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The South Country School District Art
Department is pleased to share that four Bellport High School
seniors and one junior have been recognized by the Parrish Art
Museum as part of its 65th annual Student Exhibition, which ran
through April 24.
The 2022 showcase, featured more than
600 young artists, honored seniors David Ayala (digital media),
Alexia Benjamin (digital media), Betsy Castro (photography) and
Vivienne Love (photography) with Senior Awards for Excellence.
Additionally, junior Madeline Day was selected for the “Ones to
Watch” category.
Release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
For its exemplary record of
leadership, service and activities that serve to improve the
school and community, the Bellport High School Student Council
has been recognized as a gold-level winner of the 2022 National
Council of Excellence Award by the National Student Council. The
NatStuCo program is supported by its parent organization, the
National Association of Secondary School Principals.
A
student council must meet a variety of criteria to be eligible
for this award. In addition to basic requirements such as a
written constitution, regular meetings and a democratic election
process, the council must demonstrate successful sponsorship and
participation in activities such as leadership development and
service to the school and community.
This school year,
the Bellport High School Student Council hosted a variety of
unifying, schoolwide pride events and held several fundraisers,
including a food drive for local food pantries and a collection
for Ukraine.
Release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Bellport High School has announced
Rianna Raghunandan and Calvin Pedatella as its Class of 2022
valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, and Eric Ciavatta
as the class essayist. The three seniors earned the top spots in
their class through their outstanding commitment to academics.
Raghunandan is an AP Scholar with Honor and holds a
National Hispanic Recognition Award. She is treasurer of the
Tri-M Music Honor Society and a member of the National, Math and
Science honor societies, as well as the Art Club, Spanish Club,
Book Club and Key Club. She plays the violin in both the concert
and pit orchestras. In addition, she was accepted into the
QuestBridge College Prep Scholars Program and selected as a
finalist in the prestigious QuestBridge National College Match
Program. Outside of school, she volunteers at the Boys and Girls
Club. She plans to attend Yale University in the fall to study
biological sciences on a pre-med track.
Pedatella is an
AP Scholar and a member of the National, Math and Science honor
societies. He is a decorated athlete as a member of his school’s
wrestling and football teams. For the former, he is a two-time
All-League wrestler and a Scholar-Athlete. For the latter, he
earned All-County, All-Long Island and All-State honors and was
named a Suffolk County News 12 Scholar Athlete. Most recently,
he was named the winner of the Top Scholar Athlete Award from
the Suffolk County chapter of the National Football Foundation.
In school, he volunteers with Athletes Helping Athletes, and
outside of school, he helps at Eileen’s Home soup kitchen. He
will be attending Williams College in the fall, where he will
continue playing football.
Ciavatta is vice president of
his school’s National Honor Society, a member of the Math and
Science honor societies, and has served as class secretary for
the past four years. He is also a member of his school’s
Culinary Club and student council. Outside of school, he works
at RHUM in Patchogue. He will be attending SUNY Cortland in the
fall to study math education.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Bellport High School commended the
top 67 students of the Class of 2022 during a celebratory
Evening of Excellence on April 5th. The seniors were honored for
distinguishing themselves through their academic performance.
All have maintained a grade-point average of 93 or higher.
“Excellence just does not occur by accident,” said
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani. “It is the gradual
result of always striving to do your best with high intention,
sincere effort and mindful execution.”
Prior to the
presentation of awards, high school Principal Erika Della Rosa
presented Rianna Raghunandan as the Class of 2022 valedictorian,
Calvin Pedatella as salutatorian and Eric Ciavatta as class
essayist. They were each named for their dedication to
academics.
The evening also featured the presentation of
six teachers (one from each school) whom the top students
collectively agreed were those who most inspired and positively
influenced them during their educational journeys.
Addressing the honored teachers, Dr. Giani said, “Being
recognized by these high achievers as having inspired them is a
tremendous distinction. It just goes to show that your successes
do not always show up in the classroom. Sometimes success shows
up when you least expect it.”
The honored teachers
included Kevin Glynn, Brookhaven Elementary School; Gina Benzie,
Kreamer Street Elementary School; Melissa Fels, Verne W. Critz
Elementary School; Suzanne Olivotti-Dodge, Frank P. Long
Intermediate School; Victoria Hogan, Bellport Middle School; and
Andrew Budris, Bellport High School.
