Two Northport High School students were recognized at the April 16 Board of Education meeting for their work in the subjects of health and physical education. Lillian “Lilly” Clements was honored by her teachers as Rotary Student of the Month for health and Brendan Fenlon received the same honor for physical education. 
Lilly was described as her teachers as a student who goes “above and beyond” the work in the classroom. She started the Healthcare Providers Club to allow students with an interest in healthcare to hear from professionals in the field and meet others with similar interests. She has plans to pursue aerospace engineering in the future. 
Brendan was recognized for being a humble student who is supportive of his peers in physical education class. He is also a varsity athlete, playing both volleyball and basketball where he not only shines on the court, but motivates his peers to be better players and better teammates. 
  Both students were presented by Director of Health, Physical Education and Athletics Mark Dantuono to the Board of Education. 
Congratulations to both Lilly and Brendan!

We are thrilled to share some exciting news from the Northport-East Northport 6th grade Orchestra, under the direction of Mrs. Kathleen Vitevitch! This year, the two middle school 6th grade Orchestras had the incredible opportunity to perform at the NYSSMA Major Organization Festival as a combined orchestra. We are proud to announce that our performance, which took place at Brentwood HS on April 4th, 2024, received a Silver rating.

In order to prepare for this prestigious event, we had a combined rehearsal with the 6th grade orchestras. This collaboration began with our annual Night of a Thousand Strings Concert, which took place the day before our NYSSMA Majors performance. By bringing our students together, we aim to foster a sense of unity and camaraderie among them, as they will eventually meet again at the high school level in a few years.

We strongly believe in the importance of enhancing our students' social interactions to help them become more socially adept in today's world. Many students have noted that when we rehearsed together, they knew some of their peers from outside activities, such as sports or dance. This integration not only strengthens their musical abilities but also allows them to form lasting friendships and connections.

We would like to share the thoughts of two of our talented students, Nora Jung and Nina Chang, who had the following to say about their experience:

"We played in a united way and performed beautifully together."

We are incredibly proud of all of our students for their dedication and hard work. Their commitment to excellence is truly inspiring.

Thank you for your continued support of the Northport-East Northport School Orchestra. We are grateful for the opportunity to nurture our students' musical talents and provide them with enriching experiences. Stay tuned for more updates and upcoming events!

With both current and former members of the Northport High School Unified sports program in attendance, district officials unveiled the official Unified Champion School banner, presented by Special Olympics New York. The unveiling took place after the Sparkle Squad halftime show during the first Unified basketball game of the season. 
During the presentation, Athletic Director Mark Dantuono thanked the many individuals who have supported the program and introduced transition coordinator and Unified Sports coach Cassie Reilly to present the banner. Cassie spoke about the process of being selected for this honor and how the district met Special Olympics’ 10 national standards of excellence. She also spoke about the many people who have contributed to the success of the various inclusive programs, including students, staff and families. 
Northport High School is one of only two schools on Long Island to have received this honor and was the only Long Island school to be added to the list this year. The recognition was due to the school’s offering of both Unified Basketball and Unified Bowling, as well as additional inclusive opportunities such as Best Buddies, Sparkle Squad Dance Team, Choose to Include Day celebration and more.  The banner will be displayed at Northport High School as a reminder of the special honor. 
The game continued with a win over Commack High School and members of the Unified Team celebrating this special event. 

