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.”

Students at Edmund W. Miles Middle School participate in numerous community service initiatives and talk about why it’s important to give back. 

Students and staff celebrated the written word at Edmund W. Miles Middle School in the Amityville Union Free School District, which hosted its fourth annual Poetry Slam and Literacy Night on May 1.

As guests arrived, they received booklets featuring 230 original poems written by seventh- through ninth-graders. Several dozen students got on stage to share their poems, which were written on topics that evidenced their individual interests and passions. 

The presentation also included a video featuring Amityville students in “Just Read On,” a parody of the Aoki song “Just Hold On.” Following the poetry slam, students visited the library and filled up bags with free books, many of which were donated by the Book Fairies. Dinner and raffles followed in the cafeteria. The event was organized by librarian Lynn Cesiro with support from the Middle School Literacy Team, ELA teachers and administrators.