Congratulations Devin Becker, Isabella Bierdzinski, Tony Chang, Mei Frawley and Michael Luo
Miller Place, New York (November 2020)—Congratulations to Miller Place High School’s five students—Devin Becker, Isabella Bierdzinski, Tony Chang, Mei Frawley, and Michael Luo—who have been named Commended Scholars in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. The students recently placed in the top five percent of the 1.5 million high school students who participated in the nationwide 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, earning them the Commended Scholar designation. In recognition of their scholastic achievement, each student will receive a Letter of Commendation from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.
MPSD Incorporates Multidisciplinary Learning in Celebration of Halloween
Miller Place, N.Y. (November 2020)—Students and staff at Andrew Muller Primary School (AMPS) in the Miller Place School District had pumpkin to talk about during the building’s recent Pumpkin Patch event for kindergarteners. Together, AMPS’ young students commemorated the holiday through a multidisciplinary approach by incorporating English Language Arts (ELA) and science to engage in imaginative ways. In ELA, classes took pen to paper for a writing assignment that utilized adjectives and sentences to describe the students’ perspectives of pumpkins. In science, classes assessed and analyzed the growth of pumpkins, as well as the life cycle.
Miller Place’s Middle School Students Recognized for Exceptional Character
North Country Road Middle School in Miller Place is excited to announce its Coupons for Characters recipients for September— Brett Winslow, grade 6; Joe Terranova, grade 7; Carolena Hanauer, grade 8. These distinguished students were recognized for serving as positive role models, promoting respect and encouraging their peers to build a caring school community. Each month, the names of students who have demonstrated exceptional character are put into a container in the building’s main office. At the end of the month, three students’ names are randomly selected to receive a prize for their leadership. Students whose names were put into the jar, but not selected, receive a letter of recognition for their commitment to making NCRMS an outstanding place to learn and gain leadership skills.
BRETT WINSLOW, GRADE 6, WAS SELECTED AS A SEPTEMBER COUPON FOR CHARACTER RECIPIENT.
JOE TERRANOVA, GRADE 7, WAS SELECTED AS A SEPTEMBER COUPON FOR CHARACTER RECIPIENT
CAROLENA HANAUER, GRADE 8, WAS SELECTED AS A SEPTEMBER COUPON FOR CHARACTER RECIPIENT.
Sixth Grader Dylan Lempin Receives Kindle for Summer Reading Success
Miller Place, New York (October 2020)—With the 2020-21 school year in full swing, North Country Road Middle School in the Miller Place School District has concluded its NCRMS Library Summer Reading Challenge and is pleased to announce this year’s prize recipient—sixth grader Dylan Lempin. In recognition of his hard work and success in the program, Dylan was presented with a brand-new Kindle Fire 7, a generous donation from the Miller Place PTO.
Throughout the summer, NCRMS students were encouraged to keep a record of the books they read and complete tasks on the library’s Choice Board, an interactive learning menu that enables students to have a choice in their work. Tasks ranged from “read a biography” and “read an award-winning book” to more complex like “if you could step into a book you’ve read, which one would it be and why?” and “write a letter to a character in one of your books.”
The NCRMS Library Summer Reading Challenge encourages students to continue reading throughout the summer months to enhance their independent reading skills, expand their vocabulary, and broaden their ideas and experiences. All NCRMS students that participated in the program, and successfully completed it, had their name submitted into the raffle for this year’s prize.
Sixth Grader Dylan Lempin with NCRMS Principal Mr. Matt Clark.
MPSD Teacher TinaMarie DeFalco Featured in LILT’s Newsletter
Miller Place, New York (October 2020)—The Miller Place Union Free School District is proud to announce that TinaMarie DeFalco, a World Language educator in the District, was recognized by the Long Island Language Teachers, Inc. (LILT) for her outstanding contributions in making a difference in the lives of her students and colleagues. TinaMarie, who teaches French at North Country Road Middle School and Miller Place High School, was selected to be interviewed and featured in LILT’s September newsletter.
With a desire and passion to help others, coupled with her interest in world languages and cultures, TinaMarie always believed she was destined to become a teacher. In college, TinaMarie enrolled in French and Italian courses to study the grammar and cultures of the two languages. It was then she decided to obtain a Bachelor of Art in French as her avenue to pursue a career in education to help others and share her love of languages.
As a third-year world language educator, TinaMarie discussed how presenting yourself as an organized individual and developing an organizational style that matches your instructional style will positively contribute to your professional career. Many of TinaMarie’s successes as an educator can be attributed to the confidence and passion she demonstrates for teaching. Her ability to motivate Miller Place’s students to become excited about learning a second language has been a cornerstone of her success as a teacher and mentor.
Last year, TinaMarie presented at LILT’s Annual Conference and will be returning as co-presenter this November. Her participation in the organization has been key in developing professional relationships with colleagues and friends in her field throughout Long Island. The Long Island Language Teachers, Inc. is composed of Long Island’s most distinguished language educators for K-16 and supervisors of World Languages, ENL (English as a New Language), and ASL (American Sign Language). The organization is committed to providing ample opportunities to develop content knowledge, pedagogical and professional skills for the member and its students.
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
