Sunny skies served as the canopy as Grand Avenue Middle School Class of 2022 celebrated their moving up on June 10 with three ceremonies.

Principal Carlo Conte recalled a poem, The Man in the Glass, which was an assignment in high school. He recited the poem as encouragement for the graduating class.

“Things that were once scary or tough and standards that seemed unattainable became within my grasp as the year went on,” he noted. “When you are faced with what seems daunting and insurmountable, dig deep. The biggest regret you can every carry is not fight for the one thing that means the most and that is the man in the glass.”

Victoria Konyk, a senior at Mepham High School, inspired graduates as well.

“The four years will fly by, so enjoy them,” she said. “Our high schools have tight knit communities, strong school spirit and supportive staff and I am confident that each of you will find your place next year.

Date Added: 6/13/2022

The Cultural Arts Foundation, now in its 43rdyear, is a community based, volunteer organization that encourages and supports our student musicians, artists and theatrical performers.

Each year, 8th and 12th graders who have shown tremendous talent and commitment to the Arts are nominated by their teachers to audition/interview with the committee; the winners are then honored at the end of the year.

Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and their teachers!

 

CALHOUN HS:

ART: Joseph Bilardello (Architecture), Katherine Brown (Photography) & Maggie Viti (Painting)

DRAMA: David Padilla

VOCAL MUSIC: Nina Genzone

ORCHESTRA: Marissa Lopez

BAND: Ava Stanek


KENNEDY HS:

ART: Sydney Eisner (Sculpture), Beck Levy (Photography) & Kayla Riopel (Mixed Media)

DRAMA: Brooke Cerami

VOCAL MUSIC: Christen Ayodele

ORCHESTRA: Bailey Croce

BAND: Christopher Prainito


MEPHAM HS:

ART: Jamie DeLuca (Photography), Helena Fu (Mixed Media), & Amanda Romano (Digital Drawing)

DRAMA: Anthony Karagianes

VOCAL MUSIC: Victoria O’Shea

BAND: Joshua Ostroff


GRAND AVE MS:

ART: Elaine Li

VOCAL MUSIC: Mikella Rahim

ORCHESTRA:Daniel Lin

BAND:Sofia Caba


MERRICK AVE MS:

ART: Ryan Levinter (Photography) & Danielle Tejada (Mixed Media)

VOCAL MUSIC: Sophie Kovoros

ORCHESTRA:Jeremy Wang

BAND:Jack Zagariello


M.A.P.

ART: Dara Levitt


Please click on the link below to view the winners’ digital art galleries and virtual performances

2022 Cultural Arts Gallery

Date Added: 5/31/2022

Tech 8 classes at Grand Avenue Middle School explored the field of architecture by designing beach houses in a 3D modeling program.

“Afterward, students built balsa wood house models based on their own drafted plans and the use of proper constructiontechniques such as stud spacing,” explained Michelle Biancardo, a middle school technology and coding teacher. “Students also studied roof structures such as trusses and domes. Teams also built the dome roofs and a large-scale geodesic dome from cardboard.”

This lesson was intended to add a STEAM aspect to the school’s art expo on May 19.

Date Added: 5/23/2022

Student ambassadors from Merrick Avenue and Grand Avenue middle schools visited Saw Mill Road and Martin Avenue elementary schools in the North Bellmore School District to speak about their middle school experiences.

“Our students did a great job explaining all the wonderful things MAMS has to offer,” said Merrick Avenue Principal Katelyn Dunn. “Ambassadors got our future seventh graders excited about their new school and eased any worries they had about the transition.”

“We are proud of our amazing positive student leaders,” added Grand Avenue Principal Carlo Conte.

Student ambassadors included Shane Brennan, Nicholas D'Amore, Julia Ragusa, Marjorie Baca, James McDermott, Ryan Lynch, Ryan Ragubir, Alexa Fico and Ali McCann from Merrick Avenue along with Dalton Chen, Hailey Dobbs, Katlyn Kesenbaum, Damien Moi, Erica Shatz, Luke Fischetti, Stephen Gambino, Claire Arnoff, John Bruendle, Sophia Fascianella, Alexa Jakobowski, Eamon Andrews and Antonio Dellaccio from Grand Avenue.

Date Added: 5/17/2022

Katie Beleckas, a library media specialist at Grand Avenue Middle School, won a $1,000 Teacher Appreciation Week grant from Teachers Federal Credit Union.

Beleckas is one of four winners selected for the grade 6-8 category.

English chairperson Dr. Mary Donnelly Allegretta said that Beleckas plans to use some of the grant money to help fund the Schoolwide Community Read project that is presently in its fourthsuccessful year at Grand Avenue.

The Schoolwide Community Read is an exciting two-month program that brings the Grand Avenue Middle School family together through reading, activities and discussions.

“In February, three titles are nominated by the school librarian, and the school community is invited to vote for their favorite,” added Beleckas. “Everyone is then encouraged to read the winning title. The school librarian works with teachers to create crafts and events based on themes and content from the book. Students earn points for their participation. Those who earn at least 100 points are invited to an in-school field trip to the school library, where they take part in book discussions, play review games and participate in other fun activities related to the book.”

Date Added: 5/5/2022