A kind gesture can go a long way; that’s what students at Andrew Muller Primary School (AMPS) in Miller Place are learning as they continue spreading kindness throughout the building. Students and staff recently celebrated “Kindness Day,” a busy day filled with team building activities to promote unity and kindness.

“The goal is to instill good character among our students,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of Miller Place School District. “Kindness Day is a great teaching moment for our students. They learn the value of being kind to one another within the context of working together towards a common goal, following directions and working hard as a team. It’s a great opportunity for our students to bond with their peers and develop new friendships.”

To kick off the day, each student had a unique grand entrance—they entered the classroom doors either performing a high five, twirl, dance move, hug, or big smile. Teachers facilitated a morning meeting to discuss kindness and the legacy and message of Dr. Martin Luther King—how he wanted everyone to have equal rights and to be treated based on the kind of person they were, not what they looked like. Kindergarteners began the day with Mem Fox’s Whoever You Are, a book that urges readers to accept individual differences, to recognize similarities and most importantly to rejoice in both. First graders read The Crayon Box That Talked, a story that discusses cooperation and the beauty of working together. Margery Cuyler’s and Sachiko Yoshikawa’s Kindness Is Cooler, Mrs. Ruler was read with second grade classes to teach students a lesson on support and the golden rule: kindness is cool!

In each classroom, teachers facilitated several ice breaker activities to better familiarize students in different classes with one another. They discussed their favorite colors and foods, pets and siblings they have, and afterschool activities they participate in. Before lunch, the students created ‘snowballs’ out of paper with their names written at the center. The snowballs were placed in a bucket for students to randomly select from and then share something nice about that student with the class. After reading Dr. Seuss’ The Sneetches, each student cut out a hand on construction paper to write gestures they can do to make the world a better place. Responses included smile, hug, tell a joke, and give a compliment. To conclude Kindness Day, AMPS’s students and staff gathered in three concentric circles for a building wide sing along of “Count On Me” by Bruno Mars.

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

Miller Place School District (MPSD) recently held a special assembly at North Country Road Middle School to raise awareness of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Mr. Chris Pendergast, a Miller Place native and courageous fighter of ALS, returned to the district to speak with students about his journey over the last 25 years.

“Mr. Pendergast is a special member here in the Miller Place-Sound Beach community,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of Miller Place School District. “Each year our students look forward to hearing Chris’ story of perseverance and commitment to raise awareness for the ALS cause, something that directly aligns with the District’s initiative to encourage students to have a positive impact on the world.”

North Country Road Middle School’s students in sixth, seventh, and eighth grade listened attentively to Mr. Pendergast’s story about his advocacy efforts and how his devotion and perseverance inspired the Ride for Life organization, a charity that raises money and awareness for ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease. The presentation honed in on an important message for students to never give up and overcoming the odds. Students were also amazed by Mr. Pendergast’s ability to utilize advanced technology equipment to type using his eyes and speak through a computerized voice.

For the last 25 years, students and educators across Long Island and New York City have helped Mr. Pendergast raise more than $7 million for research and patient services. This year alone, the Miller Place School District has worked together to raise more than $5,500 for the organization through different initiatives including Kick Out ALS and Spirit Week.

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

The Miller Place School District’s North Country Road Middle School is thrilled to recognize four exceptional students—Christopher Barton, grade 7; Leo Lin, grade 8; Russell Platt, grade 7; and Lilah Lindemann, grade 8—who were recently invited to compete in the annual American Mathematics Competition for eighth graders.

Christopher, NCRMS’s top scorer of the competition, earned a gold medal in addition to an honor roll certificate for scoring in the top 5% of the competition nationwide. Lilah was also recognized as one of NCRMS’s highest scorers and received a silver medal for her accomplishment. Leo and Russell’s hard work and dedication earned them each a well-deserved spot in third place—both took home a bronze medal for their scores.

The AMC 8 competition is designed for middle school students and its purpose is to provide an opportunity for 8^th graders to demonstrate their knowledge and ability in the area of mathematics. Students participate in a 25-question, 40-minute multiple choice examination designed to promote the development and enhancement of problem solving skills. Congratulations to all involved, with a special thank you to Mrs. Maureen Radday, math teacher at NCRMS, for all of her efforts in providing this opportunity for our students.

