Lisa Reitan, who served as the Board’s vice president in the 2021-2022 school year, was elected by the Board as its president for the 2022-2023 school year. Bryan Makarius, who served as a trustee in the 2021-2022 school year, was elected by Board members to serve as their vice president in the current school year.
The 2022-2023 Board also includes trustees Johanna Testa, who served as the Board’s president for the 2021-2022 school year and Keith Frank.
“I’m thrilled and honored to be starting my first year as superintendent alongside such a supportive Board of Education. We’ve gotten a significant amount of work done during the month of July and we are looking forward to the start of the 2022-23 school year,” said Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie.
The reorganization meeting was also Mr. Lipshie’s first official meeting as the District’s superintendent. The agenda also included several new appointments as part of the District’s administrative restructuring plan, including Nicholas Corleto as the District Curriculum Specialist for Math and Science, Evan Curran as a Teacher Trainer for Math and Science, Diana Tufaro as the Assistant Principal of Miller Place High School and Matt Nicoletti as a part-time Dean of Students at North Country Road Middle School.
The District wishes a warm welcome to all Board of Education members and Administrators in new roles as it prepares for the 2022-23 school year.
The Miller Place School District recently held its annual reorganization meeting, at which time the Board elected Lisa Reitan as its president.The Board elected Bryan Makarius as its vice president for the 2022-2023 school year.New BOE Member Andrea Spaniolas was sworn in at the reorganization meeting.The 2022-23 Board also includes Keith Frank, left, and Johanna Testa, center, as trustees.
The Miller Place High School football field became a sea of navy blue and white caps and gowns as graduating seniors walked through an inflatable Panther arch to receive their diplomas at Miller Place School District’s 48th annual commencement ceremony.
The Class of 2022 was celebrated collectively for their achievements and dedication through all four years of high school. The graduates were particularly noted for their resilience in overcoming COVID-19 obstacles such as remote learning and social distancing. The senior class capped its final year with an enthusiastic return to many of the in-person events, performances and activities that were put on hold or held at limited capacity during the height of the pandemic.
“Parents and family members, we appreciate your ongoing support and your guidance that has contributed to your child’s ability to excel and receive this honor tonight. Thank you for entrusting your children to us and allowing us the opportunity to assist with their developing into the young adults they are today.” said outgoing Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marianne Cartisano in her last commencement address for the district. Dr. Cartisano concluded her remarks by imparting advice on the graduating class and encouraging them to “…Remember, acts of kindness last longer than the moment. You matter to someone. You are the difference in someone’s life. You have the tools to succeed – now go live your best life. Thank you and enjoy this very special milestone.”
One by one, graduates were called up on stage to receive their diplomas and commendations for their hard work during the past four years. Dr. Cartisano, Principal Kevin Slavin and members of the Miller Place School District Board of Education and High School Administration congratulated each student and offered best wishes for the future. “The class of 2022 will indeed be a class we will always remember, one who’s story is unlike any others. And you will be remembered for a specific reason, because over the past 13 years this class has proven time and time again to be a group of students that can handle any adversity with maturity and grace. You are a united class, united with your classmates and well beyond,” said Principal Kevin Slavin.
During the ceremony, Valedictorian Emma LaMountain and Salutatorian Diya Saini also 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.
Graduating seniors at Miller Place High School walked onto their school’s football field to receive their diplomas at a commencement ceremony for the Class of 2022.Family and friends cheered and showed support as their loved ones crossed the stage and received their diplomas. Salutatorian Diya Saini took the podium alongside Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marianne Cartisano and shared words of encouragement to the Class of 2022. Valedictorian Emma LaMountain addressed her class and reflected on their educational career.One student embraced her loved one with her diploma in hand.Students simultaneously moved their tassels across their faces to signify their commencement.Students threw their graduation caps in the air at the close of the ceremony.Dr. Cartisano shared a poignant address to the Class of 2022 for the final time as Superintendent.
