School Notebook: Massapequa, Huntington are mock trial champs
A Massapequa High School team won the Nassau County Mock Trial Tournament. It advanced to the state tournament May 22-24. Credit: Katelyn Caramore
Teams from Massapequa and Huntington high schools are this year's mock trial champions for Nassau and Suffolk counties, respectively.
Massapequa's 19-student team defeated North Shore Hebrew Academy in their county tournament’s final round, and Huntington's 13-student team defeated Ward Melville High School from East Setauket in their county tournament's final round.
The two teams will now compete virtually in the state tournament on May 22-24.
"Juggling their busy schedules, they made the time to learn the law and communicate a courtroom presence through Zoom," said Daniel Bachman, who served as Massapequa's co-adviser with Patrick Barry. "They showed an unparalleled level of dedication, maturity and talent."
This year's fictional case involved a man convicted of securities fraud and conspiracy in the fifth degree after committing illegal activity to earn high returns through an investment firm he ran with his childhood friend.
Teams acted as the defense or prosecution to demonstrate knowledge of law and courtroom procedures, with judging handled by local attorneys and judges.
"Everyone contributed to this win, working long hours and late nights, which inched us closer and closer to this county final victory,” said Huntington senior and co-captain Christopher Maichin.
East Meadow High School’s Multicultural Club honored diversity in its community with a show that included performances of songs and dances from such countries as Brazil, China and India. Credit: East Meadow School District
The Nassau and Suffolk county bar associations coordinated the tournaments for the two counties.
BELLMORE, BELLPORT AND WESTBURY
National Councils of Excellence
The student governments at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore, Bellport High School and Westbury High School are among nine statewide named 2022 National Gold Councils of Excellence by the National Student Council.
Second-graders in JoAnn Stimac’s class at East Street Elementary School in Hicksville hold signed copies of Sarah Weeks’ children’s book “Two eggs, please” as part of the National Library Week celebration, which included a virtual visit from the author. Credit: Hicksville School District
To be considered, the organizations must have "implemented a strong leadership program that meets council goals, functioned in an ethical and responsible way, and engaged others in leadership, spirit and service activities," according to the national council.
"Receiving a National Gold Council of Excellence Award shows the utmost dedication a school's students, leaders, and staff have made to make their community a better place,” said Ronn Nozoe, CEO of the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the parent organization of the National Student Council.
DIX HILLS AND LEVITTOWN
Chemagination Competition
Teams from Half Hollow Hills High School West and General Douglas MacArthur High School in Levittown placed first in the medicine and environment categories, respectively, of this year's Chemagination Competition, coordinated by the American Chemical Society's New York Section.
In Sag Harbor, members of Pierson High School’s Environmental Club volunteer to help restore native coastal grasses at Foster Memorial Beach in collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Credit: Sag Harbor School District
The competition asked students to imagine they were living 25 years in the future and describe a recent breakthrough or innovation in chemistry or its applications that has improved the quality of people's lives.
Half Hollow Hills' team members were Stephen Jones and Anushka Pandya, and General Douglas MacArthur's team members were Matthew LaSusa, Natalie Pszeniczny and Grace Ryan.
ISLANDWIDE
'Kids Safe Online'
Six Long Island students were among 12 winners of this year's "Kids Safe Online" Poster Contest, coordinated by the New York State Office of Information Technology Services. They were Megan Schafer of the North Shore School District; Brennan Kane, Leighton Kane and Steven Kepler of the Smithtown School District; Valentina Valle of the South Huntington School District; and Lila Vivona of St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School in West Islip.
A team from Huntington High School took first place in this year’s Suffolk County Mock Trial Tournament. Credit: Huntington Union Free School District
The contest asked participants to illustrate their concerns about cyberbullying, sharing too much personal information, and the appropriate use of social media platforms. Their winning artwork will be featured in the state's 2023 "Kids Safe Online" calendar.
"I am always impressed by how the students can take complex topics and simplify them to educate their peers in a fun and exciting way," said David Bell, the office's acting chief information security officer.
— MICHAEL R. EBERT
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.
Firefighter charged with arson ... Detective facing hate crime charges ... New dog patrolling MacArthur ... Statewide toy drive
Firefighter charged with arson ... Detective facing hate crime charges ... New dog patrolling MacArthur ... Statewide toy drive
