School News, June 23, Southampton Town

Working to enhance science, math and technology skills, Bridgehampton School’s sixth-graders participated in a virtual disaster response simulation. They monitored a volcano that was erupting on the island of Montserrat while a Category 3 hurricane was approaching the island. 

The students linked with Wheeling Jesuit University’s Center for Educational Technologies in Wheeling, West Virginia, to participate in e-Mission: Operation Montserrat, which launched on June 13. The center developed the distance learning program that connected the flight director at the center with students around the world for a one-of-a-kind learning experience.

The students worked as earth science experts, becoming members of the volcano, hurricane, evacuation or communication team during the mission, and were tasked to make split-second decisions to save lives in the innovative learning program. For Bridgehampton teacher Kameron Kaiser, the e-Mission was a way to introduce earth science into classroom instruction. Prior to the scheduled e-Mission, Kaiser was among the educators to receive professional development on effective use of educational technology in their classrooms and to learn about the e-Mission and how to incorporate the preflight curriculum into daily lesson plans. “They had fun and did great!” Kaiser said of the students’ involvement.

In other Bridgehampton School news, four students participated in the recent 2022 Hampton Music Educators Association’s World Music Drumming ensemble. Four concerts took place during the daylong event at Hampton Bays High School sponsored by the association. The students were Yaredci Chavez, Amina Dalhi, Eddie Dawson and Kate Vinski.

Joseph Penafiel participated in the recent 2022 Hampton Music Educators Association Concert Band. Joseph performed on alto saxophone at the daylong festival sponsored by the association that took place at Hampton Bays High School.

The Marimba Group performed at the Dragonfly Day and Green Expo at the South Fork Natural History Museum and Nature Center on June 11. Evan Buccigross, Ayanna El, Kailani Gagne, Hugo Kapon, Luna Paucar, Eustorgio Rojas, Jose Rojas, Kris Vinski and Scott Vinski provided a festive backdrop to the nature walks, emerging technologies, conversations about electric cars and demonstrations of other green initiatives.

The Hampton Bays School District has announced that 40 members of its Class of 2022 will graduate with a New York State Seal of Biliteracy on their diplomas — the largest number of graduates in the district to receive the designation to date. They were recognized at a ceremony on June 13.

The students earned this credential through several combinations of criteria, including achieving mastery in English and Spanish or French classes in their junior and senior years. Additionally, they were required to hold enrollment in Advanced Placement Language, AP Literature, AP Spanish Language and/or AP French Language and achieve high scores in their classes, as well as advanced scoring on the New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test. They also presented culminating projects. 

The intent of the seal is to encourage students to study languages, identify high school graduates with language and biliteracy skills for employers, provide universities with additional information about applicants seeking admission and placement, prepare students with 21st-century skills, recognize the value of language instruction and affirm the value of diversity in a multilingual society.

According to New York State, in the 2020-2021 school year, 5,492 students from 324 schools across the state earned the seal.

The students who earned the seal are Steven Acevedo, Sergio Acosta Morales, Brian Alvarez, Georgina Balcazar Olvera, Kevin Barrera Campos, Cesar Cardenas, Juan Cardona Quintero, Angie Chinchilima Chabla, Samantha Coulton, Jake Coyago, Dylan Elizondo, Diego Escalon Mendoza, Jamie Farez, Kristina Georges, Diego Gil, Anthony Gonzalez Molina, Valentina Grajales, Maria Guevara, David Hall, Anahi Hernandez Sanchez, America Mendoza Medina, Andrea Monroy, Andrew Oh, Sandy Ortiz Guanga, John Pacheco, Rodrigo Quintanilla, Maya Ramos, Mia Ramos, Anthony Rincon Herrera, Bryan Rivera Pineda, Janelle Rodas-Barrios, Daniela Rodriguez Henao, Manuela Rodriguez Henao, Julia Romero Sanchez, Christopher Sanchez, Lily Simpson-Heavey, Stephen Sutton, Maria Teyul Montepeque, Ruth Urbano and Abril Vasquez Montes.

Hosted by the Hampton Bays School District, the Hampton Music Educators Association held their first outdoor music festival on June 4. During the successful musical event, selected student-musicians in grades six through 12, from both the North and South forks, gathered throughout the day to perform with one another. Members of HMEA include the Amagansett, Bridgehampton, Center Moriches, East Hampton, East Moriches, East Quogue, Eastport-South Manor, Hampton Bays, Mattituck-Cutchogue, Montauk, Quogue, Remsenburg-Speonk, Riverhead, Sag Harbor, Shelter Island, Southampton, Southold, Springs, Tuckahoe and Westhampton Beach school districts.

The day started with the HMEA Chorus under the direction of John Samonte, followed by the HMEA World Drumming Ensemble, led by Michelle Quigg. The second half of the day began with the HMEA Band, conducted by Josh Seifert, Peter Falango, Ben Jones and Jennifer Halsey, and concluded with the HMEA Orchestra under the direction of Nancy Caine and Marisa Macchio.