Students received several nominations and performed at East End Arts High School theater award show
Miller Place High School actors, set designers, musicians and more followed the “yellow brick road” from their hometown stage to that of the East End Arts’ 20th Annual Teeny Awards, where they were nominated in several categories and performed a number from their spring production of The Wizard of Oz.
The annual high school theater award show, whose name is a reference to the Tony Awards, recognized Miller Place High School among 20 other schools across Suffolk County during a ceremony on June 5 at Riverhead High School. Much like the Tony’s, the Teeny Award ceremony includes performances from participating schools and Miller Place students dazzled the crowd with their rendition of “Munchkinland.”
“Our theater productions are always a collaborative effort that would not be possible without the dedication and talent of our actors, dancers, musicians, designers and everyone involved. I’m so proud of the students who brought The Wizard of Oz to life and it’s an honor to see their efforts recognized by East End Arts and on display at the Teeny Awards,” said Miller Place High School Principal Kevin Slavin.
The Teeny Awards has been celebrating outstanding performances and remarkable behind-the-scenes work in high school theater since 2002. Anonymous volunteer judges with backgrounds in theatre attend high school productions in Suffolk County throughout the year to select nominations before the winners are decided by a judging committee.
MPHS student Kai Schiera received accolades for his portrayal of the Scarecrow, for which he was nominated for Best Lead Male in a musical.
MPHS student Julianne Donohue was nominated for Outstanding Choreography in a play or musical, specifically for her choreography in the musical numbers “Munchkinland,” “Poppies,” “Merry Land of Oz,” and “Jitterbug.”
Technical Recognition Honorees from Miller Place included Julianne Donohue, as dance captain and student choreographer, Emma Balamoti, as assistant student director and lighting designer, and Violeta Valencia, as a stage crew member.
Several pit orchestra members also received technical recognitions, including Abigail Beers on viola, Analynn Bisiani on reed 1, Brennos Blake on cello, Liliana Bosshard on cello, Lucy Chang on violin, Bernard Creedon on trumpet, Eileen Duffy on violin, Kyle Fehling on reed 2, Jacob Huwer on violin, Giovanna Kalin on piano, Grace Lassiter on viola, James Loughlin on percussion, Maura Luby on trombone, Sean Muller on percussion, Abigail O’Connor on reed 3, Nailah Rahman on bass, Kyle Reese on English horn, Diya Saini on orchestra flute, Jack Serrentino on trumpet, Emma Venegoni on oboe, and Brandon Zou on violin.
Miller Place High School students were nominated in several categories at the East End Arts’ 20th annual Teeny Awards for their spring production of “The Wizard of Oz.”The annual high school theater award show, whose name is a reference to the Tony Awards, recognized Miller Place High School among 20 other schools across Suffolk County during a ceremony on June 5 at Riverhead High School.In addition to attending the award ceremony, students performed “Munchkinland” from their spring production of “The Wizard of Oz.”
New class will be inducted during Homecoming weekend
A new group of talented athletes who have made a lasting impact on their community and beyond will be inducted into the Miller Place School District Athletic Hall of Fame during this year’s Homecoming weekend, from September 16 to 18.
First, inductees must be chosen from a pool of nominees. The MPSD Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is currently accepting nominations for graduates through the Class of 2000 and invites anyone with a candidate in mind to apply.
Forms for new applicants, or any updates to current nominees, must be postmarked by June 27. No verbal nominations will be considered. The Committee will finalize its voting process by July 15 and immediately begin notifying selected candidates.
Categories for submission include athletes, coaches/administrators, and honorary members. Honorary members are those individuals who though they were not athletes or coaches or district administrators, have supported or made a significant contribution to the Miller Place School District athletic program.
Athletes will be considered based on their athletic accomplishments and/or impact on an athletic program in high school and/or after graduation. Nominees must have character, leadership and citizenship that is representative of the Hall of Fame honor.
Coaches and administrators will be considered if they have made an outstanding contribution, shown leadership, reached an accomplishment and/or made an impact on Miller Place Athletic programs. Coaches still employed by the district are eligible for three years after separating from the sport. Retired coaches/administrators are immediately eligible after retirement.
