Mineola UFSD Presents: #MineolaProud: A Showcase of Innovation, May 21st from 5pm-8pm at Mineola High School.

Witness the K-12 evolution of our STEM and STEAM programs, including computer science and coding and robotics, with presentations and demonstrations from learners at all grade levels.

Learners will also be showing off their Creation Station and Genius Hour projects. These interactive lessons range from a worm habitat designed and built by our Pre-K learners, a solar energy project at Jackson, Rube Goldberg contraptions in the middle school and high-tech fabrication at the high school. In addition, the MHS Science National Honor Society will be demonstrating their STEM Exploratory Projects in Biology, Chemistry and Physics.

There will be so much to see, but don’t leave without visiting the MusBuyTangs (MBT) Student-Run pop-up store with students are selling their popular MBT branded products.

Starting at 7pm, all are invited into the MHS Auditorium for TedEd talks by our amazing and inspiring learners.

Our TedEd speakers will include:

Hampton Street
Joanna Escaleira (2nd grade) – The Benefits of Exercise
Jacob Yao (2nd grade) – Controlling Our Emotions

Meadow Drive
Grant Koo (2nd grade) – TaeKwonDo
Sebastian Abbatiello (2nd grade) – Coding is Cool!

Jackson Avenue
Abigail Kelly (4th grade) – Poaching: A Wildlife Crime
Shea McHugh (3rd grade) – Girl Power

Mineola Middle School
Mikey Gaylor (7th grade) – Magic & Its Ability to Captivate the Human Mind
Rhett Pace (6th grade) – Good for the Soul: Rubik’s Cubes & Other Brain Games

Mineola High School
Mary Elias (10th grade) – Falling for you…I think
Neeharika Vattikuti (10th grade and TedEd Club co-president) – It Start with Us

Date Added: 5/15/2024

At the start of the May 9 Board of Education meeting, Mineola administrators and Board of Education members recognized learners from throughout the district for their accomplishments in STEM and robotics and exceptional service to the school community.

They also honored Mineola’s Broadway star Brady Wagner, who made his stage debut this year in the hit show “Merrily We Roll Along” and the Board was proud to be recognized by FIRST Long Island for the district’s support of their STEM and robotics programs.

We are #MineolaProud to highlight each of these amazing learners for their achievements!

Special Recognition
Brady Wagner (Hampton Street's Very Own Broadway Star)

FIRST Lego League team members for their success at the competition in March

The Rockin Legos #6183:
Brendan Breen
Jayden Benitez Hernandez
Mary Krastel
Judah Magun
Gabriel Renjith
Elena Wagner

Master Perseveres #2730:
Catherine Baker
Zachary Beren
Ella Montes de Oca
Philip Silva
Nolan Smallwood
Olivia Trayvilla

Masterpieces #2619:
Oscar Argueta-Salmeron
Daniel Ponce
Aidan Loewenthal
Chelsea Molina Quin
Nicholas Pullows
Emmanuel Surujpaul-Huddleston

The Inventors #6174:
Claire Casey
Alice Garrigan
Oliver Palominos, Jr.
Caroline Pigott
Alexander Regueiferos
Nicholas Salerno

The Lego Leaguers #2728:
Maya Alexander
Spyridon Argyros
Eamonn Romito
Sullivan Schwetz
Chloe Toro
Julian Wharton

The Master Builders #6175:
Jackson Amatulli
Josue Fuentes
Madeline Li
Candi Liu
James McHale

The Master Legos #2726:
Caterina Araujo
Konstantinos Argyros
Brendan Creighton
Cosette Gaffney
Elias Johnson
Lia Santos

The Lego Explorers #6176:
Argyrios Bonetti
Arabella Ferraioli
Finnian Kelly
Victoria Once
Neel Patel
Curtis Savage

Jackson Avenue Brave Safety Patrol members (Recognized for “outstanding service the school community”)
Catherine Baker
Brian Condon
Madeline Gaven
Max Kent
Daniel Nicholas

Jackson Avenue Brave Student Committee members
Arabella Ferraioli
Aidan Loewenthal
Derek Wong

MHS Physical Education Leadership Program
Andrew Basel
Leah Chang
Andrew DeRose
Brianna DiVirgilio
Maggie Duda
Emma Foley
Nicholas Frey
Kirpa Kaur
Caitlin Kenney
Elizabeth Kenney
Sebastian Knight
Keira McCaffrey
Rory Meehan
Kelsey Morrison
Ava Murphy
Michaela Palumbo
James Plunkett
Scott Podstupka
Anthony Sartori
Luigi Sartori
Rafael Solon
John Valentino
Brianna Voyer

Date Added: 5/13/2024

Eight Mineola learners have been honored with the Outstanding Physical Education Elementary and Middle School Award by the Nassau Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (NYS AHPERD).

Students recognized with medals and certificates at the May 2 event include Joanna Escaleira and A.J. Parente from Hampton Street School, Audrey McHugh and Logan Molen from Jackson Avenue School, Lianna Sanchez and Frankie Gatzonis from Meadow Drive School and Marcello Patron and Daniella Porcelli from Mineola Middle School.

