 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
South Country School District Website
South Country School District PTA
Click
here for the current South Country School District Calendar.
Please note, the Calendar is subject to change, so please check the
South Country School District's website for updates during the school
year.
Dancing Classrooms at Frank P. Long Intermediate School
South Country Central School District fifth graders entered and exited
the Frank P. Long Intermediate School gymnasium in the escort position,
two-by two and linked arm-in-arm, during a culminating performance for
parents and faculty of Dancing Classrooms of Long Island. The 10-week
physical education unit taught students core moves that form the basis
of the merengue, fox trot, rumba, tango, swing, polka and waltz, as well
as the importance of teamwork, empathy and respect.
During the program’s introduction, Dancing Classrooms of Long Island
Educational Liaison Jessica Heins told parents, “The students walk away
with a can-do attitude.” She also thanked the students by saying, “We
are grateful to each and every student who bravely entered into Dancing
Classrooms and we celebrate all that you have achieved.”
In addition to great exercise, the goal of the Dancing Classrooms
physical education unit was to provide additional opportunities for
students to hone teamwork, develop respect for peers and invoke elegance
in movement. With the introduction of each dance, the students also
learn about diverse cultures. Additionally, by learning the escort
position, the students learned two important ideals of ballroom dancing,
honor and respect.
During the program, demonstration teams and then groups of students
performed each of the dance moves for parents, alternating partners
during the performance. To further celebrate the dances’ diverse
cultures, select students read poetry and prose to add to the festive
occasion.
The program culminated with all of the teams and faculty dancing the
polka. The students were then allowed to escort their choice of a
partner onto the floor for one more dance.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Bellport High School Junior Awarded Rank of Eagle Scout
During the January 8th South Country Board of Education business
meeting, Bellport High School junior Jake D’Esposito was recognized for
achieving the rank of Eagle Scout.
Jake, a member of Boy Scout Troop 47, worked with a team of individuals
to erect a Purple Martin colony, located at Squassux Landing in
Brookhaven. The Purple Martin is a bird that resembles a swallow and
does not build nests in the wild. The Brookhaven community has been
trying to attract these birds back to the community. While working on
his project, Jake learned about the Purple Martin’s nesting habits and
placement, how to attract the birds, predators, management of the
colony, migration patterns, food sources and the need for human
intervention.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Bellport High School Athletes Donate Toys to Head Start
Bellport High School’s Athletes Helping Others organization, in
conjunction with the Bellport Teachers’ Association, hosted a toy drive
for the students of Bellport Head Start for the holiday season. The
organization has been hosting the event for the past decade. During the
day, students ages 3-5 were given the opportunity to sit on Santa’s lap
and receive a present from one of the elf-athletes. It was a wonderful
way for the students to celebrate the season of giving.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
A Season for Giving
Throughout the South Country Central School District, students spent the
month of November collecting food for those in need.
Under the direction of teachers Jeremy Freeman and Erika Hawthorne, the
Bellport Middle School Student Council collected nonperishable food
items from Oct. 15-Nov. 20. The food was then sent to Pastor Mike
Caiazzo at the Lighthouse Mission to add to the organization’s
collection of food for the community.
At Brookhaven Elementary School, the students’ reach had a global
appeal. After Halloween, students donated their uneaten candy, which was
then sent to military troops abroad.
The Bellport High School Student Council also held its annual
Thanksgiving Drive. This year, the organization collected more than 900
nonperishable items for those in need.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Bellport High School Students are in the Zone
Bellport High School students Connor Coleman and Emily Gentzel were
selected as recipients of the Suffolk Zone Award. Sponsored by the New
York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and
Dance, this award recognizes one male and one female Suffolk County high
school senior from each school district who exemplify outstanding
scholastic ability, physical education performance and leadership
qualities.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Warm Hearts On and Off the Diamond at Bellport High School
Members of the Bellport High School varsity, junior varsity and Bellport
Middle School baseball teams came together in front of Best Market to
collect nonperishable food items for the St. Vincent de Paul Food
Pantry, located at Mary Immaculate Church in Bellport. This is the
team's third consecutive year collecting food for the community.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Bellport High School Cheerleaders Offer Encouragement and Support
For the third consecutive year, the Bellport High School varsity
cheerleaders volunteered at the American Cancer Society Making Strides
Against Cancer Walk, held at Jones Beach on Oct. 20. Wearing Bellport
Cheers for a Cure T-shirts, their purpose in attending the event was to
cheer on participants, many of whom are survivors spreading awareness
about this disease.
The Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event is a 3.5 mile
noncompetitive walk to help make a difference in the lives of those
touched by breast cancer. The walk raises money to fund research,
provide information and support, and to celebrate survivors and remember
those who lost their battles against breast cancer.
Coach Samantha Berkowitz said that as cheerleaders, the team wears many
hats, including being leaders by giving back to others. The team
performed cheers created specifically for the walk. “They offered
encouragement and signs of hope to everyone,” Ms. Berkowitz said.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Bellport High School Students Inducted into the Center of Excellence
Under the advisement of Aimee Iuliucci and Nicole Colao, Bellport High
School’s Center of Excellence welcomed 20 new members during an
induction ceremony, held on Nov. 7. Attended by district administration
and members of the board of education, inductees received a pin
symbolizing both their membership and aspiration to explore college as a
realistic, attainable and post-high school option.
Ms. Iuliucci said, “Wear your pin with pride. Your futures are bright.”
During the 2018-2019 school year, the Center of Excellence club was
reintroduced by Assistant Principal Dan Fauvell. Membership provides
participants with an intensive college-awareness focus and emphasizes
the building of successful academic behaviors, including calendar
planning, prioritization, study habits, obstacle and roadblock coping
strategies and smart decision-making. Students are held accountable for
their personal goals, while embodying the leadership principles of
professionalism, ambition, integrity, resilience and resourcefulness.
There is also significant written and oral presentation work, combined
with a focus toward college and career-readiness.
Board of Education President E. Anne Hayes told the students, “Each of
you have things in mind for the future. Don’t limit yourself but keep
moving forward and you’ll be astounded at what you will have
accomplished.”
Guest speaker and former Board of Education President Cheryl A. Felice
told the students that they need to have the willingness to take risks.
“Young people are important to our democracy,” she said. “You need to
become involved in the process.”
The induction ceremony was preceded by a dinner, hosted by the high
school culinary students. Nevaeh Tinsley led the salute to the flag,
while and Destiny France sang the national anthem. Additionally, COE
president Anecya Sutton, vice president Emily Hartmann and secretary
Kaitlyn Stines announced the names of the inductees as they received
their pins and certificates.
Ms. Iuliucci also announced that the COE has received a $711 grant from
the Brookhaven 7-Eleven, a $2,000 grant from the South Country Education
Foundation and a $250 grant from Ms. Felice.
The South Country Central School District congratulates the following
inductees: (Grade 9) Jada Crowell, Catherine Chicas Fuentes, Aaron
Dupaya, Eldrick Dupaya, Sara Epstein, Natali Gonzalez Romero, Ryan Grell,
Justin Guzman, Wayne Heinecker, Meadow Lyn Moscatiello, Vanessa Perez,
Ambar Ventura; (Grade 10) Sarah Elbaroudy, Andrea Giles; (Grade 11) Asha
Golding, Sydney Rountree; (Grade 12) Janaisha Austin, Elsy Franco
Argueta, Suzan Lunde and Mahogany Quinitchett.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Brookhaven Elementary School Opens Food Pantry
Struggling families in the Brookhaven Elementary School community now
have an additional community resource with the opening of the new food
pantry on Nov. 6. In collaboration with the school’s PTA organization,
the pantry has been filled with nonperishables and paper goods donated
by Island Harvest Food Bank.
Principal Dr. Rebecca Raymond said that 20 families in the school
community have thus far reached out for assistance. “Students are at the
heart of the community,” Dr. Raymond said. “It takes a village to raise
a child. Having food available for those who need it binds families
together and is one less worry.”
At present, PTA members and faculty will box food, based on requests,
and families can call the main office to make an appointment for a
pickup.
South Country Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani thanked Dr.
Raymond and the PTA for their insight and help with the project. “We are
very excited about this new resource, which will assist our neediest
families,” he said.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
South Country Teacher Named an Educator of Excellence
South Country Central School District is pleased to announce that
Brookhaven Elementary School second grade teacher Victoria Suarez has
been named a 2019 Educator of Excellence by the New York State English
Council. This award honors teachers who are leaders in the classroom,
who collaborate with colleagues and serve as mentors for new teachers.
