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Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo Speaks on Civics to Washington Drive Second Graders

Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo Speaks on Civics to Washington Drive Second Graders thumbnail256106

Huntington Town Councilman Dr. Dave Bennardo visited second graders in Kelly Harley’s classroom at Washington Drive Primary School in the Harborfields Central School District on March 4 as a guest speaker for a project-based civics learning unit focused on urban, suburban and rural communities. Dr. Bennardo, who served as the principal of Harborfields High School for nine years, taught the students about the role of local government leaders across these three types of communities.   

“There is something very special about meeting with students, and that visit becomes even more special when I am visiting with a Harborfields class,” Dr. Bennardo said. “I was truly inspired by Ms. Harley’s students as their attentiveness, enthusiasm and inquisitive spirits were remarkable. These second graders demonstrated a maturity far beyond their years. My ‘hat is off’ to Ms. Harley as well as her students’ parents on a job particularly well done.”

Date Added: 3/12/2024

A Dozen Harborfields HS Seniors Celebrate Signing to Play College Sports

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A dozen top-notch Harborfields High School senior athletes who recently signed national letters of intent to continue their playing careers in college were celebrated on Senior Athlete College Signing Recognition Night, held March 8 in the high school auditorium.

Honored for their college commitments were Ethan Appolon (football, Wagner College), Vincent Bolognino (lacrosse, Syracuse University), Brady Cavanaugh (lacrosse, SUNY Geneseo), AJ Dahlk (golf, Chaminade University), Meaghan Fealy (lacrosse, Stonehill College), Michael Ferranti (football, Franklin & Marshall College), Kate Lysaght (field hockey, Muhlenberg College), Nico Markowski (lacrosse, University of Scranton), Kiera Medina (lacrosse, Mercy College), Jack Poller (lacrosse, Westminster College of Pennsylvania), Zoe Sbarra-Vaughan (tennis, Bentley University) and Charles Serafin (lacrosse, Arcadia University).

“Tonight, we celebrate with each of you as you embark on this next journey in your athletic and academic careers,” Athletic Director Rob Franco said. “This is an incredible achievement that many students are not afforded. Your hard work, commitment and dedication to your chosen craft has separated you from the rest and allowed you to pursue your dream of participating in collegiate athletics. About 4.5 million athletes compete in high school sports annually, and of those 4.5 million, only 335,000 go on to compete and play at the college level. Each of you has had a unique and distinct impact on your respective teams. You have represented our school community with pride, dignity and civility. All of you have left a positive legacy and we are grateful for the memories you helped create over the past four years.”

“On behalf of everybody here at Harborfields High School, we are so incredibly proud of you,” Principal Dr. Marie Netto said. “You all made us so proud every time that you stepped foot on a court or field representing Harborfields, and now you have the wonderful ability to continue that rush as you commit to being a college athlete. I hope that you enjoy every minute of the ups and downs that are going to come in the future, and I hope that you embrace every challenge with the strength that all of us know that you have within you.”

Serving as guest speaker was Class of 2014 alumna Kristen Kelly. During her high school career at Harborfields, she played basketball, softball and tennis. In basketball, she was named first team All-State, All-Long Island, All-County, All-Conference All-League, All-Tournament, League MVP, Team MVP and Harborfields Most Outstanding Athlete, and her teams were a dynasty, winning four league titles, two county championships, two Long Island championships and state runner-up twice. Kelly earned a full scholarship for basketball at New York Institute of Technology, where she graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees as a physician’s assistant. After graduation, she completed a two-year fellowship in urgent care and plastic surgery aesthetics. Kelly opened the Natural Beauty Med Spa in Huntington in 2023.

“Harborfields truly holds such a special plate in my heart,” Kelly said, before addressing the student-athletes standing where she once stood. “This is the best time of your life, so enjoy it. Your hard work has paid off and the next chapter of your life is beginning soon. Although I might not be playing basketball anymore, the athlete in me never left. The values I learned and what was ingrained in me by my coaches, teammates and parents will always remain with me. Nothing worth having is easy. If it was easy, everyone would do it and everyone would be here. You are the select few that have been chosen to play at that next level, but I want you to not only think about that next level when it comes to your respective sports, but about what comes after that. Focus on your academics. Strive to be the best that you can possibly be. Remember where you came from and what your mentors, coaches and parents have taught you. If you carry that with you and you have that mentality in everything you do, I promise you will be successful.”

Date Added: 3/11/2024

Washington Drive Wraps Up Black History Month With Scavenger Hunt

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Washington Drive Primary School wrapped up Black History Month with a scavenger hunt around the building. Students were tasked with locating posters about black inventors such as Mary Kenner and Granville T. Woods.

Date Added: 3/7/2024


Two from TJL Earn Perfect Score on WordMasters Challenge

 Fourth grader Amalia Sepulveda and fifth grader Quinn Dunham, thumbnail255900

Two Thomas J. Lahey Elementary School students recently received a perfect score in the first of three meets in this year’s WordMasters Challenge, a national vocabulary competition involving nearly 125,000 students each year. Fourth grader Amalia Sepulveda and fifth grader Quinn Dunham, both competing in the Blue Division, each earned a perfect score of 20 on the Challenge. Nationally, only 26 fourth graders and 43 fifth graders achieved this result. The students were coached in preparation for the WordMasters Challenge by Linda Scarth.

Date Added: 3/6/2024

Harborfields Unified Golf Team Finishes Amazing Season at Topgolf

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Harborfields High School’s Unified Golf team participated in the final match of their season on Feb. 15 with the Special Olympics at Topgolf in Holtsville. Harborfields’ Michael Slear was chosen to read the Athlete Oath to kick off the day’s event, saying, “Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

“It was also great to see both of our pairs place first in each of their divisions,” Athletic Director Rob Franco said. “We are so proud of these athletes, partners and coaches. We were missing some at the final match, but they all did an amazing job this season.”



Date Added: 3/6/2024