School News, September 19, Southampton Town

News from Sagaponack School

During the first full week, student reading levels were assessed so they may pursue independent reading with appropriate books. They also worked on their math and reading benchmark assessments.

Ms. Shannon and Mr. Rich from the Hampton Library visited the school and read a few books to the students following by a craft project.

Picture day is September 24.

The Back to School parent meeting is Wednesday, September 25.

Waves of Patriotism at Eastport Elementary School

As the community drove down Montauk Highway and in front of Eastport Elementary School last week, they saw American flags wafting in the wind in recognition of September 11.

Under the direction of the school’s shared decision making team and the PTO, the school held its second annual Waves of Patriotism Fundraiser Project. Members of the community purchased a flag for $50, 41 of which are now being displayed in recognition of those lost during or affected by the attacks on the World Trade Center. Proceeds from the flag purchases have been donated to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. Students and parents who purchased flags gathered on the front lawn with faculty for a viewing of the flags. Principal Thomas Fabian also took time to explain to the students the meaning and significance of the Waves of Patriotism Fundraiser project.

“These flags are a give back to the community and to show that we honor all of the heroes in our community,” Mr. Fabian said.

AP Scholars Named in Hampton Bays

The Hampton Bays School District has announced that 20 seniors received special Advanced Placement designations based on achievement in college-level coursework.

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; and for Scholar With Distinction, they must receive an average score of 3.5 on all AP exams and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of those exams. The designees are:

AP Scholars: Olivia Allen, Julia Brandes, Valeria Gamboa, Natalia Neal, Isabel Ospitale, Meghan Peterson, Kaya Raynor, Keyry Sanchez, Sophia Teresi Wallace and Brianna Valderrama Arroyave. AP Scholars with Honor: Justin Barreto, Laila DeRosa, Lillianna Schmidt and Emily Tobar Fonseca. AP Scholars with Distinction: Alex Bermudez, Christopher Clinton, Yusabeth Contreras, Svetlana Datsyuk, Christopher Roldan and Eden Spellman.

Hampton Bays High School Students Earn National Honors

Four Hampton Bays High School students have earned national recognition through the College Board National Recognition Program, which colleges use to identify academically competitive, underrepresented students.

Yusabeth Contreras, Parker Molina and Nataly Pineda earned the National Hispanic Recognition Award and Santiago Solorzano earned the First Generation National Recognition Award.

To earn the recognitions, the students were required to hold a grade point average of 3.5 or higher, excel on the PSAT/NMSQT or PSAT 10 exams, or earn a score of 3 or higher on two or more AP exams.

Hampton Bays Seniors Aarn AP Capstone Diploma Designation

Hampton Bays High School seniors Alex Bermudez, Christopher Clinton, Yusabeth Contreras and Eden Spellman have earned the AP Capstone designation on their diplomas.

To earn this distinction, the students participated in their school’s AP Capstone program, in which they were required to earn a score of 3 or higher in two courses — AP Seminar and AP Research — and score similarly on four AP exams.

The district began offering the AP Capstone program in 2020. Through the course of study, students perform college-level work, delve deeply into a research project and write a research paper, all while earning college credit.

Additionally, eight students — Olivia Allen, Julia Brandes, Svetlana Datsyuk, Julianne Palmieri, Kaya Raynor, Keyry Sanchez, Lillianna Schmidt and Emily Tobar Fonseca — earned Research Certificates. To earn the certificate, the students were required to earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research.

AP Scholars Named in Westhampton Beach

One hundred and forty five Westhampton Beach High School students received special Advanced Placement designations based on achievement in college-level coursework.

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; and for Scholar with Distinction, they must receive an average score of 3.5 on all AP exams and grades of 4 or higher on five or more of those exams.

Additionally, 43 seniors have earned an AP Capstone diploma, and 17 students received an AP Seminar and Research Certificate. The designees are:

AP Scholars: Chloe Anastasopoulos, Trey Aponte, Curtis Barczak, Alexandra Behmoiram, Reagan Brewer, Elliejean Burke, Hudson Caruso, Michelle Castro, Maya Cirincione, Ava Combuechen, Diana Cresciullo, Kannon Davis, Evangeline Dennehy, Alexa Detke, Morgan DeVerna, Alana Dixon, Caeden Dorn, Leandro Esquivel, Ava Failla, Lukas Fine, Margaret Gilbride, Abigail Gomez, Ava Greengrass, Mustafa Gulsen, Ginger Hendrickson, Matthew Hernandez, Mackenzie Herrera, Khloe Hoda, Emma Holfelder, Owen Jessop, Colin Jiang, Jayson Kampfer, Reese King, Mitchell Li, Aimee Lindahl, Charles LoRusso, Aislinn Marasigan, Nathaniel Methven, Tessa Mongelluzzo, Michelle Muralles, Michael Noone, Finn Norton, Maxwell Orr, Nick Pellicano, Olivia Purta, Dante Quinones, Constantine Reilly, Lucas Renna, Priscila Ribeiro, Julia Ryvicker, David Salazar, Kyle Salerno, Lana Salvaggio, Alexander Sfyroeras, Chloe Sword, Meaghan Tufano, Katelynn Vargas and Ana Way.

