The Amityville Union Free School District congratulates the Amityville Memorial High School Warriors varsity soccer team on winning their third New York State championship.

On Nov. 13, the Warriors defeated the Beacon High School Bulldogs 4-0 to win the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class A championship at Middletown High School. The game was highlighted by the performance of senior striker Hugo Rodriguez, who finished the game with two goals and an assist. Senior goalkeeper Matthew Katz also played an outstanding game with five saves to secure a clean sheet. Led by the coaching staff of head coach Michael Abbondondolo and assistant coaches Chris Gannon, Greg McCoy, Michael Abbondondolo Sr. and Berten George, the Warriors finished their remarkable season with a record of 20-1-1 and were ranked 16th in the nation. The Warriors also became five-time Suffolk County and Long Island champions, and they won their seventh consecutive league title.

Last year, the Warriors made it to all the way to the New York State championship where they lost to Somers High School. The Warriors graduated some impact players in the Class of 2022 who went to schools such as Boston College, Queens College and St. Joseph’s University.

“This year, we were poised to be ready to get back there and win it all,” Mr. Abbondondolo said. “We already had a tough league schedule ahead of us and we also put together a tough non-League schedule to best prepare ourselves to be our best version at the end of the season when it matters most. Through many challenges, we were able to navigate the season in a way where we learned great lessons while still getting results.”

The Warriors faced teams from New York City along with Westtown School, a preparatory school in Pennsylvania. They played Westtown in Albany during the middle of the season in the NXT LVL Invitational Showcase where the game finished in a 0-0 draw. The showcase featured more than 20 college coaches. In addition to having a challenging non-League schedule, the Warriors’ league schedule was just as tough.

Mr. Abbondondolo said that their major turning point was towards the end of the regular season when they played undefeated John Glenn High School in league play on Oct. 12 and Senior Day on Oct. 14 against Kings Park High School, a competitive playoff team. Then, in less than 24 hours, the Warriors traveled to Randall’s Island to play Martin Luther King High School who won the City Championship and is ranked eighth in the nation.

“We designed the schedule to truly find ourselves, and we did,” Mr. Abbondondolo said.

Mr. Abbondondolo added that the only “blemishes” on the Warriors’ remarkable season record was their tie to Westtown and a loss to MLK. Once the playoffs began, the team never looked back as they outscored their opponents 22-3.

“In the playoffs, the team, community and everyone in Amityville really rose to the occasion as our path through the playoffs was a memorable one,” Mr. Abbondondolo said. “We are so proud of all the effort put forth by the boys and their dedication to each other. We are so happy we could represent Amityville in a way that everyone can be proud of. There is a lot of pride in the program, and we are thrilled to bring the state championship back home.”

The district congratulates the Warriors on capping off another historic season with a state title.

Date Added: 11/14/2022

In honor of Veterans Day, Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School held Veterans Day events to celebrate the brave men and women who have served or are currently serving in the United States military.

Local veterans in the community were welcomed to the middle school on Nov. 9 to share their experiences while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. Prior to the event, students prepared questions in their social studies classes to ask the veterans. Veterans described the branch of military in which they served, answered the students’ questions, and displayed photos and souvenirs from their years of service. Toward the end of the visit, students had the opportunity to ask for the veterans’ autographs and thank them for visiting the class. Each veteran received a patriotic thank-you card created by a member of the National Junior Honor Society.

At the high school, several local veterans were welcomed to speak with students in their social studies classes on Nov. 10. During the 45-minute class period, veterans shared stories about their time in the service and answered students’ questions. Students created colorful cards to thank the veterans for their service. Additionally, veterans got to enjoy a special luncheon in the school’s library.

Date Added: 11/17/2022

On Oct. 18, the Amityville Memorial High School marching band performed their halftime show, "Music by Powerhouse Female Musicians," at the annual Newsday Marching Band Festival.

This regional marching band showcase, which featured marching bands from Nassau and Suffolk counties, was held at the Mitchel Field Athletic Complex in Uniondale.

The Amityville Union Free School District congratulates all of the students in the high school marching band, the drum major, Donovan Graham McRae; the assistant drum majors, Sydni Blake and Tashaune Newman; their teacher, Anthony Abate; and their assistant, Mike Bonasera on this noteworthy accomplishment.

Please visit this page to view photos from their performance:

https://www.newsday.com/services/programs/marching-bands/newsday-marching-band-festival-2022-amityville-m81oqazw

Date Added: 11/15/2022

On Nov. 2, the World Language Honor Society at Amityville Memorial High School hosted its third annual National French Week Celebration in the school’s cafeteria.

This weeklong celebration of all things French takes place in schools and communities across the U.S. from Nov. 3-9. National French Week welcomes all who are interested in learning about all the reasons to learn French.

The event was attended by parents, students, teachers, staff members and administrators from both Amityville Memorial High School and Edmund W. Miles Middle School.

Date Added: 11/9/2022

The Amityville Union Free School District is proud to announce that Amityville Memorial High School senior Sheyla Medina Cruz has been chosen as Junior Achievement Ambassador for the 2022-2023 school year.

Sheyla Medina Cruz competed for the school’s 2022-2023 Junior Achievement of New York Student of the Year Scholarship Program and finished in the top five scholars. The program featured more than 100 students from Long Island, New York City and Lower Hudson Valley.

Sheyla Medina Cruz was impressive in her interviews and her presentation to Junior Achievement’s executive board members who served as the judges. Junior Achievement was impressed with her experience and determination to succeed and invited her to continue being an ambassador for Junior Achievement of New York.

She was first introduced to Junior Achievement during her Personal Finance and Literacy program. She has worked extensively with Junior Achievement’s High School Heroes program, teaching lessons about careers, community, family and finance to students in Amityville’s elementary schools. She also took part in the Career Day program and the Finance Park program, which included a financial literacy simulation with students from other Long Island high schools.

Junior Achievement of New York is committed to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their futures, and make smart academic and economic choices.

Junior Achievement’s mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed. The inspiration piece comes from community volunteers who not only deliver JA’s lessons, but share their experience. In the process, these volunteers serve as role models helping to positively impact young students’ perceptions about the importance of education, as well as critical life skills. Preparation involves JA’s lessons that promote financial capability, work and career readiness, and business ownership.

As a Student of the Year Ambassador, Sheyla Medina Cruz has been offered the opportunity to attend JA New York events; participate in their annual dinner as a speaker and/or student emcee; attend JA New York Board of Directors’ meeting and be profiled in JA New York’s newsletter/website; and receive a $1,000 award.

Sheyla Medina Cruz is a member of the numerous organizations including Smart Scholar, Key Club- Sargent of Arms, the National Honor Society, and the World Language Honor Society, among others. The district congratulates Sheyla Medina Cruz on this achievement.

Date Added: 10/27/2022