During the Nov. 13 board of education meeting, Principal Dr. Rebecca
Raymond presented Ms. Suarez to the trustees and described her as
deserving of the award in that she readily seeks out opportunities to
support her students’ continual growth, seeks professional learning
opportunities, attends and presents workshops, participates in numerous
school committees and extends the learning experiences of colleagues.
“We at Brookhaven are proud of your achievement and are humbled to work
and learn from you each and every day,” Dr. Raymond said.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
South Country Central School District Art Gallery Commendations
The artistic talents of 51 individual student-artists and group work by
Verne W. Critz Elementary School first graders were commended during the
South Country Central School District’s second annual Art Gallery
Reception, held on Oct. 23 at Central Office headquarters. The students’
artwork is part of an ongoing art gallery, which will be exhibited
throughout the 2019-2020 school year.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani told parents and faculty in
attendance that “This is a new tradition, and we are excited and pleased
to walk down the hallway at Central Office and see this wonderful
children’s artwork.”
Each student received a certificate, and refreshments provided by the
art department were served.
The district congratulates the following students:
Bellport High School: Roselida Albarran, Edwin Alfaro,
Audrey Barry, Tatianna Davis, Josselyn Fuentes, Sarai Garcia, Courtney
Gerard, Violet Gordon, Haley Herrmann, Abigail Horn, Tiara Jones, Hanna
Lupo, Robert Menendez, Jake Mulle, Yeak Kay Phong, Samantha Porsche,
Madelyn Reyes, Sabrina Rodriguez, Caitlin Saliba, Dream Smith, Seryna
Waldron-Walker and Jaelyn Zapata
Bellport Middle School: Karyn Devine, Louisa Gordon,
Julia Kotasek, Scarlett Maldonado, Alana Negron, Leah Ofori, Megan
Wilkinson, Katherine Yanza and Mirka Zapata
Frank P. Long Intermediate School: Jack Fauci and
Joshua Terry
Kreamer Street Elementary: Adrianna Fudge, Mason Kern,
Sophia Fuentes Rios and Adeline Wiley
Brookhaven Elementary: Isay Gonzalez Bonilla, Shianelle
Dilan, Samantha Velasquez-Garcia, Jayden Giuseffi, Iniya Holland, Brody
Kandler, Antonio Michielli and Ashly Angelina Muy
Verne W. Critz Elementary: Christopher Behnke, Lineth
Rivas Gamero, Joseph Figueroa Oliva, Sofia Perez, Lola Provenzano, Dylan
Sarmiento Quiroga and Group Work by first grade students.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Frank P. Long Students Give Back to the Community
Frank P. Long Intermediate School fourth graders in Vanessa Gordon’s
class got a jump start on the community’s participation in the annual
South Country Community Clean Up, held on Oct. 19.
The students joined their teacher with large plastic bags and gloves to
clean up all of the trash that had blown within the perimeter of the
intermediate school. The students retrieved two bags of trash, and many
of the classmates remarked how good it felt to give back to the
community.
Sponsored by the Brookhaven Free Library and the South Country Community
Leadership Network, the annual clean up aims to work together to make a
difference in the community.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Bellport High School Volleyball Digs Pink
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Bellport High
School student-athletes worked to make a dent in raising funds for
breast cancer research.
On Oct. 10, the girls volleyball program played against Newfield High
School during a Dig Pink event. In addition to defeating the visiting
team, the program raised $1,410 for the Side Out Foundation to assist
with breast cancer research and awareness. The funds were raised by
selling paper volleyballs to show support for those impacted by breast
cancer, which hung on the gymnasium walls as a reminder of the games’
purpose. For the past eight years, Bellport High School’s volleyball
program has raised and donated more than $20,000, one of the largest
contributions from a high school volleyball program on Long Island.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Top Notes for South Country Student Musicians
The New York State School Music Association selected Bellport High
School student-musicians Taylor Kelly and Timothy Montick to perform at
the 2019 NYSSMA All-State Winter Music Conference, to be held at the
prestigious Eastman Theatre in Rochester, New York on Dec. 8.
Taylor, an alternate, was selected to play French horn with the
symphonic band, and Timothy was selected to play the trumpet with the
symphony orchestra. The students were nominated and selected based on
their NYSSMA solo and ensemble festival scores, held at Mt. Sinai High
School last spring. This represents a remarkable achievement, as there
were 6,500 students that auditioned statewide for a position in the
All-State Music Festival.
