Community Update

March 7, 2025

Dear Syosset Community:

This week, our Challenger basketball team hosted their first home game of the season against South Huntington’s Stimson at HBT Middle School. The athletes from both teams were introduced NBA-style, with a special performance by our Challenger cheerleaders and the HBT Middle School band. No one who wants to play is turned away and because the game ended in a tie, everyone came out a winner. I’m so proud of how our inclusive community has embraced this program!

We’ve also embraced our impressive Varsity Girls basketball team. Tomorrow at noon, they head to Farmingdale College to defend their County title against Plainview-Old Bethpage. Come by to help me cheer on the team! You can purchase tickets here.

Spotlight on Instruction 🔦

After last month’s weather delay, Syosset High School hosted their annual Holocaust Remembrance Day program this week. All 10th Grade students gathered in the Auditorium to hear Rosalie Simon, a Holocaust survivor who bravely shares the horrors she experienced as a young girl in a concentration camp.

Ms. Simon’s presentation was as powerful as ever, after which students asked her questions about her life after liberation and her role in the community of survivors. Later, the class broke into smaller groups led by student docents to debrief and discuss Ms. Simon’s story, the lessons we teach about the Holocaust, and the role of courage. At the end of the breakout sessions, students wrote on a paper leaf their answer to the question: “What is your vision for a better future?”

These collected leaves now cover a once bare tree on display in the center of our Syosset Fine Art Gallery, joining a collection of thematic student artwork connected to the history of the Holocaust. The exhibit aims to help students develop historical empathy by exploring how art communicates powerful messages about suffering, loss, and remembrance. Other aspects of our arts programs also played a large role in the program. The High School orchestra opened up the keynote with a moving performance of “Theme from Schindler’s List,” and the Chamber singers closed with “I Believe,” by Mark A. Miller.

#SyoStars ⭐

High School math teacher Kevin McNally has been awarded the Claes Nobel Educator Award of Distinction. Senior Shan Hsieh nominated Mr. McNally through the National Society of High School Scholars, recognizing him as a role model, source of inspiration, and leader. Mr. McNally has taught in our district for 13 years, covering subjects from Pre-Algebra to Calculus. This nomination is a testament to the lasting impact Mr. McNally has had on Shan, as well as many other students. Congratulations, Mr. McNally!

Village students who are in Ms. Allen’s Kindergarten class will have their Gyotaku-inspired artwork on display at the Colors of Long Island Student Art Exhibit. Gyotaku is a traditional Japanese art form that makes an imprint of fish (or other marine life) by applying ink or paint to the subject and pressing it onto paper or fabric. The student’s artwork together created a beautiful mobile that will be on display until mid-May at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. It’s hard to exaggerate your fish story when the fish itself is the printing press! Congratulations to these wonderfully talented students!

The Young Musicians Program is a prestigious competition for grades 9-12, organized by the educational department of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center. This program offers advanced high school instrumentalists the opportunity to work with professional chamber musicians to perform in a professionally produced Regional Concert. The first-round recordings were submitted in January, and two of Syosset High School’s chamber groups were selected! The concert was last night – and from here, several groups will be chosen to perform at the final concert in May at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center in Manhattan. Fingers crossed our quartet and trio make the cut. Congrats to these talented students!

Karl Eduard Goepfart Trio for Clarinet, Bassoon, and Piano, Op. 75 – Trio Student Performers Marcus Tsang, Piano; Ayan Khazanchi, Bassoon; Ryan Si, Clarinet

Antonín Dvořák String Quartet No. 11, Op. 61 – Quartet Student Performers
Aiden Chantemsin, Violin; Shawn Lim, Violin; Valerie Liang, Viola; Carolyn Wang, Cello

Bright Spot

South Woods 7th grader Desiree Mohammadi is literally planting seeds of change in her community. Named a 2025 Student Champion for Sustainability by ReWorld, she is tackling food insecurity through her initiative, "Seeds of Hope," collecting and donating thousands of seeds to community gardens. Like the seeds she shares, Desiree’s initially small effort has taken root and blossomed into a Long Island-wide movement, Desiree proves that one small act of kindness can grow into something life-sustaining. Congratulations, Desiree, on your success and on the awesome metaphor!

Don’t forget on Sunday that our clocks “Spring Ahead.” Although we lose an hour of sleep, we gain an hour of light. (Personally, I’ll take that trade!) Don’t waste a second this weekend since it’s a whole hour shorter!

#SyoSavingsTime

Tom Rogers