Author: middle-country

Middle Country Students Get Down to Business

Middle Country Central School District staff, Board of Education members and local business community leaders, who make up the Middle Country Business Advisory Board (MCBAB), recently organized an etiquette dinner for the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Skills and Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from both Newfield and Centereach High Schools. All students who attended the dinner at Villa Sorrento, St. James, NY dressed in business attire and learned the rules of proper dining etiquette from a certified etiquette consultant and trainer, Linda J. Williams.

The MCBAB supports the mission of the MCCSD and links our schools with the business community surrounding us through exploration, education and experiences. Emphasis will be on the skills, knowledge, abilities and opportunities needed to prepare today’s student for the 21st century workforce.

Staff and local business community leaders, who make up the Middle Country Business Advisory Board (MCBAB), recently organized an etiquette dinner for the Distributive Education Clubs of America (DECA), Skills and Career and Technical Education (CTE) students from both Newfield and Centereach High Schools. All students who attended the dinner at Villa Sorrento, St. James, NY dressed in business attire and learned the rules of proper dining etiquette from a certified etiquette consultant and trainer, Linda J. Williams.

Nineteen Middle Country Student Athletes Commit to College Sports

Nineteen Newfield (NHS) and Centereach High School (CHS) students at Middle Country Central School District signed letters of intent in honor of National Signing Day to demonstrate their commitment to college sports teams. The students were joined by their families, coaches and school administrators before formally accepting the various athletic scholarships.

Among the 19 students, are four Newfield High School football players, recently named Long Island Class II Champions last season. This includes Jelani Greene, recipient of the school’s first National Football Foundation award, presented to Suffolk County’s top wide receiver; and Elijah Riley, who received the Carl A. Hanson and Tom Cassesse awards, presented to Suffolk County’s top player and the top defensive back respectively.

Future college athletes include–

• NHS student Gabrielle Darnaby- will attend Canisius College to play volleyball
• NHS student Elijah Riley- will attend United States Military Academy at West Point to play football
• NHS student Jelani Greene- will attend University of New Hampshire to play football
• NHS student Joe Saladino- will attend Utica College to play football
• NHS student Joe Muller- will attend Wagner College to play football
• NHS student Shannon Doherty- will attend Fairfield University to play field hockey
• NHS student Kyle Stemke- will attend Binghamton University to play lacrosse
• NHS student Brian Stemke- will attend Binghamton University to play lacrosse
• NHS student David Garcia- will attend Hartwick College to play lacrosse
• CHS student John Kane- will attend Misericordia University to play lacrosse
• NHS student Gregory Gurello- will attend Centenary College to play lacrosse
• CHS student Ty Tracey- will attend Fairleigh Dickinson University to play lacrosse
• CHS student Declan Canevari- will attend St. Joseph’s College to play lacrosse
• NHS student Karissa Rutigliano- will attend St. Joseph’s College to play soccer
• NHS student Jodryn Aiello- will attend SUNY Cortland to play lacrosse
• CHS student Kevin Callahan- will attend York College to play basketball
• CHS student Justin Eck- will attend University of New England to play basketball
• CHS student Christopher Coleman- will attend CW Post to play lacrosse
• NHS student Nick Hessleberg- will attend Point Park University to play baseball

(L-R) High school student-athletes pose in sweatshirts that depict their college choices. The nineteen students from Centereach High School and Newfield High School committed to play sports at the college level by signing letters of intent. The sports the students will continue to play include volleyball, football, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, basketball and baseball.

Middle Country Central School District Announces Pre-Kindergarten Registration Dates

Centereach, NY (February 9, 2016)— The Middle Country Central School District recently announced registration for the district’s full-time and part-time pre-kindergarten programs will take place at the Middle Country Public Libraries in Centereach, NY from March 7^th through March 11^th and in Selden, NY from March 28^th to April 1^st, 2016. Children who will turn age four on or before December 1, 2016 and reside within the Middle Country Central School District are eligible to enter pre-kindergarten for the 2016-2017 school year.

All families with students eligible for registration will receive information via mail during the month of February and should direct any questions to the Central Registration Office at 631-285-8890. For more information regarding the registration process in the Middle Country School District and other district happenings please visit the district’s website: www.mccsd.net.

“We are proud to be one of very few Long Island districts to offer both part-time and full-time pre-kindergarten programs,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Roberta Gerold. “We look forward to welcoming new students to the district.”

Parents interested in registering their child should first call Central Registration 631-285-8890 to ensure they receive a Registration Package in the mail. After you receive your package you can visit www.mccsd.net to make an appointment, or to find more information regarding the full-time pre-kindergarten lottery system that will take place during initial registration. Lottery sign up begins March 7, 2016 and closes April 29, 2016. The lottery will be drawn on May 2, 2016. Parents can also call 631-285-8789 for additional information regarding the lottery or Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program.

Middle Country Central School District Honored by Chamber of Commerce

Board of Education member Doreen Feldmann, and teachers Matt Knowlan and Liz Catz were recently recognized by the Greater Middle Country Chamber of Commerce for their devotion to students and for their work with the Middle Country Business Advisory Board. On behalf of the Chamber, President Jeff Freund presented the District members with the Middle Country Community Service Award. They also received a Certificate of Congratulations for their Community Service by Town of Brookhaven Councilman Kevin LaValle.

(L-R): Town of Brookhaven Councilman Kevin LaValle, MCCSD teacher Matthew Knowlan, Board of Education member Doreen Feldmann, MCCSD teacher Liz Catz and Chamber President Jeff Freund.  