Nomination forms are available on various social media platforms, including the MPHS Athletic Hall of Fame Facebook page, @mphs_athletic_hof Instagram page, MPSD Facebook page and MPSD Athletics Website. Good luck to all the candidates and thank you to everyone who have already submitted a nomination.
Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School launches virtual Suffolk County math tournament with 30 teams competing
To close out its Math Olympiad season, the Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School launched the first Virtual Suffolk County Math Tournament for fourth and fifth-grade students from schools across the county.
Math Olympiad Coordinator Evan Curran, who teaches fourth grade at LADSBS, created and organized a challenging and engaging full day competition that included 30 teams made up of both group and individual participants.
“The first county-wide virtual math tournament was a huge success and our students were outstanding with the effort and passion they displayed throughout the competition. I’m so happy with how it turned out and I appreciate every student who was involved out of a love for math and friendly competition,” said Mr. Curran.
Teams participated in the competition through Google Meet, where students could share their ideas with their teammates or meet teams from other schools as they took on various problem-solving activities throughout the day. Students representing LADSBS were chosen based on how they performed throughout the Math Olympiad season. Those who ranked among the top five in their grade level were the first invited to participate.
Fourth grade competitors included Zoe Brown, Liam McGrath, Joey Poerio, Anna Thompson and Luke Vogt. Fifth-grade competitors included Madison Chacon, Emmanuel Dada, Kellen Davidson, Lexis Goldberg and Conrad Lindemann.
The fifth-grade team representing LADSBS finished the competition in first place, with the highest overall score of all competing teams. The fourth-grade LADSBS team finished in third place. Fourth grader Zoe Brown finished in third place in the individual competition, with fellow fourth grader Liam McGrath finishing in seventh place. Fifth grader Emmanuel Dada finished the individual competition in third place, with fellow fifth graders Kellen Davidson in fourth place and Lexis Goldberg in tenth place.
“I want to congratulate everyone who competed from Miller Place and thank Mr. Curran for organizing such a phenomenal event. I’m thrilled that it was a success and everyone had a great time participating,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marianne Cartisano. “We are looking forward to hosting next year’s competition again in Miller Place.”
The Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School launched the first Virtual Suffolk County Math Tournament for fourth and fifth-grade students from schools across the county.The fifth-grade team representing LADSBS finished the competition in first place, with the highest overall score of all competing teams. The fourth-grade LADSBS team finished in third place.
Miller Place High School students in Michael Stano’s Design and Drawing for Production course were tasked with designing and constructing a chair out of cardboard that could support at least 120 pounds or be used by a student without breaking. Students were only permitted to use cardboard – meaning they needed to come up with a way to construct their chairs without using tape, glue, staples, nails or any other adhesive.
“This was such an exciting and challenging task for my students and I’m very impressed by the results. Not only did they listen to and apply the lessons we discussed in class, but they used their own creativity and innovation to create amazing final products,” said Mr. Stano. Prior to being assigned the task, students reviewed information related to the strength of certain materials and methods of construction, such as using tabs or slots in their cardboard to create a chair without other supplies. Students also took a deep dive into ergonomics, or the study of how someone’s working environment affects their performance. One example includes how a chair without proper posture support could impede someone’s pace or concentration. Using all that they were taught, students created various cardboard chair designs that some even used during class to work from their computers.
Miller Place High School students in Michael Stano’s Design and Drawing for Production course created chairs entirely out of cardboard as part of a design challenge.Students were tasked with creating chairs that could support at least 120 pounds or be used by a student without breaking.Students tried different methods or constructing their chairs without using tape, glue or any other adhesive.Mr. Stano taught students about the strength of certain materials and methods of construction, such as using tabs or slots in their cardboard to create a chair without other supplies.
Board of Education recognizes outstanding athletes, community service and science club accomplishments
Student excellence was celebrated at a recent Board of Education meeting in the Miller Place School District, where several students were recognized for their accomplishments in areas including athletics, community service and science.