AP Scholars With Honor: Esvin Alvarado, Grady Ambrose, Tess Ashley, Charles Beasley, Dagny Beasley, Maiya Boughal, Mynor Chacon-Fuentes, Charleigh Devenney, Jenna Di Domenico, Hailey Donahoe, Finn Drake, Quintin Dunn, Verona Easton, Levi Emerson, Kara Flynn, Diane Georgieva, Cameron Giordano, Eleanor Greiner, Aidan Judd, Anthony Messina, Joshua McCarthy, Lincoln O’Connell, Haley Stoehr, Angela Tran and Christopher Volkman.

AP Scholars With Distinction: Luke Albert, Mia Albinson, Aden Ali, Riley Arm, Brooke Bahr, Leila Batumoglu, Kali Baumiller, Sydney Beardslee, Sophia Biondi, Anna Blanco, Nicholas Borruso, Christian Bruschi, Matilda Buchen, Drew Calloway, Lilah Caputo, Abigail Curran, Cole Dawson, Willow DuBrovin, Emily Edwards, Halle Geller, Morgan Giacchetto, Nicholas Gomez, Alexandra Gurba, Marcus Haynia, Jadyn Hunter, Lauren Hunter, Brooke Huwer, Alessandro Imundi, Fahtima Iqbal, Jamie Kelly, Ava Kuklis, Graelyn Lorusso, Lucy Mansfield, Kaitlynn Mazurkiewicz, Ezekiel McCrary, James Monserrate, Matthew Moran, Annabelle Najdzion, Valeria Nazaretski, Emma O’Came, Selin Ozkazanc, MikaiLing Pantophlet, Lily Pereyra, Nathan Perl, Meghan Pomroy, Jordan Razzano, John Reilly, Luciana Reilly, Zoey Rudolph, Antonella Russo, Isabelle Schneider, Brady Schultz, Julia Sobhani, Noor Sohail, Lily Strebel, Shannon Sweet, Emma Vaz, Makayla Vignieri, Giancarlo Volpe, Henry Walker, Nicolas Warchol and Samantha Zimmer.

AP Capstone Diploma: Luke Albert, Esvin Alvarado, Brooke Bahr, Leila Batumoglu, Kali Baumiller, Sydney Beardslee, Charles Beasley, Sophia Biondi, Anna Blanco, Nicholas Borruso, Matilda Buchen, Drew Calloway, Lilah Caputo, Abigail Curran, Cole Dawson, Willow DuBrovin, Halle Geller, Morgan Giacchetto, Alexandra Gurba, Marcus Haynia, Jadyn Hunter, Lauren Hunter, Fahtima Iqbal, Jamie Kelly, Graelyn Lorusso, Lucy Mansfield, James Monserrate, Matthew Moran, Valeria Nazaretski, Lily Pereyra, Meghan Pomroy, Jordan Razzano, Luciana Reilly, Zoey Rudolph, Julia Ryvicker, Isabelle Schneider, Lily Strebel, Shannon Sweet, Makayla Vignieri, Christopher Volkman, Giancarlo Volpe, Henry Walker and Nicolas Warchol.

AP Seminar and Research Certificate: Aden Ali, Diana Cresciullo, Finn Drake, Lukas Fine, Margaret Gilbride, Mustafa Gulsen, Owen Jessop, Reese King, Aislinn Marasigan, Anthony Messina, Michael Noone, Maxwell Orr, MikaiLing Pantophlet, Kyle Salerno, Lana Salvaggio, Meaghan Tufano and Eva Wax.

Remembering September 11

Hampton Bays Elementary School marked the anniversary of September 11 with a Patriot’s Day memorial ceremony. During the annual event, students also paid tribute to and celebrated the 100th birthday of Sylvia Catena Smith, an active member of the Hampton Bays American Legion Auxiliary, Unit 924.

The fourth grade students read poems and essays that they had penned about what it means to be a hero and sang patriotic songs. They also shared Smith’s biography with the audience, followed by a flag raising in Smith’s honor. The Hampton Bays Fire Department also presented a September 11 memorial wreath.

Sylvia Catena Smith was born in Hampton Bays on September 11, 1924, and was raised in the Hampton Bays community. She attended Sacred Hearts Parochial School in Southampton and then Hampton Bays High School, from which she graduated as valedictorian of the Class of 1942. She married Francis C. “Smitty” Smith in April 1947, and they raised their three children in Hampton Bays, all of whom also graduated from Hampton Bays High School. Smith began playing the organ for St. Rosalie’s Catholic Church at the age of 12 and continued doing so for 67 years. She worked in the Southampton Town Clerk’s Office and at the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office in Riverhead as a senior bookkeeper and supervisor. In addition to be an active member of the American Legion Auxiliary, she is also a charter member of the Catholic Daughters of America.

The Auxiliary was founded in 1919, five years before Smith was born. Its mission is to support the American Legion and to honor the sacrifices of those who serve the nation in the military, both at home and abroad. The Auxiliary supports the community’s youth and promotes patriotism, good citizenship, peace and security.

Smith, a past president of the Auxiliary, has organized and run its bingo fundraising program through the years. Each year, the Auxiliary distributes red crepe paper poppies — a symbol of the veterans’ sacrifices — to raise money to support disabled and hospitalized veterans. Smith has been a familiar face in local parades through the years, marching proudly with the Auxiliary. She has also collected supplies for both veterans and active service members to show them the community’s support from home.