Bellport Middle School seventh grade students recently celebrated Civics Day by presenting to their peers, principals and distinguished guests research projects that aim to make a positive impact within their school and community.

Each student team presented an issue they researched, the root causes of the problem at hand, results of the surveys rendered to peers, policies in place that affect each issue and a plan for action. Project topics included providing healthy snacks in vending machines in the school’s cafeteria, revamping the school’s cellphone and field trip policies, and cyberbullying.

Delivering the keynote address at the event were Legislators Jim Mazzarella and Doug Smith. Both politicians spoke to the students about the importance of researching and finding solutions to problems.

Date Added: 6/23/2022

The Bellport Middle School Social Studies Department hosted a Juneteenth celebration assembly on June 17.

During the event, Dr. Zebulon Miletsky, professor of Africana studies and history at Stony Brook University, and Dr. Jarvis Watson, director of diversity, equity and inclusion at the School of Visual Arts, joined students virtually to discuss Juneteenth by addressing questions about the day.

Students learned the significance of Juneteenth, how many enslaved were affected by the issuance of the Juneteenth order, the difference between the Emancipation Proclamation and the Juneteenth order, and how students can recognize Juneteenth.

“The assembly was a rewarding experience for the middle school staff and students to learn more about Juneteenth,” said social studies teacher Romelo Green. “Through this assembly, students came to better understand why they have this day off from school in June, the impact this event had on enslaved Blacks in 1865 and the lasting effects it still has on our nation today.”

Date Added: 6/23/2022

As proud family members looked on, 31 student-musicians from Bellport Middle School were inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society during a ceremony on June 13.

To be inducted, the students were required to be full-time members of a performing ensemble at Bellport Middle School, participate in the NYSSMA Solo Evaluation Festival, and exhibit leadership, service and character. They must also maintain a B average in their music classes and receive a recommendation from their music teachers.

The South Country Central School District extends its congratulations to the following inductees: Madison Aruta, Logeen Baslious, Barbara Bautista Castellanos, Valeria Bautista, Colin Capuano, Meaghan DeLillo, Rebecca DeLillo, Kaylyn Donovan, Hope Gorden, Penelope Gordon, Colin Knakal, Gabriella Lembo, Sarah Lewis, Matthew Manitta, Caitlin Maragioglio, Lucia McCollum, Stephanie Meininger, Bianca Mignola, Julio Montes-Santos, Jennifer Morales, Elizabeth Orsino, Nayla Ortiz Macas, Samantha Panasuk, Julius Radino, Sara Repper, Madelyn Schmidt, Kayla Schneider, Ryan Spence, Taylor Vertichio, Gabrielle Waller and Dylan Weiner.

Date Added: 6/21/2022

During a candle-lighting ceremony on June 2, Bellport Middle School inducted 197 new members into its the National Junior Honor Society.

To be eligible for membership, the students were required to maintain an 88 academic average or an 85 if the student is in two or more Regents classes in each of the first three quarters of the school year; have no grade less than a 70 as a quarterly class average; demonstrate service, leadership, citizenship and character; and participate in at least three extracurricular activities.

The South Country School District congratulates the following inductees:

Grade 7

Erik Anderson, Muhammad Anees, Arianna Barrett, Logeen Baslious, Edith Batres Guevara, Mariah Battist, Barbara Bautista Castellanos, Valeria Bautista Castellanos, Joseph Bellone, Deniz Bitirim, Deanna Dawn Caguicla, Megan Candelaria, Colin Capuano, Ashley Castillo, Nicolette Comeau, Daniel Day, Rebecca DeLillo, Kevin Diaz Sanchez, Ashley Dondero, Leslie Espinoza Chavez, Jack Fauci, Jayden Garcia, Addison Gilbert, Nick Gonzalez, Hope Gorden, Penelope Gordon, Bryan Guaman-Guachun, Sajdah Hayat, Alexander Hershkowitz, Menaal Hussain, Anders Johnsen, Gavin Katz, John Kavanagh, Elizabeth Keenan, Yasra Khan, Marcella Krotschinsky, Gabriella Lembo, Sarah Lewis, Avery Loeffler, Adrian Lopez, Johnathan Lutchman, Matthew Manitta, Caitilin Maragioglio, Stephanie Meininger, Bianca Mignola, Madeline Mohabir, Lily Monastero, Julio Montes-Santos, Nathan Moody, Chase Morris, Sophia Morroun, Joelle Mylonas, Gabriella Neumann, Soraya Ortega Cordova, Nayla Ortiz Macas, Evangeline Pacini, Evan Peters, Onyelukachukwu Philip-Ikpo, Aish Porter, Jim Salazar, Jordan Saliba, Keyla Sanchez Quiroz, Christina Schaefer, Wesley Schmidt, Kayla Schneider, Rowan Schultz, Amir Scott, Cooper Scotti, Henry Siavichay Najera, Vanessa Sisalima, Thomas Smith, Johnna Spagnoli, Darlyn Toribio Capellan, Taylor Truce, Troy Turuta, Brian Umanzor, Emily Uyi, Logan Vazquez, Taylor Vertichio, Gabrielle Waller, Dylan Weiner, Frankie Wilk and Fayth Williams

