An Environment for Effective Teaching & Learning Volume 3, Issue 27 5/15/20 HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR RECEIVES SCIENCE RECOGNITIONS Congratulations to High School Junior, Jalaj Mehta, who was nominated for and received the Science Medal from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. This medal is awarded to a junior that has excelled in the most rigorous science and math courses, and is in the top 10% of their class. Dr. Robert Wankmuller, Director of Science, Technology and Research said the following, “Jalaj has performed exceptionally well in rigorous courses such as AP Chemistry, AP Physics, IB Physics, IB Computer Science, AP Statistics and AP Calculus BC. He also participated in the Garcia program last summer at Stony Brook University where he did research in chemistry. He received an award for that research at the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. In addition to his strong academic record, Jalaj par- ticipated in the F.I.R.S.T. Robotics team and the Science Olympiad team.” As a high school student research at the Garcia Center for Poly- mer at Engineered Interfaces from July 2019 to December 2019, Ja- laj conducted the following research: - Enhancing the Flame Retardancy of Biodegradable Poly(vinyl alcohol) Hydrogels with Resorcinol Bis(diphenyl phosphate) Jalaj Mehta Coated Starch: Student Presentee at the Fall 2019 Materials Research Society Conference in Boston - Created a biodegradable hydrogel flame retardant from a physically cross-linked PVA base with particles of Starch, RDP and RDP-coated Starch embedded inside and the property determination of said hydrogels Jalaj received 3rd place in the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium, Long Island, Chemistry Division. In addition to his Science recognitions, Jalaj has been a very active student. He is the founder and President of the Model United Nations Club from September 2017-present. This club is dedicated to the development of speaking abilities and the understanding of international political legislation. The club aids students in understanding the relationships between nations and how to practically and ef- fectively model them. He was named “Best Delegate” at ConnetMUNC 2019 and 2020 and was “Out- standing Delegate” at Sachem North MUNC 2019, PrepMUNC 2020. Jalaj is a member of the FIRST Robotics Team and has been their Vice President and a coach since September. The Team works to understand the rules and strategy of robotics games, as well as design- ing and building a functioning robot for robotics games. The Team sponsored a volunteer trip to two underprivileged schools in India in order to host a model bridge- building competition to let students experience basic engineer- ing concepts. Jalaj is the Founder/Manager of the International Bridge Building Initiave. This non-profit program at under-privileged schools in India helps students cultivate knowledge and passion for engineering. They have a competition with prizes in which students with the aid of teachers, build model bridges and test them in a competion in February. The funding was completely provided by the Hauppauge High School Robotics Team. In addition, Jalaj is a member of the Science Olympiad Team. He recently placed first inChemistry Lab, second in Detector Build- ing and third in Disease Detectives at the 2020 competition. Jalaj is a member of the Boys Varsity Tennis Team. The team had a record of 11-2 in 2019. He is a “Scholar Athlete” and an “All-League Tennis Player.” Jalaj Mehta Jalaj and his father, Nayana Mehta, recently thanked high school Science Olympiad principal, Chris Cook, and the many teachers, administrators and Board members who, over the years, have provided great opportunities to the students. Congratulations to Jalaj on his achievements! He is an academically talented and hard-working student! HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS RECEIVE TOWN OF ISLIP RECOGNITIONS Two of our high school seniors were recently selected by the Town of Islip, Town Supervisor Angie M. Carpenter, to receive “Student Achievement Awards.” The Town recognizes students each year for their individual accomplishments. This year’s recognized students are: Rose Recce Fine and Performing Arts Jalaj Mehta Science - Environmental The nominated students were notified by the Supervisor’s office. Congratulations on this wonderful recognition! HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH HONOR SOCIETY RECOGNITION The High School English Department recently inducted thirty-nine high school students into the Hauppauge English Honor Society. Dr. Christopher Michael, Director of English Language Arts, said, “It is a pleasure on behalf of the Hauppauge English Honor Society and the Hauppauge English Department to congratulate you on your acceptance into the first cohort of the