MillerPlace – Page 15

MPSD Announces Chris Herrschaft as New Principal of LADSBS

Miller Place, N.Y. (August 2019)—The Miller Place School District recently announced that it has appointed Christopher Herrschaft as the new principal of Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School (LADSBS), effective August 9, 2019. He will succeed Catherine Honeyman, who recently accepted a new position as Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction at Plainedge Public Schools beginning August 12, 2019.

“We are thrilled for Mr. Herrschaft and are confident his leadership at LADSBS will continue to advance our elementary school, and our District, forward in delivering an exceptional educational experience,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of Miller Place School District. “Mr. Herrschaft will be reaching out to the LADSBS community in the coming weeks as he transitions from NCRMS to LADSBS.”

With more than 15 years of experience in the education field, Mr. Herrschaft has contributed to improving teaching and learning for Miller Place’s students as both an educator and administrator in the District. Throughout his time working in the high school, Mr. Herrschaft served as a business education teacher beginning in 2007 and was later named Dean of Students in 2015. A Miller Place High School graduate, Mr. Herrschaft brings a comprehensive understanding of the community to the position.

After receiving his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in 2001 from Bryant University, Mr. Herrschaft completed a Masters of Science in Secondary Education at Dowling College in 2006, and earned a Masters of Science in Educational Leadership from Niagara University in 2016.

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: @MillerPlaceSchoolDistrict.

MPSD Administrative Positions Update

As you may have heard, Catherine Honeyman, Principal of Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School, has recently accepted a new position as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction at Plainedge Public Schools starting August 12, 2019. During her 13 years at LADSBS, Mrs. Honeyman’s countless contributions to curriculum development have been advantageous for the District’s third through fifth grade students. Her leadership has added to our District’s reputation for educational excellence, and educating the whole child socially, emotionally, and academically. We are grateful to have had Mrs. Honeyman work on our team and wish her the very best in her new endeavor.

Following a search process, which included interviews of both internal and external candidates by an administrative committee and members of the Board of Education, the Board has appointed Mr. Christopher Herrschaft as the new principal of LADSBS beginning on August 9, 2019.

With more than 15 years of experience in the education field, Mr. Herrschaft has contributed to improving teaching and learning for our students as both an educator and administrator in the District. A Miller Place High School graduate, Mr. Herrschaft most recently served as Assistant Principal of North Country Road Middle School. Throughout his time working in the high school, Mr. Herrschaft served as a business education teacher beginning in 2007 and was later named Dean of Students in 2015.

The District is excited for Mr. Herrschaft, and are confident his leadership at LADSBS will continue to advance our elementary school, and our District, forward in delivering an exceptional educational experience to the children of the Miller Place School District community. Mr. Herrschaft will be reaching out to the LADSBS community in the coming weeks as he transitions from NCRMS to LADSBS.

Miller Place High School Named ‘School of Excellence’

Miller Place High School (MPHS) was recognized by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association, Inc. (NYSPHAA) as a 2018-19 School of Excellence winner for its exceptional performance in academics and athletics. This year, MPHS was among 135 schools throughout the State selected for this distinction.

“This recognition is a testimony to our student-athletes’ and administration’s talents and determination on the field and in the classrooms,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, superintendent of Miller Place School District. “These students are models of the standard of academic and athletic excellence characteristic of our school district. Congratulations!”

NYSPHSAA presents high schools with the School of Excellence Award when 75 percent of the varsity teams qualify for and receive the Scholar-Athlete award, a distinction that requires a cumulative grade point average greater than or equal to 90.00. For the 2018-19 school year, Miller Place had 21 varsity teams receive the Scholar-Athlete team award.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us and ‘like’ our Facebook page: @MillerPlaceSchoolDistrict.

Miller Place School District Effectively Refinances 2010 Space Bond

The Miller Place School District (MPSD) is proud to announce that it will be saving nearly $2.3 million dollars over the next 11 years by refinancing its 2010 space bond. The savings were made possible by Miller Place’s planning, budgeting practices and consistently strong Moody’s Bond Rating of Aa2.

“The District’s refinancing of the outstanding bond debt is reflective of our strong financial stewardship and continued trajectory of success,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, superintendent of Miller Place School District. “We have worked diligently to improve our short and long-term financial outlook while effectively maintaining and advancing our high-quality educational programs and services.”

MPSD received a total of eleven bids and Mesirow Financial, Inc. was the winning bidder. This resulted in the District’s original 3.92% interest rate on the bonds being lowered to a true interest rate of 1.63%. The District’s Moody Bond Rating of Aa2 will allow the District to experience $2,289,950 in total budgetary savings over the next 11 years. Moving forward, the District will continue to monitor its outstanding debt to take advantage of any budgetary savings that can be achieved through refinancing.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the District’s website atwww.millerplace.k12.ny.us.

MP Athletes Recognized at Butch Dellecave Outstanding Athlete Banquet

Miller Place School District (MPSD) would like to commend the excellence of its senior student athletes, Ryan Salvia and Ava Burns, who were selected to represent the District as nominees for the Butch Dellecave Award at the 19th Annual Butch Dellecave Outstanding Athlete banquet.

