Middle Country Central School District in the Media

Pre-kindergarten students in the Middle Country Central School District recently took a field trip to the Middle Country Public Library with their parents to improve literacy and learn their way around a library.

During the visit, the students read a story and made crafts, while their parents received a tutorial focusing on the library’s resources that benefit young children. The students then registered for their very own library cards so they can take full advantage of the learning opportunities available to them.

Newfield High School Senior Honored At Half Hollow Hills East Award Ceremony

Newfield High School senior Tyler Berns was recently named a Merit Scholar Artist by the Long Island Arts Alliance. After an extensive evaluation process—including a video portfolio and New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All-State performances—Tyler was recognized for his percussion skills on snare drum, mallets, multiple percussion and timpani. Tyler was one of three music students recognized in Suffolk County for excelling as both a scholar and musician. He was honored at an award ceremony at Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills, NY, and will participate in an end-of-the-year reception at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in June.

Long Island Arts Alliance (LIAA), in collaboration with Newsday, New York Community Bank Foundation, and Long Island’s school art administrators, have hosted this award ceremony since its inception in 2007. The LIAA Scholar-Artist Awards Program is designed to honor Long Island students considered to be “the best of the best” in both academics and arts. All Long Island high schools, private, public and parochial are invited to nominate up to five students, one in each of the judged disciplines: Music, Visual Arts, Media Arts, Theater and Dance. Ten students from Nassau County and ten students from Suffolk County are chosen as winners.

The Middle Country Central School District (MCCSD) is excited to announce that four new administrators have joined the District staff this fall. Adele Cullen will serve as Coordinator of PPS/Special Education in Secondary Education, Marie Moran will serve as Coordinator of PPS/Special Education in Elementary Education, Peter Desjardins will serve as Coordinator of District Data Services and Rachel Ndembera will serve as Coordinator of Science/Research K-12.

 

“It is with great pride that we welcome these four dedicated administrators to our District,” said Dr. Roberta Gerold, Superintendent of Schools. “We continuously strive to bring the best experiences and support to our students throughout their educational careers, and these new members of our team will help achieve this goal.”

 

Adele Cullen attended Touro College where she earned her Master of Science in School District/School Building. As a school psychologist at Newfield High School, she has positively affected innumerable students these past six years and will continue to do so as she brings her passion and keen understanding of student’s strengths and needs to the team of administrators.

 

Marie Moran graduated from Hofstra University with a Master of Science in Special Education and holds an Advanced Graduate Certificate in School Building Leadership from Queens College. She gained experience as a special education coordinator at a K-8 school district in Queens before she joined MCCSD’s administrative team. Marie is passionate about providing high quality special education and is committed to supporting the needs of all students.

 

Peter Desjardins will be responsible for utilizing student data to aid teachers in providing individualized instruction to students. Peter graduated cum laude from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Science Education, and gained his Masters in Liberal Arts from Stony Brook as well. He plans to use his experiences as a student data expert at Eastern Suffolk BOCES to provide a one of a kind learning experience for MCCSD students.

 

Rachel Ndembera earned a degree in Geology and Astronomy from the University of Colorado in Boulder and served in the Peace Corps, during which she worked with Botswanna’s Ministry of Education Department of Curriculum Development and Evaluation. There, she oversaw the design and implementation of a curriculum program in Molepolole, one of Botswanna’s largest villages. She hopes to continue in assisting students make sure they have the necessary tools to achieve high quality research education.

 

For more information about academic programs available at the Middle Country School District and a calendar of events, please visit www.mccsd.net.

Dawnwood Middle School’s grounds were filled with more than 100 American flags in memory of the fallen heroes and victims of the attacks on September 11, 2001. The entire school building, including students and staff wore red, white and blue to show their patriotism and all participated in a moment of silence.

 

 

The Middle Country Central School District recently announced several new and exciting programs to engage the students throughout the Centereach and Selden communities for the 2016-2017 school year. The new programs—including specialized music, art and math curriculum for kindergarten students as well as extra physics classes and the introduction of a Capstone Project—are made possible by the District’s strategic budgeting practices and careful financial planning. The academic improvements are meant to prepare students for life at the next level.

 

“At Middle Country, we are dedicated to educating ‘the whole child.’ We are proud of the many programs we have put in place this year that will help provide students with the resources to excel in the classroom and in the community,” said Dr. Roberta Gerold, Superintendent of Schools. “These brand new classroom offerings will challenge our students to think critically and prepare them for successful futures beyond the classroom.”

 

During the first day of school, students throughout the District took advantage of the many new opportunities provided by the District.  Kindergarten students from Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center participated in the new art and music classes as well as their math literacy program. These initiatives are intended to introduce students to essential Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) concepts.

 

Other students are also experiencing the excitement of new programs as fifth grade students throughout the District embarked on a newly introduced Capstone Project. The Capstone Project is a two-semester independent research project that spans fifth through twelfth grade. Designated time for research is granted to seventh and eighth grade students and the eighth graders will now be able to participate in physics classes.

 

Outside of the classroom, other exciting news is underway, such as completed projects from the District’s 2015 Bond Referendum. At the beginning of this school year students and staff benefitted from the completion of roof replacements, security vestibules, high school track resurfacing, the installation of Smartboards in the classrooms and new buses and two-student vans.

 

For more information about academic programs available at the Middle Country School District and a calendar of events, please visit www.mccsd.net.

 

Middle Country Central School District Students Participate in 13^th Annual Middle Country Public Library Music Competition

Four Middle Country Central School District (MCCSD) students recently won a music competition, “Island Idol,” sponsored by the Middle Country Public Library.The event featured performances by 21 talented students from throughout the District. The contest was judged by Middle Country Central School District alumnus Victor LaBozzetta, who is currently a student at Rochester University’s Eastman School of Music, and Middle Country Central School District music teachers Dan Martinez and Steve Normandeau.