Performing during
the ceremony was the Bellport High School Orchestra, with the
Bellport High School Cadet Core presenting the colors.
The South Country Central School District congratulates the
following top students:
Alexia Benjamin
Boris
Berja
Justin Betti
Madison Boehler
Emma Butler
Clayton Cannella
William Caroli
Ryann Christie
Eric
Ciavatta
Drew Cioffi
Joel Cruz
Eliana Cruz
Harrison
Day
Erica Dickinson
Donovan Edmondson
Sarah Elbaroudy
Courtney Fagan
Elisha Feliz
Josselyn Fuentes
Margaret
Fuentes Velasco
Natalie Gentzel
Troy Gentzel
Jack
Gerard
Violet Gordon
Dylan Gronenthal
Jessica Hampson
Abigail Horn
Curren Johnsen
Shelby Kaczmarek
Marissa
Krawczyk
Tyler Krompier
Paige Lewis
Abby Loeffler
Ashley Loja
Julia Longo
Vivienne Love
Sydney Macioce
Aqsa Majid
Robert Menendez
Leonardo Mignola
Jarithsa
Molina Iniguez
Kevin Munson
Colin Murphy
Angela Nadeau
Jamie Nobile
Madison Olivant
Tamara Ortiz Macas
Calvin
Pedatella
Anthony Pennachio
Giana Porter
Marc Promutico
Rianna Raghunandan
Charlotte Rauch
Daniel Reilly
Jacob
Repper
Matthew Ritter
Isabella Rupolo
Laurens Seubert
Jr.
Rylie Sikeotis
Dominic Tigre
Michael Tvelia
Kyle
Varuolo
Kayla Vengroski
Nicholas Vital
Victoria Vital
Louis Wilson
Alyssa Wolf
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
For its dedication to music, the
South Country School District has been distinguished with a 2022
Best Communities for Music Education designation from the
nonprofit NAMM Foundation. The district is one of 738 school
districts from across the nation to earn the award.
To
receive the recognition, South Country demonstrated outstanding
achievement in its efforts to provide music access and education
to all students. The district was required to answer detailed
questions about its program, including funding, music class
participation, instruction time and support.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Bellport High School senior Calvin
Pedatella has been named the winner of the Top Scholar Athlete
Award by the Suffolk County chapter of the National Football
Foundation.
Pedatella, an outside linebacker and wide
receiver, earned the top award from a pool of the top 11
athletes in Suffolk County who were eligible for it.
This
is not the only honor bestowed upon Pedatella, who has served as
captain of his school’s football team for the past two years. He
was featured on a News 12 segment as a News 12 Scholar Athlete
Award recipient and received a $1,000 scholarship from Bethpage
Federal Credit Union. He also holds All-County, All-Long Island
and All-State titles for football.
Pedatella, who
recently signed with Williams College, is also an accomplished
wrestler, earning two varsity Scholar Athlete Awards and two
All-League titles.
In addition to his athletic
involvement and academic studies, Pedatella has been named the
Class of 2022 salutatorian and is a member of his school’s
Athletes Helping Athletes club and National, Math and Science
honor societies. He also volunteers at the nonprofit Eileen’s
Home for the Holidays.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Bob McIntyre, who served as the South
Country Central School District athletic director for 12 years
before his December 2021 retirement, has been named the 2022
Section XI Athletic Director of the Year by the New York State
Athletic Administrators Association.
McIntyre was
honored at the Roy O’Neill Awards Banquet in Saratoga on March
17 for making outstanding contributions to athletics over the
years and displaying devotion, commitment and promotion of
athletics in a positive manner.
Before joining South
Country in 2010, McIntyre left his mark in the East Moriches,
Eastport-South Manor and Port Jefferson school districts.
“We extend our congratulations to Bob McIntyre,” said South
Country Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani. “He
certainly is deserving and served the South Country School
District well during his tenure here.”
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
The New York State Public High School
Athletic Association has recognized four of Bellport High
School’s winter athletic teams as Scholar-Athlete Teams. To earn
the recognition, 75% of each team was required to hold a GPA
above 90%. The South Country Central School District extends its
congratulations to the boys and girls varsity track teams, the
boys varsity bowling team and the girls varsity basketball team.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
The Bellport High School Student
Council, National Honor Society and the school’s life skills
students have teamed up to provide support to Ukraine through a
blue ribbon fundraising campaign and monthlong collection drive.
