Author: MillerPlace

Miller Place High School Students Celebrate Commencement at Stony Brook University

MILLER PLACE, N.Y. (JUNE 2021) – The Miller Place School District recently held its annual commencement ceremony for Miller Place High School graduating seniors at Stony Brook University. The Class of 2021 was celebrated collectively for their hard work and perseverance throughout all four years of their high school careers, but especially for their resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.

One by one, graduates were called up on stage to receive their diplomas and commendations for all of their hard work during the past four years. Members of the Miller Place School District Board of Education, superintendent and high school administration congratulated each student and offered best wishes for the future.

“You learned to live on the edge of change, with the constant shifts and unexpected turns, the likes of which we have never experienced,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, superintendent of the Miller Place School District, while addressing the graduating class. “To say as a class that you are amazing individuals is an understatement. Our community looks forward to watching you succeed in the future as your journeys help you grow into the fine and respectful people you are destined to be.”

During the ceremony, Valedictorian Kyla Bruno and Salutatorian Jason Cirrito took the podium to reflect on the last four years of their journey in high school and to wish their fellow classmates well and encourage them to continue to work hard and to follow their dreams. Principal Kevin Slavin also shared motivational words of encouragement to the graduates as they begin the next chapter in their lives.

Kyla Bruno and Jason Cirrito Named Valedictorian and Salutatorian of MPHS

MILLER PLACE, N.Y. (JUNE 2021) — Kyla Bruno and Jason Cirrito have been named the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the Class of 2021 at Miller Place High School. Kyla earned the highest grade point average (GPA) of the 2021 graduating class with a weighted GPA of 102.34, with Jason having the second highest GPA of 101.30. Finishing at the top of the class academically is testament to the intelligence and dedication possessed by Kyla and Jason. 

Kyla has achieved many academic awards including Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar with Honors, Performing Arts Teeny Award for Outstanding Instrumentalist, and has been recognized by the College Board National Hispanic Recognition Program. She has consistently achieved High Honor Roll and is enrolled in the maximum number of AP/honors courses. Kyla has received Special Recognition of Excellence in language arts, geometry, Spanish, orchestra, and was named an All-State Musician.   

Kyla is currently serving as the vice president and founding member of the Tri M Honor Society. She also is an active member of the National Honor Society, Service Club, and the Foreign Language Honor Society. She is a very active athlete and has won the Scholar Athlete Award for tennis and track, being a member of both the winter and spring track teams. She has been recognized as All-League and All-County on her tennis team.

Kyla plans to attend Northwestern University and major in mathematics with a minor or double major in music.

Jason has also achieved High Honor Roll for every marking period since 9^th grade and has received multiple academic awards such as Advanced Placement (AP) Scholar with Honors, as well as the Geometry Honors Award. In addition, Jason was awarded the Outstanding Acts of Kindness (OAK) Award for helping others in need without expecting any reciprocation.

Jason is currently a member of the National Honor Society (NHS), Service Club, Foreign Language Honor Society, and Mathletes. In addition, Jason volunteers to help coordinate events at the Port Jefferson Library and was an assistant coach for the Miller Place Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) basketball team. Jason has been an involved student athlete as a member of the cross country, soccer, PTO basketball, and winter and spring track teams. He was captain of the spring track team and cross country team and recognized as All-League for both teams. 

Jason will be attending Vassar College in the fall and plans to major in math education and become a secondary math teacher.

Eight District Retirees Were Honored for Their Commitment to Student Excellence

MILLER PLACE, N.Y. (JUNE 2021) — The Miller Place School District recently took the opportunity to recognize eight staff members who have served the Miller Place School District community and will officially be retired at the end of this school year. During the most recent Board of Education meeting, District retirees were celebrated for their commitment to the students, parents and staff of the Miller Place School District.

“We are extremely grateful for the years of dedication and commitment that our retirees have provided to our District,” said Dr. Marianne F. Cartisano, Superintendent of the Miller Place School District. “These staff members helped make a positive difference in the lives of our students, and our school community. We wish all of them the very best in the next chapter in their lives.”