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

The Miller Place School District recently recognized 12 students from Miller Place High School for their random acts of kindness and stellar educational achievement. Students either received an Outstanding Acts of Kindness (OAK) or Outstanding Academic Recognition (OAR) award at a breakfast in the presence of family and friends.

“We are thrilled to recognize these twelve students who go above and beyond in the classroom, inside the high school, and throughout the surrounding community—a representation of what all Miller Place educators seek to inspire in our students,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of Miller Place School District. “These twelve students’ high marks in rigorous courses, participation in extracurriculars, and their commitment to being positive role models for their peers make our District extremely proud. Congratulations to all involved in these wonderful achievements.”

Students who qualify for the OAK award have been “caught” in the act of being great by displaying selfless behavior. One example is when a student helps a peer or faculty member in need with no expectation of material return. These students demonstrate the sense of spirit the District aims to achieve throughout the school community and serve as role models for others in the building. Recipients of the OAK award this year include Tristan Bailey, Jake Froese, David Miekley, Mary Rozensky, Jack Soldano, and Christopher Waldemar.

To meet the requirements for the OAR award, students must distinguish themselves as academic inspirations and have successfully risen to the educational challenges presented to them. These students either met long-term goals or are students who have exhibited commendable improvement. This year’s recipients include Alexis Biscardi, Dylan Flerx, Charlotte Gann, Ann Marie McNulty, Lily Newman, Emma Walsh.

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

Miller Place School District is proud to recognize two students—Lauren Barnes and Olivia Shamberger—who have recently exhibited exceptional leadership in the community. Lauren and Olivia both earned themselves different opportunities to attend honorable leadership programs this past summer, representing the Miller Place School District in an exceptional light.

“The District encourages our students to pursue any opportunity that will foster growth and academics,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of Miller Place School District. “We could not be more proud of Lauren and Olivia. Their remarkable leadership roles are a representation of their hard work and dedication to their studies and our district. We are excited to see what Lauren and Olivia do with their new skills as they grow into leaders of their generation.”

Lauren Barnes attended a two-week program at the Brown Leadership Institute for Global Health at Brown University this past summer where she further developed her leadership skills. The rigorous program encourages students to grow in leadership by organizing an initiative for change in their community. With a goal to impact her community, Lauren wrote an extensive paper focused on Food Insecurity in shelters and lower income neighborhoods. With the help of MPHS’s science club, Lauren aims to create a sustainable change in MPHS by working on the “Giving Green” project with the newly donated greenhouse to provide food to the local homeless shelter, Pax Christi.

Olivia Shamberger spent this past summer with the Ambassador Leadership Program “Hunger around the World” at Harvard Law. Partnered with United Way, the program focused on worldwide hunger issues to serve the greater good through intense discussions, sight-seeing, and hands-on service projects. In addition, Olivia also spent part of her summer at Yale University for Students for the Gifted (SIG), a program that introduces students to new subject areas and recreational activities to enrich their natural talents. Olivia was also chosen to represent MPHS at the Hugh O’Brian Youth (HOBY) Leadership summer program where she gained knowledge of leadership skills. In her future, Olivia plans to use these skills to obtain a medical degree and become a psychiatrist.

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

ABOVE: Miller Place High School’sOlivia Shamberger spent this past summer with the Ambassador Leadership Program “Hunger around the World” at Harvard Law. Partnered with United Way, the program focused on worldwide hunger issues to serve the greater good through intense discussions, sight-seeing, and hands-on service projects.

BELOW: Miller Place High School’s Lauren Barnes aims to create a sustainable change in MPHS by working on the “Giving Green” project with the newly donated greenhouse to provide food to the local homeless shelter, Pax Christi.

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The Miller Place School District recently opened the doors to the new library space at Andrew Muller Primary School (AMPS). The space is designed to support a love of learning, engineering and research in a modern world.

