Month: December 2024

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.

Hawkins Path Elementary School recently held a special assembly to honor its very own veterans, Dana Mullally (Army) and Michael Horry (Air Force), and their ongoing commitment to service. In a heartfelt display of support for both local veterans and service animals, the school partnered with Paws of War, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans and their service animals.

The assembly featured a donation drive where the Hawkins Path community generously contributed essential dog and cat supplies to Paws of War. These donations will directly benefit veterans in need and the service animals that support them. The event underscored the importance of supporting those who have served, along with the animals who assist in their recovery and everyday life.

“We are proud to honor Ms. Mullally and Mr. Horry, two veterans who are part of our school community,” said Principal Kristi Leonard. “Our students and families are always eager to show their support, and this partnership with Paws of War allows us to give back in a meaningful way to those who have served our country.”

Paws of War, an organization that supports veterans by providing service animals and ensuring they receive the care they deserve, plays a vital role in the lives of many military veterans. By donating supplies and raising awareness, the Hawkins Path community continues to show its appreciation for the sacrifices made by veterans and their service animals.