The effort kicked off on March 18 with students and
staff wearing the colors of the Ukrainian flag to show support
for the war-torn country. On the same day, life skills students
began selling blue ribbons that they had made for $1 each. All
of the funds collected will be donated directly to the American
Red Cross to provide humanitarian aid to those impacted by the
conflict.
Student Council and National Honor Society
members, meanwhile, are leading a communitywide collection drive
for medical supplies, socks baby supplies (including diapers and
wipes), nonperishable food and clothing. All items will be
delivered at the end of the month to St. John the Baptist
Ukrainian Catholic Church in Riverhead, which will ship the
items directly to Ukraine.
Community members wishing to
help in the effort can drop off items to collection boxes
located in the main entrance of the school. Monetary donations
can also be delivered to the main entrance in an envelope
labeled “Ukraine Relief, Attention: Ellen Hoffman.” Please also
include your name and address.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Bellport High School’s new gaming
club, eSports, showcased their impressive skills during their
first competitive season, with both teams in the club finishing
strong.
The team of Andy Amaya, Ed Argueta and Ava
Salinas focused on the video game Rocket League and won six out
of eight matches. They finished No. 40 out of 7,600 teams from
across the country. The team of Alexia Benjamin, Brandon
Impellizzeri, Tyler Montalvo, Jamie Nobile and Anthony Pino, who
concentrated on the video game Valorant, also played hard,
landing at No. 175.
Both teams competed during a 10-week
season, meeting three times a week after school.
“It is
pretty impressive what they accomplished,” said club adviser
William Langhan. “Some of them never played the games with each
other or ever before.”
ESports was inaugurated at the
start of the school year and aims to provide students who
wouldn’t normally participate in sports, drama or music with a
platform to be a part of a unified team.
The idea for the
team was developed a few months prior to the COVID-19 school
shutdown through a collaboration between Langhan and Bellport
Middle School Assistant Principal Reinaldo Latorre. The pair,
who are gamers themselves, worked to evolve their gaming team
idea into an opportunity for interested students to use their
gaming skills in a competitive setting.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Brookhaven Elementary School teaching
assistant Nicole Santana was commended by the South Country
Board of Education on March 2 for her heroic action of recently
performing the Heimlich maneuver on a choking student. Santana
was praised by the board and presented with a certificate of
recognition for her actions.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
One of Bellport High School’s most
accomplished basketball alumni — Jarell White — was honored with
a banner in the school’s gymnasium at a ceremony held during a
Feb. 9 basketball game.
White, who graduated in 2019,
earned the honor for being a Bellport High School statistical
leader. He scored 2,100 career points and 1,188 career rebounds
during his time at Bellport. He was also the 2018-19 Suffolk
County Player of the Year, a four-time state player (2016-2019),
Rookie of the Year in 2016, a three-time All-Long Island Player
(2017-2019) and a three-time All-County Player (2017-2019). He
currently plays basketball at SUNY Sullivan, where he is also
studying sports management.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Bellport High School junior athlete
Jaiden Green has qualified to compete in the New York State
wrestling Championships in Albany on Feb. 25. He earned the spot
after finishing second in an overtime match at the Suffolk
County Wrestling Championships. Prior to the start of the
season, Green was named to Newsday’s Top 50 Long Island
Wrestlers list. The athlete received the recognition for
finishing his freshman wrestling season as the sixth best
Suffolk County wrestler.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Students across the South Country
Central School District took part in P.S. I Love You Day on Feb.
11. The day aims to raise awareness about bullying and suicide
while promoting kindness. Wearing purple to mark the day,
students at Bellport High School used dry erase markers to write
caring messages on the windows outside the school’s cafeteria,
sent kindness grams to friends, and earned “Kindness Koupons” if
they were caught performing a random act of kindness. The
coupons could be redeemed for treats from the school store. The
school also held a staff kindness challenge, where staff members
could win a chance to park in an administrator’s parking spot by
completing acts of kindness.
Students at the middle,
intermediate and elementary levels completed kindness activities
throughout the week of Feb. 7. They wrote letters to someone
special, participated in a virtual assembly with Brooke DiPalma,
founder of P.S. I Love You Day, and created friendship chains
that were displayed in their schools.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Johnnie Booker, a football star from
Bellport High School, recently participated in the 2022 Dream
All-American Bowl at the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Texas.
Booker was one of 167 athletes hand-picked to take part in a
weeklong training session that culminated with a game on Jan.