Newfield High School (NHS) sophomore Kathleen Flaccomio won best solo vocal/dance performance and NHS senior Katelyn Costa finished in second place. In addition, Dawnwood Middle School (DMS) seventh grade student Grace Miller won for best musician/band performance and DMS eighth grade student Robert Montano finished in second place.

The event was intended to provide students an opportunity to showcase their musical abilities for a live audience, as they prepare to begin the 2016-2017 school year.

 

 

Students Learn How Plants Grow and Change by Harvesting Vegetables

Kindergarten students in the Middle County Central School District’s Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center recently participated in a district-wide gardening activity. As part of the activity, the class was challenged to cultivate a garden and grow food that they could eat themselves. Students then used their green thumbs and their knowledge of science to harvest spinach, lettuce and radishes from their box gardens.

In addition, the students learned how plants grow and change over time, and how to harvest and care for plants. These students observed their garden and recorded data in their Class Garden Books. The students celebrated their hard work by eating their newly-harvested vegetables in a salad.

The activity was intended to promote science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) within the school’s kindergarten curriculum and to give the students a sense of pride by growing a garden of their own.

Students at Middle Country Central School District’s Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center help harvest vegetables they planted in box gardens to research the question, “Can we, as a class, cultivate a garden and grow food that we can eat ourselves?” The students used science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lessons to learn how plants grow and change over time.

A kindergarten student of the Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center enjoys a salad during their Kinder-Garden party in the Middle Country Central School District. The students planted, observed and harvested vegetables as part of their science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lessons. The students were able to use the vegetables for food in celebration of the completion of the lesson.

A kindergarten student from Middle Country Central School District’s Unity Drive Pre-K/Kindergarten Center displays her “Class Garden Book,” after growing, observing and harvesting vegetables. The students used science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) lessons to observe plant growth and record data in these books.

Centereach High School Provides Music at Luncheon to Honor Suffolk County Valedictorians

Middle Country Central School District Valedictorians, Peter VanNostrand from Centereach High School and Michelle Bartolo from Newfield High School, were recently honored at the Suffolk County School Superintendent’s Association (SCSSA) Valedictorian Luncheon. The students were recognized for their academic excellence in the presence of their families and school administrators, as the Centereach High School jazz ensemble provided music for the event. Jazz band teacher Lee Schaarschmidt led the students in a performance for families and school administrators from throughout Suffolk County, NY.

Middle Country Central School District Valedictorians Peter VanNostrand from Centereach High School and Michelle Bartolo from Newfield High School (center bottom row) were recently honored at the Suffolk County School Superintendent’s Association (SCSSA) Valedictorian Luncheon. The students were recognized for their academic excellence in the presence of their families and school administrators.

The Middle Country Central School District Centereach High School recently jazz ensemble provided music for the Suffolk County School Superintendent’s Association (SCSSA) Valedictorian Luncheon. Jazz band teacher Lee Schaarschmidt led the students in a performance for families and school administrators from throughout Suffolk County, NY.

Seniors at Newfield High School and Centereach School Sign National Letters of Intent to Attend Some of the Best Schools in the Country

 

Thirteen Middle Country Central School District students, from Centereach High School and Newfield High School, recently committed to play collegiate-level sports at some of the best schools in the country during the 2016-2016 school year. The students include:

Centereach High School:

• Ryan Nicole Shubert to play soccer at the State University of New York (SUNY) Canton
• Anthony Volpe to place lacrosse at SUNY Cobleskill
• Jake Marzocca to play basketball at Springfield College
• Nicholas Juvelier to play football at Curry College
• Karissa Menzinger to play softball at Dean College
• Meghan Brajevich to play softball at Edinboro University
• Amanda McGovern to play softball at New York Institute of Technology
• Logan Wilson to play football at Western New England College
• Kaitlyn Parisi to play soccer at Mount Saint Mary University

 

Newfield High School:

• Brianna Reyes to play field hockey at William Paterson University
• Jennifer Grasso to play softball at Mount Saint Mary University
• Dylan Ferrari to play football at SUNY Cortland
• Jillian Brauer to play field hockey at Stevens Institute of Technology

Thirteen Middle Country Central School District students from Centereach High School and Newfield High School recently committed to participate in collegiate-level athletics this coming school year. To commemorate the students’ announcement, the District organized a National Letter of Intent signing day that was attended by parents, coaches, teachers and District administrators.

Jericho Elementary School Hosts Eleventh Annual St. Baldrick’s Event and Raised More Than $3,200 in Donations

Students from the Middle Country Central School District’s Jericho Elementary School recently hosted its eleventh annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation head-shaving event to raise awareness and support research to fight children’s cancer. This year, more than 35 students, teachers and parents had their heads ceremoniously shaved and raised more than $3,200. The event is coordinated by fifth grade teacher Eric Burchard.

The event is part of the Middle Country Central School District’s initiative that provides students opportunities to participate in community service programs and encourages them to find ways to help those in need. Over the past 11 years, Jericho Elementary School has raised more than $30,000 through its St. Baldrick’s Foundation head shaving events aimed at funding research to cure childhood cancers.

Middle Country Central School District Jericho Elementary School students raised $3,200 and shaved their heads to help fight children’s cancer during the school’s annual St. Baldrick’s Foundation event.

Middle Country Central School District Jericho Elementary School students have raised over $30,000 to support children’s cancer treatment in the eleven years the school has been hosting its St. Baldrick’s Foundation event. The event was first introduced by fifth grade teacher Eric Burchard (center).