In addition, eight Bellport High School students were selected to
participate in the 2019 High School All-County Music Festival, sponsored
by the Suffolk chapter of the New York State Council of Administrators
of Music Education (NYSCAME) and the Suffolk Music Educators’
Association (SCMEA). More than 14 hours of rehearsals will culminate in
a concert performance at Huntington High School on Nov. 15. Selections
were based upon each student’s NYSSMA Solo Festival rating and school
music teacher nominations. This festival recognizes Suffolk County’s
most accomplished high school music students in grades 11 and 12.
Representing Bellport High School are the following:
• Jack Burkhardt – clarinet – symphonic band
• Vivian Fritz – harp – symphony orchestra
• Taylor Kelly – French horn – symphony orchestra
• Timothy Montick – trumpet – symphonic band
• Anthony Notartomaso – euphonium – symphonic band
• Troy Sica – viola – symphony orchestra
• Ryan Voegele – trombone – symphony orchestra
• AutumnMargaret Walthers – alto – treble choir
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Brookhaven Town Celebrates South Country Hispanic Students
The South Country Central School District is pleased to announce that
the Town of Brookhaven’s Hispanic Advisory Board has recognized the
academic achievements of Bellport High School seniors Elsy Franco
Argueta, Ashley Chavez, Natalia Jordan and Sebastian DeRosa during the
sixth annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration, which was held on Oct.
11 at Brookhaven Town Hall.
The students were nominated by teachers and the school’s guidance
department for having acquired and attained a 95% GPA or above through
their junior year of high school.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Frank P. Long Garden Club Planting Reaps Stellar Harvest
The recent warm daytime and cool nighttime temperatures made ideal
conditions for Frank P. Long Intermediate School Garden Club members to
harvest vegetables planted in the school’s courtyard learning lab
gardens. There were exclamations of joy and awe as the students examined
and then picked the labor of their work: a bright purple eggplant,
onions, peppers and a variety of lettuces. The vegetables were bagged
and donated to the Lighthouse Mission for an early fall salad for its
patrons.
During the 2018-2019 school year, the South Country Central School
District opened its new courtyard learning lab, completed with the use
of district capital reserve funds while providing a flexible
instructional space and an extension of classroom learning. Vegetable
and flower boxes were made available for Garden Club members and classes
to beautify the garden plots as part of the science curriculum.
Previous Garden Club adviser Sarah Rauch said, “The goal of planting
vegetables was to beautify the courtyard and to show students where
their food comes from.”
Ms. Rauch noted that the students were particularly interested in the
way asparagus plants grew. Additionally, Bellport Garden Club volunteers
came each week to assist with the planting and weeding and provided the
club with a $100 grant to pay for bulbs, plants and tools.
Even Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani caught the planting bug.
He donated spicy onions from his own home garden for the students to
enjoy. “The gardening plots are amazing and a wonderful opportunity for
our students to learn how food is grown,” Dr. Giani said.
Frank P. Long Intermediate School teacher Diana Santos is the new Garden
Club adviser and has plans in place for imminent planting and science
learning with this year’s members, who meet on Tuesday afternoons after
school. The students will continue taming the overgrowth and plant
additional bulbs that will bloom in spring. The students are even trying
to identify a spikey plant that unexpectedly grew among the flowers.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
College Board Recognizes 42 Bellport HS AP Scholars
The South Country Central School District is pleased to announce that 42
current Bellport High School students and 2019 graduates were recognized
as Advanced Placement Scholars for exceptional achievement on the May
2019 national exams.
23 students qualified for the AP Scholar Award by receiving a 3 or
higher on three or more exams and include: Chelsea M. Argueta, Marvina
E. Baslious, Rafael M. Benavides, Megan Berja, Roshnie A. Bisram,
Kayzjah N. Charles, Katerin Fuentes Velasco, Sam F. Hampson, Erin G.
Kelly, Jared M. Lorenzo, Nolan R. Lyons, Alyssa N. Mantione, Grace A.
Minikel, Rebekah A. Ofori, Victoria J. Pennachio, Andrew R. Porsche,
Nicholas F. Promutico, Ella G. Rauch, Ciarra N. Saliba, Luca S. Scharpf,
Christopher Z. Tucker, Sarah R. Valenzuela and Cesar Velasquez.