17. Booker’s team — coached by Joe Horn, who played for the New
Orleans Saints — won their final game 21-13.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Fifty-one South Country Central
School District students have been selected to participate in
the prestigious Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association
All-County Music Festival in March. The students were selected
based on nominations by their teachers and their 2021 New York
State School Music Association solo evaluation performances.
The South Country Central School District extends its
congratulations to the following students on a job well done:
Division I Band:
Matthew Chojnacki
Courtney Christie
Olivia DeVito
Emma Fostvedt
Steven
Garfen
Tony Hernandez
Giovanna Muro
Isabella Sanabria
Molly Steininger
Connor Togher
Nicholas Wines
Faith
Wright
Division I Chorus:
Devon
Dinowitz
Bella Evans
Susanna Kliegl
Ava LaScala
Alexa Ulloa
Samantha Valenti
Division I Orchestra:
Lindsey Alvarenga Flores
Sofia Fuentes Rios
James Hines
Gavin Klein
Leighlany Lutchman
Markeese Marrero
Naomi
Schindler-Schul
Division II Band:
Aaren Arias
Julius Radino
Kayla Schneider
Division II Chorus:
Madison Aruta
Ava McKee
Division II Orchestra:
Gabriel Andre
Colin Capuano
Penelope Gordon
Ethan Hillard
Lucia
McCollum
Division III Band:
Benjamin
Santiago
Eva Gallo
Joseph Starpoli
Michael Nesi
Emma
Kuegel
Alexa Allan
Anthony Costanza
Division III Chorus:
Karyn Devine
Rileigh Picken
Kaelyn Schmidt
Oscar Hernandez
Division III
Orchestra:
Emily Robbins
Marissa LaSorsa
Ella
Steckle
Stephanie Rodas
Lila Schultz
Release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
While
many were navigating new pathways at the start of the COVID-19
pandemic, Mary Pettit, a fifth grade teacher at Frank P. Long
Intermediate School in the South Country Central School
District, began a journey to earn her National Board
Certification.
“Education is a constantly changing
landscape, and in an effort to improve my craft and align my
teaching with the most current data-based methods, I embarked on
a journey that led to one of the best professional development
experiences of my career,” said Pettit, who has since earned the
teaching credential in English Language Arts and Middle
Childhood for Ages 3-12.
The NBC goes
beyond a state teaching license. It is an extremely rigorous
certification process and includes national standards for what
accomplished teachers should know and be able to do.
“The most important reason to get national certification, in my
opinion, is the confidence I feel about what and how I teach my
students,” said Pettit. “In order to provide my students with
the voice they deserve, I needed to enrich my teaching and
knowledge of best practices.”
At the same time Pettit was
working toward her NBC, she also enrolled in the Educational
Leadership for Diverse Learning Communities (Ed.D.) program at
Molloy College. She is currently finishing her second year.
“The past two years have been so enlightening, and I am so
excited to conduct my own research on issues in education that I
feel passionate about,” she said.
Pettit has been a
teacher in the South Country Central School District for the
past 23 years. She spent her first 10 years teaching first and
third grades at Brookhaven Elementary before moving to Frank P.
Long Intermediate to educate fourth and fifth graders. She holds
a bachelor’s degree from Roger Williams University in Bristol,
Rhode Island, and a master’s degree from Dowling College.
For her efforts, Pettit was recently recognized by the
district’s board of education.
“I appreciate that
[Superintendent of Schools] Dr. Giani and the BOE members
recognized my achievement, and I am very excited to work with
the district to find ways to inspire and motivate other teachers
to take the NBC journey,” she said.
Photo
and release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Seven Bellport High School fall
athletic teams have been recognized by the New York State Public
High School Athletic Association as Scholar-Athlete Teams. To
earn the recognition, 75% of each team was required to hold a
GPA above 90%. The South Country Central School District
congratulates the girls varsity cross-country team, girls
varsity volleyball team, varsity football team, boys varsity
golf team, girls varsity soccer team, boys cross-country team
and girls varsity tennis team.
Release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Bellport High School athletes Natalie
Gentzel and Curren Johnsen were recently honored by the New York
State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and
Dance as winners of the Suffolk Zone Student Leadership Award.
The seniors were selected based on their excellence in physical
education, leadership ability and service to the community.
