Miller Place School District’s Music Education Program Receives National Recognition

District Receives Recognition for Third Consecutive Year

In recognition of its outstanding commitment to music education, the Miller Place School District was recently honored by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation with the NAMM 2018 Best Communities for Music Education Award. This is the third consecutive year the District has received this award. Less than 10 percent of school districts nationwide received the prestigious award in 2018. The honor comes as a result of the outstanding efforts of Miller Place teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders to ensure access to music learning for all students as part of the school curriculum.

“We are honored to receive this designation from the NAMM foundation for the third year in a row,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marianne Cartisano. “Our artistic faculty pours hours of dedication and talent into creating and building upon the District’s outstanding fine arts curriculum, including music, art and drama. This recognition is a well-deserved tribute to the dedication, diligence, passion and excellence of our students, our music department and our community.”

In addition to providing daily music education on the elementary, middle and high school level, the District’s music department provides frequent opportunities for students to perform as well as innovative lessons that go beyond the classroom. Students perform in concerts, plays and recitals for classmates throughout the year.

The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. To qualify for the distinction, the Miller Place School District answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program, and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

“Music education is an essential part of our students’ growth into well-rounded individuals, scholars and good citizens,” said Miller Place High School Principal Kevin Slavin. “A strong musical background supports students’ creative problem solving abilities and teamwork while providing the skills necessary to excel both inside and outside the classroom.”

The NAMM Foundation is a non-profit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its 9,000 members around the world. The NAMM Foundation works to advance active participation in music making by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs.

For more information regarding Miller Place Schools and district happenings please visit the district’s website: http://www.millerplace.k12.ny.us/

Miller Place School District Forges Bonds Across the Pond

Miller Place School District senior student at Miller Place High School, Joseph Panico, recently participated in the prestigious American Football Worldwide (AFW) ELITE High School program. The football league gives well-accomplished high school football players from throughout the United States an opportunity to travel around the world to compete against the best U19 football players from other countries. Panico and the AFW team recently returned from their trip with a 28-7 victory against the Italian National 19U Team, the team’s 4th consecutive victory. Panico was the only student from New York State who was selected to participate in this opportunity.

“I loved getting to practice in different European cities each day and meeting with the Italian team,” said Panico. “After the game both teams shared stories and experiences from our home countries and we broadened each other’s cultural perspectives.”

The Miller Place School District offers a rigorous athletic program that helps students improve their athletic ability and fitness in addition to their classroom performance, teamwork, confidence and leadership. This opportunity was part of the Miller Place School District’s commitment to providing students with a variety of athletic and cultural experiences in which they can broaden both their physical and intellectual skills. To learn more about the Miller Place School District please visit: www.millerplace.k12.ny.us

 

 

Elementary School Students Receive Trees for Arbor Day

Rocky Point Lion’s Club and Local Legislators Give Miller Place School District 4th Grade Students Saplings to Symbolize Hope

 

More than 200 Miller Place School District 4th grade students at Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School recently received pine tree saplings during the school’s annual celebration of Arbor Day. Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner, Supervisor Edward Romaine and members of the Rocky Point Lion’s Club distributed more than 200 pine tree saplings to students while our special guests discussed the importance of trees and protecting the environment. Students then took the trees home to plant in a symbolic gesture of hope for the future. The act of planting a tree symbolized a belief that the tree will grow and, someday, provide wood, a wildlife habitat, erosion control, shelter from the wind and sun, beauty, and inspiration for years to come.

This event is sponsored by the Rocky Point Lion’s Club and supported by the Town of Brookhaven, and is part of the Miller Place School District’s commitment to the environment. For more information please visit www.millerplace.k12.ny.us.

 

 

 

Miller Place Students Excel at Math Olympiads

The Miller Place School District announced today that its Math Olympiad team at Laddie Decker Elementary School recently earned a Certificate of High Achievement and a Meritorious Achievement Certificate following the school’s participation in the Math Olympiads. In addition, six students finished in the top eight percent of students nationwide. Math Olympiads is a nationwide mathematics competition for students in grades four through eight, which helps them explore advanced mathematics concepts in an environment of friendly competition.

“The Miller Place School District is proud of our students for all their hard work, and we are honored to receive this recognition. These students’ accomplishments are emblematic of the Miller Place educational standard,” said Miller Place School District Superintendent Dr. Marianne Cartisano. “Advancing mathematical education is one of our primary goals as educators, and receiving these awards are a testament to the many hours of dedication to academic excellence our teachers and students exhibit every day.”

The Miller Place School District Math Olympiads team ended the competition with a final score of 189, which was in the top 20 percent of all schools throughout the country that participated in the competition. In addition to its rigorous mathematics program, the Miller Place School District also offers a number of advanced courses and extracurricular opportunities for development in mathematics.

“This has been our best year in the Math Olympiads yet, and we look forward to raising the bar even higher next year,” said Laddie Decker Elementary School Principal Catherine Honeyman. “Having a strong foundation in mathematics is essential to every student’s education, and we’re honored by this exceptional recognition of the Miller Place School District’s rigorous math program.”

