The Huntington Blue Devil marching band enjoyed a sensational weekend. The band performed at halftime of the Huntington football team’s game against visiting Smithtown East. The group then traveled to an evening competition at Sachem, where the band finished in first place with a score of 80.050.
The Blue Devils tied powerful Kingston for first place at Sunday’s competition at Arlington. Huntington notched a season high score of 86.350. The final regular season competition is set for next Saturday at Mineola. The state championships will follow on Sunday, October 27 at the Syracuse Carrier Dome.
“This weekend was a great one for the band,” drum major Robert Jean-Gilles said. “Energy was there at every competition. I can’t wait to see what the band brings in its final two weeks.
Featured Artists at Jefferson and Washington Schools
In collaboration with art teacher Maria Mazzola, Jefferson Primary School and Washington Primary School features one artist from each classroom every month. Now in its fourth year, the program has generated plenty of excitement among students.
Jefferson Primary School’s Featured Artists of the Month include Allison Aguilar, Maxwell Araujo Yanes, Aylin Benitez Sanchez, Logan Boccard, Sophia Boyle, Rosie Carrillo, Mira Dondero, Daniel Flores Andrade, Luca Garcia, Grace Gonzalez, Daniel Kasindorf, Lillian Materese, Gabriel MacManus, Diego Nunez Ulloa and Eliana Stellato.
Washington Primary School’s Featured Artists of the Month include:
Kindergarten: Arohi Raj, Brooke Brignoli, Anderson Royce, Maxwell Brown; First grade: Raedyn Gunnarson, Matthew Alfaro, Thomas Evernham, Summer Lopez Berrios; Second grade: Sofia Felice, Jason Bencivenga, Savanna Sturges; Third grade: Daniel Rodriquez, Darren Krantz, Jr., Lucca Fiore, Lauren Lewis
Students took photos with their respective principal. The award winning artwork is being displayed in their school’s main hallway.
The Huntington School District has long enjoyed a strong art program with outstanding student artists. The highlight of the year is always the annual art show in the Huntington High School gym. The event showcases the top artwork produced by students on every grade level spread across K-12.
This year’s art show is set for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 19-20. The show coincides with the district’s annual budget vote and trustee election. The exhibit will feature artwork ranging from painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and computer graphics to advertising, fashion design, photography and video arts.
Admission to the show is free and open to the public. The pieces will include every type of media and showcase the numerous opportunities available to students in fine and computer-generated art studies. The event will also include a fashion show consisting of student clothing designs.
Some of the works on display will carry ribbons of excellence, designating the piece as one of “high merit,” in the opinion of a distinguished panel of judges that will be reviewing the exhibits.
Science Honor Society Induction Ceremony
Huntington High School’s National Science Honor Society chapter will hold this year’s induction ceremony on Wednesday, October 23 in the School Heritage Museum.
Lia Shechter (president), Peyton Kalb (vice president), Abigail Semelsberger (recording secretary), Ava Waxenberg (treasurer), Abigail Holmes (tutoring coordinator), Oskar Kilgour (financial advisor) and Matthew Gennarelli (fundraising coordinator) are this year’s officers. Teachers Dame Forbes and Lori Kenny serve as the organization’s faculty advisors.
Membership in the organization is based upon scholarship, character and service. Students who are currently enrolled in a Regents level or higher science course and have completed two years of high school Regents level science are eligible along with any student who has demonstrated exceptional scientific talents.
Applicants were asked to submit a personal statement addressing the following questions: What makes you a different or unique candidate to become part of the National Science Honor Society? What visions and expectations do you have for the National Science Honor Society? How could you contribute to the success of the Huntington High School chapter of the National Science Honor Society?
Washington Principal’s Book of the Month
Washington Principal Michelle Richards’ book of the month for October is “Dreamers” by Yuyi Morales. It tells an interesting story about a woman and her son.
“I had the opportunity to read this book for the first time last summer,” Dr. Richards said. “I fell in love with it from the cover to the last page.”
The Principal’s Book of the Month initiative seeks to “foster an environment of reading aloud books from all walks of life,” Dr. Richards said.
Washington’s teachers have been encouraged to “take time to enjoy this book with our students,” Dr. Richards said. “The illustrations are wonderful works of art. The colors dance off the page. Be creative with the discussions. Allow the students to share their connections to the story. The ultimate goal is for students to create various extensions to the text that can be shared with the Washington community.”
Dr. Richards said she would “love” to visit classrooms and read aloud to students from the book.
Alum Drum Major Visits Band at Arlington Competition
Huntington Blue Devil marching band drum major alum Katie Riley took time out from her studies at Quinnipiac University to visit with this year’s band at their competition at Arlington last weekend. The performance earned the band its highest score of the fall.
Ms. Riley spoke with current drum majors Michael Reed, Robert Jean-Gilles and Jennifer Low and field major Andrew Knowles. She also spent time with many other members of the band and color guard, along with the professional staff members.
She will graduate from Quinnipiac’s six year physician assist program with bachelor and master degrees in health science studies/physician assistant. She ultimately plans to practice in a primary care setting while being able to explore other specialties.
Co-captain of her Relay For Life team as a sophomore and junior, Ms. Riley was a Natural Helper throughout high school, helping others sort through their personal challenges. She participated in the Interact Club for four years, serving as its historian. She was also a four year member of the Grandfriends Club and was in the Environmental Club since tenth grade.
Highlights of Ms. Riley’s Huntington years included participating in the Blue Devil marching band as an eighth grader and winning the New York State Field Band Conference championship in Syracuse and later serving as drum major of the band as a junior and senior and finishing second and third in the state in a higher competitive division. She won first place in Huntington’s National History Day competition for three consecutive years. She captured the Long Island and state titles last spring and vied in the national championships at the University of Maryland College Park, garnering recognition there.
Always looking to broaden her horizons, Ms. Riley traveled to the Galapagos Islands as a sophomore and went to Italy as a senior. Another highlight was her long involvement in the high school’s robotics club. She was on the team that went to the First Robotics World Championships during her freshman, sophomore and junior years, which involved traveling to St. Louis twice as well as Detroit.
President of Huntington High School’s senior band in 2018/19, Ms. Riley played French horn since fourth grade. She was a member of the wind ensemble and pit orchestra for four years. She notched an exceptional NYSSMA Level VI score of 97. She was in the All-County band and All-County orchestra and was a regular participant in the Suffolk County Music Educators Association’s annual Day of Horn.
Sophomore/Junior Student-Parent Guidance Night
Huntington High School sophomores and juniors and their parents are encouraged to attend a special night coordinated by the guidance department that will cover important topics just for them on Tuesday, October 29 at 7 p.m. in the auditorium.
Late October in Huntington UFSD
J. Taylor Finley Middle School will host an evening Halloween Dance for students on Friday, October 25 from 7-9 p.m. That same night there will be a Halloween Bash at Flower Hill Primary School and Washington Primary School and a Family Fun Night at Jefferson Primary School.
Southdown Primary School will host its Halloween Dance the following week on Wednesday, October 30. Flower Hill and Southdown will host Harvest Festivals on Thursday, October 31.
Flower Hill, Jefferson, Southdown and Washington will all host costume parades on Thursday, October 31.
