Middle Country Central School District in the Media

On Friday, the vibrant sounds of the NYPD Jazz Band filled the air at Unity Drive, bringing a special treat to our Pre-K and kindergarten students. The talented musicians performed an exciting set that spanned all genres of music, creating an unforgettable experience for the young audience.

The children were filled with joy as they danced and sang along to the diverse melodies, fully engaging with the performances. The event provided a unique opportunity for the students to experience live music in a fun and interactive setting, fostering creativity and a love for the arts.

“We are so grateful to the NYPD Jazz Band for bringing such energy and joy to our students,” said Denise Ferrera, Unity Drive principal. “Their performance was entertaining and educational, offering a wonderful introduction to different musical styles and cultures.”

The District would like to thank the NYPD Jazz Band for their generous participation and for making this a memorable event for everyone involved and looks forward to future collaborations that inspire and engage the community.

 Eugene Auer Memorial Elementary School kicked off the new calendar year with a dynamic and interactive assembly inspired by the book The Power of One Word. Students from all grade levels gathered to participate in this uplifting event designed to inspire focus and positive growth for the year ahead.

The assembly began with a captivating video presentation of The Power of One Word being read aloud by one of the authors. The book encourages children to select one powerful word to guide their actions, mindset, and goals throughout the year, fostering personal growth and kindness.

Following the video, the school community came together under the direction of Mr. Bernardino, Ms. Buttino, and Ms. Vanore, taking turns sharing words they chose to focus on for the remainder of the year. Words like “courage,” “believe,” “gratitude,” and “kindness” were offered as examples, each selected to encourage students to embrace positivity and personal development in the coming months.

To culminate the exciting assembly, the students and staff participated in a festive New Year’s Eve-style countdown, ringing in the year with enthusiasm and anticipation. Everyone was encouraged to “dress to impress” as they welcomed 2025 with a sense of excitement and renewed purpose.

“We are thrilled to introduce our students to the concepts of The Power of One Word,” said Bruno Bernardino, Eugene Auer Memorial Elementary School principal. “This exercise promotes reflection and self-awareness and helps build a strong sense of community as we support one another’s growth throughout the year.”

As the assembly ended, students and staff left with a renewed sense of purpose and determination, ready to carry their chosen words into the school year. The Power of One Word initiative aims to empower students to focus on their unique strengths, promote kindness, and encourage personal achievement. Eugene Auer Memorial Elementary School looks forward to seeing the positive impact of this initiative throughout 2025, as students continue to embody the power of their chosen words.

The Middle Country Central School District is proud to announce that Josangel Almonte, Parker Kozlowski, Madisyn DiRocco, and Sofia McArdle have been named the District’s Students of the Month for December. Each has demonstrated exceptional academic performance, a strong commitment to their school communities, and a positive influence on their peers.

Centereach High School student Josangel Almonte is an outstanding student, citizen, and leader. Academically, Josangel’s GPA ranks sixth in his graduating class of 375 seniors. His SAT score ranks him in the top two percent of the country. He has taken 14 advanced placement courses and two college-level courses. He has attained the highest possible score of five on nearly all the AP exams he has taken to date, earning him recognition by the College Board as an AP Scholar with Distinction.

Outside of the classroom, Josangel is involved in various school activities. He is the secretary of the National Honor Society, vice president of the math team, member of the Science Olympiad team, and a member of the Spanish Language Honor Society. He is a member of the Best Buddies Club while in school and also volunteers through his church. He has accumulated more than 1,000 hours of community service, and every summer he goes to the Dominican Republic to assist people with clothing donations. Josangel is waiting to hear from several prestigious schools. Most recently he was accepted to Notre Dame with a significant scholarship. His top choice is Boston University. There he plans to major in Biomedical Engineering before heading off to medical school.

Newfield High School student Parker Kozlowski is on the honor roll with a GPA of 93. Parker is an exemplary student and a leader in the classroom who sets the tone every class period with his diligent work habits and positive attitude. The level of respect and kindness he displays is amazing. Parker is the ideal student who consistently goes above and beyond all expectations put forth by his teachers. After high school, Parker plans to attend Suffolk Community College for two years before transferring to SUNY Cortland where he will study to become certified as a P.E. teacher.

