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Mepham Nabs Second in Physics Olympic Event

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Christiana Foufas, Melih Agac, Diego Cajiao, Maximus Walker, and Sebastian Fu of Mepham High School clinched second place at the Long Island Physics Olympics' in the Precisely Predicting Projectiles event.

Held on March 13 at Farmingdale State College, the Physics Olympics is a one-day competition that brings together teams of five students from high schools across Long Island.

The team is coached by science teacher, Adam Greaves.

Date Added: 3/18/2024

Physical Education Department Awarded Floorball Grant from NY Islanders

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Physical education departments across the Central High School District received a hockey equipment grant courtesy of the New York Islanders that is helping facilitate a safer and more inclusive floorball experience in class.

“Floorball is a much safer activity than traditional floor hockey and a lot easier to play for all levels of classes,” explained Eric Caballero, director of health, physical education, athletics, drivers education & health services.

The sport “promotes active movement, the enhancement of motor skills, and team building,” according to the Islanders website.

Previously, students used floor hockey sticks with heavier balls. This required the use of protective eye googles. The new equipment makes this version of the game much safer.

Using Islanders-branded plastic sticks, aerodynamically designed balls and nets, players maneuver around the gym floor on foot to try and score on each other’s teams.

“The vented blades on the sticks are designed to be lightweight, which means more durability for sustained class use,” explained Brian DeGaetano, a physical education teacher at Kennedy High School who applied for the grant.

“The kids love it and get competitive about it,” he added. “We’re thinking about creating a schoolwide tournament during gym classes that engages all of the students.”

Both the middle and high schools in the district are working on a unit dedicated to learning and playing floorball.

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Date Added: 3/15/2024

Mental Health Highlighted During Wellness Week at Kennedy

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Students and staff at Kennedy High School focused on promoting healthy mental and physical habits during Wellness Week.

On March 11, the nonprofit organization Therapy Dogs of Long Island visited with a black Lab named Porter.

The volunteers visit to schools, nursing homes, homeless shelters, the emotionally, mentally, and physically challenged to “help build their confidence, learn compassion, improve their socialization skills and feel the unconditional love dogs have to give.”

Library Media Specialist Kristen Mogavero helped organize the visit.

“I've found brings so much joy and peace during previous wellness weeks,” she noted. “Having just a few minutes to meet with a dog during the day really helps students and staff to "reset" and be present in the moment. Research shows that therapy dog visits can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety for student populations.”

Mandala coloring, themed dress up days, a focus on music and movies were all part of Wellness Week. Leadership students volunteered to assist with student activities.

Leadership I students proposed themes to administration for the week. The formal presentation included themes and related activities.
Leadership II students visited Freshman Seminar classes this week to talk about the power of being #2, a lesson in supportive leadership.

“The students spoke to the power in supporting others, working to benefit the team or club, and the psychological benefits of putting other before yourself,” explained social studies and leadership teacher Brad Seidman.

Students wore pins all week that said “I am #2.”

“When someone asks who is number one, they replied with, ‘you are,’” Seidman added.

On four separate days, each grade-level attended an assembly that focused on either anxiety, substance abuse, social media use or the pillars of mental performance.

Leah Jantzen, a guidance counselor in the Three Village School District, also serves as the district’s mental health and performance coach for Ward Melville High School student-athletes. She addressed sophomores on March 15.

Jantzen relayed messages of “empowering teens to triumph over obstacles, shatter any limiting beliefs, catalyze their action and be able to achieve remarkable results.”

Building resiliency and grit in teens, igniting ambition, and cultivating mental fitness were among her key points.

Principal Gerard Owenburg encouraged all of families “to take some time out next week to focus on wellness” in his weekly email about school happenings. “As adults, we can get busy with work and responsibilities and it’s important for us to all be good role models for self-care for our students,” he noted.

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Date Added: 3/15/2024


Grand Avenue Art Students Embark on Immersive Museum Trip

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Nicholas Giordano's eight grade classes from Grand Avenue Middle School embarked on a field trip to the Hofstra University Museum of Art to learn about Surrealism at the exhibit "Les Visionnaires, in the Modernist Spirit."

The drawings, prints, books, film and ceramics that the students viewed inspired them to create their own works of Surrealist art in the Museum's creativity lab. The Hofstra Museum's Educators invited the students to explore theavant gardeart movement with hands on activities both in the Museum and in the classroom.

"The students were excited to see real artworkby such famous artists as Dali, Picasso, Ernst, Magritte, Cocteau and Duchamp among others we discussed in class," explained Giordano. "We will use the experience at the museum to create finished projects in the classroom."

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Date Added: 3/13/2024

Mepham Student Leads Balloon Collection

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Mepham High School senior Ashley Felsberg led a lofty mission to collect used, discarded balloons.

As part of her community service efforts through the Science National Honor Society, Felsberg connected with local florists and party planning businesses to provide an option for safe balloon disposal. She also worked with school officials to get the word out to the community that there was a disposal site on campus. She collected nearly a dozen bags of balloons.

"This is our largest single haul from one person since we started the program, " said Cynthia Seibold, the founder and executive director of Balloon Mission Inc. "With this latest collection, our numbers have jumped past 30,000, a new record."

She thanked the district for empowering 'environmental stewardship with our students and community.'

“With your support, Mepham has been leading the way in raising awareness about the unintended harm balloons have when they're released into the sky,” Seibold added.

Balloon Mission’s goal is to raise awareness on the consumption and the litter that is made and give people an opportunity to clean up the world for future generations. To that end, they’ve created an environmental advocacy organization to craft solutions and effect positive change.

“There are many people who love balloons, and our goal is to support and promote responsible balloon behavior,” states their mission.“When the fun is done, we collect balloons after people are finished using them. We make sure they don’t become plastic litter and find good end-of-use solutions for them.”

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