Kindergarten Students Exercise in a Winter Wonderland

Kindergarten students at Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center built strength, endurance, coordination and motor planning skills in a “Winter Wonderland” during gym classes. Students moved station-to-station riding sleds and toboggans, “ice skating,” “fishing” in a “frozen lake,” throwing “snowballs” and sliding down “Unity Hill.” Completing these activities helped encourage active learning at a young age. Students pulled their classmates in toboggans and sleds attached to scooters; used carpet squares to simulate ice skating; fished in a frozen lake using fishing rods, metal washers and magnets; threw white balls to simulate snowballs; and went for a sleigh ride down “Unity Hill” using scooters and snow disks.

A kindergarten student from Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center uses a “fishing rod” with a metal washer as bait to catch magnetized fish during Winter Wonderland-themed gym classes. The class was designed to teach coordination and motor planning skills at a young age.

Kindergarten students at Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center pull each other on sleighs to help build strength and endurance during Winter Wonderland-themed gym classes as part of a yearlong initiative to promote active learning.

Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center kindergarten students learned to be active learners during Winter Wonderland-themed gym classes, where students used carpet squares to simulate ice skating.

Pre-K and Kindergarten Students Build a Sharing Snowman

Students Raised over $1,000 for Families in Need

Pre-kindergarten and kindergarten students learned the importance of sharing and giving back to their community through a “Sharing Snowman” project. Students were asked to decorate a blank snowflake in return for a dollar donation by the Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center in the Middle Country Central School District. The donations were used to purchase holiday gifts for families in need in the community. This year, over $1,000 was collected to purchase presents for the nearly 8 families identified and all gifts were delivered in times for the holidays.

Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center decorated snowflakes in return for dollar donations to purchase holiday gifts for those in need. The students learned the importance of sharing and giving back to their community with the “Sharing Snowman” project, which raised over $1,000.

Middle Country Central School District Presents Profile In Courage Award to NYS Assemblyman Steve Englebright

School District Superintendent, Roberta Gerold; Board of Education President, Dr. Karen Lessler; and Board of Education Vice President, Kristopher Oliva recently presented New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright with a Profile In Courage Award. Assemblyman Englebright was presented the award to celebrate his exemplary leadership and dedication to the success of public education.

School District Superintendent, Roberta Gerold (second from right), Board of Education President, Dr. Karen Lessler (left) and Board of Education Vice President Kristopher Oliva (right) presented New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright (second from left) with a Profile In Courage Award for his leadership and dedication to improving public education.

Newfield High School Wolverines Football Team Wins the Long Island Class II Championship

At a recent District Board of Education meeting, Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics Joseph Mercado presented the Newfield High School Wolverines Varsity Football Team and coaches with Certificates of Pride for winning the Long Island Class II Championship this season. The team completed an undefeated season for the first time in the program’s 58-year history and ended the season with an island-wide championship title. The athletes were honored for their dedication and commitment to their sport and for their superb athletic skill.

In addition, the team was presented with the Rutger’s Trophy, an award given by the Rutgers Club of Long Island to the season’s outstanding team in Suffolk County. Two students athletes and players Elijah Riley and Jelani Greene also received recognition for their talent. Riley received the Carl A. Hanson and Tom Cassesse awards, presented to Suffolk County’s top player and the top defensive back respectively. Greene received the school’s first National Football Foundation award, presented to Suffolk County’s top wide receiver.

Newfield High School Wolverines Varsity Football team and their coaches were awarded Certificates of Pride for their outstanding athletic performance throughout the season and for being named the Long Island Class II Champions. The students and coaches were presented with the award at a recent board meeting by Director of Physical Education, Health and Athletics Joseph Mercado.

Newfield High School student and varsity football player, Jelani Greene, received the school’s first National Football Foundation award. In addition to winning the Long Island Class II Championship with his team, Jelani received this recognition as Suffolk County’s top wide receiver.

Newfield High School student and varsity football player, Elijah Riley, received the Carl A. Hanson and Tom Cassesse awards. In addition to winning the Long Island Class II Championship with his team, Elijah received this recognition as Suffolk County’s top player and the top defensive back respectively.

Holiday Traditions at Unity

“English as New Language Learners” Make Gingerbread Houses With Family

In celebration of the holiday season, kindergarten students at Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center are studying holiday traditions for Hanukah, Kwanza and Christmas. One of those traditions involved making gingerbread houses. Families joined students who are “English as new language learners” to celebrate a tradition that transcends all languages and cultures.

Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten “English as new language learners” and their families built gingerbread houses as they continue their lessons in holiday traditions

Middle Country Central School District Presents Appreciation Award to Assemblyman Al Graf

Superintendent Roberta Gerold and Board of Education President, Dr. Karen Lessler, present New York State Assemblyman Al Graf with a well-deserved Appreciation Award.   Assemblyman Graf was presented the Appreciation Award to celebrate his unwavering dedication and support for improving public education. For years, the Assemblyman has defended public education; pushing for increased funding and bringing power back to local school districts. Dr. Lessler says the award was to thank Assemblyman Graf for believing in public education, taking a stand and fighting for children.

Superintendent Roberta Gerold (right) and Board of Education President, Dr. Karen Lessler (left), presented New York State Assemblyman Al Graf with an Appreciation Award for his dedication and support of improving public education. Assemblyman Graf has been a constant defender of public education, trying to bring funding and power back to local school districts.