The Board recognized the athletic achievements of Justin Klein, a senior on the Miller Place High School wrestling team; Liam Preston, a senior on the MPHS swimming team; and Danielle Cirrito, a senior on the MPHS girls’ basketball team who was also named News 12’s Scholar-Athlete. Mary Fleckenstein, a retiring MPHS swimming coach, was also honored for her dedication to the district.
The Board also lauded the community service of the North Country Road Middle School family for their launching of a food pantry to feed local families in need. The Parent Teacher Organization was acknowledged for inspiring the idea, middle school students in Boy Scout Troop 204 were recognized for their role in collecting and replenishing the pantry with food, and eighth-grade student Quinn Cantone received a special thank you for coordinating donation pick-ups in her neighborhood.
The Miller Place High School Science Club earned praise from the Board for bringing home two medals from the recent Regional Science Olympiad, where the Miller Place team participated in 12 of 21 events.
“Our students dedicate themselves and devote their time and energy to their passions while focusing on their academic careers. The Miller Place community would like to acknowledge their achievements and extend our congratulations,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Marianne Cartisano.
Justin Klein, a senior on the wrestling team at Miller Place High School with Coach Dom LoRe, left, Coach Matt Kaszubski and Athletic Director Ron Petrie.Liam Preston, a senior on the boys’ swimming team at Miller Place High School with Coach Mary Fleckenstein, left, and Mr. Petrie. Danielle Cirrito, a senior on the girls’ basketball team at Miller Place High School, pictured with Mr. Petrie.The Miller Place Board of Education congratulated the community service of the North Country Road Middle School community, including the NCRMS PTO, students in Boy Scout Troop 204 and 8th grade Quinn Cantone.Miller Place High School Science Club members with Advisor Ron Skolnick, left, and Principal Kevin Slavin.
Troop 960 Scouts plant flower beds outside elementary school
Rows of pink tulips and multicolored pansies adorn the entrance to Andrew Muller Primary School thanks to a group of the school’s students in Girl Scouts/Daisy Troop 960. The young Scouts planted the spring flowers, which were donated by local garden center GardenWorx LI, at the entranceway of their elementary school to celebrate spring and spread joy to their teachers and classmates as they enter and leave the building.
“I’m so proud of these girls for creating such a beautiful display for staff and students to see as they come and go to school. What a great way to welcome the new season and give back to the Miller Place community,” AMPS Principal Laura Gewurz said.
The project is part of the Girl Scout’s commitment to make their community and the world a better and more beautiful place. Through the beautification effort, the Scouts completed their Flower and Garden Journey badges. Earning the Flower and Garden Journey badge includes exploring the world of gardening, starting a mini garden at home, learning about composting and learning how insects like ladybugs and bees help flowers grow. Daisy Scouts also take a field trip to a public garden and talk to a gardener or beekeeper.
Once all the above is completed, Scouts earn three leadership awards – the Watering Can Award, Golden Honey Bee Award and Amazing Daisy Award. Then, Scouts plan a “Take Action” project that involves bringing what they learned to their community through a beautification project.
Students who contributed to the project at Andrew Muller Primary School and earned their badges included Molly Samonas, Jessie Maldonado, Delaney Kruse, Ellie Jackowski, Hailey Fisher, McKenna Stingo, Sadie Pachter, Elaina Giannino, Lylah Anschel, Lilah Ebert and Addie Lafler.
Andrew Muller Primary School students in Girl Scouts/Daisy Troop 960 recently planted tulips and pansies in the entrance of the elementary school to welcome spring and complete their Flower and Garden Journey badges.
Miller Place High School gave its psychology students a dog day afternoon – literally – with a lesson on the benefits of dog-assisted therapy.
Classes met with volunteers from the Long Island chapter of Love on a Leash, a nonprofit that provides dog-assisted therapy to facilities like nursing homes and hospitals. Volunteers shared how animal-assisted therapy is used to enhance the recovery of patients with varying physical and mental illnesses. At the end of the presentation, students had a chance to meet the dogs and their handlers.
