the power of kindness. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52369 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52369 MasterChef Junior - Now Casting! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52367 Mon, 13 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52367 Grundy Avenue Parade for Patriots American flags waved in the wind as students across all grade levels gathered to honor veterans during a parade in front of Grundy Avenue Elementary School. The patriotic students, dressed in red, white and blue, cheered as the veterans marched down the road. They then joined the students in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance as part of a flag raising ceremony. Students then performed two songs for the veterans, thanking them for their extraordinary sacrifice for our country. Following the parade, students in grades 3-5 had the opportunity to ask the veterans questions about their experiences as members of the military. The panel of veterans fielded questions about each branch of the armed services, their individual terms of service and what influenced them to become a member of the military. To conclude the celebration, the students served the honorees cake and coffee and invited them to continue to share their past memories. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52324 Fri, 10 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52324 Singing Stories to Sachem Students This October, fourth-grade Sachem students throughout the district enjoyed a visit from award-winning author and storyteller Heather Forest, as she incorporated her singing musical mastery into her folktales. Delivering a range of folktales from across the world, storyteller Heather Forest seamlessly weaved musical instruments into her stories. Incorporating a guitar and xylophone, she periodically called upon students to join in on the music. Grasping the imagination of each listener, Forest’s visual stories painted a picture as she guided students through each tale. Teachers were provided with copies of Forest’s books to continue the folktale fun in future classes. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52273 Thu, 09 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52273 Fire Safety at Nokomis Sachem students at Nokomis Elementary School were visited by members of the Ronkonkoma Fire Department as the district continued its emphasis on fire safety and prevention. Students across all grade levels learned about the various gear that firefighters wear during emergency situations, such as a self-contained breathing apparatus which provides firefighters air as they enter a smoke-filled structure, how to safely escape a fire and the importance of knowing more than one way to exit their home if necessary. Concluding the fire prevention assembly program, students were guided through the multiple firefighting apparatuses within the department and had the opportunity to explore a fire truck. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52256 Wed, 08 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52256 Fact Family Fun in Fall First-grade Chippewa Elementary School students in Laurie-Ann Rooney’s class approached math artistically as they practiced fact families in a hands-on activity using a construction paper pumpkin. To better understand how addition and subtraction work together, students were each given a set of three numbers, which they switched around to form four different combinations. Students discovered by arranging the numbers in different orders that they get the same sums and differences. They then displayed the different fact families by arranging the combinations on the pumpkin. After completing their pumpkin, the students were challenged to correctly label the four sections on it with each equation from their assigned fact family. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52208 Tue, 07 Nov 2017 05:00:00 GMT false52208 High School East QuestBridge Finalists Named Three Sachem High School East seniors were named QuestBridge College Match Finalists and have been selected for the chance to receive full scholarships to some of the nation’s top colleges upon admittance. Juan Amaya, Julia Araujo and Ilyssa Forman were selected for their high academic prowess, success in a plethora of Advanced Placement courses and for securing their respective places as part of the top 5 to 10 percent of their class. Among many accolades, Juan is class vice president, Foreign Language Honor Society vice president, and a member of the varsity track and field team, participating in high jump and in hurdling events. Julia is a member of the school orchestra in which she plays violin, and she also volunteers for Teens as Teachers and the Diversity Club. Ilyssa is the president of the History Honor Society, the editor of the school paper and president and founder of the Philosophy and Debate Club. “These three individuals are the true definition of persistence and have long maintained a focus on high academic standards,” said Principal Louis Antonetti. Out of approximately 15,000 applicants in 2017, only 5,759 have been selected as finalists. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52081 Fri, 03 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT false52081 Student Buddies Share Discoveries First- and fifth-grade students at Chippewa Elementary School buddied up as they participated in a hands-on science and mathematics autumn-themed activity. First-grade students in Donna Gianfortone’s class became buddies with fifth-grade students from Jackie Foley’s class as they performed various activities centered on pumpkins. As a team, the student buddies visited different stations where they performed a multitude of examinations on the favorite fall fruit. Using paper clips and blocks, students began with taking measurements, then continued their observations by reaching inside the pumpkin to count the seeds and using a magnifying glass to inspect them closely. Throughout the activity, the student buddies offered each other varying perspectives on their observations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52042 Thu, 02 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT false52042 Carpentry Class Brings Learning to Life Students at Sachem High School East take learning out of the classroom as they apply mathematics concepts while collectively constructing a small ranch-style structure from the ground up, as part of a Career Training Program Carpentry class taught by James Byrne. As part of the yearlong program, students work right outside of their classroom to raise a residential-type structure on the grounds of High School East. Students deploy multiple construction skills learned within the classroom to aide in the challenging building project. With the help of schematics, students turn designs into something tangible. Beginning with framing, sheathing and laying the initial floor, students raised the walls for the 16x24 foot L-shaped ranch. Next, students carefully measured rough openings where they will eventually hang doors and place windows. While working to complete the structure, students will be challenged further with angles and measures as they raise the rafters to begin the roof. Continuing to improve their craftsmanship, the students will lay shingles to complete the roof and also work on their trim abilities as they add full siding to the building. As the construction project continues, students will also incorporate various other trade skills to make the structure replicate a fully functioning home on the interior as well. The house will be equipped with running water, working electricity, and simple cabinetry features, all completed by the student craftsmen. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51959 Wed, 01 Nov 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51959 Sachem Duo Wins Teslamania Physics Demo-Derby Sachem High School East physics educator Richard Gearns and senior John Glenis took first place at the Teslamania Physics Demo-Derby at Stony Brook University, as they wowed onlookers with their incandescent bulb demonstration. The Teslamania Physics Demo-Derby is an event that gives physics educators from across Long Island an opportunity to showcase their ideas, inventions and lessons aimed at improving physics education and engaging students within the classroom. Participating educators are encouraged to incorporate demonstrations from the event into their own classrooms. “Teslamania was a truly fascinating experience,” said Glenis. “It exposed me to a variety of demonstrations which allowed me to better visualize the concepts we learn in class in an engaging way.” Within their 15-minute demonstration window, the Sachem duo demonstrated to physics teachers how the filament of an AC incandescent bulb vibrates in the presence of a strong magnetic field. “It’s a great contest,” said Gearns. “It brings together physics teachers and students in a way that allows everyone to share in the creativity, excitement and power of science.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51833 Mon, 30 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51833 Strong Showing for Sachem XC at County Championships The dynasty-like ways of Sachem East girls cross country continued last week as the Arrows captured another Suffolk County Class A championship. Melissa Merone was the top finisher for East, placing second with a time of 20:04.93. She was followed by Lindsey Dodenhoff, who placed third in 20:06.93. Rounding out the team effort were Rachel Ruggiero, Kaitlyn Famiglietti, Caitlin O'Hehir, Bridget Abraldes, and Shayna Arrigo. Also qualifying for the state championships was Jordyn McDonnell from Sachem North who placed fourth overall in 20:15.68. North also had a strong showing from Molly Ramirez who placed tenth in the county championships (10th, 20:38.68). The New York State championships will take place at Wayne Central School on Saturday, November 11. We wish the East team and Jordyn good luck at States! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=52109 Sat, 28 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false52109 Sachem Marching Band Places Second in New York State Sachem’s Marching Band placed second at the New York State championships on Sunday, October 29. The competition took place at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. The Flaming Arrows narrowly missed a first-place finish after scoring an 84.35, just behind Corning-Painted Post’s 84.70. “The band performed a show that was solid both musically and visually,” said Robert Normandeau, Sachem Flaming Arrows Marching Band Director. “It was by far our best performance of the season. The staff could not be any prouder.” They performed their show, “The Witching Hour,” which has been a staple during the 2017 season. Rounding out the top finishers were Rome Free Academy (3rd, 83.85), Hilton (4th, 80.40), Greece (5th, 79.35), Auburn (6th, 73.35), and East Ramapo (7th, 70.90). This was the final competition of the year for Sachem, though the band will be performing in the Ronkonkoma St. Patrick’s Day and Memorial Day parades. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51902 Sat, 28 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51902 Learning Grows with Hiawatha’s Great Pumpkin Hiawatha Elementary School kindergarten students were greeted by a great surprise as they participated in a fall-themed activity focused on identifying unique properties of pumpkins. The students recited a poem and sprinkled a field outside the school with special pumpkin glitter in hopes the Great Pumpkin from the infamous Charlie Brown story would bring pumpkins overnight. The next day students were pleasantly surprised when a pumpkin patch blanketed the field where they had spread the glitter the day before. Kindergarten students in Mrs. Cerullo’s class began conducting several experiments – including observations of their pumpkins, describing their unique characteristics and measuring the pumpkins’ height and width with cubes. Continuing their observations, students placed their pumpkins into tubs of water, discovering their buoyancy. Following the activity, students were given the opportunity to take home their pumpkins to continue the fall-themed fun. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51771 Fri, 27 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51771 Shaping Initials in Iron Sachem High School East students in Keith Connelly’s technology class practiced metal design and production techniques as they crafted their initials out of iron. English as a New Language students in grades 9-12 worked through a multistep production process helping to improve upon communication skills through hands on learning activities. Students began production with the study of letter design and then practiced measuring curved lines as they turned their designs into reality. As production continued, students learned to cut and bend metal to mirror the designs that they sketched. Following cutting and shaping, students practiced self-shielded flux core welding to join each initial. Concluding the process, students applied finishing techniques such as grinding and finally painted their initials to complete their projects. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51750 Thu, 26 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51750 National Teen Safe Driving Week Sachem High School East students recently participated in various special assembly programs, each reinforcing the need to exercise caution and safety when operating a motor vehicle. The programs featured guest speakers representing different organizations across Long Island, who offered valuable information on safe driving practices. All health education classes attended an assembly presented by Karen Torres, distracted driving awareness advocate and founder of All4UDad. Following a tragic loss caused by a distracted driver, Ms. Torres travels to schools, sharing her story and speaking of the dangers associated with driving while distracted. During events organized by health educators Siobhan Carey, Sean Cully and Patricia Broderick, students were visited by Officer McVeigh from the Suffolk County Police Department and members of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, who spoke on the topic of safe driving and the dangers of driving under the influence. Continuing the discussion on safe driving, Al Ferrari from the Empower Assist Care Network spoke with classes about safe driving practices and personal safety. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51717 Wed, 25 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51717 Seneca Students Make Marble Mazes Students in Michael Lundstrom’s technology class at Seneca Middle School used innovative thinking as they faced design challenges in creating marble mazes, racing the clock to reach a designated goal time of eight seconds. Seventh-grade students in Mr. Lundstrom’s technology class focused on the engineering design process as they embarked on the challenges of navigating a marble through a maze, meeting the time constraints allowed. Supplied with cardboard from cereal boxes, students assembled the mazes, weaving the marble throughout their creations to reach its destination. The only factor aiding the marble in its descent was gravity. During the project, the students learned a number of lessons beyond the engineering skill acquired. These included the concept of design ethics and the importance of attributing credit for components found in others’ designs while conducting research. Additionally, self-refection was emphasized during the testing phase, which required students to recognize design failures and the need to create functional solutions that successfully completed their goals. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51649 Tue, 24 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51649 Connecting to Technology in Lynwood’s New Makerspace Students across all grade levels at Lynwood Elementary School experienced various new technologies within their makerspace room as librarians from the Sachem Public Library led an interactive showcase. Throughout the week, Lynwood students explored technologies such as remote control mechanical arms; Osmos, an iPad attachment and app that allows students to bring drawings from the tablet to paper; and Mbots, programmable remote-controlled vehicles with a coding component. Along with new technologies, students were also challenged with more familiar objects. At one station, students were supplied with clothespins, popsicle sticks and alligator clips, and tasked with constructing a weight-bearing structure. An assortment of Legos was supplied at another station and students were challenged to build functioning cars or replica homes. Finally, common hand tools were incorporated to test the students’ problem-solving skills as they collaborated to remove various nuts, bolts and screws from a pegboard. In its inaugural year, teachers will utilize the Lynwood Elementary makerspace room to conduct educationally enriching and engaging activities. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51567 Mon, 23 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51567 Spooky STEAM for Sachem Students Waverly Avenue Elementary students in Cathy Juliano’s fourth-grade class participated in a Halloween-themed STEAM activity that challenged their creative design skills by calling for the construction of miniature haunted houses. To begin the project, students drafted unique design ideas, keeping in mind the structural integrity of their buildings. Following the design process, students turned their ideas into reality utilizing popsicle sticks and glue. Throughout the construction process, students employed problem-solving techniques by incorporating the objects around them to act as braces, allowing the glue to set and the structures to strengthen. Following construction, students decorated their houses with paint and Halloween-themed cutouts. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51522 Fri, 20 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51522 Pet Education Project Founder of the Pet Education Project, Erica Falbaum visited Merrimac Elementary students today, spreading awareness of animal abuse and responsible pet ownership. Jaclyn Ianson and Camdyn Bentivenga raised a total of $500 dollars for the nonprofit organization. Read more about pet education at Merrimac here:http://www.sachem.edu/news/article.aspx?id=51136 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51552 Fri, 20 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51552 Sachem Students Teach Students Students from Sachem High Schools North and East came together for a day of training as part of the Teens as Teachers Substance Abuse Prevention and Education Program club and course. The program, which included multiple guest speakers from across Suffolk County, featured interactive activities designed to strengthen students’ skills as peer educators as they work collectively as community liaisons, educating youth and promoting a safe and healthy lifestyle. The peer educators within the program facilitate lessons to sixth-grade students around the district on how to resist pressures to use drugs and alcohol. The skills-based health education program is designed to mitigate risk factors and build the basis for a safe, supportive and respectful learning environment. The Too Good for Drugs (TGFD) curriculum is used to put social and emotional learning to work through fun and interactive lessons, building the self-confidence young people need to make healthy choices and achieve success. The training program organized by Sachem Health Education Department educators Patricia Broderick, Lori Hewlett and Kristen Maccarone began with a brief presentation from Sachem substance abuse and violence prevention counselors. Then the students transitioned into an inspirational presentation given by Kym Laube, executive director of HUGS Inc., about the importance of leadership. Following the guest speakers, students separated into groups and practiced presenting the lessons they will be delivering to the district’s sixth-grade students in the coming months. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51475 Thu, 19 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51475 Students Skype With Chef Ina Garten Inspiration was on the menu for students of Tiffany Ambrico-Wilson’s World at Work class at Sachem High School East as they participated in a Skype call with Ina Garten, American author and host of the Food Network program, “Barefoot Contessa.” The World at Work class helps transition special education students from high school to life after graduation, focusing on life skills such as cleaning, cooking, shopping and managing finances. Students get a chance to practice these skills as the class partakes in weekly grocery store trips. They are also given the opportunity to work with a job coach twice a week building the skills necessary toward gaining employment. Ina provided the students an inside look into her preparation process, from selecting a recipe to utilizing her home garden or purchasing ingredients at her local grocery store, before cooking an Italian dish, polenta, and a class favorite treat, chocolate chip cookies. Additionally, she spoke to the students about how she became a successful chef, reflecting on her inspirations growing up and the steps she took to teach herself how to cook. Throughout the videoconference, Ina reiterated the importance of passion in anything the students choose to do in life. “Being able to have this experience with Ina adds to what we try to do every day,” said Ambrico-Wilson. “Find what you love to do and do it.