Eight MPHS Students Selected for NYSSMA All-State Ensembles
Eight of Miller Place High School’s outstanding student musicians were selected to participate in the 2020 New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) Conference All-State Performing Ensembles. Participation in the event, which will take place virtually this year, is the highest level in New York State for a student musician.
The students chosen for their distinguished individual musical achievements are Will Dunlop, wind ensemble; Patrick Serrentino, instrumental jazz ensemble; Marianna Kalin, symphonic band; Kyla Bruno, string orchestra; Zoe Bussewitz, symphony orchestra; Jodie Cui, string orchestra; Aaron Miller, alternate mixed chorus; and Aidan Wightman, mixed chorus.
Miller Place, New York (September 2020)—The Miller Place School District (MPSD) officially welcomed its students back for the 2020-21 school year, both in-person and virtually.
At the elementary level, Andrew Muller Primary School (AMPS) and Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School (LADSBS) students are back for in-person instruction. At the secondary level, North Country Road Middle School (NCRMS) and Miller Place High School (MPHS) students have been divided into two groups, Cohort 1 and Cohort 2, each rotating into school on a day while the other participates in remote learning at home.
At AMPS, students had their backpacks and masks on and were eager to head into the building for the year ahead. Adhering to District protocols, students arrived at school and had their temperatures taken prior to entering the building for the day. After they received the approval to proceed, they headed to their new classrooms that feature sneeze guards and desks that are socially distanced.
At LADSBS, students were greeted by Principal Herschaft, who was sporting a Panthers facemask, during morning arrival. Later in the day, Mr. Brian Mas’ fourth grade students socially distanced outside as they completed one of their first independent assignments.
At NCRMS, Principal Clark checked in with students during their lunch period to discuss how their first week back to school was going. The conversation focused on an overview of the middle school’s academic and social philosophies, reintroducing support staff, and helping students become more acquainted with new protocols and procedures like mandatory mask wearing at all times with the exception of lunch and mask breaks.
At MPHS, students in Ms. Isenberg’s concert band class established this year’s routines and expectations while adhering to the recommended 12 ft. social distancing for music practice. In Mr. Fank’s fourth-period virtual enterprise class, students got right to business and worked on their college research assignment that will be used to interview for their virtual company later in the month.
Patrick Serrentino Earns Award of Merit for Music from LI Scholar Artist Program
MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (September 2020)—The Miller Place School District (MPSD) is proud to recognize and share the accomplishments of an extraordinary student-artist, Patrick Serrentino. Patrick was selected among 20 students on the island, by the Long Island Scholar Artist Program, to receive the Award of Merit for Music.
“On behalf of the Board of Education and central administration, we are thrilled to acknowledge and celebrate Patrick on his hard-earned success,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of MPSD. “Patrick is a role model for all of our students and community as he demonstrates passion and dedication in all that he does.”
Each year, the Long Island Scholar Artist program acknowledges distinguished students who perform exceptionally in both academics and in the fields of music, visual arts, dance, theatre or media arts. The program’s fall kick-off event has been postponed to the spring, as a result of the COVID-19 mandated closures, and will now take place at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts in the spring.
Patrick Serrentino, senior at Miller Place High School, earned the Award of Merit for Music, presented by the Long Island Scholar Artist program.
MILLER PLACE, NEW YORK (September 2020)—North Country Road Middle School’s teachers and students paid tribute to the thousands of lives lost on September 11, 2001 and the heroism of the first responders that risked their lives for others. North Country Road teachers, Ms. Erario and Ms. Ferro, took the initiative to encourage dialogue among their students about the horrific attacks that occurred through a webinar, interactive activities and videos. The 19th Anniversary in the Schools webinar, hosted by the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, connected museum staff and guest speakers with the students where they heard primary stories about the attacks and the importance of commemoration. The in-class history lessons were facilitated utilizing Google Classroom to help familiarize and transition students with their virtual learning platforms.
Two North Country Road Middle School teachers, Ms. Erario and Ms. Ferro, honored the heroes and victims of 9/11 with their students through in-person history lessons via Google Classroom.
The District Welcomes Jeffrey Dimoulas and Nicole Farley to District’s Leadership Team
Miller Place, New York (September 2020)—The Miller Place School District (MPSD) recently announced that it has appointed Mr. Jeffrey Dimoulas as the District’s Humanities Curriculum Specialist and Ms. Nicole Farley as the North Country Road Middle School Dean of Students. These new additions to the leadership team will help the Miller Place School District expand its student-support services and further its efforts to facilitate a nurturing academic environment for the entire school community.
“Appointing Jeffrey and Nicole to our leadership team epitomizes our District’s mission to provide our students with the resources and skills to become empowered, knowledgeable and engaged citizens and innovators,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of Miller Place School District. “Jeffrey and Nicole each bring with them a love of teaching, combined with strong backgrounds in educational leadership—something that will serve as tremendous assets to our district’s curriculum, teacher-student relationships and communication. We are confident that the two will work diligently and effectively to ensure excellence in education for our students.”
Mr. Dimoulas comes to Miller Place from South Country School District (SCSD) after working in Bellport High School as a social studies teacher for seven years and an administrative intern from 2015 to 2016. Prior to his work in SCSD, Mr. Dimoulas was an administrative intern in the Half Hollow Hills School District and served in a variety of other capacities for the District, including afterschool dean at Hills East; special education teacher for U.S. History, criminal justice, global studies, and biology at Hills East; social studies teacher for U.S. History, Experiences in Law, and psychology at Hills East; and social studies teacher at Candlewood Middle School. Mr. Dimoulas holds a Master of Science in Secondary Education from Dowling College and has earned certifications as a school building leader and a school district leader from the College of St. Rose.
Ms. Farley brings several years working in Miller Place to her new leadership role. Ms. Farley previously worked as a Miller Place special education teacher from 2008-2020 and administrative intern from 2018-2019. She also brings years of leadership experience as a coach and club adviser. Most recently, Ms. Farley served as Principal of Eastern Suffolk BOCES Regional Summer Program where she successfully spearheaded extended school year services to more than 150 students through in-person and remote instruction.
Mr. Jeffrey Dimoulas was just appointed as Miller Place School District’s Humanities Curriculum SpecialistMs. Nicole Farley was just appointed as North Country Road Middle School’s Dean of Students
