By Alexandra Docyk

​In March, the Key Club and Student Organization held their annual Battle of the Classes, Battling for Cause in which they collectively fundraised $20,000 for Smile Train and Hagedorn Cleft Palate Craniofacial Center. The event was recently recognized as the number one service-learning fundraiser in the state by the New York State Key Club.
 
On April 17, 2018 top fundraisers from Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause visited Smile Train Headquarters in New York City.  The NYC location is the only Smile Train headquarters in the United States.  Students were able to learn about different job opportunities available in a non-profit organization and learned about how Smile Train carries out its mission of giving the gift of smiles.  Students were able to take part in a virtual reality tour in an underdeveloped nation and see how patients receive care when receiving cleft or palate reconstructive surgery/services.
 
“Being able to go to the Smile Train Headquarters was something special and unique.  We had the opportunity to see where our donations were going and whom they were helping.  I learned that the reason why we create informational videos and learn how to use Microsoft presentational tools when conducting student assemblies is because are training for future work in a professional non-profit setting.  This was an amazing experience.  I have never had an opportunity like this before and am glad that I experienced this before entering into college.” – Pragna Krishnamurthy
 
“We had an informative tour and learned about Smile Train’s work.  We learned that they have created sustainable teaching model in order to carry out their amazing work.  Their team is in NYC and they are a unique group that makes all of the work of the organization possible.”  - Gab Murray
 
“The tour allowed us to get an inside look as to how people live in underdeveloped nations.  We saw how much work goes into helping 85+ countries worldwide.” – Sam Wagner
 
“The tour helped us experience what life is life for a child suffering from cleft palates around the world.  This tour helped us learn how we can help those that are less fortunate and how we should be appreciative of what we have living in the United States.” – Frankie Venezia

By Sam Mannarino

​To provide the seniors of Mr. Plotkin’s 1960s Literature Class with some background information about the Vietnam War and the major themes in The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien, Mr. Randy Gordon visited the class as a guest speaker. Mr. Gordon was the former commissioner of the New York State Athletic Commission and editor of Ring Magazine. He is currently an author, sports announcer, radio personality, and Hall of Fame Boxer. Mr. Gordon told passionate stories of the time he spent with the boxing legend Mohammad Ali, and of his time as an editor and commissioner. He also read pages from his upcoming and emotional novel, Glove Affair, regarding PTSD and other struggles facing returning Vietnam soldiers, such as the late and great Wayne Kelly. After his inspiring presentation, students eagerly waited after the bell to strike up conversations and ask questions.  

By Frank Ortiz
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In early march, members of the SPARC/Interact Club of Mineola and Carle Place High Schools gathered at Mineola High School where they heard personal accounts of a very admirable US Veteran who served in the Marines during the war in Afghanistan. US Marine Corporal John Fretz, currently a social studies teacher at Mineola, recounted his experiences in the military, expressing his grief and gratitude for those whom he had lost during the war. Corporal Fretz shared his experience of witnessing first-hand, the destruction of an IED explosive. His Commanding Officer was terribly wounded in the IED explosion, leaving him incapacitated and unable to care for many of his own medical needs. Corporal Fretz’s commander is now relying on the VA Hospital for medical treatment of his ailments. After hearing this moving presentation from Corporal Fretz, the SPARC/Interact Club  members worked together to create “comfort kit gift packages” to help ease the discomfort and distress faced by many veterans. These Gift Packs for Veterans included: pens, crossword puzzle books, combs, socks, and personal care items. Also included in each gift pack was a student-created “Thank You for Your Service” Card offering gratitude for the veterans’ sacrifice. The gifts were delivered after completion to the Veteran’s Administration hospital in Northport, Long Island. 

