Elementary and middle school students celebrated their academic achievements during moving up ceremonies, which were held in the days leading up to the high school graduation.

A trend-setting class graduated from Edmund W. Miles Middle School, and they did so at the place where they will spend the next three years of their educational journey. During the ninth-grade awards ceremony at the high school on June 22, Principal Edward Plaia reviewed all the “firsts” that the class experienced. They were the first ninth graders in the district to take Advanced Placement courses and to build Lego robots. The 180 members of the class received their promotion certificates, and numerous awards were handed out.

Middle school now awaits the sixth-graders who graduated from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School on June 22. Principal Robyn Santiago said that while they have great achievements to celebrate, they should strive to do even better next year. She reminded the youngsters that they don’t always have to follow the crowd and should always make good choices, even when no one is looking.

The 238 third-graders at Northwest Elementary School completed another step in their educational journeys when they were recognized for their achievements at the moving-up ceremony on June 21. Following a video in which students shared their memories of Northwest, teachers from each class announced their graduates and handed out completion certificates. Principal Kathleen Hyland reminded the students that “what’s worth learning is worth working for.”

Kindergartners completed one of their first major milestones when they graduated from Northeast Elementary School on June 20. The youngsters performed songs for their family members and Principal Dr. Pauline Collins presented perfect attendance awards. The students will comprise Amityville Memorial High School’s Class of 2029.

Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly wished the students luck as they head to their next schools. She encouraged them to continue reading over the summer and said the public library has a lot of good books available.

Edmund W. Miles Middle School Ninth-Grade Moving Up

Miles Middle School Ninth-Grade Moving Up

Northwest Third-Grade Moving Up

Northeast Kindergarten Moving Up

Three educators from Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District were honored at Teacher Appreciation Awards Night hosted by Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer DuWayne Gregory.

The honorees were ninth-grade guidance counselor Kerry Kearney, social studies chairwoman and ninth-grade teacher Jaclyn O’Hagan and eighth-grade special education teacher Renee Silone. They were recognized for working above and beyond what is required, collaborating with colleagues to improve student achievement, inspiring students to become lifelong learners and for making a positive impact on education.

“These educators have extraordinary relationships with our students, and our students really look up to them,” said Principal Edward Plaia. “Their expectations are high, they make no excuses and are always willing to learn and grow themselves. They epitomize excellence.”

Several students from the district were recognized for their contributions to local art shows.

At Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, fourth-graders Jesus Barrios, Timothy Pratt and Emma Reme, and sixth-graders Messiah Marshall, Amaya Nelson and Makayla Warrick had their pieces selected for the Suffolk County Arts Leaders Association children’s art show. The SCALA show was held at Old Town Hall in Babylon.

Messiah and fifth-grader Aysia Francis represented their school in the Colors of Long Island Art Exhibition at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. All students completed their work under the direction of art teacher Susan Zaratin.

Astrid Dixon, a ninth-grader at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, and her art teacher, Nicole Scoca, will have their self-portraits displayed in the sixth annual SCALA Invitational Art Show at Farmingdale State College. Suffolk County art students have their exceptional artwork on display next to the artwork of their teachers in a side-by-side format. The reception will take place on Saturday, June 3 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Gallery of Hale Hall and the show runs through June 8.

Eight students represented the district in the 14th annual 12x12 High School Art Exhibition at LIU Post including ninth-graders Odalys Murcia and Ebony Toney, 10th graders Milagro Arevalo, Sharmin Arshad, Angela Kalin and Katherin Rojas and seniors Christina Brown and Kayla James. There art teachers are Nicole Scoca, Jennifer Dibble, Jayne Grasso, Heather Rickard and Nicole Pappas.

Aleyna Kokoglu, a student at Amityville Memorial High School, received the Visitor’s Choice Award in the Long Island’s Best Art Exhibition/Competition this year for her artwork, “Elegance.” He piece was exhibited at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington.

Sixteen students were recognized for their academic achievements and good character when they were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District.

The afternoon ceremony on May 15 featured a candle-lighting ceremony to mark the five traits required for membership: scholarship, leadership, service, character and citizenship. Speakers included Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mary T. Kelly, Principal Edward Plaia and Assistant Principal Kristy Pagliari, who told the inductees to continue to embrace those values.  

Honor society members, under the direction of adviser Carlee Wallenstein, perform several community service activities a year. They volunteer at the family learning nights at Northeast and Northwest elementary schools and raise money for the Make-A-Wish foundation.

The new members are Yaneli Amaya, Mikhail Ankudovych, Saniya Bryant, Melissa Contreras, Brandon Dennis, Sanabria Denixon, Brandon Fernandez, Julianna Figueroa, David Fuentes, Alex Hargrove, Randy Jerez, Andielynn Llama, Gianely McCatty, Samanta Molina, Scott Pineda and Samirah Rouzier. They were joined by family members and their fellow seventh-grade classmates.

“These students are our future,” Mr. Plaia said. “Our future is bright because they are going to be in charge.”