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Smithtown High School East

Smithtown High School students hit the runway

by Press Release - March 29, 2025

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Smithtown High School East and West students dressed to impress at their individual PTSA Fashion Shows, held at Flowerfield in St. James.

On March 17, High School West seniors walked the runway with proceeds from the gala supporting senior scholarships and the school’s cultural arts programs.

The following night, juniors and seniors from Smithtown High School East participated in their annual PTSA/Leadership Dinner/Fashion Show, with proceeds also supporting the high school’s senior scholarships and cultural arts programs.

Volley For Val event held in memory of Valerie Kratochvil

by Press Release - March 16, 2025

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The Smithtown Central School District community came together on March 5 to honor the memory of beloved student, Valerie Kratochvil, who passed away in 2024.

Students and faculty faced off in a “Volley For Val” volleyball tournament at Smithtown High School East, featuring former field hockey and track teammates of Valerie, as well as athletes from Smithtown High School West.

Valerie was involved in field hockey, track, the club Athletes Helping Athletes and was an All-County musician.

The Smithtown High School East Chamber Choir started the event with a beautiful rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner.” East student Maggie Worontzoff addressed those in attendance. “Let’s play today with the same passion and spirit that Valerie had, and let’s carry her spirit with us always,” she said.

A raffle was held with all proceeds benefitting the Kratochvil family.

Rocky Point welcomes new math, science and technology director

by Press Release - August 16, 2024

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RP - Rocky Point Welcomes New MST Director — Kimberly Christian. Courtesy Rocky Point Union Free School District

The Rocky Point School District welcomes Kimberly Christian, as its new director of math, science, technology, business education, career and technical education, and family and consumer sciences. Dr. Christian will continue to advance initiatives in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for the district.

Christian earned an undergraduate degree in biology from Cornell University, a Master of Arts in Teaching Biology, a doctorate in science education, and certification in school district leadership from Stony Brook University.

In her new role, Christian aims to provide all students with a comprehensive, 21st-century education to develop information literacy, critical thinking, and analytical skills. She is known for her motivation, innovation, and problem-solving skills. She hopes to foster productive, collaborative relationships among colleagues, parents, students, and community members.

“I am pleased to join the Rocky Point community,” Christian said. “It is a privilege to work alongside our talented educators, supportive staff, and enthusiastic students and families. I look forward to advancing initiatives that will drive student success and inspire a passion for learning.”

Christian has been a science teacher at Smithtown High School East since 2004, where she taught AP Biology and Project Lead the Way: Medical Interventions, as well as Regents Living Environment and Oceans. She contributed to curriculum development and implementation and maintained innovative instructional practices, integrating technology and differentiation.

For the past decade, Christian has served as an instructional specialist at Smithtown High School East, where she facilitated dialogue between colleagues and district leadership. Her work included participating in the science curriculum committee, aligning K-12 science instruction with NYSSLS, and coordinating standardized testing administration, including local and state exams. She also collaborated with the district’s science director on master scheduling, managed materials acquisition, and provided professional development during conference days and department meetings.

She co-authored “NGSS-Based Teacher Professional Development to Implement Engineering Practices in STEM Instruction,” published in 2021 in the International Journal of STEM Education, and “NGSS Teacher Professional Development to Implement Engineering Practices in Science Instruction,” presented virtually at the 2020 International Conference of the National Association of Research in Science Teaching in Portland, Oregon.

Smithtown East and Commack high schools track teams battle in League 2 championships

by Samantha Rutt - January 28, 2024

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By Steven Zaitz

The middle of January assuredly brings two things to Suffolk County – unbearably cold temperatures and the Section XI Winter Track League Championships on the Brentwood campus of Suffolk Community College.

From Friday night to Sunday evening, Suffolk Federal Credit Union Arena was packed to the rafters with athletes from over 50 high schools across the county on both the boys and girls sides.

In League II, Commack and Smithtown East both had standout performances in the arts and sciences of running, jumping, and throwing. They competed against the likes of the mighty Connetquot, who finished in the top spot for the boys and second for the girls, Bay Shore, who were among the top five overall for both boys and girls, North Babylon, whose girls team took first place in the league, and of course archenemy to both, the always-dangerous Northport.