Dawnwood Middle School student Madisyn DiRocco embraces the challenges of middle school with enthusiasm and grace. Her positive attitude shines through in everything she does. Madisyn is an active member of the Peer Leadership Club, where she has participated in initiatives such as the food drive and Kindness Day activities. 

Madisyn was born at just 25 weeks and weighed 1 pound 6 ounces. She spent her first 28 days on a ventilator and battled many serious, life-threatening medical conditions. After 114 days in the hospital, Madisyn was able to go home. Her positive outlook and determination were present at an early age and still are present today. Madisyn’s story was published at Stony Brook’s NICU and presented on Stony Brook’s NICU’s Wall of Hope.

Selden Middle School student Sofia McArdle is a kind, responsible, and helpful student.  She takes pride in her culture and heritage and is a leader both in and outside of the classroom. During the first nine quarters of her middle school career, Sofia maintained a quarterly average that dipped below 99 only twice, and those quarters, one in the sixth grade and one in the seventh grade were 98.8 and 98.9. In her first quarter of eighth grade, Sofia had a perfect 100 average and she may continue that trend in the second quarter. 

Sofia is the secretary of her chapter of the National Junior Honor Society; vice president of the chamber orchestra, where she plays violin; and the concertmaster of the eighth-grade orchestra. Sofia used to kickbox and she has enjoyed doing community service at her church. 

he National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) at Centereach High School reinforced  its commitment to community service by collecting an impressive 95 pairs of pajamas for the annual EJ’s PJ’s Pajama Drive. This year’s donation effort aimed to bring warmth and comfort to children in need, and thanks to the generosity of students, staff, and the local community, the drive was a resounding success.

EJ’s PJ’s Pajama Drive is an initiative that provides new pajamas to children who may not otherwise have access to such essential items. The NTHS students worked diligently throughout the month to gather the pajamas, which will be distributed to children in local hospitals, shelters, and care facilities. The generosity of Centereach High School’s students and their families ensured that even more children experienced the comfort of a new pair of pajamas this holiday season.

The NTHS members organized the pajama collection, encouraging students and faculty to donate pairs of new pajamas for children of all ages. With the support of the school community, the drive exceeded expectations, with a 95 pairs collection goal of 75.

In the spirit of the holiday season, Centereach High School’s Select Vocal Ensemble, Women’s Choir, and Men’s Choir, all under the direction of Mr. Hough and student conductors Joelle Washington and Gavin Whalen,  brought festive joy to the residents and guests of the St. Charles Hospital Rehabilitation Center.

The talented student choirs performed a heartwarming selection of holiday music, spreading cheer and goodwill to those in attendance. Residents were delighted as the groups performed a variety of holiday classics, showcasing their dedication and passion for music. The event provided a moment of joy and community connection, filling the center with the sounds of the season.

“We are so proud of our students and their ability to bring happiness to others through music,” said Brian Hough, the choir director at Centereach High School. “This performance is a beautiful way for our students to give back to the community, and we are thankful for the opportunity to share in this meaningful experience with the residents and staff at St. Charles Hospital.”

The event was made even more special by the leadership of student conductors Joelle Washington and Gavin Whalen, whose hard work and dedication helped bring the performance to life. Their leadership allowed the choirs to perform with skill and confidence, further enriching the holiday spirit.

The visit to St. Charles Hospital Rehabilitation Center is part of Centereach High School’s ongoing commitment to community engagement, where students have the chance to use their talents to make a positive impact on others. The choirs’ performances were a wonderful reminder of the power of music to uplift and connect people, especially during this special time of year.

The Promise of Hope Foundation brought joy and excitement to the elementary students of Middle Country with its annual Toy Spectacular, a heartwarming event that brought smiles to hundreds of young faces just in time for the holiday season.

This year, each student from the district’s elementary schools was given the special opportunity to select a free toy to take home. The event created an atmosphere of pure joy; students eagerly picked out gifts, many of them beaming with happiness as they walked away with a toy they had always wanted or a gift they could share with someone they loved.

