Middle School Moving Up
Two hundred sixty members of the Eighth-grade class entered the auditorium while the Seventh-grade Orchestra played the march. For one final time, the now Moving-Up Class of 2017 assembled as Middle School students. The Pledge of Allegiance, led by Chris Kavanagh (above), was followed by the National Anthem, sung a capella by Gianna Romano (left) whose exceptionally exquisite voice amazed the audience.
After Principal Thomas Murray welcomed everyone to the celebration, he enumerated the class statistics (see below) with praise for their “outstanding academic discipline and personal integrity.”
“As Eighth-graders you have more opportunities at your fingertips than I could ever dream of,” Mr. Murray shared. “When I was in middle school, a typewriter was considered new technology…. It is how you use this technology that counts.… It is how you treat people that will have the greatest impact on the world. You have the power of the technology and you have the power to change people’s lives for good. I have the utmost confidence based on what I’ve seen and heard over the last three years, you will choose to raise people up.” To bring home his point, Mr. Murray cited Dr. Seuss: “Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.”
Mr. Murray added, “As a group of young men and women you have reflected the characteristics of true leaders. You have forged a path of high expectations for future groups to follow. John Quincy Adams once said, ‘If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader.’ Your actions have and will continue to inspire others to dream more, learn more, and become more. The staff at SMS has been so proud and humbled to have had the opportunity to be your teachers. Thank you for three wonderful years. You epitomize the true meaning of excellence.”
Directing some students to come to the stage and the rest to stand and face the audience, Mr. Murray cued the “Moving-up Class of 2017 and the future graduating Class of 2021!” to thank their parents with a very special message , after which he closed by wishing them all congratulations.
STATISTICS In this new era of academic rigor, the Moving-Up Class of 2017 has risen to the challenges and have excelled.
• 106 students took the Algebra Regents—100% passed.
• 105 students took the Living Environment Regents—100% passed.
• 260 (98% of the class) students have met the requirements for a high school foreign language credit.
• 100 students have taken and passed the High School Studio in Art Class, which is 38% of the class.
• 98% of the Class is leaving with 1 High School Credit+
• 40% of the Class is leaving with 2 High School Credits
• 40% of the Class is leaving with 3 High School Credits
The Arts
• Our Music Program has competed around the country. NYSSMA students performed solos receiving top honors. Two students were selected to represent Sayville in the Long Island String Festival. Eleven students were selected to be part of the SCMEA All-County band/chorus/orchestra groups. Thirteen students achieved the highest rating, for their NYSSMA solo. Nine musicians received SMBA grants. The music department participated in a practice-athon raising a little over $1,000.00 for the Harry Chapin Food Bank.
Athletically
• Our teams have competed hard and have enjoyed success. There have been many undefeated seasons as well as Section XI Sportsmanship Award winners.
Community Service
• For the past three years, we have had over 200 Presidential Community Service Winners – serving 20,000 hours of community service
• You raised money to beat cancer, support our soldiers, feed and clothe the needy, fight ALS, and collect toys, making Christmas a little brighter.
ALGEBRA Nicholas Buffardi
ART 8 Julia Zaun
Studio in Art Devon Coiro
BAND Ryan VanBoxel
CHORUS Courtney Giattino
COMPUTERS Charles Amodemo
CONSUMER/FAMILY SCIENCE Taylor Banks
ENGLISH Sanjeeda Rahman
FRENCH Jennifer O’Leary
LIVING ENVIRONMENT Hannah Blaskiewicz
MATHEMATICS 8 Alexis Helman
ORCHESTRA Grace Urmaza
PHYSICAL ED. (BOYS) Tyler Schaefer
PHYSICAL ED. (GIRLS) Mallory Kinahan
SCIENCE 8 Jag Reivers
SOCIAL STUDIES Linda McAuliff
SPANISH Christina Guiffre
TECHNOLOGY Ariel Meza
BOE Gold Certificate Zachary Zukofsky
Cameron Riccomini Scholarship Kaitlyn Menze
Erin Halliday-Duffy Sunflower Scholarship
Cash Carter, Erin Henn, Emily Hartman, and Hannah Blaskiewicz,
NYS Attorney Triple C Award Jenna Guerra
SC Executive Award Emma Clark
NYS Comptroller’s Achievement Award Emily Rosado & Taylor Schmittzeh
PTA AWARDS
Girls Sportsmanship Jaden Catalina
Boys Sportsmanship Aidan McCullough
School Leadership Courtney Giattino
School/Community Service Hannah Blaskiewicz
Academic Improvement James Anderson