The Commack girls finished in fourth place overall with many noteworthy performances. The 4×400 relay was the team’s crowning achievement by winning the event by more than five seconds. With a time of 4:20.75, the Lady Cougar foursome Alexandra Pulcini, Hailey Torres, Nicole Bransfield, and Kate Hearns bested second-place Connetquot, whose quartet ran a 4:25.82.

Junior Kathryn Vidulich was best in the triple jump, reaching 35 feet. Senior Sophia Toepfer was second in the long jump with a leap of 16”10’, besting her teammate Vidulich, who came in third, by only a quarter of an inch. Toepfer was third in the 300-meter dash and senior Nicole Bransfield was third in the 55-meter hurdles.

The Bulls of Smithtown East were led by freshmen Rayshelle Brown, who was second, ahead of Bransfield, in the 55-meter hurdles at 8.84 seconds and senior Sarah Wisnieski, who was second in the 1000-meters and fifth in the 1500. Brown broke the school record by .003, a record that stood for six years. Brooke Rosenberg and Annabelle Willie crossed the finish line almost simultaneously in the 600-meter run. Rosenberg’s time was 1:48.78 and Willie’s was 1:48.90, good for third and fourth respectively.

Competing on Sunday, the Commack Boys achieved second place overall, behind Connetquot. The Cougars saw a well-diversified showing from runners, jumpers, and throwers.

Nicholas Vought, a senior, won the 300-meter dash with a blazing time of 36.51. Vought finished second to Northport star sprinter Vito LaRosa in the 55-meter dash with a 6.62. LaRosa clocked in at 6.50. Commack’s 4×800 relay team bested Northport with a time of 8:30.24, capturing first place. The quartet was made up of Alex Walsh, Dylan Manning, Aidan Piracci, and Sam Byrd. The anchorman Byrd, a senior, had a very busy day as he also placed second in the 3200 and fourth in the 1600.

“I have to give credit to my grandmother because she is an amazing cook, and she made a great dinner of pot roast and biscuits last night,” Byrd said. “Also, I took it pretty easy this week knowing that a lot of us were going to be doubling and tripling up, so I was ready to run. I was happy to win the [4×800] but I wish it was enough to catch Connetquot for the league title.”

Andrew Riggs finished in second place in the 55-meter hurdles for Commack, with a time of 8.12.

Kaden Jacques and Daniel Pagan both jumped to a height of 5’8” and were awarded third and fourth respectively, as Pagan snagged second in the long jump with a flight of 20-8. Anthony Pisciotta was fourth in shot put with a throw of 42-4.75.

The Smithtown East Bulls Braden McCormick jumped to glory, capturing first place in the high jump at 6’5”. It was the highest jump of the day by a full five inches and after clearing the bar, McCormick, joined by his teammates, set off a wild, fist-pumping celebration that rocked the arena. With this giant leap, McCormick qualifies for the New Balance Indoor Nationals in Boston later this year.

“It felt great clearing six foot five,” said McCormick. “I never thought I’d be jumping this high since only last spring I was having trouble clearing five feet ten. I’ve been lifting a lot more this season and the coaches on this team have really helped me get to the next level.”

Elsewhere for the Bulls, Kaelen Sue-Kam-Ling was third in the long jump competition with a leap of 20-2.5. Sue-Kam-Ling and his three teammates Josh Bobadilla, Jason Triolo, and Nicholas Piccoli finished fourth in the 4×200-meter relay to round out the activities for the weekend in League II.

The Suffolk County championships are up next for these track stars, and those meets will be held over the first weekend in February at the same venue.

Smithtown East High School hosts craft wonderland

by Steven Zaitz - December 9, 2023

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Smithtown East High School hosted the 11th annual Smithtown Craft & Gift Fair from Dec. 2-3.

Over 100 vendors assembled in the school gymnasium, displaying handcrafted work and related gift items. Those in attendance were greeted with a plethora of options from jewelry, decorative wreaths, candy, organic soaps and more.

— Photos by Steven Zaitz

Smithtown Robotics and SCOPE launch summer program

by Press Release - August 19, 2023

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For the first time, the Smithtown Robotics Program has combined with SCOPE Education Services to host a summer robotics enrichment program.

Held at Smithtown High School East, the program is designed for students interested and eager to learn about the Smithtown Robotics Program, allowing them to become familiar with the robotic engineering process while strengthening the foundational skills necessary for future robotics and coding experiences.