Gentzel is captain of her school’s volleyball and track
teams and holds a record for track in 400-meter hurdles. She is
also president of her school’s Outdoor Club, secretary of
Athletes Helping Others and a member of the student council. She
plans to study physical education at Lock Haven University in
the fall.
“The skills I gained [in the high school’s
physical education program] were communication and how to be a
leader,” said Gentzel. “These will help me achieve my personal
goals in the future.”
Johnsen plays lacrosse, basketball
and is captain of his school’s golf team. His accolades include
All-County for lacrosse, All-Conference for golf, and MVP for
lacrosse and golf. He also participates in his school’s Athletes
Helping Athletes program, broadcast journalism program and
National Honor Society. He will attend Lehigh University on a
scholarship to study business.
“The communication skills
that I take away from playing sports allow me to better
understand people’s personalities, among other benefits,” he
said.
Release courtesy of the
South Country Central School District.
Four seniors and one junior member of
Bellport High School’s girls varsity volleyball team were
presented with prestigious sporting awards at the Suffolk County
Girls’ Volleyball Coaches Dinner on Dec. 7.
The South
Country School District extends it congratulations to the
following athletes on a job well done:
Skye Dodge, 11th
Grade, All-County Tournament Team
Natalie Gentzel, 12th
Grade, All-Classification
Jessica Hampson, 12th Grade,
All-League
Marissa Krawczyk, 12th Grade, All-County
Abby
Loeffler, 12th Grade, All-Classification and All-County Academic
Team
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Two South Country School District
students have been recognized for their exceptional musical
abilities by the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association.
Bellport High School percussionist Michael Nesi has been
selected by SCMEA to perform in the 2021 All-County High School
Percussion Ensemble, and Bellport Middle School percussionist
Julius Radino was named to the 2021 All-County Middle School
Percussion Ensemble. They will both be performing on Jan. 21 at
Sachem High School North.
The student-musicians were
selected for the honors based on their outstanding musicianship
and scores at the New York State School Music Association Solo
Evaluation Festival last spring.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
For his hard work and dedication both
on and off the field, Bellport High School senior Calvin
Pedatella has been distinguished with the News 12 Scholar
Athlete Award.
With the honor, the senior was featured
on News 12 segment and received a $1,000 scholarship from
Bethpage Federal Credit Union.
Pedatella, who recently
signed with Williams College, serves as captain of his school’s
football team and a third-year starting linebacker and wide
receiver. He is also an accomplished wrestler, earning two
varsity Scholar Athlete Awards for the sport.
In addition
to his athletic involvement and academic studies, Pedatella is a
member of his school’s Athletes Helping Others club, National
Honor Society, National Math Honor Society and National Science
Honor Society. He also volunteers at the nonprofit Eileen’s Home
for the Holidays.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
An impressive self-portrait created
by Bellport High School student Mathew Guerrero took first place
in the 13th annual Suffolk County Community College High School
Art Competition, held at the Sagtikos Art Gallery at Suffolk
County Community College in Brentwood.
Guerrero’s work
was selected out of 108 entries from 15 participating Long
Island high schools. Winners were announced during the exhibit’s
opening reception on Dec. 9.
Bellport High School students
Shanel Fernandez, Nikki Hirschkind and Thalia Mowdy also have
their works on display at the exhibit, which is open through
Dec. 22.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
The South County School District’s Board of Education recognized the Bellport High School football team and coaches during its Dec. 9 meeting. Team members were honored with certificates of recognition for making school history by winning the Division II county championship.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
The Bellport High School Student Council recently hosted a successful Thanksgiving food drive. During the month of November, the students worked to collect nonperishable goods that were then donated to 20 families within the South Country Central School District, as well as to the nonprofit Lighthouse Mission. All of the donations were loaded onto the district’s mobile library bus, sorted into Thanksgiving baskets and delivered.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Members of the Bellport Middle School Student Council and National Junior Honor Society recently worked together to collect nonperishable food for community members in need. All items will be donated to the nonprofit Lighthouse Mission. “It was a great turnout for a great cause,” said Student Council Advisor, Jeremy Freeman.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
The Bellport High School National Honor Society hosted a successful blood drive on Nov. 18. It was the first blood drive they have been able to hold since the COVID-19 pandemic. During the event, 73 people stepped up to donate blood.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Smiles of appreciation were in
abundance on Oct. 28 as 17 Bellport High School senior football
players paid tribute to the staff members who made a major
impact on them during their time in the South Country School
District.