The eight retirees, which include teachers and clerical staff members, collectively totaled 174 years of service to the Miller Place School District, with the most experienced retiree starting in 1990.

The Board of Education extends their thanks and well wishes to this year’s retirees including special education teacher, Donna Doherty; social studies teacher, Thomas Moran; elementary teacher, Eva Marie Pere; teacher aide, Debra Fiore; teacher aide, Jo-Ann Hegeman; clerical, Nancy Lepre; teacher assistant, Joanne Parrella; and central office clerical, Linda Lee.

Three MPHS Business Students Receive Top Honors in 2021 LIBTA Competition

MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (MAY 2021)—Students in Miller Place High School got down to business this year at the 2021 Long Island Business Teachers’ Association (LIBTA) contest. Three students—Matthew Niemczyk, 1st place, accounting; Zoe Bussewitz, 1st place, business law; and Alessandra Dimtchev, 4th place, personal finance—calculated the means to earn top honors.

The annual competition, hosted by LIBTA, serves as an opportunity for students to build upon their business knowledge and challenge themselves through friendly competition. Students compete in the following business topics: accounting, business calculations, business law, business principles, college accounting, entrepreneurship, fashion marketing and merchandising, personal finance, sports marketing, and elevator pitch.

Miller Place Theatre Students Present: Les Misérables

MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (APRIL 2021)—The Miller Place Panther Players returned to stage with an all-star cast for its spring production of Les Misérables: School Edition. While students took the stage, patrons opened their devices at their convenience to enjoy a pre-recorded streaming beyond the walls of Miller Place High School. 

Throughout the last six months, Miller Place’s theatre students dedicated their time after school in small groups, divided by cohorts, to rehearse their lines and become accommodated to new safety guidelines on stage. One month prior to production, the Panther Players were able to begin full cast rehearsals with its cast, crew and pit orchestra.

The Miller Place School District is incredibly proud of its 78 students; TinaMarie DeFalco, director; Terrie Troyano, musical director; Katherine Butera, vocal director; Kristin Laudicina, assistant director; and Jenna Ely, stage manager; for streaming the production and giving the Miller Place community the opportunity to enjoy their performance virtually.

The tickets and streaming were facilitated through ShowTix4U, an online ticketing solution for education entities, theatre and dance productions. For more information, please visit: https://www.showtix4u.com/#streaming.

AMPS Students in Miller Place Learn to Perform Medical Assistance from Local Frontline Heroes

MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (APRIL 2021)—Miller Place’s kindergarten students at Andrew Muller Primary School (AMPS) recently transformed their classrooms, in-person and virtual, into an emergency care facility—for stuffed animals! The Teddy Bear Clinic, a free injury prevention program sponsored by the Trauma Center at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, provides a hands-on learning experience for young children to better understand how to provide medical assistance. 

With their surgical caps on, AMPS’s students worked as medical professionals to diagnose their bears’ illnesses or injuries and determine the appropriate treatment procedures. The student-doctors even filled out medical forms to reflect on their roles as providers. Stony Brook nurses discussed important safety initiatives the young students can proactively take to protect themselves from injury like wearing a seatbelt while in a moving vehicle and a helmet when riding a bike or scooter.

Congratulations Noelle Nania, Aubrey Earle and Isabella Schuster

MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (APRIL 2021)—Miller Place’s North Country Road Middle School (NCRMS) recently recognized three students— Noelle Nania, sixth grade; Aubrey Earle, seventh grade; and Isabella Schuster, eighth grade—with exceptional character as its March Coupons for Character recipients. The initiative rewards NCRMS students who serve as positive role models, promote respect and help NCRMS build a caring school community.

Each month, students who have demonstrated exceptional character have their name placed into a container in the main office and at the end of the month, three students’ names are randomly selected to receive a prize for their leadership. Every student whose name made it into the jar receives a letter home in recognition for their commitment to making NCRMS a great place to learn and gain leadership skills.