After 50 years, the annual Law Day, hosted by Northport High School in coordination with The New York Bar Foundation, continues to have a tremendous impact on students with an interest in law.  Dozens of students from school districts across Long Island travel to Northport to participate in the mock trial competition, judged by experienced attorneys and judges. 
During the course of the event, teams of students rotate amongst different classrooms and receive information about fictional cases. They have just a few minutes to review the trials and build their cases as either prosecution or defense. With this year being the 50th anniversary of the event, the trials were each inspired by a famous film from each of the decades. 
David Scott, Northport High School teacher and coordinator of the district’s law program, Project P.A.T.C.H., has been overseeing the event since 2000. Several alumni who participated in the event as students returned as judges. 
Matt Cohen, CEO and President of The Long Island Association, was a champion Mock Trial Team member when he graduated in 2000, coincidentally the same year Mr. Scott began at NHS. He spoke about the impact this event has on students, saying “I think this teaches students, teenagers, a lot of important skills - how to think quickly on your feet, using deductive reasoning, being able to advocate for something you believe in or someone you believe in. I think it’s really instructive and it’s also fun. It’s a fun way to learn these types of skills.”
Fellow alumni Lois Bladykas, NHS class of ’08 and an attorney with Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, P.C., spoke of how the day prepared her for a career in law. “I think it gave me a lot of confidence with public speaking,” she said. “I think as a kid, I had a little bit of fear of public speaking originally, but when I started participating in law club and Law Day especially, you’re forced to talk in front of people and it definitely gave me that confidence.”
Students who participate in Law Club, Mock Trial or who have taken American Law at Northport High School held roles both as attorneys in the mock trials process as well as in supporting roles to help organize the day and keep the event running. Students from Commack High School, Ezra Academy, Longwood High School, Syosset High School, Plainview-Old Bethpage High School, East Islip High School and Massapequa High School joined NHS students for the event. 
Robert Ansel, a Northport parent and general counsel for Power-Flo Technologies, emphasized how the experience can benefit any student, but especially those pursuing a career in this field. “This is a great experience for people who are considering going into the law or public speaking because it forces them to think on their feet very quickly, synthesize facts and then make a presentation,” he said. “It’s a nice little crucible of sometimes how life is, and I think it’s a good lesson even if they don’t want to go into public speaking.” 
Joe Flanagan, Class of ‘12 and an associate with law firm Ogletree Deakins, was emotional discussing the impact of Law Day on his life. “I would not be where I am if it were not for Law Day. This truly established the skills to allow me to excel in my career,” he said. 
Sean Truehart, class of ‘17 and an attorney with the Bronx District Attorney’s office offered some advice for students looking to pursue a career in law. “Stick with it,” he said. “Just having finished up the process myself a few months ago, it takes a long time, but it was well worth it. I love what I’m doing.”
The bracket style tournament ended with a final round judged by U.S. Circuit Court Judge, the Honorable Joseph Bianco. 
Congratulations to all of the participating teams! 

Northport High School International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma program seniors attended their annual retreat at Frost Valley this past weekend, engaging in a wide array of activities including hiking, riding a zip-line, archery, candle making and simple structure design challenges. 
This event presents students with the opportunity to take a step back to reflect on the college decision making process and recharge before the start of their extensive exams. The trip also solidifies the already strong bonds that they have forged over the past two years in the program. Despite the cold weather, students had a terrific experience learning from one another and engaging in outdoor activities. 
Senior James Reyes spoke of how the weekend was an opportunity to truly unplug from school and connect with peers. 
“You hang out with people you usually wouldn’t and you have an opportunity to really talk since there’s no service,” he said. 
Fellow senior and IB Diploma candidate Etienne Corbeaux also emphasized the importance of balancing schoolwork and self-care as part of the program. “It’s really important to remind yourself that not everything is a grade. You can take a break and compose yourself, go out on hikes like we did on the retreat, but it’s also important to make a day for studying and put aside time for these classes,” he said. 
The IB program has some unique attributes due to the nature of the classes. Senior Ellie Johnson said, “It’s so different from anything that I’ve ever done before and you really are taking your own direction,” she said. “You really get to curate your own way.”
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program is an internationally recognized curriculum that offers 11th and 12th grade students an opportunity to earn the IB Diploma or one or more IB Certificates. To earn the IB Diploma, students must complete and test in six IB subjects; write an extended essay of independent research guided by a faculty mentor; complete 150 hours of creativity, activity, and service activities (CAS); and participate in a critical thinking course called Theory of Knowledge.

 

Date Added: 4/11/2024