Each player penned and hand-delivered a
special note of thanks to one staff member of their choosing.
They also lent them their game jersey to display or wear on Oct.
29.
“This was a great way to allow our young men to say
thank you to the adults who really inspired them along their
journey,” said Assistant Coach Kai Watkins. “It was also a way
for the staff to be recognized for some of the outstanding work
they have done throughout the years that made a lasting
impression.”
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Three Bellport High School seniors have been recognized by the College Board’s National Hispanic Recognition Program as National Hispanic Scholars. Joel Cruz, Margaret Fuentes Velasco and Rianna Raghunandan earned the honor by scoring in the top 2.5% of all PSAT/NMSQT test takers in their junior year and by maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
The talents of the South Country
School District’s student-artists were showcased during School
Board Recognition Week, hosted by the New York State School
Boards Association, which recognized the district’s volunteer
board of education members.
During the recognition, each
board member was presented with a colorful, student-made
portrait. The artists included students from across the
district: Emma Davis, Devon Dinowitz, Emilia Gomez, Axel Haynes,
Maeve Jablonski, Alexandra Leong, Leonardo Mignola, Elaina Muro,
Elena Nazario, Jordan Saliba, Naomi Schindler-Shul, Anna
Schultz, Peyton Sullivan and Fabiana Vargas.
All
portraits are on display in the district’s board of education
meeting room in the district office.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Bellport High School seniors Boris
Berja and Rianna Raghunandan have been selected by QuestBridge
as 2021 National Finalists for demonstrating outstanding
academic achievement.
QuestBridge is a national,
nonprofit institution that connects the country’s most
exceptional students with leading educational institutions and
further academic opportunities at some of the nation’s top
colleges and universities. As finalists, Berja and Raghunandan
will potentially be matched with a full scholarship to one of
QuestBridge’s partner colleges.
In its prestigious
selection process, QuestBridge searches for academically
talented students who match the partner colleges’ level of
academic achievement and can potentially thrive on their
campuses. Finalists are chosen from a pool of applicants who are
in the top 5-10% of their class, have received mostly A’s in the
school’s most rigorous classes and have realized strong
standardized test scores, if taken.
In addition to being
academically talented, Berja is a member of his school’s
National, Math and Science honor societies and vice president of
the French Club. He also participates in the Outdoor Club and
Students for Environmental Quality Club.
Equally
involved in her school, Raghunandan is a member of the chamber
orchestra, Key Club, and National, Tri-M Music, Science and Math
honor societies.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Eighty-eight Bellport High School
students were inducted into the National Honor Society during a
virtual candle-lighting ceremony on Nov. 8.
To be
eligible for membership, the students were required to maintain
an average GPA of 90 or better; meet the standards of
leadership, service, citizenship and character; and complete six
hours of community service.
The South Country School
District extends its congratulations to the following inductees:
Seniors:
Kayla Coq
Rachel
Ellenwood
Courtney Fagan
Margaret Fuentes Velasco
Riley
Nagle
Michael LeBrun
Leonardo Mignola
Kayleigh Py
Nicholas Vital
Juniors:
Avery Ferrara
Paul Gilbert
Aidan Littwin
Rajkumar Murugan
Mirka
Zapata
Sophomores:
Shane Abrams
Ethan Amendola
Pietro Ancona Jr.
Bridget Barry
Madeline
Budris
James Butler IV
Claire Cannella
Kailyn Ciavatta
Juliette Cuccurese
Justin DeCorato
Evan Dedis
Samantha
DeLillo
Sam Dotterman
Ava Fauci
Olivia Fauci
Francis
Felice
Shanel Fernandez
Giulia Gannon
Ryan Gaynor
Tyler Gentile
Derek Griffin
Stephanie Grosso
Amber
Guiffreda
Kevin Hawaldar
Penelope Henao
Brianna Henn
Amira Hussein
Jaiden Jackson
Brynn Johnsen
Dylan Knakal
Julia Kotasek
Emma Kuegel
Cassandra La Monica
Sean
Lannon
Mason Linke
Taylor LiVigni
Adonis Lopez
Taylor Macioce
Ryan Manitta
Sophia Manna
Sude Maris
Gael Michel
Shane Moody
Connor Murphy
Michael Nesi
Tyler Ocasio
Leah Ofori
Folashade Olabode
Jaidyn O'Neil
Andie Pedatella
Rachel Petri
Rebecca Pino
Aarilin Pitre
Jake Polito
Lily Porfert
Jack Porter
Abbey Py
Bryelle Reid
Emily Robbins
Iesha Rodney
Faith Rubio
Caden Rupolo
Kaelyn Schmidt
Lola Schortemeyer
Matthew
Smolen
Evelyn Soto
Joseph Starpoli
Ella Steckle
Jordan Truce
Liam Vizcaino Figueroa
Connor Wilson
James
Vohrer
Max Yablon
Usman Zahid
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Dressed in Halloween costumes,
students from South Country School District’s South Haven Early
Childhood Center and Brookhaven Elementary School were all
smiles as they participated in an evening trunk-or-treat event
on Oct. 22, at Brookhaven Elementary School. The event was made
possible through a partnership with the two schools’ PTAs.