“We are beyond grateful to The Promise of Hope Foundation for their generosity,” said Dr. Roberta Gerold, Superintendent of Schools. “This event has been a meaningful experience for our students, one they will never forget. The excitement and gratitude on their faces say it all—it’s a true holiday gift that goes beyond just the toys themselves.”

The Annual Toy Spectacular has become a highly anticipated tradition for the Foundation, which strives to bring moments of joy to families and children in need throughout the community. By providing toys at no cost to families, the Promise of Hope Foundation ensures that every child can experience the joy of the season, regardless of their circumstances.

The Middle Country Central School District is proud to announce the recipients of November’s Student of the Month honors, recognizing exceptional students for their academic achievements, leadership, and contributions to their school communities.

The honored students for November are Centereach High School student Ben Taciak, Newfield High School student Thomas Lasher, Dawnwood Middle School student Jeffrey Arezzo, and Selden Middle School student Abyan Chowdhury. These outstanding students were selected by their teachers for demonstrating qualities that reflect the district’s core values of excellence, integrity, and community. Each of these students stands out not only for their academic accomplishments but also for their dedication, positive attitude, and commitment to helping others.

Ben Taciak has consistently demonstrated academic excellence while participating in various extracurricular activities. Ben serves as the school’s GO president. He was instrumental in the planning, and, through his efforts, a lot of the events were a major success. Since entering Centereach High School, Ben has been involved in class and school activities such as the math team, the Science Olympiad, and unified basketball. Ben is currently the president of Centereach High School’s National Honor Society. Ben represents the school and district athletically as well. He was a member of the golf team as well as co-captain of the wrestling team.

Academically, Ben truly excels. His SAT score is 1470 and his GPA ranks him fifth in the Class of 2025. Ben will graduate this year having taken 14 advanced placement classes and one additional college-level course. Ben applied to numerous Ivy League, including Harvard, Cornell, Yale, Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania. At college, he plans to study finance in hopes of becoming an investment banker.

Thomas Lasher, a standout student at Newfield High School, has shown remarkable dedication to his academics. He thrives amongst the school’s top 25; he’s ranked 11th out of 383 seniors. He has the potential to graduate in June with more than 40 college credits. Through his years at Newfield High School, Thomas has been a member of the Pit Orchestra, a cast member of Little Shop of Horrors, a member of the Newfield Drum Club, a member of the Symphonic Orchestra, the jazz band, and the Nassau-Suffolk Performing Arts Concert Band. He is also a member of the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Educational All-County Band, All-State Band alternate, SCMEA All-County band, and the NYSBDA Honors Band. Thomas is the president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society, Historian of the Newfield Drum Club, and the Secretary of the jazz band. Thomas applied to Penn State University, Stony Brook, Binghamton, Notre Dame, and Northeastern.

Dawnwood Middle School student Jeffrey Arezzo demonstrates strong leadership skills and is a positive role model both academically and socially. He shines in mathematics, showing both strong problem-solving skills and a genuine curiosity and passion for learning. 

When Jeffrey is not in school, he’ll most likely be on a basketball court. He participates in the intramurals at Dawnwood Middle School and dedicates a big chunk of his time outside of school to his national travel team. He practices six days a week and has played in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C. He also enjoys being a member of the National Junior Honor Society and participating in the various events and projects they do. Jeffrey also volunteers to give food during the holidays to children in residential facilities.  In the future, Jeffrey hopes to make it to the NBA and aspires to go to Duke University.

Selden Middle School student Abyan Chowdhury is a tremendous and consistent student who is very devoted to his studies. Though he excels in all his classes, he prefers math and science because he enjoys solving hard math problems and conducting experiments. However, Abyan’s devotion extends beyond the classroom. He engages in religious studies five days a week as he hopes to fully memorize the Quran. He enjoys learning how to play cricket from his father who was a professional cricket player in Bangladesh. He hopes to have a career in aerospace engineering where he can make advancements in space travel.