Grade 6

Abigail Abaldonado, Anthony Abbatiello, Alyssa Abner, Emma Amendola, Griffin Antos, Ian Arias, Diego Arriaza, Liam Bal, Aarom Balkaran, Charlotte Barry, Gavin Bell, Josue Benitez, Colleen Benze, Brooke Bodkin, Katelynn Bohn, Autumn Booker, Melissa Calle, Landon Carapezza, Rylee Carpenter, Valerie Castillo, Marcelo Chaves, Matthew Chojnacki, Courtney Christie, Noah Clarke, Evan Comerford, Jason Cuji, Dominic DeCaro, Olivia DeVito, Shani Dilan, Alexis Drapal, Jack Drapal, Morgan Dunbar, Dylan Epstein, Julia Ferrara, Jocelyn Fitzgerald, Emma Fostvedt, Caitlin Fox, Brody Frabizio, Amber Gambles, Steven Garfen, Allison German, Johan Giraldo, Connor Griffin, Gavin Gronenthal, David Guaman, Nylah Hall, Declan Hart, Carly Hawaldar, Ines Haynes, Bianca Henn, Joshua Hernandez, Michael Hernandez, Tony Hernandez, James Hines, Riley Hollywood, Landon Horn, Mateo Hurtado, Lena Issam, Sean James Jr., Kellan Jensen, Destiny Johnson, Andrew Jones, Cassaera Kelly, Gavin Klein, Taylor La Grega, Michael LaPaz, Ethan Leidig, Reece Lesser, Maite Lojano, Christian Lunsford, Aubrey Mantione, Leila Masillo, Madeline Mayer, Jaela McCullough, Tyliah Miller, Tyler Mordente, Giovanna Muro, Roma Nichols, Alaythea Nix, Michael Nunez, Emma Orsino, Desmond Pacini, Michael Petoello, Robert Pauletti, Jaime Portillo, Sadie Pracher, Griselda Rios-Reyes, Marian Rivas, Joshua Rodas, Jaden Santos, Lee Santos, Seth Santos, Pablo Saquicaray, Nelian Scott, Asahel Seaman, Summer Seif, Ahad Shah, Luke Shelley, Kevin Sorrentino, Christopher Sorto Hernandez, Molly Steininger, Victoria Strecker, Christopher Taveras, Connor Togher, Gianna Tuzza, Alexa Ulloa, Jaime Umanzor, Scarlett Van Wyen, Paula Vasquez, Estefany Velasquez Umanzor, Samantha Webster, Keira Williams, Yanza Escobar Yanzy and Dennis Zhunio.

Date Added: 6/15/2022

Students at Bellport Middle School and Bellport High School recently marked Mental Health Awareness Week with a variety of activities.

At both schools, students heard from guest speaker Hakeem Rahim, a mental health awareness expert and author. They also participated in themed days filled with corresponding activities.

Among the middle school activities, students wore sweatpants to school on Mindful Monday, took part in yoga on Stress-Free Tuesday and raised money for mental health through a walk on White Out Wednesday. They also exchanged kind words to one another through a compliments box.

High schoolers had the opportunity to take a yoga class as well. They also planted flowers during their lunch periods and made “gratitude grams” that were distributed to fellow students.

Date Added: 5/24/2022