School notebook: LI marching bands win top honors
Malverne High School's Pride of Malverne marching band placed first in the Small School 1 Division at the 45th annual New York State Field Band Conference Championships in Syracuse. Credit: Malverne School District
Marching bands from Malverne High School and Mineola High School won first place in their respective divisions at the 45th annual New York State Field Band Conference Championships last month at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
Malverne's band took top honors in the Small School 1 division — the first Long Island band ever to win that category — with its score of 91.65. The Mineola marching band placed first in the Small School 2 category with a score of 85.05.
The event included more than 4,000 students from about 50 high schools statewide, plus three out-of-state bands. Each band performed a seven- to 10-minute show and was evaluated on both musical and visual presentation.
"It was an incredible ride," Malverne band director Glen Johnson said. Of his group's performance, he said: "All the judges bought into it and loved what we did."
Malverne's show, titled "The Uninvited," portrayed a family that didn't know their new house was haunted. Mineola's presentation, titled "A.I.: Artificial Intelligence," portrayed a scientist who aimed to make a machine that functioned fully like a human.
Bands from high schools in Suffolk County placing in their divisions were: Huntington, second place, Large School 2; Copiague, fourth place, Large School 3; Brentwood, eighth place, National Class; Sachem, ninth place, Large School 2; and Lindenhurst, 10th place, Large School 2.
BABYLON
Blue Point Elementary School third-graders in Theresa Stevens' and Kristen Rang's class show off the "tower garden" where they grow basil, kale and other edible plants to incorporate into salads. The garden was a gift from the school's PTA. Credit: Bayport-Blue Point School District
Student Solar Competition
A team from Babylon Junior-Senior High School — Haylie Kelly, Jenna Petraitis, Allie Van Rossem and Iqra Yousuf — placed first last month in the high school division of EmPower Solar's Student Solar Competition. The competition attracted more than 60 teams to the Alley Pond Environmental Center in Queens.
Participants were asked to describe how energy choices affect wildlife, with responses submitted through posters, business letters and YouTube videos. Babylon's team, titled "Beach Bums Solar Power," won $500 scholarships and an internship opportunity for each member.
"Our growing STEAM program has allowed us to introduce our students to innovative topics in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics that they wouldn't get exposure to in required courses here," Babylon science teacher Mary Beth Schappert said.
Seventh-graders at Oldfield Middle School in Greenlawn, in the Harborfields school district, tried their hands last month at learning the mountain dulcimer. Credit: Harborfields School District
EAST ISLIP
Broadcasting studio
East Islip High School plans to open an upgraded broadcasting studio next month, with the airing of live events, starting by June. The new equipment was made possible by a $40,000 donation from the For the Kids Foundation.
The facility will include new cameras and electronics, as well as a modern video production studio capable of broadcasting live video over the internet. Senior Michael Laird won a contest to design the new studio's logo.
"We are very grateful to the [For the Kids] family for their very generous donation, and we look forward to having them come visit our broadcasting studio and watch our students in action," said East Islip's technology director, Israel Malinowitzer.
Fifth-graders at Oquenock Elementary School in West Islip recently conducted scientific examinations to determine a "mystery substance" in the school's STEM lab. Credit: West Islip School District
COUNTYWIDE
Red Ribbon Week
In recognition of Red Ribbon Week, many local schools hosted programs designed to steer students away from drugs and alcohol. The observance was Oct. 23-31.
In North Babylon, children at William E. DeLuca Jr. Elementary School created scarecrows representing such characters as Peter Pan, Elsa from Disney's "Frozen" and the Tin Man from "The Wizard of Oz" as a way to inspire them to be brave and stay away from drugs.
Students in Southampton signed an anti-drug pledge and engaged in a homeroom door-decorating contest. They also participated in theme days, with students at Southampton Intermediate School dressing for success and wearing their favorite college sweatshirt.
In Islip, Wing Elementary School students tied red ribbons to the school's fence that spelled out the word "THINK."
Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.
'I haven't stopped crying' Over the past year, Newsday has followed a pair of migrant families as they navigate new surroundings and an immigration system that has been overwhelmed. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.
'I haven't stopped crying' Over the past year, Newsday has followed a pair of migrant families as they navigate new surroundings and an immigration system that has been overwhelmed. NewsdayTV's Ken Buffa reports.