Hosted by the Butch Dellecave Foundation Inc. and The Economic Opportunity Council of Suffolk, Inc, the event honored scholar athletes from every Suffolk County school district for their athleticism, character and integrity. With their friends and families, Ryan and Ava joined 55 other nominees for an honorary breakfast at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook. Nominees were individually recognized and presented with a plaque to commemorate their honor on this special day.

In the fall, Ryan will be attending SUNY Maritime where he will run cross country. Ava will be heading upstate to Syracuse University where she will play on the women’s lacrosse team.

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

Master Debaters

Miller Place’s master debaters from North Country Road Middle School’s Mock Trial Club recently competed in a tournament at Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) against neighboring schools to showcase their knowledge of the law!

Leading up to the mock trial at SCCC, Miller Place’s club members worked diligently to perfect their legal arguments by memorizing affidavits, preparing opening and closing statements and forming questions to secure their side of the case. When they stepped into the courtroom, the Panthers put their knowledge to the test and showcased their questioning techniques, critical thinking and oral advocacy skills. Each team was presented with one case and worked with teammates to lead an in-depth investigation and a thorough presentation.

Congratulations to NCRMS’s defense team on winning both the performance and case categories and to NCRMS’s prosecution team on winning the performance category!

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, ‘like’ our Facebook page: @MillerPlaceSchoolDistrict.

Painting the Way to Success

Miller Place High School recently hosted an art show to showcase the best student-created work from throughout the year. This was the culminating artistic event of the year, and part of the Miller Place School District’s rigorous arts program. During the showcase parents, families, teachers and students viewed photography, ink, charcoal, pencil, painting, digital and sculptural displays, admiring the artists’ creative work and discussing different artistic techniques. The projects on display exhibited a wide variety of concepts and themes, presenting both the breadth and depth of the Miller Place High School arts curriculum.

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, ‘like’ our Facebook page: @MillerPlaceSchoolDistrict.

Solving the Way in STEM

Members of the North Country Road Middle School Science Club in Miller Place recently competed alongside fourteen other Long Island teams in the first annual STEM competition at South Ocean Middle School in Patchogue. NCRMS’s two teams—7th grade: Thomas Como, Ryan Ebert, Adam Messaoudi, Andrew Turner and Alan Yue; and 8th grade: Lilah Lindemann, Brandy Moeller, Jordan Morales, Kyle Sadler, Ryan Southworth—were challenged to complete a Breakout EDU activity, a physical game kit that requires students to solve various puzzles to open a locked box, and a crime scene investigation. Congratulations to NCRMS’s 8th grade team for taking first place in the CSI challenge!

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, ‘like’ our Facebook page: @MillerPlaceSchoolDistrict.

North County Road Middle School Gives Back

Spring has sprung and so have Miller Place students’ community service efforts! North Country Road Middle School in Miller Place is thrilled to share the several philanthropical initiatives that its middle school students have participated in over the last few weeks including visits to local veterans, fundraising for Autism awareness and fighting hunger in the area.

In honor of Veterans Appreciation Month in Suffolk County, fourteen members of NCRMS’s National Junior Honor Society visited the Long Island State Veteran’s Home in Stony Brook. During the event, students played cards, Monopoly, Jenga, and Checkers as well as listened to inspiring and courageous stories told by the local heroes. The event was a wonderful way for students to give back to Veterans who sacrificed so much for our freedom.

In support of Autism Awareness Month, students at NCRMS facilitated a fundraising initiative to raise money and emphasize the significance of inclusion. Spearheaded by NCRMS teacher Nicole Farley and teacher assistant Mara Healy, members of the building’s student government sold blank puzzle pieces to students who then had the opportunity to design a unique puzzle piece and “fit” it on the wall. All proceeds were donated to the Autism Society to improve capabilities and services, increase public awareness about autism and provide the best national resource database and contact center specializing in autism.

The National Junior Honor Society also organized and executed a building-wide food drive to help families in the Miller Place-Sound Beach community and across Long Island. The building conducted a friendly competition between homeroom classes to see which class was able to collect the most amount of non-perishable and canned goods to donate to Long Island Cares, Inc. and The Harry Chapin Food Bank. Mrs. Hibbard’s homeroom class collected a total of 104 items and was named the winning class.

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 MillerPlace schools, ‘like’ our Facebook page: @MillerPlaceSchoolDistrict.

The Power of the Panthers

Four Miller Place School District students were recently honored as NYS AHPERD (New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance) “Outstanding Middle School Physical Education Students” at the NYS AHPERD Suffolk Zone annual dinner. North Country Road Middle School students Brooke McCormick and Josh Koppleman, and Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School students Madelayna Vomero and Dylan Riegel received awards for their stellar performances in physical education.

“Congratulations to Brooke, Josh, Madelayna and Dylan on this tremendous honor,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, superintendent of Miller Place School District. “This distinction is a testament to these students’ leadership and excellence in physical education and academia, as well as their continued efforts to represent the District with great distinction.”

Each year, physical education teachers throughout Suffolk County nominate students who embody the values of teamwork, leadership and integrity. The Miller Place students

were presented with the awards at Bay Shore High School alongside students from other districts in Suffolk County.