Math Olympiads contests take place at each participating school throughout the country across several months. Each contest consists of five atypical math problems which must be solved under a time limit. Each student, working alone, scores one point for each correct answer. Teams can consist of up to 35 students, and the team score is the sum of the ten highest individual scores. The Miller Place School District encourages students to take advantage of programs like Math Olympiads, and supports students’ many successes as they continue to advance the study of mathematics.

“There are 35 members of the Math Olympiads team, and each student contributed to our final score.  It was truly a team effort,” said Math Olympiads Coordinator Evan Curran.

Students who will be receiving silver pins for placing in the top eight percent of students nationwide include:

  • Andrew McGuirk
  • Madison McErlean
  • Taylor McHugh
  • Lucy Chang
  • Marc Lindemann
  • Jackson Vaccariello

Students who will be receiving patches for placing in the top 50 percent of mathematics students nationwide include:

  • Matthew Cirrito
  • Dane Lagrasta
  • Trevor Mandia
  • Abigail Bosshard
  • Carrie Davis
  • Brayden Rowe
  • Nicholas Calandrino
  • Sabrina Schafer
  • Richard Wink
  • Michael Drago
  • Joshua MacDonald
  • Sean Pepe
  • Liam Dunkin
  • Amanda Kranich-Schaefer
  • Jack Sauer
  • Stephen Ye
  • Charlie Platt
  • Nicholas Vallary
  • Sean Creedon
  • Ellis Worcester

Other members of the Math Olympiads team who will be recognized for their achievements include:

  • Ruth Lynch
  • Skylar Isbitsky
  • Jack O’Neill
  • Nick Tedeschi
  • Jonathan Bang
  • Emma McNulty
  • Colorado Pabisz
  • Logan Pagel
  • Palakdeep Bassan

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit www.millerplace.k12.ny.us.

Miller Place High School Cheerleaders Recognized for Championship Victory

The Miller Place School District’s Miller Place High School cheerleading team was recently celebrated by the Town of Brookhaven for finishing in first place at the Suffolk County Cheerleading Champions for Medium Varsity Teams Division II. To recognize their achievement, Town of Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner presented the team with Certificates of Congratulations during a recent town board meeting.

“It was my pleasure to honor these outstanding high school students,” said Councilwoman Bonner. “It takes hard work and dedication to excel in these very competitive activities and they should all be proud of their great accomplishments. I also want to commend the coaches and parents for all they do to help the children perform at such a high level.”

“We are incredibly proud of all our students’ hard work to achieve this victory,” said Miller Place School District Superintendent Dr. Marianne Cartisano. “Their commitment and integrity are emblematic of the excellence here at Miller Place.”

Teammates and coaches included: Cheerleaders; Halle Abrams, Skylar Alagna, Meghan Connolly, Kaitlin Dolson, Danielle Humphrey, Amethyst LaRosa, Angelique Levine, Kim Mascarella, Serena Mangino, Victoria Murphy, Maddie Power, Maddie Pranzo, Leigha Provenzano, Julia Schreck, Sarah Shaljian, Danielle Spagnolo, Kaleigh Spetta, Rachel Suarez, Hailey Syperski, Hanna Totillo, Nina Tudisco, Chole Young and Coaches; Marissa Alessi and Alexa Sanalitro.

The student-athletes worked hard for months to achieve this victory. They embraced a rigorous training schedule, and they exhibited tremendous dedication and good sportsmanship. For more information about the Miller Place School District and its students’ many accomplishments, please visit: www.millerplace.k12.ny.us.

Miller Place School District Senior is the Student from New York State Selected to Compete in International Football Tour

The Miller Place School District is proud to announce that Miller Place High School senior Joseph Panico has been selected to participate in the American Football Worldwide (AFW) ELITE High School program. The prestigious football league gives well-accomplished high school football players from throughout the United States an opportunity to travel around the world to compete against the best U19 football players from other countries. This April, Panico and the AFW team will go to Italy to play against the Italian National 19U Team. Panico was the only student from New York State who was selected to participate in this opportunity.

“Joe has been an incredible role model within the Miller Place School District, both as an accomplished athlete and as an engaged community member, and we are honored to support him as he pursues this wonderful opportunity,” said Miller Place School District Superintendent Dr. Marianne Cartisano. “The District offers a wide variety of rigorous academic and athletic opportunities, and we are proud of our student-athletes’ many successes both on and off the field. We are proud to have Joe represent the Miller Place School District as he competes on the international stage, and we wish him the highest level of success.”

In order to qualify for the roster, Head Coach of the USA team, Jim Barnes, selected players based on evaluations of their highlight films. Players need to have been a starter for his high school team on offense, defense or as a specialist, and have a history clear of disciplinary measures. Prior to playing against the Italian team, AFW players will also participate in educational tours of Rome, Vatican City, Tuscany, Siena, Florence, Cinque Terra, Lake Como and Milan.