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51428 Wed, 18 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51428 Not-So-Scary Haunted House https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51439 Wed, 18 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51439 Grundy Avenue Draws from Dots Opening doors of artistic creativity and inspiration, Grundy Avenue Elementary students in Nicole Liuzzi’s third-grade classes participated in their annual monthlong International Dot Day art project. Students began their project by creating a single dot on a sheet of paper. Mrs. Liuzzi then read her class “The Dot,” by Peter H. Reynold. The book portrays a little girl who is shy about expressing her artistic abilities. After some encouragement from her art teacher, she becomes inspired by a tiny dot she put on a piece of paper and then goes on to create many more works of art, all stemming from a single dot. The students in Mrs. Liuzzi’s class mirrored this process, revisiting their original dots at the completion of the book and creating their very own masterpieces. “I feel that the book and this project truly embody what art is all about, creativity and innovation,” said Mrs. Liuzzi. “The art room is truly the one place where students can lose their fear of being wrong and just have fun.” While creating their works of art, the students often looked to a line from the book, “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” Each dot took the students though their very own enriching artistic journey. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51386 Tue, 17 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51386 Sachem Hosts Genetics Update Conference Students and staff from several Long Island districts gathered in the Sachem High School North auditorium for a lecture on groundbreaking cancer genetics research topics by Indiana University professor Dr. Sam Rhine. The college-style lecture covered multiple areas of the genetics scientific discipline, spanning from causes of different forms of cancer to the possibilities of correcting genetic diseases. Dr. Rhine also spoke to students and educators about ongoing organ transplant research involving pigs and promising new research with the capabilities to edit genomes known as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR). Students and staff were encouraged to ask questions throughout the lecture, and educators were provided with information to perform their own in-class genetic experiments. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51353 Mon, 16 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51353 Girl Scouts Flyer https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51311 Fri, 13 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51311 Fire Prevention Demonstrated at Lynwood Fire safety took precedence at Lynwood Elementary School as students participated in fire prevention-week activities this October, including an informative assembly presented by members of the Farmingville Fire Department. During the assembly, students enjoyed multiple demonstrations by the firefighters, learned essential safety tips for emergency situations and witnessed the rescue capabilities of the department. Students watched a vehicle extrication scenario as well as multiple firefighters rappelling from the department’s ladder truck from a height of approximately 100 feet. Firefighters taught students how to safely exit from a burning structure and the importance of developing a meeting point in a safe location outside their home in case of a fire. At the conclusion of the demonstrations, students were given time to explore the various apparatuses and ask firefighters questions about their experiences as members of the fire department. Throughout the district, local departments will visit the schools to educate students on best practices in emergency situations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51245 Thu, 12 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51245 Music Tech Magic at Samoset Captivating musical creativity filled the Samoset Middle School auditorium as sixth-grade students and faculty attended a music technology assembly presented by Brent Daniels, an award-winning composer, producer, sound designer and recording artist. Utilizing the latest in music technology, Daniels delivered an eye-opening assembly that explored the many ways to manipulate sound to create music. With the help from student volunteers, Daniels recorded sounds created by the students and crafted them into a seamless musical production. Throughout the assembly, Daniels reiterated the accessibility of technology such as the common Mac program Garage Band that is capable of mirroring the musical magic he performed for the students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51219 Wed, 11 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51219 Fifth-Graders Bring Pet Education to Merrimac Merrimac Elementary students were treated to a schoolwide pet education assembly led by two of their fellow students – fifth-graders Camdyn Bentivenga and Jaclyn Ianson, each of whom has a passion for animal safety. During the presentation, the students shared that passion and spoke about the nonprofit organization, the Pet Education Project. “We chose PEP because it was the only organization that helps animals with kids leading the way.” said Camdyn. “I like how we help teach everyone how to become animal heroes!” PEP promotes a message of responsible pet ownership and spreads awareness of pet abuse. During the presentation, students learned about animal shelter overcrowding and ways that they can make a positive impact on affected animals. The two student presenters developed an interactive way to raise money for the PEP organization. They created a “spin and win wheel” where students donate a dollar to spin for a chance to win a prize such as stuffed animals, bookmarks, PEP pencils and key chains. All prizes were provided by Jaclyn and Camdyn’s parents. To date, the students have raised $476. “Throughout our work with the organization I’ve learned many valuable lessons – the most important of which was how many pets really need our help,” said Jaclyn. “Having the spin and win wheel will involve everyone in our school in helping to raise funds for this very important cause.” Following the presentation, Camdyn and Jaclyn held a brief question-and-answer period, also informing the students that Erica Falbaum, the PEP founder, will be visiting on Oct. 20. After the students contacted Mrs. Falbaum, she was excited to come to Merrimac and share her “PEP talk” with the students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51136 Tue, 10 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51136 Victory For Sachem Marching Band At Home Show The Sachem Marching Band hosted a home show on Sunday, October 15 and captured a victory in its division. Sachem scored an 82.70 in the Large School 3 division and dazzled a packed house with incredible precision and execution in all areas of the performance. There were 11 schools, including Sachem, who participated in the event. Other winners on the afternoon included Roslyn (Small School 3), Mineola (Small School 2), Huntington (Large School 2), Malverne (Small School 1), and Brentwood (National). The 82.70 is a full seven points higher than Sachem’s previous best performance this season, according to band coordinator, Mike Carroll. Sachem will be in action again next Saturday in a show at Mineola High School. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51331 Sun, 08 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51331 Energy Lessons Spark Student Interest at Grundy Grundy Avenue Elementary Students learned about energy and effective practices to conserve it during a PSEG Long Island-sponsored assembly by The Energized Guys. The program incorporated multiple characters and explored four main topics: defining energy, the uses of energy, how energy is wasted and ways to conserve it. Throughout the show students were taught about various energy conservation methods and tactics to cut down energy waste around their homes. “It’s really important that we educate and help children and their families understand the importance of our natural resources and using energy wisely,” said George Coburn, customer experience manager for PSEG Long Island. “Even young students can understand that they have energy choices. The younger they begin learning, the more likely they will retain these concepts throughout their life.” Following the presentations teachers reinforced topics learned during the performance with classroom activities on energy. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51106 Fri, 06 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51106 Halloween Information 2017 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51079 Fri, 06 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51079 District Sets Vision for the Future of Sachem Schools New Goals Establish Measurable Outcomes for Success As a culmination to a multimonth discussion process, the district’s Board of Education adopted a set of long- and short-range goals on Sept. 27 focused on continuing to strengthen academic programs, bolster student services, build upon past initiatives and reflect the vision and philosophy of our district and community. “Just as we encourage our students to remain focused and set goals for themselves, it is imperative that we as a district establish a long-term vision for the Sachem community in order to ensure that we are continuing to evolve our school system and meet the demands of the ever-changing world around us,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham. “These goals were created with input from various members of our school community and are ones that we believe will enhance educational opportunities, build strong connections with our students and create the foundation – both within and beyond the classroom environment.” An overview of the district’s adopted goals can be found below. For a detailed look at the goals and the targeted steps to achieve them, please visit (Insert Link). Goal #1: Provide Safe and Secure Schools – Deliver a safe educational environment where students are supported and empowered during all educational, extracurricular and cocurricular activities. Goal #2: Enhance Student Achievement, Quality of Instruction and Leadership Skills – Implement a well-rounded curriculum, which allows students to excel in their current academic environment and possess the skills to succeed in their further education or chosen career path. Goal #3: Improve Parent, Community and Staff Communication – Engage the community through multiple mediums and increase information accessibility. Goal #4: Improve Fiscal Responsibility and Accountability Throughout the District – Responsibly balance educational needs with taxpayer sensitivity. Goal #5: Commit to Providing Staff with the Necessary Tools and Support to Provide the Students with the Highest Quality Education – Optimize instructional recruitment and encourage all employees to reach their full potential, positively impacting Sachem students and community through utilization of mindful professional development opportunities. Goal #6: We are Sachem – Develop both horizontal and vertical articulation amongst our 15 schools, connecting students, staff, and community and fostering one Sachem family. “Our school district has long maintained a reputation for providing students with a diverse and myriad of learning opportunities as well as avenues to excel beyond the walls of the classroom,” said Board of Education President Anthony Falco. “We believe that this set of goals is the first step in advancing our programs, reflect the vision our community has for our schools and will provide our students with the necessary educational opportunities to succeed in a safe and secure environment.” The district will be reviewing the adopted goals and associated implementation action plans periodically throughout the year and identifying ways to improve moving forward. A comprehensive review of the plan will be conducted at the end of the school year during a Board of Education meeting. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51063 Thu, 05 Oct 2017 21:00:00 GMT false51063 Important Letter from the Superintendent of Schools https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51002 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51002 Halloween Flyer 2017 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51021 Wed, 04 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51021 Inspirational Author Visit Literacy came alive for sixth-grade students from Sagamore and Seneca middle schools when they enjoyed an inspiring day with author and illustrator George O’Connor. During two separate assembly programs, Mr. O’Connor spoke of his experiences as a student and what sparked his interest to pursue the career he excels at today. He also walked the students through his Greek mythology-based book series, “Olympians,” providing students with valuable illustrating tips and techniques. Concluding his presentations, Mr. O’Connor showcased his quick drawing style during an impressive 25-second drawing demonstration of Greek god Zeus. As an added treat, those students who participated in the Sachem Public Library Summer Reading Program had the chance to eat breakfast (Seneca) or lunch (Sagamore) with O’Connor and engage in a small-group question-and-answer session. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51048 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51048 2017 Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame Class Inducted For just the third time in district history, Sachem inducted an Athletic Hall of Fame class. Their ceremony took place on Saturday, October 7 in the gymnasium lobby at Sachem High School North. “The Sachem Athletic Department is proud and honored to be a part of inducting some of the top athletes and coaches in Sachem history,” said Gary Beutel, Sachem’s Director of Physical Education, Athletics and Health Education. “We wish every inductee congratulations and thank them for their efforts in representing our school district with pride and honor.” The event was sponsored by the Sachem Alumni Association. “There is nothing better than honoring the past and inspiring the future here in Sachem,” said Chris R. Vaccaro, President and Founder of the Sachem Alumni Association. “We have a tradition of excellence in Sachem that has been built over decades of success in athletics and to honor some of the best coaches and student-athletes in district history is tremendous.” Class of 2017 Inductees • Joe Amplo, lacrosse and football, Class of 1995 • Daniel Brienza, soccer, Class of 1999 • Matt Brisson, coach • Brian Brecht, lacrosse, Class of 1991 • John Carvalheira, wrestling, Class of 1993 • Jeanna Composti Sondag, track and field, Class of 1999 • Matt DiStefano, volleyball and basketball, Class of 1996 • Patty Fabian Scaturro, three-sport athlete, Class of 1978 • Mike Falcon, wrestling, Class of 1980 • Michael Farley, three-sport athlete, Class of 1984 • Bill Kropp, coach and athlete, Class of 1977 • Chris LaMorte, gymnastics, Class of 1992 • Steve Lorincz, coach • Pat Metcalf, coach • Pete Montalbano, coach • Mike O’Flaherty, coach • Kathleen O’Reilly, three-sport athlete, Class of 1984 • Linda Otten, administrator • Tony Petillo, coach and athlete, Class of 1974 • Eric Reichenbach, baseball, Class of 1988 • Steve Rich, coach • Shannon Weeks McCormack, track and field, Class of 1996 • Mike Westscott, coach • Wayne Wilson, three-sport athlete, Class of 1987 • Alex Young, coach, Class of 1977 • Tom Zambrotta, gymnastics, Class of 1984 To learn more about each inductee, you can read bio capsules on SachemAlumni.org. Photo Courtesy Jo Art Photographers https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51135 Tue, 03 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51135 Sachem North Ends Homecoming Week With Victory Sachem North capped a memorable week of homecoming festivities by beating Central Islip 38-20 on Friday, October 6 at Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium. Students spent all week in spirit mode, celebrating each day with a different theme from American attire to famous duos, and Sachem pride. On Thursday evening the gymnasium was packed with more than 800 students who enjoyed a homecoming dance. Homecoming royalty was selected and the senior honorees were Chris Eagler as King, Julia Boris as Queen and Sean Melious as Jester. Fans at Friday evening’s game were treated to performances by the marching band, Arrowettes and cheerleader squads. During halftime, this year’s Sachem Athletic Hall of Fame induction class was honored. Sachem’s football team was led by quarterback Nick Gambino, who had a career-high 170 passing yards, and also two rushing touchdowns. Javal Stanton also had a career-high 195 rushing yards on 22 carries and scored two touchdowns. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=51132 Mon, 02 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false51132 Senior Receives Science Award of Excellence Sachem High School East senior Mark Benesh has received the Award of Excellence from the National Academy of Future Scientists and Technologists. As a recipient of this award, Mark was chosen to attend the Congress of Future Science and Technology Leaders as a delegate representing High School East. Selected students are recommended by their teacher or guidance counselor for leadership ability, academic achievement and dedication to science and technology while also holding a GPA of 3.5 or above. The three-day conference, held in Lowell, Massachusetts, includes a collection of seminars lead by Nobel Prize winners and industry-leading inventors. The annual conference draws more than 1,000 students from across the country. Mark plans to further his science and technology knowledge by studying earth science and physics in college, with the hope of becoming a science educator himself. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50926 Sun, 01 Oct 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50926 Sachem East Swimmer Qualifies for State Championships Sachem East senior Jessica Freund qualified for the New York State Championship meet in the 100-yard butterfly with a time of :59.71 at a meet against Connetquot on September 26. Freund will be competing at the state meet for the third consecutive season. While it’s great to qualify this early in the season, Freund has over a month to qualify in more events and finish off her high school career on top. “I would love to see her win the county title and challenge some of the best swimmers on the state level in Ithaca on November 17-18,” said Sachem East swim coach, Kathleen Dugan. Against Connetquot last week, she also reset her own school record in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:58.42. “Jessica came into the season in the best shape of her career and I’m excited to see where this season can go,” said Dugan. Sachem East swimming and diving is 3-1 and have had great step-up swims from a very young team this season. Freund previously competed at the state tournament in 2016 in the 100-meter breaststroke, and in 2015 in the 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter individual medley. She was a Suffolk County champion in the 100-meter fly in 2015. (Photos courtesy: Freund Family) https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50958 Sat, 30 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50958 Nine Seniors Named National Merit Commended Students Nine Sachem Central School District seniors have been named Commended Students in the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program. At the end of September, about 34,000 of the approximately 50,000 highest scorers were chosen for this honor based on their PSAT/NMSQT results. Paul Noble and Nobonita Paul have been chosen from High School North and Timothy Chiu, Kayli Manalo, Nicholas Manzella, Kayla Miranda, Emma Rigaud, Alecia Robins and Rachel Yaker have been selected from High School East. Selected students receive letters of commendation in recognition of their outstanding academic performance and become candidates to be chosen for special scholarships sponsored by corporate businesses. North (L-R): Nobonita Paul, Paul Noble. East (L-R): Timothy Chiu, Nicholas Manzella, Kayla Miranda, Rachel Yaker, Emma Rigaud, Kayli Manalo, Alecia Robins https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50973 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 19:30:00 GMT false50973 Constructing Balloon-Powered Vehicles Waverly Avenue Elementary students practiced basic engineering principles as they worked together to construct balloon-powered cars during an interactive STEAM lesson. In the school’s new STEAM room, students from Cathy Juliano’s fourth-grade class began collaborating on designs to create a functioning self-propelled balloon car. Supplied with foam balls, straws, wooden rods, tape, rubber bands, a water bottle and a balloon, students began to assemble their cars. Assisted by art teacher Susan Kinsey and Librarian Luann Cronin, students applied problem-solving techniques throughout the construction process to overcome design obstacles and effectively complete their vehicles. At the conclusion of the lesson, the student groups came together to test their balloon-powered cars and collectively discussed solutions to improve their vehicles. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50869 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 05:00:00 GMT false50869 Learning Makes a Splash at Nokomis As part of a life science lesson, Nokomis Elementary School students explored aquatic pond organisms during a presentation by the Department of Environmental Conservation. During the interactive presentation, fourth-grade students from Nokomis Elementary were asked to identify the segmented parts that make up each organism. Equipped with magnifying lenses, the students began to inspect the pond organisms and worked together to sketch the individual parts. Among the various pond organisms were tadpoles, dragonfly nymphs and crawfish. The students also learned of the larger species that inhabit ponds and their unique roles as predators within the ecosystem. At the conclusion of the activity, David Pomeranz and Maggie McCabe from the DEC initiated a conversation amongst the students about how each segment of the organisms serves a purpose out in the wild. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50845 Fri, 29 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50845 Cayuga Students Study Hurricanes During an interactive STEAM lesson, Cayuga Elementary students explored the power of hurricanes and their effects on structures. The activity began with a discussion on hurricanes, including identifying what defines the weather phenomenon, and key information for the students to consider during the hands-on activity. Separated into small groups, students worked to construct a structure capable of withstanding strong wind and rain using only masking tape, popsicle sticks, construction paper, an aluminum pan and Play-Doh. After construction was complete, the structures faced a hurricane simulation test. Two cups of water were added to the pan to represent rain and a fan blowing at high speed was pointed at the structures to act as hurricane-force winds. The class gathered after the activity for a discussion about the performance of their structures. The next day small adjustments were made and all of the groups’ structures were retested using the simulated hurricane conditions. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50781 Wed, 27 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50781 Sachem Schools Lend a Helping Hand Throughout the month of September, Sachem Central School District students and staff came together to organize a variety of fundraisers and activities to benefit the victims of devastating hurricanes Harvey and Irma. Among the various items collected were personal hygiene supplies, nonperishable food items and a harvest of crops grown in Wenonah’s community garden, as well as gift cards and other monetary donations. All items will be donated to one of three Texas schools the district has adopted or to local organization Island Harvest. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50736 Tue, 26 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50736 2018 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists Announced Sachem High School East senior Tharini Prakash and High School North senior Paige Menneci have been selected as semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Tharini is president of the English Honor Society and treasurer of class government. She is also an active member of the National, Foreign Language, Math, History and Science honor societies. Paige has been an Advanced Placement student since ninth grade and boasts perfect NYSSMA scores from grades eight through 12. She is a member of the National Honor Society, for which she also serves as secretary, as well as the Foreign Language and Science honor societies. More than 1.6 million juniors from high schools across the country entered the 2018 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2016 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The nationwide pool of 16,000 semifinalists represents 1 percent of U.S. high school seniors and includes the highest-scoring entrants from each state. In February, 15,000 semifinalists will be selected to advance to finalist standing. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50539 Mon, 18 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50539 Hiawatha Students Cultivate Kindness As part of the district’s focus on character education, students at Hiawatha Elementary School learned the impact of cultivating kindness during an assembly program presented by the ReesSpecht Life Foundation. With the help of student volunteers, guest speaker Richard Specht began the program by demonstrating the powerful chain reaction both negative and positive actions can create in the world. He visually illustrated the spread of negativity by pouring a dark liquid into a light one, changing that liquid’s color to dark as well. Specht then showcased the power of kindness as he poured a light liquid on top of the dark liquid, triggering a chemical reaction and turning it light once again. Throughout the remainder of the program, Specht reminded the students that they can have a positive impact on the world by looking for ways to cultivate and pay kindness forward. Noting how his foundation is working to pay the acts of kindness his family received in the wake of tragedy forward, he told the audience of the “cultivate kindness, pay it forward” cards the foundation distributes following acts of kindness. With an initial goal of 500 acts, Specht far surpassed that number, growing the initiative to 430,000 acts of kindness worldwide to date. At the end of the program, the students were challenged to be positive forces for change within their school and were each given their own “cultivate kindness” card to share and use within the community. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50512 Fri, 15 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50512 Town of Brookhaven Youth Bureau Narcan Training https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50493 Fri, 15 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50493 Substance Abuse Prevention Workshop for Parents https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50494 Fri, 15 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50494 10 Students Chosen for NYSSMA All-State Sachem High Schools North and East will be well represented at the 2017 New York State School Music Association’s All-State festival, as a total of 10 student-musicians were selected to perform during NYSSMA’s annual Winter Conference. The event will take place at the Rochester Convention Center in Rochester, New York, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3. From High School East, students Timothy Demott and Edmond Tomaselli will perform with the mixed chorus, while Cecilia Antonelle will sing with the treble chorus. Justin Taveras will play the trumpet as a member of the wind ensemble and Samantha Fierro has been selected as an alternate for the chorus. From High School North, students Morgan Tiller and Paige Menneci have been selected for the mixed chorus and Marissa Tedeschi for the treble chorus. Sofia Sangiorgio has been chosen as a flute alternate for the band and Matthew Mazer as an alternate for the chorus. “The entire Sachem music department is incredibly proud of our students who were selected to perform with this year’s NYSSMA All-State ensembles in December,” said Justin Comito, chairperson of secondary music. “This achievement is a testament to the hard work, talent and dedication of each student, along with their teachers and family members who have mentored and supported them throughout their musical career. On behalf of the entire Sachem community, we wish them all the best in this incredible musical opportunity.” The process for selecting an All-State musician is rigorous and includes teacher recommendations, audition scores at the NYSSMA solo evaluation festival during the prior spring, and participation in other performing organizations. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50458 Thu, 14 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50458 2017 Cub Adventure & Recruitment Day https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50441 Wed, 13 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50441 Polar Plunge November 18, 2017 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50376 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50376 Sachem Remembers 9/11 Dressed in red, white and blue, students and staff throughout the district stood in solidarity on Patriot’s Day and took part in individual remembrance ceremonies to honor the men and women who lost their lives on Sept. 11, 2001. Students at Tamarac Elementary sang patriotic songs after reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and planted American flags in front of the school. Hiawatha students listened to a morning announcement remembering the tragic events and the heroism displayed by many Americans that day. At Samoset Middle School, students listened to a presentation by Rudy Prinici, a first responder who provided care to victims on site at the World Trade Center. He shared his experiences from the day and provided a look into the events that took place from a paramedic’s perspective, including showing personal photos and a bucket that was used in the bucket brigade. Additionally, each building in the district participated in activities remembering the historic day. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50391 Mon, 11 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50391 Science Students Excel Over the Summer Two Sachem high school science research students excelled in their respective concentrations over the summer as they furthered their research initiatives at Stony Brook University and Brookhaven National Laboratory. Angelina Franqueiro, a fourth-year science research student from Sachem High School North, was accepted into the 2017 High School Summer Program at Stony Brook University’s Garcia Center for Polymers at Engineered Interfaces. Angelina has been performing cutting-edge research on understanding the differences in rigidity between normal cells and cancer cells, a focus presented in her paper, “Nano Mechanical Properties of Breast Ductal Carcinoma MDA-MB-231, MDA-MB-4175, MCF-7” and “Normal Breast Ductal Cells MCF-10A and their Extracellular Matrices.” She has delved deeply into the subject by investigating the biophysical properties of living cells utilizing atomic force microscopy. Daniel Waxman, a fourth-year science research student from Sachem High School East, was accepted into the 2017 High School Research Program at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Daniel’s concentration in particle physics allowed him to utilize the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider at the laboratory. His work over the summer was centered on programming computers to identify the particles that resulted as products from the collisions within the ion collider. The title of Daniel’s work is “STAR Particle Identification using Machine Learning Algorithms,” and this study contributes toward a better understanding of particle physics. Both students will enter their research projects in the 2017 Siemens Competition for Math, Science and Technology. Daniel also plans to enter his work in the upcoming Regeneron Science Talent Search, formally known as the Intel Science Talent Search. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50346 Fri, 08 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50346 Sachem East Ends Spirit Week with Homecoming Victory The culmination of a week of school spirit and pride at Sachem East ended in a homecoming victory on Saturday afternoon. The Arrows beat Commack, 33-20, and captured their first victory of the season. Chris Park led Sachem East with 127 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns. Students enjoyed an array of activities during spirit week and celebrated each day with a different theme, including Mathletes vs Athletes, Disney Day, Wacky Workout Wednesday, All Around the World Day and School Spirit Day. Friday evening students were treated to the first homecoming dance at Sachem East. During the homecoming game the crowd was able to see the marching band, Arrowettes and cheerleaders perform and show their school pride. The Sachem East football team will play again during Week 3 when they host Walt Whitman on September 23 at 6 p.m. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50583 Thu, 07 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50583 #WeAreSachem (VIDEO) https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=64286 Wed, 06 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false64286 Staff Gathers for Superintendent’s Conference Day The Sachem Central School District began a new tradition on Sept. 5, as the entire faculty and staff from all 15 buildings gathered for an inspirational Superintendent’s Conference Day at Sachem High School North. A sea of red Sachem apparel blanketed the bleachers of the High School North football field as more than 1,000 staff members listened to Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham address the crowd. Dr. Graham began by thanking all members of the faculty and custodial and security staff, whose tireless efforts make the success of the district possible. Following Dr. Graham’s opening comments, Assistant Superintendent for Personnel Kristin Capel-Eden honored a group of educators and support staff who have completed more than 30 years of service to the district. Each honoree crossed the stage to cheers from their colleagues as they accepted their certificate of recognition. Dr. Graham continued his presentation with four short stories, each of them highlighting the importance of creating a deep connection with students. Drawing from a personal experience with his fourth-grade teacher, he illustrated the impact that one educator can have on a student’s time in school and encouraged the professionals before him to “take pride in your work, take pride in your students and always remember that we are Sachem.” After the presentation, faculty and staff attended various staff development activities throughout the district. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50269 Wed, 06 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50269 Tamarac Elementary Receives Regional PARP Award Tamarac Elementary School has been recognized by the New York State PTA as having the best Pick a Reading Partner program in the Suffolk Region for the 2016-2017 school year. Titled “The Rock and Read PARP Tour,” the winning PTA-sponsored program incorporated four “stops” that explored multiple literary genres and provided enriched assembly programs for readers throughout the school year. Programs such as “Reading Rampage” and an author visit from Steve Metzger aimed to reinforce student reading, writing, vocabulary and punctuation skills. Dedicated parents and staff also provided innovative and engaging opportunities throughout the year that contributed to the widespread success of the building’s program. “Our program only works if our teachers are on board and fully support the activities and the program,” said Tamarac Principal Michael Saidens. “In addition to all of our participants, I want to recognize Francine Richetti, Lori Capozzi and the PARP Committee for the amazing job they have done with this program and the support they provide our school community.” At the conclusion of the year, the students had read more than 2,500 books through PARP. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50628 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 05:00:00 GMT false50628 Sachem Student-Athletes Named to Pre-Season Watch Lists Multiple student-athletes from Sachem have been mentioned by Newsday and News 12 Varsity in pre-season watch lists for their respective sports. In football, Sachem East senior Tyler Butkevich is expected to have a breakout season at the wide receiver and defensive back positions. RPI-bound Matt Chirichella, a senior lineman at Sachem North, as well as Chris Maser, a senior running back and defensive back, were both named to the News 12 Varsity pre-season top 100. Sachem East’s Kristen Shanahan, a sophomore forward, has been on the varsity since seventh grade and had 18 goals and three assists last season. Paeton Hartmann, a junior midfielder from Sachem North, is fast with great stick skills. On the soccer pitch, Sachem East senior defender Sunny Gu is expected to dominant in the back for the Arrows, and was picked as a player to watch by opposing Suffolk League I coaches. There are a number of volleyball stars from the boys and girl’s teams at both Sachem East and Sachem North. You have Cierra Dolan, Molly Jandris, and Sarah Mangan from Sachem East. The Arrows are a team with big aspirations, and Dolan’s experience with the GEVA High Performance Team that won a gold medal this summer makes her a leader. Jandris has grown to 6-2 and is a formidable threat across the court. Mangan, a high jumper with an aggressive swing, has agreed to play at LIU Post after finishing her senior year. For the Sachem North boys squad, Dan LaRosa, Alex Lehnert and Connor Pallmann are all capable of leading the Flaming Arrows to another state title. At 6-7, few can match Lehnert’s jumping ability. Pallmann had 166 kills, 3.5 per set played, last season. Good luck to all of our teams competing this fall! #GoArrows https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50426 Mon, 04 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50426 Sign up for our e-newsletter! The e-newsletter will be sent monthly to those who sign up and will include district news, announcements and important dates. Our hope is to provide valuable information about the happenings inside our classrooms while strengthening our community bond as we move forward on the path to a successful academic year. Sign up for our e-newsletter by clicking the link below: Click here to join our mailing list https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50194 Sun, 03 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50194 First Day of School Sachem students are all smiles on the first day of school. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50290 Sun, 03 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50290 Sachem Welcomes New Teachers The Sachem Central School District welcomed 52 new educators during its new teacher orientation on Aug. 31. The daylong program began with formal introductions of important district personnel followed by a look into the district’s vision, led by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kenneth Graham. The eager new educators were then instructed on the instructional technology found within the district’s classrooms and ways in which to incorporate tools such as Smart Boards and Chromebooks into their lessons. The orientation program allowed the educators to familiarize themselves with district expectations, policies and procedures as they embark on their new professional journey with the Sachem family. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50170 Fri, 01 Sep 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50170 North and East Host Freshman Orientations In an effort to create a smooth transition for students, Sachem High Schools North and East recently welcomed the incoming Class of 2021 during this year’s freshman orientations. Gathered in the auditoriums at their respective schools, the incoming freshmen met the buildings’ principals and support staff, who discussed essential information about the school, including building rules and expectations. Then, with their schedules in hand, the students had the chance to tour the building and practice opening their lockers. The tours concluded with an ice cream social at East and a barbecue at North, giving the students time to forge bonds with other incoming freshmen. *The photo above is from Sachem High School East’s freshman orientation. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=50101 Wed, 30 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false50101 Birthday Celebration The Sachem Arrowettes take a break from practice to wish a Sachem alumni, Dylan a very happy 18th Birthday at Hiawatha Elementary School. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49993 Wed, 23 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49993 Notice of BOE Meeting - August 23, 2017 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49980 Tue, 22 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49980 SESY Students Celebrate Graduation To the cheers of more than 300 peers, faculty and staff members, the Sachem Extended School Year program’s nine graduating students adorned ceremonial red caps and gowns and walked the halls of Wenonah Elementary School as they collectively marked a milestone in their educational lives – graduation from a program that many have attended since first grade. The initiative, now in its 32nd year, provides special education students within the district enriching educational activities to strengthen their skills during the summer months. Through creative STEAM classroom instruction, the talented SESY educators enforce students’ learning skills with unique and engaging curricula incorporating elements of technology, such as iPads and interactive computer software into their lessons. The graduating students will continue to receive support from the district’s educators as they attend their final school year at either Sachem High School East or North starting in September. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49955 Fri, 18 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49955 August 23 BOE Location Change The location of the Board of Education meeting for Wednesday, August 23rd has been changed to the Samoset Auditorium. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49938 Thu, 17 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49938 Ronkonkoma Heritage History Presentation https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49920 Wed, 16 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49920 Updated: August 14, 2017 - Transportation Information Update 8/14/17 Transportation Update for Tuesday, August 15 Due to the limited parking at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church, the district will open up Sachem High School North for additional parking. There will be three buses that will make round trips from Sachem High School North to the church located in Lake Ronkonkoma. Busing will begin at 8:30 a.m. and will continue to run until the Mass concludes and all parties are successfully back at North. Security will be on-hand at the school to ensure there are no issues with parking. We would like to thank the Towne Bus, LLC for their generous donation of these buses. Our continued thoughts and condolences are with the family and loved ones during this difficult time. Update 8/11/17: Dear Sachem Families, Yesterday our community suffered a great loss, one that will forever stay in our hearts. Out of respect for the family and loved ones, all football related activities, at Sachem High School North and East, will be cancelled on Monday, August 14 as well as Tuesday, August 15.We will make an update on Tuesday regarding the football schedule for the rest of the week. As a reminder, all school and community based activities will remain cancelled districtwide throughout the weekend. As our community begins to heal from this tragedy, we will continue to offer support services for those in need. The district continues to extend its condolences to the family and loved ones during this difficult time. We are Sachem. Sincerely, Kenneth E. Graham Superintendent of Schools An Update from the Superintendent of Schools - 8/10/17 In light of today’s tragedy regarding the death of an 11th-grade High School East student, the district will be providing support services at both High School East and North tomorrow, Friday, August 11 beginning at 8 a.m. for those in need. In addition, all school and community based activities are cancelled districtwide throughout the weekend. Please keep the student’s family and loved ones in your thoughts during this difficult time. 8/10/17 The Sachem Central School District Administration, Board of Education and entire school community are truly saddened to learn of the tragic loss of an 11th-grade Sachem High School East student. The student passed away from injuries suffered during an off-season football workout early this morning. The district is devastated by this horrific accident and words cannot express the grief we feel as a school community. We extend our deepest condolences to the student’s family and friends during this terribly difficult time. We have enacted our Crisis Intervention Team and support services will be made available to students and staff for as long as needed as we mourn and try to cope with this loss. All athletic and school-related activities, as well as all community-based group activities, have been cancelled for today at all buildings districtwide. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49870 Thu, 10 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49870 Grundy Avenue Welcomes a Little Free Library Fourth grade students from Grundy Avenue Elementary School worked together to set up a new addition to their school, the Little Free Library; an initiative that brings books to students and fosters a love for learning within the community. Little Free Library is a non-profit organization that inspires a love for reading by bringing book shares to communities around the world. Through the efforts of Little Free Library, millions of books are exchanged each year, greatly increasing their availability to students of all ages. Grundy Avenue Principal and former reading teacher, Laura Amato supervised the project. Students took time away from their summer vacations to lend a hand painting the library, book cart and the post that the library will stand on. Principal Amato created labels for each book that students inserted to give them a sense of ownership, purpose and pride as they oversee their free library throughout the year. “Literacy is very important to me as it is the foundation to all learning,” said Principal Amato. “I feel an obligation to put books in the hands of kids any way we can and get them to read both in school and out of school.” The library will be installed in front of the school in the coming weeks for all students to enjoy. If you wish to donate, books in new or good condition may be dropped off at Grundy Avenue Elementary School. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49861 Wed, 09 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49861 Welcoming New Administrative Faces After an expansive search, welcome to Carissa Hagan, William Holl, Brenda Almendarez-DeBello and Brian Kolar as the new assistant principals at Samoset Middle School, Seneca Middle School, East High School and North High School, respectively. Ms. Hagan comes to Samoset Middle School from Sagamore Middle School, where she has worked as an English as a Second Language teacher since 2010. During her time at Sagamore, Ms. Hagan worked with students to increase comprehension and understanding of content areas and spearheaded other initiatives such as Sachem’s districtwide ESL community night. Additionally, she worked as an adult education teacher and has served as the Middle School Director of the Sachem Summer Enrichment Program since 2014. Ms. Hagan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics TESOL K-12 from Stony Brook University, a Master of Science degree in earth science from C.W. Post of Long Island University and an Advanced Certificate in school building leadership from College of Saint Rose. Mr. Holl most recently worked as a physics teacher for the Sachem High School North, teaching both Regents and Advanced Placement courses, and serving as a mentor for two first-year physics teachers. Additionally, he worked collaboratively with colleagues to develop and enhance the physics curriculum. Since 2010, Mr. Holl has coached the Sachem High School North boys cross-country team to many impressive finishes. The 2014 Suffolk County Coach of the Year award winner led the team to a Suffolk County Class A Championship victory, a Division 1 Championship and two League 2 Championships. Mr. Holl holds a Bachelor of Arts in physics and a Master of Arts degree in liberal studies from Stony Brook University. He also attended the Educational Leadership program at Stony Brook University. Ms. Almendarez-DeBello comes to the district from the Uniondale Union Free School District at the Lawrence Road Middle School as an administrative intern and a bilingual mathematics teacher. Within these roles, she aided in creating measures to facilitate testing procedures for administration, proctor schedules and student accommodations as well as developed and provided various professional development workshops for teachers. Prior to this, Ms. Almendarez-DeBello taught mathematics for eight years at Intermediate School 93 for the New York City Department of Education. She received her Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in psychology from the State University of New York at Albany, her Master of Science in education from St. John’s University, where she also completed an Advanced Certificate in school building leadership and is currently in the process of receiving her doctorate of education degree in educational administration and supervision. Mr. Kolar joins North High School after serving as the acting building principal of Sleepy Hollow Middle School in Tarrytown, New York since 2015. For the past 18 years, Mr. Kolar has taught social studies to students grades 6-12 and acted as a seventh- and eighth-grade team leader, where he oversaw a five-teacher team, was a mentor to new staff members and was responsible for the design and implementation of lesson plans and curricula. Mr. Kolar received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Boston University, a Master of Professional Studies dual focus in secondary social studies and special education (K-12) from Manhattanville College, and his Master of Science in education administration and supervision from Fordham University. In addition to the appointment of the four new assistant principals, John Cariddi and Dr. John Galligan, both current employees of the district, were named assistant principals at Sachem High School East and Sagamore Middle School, respectively. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49840 Mon, 07 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49840 Fall 2017 Tennis Lessons https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49829 Fri, 04 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49829 New Administrator for Physical Education Effective July 5, 2017, Shannon McEntee has been appointed as the new Administrator for Physical Education. Ms. McEntee comes to the district from the Rockville Centre Union Free School District, where she served as a health education and physical education teacher since 2006 and held the position of athletic administration intern since 2015. A co-writer of health curriculum for Rockville Centre, Ms. McEntee incorporated character education throughout the program to enhance social-responsibilities, self-responsibility, teamwork, sportsmanship and leadership. During her time at Rockville Centre, Ms. McEntee also oversaw the student concussion screening and testing initiative while also serving on the Health and Safety and Wellness committees. She helped facilitate several programs including the District Wellness Fair and Substance Abuse Awareness Walk. In addition to her work in the classroom, Ms. McEntee also boasts an impressive background as South Side High School’s head varsity soccer coach. The two-time New York State Coach of the Year Award winner guided the Cyclones to two state championships, three Long Island championships and four county championships in her time there since 2010. Ms. McEntee received her Bachelor of Science degree in physical education and health education from Adelphi University where she then went on to complete her master’s degree in health education. She completed the educational administrative program through Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and the athletic administrative certification program through American Military University. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49800 Wed, 02 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49800 Board of Education Meeting Time Change - August 2, 2017 Tomorrow's regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting has a time change. The meeting is Wednesday 8/2 at 8:30am in the district Board room. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49780 Tue, 01 Aug 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49780 2016-2017 Spring Athletics Post-Season Honors Click here to view the Post-Season Honors List https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49743 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49743 Wenonah Giving Garden Sprouts Horticulture Curiosity Wenonah Elementary School students are gaining collaborative learning skills and an appreciation of horticulture as they work to provide the less fortunate with fresh crops from their “Giving Garden”. A project developed by the Wenonah Leadership Council in 2015, the crops are gathered by students and donated to Island Harvest, a non-profit organization offering food services to those in need. As part of the initiative, students in grades K-5 hone their knowledge of horticulture by participating in all steps of the growing process. Seeds are planted in cut milk containers collected by leadership students to germinate seeds. Seedlings are then nurtured in the classroom until they have matured enough to be planted in the garden. The garden, which parents constructed from materials donated by the PTA, is composed of cedar boxes filled with organic soil to hold the many varieties of vegetables the students plant. To date, the students have planted and harvested such crops as tomatoes, squash, peppers, eggplant, beans, corn and fresh herbs. Reflecting on the impact of the project, Principal Christine DiPaola said, “There has been incredible enthusiasm for this project across grade levels. Not only have students learned about horticulture and the farm to table experience, they have taken great satisfaction in helping others in our community.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49705 Tue, 25 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49705 Notice of Board Meeting Time Change: August 2, 2017 The time for the August 2nd Board of Education meeting has been changed to 8:30am. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49657 Thu, 20 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49657 Extended School Year Program Enters its 32nd Summer The Sachem Extended School Year Program was established 32 years ago to support the diverse needs of special education students within the district. Initially, the program was designed to provide the academic and social/emotional foundation that enrolled students need to successfully transition into the next school year but has since grown into something much more. The students who attend the program are matched with some of the district’s most dedicated professionals and caring staff. Teachers, staff, parents, and students often refer to the program as the quintessential example of what the Sachem family is all about. This summer, instruction in academics and life skills development in the SESY program has centered around the theme of safety. Students are being instructed in all aspects of staying safe – everything from playing in or near pools, being protected from the sun, and proper hydration, to traveling, personal, and stranger safety – is being integrated into their classroom and community-based instruction. The talented and creative SESY staff have also incorporated STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Math) instruction into classroom lessons. Bree Bunse, a longtime SESY teacher, has brought the Next Generation Standards to the forefront this summer. For example, students have worked to advance their technology skills with iPads, 3-D printers and interactive computer software. They have also worked with K’nex, building three dimensional structures that combine engineering and creativity. The highlight of their STEAM work has been coding with colors and programing Ozobots to follow commands that they create using colored dashes. Students in Jenny Lee Terzopoulos’ music classroom learned the importance of car passenger safety and the need to be prepared for an unexpected situation. The students also enjoyed listening to and singing along with such classical songs such as “Route 66,” “On the Road Again,” “Life is a Highway” and “Car Wash.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49649 Wed, 19 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49649 ENL Summer School at Samoset With the help of English as a New Language educators, Sachem’s kindergarten and secondary English as a New Language students are finding fun ways to build their listening, speaking, reading and writing skills this summer. Primary students practiced kindergarten readiness skills by reading children’s literature. Shadowing Sachem ENL educators, secondary students stared in their own weather reports and cooking demonstrations, as well as designed rockets with the help of Sachem High School East technology teacher, Keith Connelly. Students across the grade levels have also created reflection journals touching upon their personal journeys. The ENL Summer School holds more benefit than just helping the students strengthen their understanding of English. For many students, this is the first opportunity to interact with the peers they will attend school with. Student Jassmin Guerra reflected upon the experience by saying, “ENL Summer School is helping us make new friends.” Senior Samira Rahman, who volunteered in the program added, “The program gives us a chance to communicate with peers and while building my resume for college by volunteering in the kindergarten room.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49616 Mon, 17 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49616 Learning Continues through the Summer Months While the school year may be complete, learning has continued into the summer in Sachem. Camp Sachem, a student summer enrichment program, is underway and provides campers with a unique engaging educational experience. Camp Sachem is held at Samoset Middle School from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily in two separate sessions spanning from pre-K through 8th grade. The program provides a stimulating educational experience spanning across multiple fields of study in an exciting way. Students will participate in activities such as Legoland, where they will learn about the construction of various structures by creating their very own Lego town. They will also practice kitchen safety and learn to follow recipes in chef school, and use balloons to explore how rockets work. An appreciation for art will also be encouraged by studying renowned artists and drawing inspiration for their own artistic creations. In addition to these activities, students will participate in various other educational projects at Camp Sachem. On Friday, July 14, the students will host a Parent Showcase, where they will perform a short musical presentation, followed by a display of the amazing work they completed during their time at camp. Following the showcase, students in the Rocketry program will shoot off rockets, and chef school participants will prepare treats for their visitors to enjoy. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49585 Thu, 13 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49585 Sachem East and Sachem North Named NYSPHSAA Schools of Excellence Sachem High School East and Sachem High School North have been named as School of Excellence winners 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 grade point average be 90.00 or above. There are only four 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. NYSPHSAA’s Scholar-Athlete team award was initiated in the 1991-1992 school year. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49503 Thu, 06 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49503 Sachem Honors Retirees at Board of Education Meeting At the June 21, 2017 Sachem Board of Education meeting, dozens of retirees from Sachem were honored for their service and dedication to the school district. Below is a list of retirees and their years of service. A special mention goes to sisters Bonnie Beyernheimer, Elizabeth Crowley and Marie Page, who are all retiring together this year. Their father John Beyernheimer was one of Sachem’s original administrators, and this fall will be the first time someone in their family is not working in Sachem in more than 60 years. We wish our retirees all the best in retirement. Thank you to each of them for their hard work and passion towards serving our school community. #GoArrows Name & Years of Service Bonnie Beyernheimer, 32 years Debra Boos, 25 Joyce Boyle, 18 Mary Capek, 32 Anna Chung, 9 Marianne Cinquemani, 20 Raymond Connolly, 28 Elizabeth Crowley, 36 Kathy Dawson, 28 Paula DeFilippo, 12 John Deluca, 31 Nicholas DiPeri, 9 Lynn Favorite, 30 Josephine Fumai, 15 Richard Gerkens, 19 Richard Ginley, 13 Johanna Gulay, 21 Gary Hallock, 27 Shaun Harney, 31 Douglas Heinlein, 10 Eugene Higgins, 33 Karen Hokansan, 28 Jill Hughes, 29 James Kalachik, 33 Cynthia Keith, 19 David Loehle, 35 Donald Mark, 7 Karen Meservy, 18 Joseph Murphy, 38 Barbara Murray, 29 Lori Nazzaro, 28 Donald O’Brien, 6 Judith Otto, 19 Ellen Padilla, 29 Marie Page, 30 Kathleen Polzer, 27 Therese Robinson, 30 Cynthia Rocco, 24 Patricia Scaturro, 33 Lisa Scrima-Castelli, 27 Linda Strong, 28 Debra Trudnak, 28 Marie Wyckoff, 16 Alexander Young, 33 Jane Zederbam, 20 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49482 Wed, 05 Jul 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49482 Sachem East Graduation - Class of 2017 Congratulations Sachem East Class of 2017! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49320 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49320 Sachem North Graduation - Class of 2017 Congratulations Sachem North Class of 2017! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49323 Mon, 26 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49323 Important Update About This Weekend's Graduation Ceremonies This is an important message about this weekend's graduation ceremonies. We have been monitoring the weather carefully throughout the past 48 hours. We have decided that East's graduation will take place as scheduled at 7pm this evening. North's graduation has been moved from Saturday at 9am to Sunday at 9am. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49266 Fri, 23 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49266 Merrimac Student Inspired by Garden of Dreams Click here to read more information about the story https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49242 Thu, 22 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49242 June Guidance Memo https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49136 Wed, 21 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49136 Getting to Know Sachem’s 2017 Valedictorians It is a true testament of incredibly hard work to earn the title of Valedictorian and Sachem East’s Sophie Hannigan and Sachem North’s Erin Maryzek have both captured the high honor. We sat down with them to get their thoughts on how Sachem has played a role in shaping their lives and set them up for the next chapter which they are about to embark on. Sachem East, Sophie Hannigan VIDEO: Click to watch video interview with Sophie! Getting to know Sophie: Stony Brook Hospital volunteer, Brookhaven National Lab Gifted Math Program, wind ensemble, National Honor Society treasurer, New York State Math Honor Society vice president, and National History Honor Society public director. Sophie was a recipient of the Rensselaer Medal, a National Merit Scholarship Winner and a Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation Semi-Finalist. She will study math at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. What did the Sachem experience mean to you: “To me, Sachem is family. It’s evidently a very large and sprawling district, but there is something really special about having the Sachem bond. There are people that I met this year from the complete other side of the district that I’ve never seen in my entire life, but just the fact that we all go to Sachem, it’s easy to strike up a conversation. They’re all very nice, caring people. The fact that parents who went to Sachem choose to stay within the district to raise their kids here, it really speaks volumes to the whole Sachem family.” How has Sachem prepared you for the next chapter of your life? “Sachem has prepared me for the next chapter of my life by going beyond just teaching me academics. All my teachers are passionate about their subjects and you can tell they are genuinely passionate about what they’re teaching, but most importantly, they’ve been personally invested in the students. I can speak on behalf of my entire class that the teachers really do care about you. They want to make sure you’re not just finding success in the classroom, but they want to make sure you have a happy life. I’ve gotten so many pieces of advice from teachers across all different disciplines and it’s really stuck with me up until today what they’ve said, even if it’s from years ago. I think the life lessons have been equally as important, if not more important, than the academic lessons I’ve received.” How has being a student-athlete made a difference in your life? “Being a student-athlete at Sachem has definitely forced me to learn some time management skills because there would be times when I just came home from practice or I just finished a match and I’d be exhausted and the last thing I wanted to do was start my homework, but I had no choice but to do that. Those skills have carried throughout my high school years. It’s helped me manage everything I juggle. Being a student-athlete has introduced me to the whole feeling of being on a team. It’s a built-in family. At the end of a long day, or if I have a rough day, I could be stressed or not have done well on a test or something, and I could just turn to my teammates for a laugh.” Sachem North, Erin Maryzek VIDEO: Click to watch video interview with Erin! Getting to know Erin: Varsity field hockey captain, varsity winter and spring track, National Honor Society president, National History Honor Society member, Envirothon Club treasurer, National Merit Scholar and New York State Scholar Athlete. She will study chemistry at Northeastern University. What did the Sachem experience mean to you: “Sachem gave me a lot of opportunities that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere. I had the opportunity to play three varsity sports and I’m in a lot of clubs like envirothon. I’m surrounded by teachers who push me to be the best that I can be. Even from kindergarten to now, I know I would not be where I am today without them, especially science teachers which have been a really big part of my life.” How has being a student-athlete made a difference in your life? “Sports always have been a way for me to destress. I have a pretty crazy life, and so going to practice every day for two hours, to most people might seem like it’s adding on to the stress. For me it’s really a way to relax. It’s nice to not have to worry about being graded or doing homework, but to just have fun.” How has Sachem prepared you for the next chapter of your life? “Sachem will help in my career and next steps in life in a lot of ways. I’ve had the opportunity to participate in envirothon, which is a club here. Envirothon taught me how to put together a project really well. It’s a big competition where you have to work with four other people and come up with an answer to a problem. I didn’t think I’d work so hard at something that is a made up scenario, but I don’t know if it was my friends doing it with me, or my teacher pushing me, but I love it and now as I go off into college I am going to be able to problem solve really well and be able to work with others to come up with a solution to something that may or may not be real, but is equally important either way.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48876 Wed, 14 Jun 2017 05:00:00 GMT false48876 Meet Sachem’s Class of 2017 Salutatorians With a district as big as Sachem, it’s a great honor to be in the top 100 of the graduating class, let alone in the top 10 or to be named Salutatorian. For the Class of 2017, Alice Tsai has the honor of being the Salutatorian at Sachem East, while Claire Ramirez has the distinction for Sachem North. Let’s learn more about these outstanding students! SACHEM HIGH SCHOOL EAST, ALICE TSAI • Activities: Winter and spring track and field, varsity swimming captain, Tzu Chi Foundation volunteer, Math Honor Society president, Foreign Language Honor Society treasurer, National Honor Society, English Honor Society • College: Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College • College major: Science SACHEM HIGH SCHOOL NORTH, CLAIRE RAMIREZ • Activities: Swim team captain, Math team president, Euro Challenge Competition team, National Honor Society communications director, Social Studies Honor Society, Foreign Language Honor Society, Science Honor Society • College: Cornell University • College Major: Industrial and labor relations https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48877 Wed, 14 Jun 2017 05:00:00 GMT false48877 Award Night On June 8, 2017 high school seniors were honored at both the Sachem High School North and Sachem High School East Senior Scholarship and Awards Ceremonies. Between the two high schools over $100,000 in scholarships and awards were given out to Sachem students. Thank you to all of our community groups, families, and school groups who support these scholarships for our students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48878 Wed, 14 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48878 Four Sachem Student-Athletes Named First Team All-Long Island Four Sachem student-athletes from spring sports seasons were named First Team All-Long as selected by Newsday. Congratulations are in order for the following student-athletes: *Eve Calabria, Sachem North lacrosse: Calabria led Suffolk County with 60 assists and was fourth in Suffolk with 94 total points. Calabria will attend and play at Bucknell University. *Lauren Harris, Sachem East track and field: Harris is statistically the best high school racewalker in American history. She has set and broken basically every record in both indoor and outdoor competition over the last two years. Harris will attend Marist College and will aim at a long career in competitive race walking. *Jonathan Lauer, Sachem North track and field: Lauer is finishing his prep career on a very high note as the New York State steeplechase champion. He will run at Columbia University. *Chris Tibbets, Sachem North track and field: Tibbets is one of the best distance runners in New York State, and finished his career as one of Sachem's all-time greats in various events in the fall, winter and spring. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48875 Wed, 14 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48875 Superintendent Letter 6-9-2017 Please see the link below for aLetter from the Superintendent regarding a Seneca Lockdown. 6-9-2017 Superintendent Letter https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48717 Fri, 09 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48717 Sachem’s Tech Education Program Allows Students to Flourish Sachem’s technology education program is offering real world experiences and training in the classroom each day. The Computer Repair Technology CTP program also had one ofitsmost successful years to date. A number of students earned certifications that they will be able to use in their lives and careers. These include: 17 students NOCTI Certified and graduating with NYSEDendorsement 12studentsPCPRO Certified 2 students Security ProCertified 3 students Comptia A+ Certified 2 students Comptia Security+ Certified VIDEO: Click to watch a video highlight of this year’s program! Sachem has 20-plus years of history with technology education students starting their own businesses, working for governments and municipalities and being hired by unions or schools to teach these disciplines. There are also 12 seniors going to various colleges specificallyfor computer science or computer technology. Sachem also has one student attending the Suffolk County Community College manufacturing, and civil engineering programs. Other students have earned work at the Town of Brookhaven, the Long Island Ecology Center and various plumbing and steamfitter unions. In Sachem’s computer repair technician class, students take a three-period class each day. This is available to juniors and seniors and can be taken for one or two years. In this class, students are submerged in the world of computer repair, networking, security, hardware, system design and other areas important to today’s technology infrastructure. Students also receive hands-on experience fixing computers from students, teachers, staff, and the community. In the carpentry class, also offered for three periods to juniors and seniors at Sachem, students learn about surveying, foundations, framing, siding, roofing, residential electricity and plumbing and other areas of development and construction. Students have worked on a number of projects around the district as part of their class curriculum, including the building of a complete home, main entrance reception desks at both Sachem East and Sachem North, book shelves in the elementary school, and other incredible additions in various buildings. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49028 Tue, 06 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49028 Wenonah Student Wins Honorable Mention at BNL Science Fair Wenonah Elementary fourth grader Emily Belyansky won Honorable mention at this year’s Brookhaven National Lab Science Fair. Belyansky’s project studied fire resistant balloons. She researched why and how the balloon doesn’t pop. “One time, I saw a guy lighting up a candle and letting the fire touch an inflated balloon,” she wrote on the project’s description board. “It didn’t pop! After that, he showed that the balloon had water in it. Ever since, I’ve been wondering if the temperature of the water matters. I thought that this would make a great science fair project.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48531 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 05:00:00 GMT false48531 Sachem East Girls Track & Field Captures Third Consecutive County Title "It was the best of times, it was the best of times." Not exactly what Dickens wrote, but definitely what he would have written about the performance of the Sachem East girls track and field team at the 2017 Suffolk County Spring Track Championships. Two days of season bests, personal bests, and school records that enabled the Sachem East to dominate the action, winning the meet with 133 points over second place Ward Melville (73 points) to win their third consecutive spring county title. "Enjoy this moment," Coach Schaub said strongly as he handed the championship plaque to the seniors. "You worked very hard for this and had an incredible meet!" In addition to the team title, this squad crowned four individual event champions, with two school records set in the process. Kaitlyn Famiglietti won the 400 hurdles, Lauren Harris the 1,500-meter race walk, and school records were set by Jeilyn Balbuena while winning the 100 hurdles, and Jasmine Ahmed while winning the pentathlon. Sachem East was the only team to score in all event areas as jumps, throws, sprints, distance, and relays were all areas where the Arrows racked up points. The Arrows placed multiple scorers in a number of events, with the 1, 3, 5 finish in the 400 hurdles (Famiglietti, Skylar Papele, Angela Calabrese) and the 1, 2, 3 finish in the 1,500-meter race walk (Harris, Margaret Atwood, Chelsea Benedict) blowing the meet wide open. Sachem East closed out the meet by being the only team to score in all three relays. Next up for Sachem is the New York State Qualifier next Friday and Saturday at Port Jeff High, the New York State Championship in Binghamton the following weekend (for those that qualify), and then Nationals in North Carolina for the handful who have hit the national standards. Sachem East Top Finishers at 2017 Suffolk County Championship • Pentathlon: 1- Jasmine Ahmed, 2458 points (School Record) • 100 Hurdles: 1- Jeilyn Balbuena, 15.29 (School Record) • 400 Meters: 8- Brooke Papele, 59.83 • 800 Meters: 3- Shayna Arrigo 2:19.64, 5- Rachel Ruggiero 2:20.17, 6- Bridget Abraldes 2:20.52, 7- Melissa Merone 2:21.13 • 400 Hurdles: 1- Kaitlyn Famiglietti 63.29, 3- Skyler Papele 65.24, 5- Angela Calabrese 66.84 • 3000 Meters: 2- Lindsay Dodenhoff 10:06.87 • Long Jump: 4- Alice Tsai 16' 9.5" • Pole Vault: 10- Jordan Messineo 8' 6" • Discus: 3- Erin Leonard 111' 1, 6- Rosalie Gandarillas 100' 3" • Steeplechase: 5- Melissa Merone 7:29.79, 10- Allison Rinfret 8:05.05 • 1500 Meters: 2- Lindsay Dodenhoff 4:51.37, 3- Rachel Ruggiero 4:54.77 • Shot Put: 4- Rosalie Gandarillas 35' 5.75", 5- Christina Artusa 35', 8- Michaela Parker 34' 1.5" • Triple Jump: 4- Emily Schatz . 35' .5" • 1500 Race Walk: 1- Lauren Harris 6:37.43, 2- Margeret Atwood 6:57.01, 3- Chelsea Benedict 7:04.04, 7- Sam Piezzo 7:40.04, 10- Amanda Harnos 7:43.48 • 4x100 Relay: 5- B. Papele, Angela Consalazio, Tsai, Balbuena 51.08 • 4x400 Relay: 2- Famiglietti, Consalazio, B Papele, S. Arrigo 4:04.29 • 4x800 Relay: 2- Abraldes, S. Arrigo, Merone, Dodenhoff 9:38.72 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48340 Mon, 05 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48340 North Boys Track and Field Team Has Outstanding Showing The Sachem North boys track and field team had an outstanding showing at this year's New York State qualifying meet at Port Jefferson on Friday and Saturday. Chris Tibbetts, Chris Fasano and Jonathan Lauer all won titles at the event. Lauer recorded the fastest time in the United States this season in the 3,000-meter steeple chase. Here's a rundown of the three athletes' performances: Chris Tibbetts 1,600-meter champion,4:14.37, new school record, fastest time in NY State Made his move with 300 meters to go and never looked back finishing four seconds ahead next runner 3,200-meter champion,9:21.10 Beat Isaiah Claiborne from Northport, who beat Tibbetts in four previous match-ups Ran a very strategic race, choosing not to lead and to kick earlier than he normally does Ran his last ¼ mile in an astonishing 54.5 Chris Fasano Discus Champion,175’ 11”,New School Record, No.in New York State Had a great progression of throws building up to his final record setting throw 2nd Place Shot Put (State Qualifier),57’ 1/2 ", season high, No.7 in NY State Jonathan Lauer 3,000-meter Steeplechase Champion,9:14.14,New School,Meet and county record, fastest time in NY State,fastest time in the U.S. The victory was redemption for Jon when he beat Michael Grabowski from Smithtown West. Grabowski set the Suffolk Record back in May when he beat Lauer by .53 at St. Anthony’s https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48530 Sun, 04 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48530 Letter from the Superintendent 6-2-2017 Please see the June 2, 2017 letter from the Superintendent regarding, "Stranger Danger". June 2, 2017 Letter from the Superintendent https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48472 Fri, 02 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48472 Lynwood Avenue Elementary Competes at Destination Imagination Global Event This year a team of third grade students from Lynwood Avenue Elementary competed at the Destination Imagination Global Tournament in Tennessee. During the Global Finals, there were 50 teams in their challenge category. Lynwood finished the competition with a rank of 33rd in their challenge category. This was quite a feat as they were one of the youngest teams competing, with most teams being composed of fifth graders. During their trip to Global Finals, the team had the opportunity to showcase their challenge solution to a larger, more diverse audience at a global level. Students were also able to experience how other students from around the world solved their challenge. There were many opportunities to interact with other cultures through International events as well as pin trading throughout the tournament. During the International Block Party, students were greeted by ambassadors from other countries as well as sampled foods from a variety of these nations. These nations included: Turkey, China, Brazil, Argentina, Australia, South Korea, Poland, Qatar, and Mexico as well as many states throughout the U.S. The students were extremely excited to explore, learn from and communicate with students from other countries. In addition, Global Finals participants were provided ongoing opportunities to learn new skills, hear from industry experts, participate in a variety of creative, STEAM-based activities and attend a variety of workshops and expos that foster imagination, creativity and teamwork. It was an amazing experience for all! Lynwood’s DI team had placed second in regional qualifying from the New York event in April. This team chose to solve the Fine Arts Challenge called Vanished. For this challenge the team needed to: • Research the meanings, roles and uses of the team selected color. • Present a story about how the disappearance of a single color changes a world. • Create a colorful character that causes or is affected by the color’s disappearance. • Use technical theatre methods to create a vanishing act that makes something disappear. • Create and present two Team Choice Elements that show off the team’s interests, skills, areas of strength and talents. In addition, during each tournament teams are required to complete an Instant Challenge. An Instant Challenge requires students to work as a team to solve a timed challenge. The students have no knowledge of the challenge prior to its start. The students must take on various roles such as leader, builder, and time keeper in order to successfully complete the challenge. This requires a great deal of teamwork, cooperation and quick thinking. The Instant Challenge score is combined with the Main Challenge score to determine team ranking. The following is a synopsis of the team’s story: It is your typical day in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. Coral swaying, fish swimming…all is calm. A reporter from DI News brings us an in-depth look at life under the sea. Little does she know that she is going to witness a friendly fish named Scarlet help rescue her friend, Crimson Carl the Coral from his most feared predator, the Crown of Thorns. Team manager Cathy Dulovic on the experience: “As a team manager, it was amazing to witness the overall growth I saw in these students throughout the Destination Imagination process. With focus on the 4Cs – communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity, the students work diligently and effectively to solve their challenge by thinking “outside the box”. The vision of DI is “To teach students the creative process and empower them with the skills needed to succeed in an ever-changing world.” I feel this experience has given these students the confidence, drive and skills to be successful in all that they do. It has also provided them with an understanding that there is more than one way to solve a challenge. I am so proud of the leaders that they have become!” WATCH VIDEO! Watch a roundtable discussion from Lynwood Elementary about the student experience for the Destination Imagination team that recently competed at the DI Global championships in Tennessee! These students have studied, researched and executed on S.T.E.A.M. initiatives at a very high level and they should be proud of their efforts. We are so honored that they have represented Sachem at a global level! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48437 Thu, 01 Jun 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48437 Sachem Robotics Honored by Town of Brookhaven The Sachem Robotics team was recognized and honored by the Town of Brookhaven on Thursday, May 25. Team Aftershock 263 put in another incredibly successful season this year, winning a Long Island regional title and competing in the national championships in St. Louis. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48339 Tue, 30 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48339 Sachem Students Share Stories, Honored By Board of Education Students across Sachem Central School District shared their stories for Disability Awareness Day in May. A select group of students from Sachem North shared their experiences during the Sachem Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, May 24. To see photos and videos from the meeting, follow us on Facebook.com/SachemSchools. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48245 Thu, 25 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48245 Sachem East Student Honored for Building Culture Bridges Congratulations to Sachem East’s Imad Chaudhry on being selected to receive the Students Building Bridges Award from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island. Imad was publicly honored for his efforts in building bridges across communities and creating a more civil society at Suffolk County’s Holocaust Remembrance Day program at Suffolk County Community College. Imad was recognized with a citation from an elected official and a certificate from the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48224 Wed, 24 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48224 Merrimac Elementary Hosts ALS Ride for Life Click here to read the article. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48189 Wed, 24 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48189 Join Cub Scout Pack 272 Click here to view the Cub Scouts flyer https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48213 Wed, 24 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48213 Merrimac Elementary Hosts ALS Ride for Life Event Chris Pendergast came to Merrimac along with Paul Weisman to celebrate the completion of the twentieth commemorative ALS Ride for Life. The group journeyed from Yankee Stadium - in memory of Lou Gehrig - and ended in Washington, D.C. Since it was raining on Monday, the students and staff found a way to bring the celebration inside. They lined hallways with signs and banners, and chanted “Strike out ALS” and “Let's find a cure!” Chris and other friends fighting ALS have visited Merrimac for three years now to teach about this tough disease and the importance of never giving up. The Merrimac community is hosting a fundraiser created by fourth grade student, Leah Pulitano. She has planned and implemented a service project each year for the school to continue supporting the quest for a cure. “It was inspiring and really teaches us to keep fighting and embrace life and the challenges it brings us,” said Merrimac Principal, Veronica DeCicco. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48223 Wed, 24 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48223 Lighthouse Mission Food Drive https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48159 Tue, 23 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48159 Antonia Pavek - Sagamore's Silver Key Author! The Scholastic Art and Music Contest is open to students across the country in grades 7 - 12, and this year Antonia Pavek, a 7th grader from Sagamore Middle School, earned two Silver Awards and an honorable mention for her short story and poetry. Antonia's work is outstanding, and it will be available in the final edition of The Sagamore News, to be published in June. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47789 Tue, 23 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47789 Mad Science is Awesome The 7th and 6th graders got to see an amazing assembly with Mad Science, all about air. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48145 Mon, 22 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48145 Top 10 Sachem will hold its graduations at Sachem East on June 23 (6 p.m.) and Sachem North on June 24 (9 a.m.) and we will graduate more than 1,000 students. It’s always special to recognize the Top 10 of our graduating classes at both high schools, so here is a look at where these talented students will study during the next chapter of their lives. Top 10 Sachem East Class of 2017 1. Sophie Hannigan, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 2. Alice Tsai, Hunter College 3. Christopher Mingo, Columbia University 4. Daniel Ivanov, New York University 5. Tiffany Ly, Cornell University 6. Victor Guan, Princeton University 7. Tyler Murray, Binghamton University 8. Robert Gansrow, United States Air Force Academy 9. Ariana Eng, Rochester Institute of Technology 10. Matthew Davison, Stony Brook University Top 10 Sachem North Class of 2017 1. Erin Maryzek, Northeastern University 2. Claire Ramirez, Cornell University 3. Rachel Loyst, St. Lawrence University 4. Abigail Rathmann, Colgate University 5. Samantha Sommers, United States Air Force Academy 6. Marissa Volkman, Colgate University 7. Kaitlyn Baudille, SUNY New Paltz 8. Josh Prentice, Stony Brook University 9. Liam Donohue, Embry Riddle University, Air Force ROTC 10. Ariana Garcia-Cassani, Cornell University Congratulations to all and thanks for making Sachem proud in all that you do! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=49029 Fri, 19 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false49029 Kids4Vets Gardening Event On May 17th, the Sagamore Spirit Club was joined by Councilman Kevin LaValle and Legistative Aide Sam Bifulco to help beautify Sagamore’s entrance and promote the Kids4Vets event. Councilman LaValle and Mr. Bifulco helped our students to plant in our front gardens with flowers donated by the Town of Brookhaven. The students enjoyed the opportunity to spruce up the front of the school, and add a little springtime. In addition, they had the great opportunity to help the Councilman promote the amazing event Kids4Vets, to be held on June 4th at Sachem North. The Spirit Club showed true enthusiasm and spirit in wanting to say thank you to our Veterans. The club enjoys helping the school and community, and was thankful for the opportunity to meet some great community leaders. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48027 Fri, 19 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48027 Sachem Central School District Presents: Not My Kid... Join us for a districtwide PARENT ONLY informational meeting on a proactive approach to keeping your kids safe. Thursday, May 25th at 7:00 pm The forum will be held in the Auditorium at: Sagamore Middle School 57 Division St, Holtsville, NY 11742 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48043 Fri, 19 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48043 Sachem Budget Results - The Sachem Budget has passed! Congratulations to Board of Education Trustees, Ahearn, Canales and Roberts. Click Herefor the official budget results. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47889 Thu, 18 May 2017 06:00:00 GMT false47889 Tamarac Elementary Shows Support During Police Week Tamarac Elementary School hosted a special event where students and staff thanked law enforcement representatives from a number of agencies for their work in protecting the community. It was an incredible show of affection during National Police Week and we are so thankful for all of the support that police officers, sheriffs and all law enforcement provide the Sachem community. Dozens of police officers shook hands and hi-fived students in a procession in front of the school. There were “thank you” signs across the front of the building. Officers came dressed in their uniforms and were proud to share this moment with our students. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48016 Thu, 18 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48016 North Team Sweeps the Regional Envirothon! Of approximately 30 teams competing, Sachem North earned both 1st and 2nd place in Suffolk County! The amount of time and effort these students put into preparing for the competition is very impressive. The 1st place team members each won $500 and all expenses paid to compete in the NY State competition at William Hobart Smith College on Seneca Lake May 24th-25th. We wish them the best of luck in next week's competition. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=48019 Thu, 18 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false48019 2017 Tiger Fun & Recruitment Day https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47983 Thu, 18 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47983 2017 Marching Band https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47986 Thu, 18 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47986 Sachem Ice Hockey Club https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47984 Thu, 18 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47984 Summer Enrichment Flyer 2017 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47985 Thu, 18 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47985 Winter Season Athletic Honors Click here to view the list of athletic honors https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47776 Mon, 15 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47776 Sachem Hosts Makerspace via Sachem Public Library Sachem High School East Library recently hosted a makerspace featuring items from The Studio at the Sachem Public Library. The Studio is a new permanent collection of resources at Sachem Public Library which supports STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Math) learning. Students at Sachem East had the opportunity to experience virtual reality, control robots, code Ozobots, and create digital art designs as well as physical art designs using a button maker to name just a few of the available technologies. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47743 Fri, 12 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47743 Sachem Report - Yogadio Comes To Merrimac Click here to read the article. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47732 Fri, 12 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47732 Sachem Report - Kids Helping Kids Recycling Click here to read the article. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47733 Fri, 12 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47733 Notice: BOE Annual District Meeting, Budget Vote and Trustee Election - May 16 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47763 Fri, 12 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47763 Stranger Letter from the Superintendent https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47611 Tue, 09 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47611 Sachem Students Go Green for Earth Day at Stony Brook’s Earthstock Festival The Sachem High School East Science Research Program submitted their S5 (Sachem Schools: STEM for Sustainability Studies) proposal at this year’s Earthstock Festival at Stony Brook University. There were 85 exhibitors at the event, and Sachem was one of only two high schools invited to participate in Earthstock. Sachem students created flower pots out of recycled newspapers and grew organic vegetable seedlings for donations in order to educate and promote chemical-free, organic gardening practices. Additionally, the students spoke about their sustainability-related science research projects and participated in numerous informative exhibits. The weeklong series of educational programs examine the deeply complex issues of sustainability and energy from almost every discipline. Students, faculty, staff, community members, and organizations are invited to submit a program proposal to host an event as part of Earthstock. These can pertain to a wide range of topics, related to environmental awareness and sustainability. Proposals that discuss environmental themes in particularly unusual and innovative ways are highly encouraged. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47466 Mon, 08 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47466 Important Notice: Polling Places Polling Places are the same as last year in the 2016-2017 school year, including Gatelot and Tecumseh Elementary Schools. Voter Location Lookup Voter Absentee Ballot Budget Information https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47204 Fri, 05 May 2017 05:00:00 GMT false47204 Sachem Appoints New Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction and New Principal of Hiawatha Elementary School Sachem has appointed Erin Hynes as its new Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, and Kathleen O’Farrell as the new Principal of Hiawatha Elementary School. “We would like to welcome and congratulate Mrs. Hynes and Mrs. O’Farrell,” said Sachem Superintendent, Dr. Kenneth Graham. “Thank you to all who participated in the process for the selection of the candidates for these key leadership positions and we look forward to adding their expertise to our district over the years to come.” Mrs. Hynes will be taking over for Dr. Cohen who has filled the position as an interim throughout this school year. Mrs. Hynes went through an extensive search process that included a resume screening by the district office cabinet members of the nearly 75 applicants, a screening interview with the district cabinet members, a committee interview with district stakeholders, a presentation and follow-up interview, and a meeting with the Board of Education. Mrs. Hynes has worked for the past nine years as the K-12 District Administrator for Curriculum in the Comsewogue School District, the Curriculum Coordinator in the Center Moriches School District, a Principal’s Aide and Literacy Coach in the New York City School System and as a Classroom Teacher for the South Manor School District. Mrs. Hynes also sits on the Curriculum Advisory Board for Eastern Suffolk BOCES and is an Advocacy member for the NYS Partners in Policy Albany Organization for Special Education. Mrs. Hynes pursued her administrative degree at Dowling College, and she has also received post educational training at New York University, Teachers College at Columbia University and the Performance Consortium in Manhattan for Leadership, Curriculum Design and Instructional Practices learning. “I'm thrilled to be taking on my new role as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction,” said Mrs. Hynes. “It is an exciting time for the District! My elementary years were spent in the halls and classrooms of Hiawatha before my family moved. I have always cherished my experiences and memories knowing how they shaped me. It is an understatement when I say that I'm honored to return and serve everyone in our Sachem family!” Mrs. O’Farrell went through an extensive search process that included a resume screening by the district office cabinet members, a screening interview with the district cabinet members, a committee interview with district and school stakeholders, as well as a presentation and follow-up interview. Mrs. O’Farrell joins us from the West Hempstead School District, where she has served as the K-12 Director of English, ENL, Reading, and Library Services for nine years. Prior to this position, she was the English Curriculum Associate for the Massapequa School District, and she worked for the NYC Department of Education as an Assistant Principal, Staff Developer, and Literacy Teacher. Mrs. O’Farrell is currently the Vice President of the Long Island Language Arts Council. “It is an honor for me to serve as the new Hiawatha Elementary Principal, and I am excited to be a part of the Sachem team,” said Mrs. O’Farrell. “I look forward to working with the dedicated, professionals, students, families, and the community.” Both administrators will begin at Sachem on July 1, 2017. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47484 Fri, 05 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47484 Sachem North Teacher Honored by New York Senator Phil Boyle Sachem North social studies teacher Jonathan Chiaramonte was recognized by New York State Senator Phil Boyle at the "Teachers of Excellence" awards ceremony this week. Mr. Chiaramonte, a Sachem alum, is an advisor and educator in the peer education and student leadership programs and has made a significant difference in the lives of students and our school community. Among many programs and initiatives for students, he is responsible for the “Humans of Sachem North” social media program that posts stories and pictures about students and staff giving insight into their lives. This program has garnered regional attention. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47490 Fri, 05 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47490 2017 Budget Newsletter Now Available https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47489 Fri, 05 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47489 2017 Budget Vote Information Radio Spot Click here to listen to the broadcast https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47447 Thu, 04 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47447 Sachem East’s Lucas Moreno Competes in National History Bee Sachem East junior Lucas Moreno participated in the National History Bowl Championships recently in Washington D.C. Moreno finished No. 55 out of 154 in the national competition, No. 67 in the U.S. history varsity division, No. 52 in the International Geography Bee and 27 out of 92 in the U.S. Geography Olympiad. “It was a great experience and a highly competitive and exhausting weekend of competition,” said Moreno. “Lucas is a gifted history student with a passion for history that he certainly demonstrated by placing so well competing among the nation’s best history students,” said Tracey Melandro, advisor of the History Honor Society and social studies teacher at Sachem East. “We are so proud of him at East.” https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47349 Wed, 03 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47349 Two Sachem East Students Selected for Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Professor for a Day Program Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s Professor for a Day program shows gifted high school students what science involves outside the laboratory, in particular how scientists communicate their work and subject it to peer review. While participating they got a taste of what a career in science is like, receiving a genuine sense of how the scientific community operates. Among the many panels and activities that the students participated in was a discussion about fundamental immunology and its therapeutic potential with speakers from institutions like UCLA’s School of Medicine, the University of Oxford and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47350 Wed, 03 May 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47350 Read a Book To Give a Book at Merrimac This year Merrimac Elementary School’s Pick A Reading Partner (P.A.R.P.) program ran through the month of February. This program includes all grade levels and the requirements are that each student reads 15-30 minutes a day or more throughout the entire month. Students may read on their own, or be read to by a parent or guardian, a friend, a sibling, or another adult in order to qualify for the program. Their schoolwide goal was to read 160,000 minutes throughout the month, their highest goal ever. This year, two students from Mrs. Meade’s fifth grade class, Alexis Salcedo and Mattea Greco, and two students from Mrs. Alvarez’s fifth grade class, Autumn Danziger and James McGinness, created a service learning project entitled Read A Book To Give A Book to tie into P.A.R.P. This project enabled P.A.R.P. participants to connect our schoolwide goal while being empowered to help others in need. Their idea was simple: they wanted to collect unwanted, gently used books and donate them to a non-profit organization called The Book Fairies. The group came up with the idea Read A Book To Give A Book for this service learning project because the students felt strongly that ALL children should have the privilege of reading good books, yet they recognized that not all children have access to them. They decided to hold this book drive so they could help get books into the hands of all children across Long Island and throughout areas of metropolitan New York. The students presented their idea through a PowerPoint presentation during two schoolwide assemblies. They informed the student body about what their goals were and what the school could do to help. In an effort to include as many students as possible the following plan was developed: students in grades K-2 who read at least 240 minutes earned a blank bookmark template that they could decorate for the recipients of the donated books. Students in grades 3-5, who read 150 minutes per week each earned one raffle ticket each week for a chance to help organize, sort the books by genre, and package them in copy boxes for The Book Fairies. At the completion of P.A.R.P. 24 students’ names were chosen through the raffle and they filled 53 copy paper boxes with donated books ranging from board books to elementary titles, young adult chapter books, and even books for adults and teaching professionals. Each box was carefully labeled by genre and sealed shut to be picked up the following week by volunteers working with The Book Fairies. “This year’s PARP project, Read A Book To Give A Book was impressive!" said Merrimac principal, Veronica DeCicco. "Our students created a meaningful service learning project which offered an opportunity for all of our students and staff to help others. As a school community, we shared our love of books and reading with those in need. We received hundreds of books for all ages and enjoyed boxing them up. The planning, tracking, and goal setting matched our school’s leadership process. These students utilized all 7 Habits of Dr. Covey to cultivate the idea. I was proud to see how the student body and staff embraced it. It was a true success for Merrimac.” Not only were the Merrimac students successful in reaching the schoolwide goal of helping to get books into the hands of all children, but they also worked diligently to reach the schoolwide reading goal of 160,000 minutes. “We had the highest number of students participate in P.A.R.P. this year than we’ve ever had in the past," said P.A.R.P. committee chairperson and school librarian, Lisa Martinez. "Students really were inspired and worked hard to read a ton so that they could earn a raffle ticket for a chance to participate in packaging the donated books. Not only did we collect an incredible amount of donated books but the amount of minutes the students read was quite extraordinary!” Added Martinez, "We were thoroughly impressed not only with the amount of reading that was done this month, but by the willingness and excitement of all of the students to participate and help children not only in our immediate community, but all across Long Island and New York City." https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47012 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 07:00:00 GMT false47012 Sachem honors SCMEA Division III Music Students We are so proud of the SCMEA Division III Band, Orchestra, Chorus and Jazz students honored at the Sachem Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, April 19, 2017! These students work tirelessly at their craft and represent Sachem proudly in their competitions and regular music course work. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47010 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 06:00:00 GMT false47010 Sachem East SADD Places Third in Teens in the Drive Seat Cup The Sachem High School East Students Against Drunk Driving club placed third in the Teens in the Driver Seat Cup campaign. The premise is simple. Conduct activities and messaging throughout the year, report them and get points. Sachem East, which has a very active and impactful SADD club, collected points from various activities like posting on social media to hosting educational events. Congratulations on spreading awareness about drunk driving and taking home this well deserved honor! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47009 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 05:00:00 GMT false47009 Educators from Iceland visit Lynwood Elementary A group of educators from Iceland came to Lynwood Elementary as part of Leadership Day activities in the building. Lynwood, which has received the distinct honor of being a Lighthouse School as part of the Franklin Covey Leadership program, has served as a wonderful example in Sachem, New York and the United States as a first class leadership-focused building that gets outstanding results from its students and staff. The foreign educators were able to learn about the many initiatives in the school that separates itself from others across the nation. Merrimac, another of Sachem’s elementary schools, is also a Lighthouse School and has had visitors earlier this spring from other teachers from outside of the district as well. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47007 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47007 Earth Day at Waverly Kids planted seeds and made something new out of aluminum cans, among other things. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=47015 Mon, 24 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false47015 St. Baldrick’s Day 2017 at Sagamore This year’s St. Baldrick’s event was a huge success at Sagamore. There were 40 “shavees” including some teachers and Sagamore’s principal, Mr. Panasci. Each grade spent a period in the gymnasium cheering on their classmates stepped up to be shaved. These courageous participants raised awareness, and donated $24,000 toward research to battle childhood cancer. The event began with a heartwarming speech by Mrs. Moore’s daughter Alexa, who bravely fought cancer as a child. The St. Baldrick’s participants had their heads shaved, and the participants gave long locks that will be used to make wigs for children who are enduring chemotherapy. The event was inspirational and the support from the Sagamore community was amazing. To add to the event, the crowd was able to enjoy performances by the impressive Sagamore Arrowettes, the Sagamore Cheer team, and two Irish step dancers who happened to be Mr. Panasci’s lovely daughters. Each participant got a beautiful cupcake made by Mrs. Grant, and the admiration from their teachers and peers. Mr. Berger, Ms. Alexander, Ms. Ackerly-Dahn, Mrs. Jargo, Mrs. Onorato, and Mrs. Gustavson worked hard to organize this event. We are so proud of all of the St. Baldrick’s participants who came together and made this year’s St. Baldrick’s event a great one. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46965 Fri, 21 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46965 Notice: BOE Executive Session, Public Hearing and Regular Meeting - April 19th Board of Education Executive Session at 7pm at Samoset MS, Public Hearing 7:30pm at Samoset MS and Regular Board of Education Meeting to immediately follow. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46837 Tue, 18 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46837 Sachem East Participates in History Bowl, Two Students Qualify for Nationals For the third consecutive year, Sachem East’s Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society members participated in the regional finals of the National History Bowl. The National History Bowl is a quiz tournament sponsored by the History Channel for student teams across America that is run by former Jeopardy champion Dave Madden. This year, Sachem East sent 23 students on five varsity teams to compete with a field of 28 schools from across the region. The teams have been meeting since last fall to prepare using practice questions in mock bee tournaments. This year’s competition included a Long Island High School Jeopardy champion as well as some of the best history students from public and private schools in the Northeast. The teams played in a bracket style quiz bowl tournament all day hoping to qualify for a national championship. Junior Lucas Moreno qualified for the U.S. History Bee National Championship in the Varsity Division and freshman Nicholas Mulieri qualified in the JV Division. They were both invited to the National Championship in Washington, D.C. later this month. Moreno also qualified for the U.S. Geography Olympiad National Championship. The competitions are all held that weekend in D.C. or Virginia. In order to qualify, they had to take the qualifying exams during the lunch break at the History Bowl. There were only six varsity and four JV qualifiers from the entire Long Island Championship that we attended on March 19. This year’s Sachem History Bowl participants included seniors Kristin Bossong, Brendan Foy, Zachary Gao, Sophie Hannigan, Eric Jackson, Christopher Mingo, Ariana Mosca, Brian Rinfret, Andrew Schnell, Justin Sostre, and Paul Venturi. Juniors included Juan Amaya, Kellie Bossong, Timothy Chiu, Adam DeMonte, Ilyssa Forman, Ryan Graham, Ethan Grow, Nicholas Manzella, Lucas Moreno, Tharini Prakash and Andrew Scavo. There was one freshman, Nicholas Mulieri. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46820 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 05:00:00 GMT false46820 Wenonah Elementary Hosts Invention Convention Wenonah Elementary School turned into a full-fledged design and development studio Thursday night as the building transformed for its "Invention Convention" festivities. Classrooms and walls were plastered with the wonderful work of students and staff aimed at stimulating educational advancement in STEM areas: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. Sachem Robotics, fresh off their Long Island regional championship, made a guest appearance to work with kids. Children and their parents from all grade levels packed the building for a fun and educational evening. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46819 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46819 2017 Volleyball Tournament By Joanna Philip, and Lily Hammond This March, students from Sagamore Middle School raised funds for charities that help fight children's cancer. To help with this important cause, Sagamore held its 3rd annual Sagamore “Spikes Out Cancer” Volleyball Tournament. This year, over 40 teams competed to help the cause. The tournament consisted of three placement games before the playoffs. Sagamore participants enjoyed an afternoon of fun and competition as they played to raise money and awareness for childhood cancer. The event took place on Monday March 6th, 2017. In the end, the Kool Aid Jammers won the tournament. Overall, the Volleyball Tournament raised $2,100 and everyone had an enjoyable time doing it! Slideshow of the Tournament https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46790 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46790 An Important Message from the Superintendent of Schools https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46822 Mon, 17 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46822 Euro Challenge Team Qualifies for Semi-Finals The Sachem North Euro Challenge Team qualifies for the semi-finals to be held at the Federal Reserve Bank later this month. Teams will compete for a spot in the final round. Good luck! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46575 Thu, 06 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46575 Sagamore Coat Drive by Adriana Ancilleri For the last two years, I ran a coat drive out of my home. This year, as a Sagamore 6th grade student, I ran the coat drive at Sagamore, and it was an awesome feeling! I worked with Student Government which helped me to collect the coats at school. To know my peers were able to help local children in need by donating their coats made me feel a real sense of community. Together we were able to give warm coats to over 300 children and adults. We delivered them to the Boys and Girls Club of Suffolk and the Lighthouse Mission. It is a special kind of feeling when you pull up to a donation site in the pouring rain and you see 75-100 people waiting for warm clothing and food. The coat drive for me was part of over 100 volunteer hours of community service to my local community, which I plan to continue through high school. I’m so glad that Sagamore’s Student Government allowed me to run this coat drive, and I hope to gather coats again next year! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46610 Thu, 06 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46610 Sachem North's 5K Run Visit www.strongislandrunningclub.com, then follow the link to Sachem North 5K. SUNDAY APRIL 30th SACHEM NORTH 5K "Running Miles to Raise Smiles" Sachem North Senior Class & Leadership is sponsoring a Fun Run/5K Race. Proceeds will go to Sachem North clubs, scholarships and the Stony Brook Children's Hospital. This is a community-wide event and we welcome runners of all ages and abilities. If you cannot make the event but wish to make a donation, please send checks to Sachem North: 212 Smith Road Lake Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 or email: ekachmar@sachem.edu -This event is Rain or Shine -There will be a Fun-Run held a half hour prior to the race...the more kids, the more FUN! -Bagels, drinks and snacks will be available for purchase before and after the race. 5K starts at: 9:00am Kids Fun Run Starts at: 8:30am Pre-register by April 19th at midnight to guarantee your event t-shirt! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46553 Wed, 05 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46553 2017-2018 District Calendar Summary Click here to see the 2017-2018 School Calendar Summary. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46477 Mon, 03 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46477 Sachem Hosts Inaugural Hall of Honor Induction Sachem Hosts Inaugural Hall of Honor Induction The inaugural class of Sachem’s Hall of Honor was formally inducted at a ceremony at Sachem High School North on Saturday, April 1. The inductees included: -Dr. John Cassese ’60, educational administrator -Stephen Costello ‘79, business executive and author -Alexander Diguardia ‘65, U.S. Army soldier who died in Vietnam -Kirk Lloyd Douglas ‘90, musician -Jerry Figgiani ‘78, martial arts instructor, motivational speaker, author -Bob Greifeld ‘75, business executive -Dr. John Heymach ‘85, doctor leading the fight against cancer -Lori Ann LaRocco ‘89: television producer and author -Tim Latham ‘84: Grammy-winning music producer -Steve Levy ‘77: politician On Friday, many of the inductees joined students for mentor sessions to share stories about their career and about their time at Sachem. The Hall of Honor is a project run by the newly formed Sachem Alumni Association. Learn more at SachemAlumni.org. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46481 Mon, 03 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46481 Sachem Robotics wins SBPLI Long Island Regional, Headed to World Championships Sachem Robotics wins SBPLI Long Island Regional, Headed to World Championships Sachem Aftershock Team 263 won the SBPLI Long Island Regional for the second year in a row! Sachem has qualified for the World Championships in St. Louis, which take place in late April. TheFIRSTRobotics Long Island Regional Competition (FRC), hosted by SBPLI, is held annually in the spring at Hofstra University. The competition brings togetherteams of students and their mentorsfrom roughly50 Long Island schools, schools from the Metropolitan areaas well as visiting teams from around the country and abroad. The competition includes two short games played by the robots, where the students program and remotely control them in competition rounds on the playing field. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46482 Mon, 03 Apr 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46482 Sagamore Middle School Students Are Proactive in their Choice to be Tobacco-Free On March 21st, Sagamore Middle School students organized “Kick Butts Day” events to fight youth tobacco use. “Kick Butts Day” is a nationwide initiative that invites students to be leaders in the effort to stand out and speak up against the use of tobacco. Teachers from every discipline were encouraged to integrate tobacco-free lessons into their classroom. Students participated in “Project 1300” Project 1300 brings attention to the fact that 1300 people that die each day from tobacco-related illness. Organizers of the annual event, Health Education Chairperson Lori Hewlett and Student Assistance Counselor Melissa Bennett facilitated various advocacy projects. Sagamore Middle School students created a powerful “Instagram style” message by creating a #iKBD #bethefirst display. #Bethefirst asks students to “remember when the thought of walking on the moon was impossible? Let’s make history together, and help deliver the first tobacco-free generation.” Health Education classes demonstrated their advocacy for tobacco control by participating in a writing letter campaign to Governor Cuomo in support of strong tobacco policy. A pledge wall with 1000+ signatures sends a strong message that the students of Sagamore are dedicated to live a tobacco-free life. Informational tables were set up in the school’s lobby to provide incentives and literature to students and staff on maintaining a smoke-free environment as well as providing tips for quitting smoking. It is clear to see that the Sachem School District and the students of Sagamore Middle School are being proactive in their commitment to tobacco-free schools. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46394 Fri, 31 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46394 Students celebrate Dr. Seuss Day, with Reading, Green Eggs and Ham and Oobleck! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46323 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false46323 Waverly Students STEAM Ahead! Grade 1 students at the Waverly Elementary School work on their STEAM projects. STEAM which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics is an educational model that helps teachstudents to bridge subjects and problem solve. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46353 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46353 Honoring Sachem Spelling Bee Finalists Sachem's 2017 Spelling Bee Finalists were honored at the Board of Education Meeting. Students from throughout the district participated in one of the districts longest rounding Spelling Bee Contests. Going 33 rounds, students did so well, moderators actually ran out of words! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46357 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46357 Important Letter from the Superintendent Regarding District Properties https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46374 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46374 Robotics Team to Attend Regional Sachem Robotics Team 263 will be competing at the FIRST Robotics Competition SBPLI Long Island Regional this Thursday, Friday and Saturday, March 30 to April 1. The competition will be held at Hofstra University in the arena. Admission to the Regional is free and open to the public. To check the schedule and keep up-to-date with competition news, log onto the FIRST website: http://sbpli-lifirst.org/first-robotics-competition-frc-long-island/first-robotics-competition-frc https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46325 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46325 Cooking It Off At The Whole Foods Junior Iron Chef Competition! By Sydney Harmon and Sara Ann Mauro On March 18th, 2017, loads of kids from across Long Island were slicing and dicing their way through Whole Foods at the Junior Iron Chef competition! Coached by Sagamore’s own Family Consumer Science teacher, Mrs. Lindsey Shelhorse, two teams were sent into the competition based on performance in class and other factors. The team consisting of Sydney Harmon, Abby Weiss, Emily Mangan, Sara Ann Mauro and Molly Grow was called “Holy Guacamole!” They made a scrumptious avocado nest otherwise known as “egg-in-a-hole toast.” All of the ingredients were provided fresh, complimentary of Whole Foods. “Using a biscuit cutter,” says Sydney Harmon, a participant of the event, “You cut out a circle in the center of the bread and crack an egg in it. While the egg cooks up, the bread toasts, and we prepare some homespun guacamole to add on top, as well as cheddar cheese and crispy sweet potato chips that we griddle from scratch. The dish may sound odd with all of the combinations, but you’d be surprised how much depth the flavors have as a whole, and it’s super healthy!” On the other hand, the boys team had a completely different dish being cooked up; called Fresh Migas. The name of the boys team was “Ah Amigas,” and consisted of Justin McFaul, Brandon Paienza, Anthony Phillip and Aidan Szentmariay. Their dish was delicious and also very healthy. In the end, “Wholly Guacamole!” came in 2nd place and received the Mis En Place award, which is French for “everything is in place.” The teams would like to thank everyone for supporting us especially Mr. Panasci, Mr. McGrath and Mrs. Shelhorse. “What an amazing experience it was,” says Sara Ann Mauro and Emily Mangan. “It was very fun, and I was honored to participate,” Justin McFaul declared. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46370 Thu, 30 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46370 Seneca raised over $20,000 for the St. Baldrick's Foundation https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46319 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false46319 Voter Information Click here to find your polling place https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46320 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46320 Summer Enrichment Camp Click here to access the Camp Sachem website https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46335 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46335 Lynwood Avenue Destination Imagination Team Qualifies for States The Lynwood Avenue 3rd Grade Destination Imagination Team won 1st place at Regionals, qualifying them for States.The team also received an award from the Office of Legislator Tom Muratore. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46324 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46324 Irving Roth, Holocaust survivor, visits with grade 8 students today. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46317 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46317 Iron Chef Competition 1st Place Winners! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46318 Wed, 29 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false46318 Test (should only show up for Cayuga) Morbi in sem quis dui placerat ornare. Pellentesque odio nisi, euismod in, pharetra a, ultricies in, diam. Sed arcu. Cras consequat. Praesent dapibus, neque id cursus faucibus, tortor neque egestas augue, eu vulputate magna eros eu erat. Aliquam erat volutpat. Nam dui mi, tincidunt quis, accumsan porttitor, facilisis luctus, metus. Phasellus ultrices nulla quis nibh. Quisque a lectus. Donec consectetuer ligula vulputate sem tristique cursus. Nam nulla quam, gravida non, commodo a, sodales sit amet, nisi. Pellentesque fermentum dolor. Aliquam quam lectus, facilisis auctor, ultrices ut, elementum vulputate, nunc. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45862 Mon, 13 Mar 2017 04:00:00 GMT false45862 Humans of Sachem North - Fox 5 Story Click here for more information https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45650 Fri, 10 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45650 Secondary test story. Should only be in secondar Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, scelerisque vel justo vitae porta eu sed, cras et tincidunt fusce, at amet, cras dictum semper mauris nisl. Nibh suscipit, curabitur cras neque nulla ullamcorper magna. Rutrum tristique cursus fringilla neque ante nulla, suspendisse vel, sit autem ac et, posuere venenatis vestibulum erat ullamcorper conubia eu, suscipit ac sollicitudin massa fringilla ipsum nulla. Consectetuer mattis dolor tempus justo praesent, non sed sit quis. Imperdiet aliquam, dolor eu nonummy scelerisque. Ac iaculis tempus arcu donec placerat amet, duis nunc, id diam aliquam in adipiscing, varius placerat egestas ridiculus vestibulum, lacus non nonummy mattis neque. Vehicula tortor vitae velit mollis felis proin. Lacus tortor integer, ante suscipit urna, laoreet hac velit imperdiet, sit nascetur maecenas mauris ultricies magna, sed tempor mi mauris vitae non nam. Cras eget, pellentesque potenti urna auctor. Montes porta nullam. Ac rhoncus justo, saepe fringilla. Ipsum quis libero cursus fringilla fusce, tellus eu, imperdiet convallis eleifend arcu a. Dictum dolor commodo id velit dui, malesuada mi quam dictumst tempor, aliquam elementum, condimentum est dolor turpis eleifend, nulla volutpat. Lectus turpis, imperdiet consectetuer massa vel eleifend dolore, sem leo varius, sem nunc nullam non diam mi. Nisl dui in. Rutrum facilisis pretium elit, et praesent dapibus velit rutrum, nascetur duis senectus ullamcorper non purus proin. Non tellus tristique metus, orci consequat scelerisque, lacinia conubia cras. Dolor a in nonummy fermentum morbi. Sagittis nulla sem posuere orci gravida felis, sagittis aliquet velit consectetuer volutpat aliquam, velit ipsum tellus, suscipit duis, ante neque leo. Fringilla nibh faucibus nulla ultrices nisl. Magna et id rhoncus tellus, elit magnis quis et ut varius at. Nulla sit erat amet ullamcorper vel, et et odio phasellus, quam quis. Etiam sed maecenas sed libero dui vitae, fermentum aliquet vel wisi molestie eu, lobortis purus sodales ut consequat feugiat a. Sed egestas duis ut velit rutrum sed. Volutpat vehicula, saepe ipsam voluptatum, elit sit faucibus sit etiam nunc, vitae sed at adipiscing vel erat purus. Eget mollis ac luctus, donec dui et vitae sociis lobortis velit, pellentesque cursus, repellendus tempor consectetuer quis. Rhoncus porta, duis tortor arcu sem suscipit nulla sed, vivamus urna enim nibh, turpis lorem ac turpis. Massa convallis inceptos, duis ut massa congue eget adipiscing adipiscing, scelerisque ut lectus, mus eu elit nulla nibh consectetuer sollicitudin. Esse ipsum. Risus ipsum nec ac, nulla mollis, vel et tellus pede, consequat auctor egestas integer nullam vel, sapien id arcu nec turpis. Metus rhoncus felis, donec tristique id nonummy mattis, duis id arcu vestibulum lorem sociosqu, anim integer mauris ligula amet nulla. At sed sed imperdiet diam, odio potenti morbi libero ante suspendisse, congue magna nam cras curabitur. Leo wisi nec elit, a id nec in convallis. Volutpat nulla torquent vulputate metus eu ut. Fusce aute est enim ipsum vestibulum morbi, semper montes luctus, eu scelerisque, est cras id vestibulum vestibulum odio. Diam dolor nisl orci, aliquam sed vehicula leo a nam, ligula congue, nunc condimentum, vel tristique neque. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45421 Mon, 06 Mar 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45421 2016-2017 NYS Grades 3-8 Assessment Letters https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45125 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45125 PayForIt /PayForIt Instructions: Lunch, Child Care, Testing https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45131 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45131 2017-18 Private/Parochial School Transportation Requests https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45126 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45126 Instructions for Elementary Parent Portal https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45128 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45128 Board of Education Committee Application https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45130 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45130 Student Reporters Sixth grade students at Sagamore Middle School had the opportunity to be student reporters and truly learn about government from the source when Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi and Legislative Aide Chris Deluca spoke to Mrs. Frank and Ms. Buckley's social studies classes! Thanks to Mr. Cilmi and Mr. DeLuca for stopping by! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45133 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45133 Rock the Socks During science classes at Sagamore Middle School on Friday last week, students “Rocked the Socks” to support Makenzie. Students wore crazy socks on their feet and hands raise awareness for this disease on her first birthday. Read the info on the first slide in the gallery to learn more! We encourage your family to help raise awareness for this disease by posting pictures of your family Rocking the Socks on February 22. Use the hashtags: #RTS1000 / #RockTheSocksMakenzie / #RockTheSocks4EB. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45132 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45132 Sachem CSD attends 13th Annual Legislative Breakfast https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45124 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45124 Superintendent's Office Hours https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45127 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45127 Voluntary Student Accident Insurance Info https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45129 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45129 Journey from the Dust The Samoset Middle School social studies department, together with the Samoset PTSA, arranged for the performance of "Journey from the Dust," a story that details a young man's journey from Oklahoma to the Grand Coulee Dam during the American Dust Bowl. Living Voices combined dynamic solo performances with archival film and sound, turning history into a moving and personal journey https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=45134 Thu, 23 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false45134 The Sagamore News - 1st Edition Click here to view the 1st edition of Sagamore News. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46699 Wed, 01 Feb 2017 05:00:00 GMT false46699 Stranger Danger Letter - January 25, 2017 https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=44259 Wed, 25 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false44259 January 2017 High School Testing Transportation Information https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=42064 Thu, 05 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false42064 Living Voices Assembly! By: Erica Larcombe, Joanna Philip and Lily Hammond He said, “It will be like nothing like you’ve seen before,” and he was right. On January 4, 2017, Brian Anthony Simmons, a member of the Living Voices acting group, came to Sagamore Middle School. He was a phenomenal performer and he informed the entire seventh grade about the American Revolution using a slideshow and his acting skills. He played a slideshow full of clips and pictures, and acted the story that was in the slideshow. He used humor and actual facts. Madeline Erickson stated, “He was very informative and was a fantastic actor.” Indeed he was; Mr. Simmons informed us about what an average African American’s life would have been during the Revolutionary War, with his main character Peter Freeman. Bobby Galasso stated, “I liked how it was a one-man show.” The students thought that it was almost impossible to memorize a 40 minute script in three months, but Mr. Simmons did it skillfully. This show was very amusing to watch and we learned many facts about the Revolutionary War. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46698 Sun, 01 Jan 2017 05:00:00 GMT false46698 Test Slider Article This is a test for the body.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test. This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test.This is a test. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=41006 Fri, 16 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false41006 Outstanding Readers and Writers Sagamore’s Top Readers from the Stop the Summer Slide Program. Students with the Highest Reading Log Entries for the First Quarter: Grade 6 - Ashley Lormestoire (3,320 minutes) and Samuel Chang (2,938 minutes) Grade 7 - Lorraine Grace Podlesny (8,962 minutes) and Yousef Suleman (4,780 minutes) Grade 8 - Caitlyn Bleck (4,120 minutes) and Gabriela Pucilowski (4,410 minutes) Students with the Highest Reading Log Entries for the Second Quarter: Grade 6 - Samuel Change (7,425), Sid Sheth (6,363), and Ashley Lormestoire (3,740) Grade 7 - Yousef Suleman (9,960), Nikita Karnick (6,812), and Lauren Marino (5,000) Grade 8 - Gabriella Pucilowski (6,930), Cecilia Rosas (4,605), Nick Jason (3,125) Congratulations to Sagamore's PTA Reflections Contest Winners! Alexis Ly - Music Alyssa Monteleon - Art Grace Donovan - Photography Sydney Harmon - Literature https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46697 Thu, 01 Dec 2016 05:00:00 GMT false46697 This is an example news item Duis sem ante, sapien dolor eros vestibulum, mauris quam a, sit justo aliquam lacinia erat elit, vel blandit luctus faucibus. Velit augue donec turpis sed, viverra sed, ante arcu ligula urna vestibulum quis, tellus dictum fermentum. Arcu praesent montes id, non vel. Fermentum ut mi odio. A commodo vestibulum, bibendum turpis volutpat sodales elementum nunc, placerat feugiat. Rhoncus purus quam duis cras, nesciunt lorem, sem dis ut urna varius purus turpis, aenean ut deleniti gravida per adipiscing fringilla. Nulla placerat ante dictumst expedita diam integer, a imperdiet quis, laoreet enim scelerisque enim, molestie tempus augue porttitor. Leo purus ultricies ut vulputate dolor fusce, tortor consectetuer congue vestibulum, eu cras velit vel egestas porta ipsum, vestibulum vel erat sociosqu nonummy rhoncus vel, nulla viverra sint. Ridiculus nulla gravida. Ridiculus eget rutrum lectus lectus ac, nec in, porttitor commodo a dolor urna, pede at. Rutrum at justo proin neque. Non purus quisque rutrum id sit, neque fringilla accumsan cras, eu vestibulum magna eveniet, quam magna nunc gravida mollis mi. Vulputate ac, ut lorem id massa, etiam turpis amet ante ridiculus porta amet, ultrices at tempus bibendum pede. Velit sagittis libero posuere, feugiat ut cras egestas nec mollis, metus sit at, urna egestas magna nunc imperdiet, nullam nibh sociis felis earum. Sed magna elit aliquam mattis, tortor proin tortor, dictum felis urna tincidunt pellentesque sollicitudin sed, phasellus sed tellus odio, sed aliquet quam. Fusce eget blandit placerat turpis sed, nunc dui tempor in tellus semper id, nunc fringilla cras lacus lacus fringilla turpis. Consectetuer donec wisi laborum scelerisque posuere eget, id sed facilisis sagittis, elementum aliquet. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=40342 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 04:00:00 GMT false40342 Safe Halloween By: Madeline Erickson, Erica Larcombe, and Alessandra DiMaria Sagamore’s 2016 Safe Halloween was a huge success. Young Sachem students had a fantastic time getting dressed up and trick-or-treating in a safe environment. Children played creative and fun-filled games invented by the students here at Sagamore. This was beneficial to the Sagamore students because it allowed them to be creative and work with their peers to do something for the community. While helping, students got to experience all that wonderful about Safe Halloween. They saw smiles on all of the kids’ faces. There were many enjoyable games such as pin the hat on the witch, bowling, flip the bottle, tic-tac-toe, and many more intriguing activities. Kids wore all types of costumes varying from Minnie Mouse to zombies. By the time they left, the children were all on a sugar high after all of the candy they consumed. Even though the hallways were packed, everyone who participated had a great time. Safe Halloween was an exciting event that kids of all ages enjoyed. We are lucky to be part of a district that hosts this awesome event! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46696 Tue, 01 Nov 2016 04:00:00 GMT false46696 Special Education Quality Assurance Programs & Services Focused Review The New York State Education Department's Office of Special Education has initiated a Special Education Programs and Services Focused Review in the Elwood Union Free School District during the 2016-2017 school year. The purpose of this review is to assess the district's compliance with selected federal and State laws and regulations governing the education of students with disabilities. The review will be conducted by the Special Education Quality Assurance (SEQA) Long Island Regional Office. The review process will involve a review of school records of a representative sample of students with disabilities, classroom visitations and surveys. In addition, meetings of the committee on special education will be observed. Further information may be obtained by contacting the SEQA Long Island Regional Office at (631) 952-3352 and/or by contacting the Elwood School District at 631-266-5400 Ext. 437. https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=40352 Fri, 14 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false40352 Students Had a Blast With Author Gordon Korman By: Joanna Philip and Lily Hammond In early October, students who participated in the Stop The Summer Slide Program and the Sachem Public Library Reading Club had a chance to meet with the well known author Gordon Korman. These students enjoyed lunch with Korman and learned interesting facts about him. He also answered questions about himself and his books including his Swindle, Ungifted, and Hypnotists series, as well as many more adventures. The summer readers not only met with the author, but had a chance to buy his novels and have them signed. After the lunch, the students and the entire sixth grade listened to the author speak about how he started to write and when his new books will be out. Students like us learned that Gordon began his writing career when he was in seventh grade during an English assignment. He wrote the book, This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall, which was published during his freshman year in high school! The summer readers had a blast during their lunch with Gordon Korman! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46695 Sat, 01 Oct 2016 04:00:00 GMT false46695 Ice Cream Social By: Ántonia Pavek, Alyssa Gibali, Nikita Karnik and Emily Pressman The Ice Cream Social was an enjoyable time for all grades! This Student Government organized event was an amazing way for friends to reunite and to make new friends. This social, sugary event was to celebrate the joining of Sequoya and Sagamore. It was held on two separate days, one day for the 6th graders and another for the 7th and 8th graders. The principal, assistant principal and many of the teachers served the students their delectable and delicious ice cream and yummy toppings. Jake Auricchio enthusiastically exclaimed, “I mean it’s ice cream! Who doesn’t love ice cream?” The Ice Cream Social was a unique, annual event to chat, eat ice cream and have fun after school! You selected either vanilla or chocolate, or both! Also, a bounty of toppings were there, as well! The best part was that the event had a great turn out! This year, more than 100 students attended. Next year, we hope that even more students will attend! Laughter filled the air as people enjoyed their ice cream. This event was the perfect time for socialization and a time for special memories to be made. In conclusion, the Ice Cream Social was a wonderful and fun time for everyone! https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=46694 Thu, 01 Sep 2016 04:00:00 GMT false46694 Newsday, "Andrew Lule's hat trick leads Glenn over Southampton." Click here to read the article https://www.sachem.edu/News/Story.aspx?id=40364 Thu, 11 Aug 2016 18:00:00 GMT false40364