The Middle Country Central School District announced that several of its talented student-musicians have been selected to perform in the prestigious New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State Music Festival. Centereach High School senior Shawn Edbert and Newfield High School senior Thomas Lasher have earned spots in the NYSSMA All-State Symphonic Band, while Yohani Chen (flute/piccolo), Rowan Willis (voice), and Jillian Garcia (viola) from Centereach High School have been named alternates.

These outstanding musicians achieved the highest scores on the highest-level NYSSMA All-State Solos last spring, which earned them their coveted spots in the All-State Festival. Shawn will perform on French horn, and Thomas will perform on euphonium in the Symphonic Band. Yohani, Rowan, and Jillian will serve as alternates, with each representing the district at the highest level of music achievement.

This weekend, these exceptional students will have the unique opportunity to perform some of the finest music in the world under the baton of one of the greatest conductors at the Eastman Theatre in Rochester. The NYSSMA All-State Festival is a celebration of the finest student musicians from across New York State, and Middle Country is proud to have such talented representatives.

“We are thrilled to celebrate these students’ accomplishments,” said Dr. Roberta A. Gerold, Superintendent of the Middle Country Central School District. “Their dedication to music, combined with their hard work and passion, has led them to this remarkable achievement. We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to their music teachers— Mr. Sevian, Ms. Bush, Dr. Goldstein, Mr. Austin, Mr. Hough, and Ms. Wesnofske—for their outstanding guidance and support.”

The district congratulates Shawn Edbert, Thomas Lasher, Yohani Chen, Rowan Willis, and Jillian Garcia on their extraordinary achievements and wishes them the best as they perform at this prestigious event.

The Middle Country Central School District is proud to announce that six student-athletes from Centereach High School (CHS) and Newfield High School (NHS) have signed their letters of intent to continue their athletic careers at the collegiate level. The district celebrated this milestone during their signing day, recognizing the dedication, hard work, and commitment of these exceptional students.

The following student-athletes made their college commitments official:

• Parker Nathanson (CHS) – Baseball – Elmira College – Coach Cammaratta
• Christian Sultan (CHS) – Lacrosse – Allegheny College – Coach Siragusa
• Jack Cavalieri (CHS) – Lacrosse – Stony Brook University – Coach Siragusa
• Hannah Hughes (NHS) – Gymnastics – University of Wisconsin Oshkosh – Coach Valentino
• Giuliana Vitale (NHS) – Lacrosse – Georgian Court University, Coach Chiarenza
• Emma Haberstroh (NHS) – Lacrosse – Wilmington University – Coach Chiarenza

Signing day is a proud moment for these student-athletes and their families, highlighting their hard work—both in the classroom and on the field. This event is a testament to their commitment to excellence in sports, as well as the ongoing support from their coaches, families, and the entire Middle Country community.

“We are incredibly proud of these students and their accomplishments,” said Dr. Roberta A. Gerold, Superintendent of the Middle Country Central School District. “These young athletes exemplify the spirit of dedication and teamwork, and we are excited to see them continue to succeed at the collegiate level. Their hard work and perseverance are an inspiration to their peers, and we look forward to supporting them as they embark on this next chapter of their athletic careers.”

Each of these student-athletes has demonstrated exceptional skill, discipline, and leadership on their respective teams, and the Middle Country Central School District is confident they will continue to excel at their chosen colleges and universities.

Centereach High School’s drama department recently captivated audiences with its energetic production of Clue: On Stage, a lively and engaging performance that brought the iconic board game to the stage. This humorous and suspenseful drama, based on the 1985 Paramount movie inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, offered a delightful blend of intrigue and humor.

The production directed by Centereach Teacher Patricia Duryea kept the audience on the edge of their seats. With clever dialogue, and the perfect balance of comedy and suspense, the production delighted both fans of the classic movie and newcomers to the tale. The show’s whimsical atmosphere, memorable tunes, and witty script ensured that the audience was both entertained and fully immersed in the zany world of this whodunit.

The talented cast and crew of Centereach High School showcased their skills in acting and technical production. The performances promise to be full of suspense, humor, and surprises, making it a must-see event for families, friends, and local theater enthusiasts.