Month: September 2024

Students Meet with Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame President Christopher Vaccaro

Miller Place High School’s new Sports History class recently kicked off its first semester with a visit from special guest speaker Christopher Vaccaro, the president of the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame who is also a journalist, professor and author.

“Our new Sports History program is off to a great start,” said Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie. “Mr. Vaccaro enlightened our students about the importance of local history and the impact made by their neighbors and the student-athletes who came before them. We are appreciative for this partnership with the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame and the opportunities that lie ahead for our students.”

Mr. Vaccaro shared with students his love of storytelling through the lens of local sports history. His presentation detailed the impacts Long Island residents made on athletics both on a local level, like high school football fields, and on a global setting, such as the Olympic Games. 

His presentation emphasized the importance of having hometown pride and preserving the rich stories that come from Long Island. He referenced Miller Place High School’s own Athletic Hall of Fame and encouraged students to get to know the names, faces and stories they pass each day in their school’s main lobby.

Mr. Vaccaro’s engaging and educational presentation set the tone for a successful start to the high school’s Sports History program, which launched this semester through a partnership with the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame. Mr. Vaccaro’s presentation opened student’s minds to the power and persistence of local history and hometown pride. The Miller Place School District thanks Mr. Vaccaro for inspiring and enabling our students to see the significance of sports history, and the many ways they can pursue the field as a potential career.

Miller Place High School Social Studies Teacher Bryan Vaccaro, who teaches the class has organized special guest speakers, unique research projects and interactive experiences to inspire students to become future historians, teachers and sports business leaders while honoring local sports history.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us. To read more about the great things happening in Miller Place schools, visit www.millerplaceinthemedia.com and ‘like’ our Facebook page. 

Lucy Chang and Sean Pepe Will Advance in the 70th National Merit Scholarship Competition

The Miller Place School District is excited to announce that two Miller Place High School students have been recognized as semifinalists in the 70th National Merit Scholarship competition. Lucy Chang and Sean Pepe are among just 16,000 students in the nation being considered for about 6,870 awards worth a total of more than $26 million that will be offered in the spring.

“We are incredibly proud of Lucy Chang and Sean Pepe for their pursuit of excellence,” said Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie. “We are thrilled to celebrate this exciting achievement with them.”

Semifinalists can advance in the competition by completing several further requirements. About 95 percent of the students recognized as semifinalists are expected to achieve finalist standing, and about half of the finalists will earn a National Merit Scholarship and Merit Scholar title. The National Merit Scholarship Committee has allocated over 423,000 scholarships valued at nearly $1.7 billion to more than three million students nationwide.

Over 1.3 million students across 21,000 high schools in the country entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by completing the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The highest scoring students, representing less than one percent of those who entered, advanced in the competition as semifinalists.

Students could become a finalist by submitting a detailed scholarship application that includes an exemplary academic record, involvement in extracurricular and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and any honors and awards they’ve earned. Semifinalists must also submit a personal essay and a recommendation from a high school official, in addition to SAT or ACT scores that match their performance on the qualifying test. Semifinalists will be notified in February if they advanced in the competition.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us. To read more about the great things happening in Miller Place schools, visit www.millerplaceinthemedia.com and ‘like’ our Facebook page. 

Staff and students begin a new school year with confidence and pride

The Miller Place School District recently welcomed back over 2,000 students across its four schools for the start of the 2024-2025 school year. The first day of school was full of excitement and cheer as students met their teachers, reunited with peers and made new friends with their classmates as they prepared for the year ahead.

“Our staff at all our schools did an amazing job helping our students become confident for the new school year,” said Superintendent of Schools Mr. Seth Lipshie. “We are thrilled for our students to excel and experience a successful year ahead.”

Elementary students at Andrew Muller Primary School and Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School came off buses with beaming smiles as they met their teachers and greeted their principals and staff. Students at North Country Road Middle School and Miller Place High School reunited with their peers and made their way to their classrooms for the first day of school.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us. To read more about the great things happening in Miller Place schools, visit www.millerplaceinthemedia.com and ‘like’ our Facebook page. 

Matthew Nicoletti appointed to new role in the district

The Miller Place School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Matthew Nicoletti as Curriculum Specialist for Humanities.

“As a teacher, Mr. Nicoletti’s classroom was dynamic with rich discussion,” said Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie. “He has brought so much to the Miller Place community over the past 12 years as a teacher, coach, mentor and leader.”

Mr. Nicoletti began his educational career in 2012 as an English teacher at North Country Road Middle School in the Miller Place School District. His work outside the classroom included coaching track and field and directing the Miller Place High School Panther Players.   

Two years ago, Mr. Nicoletti became the Dean of Students at North Country Road Middle School and supported and enhanced instruction by facilitating professional development workshops.

He was also a member of the School Improvement Team and led fundraising efforts to create the Chris Pendergast Memorial Garden at North Country Road Middle School.

Mr. Nicoletti grew up in the Miller Place community and graduated from Miller Place High School. He studied English Education at SUNY Oneonta and spent his summers at Eastern Suffolk BOCES as a Teacher’s Assistant for students with special needs.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us. To read more about the great things happening in Miller Place schools, visit www.millerplaceinthemedia.com and ‘like’ our Facebook page. 

Christine Mangiamele appointed to new role leading NCRMS

The Miller Place School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Ms. Christine Mangiamele as the new principal of the North Country Road Middle School.

“The Miller Place community has gotten to know Ms. Mangiamele very well over the past 19 years and we are excited to see her excel in her new position leading North Country Road Middle School,” said Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie. “She has served the district with pride and dedication in many roles and we are confident in her ability to foster an environment for student success.”    

Ms. Mangiamele has served the Miller Place community since 2005, when she began her educational career as a World Language teacher at Miller Place High School. She furthered her career at Miller Place High School in 2010 when she became the school’s assistant principal and dean of students. In 2019, she became the assistant principal at North Country Road Middle School and, this past year, she was appointed the curriculum specialist for Humanities.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us. To read more about the great things happening in Miller Place schools, visit www.millerplaceinthemedia.com and ‘like’ our Facebook page.