“This program gave our students a chance to learn about a valuable therapy practice from those who practice it. The students thoroughly enjoyed the experience,” said psychology teacher Tara Penske.
While animal-assisted therapy has been growing in popularity in recent history, the practice has been studied for over a century. Florence Nightingale, considered the founder of modern nursing, recognized its potential in the late 1800s when she paired children and adults in psychiatric institutions with small pets. In her renowned 1859 book, Notes on Nursing, she recorded how having an animal companion helped her patients recover.
Dr. Sigmund Freud revived a public interest in animal therapy, specifically with dogs, in the 1930s when he brought his own pet Jo-Fi to therapy sessions and noted the calming affect it had on his patients.
In 1961, Dr. Boris Levinson became known as the “father of animal-assisted therapy” when he accidentally left his dog Jingles alone with a young patient who was withdrawn and nonverbal. On returning, Dr. Levinson found the boy communicating with Jingles. He began using Jingles in his child psychotherapy sessions and wrote a book in 1969 called Pet-Oriented Child Psychotherapy.
Dogs are most often used in animal-assisted therapy because of their nonjudgmental nature and desire to protect others, which helps patients break down their emotional barriers.
“This was such a great opportunity for our psychology students to learn about a unique therapy technique that is becoming increasingly prevalent. It’s always great to bring experiential learning to the classroom and I’m grateful for our psychology teachers for hosting such a great program,” said Kevin Slavin, Principal of Miller Place High School.
Love on a Leash is a nonprofit that offers a certification process for volunteers to become qualified to provide effective dog-assisted therapy services in their community. Therapy pets and their handlers visit wherever they are invited and have held sessions at nursing homes, hospitals, schools, behavioral centers, private homes and other facilities – all free of charge.
The nonprofit launched in San Diego in the 1980s and has since expanded to almost every state in the U.S. As of April 2022, there are over 2,400 members volunteering as therapy teams with dogs, cats and rabbits.
Emma LaMountain and Diya Saini are the Class of 2022 valedictorian and salutatorian
Emma LaMountain and Diya Saini have been named the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, for the Class of 2022 at Miller Place High School. Emma has earned the top-grade point average (GPA) of her graduating class with a cumulative GPA of 101.69. Diya has the second highest, with a cumulative GPA of 101.52. The academic success of both students exemplifies the intellect and commitment they have put into their education throughout their academic careers.
Emma is an Advanced Placement Scholar, was awarded Academic All-County by the Suffolk County Women’s Basketball Coaches Association and was named to the Suffolk County Girls Soccer Academic All County team. She was also recognized as a NYSPHSAA Scholar-Athlete and is captain of the Miller Place Varsity Girls’ Lacrosse and Basketball teams. Emma is a member of the National Honor Society, Athletes Helping Athletes, and the Service Club.
Emma plans on attending Cornell University to study Biology on a pre-medical school track in September.
Diya is an Advanced Placement Scholar, a member of the National Honor Society, Tri-M Honor Society and the Foreign Language Honor Society, and was a participant in the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Summit.
Diya is the Class of ‘22 Vice President. She is also a member of the Miller Place School Improvement Team and the Service Club. As a sports standout, Diya is captain of the Miller Place Varsity Girls’ Badminton team. She also boasts a music background and is a member of the Panther Players pit orchestra and was selected as an All-County bassoonist. Diya is a member of the Miller Place School Improvement Team (SIT) and Service Club, and is a coordinator for the NSHOA Cancer Specialists medical group.
Diya is awaiting a response from her first choice, Yale University. She has also applied to Columbia, Cornell, Harvard, Northeastern, Princeton, Stony Brook and Tufts. She plans to study environmental science.
Emma LaMountain has been named valedictorian for the Class of 2022 at Miller Place High SchoolDiya Saini has been named salutatorian for the Class of 2022 at Miller Place High School
