Community Update
November 15, 2024
The Next Syosset Mascot
The work has begun to identify the next Syosset mascot/team name. As you’re likely aware, about two years ago the New York State Education Department required school districts to discontinue using team names derived from Native American references, such as “The Braves.” We are now engaged in the process of identifying a new mascot and team name. It is an opportunity to celebrate our District’s traditions, values, and spirit of excellence.
We've created this helpful document to outline our process so community members may contribute. This is an opportunity to define the traits that make us proud as a community, and reflect them in a mascot that future students will wear for generations. If you’re a member of an alumni group, please pass the word along so everyone is aware of next steps.
Speaking of pride – our #SyoSports season isn’t quite over yet! Our football team plays in a semi-final matchup against Farmingdale High School at Hofstra University this Saturday at 5pm. Both cross country teams head to States this weekend – followed by our girls swimming and diving team going to States next weekend.
Let’s cheer for a #Syostrong finish!
Spotlight on Instruction 🔦
As much as we love our Halloween costumes and traditions, nothing makes October Jack-o-lanterns feel like history more than our annual pumpkin drop. With a sky-high thank you to the Syosset Fire Department (and their extended ladder truck), physics students (and gawkers alike) come to the crushing realization that all objects fall at the same rate – no matter their mass – as illustrated by pumpkins both large and small hitting the ground simultaneously.
Not quite as dramatic, but perhaps with more everyday application, we continue to enhance our media literacy and digital fluency curriculum to meet the evolving challenges of today’s fragmented information landscape. Just recently, our 9th graders learned how to conduct effective searches using advanced Google techniques, including the use of keywords, Boolean operators, and search filters to refine results. The lesson also emphasized evaluating the credibility of sources, considering factors such as objectivity, accuracy, and currency of sources, and especially addressing the challenges of identifying misinformation and bias. The prevalence of social media, online platforms, and 24-hour news cycles makes discerning reliable information from misinformation more important than ever.
At Syosset High School, nearly 150 students and community members came together to support our local animal shelters, and honor the memory of Sabrina Navaretta, a beloved alumna who tragically passed away last year. The event, organized by the Syosset Dog Rescue club, renamed the annual walk-a-thon “Sabrina Navaretta Syosset H.S. Dog Rescue Walk-a-thon,” and raised $6,000 for dog rescue organizations. The event was a powerful tribute to Sabrina's passion for helping animals and her enduring impact on the community.
Bright Spot
In Syosset, we start and end with kindness, just like today’s email.
Robbins Lane second grader Kiana Vyas is an active volunteer with Hope for Triumph - a non-profit organization committed to improving the lives of those afflicted with cancer. Kiana has gone on breast cancer walks, worked lemonade stands, and just recently, walked the catwalk in the annual Pink Stride Fashion Show. For her ongoing efforts, she received the Presidential Volunteer Service Award from state Senator Jack Martins – and a citation from Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino. Kiana’s budding passion for community service is passed down from her mom, who is a longtime advocate for cancer research. She told us that Kiana loves to lend a helping hand – and in doing so, encourages her classmates to do the same.
Thank you, Kiana, for your efforts and your example. As I am so fond of saying: You’re never too small to make a big difference.