Connor M. Coleman, Sebastian M. Derosa, Ali Guillermo, Natalia A.
Jordan, Maxwell R. Kaczmarek, Eloise R. Kocay, Nicholas J. Nazzaro,
Chiara M. Scharpf and Gabrielle V. Tims received the AP Scholar with
Honor Award by earning an average grade of 3.25 on all AP exams taken
and grades of 3 or higher on four or more of those exams.
Grace L. Armann, Valentina C. Banellis, Tyler M. Brock, Kyle D. Climan,
Alexander G. Erwin, Shaun V. Laurinaitis, Juliana F. Lewkowski, Aneeqa
Majid, Maya G. McCullough and Daniel J. Roach also qualified for the AP
Scholar with Distinction Award by earning an average grade of at least
3.5 on all AP exams taken and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of
these exams.
Additionally, Valentina C. Banellis and Tyler M. Brock were recognized
as a National AP Scholar by earning an average score of at least 4 on
all AP Exams taken, and scores of 4 or higher on eight or more of these
exams.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School
District
Bellport High School Photographer Takes Top Art Honors
The South Country Central School District is pleased to announce that
the Long Island Arts Alliance presented Bellport High School student
Courtney Gerard with an Award of Merit during the 2019-2020 Long Island
Scholar-Artists Award ceremony, held at Long Island University’s Tilles
Center for the Performing Arts on Sept. 11. Courtney was recognized for
her excellence in academics and in the area of photography.
To be considered for this prestigious designation, students must be
nominated by their school for representing the highest level of artistic
excellence in media arts, visual arts, music, dance or theater. The
student must also submit a portfolio of their work for consideration by
the selection committee and must hold an unweighted grade point average
of 90% or above.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School District
School Begins for South Country Central School District Students
South Country Central School District students disembarked from bright
yellow buses with backpacks and school supplies on hand for the start of
the 2019-2020 school year on Sept. 4. The students were greeted with
warm smiles and well-wishes from faculty and principals as they filed
into the buildings ready to begin instruction and make new friends.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani said he was impressed by the
district’s smooth opening and the teachers’ and students’ enthusiasm and
motivation to begin instruction. “I am confident that the 2019-2020
school year will be productive for district faculty and a wonderful year
of learning for all South Country students,” Dr. Giani said.
Courtesy of the South Country Central School District
New Faculty Welcomed to the South Country Central School District
During a three-day orientation program, 25 educators were welcomed to
the South Country Central School District by the board of education and
administration and were familiarized with the workings of the district
on Aug. 20-22.
In addition to a warm welcome by Assistant Superintendent for Personnel
and General Administration Nelson Briggs and Assistant Superintendent
for Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability Marlon Small, new faculty
members learned how to utilize the district’s technology, employee
benefits and payroll, and took tours of the district and their
individual buildings.
Presentations included information on how to reach every
parent/guardian, how to create a culturally responsive learning
environment, classroom management and positive intervention strategies,
teachers’ union, training in Response to Intervention, Common Core
Learning Standards and Next Generation Science Standards.
The board of education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph Giani
also hosted a luncheon at the administrative offices to formally welcome
new faculty to the South Country family. After introducing the
administration, Dr. Giani noted that each and every South Country
employee, regardless of their role and title, impacts student learning
and contributes to the district’s mission to educate all students, even
though successes may not always show up in the classroom.
During his opening comments, Dr. Giani told the new faculty that he
believes that if each and every child has a connection with one adult in
their school, that child will be academically and emotionally
successful. “I challenge each of you to make connections with your
students and build relationships with their families, regardless of who
they are, where they live, or their socio-economic status,” Dr. Giani
said. “Teaching isn’t easy, but what can be a more important profession
than one that shapes the mind and lives of children.”
Courtesy of the South Country Central School District
 |
Pre-Kindergarten
Program |
|
|
|
|
|
Brookhaven
Elementary School |
|
|
|
 |
Kreamer
Street Elementary School |
|
|
|
 |
Verne
W. Critz Elementary School |
|
|
|
 |
Frank
P. Long Intermediate School |
|
|
|
 |
Bellport
Middle School |
|
|
|
 |
Bellport
High School |
|
|
|
 |
South
Country School District Administrative Offices |
|
|
|
The above internet links direct to websites of the South Country Central School District. Photos courtesy of South Country Schools.