All of the musical conductors showed a variety of teaching techniques to the students and live audience, giving many a glimpse into the work that goes behind a musical performance. The students all came well-prepared, performing at a high level to create beautiful music.

Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization that promotes safe technology and media for children through its education and advocacy to schools and families, has recognized South Street Elementary School in the Eastport-South Manor Central School District as a Common Sense School for its commitment to teaching digital citizenship.

While learning ways in which technology can be used to assist them as learners, South Street Elementary School students learned their role as digital citizens through lessons taught by library media teachers. Through various assignments and activities, students learned that when they log onto a computer and other technology devices, they leave a digital footprint. They also learned that the internet is vast and that a person does not always know who is on the other side of the screen.

“We applaud the faculty and staff of South Street Elementary School for embracing digital citizenship as an important part of their students’ education,” Vice President of Education Programs at Common Sense Education Kelly Mendoza said. “South Street Elementary School deserves high praise for giving its students the foundational skills they need to compete and succeed in the 21st-century workplace and participate in society at large.”

In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, 25 Southampton High School AP Environmental Science students developed a research project to explore how spending time in nature impacts mental well-being. Teacher Jennifer Keller said her students were interested in the topic of mental well-being after experiencing heightened stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic.

As part of their preliminary research, the students learned that these elevated stress levels were being felt around the globe. They were interested in measuring a correlation to nature because of the strong evidence that those who have a connection to nature also have a strong concern for the environment and exhibit pro-environmental behaviors.

“Combining mental well-being with a connection to nature allowed the students to research two issues that are very important to them and see if there is something that could be done to improve both,” said Keller.

Specifically, the students investigated forest bathing, a nature-based mindfulness practice developed in Japan that is said to alleviate symptoms of overwork and chronic stress.

The students gathered quantitative and qualitative data about their experiences with forest bathing. For the former, they used surveys to measure mental well-being and connection to nature before and after forest bathing in nearby nature preserves. For the latter, they took photos and journaled about their experiences. After analyzing their data, they were able to conclude that mental well-being improved after forest bathing. They shared their results with their peers and members of the school community through presentations, posters and social media.

Some students will continue the project next year through an independent study and plan to write an article for submission to a peer-reviewed scientific journal.

Eleven Westhampton Beach High School AP Spanish students recently earned the AP with WE Service Recognition from the College Board this year. To earn the award, the students were required to investigate and learn about a service topic related to their Advanced Placement course, plan and complete a service project and pass their AP exam.

For their project, the students worked closely with peers and community members to investigate and identify issues and possible solutions related to global warming and climate change. Before developing their action plan in two languages, the students evaluated and analyzed existing programs and identified areas of need.

“The final results were a great success,” said teacher Denizzie Kearns.

Students raised awareness about renewable energy, food waste and consequences of deforestation. In addition, they raised money for the future implementation of a windmill at Westhampton Beach Elementary School, donated books to the Salvation Army and a local library, and collected and transported leftover food from their school’s cafeteria to Maureen’s Haven.

“This was a wonderful and empowering opportunity for students to be engaged in service learning and experience the course content and skills through real-world civic engagement,” said Kearns.

The Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School Natural Helpers Club had a tough conversation with middle school-level peers about suicide prevention, discussing the signs of a person considering suicide and advice on when to intervene and get help for the individual. They also provided information on how students and loved ones can acquire help through the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and drove home the message that suicide is not the answer.

The Natural Helpers are nominated by faculty as leaders of the school. Under the direction of the mental health team made up of school social workers and psychologists, club members are trained to give presentations on subjects that relate to the student body and which affect the community as a whole, social worker Lori Franchi explained.

“Through these presentations, the mental health team and the natural Helpers Club hopes to give students the coping skills they need in a frenetic world,” Franchi said.

The poetry of students from Eastport Elementary School was chosen to be featured in the Young American Poetry Digest, designed in 1994 to share students’ talents with peers. The Young American Poetry Digest supplies a national audience for student writing and an opportunity for publishing for aspiring poets. A panel of educators reviews the creative submissions and selects poems based on a list of literary criteria. The published poets are Valentina Aiello, C.J. Bancoft, Alex Coxic, Joey DeLuca, Lily Doherty, Lincoln Donato, Shelby Dosiak, Charles Dowd, Hayden Duswalt, Jade Fleming, Riley Fox, Brandon Gregorio, Owen Herzog, Philip Jornitz, Erin Keppeler, Logan Kirwin, Alaura Lengyel, Taylor Lostritto, Brayden Mahoney, Lilly Malloy, Lily Meyers, Gavin Ortiz, Felipe Papano, Leah Pederson, Dylan Paulsen, Olivia Tillman, Landon Urbom, Adriana Vargas, Harrison Vesey and Evelyn Willsey.

The Anti-Defamation League designated Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School, Dayton Avenue Elementary School, Eastport Elementary School, South Street Elementary School and Tuttle Avenue Elementary School as national No Place for Hate schools. This is the fifth consecutive year that the Junior-Senior High School has received this honor.