Deemed a huge success, parents volunteered to decorate their
cars and hand out candy to students who trick or treated around
the school’s parking lot.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Excitement and school spirit filled
the air on Oct. 16, as the Bellport High School Clippers
celebrated homecoming with a parade and football game that
brought the community together.
The celebrations kicked
off during the week of Oct. 12 with fun-filled theme days and
preparations for the parade. Students constructed colorful
floats surrounding the theme of board games. The floats were on
full display during the annual parade, which also featured the
school’s marching band, class courts, cheerleaders, dance team,
and members of the Bellport Fire Department and South Country
Ambulance Company.
The stands were full a few hours
later for the homecoming football game. Cheers rang out for the
Clippers as they took on and defeated Connetquot with a final
score of 42-0. The game also featured superb halftime
performances by the varsity cheerleaders and varsity dance team.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Ten Bellport High School students are
being recognized by the Town of Brookhaven as part of the town’s
eighth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration. The students
were selected for the honor by the town’s Hispanic Advisory
Board for maintaining a cumulative GPA of 95 or higher.
The South Country Central School District congratulates the
following students: Eliana Cruz, Joel Cruz,
Elisha Feliz,
Josselyn Fuentes, Margaret Fuentes Velasco, Jarithsa Molina
Iniguez, Tamara Ortiz Macas,
Rianna Raghunandan, Rylie
Sikeotis, Dominic Tigre.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
In recognition of their exceptional
achievement on national Advanced Placement exams taken last
year, 14 Bellport High School seniors have earned AP Scholar
awards. Eight students were named AP Scholars, while another six
earned the recognition of AP Scholar with Honor.
To earn
Scholar recognition, students are required to score a 3 or
higher on three or more AP exams; for Scholar with Honor, they
must earn a 3.25 on all AP exams taken and grades of 3 or higher
on four or more of those exams.
The South Country
Central School District extends its congratulations to the
following students:
AP Scholar:
Boris Berja, Joel
Cruz, Elisha Feliz, Violet Gordon, Sydney Macioce, Jamie Nobile,
Calvin Pedatella and Jacob Repper.
AP Scholar with Honor:
Clayton Cannella, Harrison Day, Robert Menendez, Colin Murphy,
Rianna Raghunandan and Charlotte Rauch.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Two South Country School District students have been recognized for their musical abilities by the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association. Bellport High School trumpet player Leonardo Mignola has been selected by SCMEA to perform in the 2021 High School Instrumental Jazz Ensemble, and Bellport Middle School percussionist Julius Radino was named to the 2021 Middle School Instrumental Jazz Ensemble. The student-musicians were selected for the honors based on their outstanding musicianship, strong work ethic, dedication and positive attitude.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
A Bellport High School student-musician has been named as an alternate for the New York State School Music Association’s prestigious All-State Music Festival. Leah Silvestre, viola, was selected as an alternate to perform in the Symphonic Orchestra based on her solo performances at the NYSSMA adjudications last spring.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
South Country High School senior Emma
Butler, a talented actress and singer, has been recognized with
an award of merit as part of the Long Island Arts Alliance’s
annual Scholar-Artist Awards. She was one of 20 students from
across Long Island to be selected for the honor after being
nominated by her school.
To qualify, Butler had to
submit a video recording of a song and a monologue, as well as
an essay. She sang “A Part of That” from the musical “The Last
Five Years” and performed a monologue from the musical “Now.
Here. This.” Both the song and the monologue, she said,
resonated with her. For her essay, she wrote about how the arts
have enriched her life.
“It wasn’t difficult to write
about the arts in my life,” Butler said. “Theater has been a
part of me since my first production in the fifth grade.”