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28 Students from North Country Road Middle School Participate in MathCON

MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (APRIL 2021)—Twenty-eight of North Country Road Middle School’s young mathematicians calculated the means to success while challenging themselves to the 2021 MathCON competition, amid a global pandemic. Three students—Christopher Barton, grade 9; Stephen Ye, grade 7; and Jonathan Bang, grade 7—will now advance to the final round of the competition. Additionally, eighth graders Lucy Chang and Matthew Cirrito earned spots as alternate finalists and have an opportunity to compete depending on competition enrollment. 

As part of the competition process, students were challenged to a 40-minute online exam comprised of several multiple-choice questions. The exam includes problems of varying degrees of difficulty, enabling all students to be challenged at the same level. The competition, spearheaded by Ms. Maureen Radday and Ms. Corinne D’Andrea, provided Miller Place’s students an opportunity to showcase their ingenuity and knowledge of mathematics.

MathCON, a national nonprofit mathematics organization, provides students across the nation with an educational opportunity to challenge themselves against other students in an effort to enhance their mathematics interest and earn scholarship opportunities.

Artwork of Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School’s Vincenzo DiGiuseppe to be Displayed at Darcy Center for the Arts Firefly Gallery April 9-25

MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (MARCH 2021)—Fifth grade student artist, Vincenzo DiGiuseppe, has been selected to represent the Miller Place School District at the New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) Kindred Spirits exhibition. Vincenzo’s artwork will be showcased at the Darcy Center for the Arts Firefly Gallery in Northport from April 9 through April 25.Inspired by Long Island’s fall foliage, Vincenzo created an original acrylic painting, A Fall Day in the Forest, using several techniques to evoke a strong sensation of spatial depth and texture on a flat canvas. The artwork will be displayed alongside several other student artists, as well as Long Island art teachers, including Vincenzo’s art teacher Stacey Famiglietti, to symbolize the bonding experience that creating artwork brings to the world of education.

Artwork of 20 Miller Place Students Featured at Parrish Art Museum from March 12-April 18

MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (MARCH 2021)—The Miller Place School District is commemorating Youth Art Month, an annual observance each March to emphasize the value of art education for children, in conjunction with the Parrish Art Museum. This month, 20 Miller Place High School (MPHS) students will have their artwork featured in the museum’s 2021 Student Exhibition from March 12 through April 18.

Congratulations to Miller Place’s aspiring artists whose artwork will be featured: Brooke Ledda, Grade 11, Colorful Visions, Color Pencil; Brenden Jung, Grade 12, NYC Vessel, Digital Photograph; Michael Warren, Grade 11, Sasquatch, Digital Photograph; Delaney Moore, Grade 11, Boots, Pencil; Matthew Knodel, Grade 10, Musical Composition, Charcoal; Samuel Cangelosi, Grade 9, Canyon, Pencil; Maura Luby, Grade 10, Pattern Design, Color Pencil; Nadia Manzo, Grade 9, Structured Whimsy, Pen/Color Pencil; Kate Walter, Grade 10, Macaw, Charcoal; Krystel Aaron, Grade 10, Wolves’ Heart, Charcoal; Emily Steele, Grade 12, Mohonk Landscape, Color Pencil; Emily Stoessel, Grade 11, Colorful Jellyfish, Color Pencil/Watercolor; Leigha Provenzano, Grade 11, Pail with Greenery, Watercolor; Bridget Nielsen, Grade 12, Serious with Patterns, Color Pencil; Makayla Witherell, Grade 11, The Three Fates, Color Pencil; Kirstin Elliot, Grade 11, Landscape with Swans, Mixed Media; Lindsey Kreyling, Grade 11, Floral Design, Pen/Color Pencil; Eva Hood, Grade 11, Trumpet Still Life, Digital Photograph; Mia Riley, Grade 9, Color Wheel Portrait, Tempera; and Kaila Donohue, Grade 12, Glassware Still Life, Digital Photograph.The annual Student Exhibition, a 60-year tradition at the Parrish, features the work of more than 1,000 young artists from schools on Eastern Long Island. Working with their art teachers and through art clubs, the students demonstrate creativity, enthusiasm, and technical skill in diverse media, ranging from painting to sculpture, drawing and photography.

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