“This was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass up. How many players will ever get the chance to play American football in another country?” said Panico. “I’m most looking forward to bonding with new teammates from all over the country in such a short amount of time, playing for my country, and getting to see what the skill level is of the Italian team.”

The Miller Place School District offers a robust athletic program that focuses on helping students improve their athletic ability and fitness in addition to their classroom performance, teamwork, confidence and leadership. Regular athletic activity and participation in school sports also improves memory, increases focus, and helps prevent depression.

“We’re extremely proud of Joe and wish him the best in Italy,” said Miller Place High School Football Coach Greg Murphy. “This opportunity will enable him to create lifelong connections and experience a different country and culture in person.”

American Football Worldwide is committed to providing growth experiences that impact its participants, combining the positive values developed through American football with the education and academic experiences international travel uniquely provides. AFW’s goal is to help young people channel their passion for football, propel them toward a greater understanding of our world, and explore new possibilities and dreams for their future.

“Assembling this team that will have the opportunity and responsibility to represent the USA and American football in Italy has been a rewarding experience in and of itself,” said AFW President Jim Barnes. “It is inspiring getting to know some incredibly ambitious young men and their supportive families who commit to make big dreams become reality.  This international education and athletic tour will be a tremendous growth experience that will expand the horizons for these aspiring student-athletes.  This journey will be used as a springboard that propels our AFW ELITE players to more success in college, collegiate football and in life.”

Students Take Parents Back to School

The Miller Place School District recently organized an opportunity for students at Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School to be joined by their parents and guardians for a fun and exciting evening filled with educational games.  The annual Family Fun Night is a building-wide initiative that is intended to help families become more involved in their children’s education in a positive, stress-free way.

During the event, parents and children worked together to play board games, parachute activities and compete in a series of academic challenges. Students also walked their parents through the many projects and classroom activities they’ve completed thus far during the 2017-2018 school year. Parents and students rotated between activities, giving parents the opportunity to experience the students’ daily gym activities and test their knowledge of fourth grade curriculum.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit www.millerplace.k12.ny.us.

 

 

All the World’s a Stage at Miller Place

The Miller Place School District recently hosted the Bright Star Children’s Theatre performance of an interactive, biographical show about Jackie Robinson at the Laddie A. Decker Elementary School. The show was arranged as part of an initiative to showcase American heroes to help students connect with influential figures in American history while also learning lessons applicable to their daily lives.

During the performance, professional actors dressed in elaborate costumes, acted out Jackie Robinson’s story, from growing up in rural Georgia to his ascent as a Major League Baseball Hall of Fame icon. Student volunteers from the audience also joined the actors onstage to learn about how to overcome bullying without fighting back, and at the end of the performance, students were made aware of the prejudicial struggles a key figure in American history faced.

This event was coordinated by the Miller Place School District as part of its mission to involve students in their education in fun, engaging ways. For more information about the Miller Place School District please visit www.millerplace.k12.ny.us.

 

Miller Place Students Learn About Life through Music

Nationally Renowned Performer Jared Campbell Teaches Miller Place Students to Create a Culture of Respect and Reflection

 

The Miller Place School District recently welcomed back nationally renowned musical performer Jared Campbell as part of the District’s ongoing dedication to creating a culture of respect both in and out of school, and teaching students skills they will use for the rest of their lives.

During the event, Mr. Campbell taught Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School students about creating a positive culture through music. Campbell performed an interactive musical show, “The Blue Project,” in which students sang and clapped while learning important lessons about the value of self-reflection, overcoming obstacles and having a positive outlook on life.

For more information about the Miller Place School District please www.millerplace.k12.ny.us.

 

 

 

 

Miller Place School District Announces Kindergarten Registration Dates at Andrew Muller Primary School

The Andrew Muller Primary School (AMPS) in the Miller Place School District will be holding Kindergarten registration from Monday, March 19, 2018 through Friday, March 23, 2018 from 9:45 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.  Registration is by appointment only and will take place in the school’s lobby. Parents or guardians are asked to call the AMPS main office at 631-474-2715 to schedule an appointment.  Children do not need to be brought to the school at this time.

 

Only children who will be five years old on or before December 1, 2018 and are residents of the Miller Place School District are eligible for registration.  New York State’s current mandated immunizations include: 4-5 Polio (IPV/OPV), 4-5 DPT (DTap/DTP), three Hepatitis B, two MMR and two Varivax.  Parents should bring their child’s current immunization record to registration.  Prospective students must also complete a physical examination within one year prior to the start of school.  A completed examination form must be submitted to the AMPS Health Office no later than August 22, 2018.

 

Information and required forms are available online on the district’s website. Please print out these forms, complete them in full and bring them with all the required documentation to your scheduled appointment.

 

 For more information regarding Miller Place Schools and district happenings, please visit the district’s website: http://www.millerplace.k12.ny.us and the Andrew Muller Primary School’s webpage.