Since she first took the stage, she has continued to perform
in annual school productions and was recently cast in her first
professional show at the Studio Theater of Long Island. She will
be performing in the chorus in a production of “Aida.”
“I
love theater,” she said. “I love the sense of camaraderie and
performing on stage after all the hard work we put in.”
When not performing, Butler can be found reading at her local
library, where she recently participated in a Battle of the
Books program. She is also president of her school’s National
Honor Society and a member of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. She
plans to study psychology in college.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
Students across the South Country
Central School District quickly became acquainted with their new
teachers, routines and programs as they kicked off the 2021-22
school year on Sept. 1st.
Elementary students began the
school year as they stepped off their buses to be greeted by
smiling teachers. They entered their colorful classrooms and
started their day by getting to know their new teachers and
classmates. Secondary students also met their teachers and made
a smooth transition back as they adjusted to their new
classrooms and schedules.
“We are looking forward to a
year filled with outstanding academic and extracurricular
opportunities for our students,” said Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Joseph Giani.
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
The South Country Central School
District Board of Education has appointed Bellport High School
sophomore Brynn Johnsen as its student ex officio board member
for the 2021-2022 school year. She replaces Jack Frankie, who
graduated in June.
Johnsen, who will officially take her
chair alongside the board on Sept. 15, is looking forward to the
advisory position. “I like being able to give back to my school,
and to get involved and encourage others in everything,” she
said.
As a non-voting board member, Johnsen will provide
the board with reports regarding the student body at each board
meeting. She will also lend important insight and feedback to
the board for designing special events that bring students
together.
“I think it is especially important to bring
students together through events during COVID,” she said.
Johnsen earned the ex officio position after running a
successful campaign at her school. As a freshman, she was
elected secretary of student council, a role she thoroughly
loved.
“Ever since the fourth grade, I have been a
representative in student council,” she said. “It is something I
really enjoy.”
Apart from student council, Johnsen can be
found running cross-country, playing basketball and lacrosse,
and performing on French horn in the school band. As well as
being an avid snowboarder and surfer, she has been sailing since
the age of 6 and teaches sailing to children at the Bellport Bay
Yacht Club.
Other extracurriculars include membership in
the school’s Athletes Helping Others club and the science and
math honor societies, with her sights set on National Honor
Society membership this fall. This September, she will also
participate in a training program at her school in which she
will shadow the school’s athletic trainer, Gina Siracusano.
“She is a great mentor and I am looking forward to learning
from her,” Johnsen said of Siracusano. “Athletic training has
always been interesting to me.”
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
For
as long as she can remember, Bellport High School senior
Vivienne Love has had a passion for photography. Her devotion to
the art has since earned her a Scholar-Artist award in the area
of media arts from the Long Island Arts Alliance. She is one of
20 students from across Long Island selected for the honor.
“I am so excited to be recognized for my photography,” said
Love. “I think this is great and will help me with college.”
To earn the
accolade, Love was required to submit an essay discussing how
the arts have influenced her life, as well as a portfolio of her
photography. Her submitted photographs, taken with her Canon
Rebel T6, focus on the theme of youth and depict her everyday
life with friends and family. The shoot was part of an Advanced
Placement art class assignment.
Along with her passion
for photography, Love is a member of her school’s National, Math
and Science honor societies. She is also the historian of her
school’s art club and designs the lighting for all of her
school’s dramatic productions.
She plans to study film,
radio and television in college, with a minor in environmental
science. She has her sights set on an early decision from
Syracuse University.
According to Love, the secret to
her success is to simply jump in. “There is no easy way to
start,” she said. “Just go and do it.”
Photo and release courtesy of the South Country Central School District.
101 Fireplace Neck Road
Brookhaven, NY
631-730-1700
Website
101 Fireplace Neck Road
Brookhaven, NY
631-730-1700
Website
37 Kreamer Street
Bellport, NY
631-730-1650
Website
185 Dunton Avenue
East Patchogue, NY
631-730-1675
Website
599 Brookhaven Avenue
Bellport, NY
631-730-1725
Website
35 Kreamer Street
Bellport, NY
631-730-1626
Website
205 Beaver Dam Road
Brookhaven, NY
631-730-1575
Website
189 Dunton Avenue
East Patchogue, NY
631-730-1500
Website
The links above direct to websites of the South Country Central School District. Photos courtesy of South Country Schools.