Hauppauge English Honor Society. Your application offered the committee a glimpse of the outstanding effort that you have put into your academics, your short responses and essay gave members a clearer picture of you as an English student and the letters of reference spoke of your drive, determination and character.” Dr. Michael continued, “You make the English Department, the Hauppauge High School and the Hauppauge community proud. We are truly fortunate to have you represent not only the English Honor Society but the first Hauppauge English Honor Society. Unfortunately, due to the current crisis we find ourselves in, we will not be able to host an induction ceremony this school year.” In order to honor this wonderful distinction, students were asked to email a picture that can used as part of a slide presentation. This presentation will be shared with the high school and the Hauppauge community. Congratulations to these students and special thanks to Ms. Andrea Darbee, Hauppauge English Honor Soci- ety Advisor. Olivia Accardi Sreevarshini Karthikeya Peter Proscia Sean Barry Layla Keen Shivani Rao Vivian Chen Emily Kelly Emely Rodriguez Melody Cheng Jade Kirdahy Tyler Rutley Abigail Clarke Danielle Liu Michael Schroeder Loriann Connolly Kylie LoPiccolo Noah Schwartzapfel Arrianna Cunningham Ravae McCleary Sarah Shaik Jake Divilio Holly McGullam Kayla Smakal Kathryn Dolce Jalaj Mehta Ayannah Stein-Jones Matthew Ebert Sean Napolitano Madison Traverzo Austin Faber Melissa Oliver Alex Vasilakopoulos Vincent Gerardi Elyse Ostrove Emma Vasilakopoulos Colin Happe Dominick Pacileo Lucia Vilchez HIGH SCHOOL NEW YORK STATE HISTORY DAY RECOGNITION Doreen Gordon, Director of the Social Studies and Business Department said, “Please join the High School Social Studies Department in congratulating the students below who placed first or second in the NYS History Day competition and are moving on to the National History Day competition in June:” Individual Exhibit- 1st Place- Teresa Deasy A Surplus of Food to a Surplus of Problems: The Agricultural Barrier Broken by The Green Revolution- Teacher Ellen Robbins Individual Website- 2nd place- Varsha Saravana Elsie Inglis and The Scottish Women’s Hospital: Redefining Femininity in the Midst of Warfare - Teacher Felicia Cono Individual Documentary- 2nd place- Isabella Calvao Bringing Names to the Disease: How The AIDS Quilt Broke the Barrier of Ignorance- Teacher Felicia Cono The following students placed in the top 5 in the NYS History Day Competition. Individual Website -4th place- Melody Cheng To Boldly Go: How ‘Star Trek: The Original Series’ Broke the Social Barrier -Teacher Anne Stebbins Group Performance- 3rd Place- Vincent Gerardi, Katie Dolce, Rose Reece, Michael Seda, Peter Proscia From Classroom To Courtroom: Breaking Barriers through the Tinker V. Des Moines Case- Teachers -Ellen Robbins, David Reiff and Debbie Surian Congratulations to all student and teachers!! Great job! DANCE STUDENTS ARE INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY FOR THE DANCE ARTS The following students were inducted into the Hauppauge HS Chapter of the National Honor Society for the Dance Arts for the 2019-2020 school year. The Dance Honor Society recognizes outstanding artistic merit, leader- ship, and academic achievement in students studying dance in public schools and fosters an appreciation for dance as a true art form, one worthy of recognition and prestige. Lindsey Boller Christina Bowden Mackenzie Buscarino Reagan Cavanagh Victoria De Los Santos Alexis Fetzer Danielle Ingrassia Julia Morales Samyuktha Vattigunta Alexandra Weiner High School Dance Teacher, Carolyn Cavuoto, said, “In addition, I would like to recognize Ava Olivo with the Dance Department Award for a graduating senior and member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Ava has been a member of the Hauppauge Dance program for 4 years, sharing her exceptional dancing as well as creat- ing beautiful, inclusive and meaningful choreography. Her contributions to the dance program will be missed as she heads off to Salve Regina University in the Fall.” Congratulations to all of our wonderful dancers! PINES ELEMENTARY TEACHER SHOWS APPRECIATION FOR ESSENTIAL WORKERS Michele Giachetti, Third Grade teacher in Pines Elemen- tary School, has been actively showing the essential work- ers in her community and surrounding areas, much appre- ciation for all their tireless efforts on the front lines. What started out as a small act of kindness from her and her local frisbee team (the 3 Village Mother Flickers) of about 16 women, turned into something so much bigger. This group of women have donated over 100+ meals to not only various units at Stony Brook, Mather and St. Charles hospitals, but their efforts have reached even the local “es- sential” workers at BJs, Trader Joes, City MD, Brentwood S.D., North Babylon