The designation was accomplished through the sponsorship of activities that promote acceptance, tolerance, diversity, inclusion and kindness on campus and by sending a clear message throughout the schools that all students have a place to belong.

Junior-Senior High School social worker Lori Franchi explained that to become a No Place for Hate school, all of the buildings were required to design and implement at least three schoolwide diversity and inclusion activities. For example, the Junior-Senior High School hosted the communitywide Stuff-a-Bus Project; Connect Day with assemblies, inclusion and teambuilding exercises and workshops on setting goals and positive affirmations; and Diversity Inclusion spirit week, in which kindness cards were sent to faculty and students and painted rocks with messaging were planted on campus.

Eastport-South Manor School District students at Dayton Avenue, Eastport, South Street and Tuttle Avenue elementary schools donned their patriotic colors and handmade hats as they raised their American flags during Flag Day celebrations on June 14. Flag Day is celebrated annually on June 14 and commemorates President Woodrow Wilson’s marking of the day with a decree signed in 1916, creating an official symbol of freedom.

At Tuttle Avenue Elementary School, veterans from the Eastport American Legion and Suffolk County Legislator James Mazzarella joined the festivities, which included patriotic songs and select students reading facts about the flag and traditional American symbols.

U.S. Army Commander Dennis Morrill addressed the students and thanked them for their patriotism. To the parents, he said, “Thank you for raising your kids to respect America and those who fought for this country’s freedoms.”

Graduating students were awarded diplomas at the solemn liturgy and commencement at the Basilica of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Special academic awards were conferred:

High honors: Ryan Saville, Jenna DiDomenico, Roy Gundy.

Honors: Kiera Cameron, Mateo Burriesci ,William Hantz, George McDonald, Erick Orellana, Allan Rivera and Olivia Sleight-Grippo.

Perfect attendance: Jake Morales.

Medals of distinction: religion, Allan Rivera; English, Gabriel Kaczmarek; social studies, Ryan Saville; science, Jenna DiDomenico; mathematics, Trey Gundy; Spanish, Kiera Cameron; music, Angelina Dell’Aquila; art, Luke David; technology, George McDonald; dance, Ava Micari.

Scholarship winners: Charles Raab Scholarship, Erick Orellana; Knights of Columbus Scholarship, Allan Rivera; Sister Virginia Crowley Award, Kiera Cameron; Beglane Memorial Award, Roy Gundy.

Pat Maloney of Southampton earned a bachelor’s degree in hospitality and tourism from Flagler College on May 9, 2022, at its spring commencement ceremony.

Mirranda Forney of Westhampton Beach was named to Washington College’s spring 2022 dean’s list. Kaitlyn Browne of Southampton was named to the dean’s list at the College of the Holy Cross. Julie Kreymborg of Southampton was named to the dean’s list at the College of the Holy Cross.

Jackson Motz of Water Mill earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa. A student in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, he was a history and English major, earning honors in the former after successfully defending a thesis in the program.

Amelia Raynor of East Quogue was named to the dean’s list at the University of Alabama for the spring 2022 semester.

Sarah Gallagher of Hampton Bays was named to the dean’s list at the University of Alabama for the spring 2022 semester.

Brian Mensch of Westhampton was named to the dean’s list at the University of Alabama for the spring 2022 semester.

Natece Willis, a native of Southampton, was recently initiated into the SUNY Old Westbury Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.

Roshni Kamta, a native of Hampton Bays, was recently initiated into the SUNY Old Westbury Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.

Vanesa Lopez of Southampton was recently initiated into the SUNY Old Westbury Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society.

Kaili Hunter of Southampton was named to the dean’s list at the University of Rhode Island for the spring 2022 semester.

Kate Quimby of Bridgehampton was named to the dean’s list at the University of Rhode Island for the spring 2022 semester.

Michael Andersen of East Quogue was named to the dean’s list at Siena College for the spring 2022 semester.

Andrew Arcuri of Westhampton was named to the dean’s list at Siena College for the spring 2022 semester.

Emily Lozado Tapia of Southampton has been named to the Siena College dean’s list for the spring 2022 semester.

Daniel Cooper of Westhampton was named to the president’s list at The State University of New York at Potsdam. Cooper is majoring in music education.

Daniela Weiss-Bronstein of Westhampton Beach earned a Master of Education in human sexuality studies from the College of Health & Human Services at Widener University.

Jack Kirwan of Eastport was named to the dean’s list at Coastal Carolina University for the spring 2022 semester.

Andrew Mosolino of Southampton graduated from Binghamton University with a bachelor’s degree in history. Mosolino, the son of Julie and Michael Mosolino, was also named to the dean’s list for his final semester with a GPA of 3.925.

Shane F. Lenahan of Southampton was named to the University of Scranton’s dean’s list for the 2022 spring semester. Lenahan is a junior accounting major in the university’s Kania School of Management.