Athletes Recognized at Hampton Bays
January was the month for celebrating achievements in sports at Hampton Bays Middle School and High School.
Among the athletic events highlighted during the month was the fifth annual “Spirit Week” at both the middle school and high school, with games in a variety of sports—including basketball, volleyball and wrestling—held each day of the week from January 9-13. A school colors contest was held that week, with points awarded for wearing purple and white. The winning class, the seniors, received a $500 donation from the Hampton Bays Booster Club and was awarded the 2012 Championship Trophy.
The Hampton Bays Booster Club also held a “Winter Fest Scholarship Fundraiser” at Oakland’s Restaurant on Saturday, January 28. Almost $6,000 was raised at the event.
Also in January, the varsity field hockey team was selected by the Field Hockey Officials Association for the Marilyn Cross Sportsmanship Award. The team was the only one selected for the honor, according to Athletic Director Drew Walker.
Senior Andrew Morris was recognized by Suffolk County and is a proud recipient of the Golden 11 Award. He was one of only eleven senior football players in the county recognized by the National Football Foundation for excellence in the classroom and on the field.
December events were also recognized this month by the school. Seniors Lexi Giannone and Perry Friscia were acknowledged as the Hampton Bays Suffolk Zone Award winners for their excellence in physical education, as well as for their leadership, strong academics and community service endeavors. The Suffolk Zone Award Dinner was held on December 7.
At the very end of December, the annual Hampton Bays Varsity Basketball Coaches vs. Cancer Holiday Tournament was held. The two-day fundraising event was held on December 27 and 28 at the high school. Approximately $7,000 was raised at the tournament and donated to the American Cancer Society.
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Creating College Awareness
Making sure that students are aware of all positive life, career and educational choices is a primary goal for administrators and staff at Hampton Bays Middle School.
According to Middle School Principal Dennis Schug, College Awareness Day is a very eye-opening and rewarding experience for the middle school students. The college and career readiness experience for eighth graders was held on Wednesday, January 4, and included talks with college-age former Hampton Bays students and children of the district’s staff.
For this year’s College Awareness Day, students from Colgate, Olin College of Engineering, Wentworth Institute of Technology, SUNY Oneonta, SUNY Geneseo, St. John’s University, MIT, SUNY Plattsburgh, Suffolk County Community College and Boston College came and discussed their experiences with members of the eighth-grade class. Everything from how to choose the right school, to the typical day of a college student, to how to pay for education was discussed during the fourth annual event.
“We are making that investment in the long term,” Mr. Schug said during a sit-down talk with school counselor Laurie O’Halloran in early January. “This college and career readiness piece is a constant conversation about real-world demands.”
“In this day and age, having options for higher education is really important for our students, and the sooner they know those options, the better,” Ms. O’Halloran added.
Making sure that students at the middle school are aware of post-high school educational options is key, Mr. Schug said. He reported that he and his staff are committed to presenting those opportunities wherever possible. Currently, each class, from grades 5 through 8, incorporates a college visit during an annual field trip.
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Students of the Month Honored
December Students of the Month were recognized during the Hampton Bays Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, January 10.
Three students, one from the elementary school, one from the middle school and one from the high school, received plaques and words of commendation from their respective principals during the meeting. Fourth grader Sam Billingham, eighth grader Isaac Brown and senior Perry Friscia were each recognized for their exemplary scholarship and leadership.
Sam was joined at the ceremony by first-grade teacher Joan Barker and music teacher Steve Piliero. Hampton Bays Elementary School Principal Marc Meyer said that Sam is “off to an outstanding start” this school year and noted that “the way he gets along with students is second to none.” When he grows up, Sam wants to play baseball for the Mets and be a professional musician, Mr. Meyer said, adding that Sam’s favorite song is “Hey Soul Sister” by Train.
Isaac, a member of the Big 12 team, is “an absolute superstar and role model in the classroom” according to Hampton Bays Middle School Principal Dennis Schug. According to Mr. Schug, Isaac is passionate about social studies and is a triple threat when it comes to athletics, as he plays soccer, basketball and baseball. The Boston Red Sox fan plans on attending Boston University and becoming an architect.
Perry came straight to the meeting from the basketball court, where he started off the scoring in a winning game against Mattituck. The National Honor Society member is a “model of good character and conduct,” Hampton Bays High School Principal Christopher Richardt noted, adding that Perry has already been accepted to Roger Williams University, Siena College, St. Bonaventure University and Saint Leo University. He plans to study business and finance.
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Honoring Our Veteran, Ms. Marilouise Kelly
The American Flag flies in the Hampton Bays Public Schools this month for our neighbor and local hero, Marilouise Kelly.
Marilouise was born in Flushing, New York and grew up in Elmhurst Queens with her two siblings, Paula and Bobby. Marilouise attended Mount Sinai School of Nursing and graduated with honors as a Registered Nurse. Marilouise volunteered for the Army Nurse Corps and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant at Fort Totten, NY. She was assigned to care for solders returning from combat in North Africa. In 1943, she was sent to England to work at the 231 Station Hospital, 60 miles north of London. The number of casualties and those injured in the “Battle of the Bulge” was enormous and they were treated at that hospital.