 “This new library space at AMPS will help our students stay up-to-date on skills and technology, and will also engage them in learning and exploration, making their school days more exciting,” stated Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of Miller Place School District. “We are thrilled to be able to give our students this learning tool that will help foster their passions in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and for many, serve as a launchpad for a future career path.”

The library houses over 11,000 books. Book bins in the library are at student height, enticing them to peruse non-fiction topics of interest alongside high quality chapter and picture books. Underneath, and on other shelves, six tablets are available for students to learn basic coding and computer graphics/painting. A Lego wall, robots and other building materials are strategically placed around the library as they spark student’s imagination and problem solving skills. Students can sit on colorful chairs, relax in soft recliners, lay on cushioned cubes or sit on reading risers. Most furniture and storage bins are on wheels, allowing for flexible spaces to work. Even the Smart Board is movable enabling demonstrations to take place anywhere in the library. During library visits, classes will split in half—one half working on literacy activities, and the other half working on Makerspace activities.

“Our staff has noticed a significant increase in students’ excitement about library time,” said Laura Gewurz, Principal of Andrew Muller Primary School.  “Students are eager to tell me about stories they’ve heard, creative stories they’ve written and projects they are or have built in the new space. The engagement and happiness evident on our students’ faces during library time is palpable.”

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

Dozens of Miller Place High School student athletes have chosen to take a proactive approach to the issue of rising substance abuse on Long Island by becoming involved in the Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA) program. Throughout the school year, MPHS’s AHA members visit students at Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School (LADSBS) and North Country Road Middle School (NCRMS) to discuss the significance of leading a drug-free lifestyle, the advantages of being involved in extracurricular activities, and the value of working towards a leadership position in the community.

“It’s inspiring to see first-hand the impact our high school students have on children in the lower grades,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of Miller Place School District. “The high school athletes volunteer their time to provide proper guidance to our elementary and middle school students. The District is proud to offer a program that better acquaints our younger students with exemplary upperclassman and encourages them to become involved in extracurricular activities and embrace a drug-free lifestyle.”

The group of high school athletes meet with students at Laddie A. Decker Sound Beach School (LADSBS) and North Country Road Middle School (NCRMS) to talk to them as friends in an unstructured, relaxed, non-threatening environment.  During visits, AHA members cover a variety of topics including self-esteem, sportsmanship, bullying, and substance abuse.  LADSBS and NCRMS students have an opportunity to ask questions in an inclusive and judgement-free zone, and hear first-hand stories about the AHA members’ encounters with friends, family or teammates who have found themselves in complex situations.

The Athletes Helping Athletes organization trains and prepares high school student athlete leaders to address complex social issues and provide alternative solutions to the peer pressure often times faced by younger members of the community.

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

The Miller Place School District is pleased to announce the launch of the District’s official Facebook page! To keep up with the emerging technology-dependent society we live in, the social media account will be operated as an additional platform to promote District and school-specific events, activities, and accomplishments with members of the Miller Place School District community.

“As social media becomes embedded in our daily lives, the District is excited to offer our community another form of communication regarding school news and accomplishments through a Facebook page,” said Dr. Marianne Cartisano, Superintendent of Miller Place School District.

The objective of the social media account is to provide information to the Miller Place School District community. The Facebook page will disseminate information regarding District and school programs, events, and important announcements including Board of Education meetings, emergency alerts, etc. Posts will also include student achievements, academic and athletic accomplishments, and information about informative student assemblies, educational field trips and fascinating student projects.

While the page will serve as a platform for the District to broadcast information out to the community about students, staff, and the greater school community, there are specific guidelines followers must adhere to. The page will not permit outside posts. Additionally, commenting will be restricted. While the District understands that Facebook is designed to be an interactive platform, to create a page that allows commenting—and consequently the requirement that the District be able to respond in a timely fashion to comments and/or questions—would require the District to allocate both personnel and financial resources to the close monitoring of the page on a daily, almost 24/7 basis. At the current time, the District does not consider that a responsible use of District funds. For the page’s initial launch, all comments will be restricted, whether positive, negative or in question format. Community members who have questions or comments should continue to use the communication channels they have always used, including contacting a teacher or building principal, or when appropriate, District administration.

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