In addition, Meadow Drive School physical education teacher Ms. Christine Gayson was recognized at the event as a nominee for NYS AHPERD Elementary Physical Education Teacher of the Year. The winner of this award has yet to be announced.

This recognition is awarded annually to exemplary elementary and middle school students who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills, responsible personal and social behavior and outstanding achievements in physical education programs.

Date Added: 5/7/2024

On Thursday, April 18, sixteen Mineola High School students, accompanied by Mr. Paul Pereira and Mr. Ed Escobar, departed for a 10-day exchange trip to Portugal. This is the 6th time, the first one being in 1997, that a delegation from Mineola High School has visited a school in Portugal and the first time an exchange was organized with the Secondary School in Murtosa. Murtosa is a municipality in the Aveiro district that has a long and rich tradition tying it to the ocean and immigration as it is surrounded by water, namely the Atlantic Ocean and the Aveiro Lagoon. The population is approximately 11,000 residents and covers an area of 28 square miles. Numerous Murtosa residents have immigrated to the United States, settling mainly in Newark, New Jersey, Naugatuck, Connecticut and other areas in the New York metropolitan area, including Mineola.

The eager travelers left Mineola High School after school on April 18 for an evening flight to Lisbon on TAP Air Portugal. Arriving early the next day, Mr. Pereira, Mr. Escobar, and the 16 students boarded a train to their destination in Murtosa, where they would spend the next seven days. The students were housed with Portuguese students who will visit Mineola in Spring 2025. Over the next seven days, students, Portuguese and American, participated in a variety of activities and excursions. The group visited the nearby beaches of Torreira and Sao Jacinto, as well as the “Ria” (Aveiro Lagoon). The group traversed the lagoon on a traditional “moliceiro” (kelp) boat on their way to visit the airbase of San Jacinto. Although much of the winter had been a rainy one in Portugal there was nothing but sunshine and 70 degree temperatures to greet the students. On their second full day in town the students spent the day with their host families and were treated to a day of visiting nearby sites that were not part of the exchange itinerary such as: the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in Arouca, the Castle at Santa Maria da Feira, and Costa Nova. The students also visited Aveiro, the “Venice of Portugal” and Oporto. Students were impressed by the contrast of Portugal’s centuries old architecture and ultra-modern sprawling shopping malls. In Aveiro, the highlight was a visit to one of the few operating salt flats remaining. On the visit to Oporto, the group visited many of the iconic sites of Portugal's “Second City”, such as Palacio da Bolsa, Torre dos Clerigos and Sé do Porto. On April 25, the group of Mineola and Murtosa students took a leisurely bicycle ride along the “Ria”, culminating with an amazing picnic lunch provided by the host parents.

After a tearful and emotional “goodbye” at the school, the 16 “Americans” were back on a train to Lisbon. The next two nights would be spent at the Hotel Ikonik in Lisbon. On the 2 hour train ride aboard the “Alfa Pendular” train the students reflected on how warm and welcoming their hosts had been in Murtosa. They spoke of friends that they made and lifelong memories that they created.

Arriving in Lisbon Friday afternoon the group checked in to their accommodations. The next three days would be spent touring Lisbon and its surroundings. The group visited Belém, Chiado, Baixa and Parque das Nações, among other Lisbon neighborhoods. The students were also treated to a special “invitation only” event commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1974 Carnation Revolution where they got to meet the current president of Portugal, Marcelo Rebels de Sousa, and the first post revolution president, Antonio Ramalho Eanes.

Other highlights in Lisbon included a “mandatory” visit to Pasteis de Belem, a bakery that dates to 1837, where students enjoyed the tasty national pastry known as Pasteis de Nata. The students were also treated to a delicious complimentary lunch at the Museu da Cerveja thanks to the group “O Valor do Tempo.”

The students and chaperones arrived back safely in the United States on the evening of April 28 a bit tired but with incredible memories of friendships made and culture experienced. The students are eagerly awaiting the return visit of their friends from Murtosa in Spring 2025.

Text courtesy of Mr. Paul Pereira.

Date Added: 5/3/2024

The final Mineola musical production of the school year brings the ogre and his beloved swamp to the stage as the 8th and 9th grade Mineola High School Drama Club presents “Shrek the Musical Jr.”

What does an ogre have to do to get some respect in his own swamp? Well...vanquish a dragon, rescue a princess, put up with an annoying donkey sidekick and outsmart a petulant Lord. In the process, he'll save the homes of just about every fairy tale creature you've likely ever heard of and we'll all learn about the nature of true love. This cast of 33 will sing and dance their hearts out for you, in this musical that guarantees a fun time for the whole family. Plus, you'll find out if beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

The community has three opportunities to see this fantastically funny fairy tale on stage at Mineola High School:

• Friday, May 31 at 7:30 p.m.
• Saturday, June 1 at 2:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

All ages are welcome.

Tickets are $15 and on-sale now at https://mineolahs.booktix.net/

Date Added: 5/2/2024