Community Update

January 17, 2025

Dear Syosset Community:

About six years ago, Syosset High School music teacher Paul Caputo had the idea to expand beyond the traditional ensembles high schools offer to start a rock band class – which has grown to three full sections this year. The idea inspired other school districts to implement similar programs featuring music from the “classic rock era." Today, our students performed for the Nassau Music Educators Association at Hofstra University. I was so proud to watch our students impress the leaders of music education across the County.

I really enjoy reading to students through our PTA PARP (Pick a Reading Partner) programs. This week I read Go Left to first and third graders at Baylis, where I shared my love of puns and we discussed how the author employed a humorous pun to make a serious point about gaining perspective. Before reading Owl Moon to fourth grade friends at Willits, we discussed how the author crafted the story with “spare” language – choosing each word so carefully it almost read like a poem. PARP encourages our youngest readers to crack open a book every single day. My hope is to show them how to find the treasures inside.

#SyoSports

Newsday recently released some of its top Winter athlete lists and I was delighted to see some Syosset students among them.

Newsday recognized fencers Senior Sajan Shah, and Juniors Justin Guo and Brandon Lim, as three of the top 15 boys fencers on Long Island. Juniors Alexa Lim and Esha Nayak top the girls list, and are hoping to lead their team to the Nassau County championship this year.
Four of our Syosset gymnasts made Nassau County’s Top Ten. Seniors Leah Chin and Vanessa Frullo, and Sophomores Reese Kaufman and Arlene Osei-Pokua are looking to defend the team’s County Championship title.
Swimming Sophomores Ethan Chinea and Reid O’Connoll are among Long Island’s top 25 swimmers this season. Ethan placed 14th in the state for the 500m freestyle, and Reid is the Nassau County 100m backstroke and 200m individual medley champion.
For track and field, Seniors Jessica Alessi and Matthew Robotham are on the top 25 list—Jessica for the 3,000 meter run, and Matthew for the long jump.

Congrats to all! #SyoStrong

#SyoArts

Student musicians from across Nassau flooded to Syosset High School this week! Each year, Syosset hosts nearly 500 NYSSMA All-County Division 4 musicians – 9th and 10th graders – to rehearse for the All-County concerts this weekend. It’s amazing to hear them play and to see the friendships that develop in such a short time from a shared love of music (and pizza).

Junior Alice Huang (Alto) and Sophomore Harrison King (Tenor) have been named to the National Honor Choir. The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) puts together this elite ensemble to showcase some of the finest young vocal talent from across the United States. Alice and Harrison will travel to the ACDA National Conference in Dallas later this year to collaborate with other music educators, peers, and choral enthusiasts. Congrats Alice and Harrison!

Twenty of our young thespians headed Upstate for the New York State Theatre Education Association’s annual student conference. This conference is an opportunity for nearly 900 high school students from across the state to attend workshops given by colleges, universities and theatre professionals, as well as network with one another. Syosset Junior Opal Kang was one of only 16 students at the entire conference selected to perform in a student-directed play, and a group of four other Syosset students took second place in the “Technie Challenge” – a series of timed tasks that test students’ ability to perform technical theatre skills. Syo Theater continues to impress!

Bright Spot

Inspired by our discussion of puns, my third grade friends from Baylis brainstormed and sent me a pile of their creations. One favorite was from Eason, Evan, and Jayden: “There’s snowplace like Syosset.” Looking at the coming weather, it seemed particularly apt … if you get my drift.

Reminder: we are closed this coming Monday in recognition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s lifetime of work fighting hate and bias. His quote: “Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education” is a worthy synopsis of what we strive for here in Syosset. See you back at school on Tuesday, January 21st.

#SnowplaceLikeSyo

Tom Rogers