Approximately 50 students have signed up for the program.

UPDATED: Smithtown High School East evacuated

by Rita J. Egan - March 29, 2023

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In a message to members of the Smithtown High School East community, school officials notified families that on the afternoon of March 29 the facility was evacuated.

In the message, school officials said, “Late this afternoon it was reported that graffiti was identified in one of our restrooms that could be interpreted as a nonspecific threat. In an abundance of caution and in conjunction with the recommendation of the Suffolk County Police Department, our facility was evacuated.”

Students were released as soon as possible, according to the message, and school activities were canceled. SCPD was evaluating the safety and security of the high school, and students are not permitted to return inside the building until the police department has given the district the appropriate clearance.

According to SCPD, Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers were investigating the incident after receiving a call at 1:17 p.m. about the graffiti.

Later in the day, Principal Robert Rose notified members of the Smithtown High School East community that SCPD determined that there was “no credible or specific threat to our school community at this time.”

“As is always the case, district administration, its security staff and the SCPD have worked together to ensure the collective safety of our school community,” Rose wrote. “While I know some were frustrated by a lack of information at the time of the evacuation, please know that our first priority is the immediate safety of our students and staff and collaborating with the SCPD to ensure that safety. We certainly understand and agree that notification to parents is also a priority and we will look into ways to get information to you quicker in the future.”

Students were instructed to return to school Thursday, March 30, and to return to the classrooms they left their belongings Wednesdays before reporting to their first period.

Rose wrote that if the SCPD determines “that a threat was made, an arrest will be made regardless of the
intention of the person who made the threat.”

Ward Melville Patriots pen Smithtown East Bulls

by Bill Landon - December 19, 2022

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The Patriots of Ward Melville edged ahead of Smithtown East from the opening tip-off and never took their foot off the gas to keep the Bulls at bay to ink a 67-54 win at home Dec. 17.

Ben Haug led the Bulls with six field goals, a triple and four from the line for 19 points, teammates Dominic Galati netted 10 and Niko Skartsiaris banked 8.

Ward Melville senior Dylan Moore shared the top of the scoring chart with Devin Lynch, both scoring 12 points apiece followed by junior Tyler Jean-Noel who scored 11 with Lorenzo Beaton netting 10 along with 13 rebounds in the Division II contest.

The win lifts the Patriots to 4-1, and the Bulls, suffering their first loss of this early season, drop to 5-1.

Both teams retake the court with home games Dec. 20, where Smithtown East hosts Newfield at 5:15 p.m. and the Patriots take on Bellport at 4:15 p.m.

Smithtown East Bulls nip Comsewogue Warriors in non-league matchup

by Bill Landon - November 30, 2022

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The Smithtown East Bulls managed to keep the Comsewogue Warriors at bay through 16 minutes of play, protecting a three-point lead going into the locker room in a non-league matchup on Tuesday, Nov. 29.

The Warriors rallied in the second half, tying the game at 33-all at the 4 minute, 53 seconds mark of the third quarter. They then took their first lead of the game to open the final eight minutes of play.

Tied at 50-50 with 34 seconds left in regulation, both teams traded points at the free throw line when Smithtown East senior Ben Haug sank both of his shots with eight seconds left. The Bulls would edge out Comsewogue, 54-50, for the final score.

Haug led his team in scoring with 27 points, and teammate Dominic Galati banked 15.

Comsewogue’s Chris Beverly led the Warriors with 14, with teammates Austin Nesbitt netting 13, and Hayden Morris Gray notching 12.

The Bulls are back in action Thursday, Dec. 1, with a road game against Hauppauge at 5:45 p.m., and the Warriors host William Floyd at 6:15 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 2.

Bad weather can’t dampen Smithtown East’s spirit

by TBR Staff - October 5, 2022

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The threat of rain couldn’t damper the spirit of students and faculty at Smithtown High School East for the Oct. 1 homecoming game.

Students, families, staff and community members turned out to cheer on the East football team as the Bulls faced off against Connetquot.

The football teams’ offense and defense were well-matched, but the Bulls rally fell short, falling 13-7.

The halftime show featured a performance by the East Whisperettes kickline followed by the homecoming court to announce the 2022 king and queen — Jacob Wood and Alyssa DeGregory.

It was an extra special day for Jacob, who also celebrated his birthday on that day.

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