Marilouise married Gene Kelly when he returned from combat in Okinawa after having served with the 536 ATB. They married on April 25, 1946 in St. Bartholomew’s Church and were blessed with seven children by 1947 - 3 boys and 4 girls. She attended Hunter College and graduated with a Degree in Education. In 1970 she became an accomplished assistant professor of the faculty of Nassau Community College School of Nursing. There, she contributed as an author to textbooks that forever changed the lives of many nursing students and colleagues.
Marilouise remains an active member of the Hampton Bays Senior Center and is also a respected member of the American Legion and VFW. She attended the opening of the WWII monument and is honored in the Women’s Memorial for America’s Military Women in Washington D.C.
The Hampton Bays Public Schools thanks Marilouise Kelly for her service and is proud to recognize her by flying a flag in her honor for the entire month of January at the Hampton Bays Elementary School!
Health Notice
Please see the attached notice regarding the existence of Pertussis (Whooping Cough) in the Hampton Bays School District. As the news has reported, there are high rates of reported cases of Pertussis throughout Suffolk County. The attached letter mentions symptoms and signs and gives background information on Pertussis. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Suffolk County Department of Health or your child's School Nurse.
Click here for more information (English)
Click here for more information (Spanish)
Guest Chefs
Introducing healthy food into school lunches just got a little easier at Hampton Bays Middle School. The reason: the Guest Chef program.
The monthly program, which began in November, features a local guest chef who visits the school to prepare healthy and delicious meals for the students. In December, Chef Charles from Villa Paul dropped by and served up Italian specialties, including pasta fagiole, Caesar salad, sausage and beef lasagna, grilled eggplant parmesan and apple cobbler.
“We’ve got a local celebrity chef making delicious food. It’s a home run,” Hampton Bays District Superintendent Lars Clemensen said while enjoying lunch prepared by Chef Charles. “We’re getting kids to eat healthy. It’s a good day in the school.”
According to Hampton Bays District Business Administrator Larry Luce, the program is all about introducing kids to healthy meals made from scratch, with new items that students may not have had before. “Getting kids to eat eggplant, wow!” he said of Chef Charles’s visit.
All the food for the program is supplied by the school, and the chef volunteers his or her time, according to Mr. Luce. There is a slight additional food expense for the program, which the district pays at no additional cost to the students.
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Students Recognized for Excellence
The achievements of more than two dozen students were recognized during the December Hampton Bays Board of Education meeting.
Hampton Bays District Superintendent Lars Clemensen awarded middle school students and gifted vocalists Lily Spellman and Ava Bianchi special Patriotism Awards for their service to the school.
“These singers use their powers for good,” Mr. Clemensen said. “Every time we have an event, we can count on these two ladies.”
He went on to report that both Ms. Spellman and Ms. Bianchi had gone above and beyond to show up at the Shinnecock Inlet in the pouring rain on Wednesday, December 7, to sing for the 70th annual Pearl Harbor service for members of the American Legion Hand-Aldrich Post 924.
Fire Prevention Campaign winners in grades K through 8 were also recognized at the Board of Education meeting. Each winner received $25 gift certificates, presented by Joe Modjeska and Leigh Penny of the Hampton Bays Volunteer Fire Department, for their winning entries in the Fire Prevention Poster and Essay Contests.
Winners included: Emma Halsey, Joseph Arroyo, Adriana Mauricio, Evelyn Koziol, Liam Sutton, Alyson Francolini, Meegan Lennon, Alexis Rivas, Daniel Comenzo, Priscila Putzulo, Justin Korczak, Garrett Francolini, Sofia Gonzalez, Tristan Halsey, Lily Candelaria, Maria Jose Duran, Joey Sapio, Cassandra Strobel, Conor Fleming, Melissa Carranza, Sage McMorris, Stephanie Cruz, Raven Stephens, Julia Dzakonski, David Ramirez, Shannon Rey and Alicia Golyski.
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Students of the Month Honored
November Students of the Month were recognized during the Hampton Bays December Board of Education meeting.
Three students, one from the elementary school, one from the middle school and one from the high school, received plaques and words of commendation from their respective principals during the meeting. Second grader Josephine Perl, seventh grader Christina Pasca and sophomore Taylor Catz were each recognized for their exemplary scholarship and leadership.
Josephine was nominated for Student of the Month by her teacher, Barbara Ferucci, who assisted Hampton Bays Elementary School Principal Marc Meyer in presenting her student with her plaque. Also joining the educators were Josephine’s little brothers, Nate and Leo. “She’s so special that Ms. Ferucci insisted on being here tonight,” Mr. Meyer said, adding that Josephine loves literature, singing and dancing. Her goal is to travel around the world as a professional singer and dancer, Mr. Meyer said.
Christina is “an absolute pleasure to be around” and “oozes enthusiasm,” according to Hampton Bays Middle School Principal Dennis Schug. “She’s so well-rounded it’s incredible,” he added. Christina not only excels at school—her favorite subjects are science and English—but she also volunteers at a horse rehabilitation center, plays the xylophone, and loves to go sailing with her sister. Her goal is to become a veterinarian’s assistant when she turns 14, Mr. Schug reported.
Taylor was nominated for Student of the Month by his global history teacher, Danielle Russo, according to Hampton Bays High School Principal Christopher Richardt. Mr. Richardt said that he received the nomination from Ms. Russo just as he was signing Taylor’s commendation for making the honor roll. Taylor is an “outstanding young man and a three-sport athlete,” Mr. Richardt said, and he hopes to attend Penn State University and go on to become a sports commentator.
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