Makayla Daube, a Mepham High School senior, All-State forward basketball player and All County volleyball player, has been named a News 12 Scholar Athlete.

Daube is also the class of 2025 valedictorian, as well as a script writer and reporter for the district’s Bellmore-Merrick Broadcasting program.  

She will receive a $1,000 scholarship from News 12 sponsor, Bethpage Federal Credit Union. 

Watch the full news segment here.

Mepham High School celebrated their homecoming weekend with a 20-0 victory over Levittown’s MacArthur High School during the Sept. 14 football game.

Annual traditions of hallway decorating, a pep rally and Pirate Festival were all part of the week-long celebration.

At the game, performances included social studies teacher Chris Patten on the bagpipes, Alana Muniz who sang the Star-Spangled Banner and the Mepham Bands, led by Anthony Brandofino.

The kickline and cheerleading squad performed at halftime as well, pepping up the crowd. Students Andrew Rispoli and Robert Fekete took on Pirate mascot duties, amping up the crowds throughout the game. Students packed the new Pirate Cove area in the stands.

The homecoming court was celebrated at halftime and included students Milan White, Xavier Sutherland, Jacob Sarduy, and Arisleiny Clase. Noah Mach and Maggie Fitzgerald were crowned Homecoming king and queen, respectively.

The kickline and cheerleading squad performed energetic routines at halftime as well. Students Andrew Rispoli and Robert Fekete took on Pirate mascot duties, amping up the crowds throughout the game. Students also packed the new Pirate Cove area in the stands.

Click here to view the Mepham Celebrates Homecoming slideshow.

Date Added: 9/16/2024

Two Mepham High School students were honored this week as winners in the first ever Purchase College SUNY Awards for Excellence in High School Journalism.

Current senior Iris Pineda won for her feature profile of school counselor Cathryn Stutzmann in her article titled "New beginnings: Meet the fresh face in guidance." Current junior Sofia Tibaldi won for her Arts & Entertainment article, "GUTS World Tour Review."

"Schools were allowed to submit four entries, one per category, in the areas of News, Feature, Sports, and Arts written by students in grades 9-11" said College Journalism teacher and Buccaneer co-advisor Heather Castellano. She and Buccaneer co-advisor and art teacher Kelly Desmond supported the winners' applications by sending statements attesting to the impact of their stories on the school community.

"Entries were judged according to adherence to accepted journalism practices, the quality and variety of sourcing, and the writing skill displayed," added Castellano.

SUNY Purchase journalism professors, including Ross Daly, associate professor of journalism and the director of the contest, judged the students' entries.

"These young reporters show the impact that good journalism can have on a community,” said Daly. "It’s impressive that they can do this so early in their careers."

Pineda and Tibaldi are invited to attend anawards luncheonat Purchase College. They will have an opportunity to meet and interact with journalism faculty and other student journalists.

Winners who optto attend Purchase College after high school will have their room and board partially funded through a scholarship.

Date Added: 9/13/2024

Three students in the Central High School District have been selected to participate in the NYSSMA All-State Music Festival.

The following students will travel to Rochester on Dec. 5 to participate in four days of intense rehearsals and performances.

Kennedy High School:
Samuel Klein – Symphony Orchestra (double bass)
Zara Selvin – Treble Chorus (Soprano 2)

Mepham High School:
Alana Muniz – Treble Chorus (Soprano 1)

Their teachers are Emily Kenyon, Rachel Shapiro and Christina Dimitriou.

The All-State selection process begins during the previous school year. To be considered, students must first be recommended by their music director and perform a Level 6 audition piece at the spring NYSSMA festival receiving a score of 98 or higher.

The All-State bands, choruses, orchestras and jazz ensembles are honors groups comprised of the top students from school music departments across the state. The elite groups are directed by renowned guest conductors and perform in the world-famous Eastman Theatre in Rochester during the annual NYSSMA Winter Conference.

Date Added: 9/10/2024