School News

The Riverhead High School chamber choir performed before a packed audience at the Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall on December 3.

The choir, directed by Dena Marie Tishim, was given this opportunity after Reverend Mary Cooper of the House of Praise in Riverhead secured a spot in the show and offered to pay a portion of the performance fee.

“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these students to perform in the historic venue where the Tony Awards are held annually,” said Tishim.

Prior to the performance, the students dined at Ellen’s Stardust Diner, whose waitstaff consists of Broadway stars and off-Broadway hopefuls. They also watched Riverhead’s All-State percussionist William Green perform on tambourine alongside the waiters and waitresses.

The group also performed in Choral Day at Long Island University on November 22, where it sang for college professors and received valuable feedback. The students mingled with those from other schools, including Huntington, Northport, and Jericho, and sang with them in a grand finale.

Upcoming performances by the Riverhead High School chamber choir will be Friday, December 13, at 6 PM, at the Jamesport Meeting House Carols and Cookies event, and Sunday, December 15, at 6 PM at the First Baptist Church’s A Gift to the Community event.

Prestigious Music Recognition

Just three months into the school year, Riverhead High School junior Lauren Enos has earned multiple recognitions from prestigious music organizations.

Enos, who plays the clarinet, was selected to perform in the New York State School Music Association All-State Music Festival as a first clarinetist in the symphony orchestra and a bass clarinetist in the wind ensemble. She was chosen based on her performance at the NYSSMA Solo Evaluation Festival last spring.

The junior was recently named principal clarinetist for the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra and the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education’s All-County Music Festival. She will also be performing as first clarinetist for the Hampton Music Educators Association.

For Enos, the clarinet is a large part of her life. She practices daily and performs with her school’s band and community groups. She also takes private lessons with Anton Rist, principal clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. During the summer, she attended the Interlochen Arts Camp in Michigan, where she advanced her skills as a member of the wind ensemble. She has been invited to attend the summer 2020 camp.

Math Wizards

Fourth-grader Riley Kidney and third-grader Shane Wallace have been named Riley Avenue Elementary School’s math students of the month. To earn the award, the students participated in the school’s new “math problem of the week” challenge, spearheaded by teacher Linda Wallace. They answered a series of challenging math questions every week, providing the best explanations.

Breakfast With Santa

The Riverhead High School cooking club will present its fifth annual pancake breakfast with Santa on Saturday, December 14, from 8 to 11 AM at Riverhead High School. Tickets are $6 each and children under seven eat for free. The annual fundraiser allows the cooking club to purchase holiday gifts for local children. Advance tickets are available at the high school in room 115.

Westhampton Beach

Escape Room Raises Funds

The eighth-grade students in Kelly Russell’s critical literacy class at Westhampton Beach Middle School gave back to the Westhampton Beach School District Hurricane Foundation by organizing an escape room fundraiser on December 3.

The inspiration for the event began in seventh grade, when the students learned about the United Nations Messengers of Peace program as part of their curriculum. Expanding on the lesson this year, they decided to organize and plan the fundraiser, which raised more than $800.

The students designed an “evil science lab” escape room, and participants were given clues and moved through 10 rooms to solve riddles, find a blueprint, and race back to the school’s cafeteria to crack the final code. The event also included a student-run bake sale and a photo booth featuring various props.

Hampton Bays

Harmonizers At Radio City

Hampton Bays Middle School’s Harmonizers performed at Radio City Music Hall on November 23 to a sold-out audience of 6000. The 26-member vocal ensemble sang a cappella renditions of holiday songs before the curtain opened on the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes. Nickolette Kacharaba conducted the group and Carolanne Mazur accompanied on body percussions.

Tuckahoe

Veterans Day Honoree

In recognition of Veterans Day, Tuckahoe’s National Junior Honor Society created a slideshow presenting all Tuckahoe family veterans. Students wrote notes and designed awards for local veterans to thank them for their service. Letters and awards were distributed to Mr. Grisnik, Mr. Skuggevik, and Mr. Capalbo. Tuckahoe librarian, Ms. Verdeschi, also distributed notes and awards to veterans at the Hand-Aldrich Post 924 American Legion during the Veterans Day ceremony in Hampton Bays. All the veterans expressed appreciation for the students’ efforts, including First Vice Commander Rick Robinson, who responded with his own official letter of appreciation to the students.

Bridgehampton

Construction Student Ambassador Program

The Bridgehampton School District has introduced a construction student ambassador program where students have the opportunity to meet with the architects, construction managers, and constructors who are involved in the 35,000-square-foot expansion of the school building, which includes a new gymnasium, cafeteria, fitness center, locker rooms, and a technology room.

The real-world experience for students ranging from kindergarten to seventh grade takes place every two weeks and allows students to ask questions and tour the construction site.

“This opportunity enables our students to develop a wide range of skills from communication, collaboration, responsibility, confidence, and leadership,” Superintendent Robert Hauser said. “We are pleased that they can master these abilities right outside our school building.”

Lifesaving Skills

As part of the nationwide “Stop the Bleed” campaign Bridgehampton School staff, educators, and administrators participated in hands-on lessons and are now trained and equipped in a bleeding emergency. The collaboration with the Stony Brook Trauma Center, Southampton Hospital, and members of Bridgehampton’s Emergency Medical Services helped to provide faculty and staff members with lifesaving skills to use in case of an emergency.

Filmmakers Share Their Work

Five Bridgehampton High School students attended a League of Women Voters “Running and Winning” workshop.

Accompanied by guidance counselor Ms. Danielle Doscher, students Jaden Campbell, Olivia Cassone, Gylia Dryden, Alanah Johnson, and Melissa Villa learned about the rewards and challenges of holding public office. They heard from and interviewed women who were elected officials including judges, legislators, mayors, and town clerks. The students also learned about the voting registration process, filled out practice registration forms, and developed their own voter campaigns.

desiree@indyeastend.com