By Logan Kelly

On March 9 and 10, the Carle Place Theater Company will be putting on a production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The show centers around the hysterical and witty Pierrepont Finch (played by Andre Duarte), a window-washer making his way up the corporate ladder in the company World Wide Wickets. He’s discovered fantastic value in a book (played by Carmine Carusone) which facilitates his rise. The company is run by a group of employees, oblivious to Finch’s ambition, such as; J.B Biggley (Matt Cardona) and his irritating nephew Bud Frump (Zachary Pignataro), Bert Bratt (Logan Kelly), Gatch (Hector Rivera), Twimble (Jaylen Williams), Tackaberry (Jack O’Brien), and Jenkins (Vaughn Kelly.) Other hilarious characters include the mysterious and seductive Hedy LaRue (Heather Kwon) and Rosemary Pilkington (Sydney Eichel), the hopeless romantic who is always searching for opportunities to woo Finch, accompanied by her flat-humored friend Smitty (Kristina Yim.) Come out to see the show and discover How to Succeed!

By Alexandra Docyk
 
On Friday, March 2, 2018, Carle Place High School held its 11th annual Battle of The Classes, Battling for a Cause in support of The Smile Train and the Hagedorn Cleft Palate and Craniofacial Center. These organizations were chosen in support of Carle Place alumni, Wally Avellaneda, Class of 2003, whose son Gerard was born with a cleft palate.  Through a community fundraiser, coin wars and the night of the event, the students of Carle Place raised $20,000 for these organizations. The night was filled with many laughs, great memories, and definitely SMILES. Activities like the blow up obstacle course, relay race, Just Dance, and volleyball were just some of the exciting competitions that the 4 grades competed in.
 
Senior Nicole Imperiale describes BOTC as “a fun and exciting night that everyone comes together to make a difference.”  This is a night to show support and spirit for not only your school, but for a cause and once again students of Carle Place truly showed their compassion and passion.
 
Congratulations to our top fundraiser, Gabriella Murray and to the class of 2018; the champions of the 2018 Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause.

By Caroline McLaughlin

CLICK HERE TO MAKE AN ONLINE DONATION!

On February 2, 2018 the Student Organization and Key Club held their annual Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause high school assembly.  The student body learned about cleft palates and how they impact the development of infants around the world.  The students learned about corrective surgeries that are carried out to help infants overcome difficulties associated with cleft palates. 

Students will be fundraising for Smile Train and Hagedorn Cleft Palate Craniofacial Center in order to give children a chance to smile.  Students chose Smile Train to make an impact on an international level and Hagedorn Cleft Craniofacial Center for its work on Long Island.  Students chose this cause because they were touched by alumni Wally Avenellada’s son Gerard who was born with a cleft palate.  Wally is a 2003 alumni of Carle Place High School and son of retired Carle Place Teacher Amelia Avenellada.  Click here for additional information.

CLICK HERE FOR A STUDENT-CREATED VIDEO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THESE CHARITIES!

​CLICK HERE FOR MORE PICTURES!

MISSED IT?  CLICK HERE FOR SPEECHES FROM THE EVENT!

CLICK HERE FOR HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR'S FUNDRAISING EVENT!

 By Caroline McLaughlin

This year’s Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause and Middle School Olympics will be fundraising money for Hagedorn Cleft Palate—Craniofacial Center and Smile Train.  Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause is an event run by the High School Student Organization and the HS Key Club.  The Middle School Olympics is an event run by the Middle School Student Organization and the Builders Club.
 
The Hagedorn Center provides immediate and long term medical care for infants and families.  Since its inception, Hagedorn Center has helped over 4000 families on Long Island, New York City, Connecticut and New Jersey.  Smile Train is an international charity that provides training, funding and resources to empower doctors in developing countries to provide 100% free cleft repair surgery and care. 
 
Carle Place High School was selected to receive a $500.00 HS Key Club Youth Opportunities Fund grant to provide for "Battle of the Classes, Battling for a Cause 2018 for Operation Smile". With more than 140 applicants it is a prestigious honor that Carle Place High School was selected.  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

By Loren Panno

On a recent visit to MetLife Stadium with my Sports Marketing class, we got to meet several employees that majored in marketing and sports marketing. However, the majority of them were men, with only two females. Each one explained to us the marketing of sports, including pricing of memorabilia and tickets. They discussed in detail how each section of the stadium works. We got a tour of the offices, clubhouse and locker rooms.  At the end of the tour, we got to go on the field! The field seems so much bigger in person. It was a great field trip.

By Caroline McLaughlin
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On Saturday December 2, 2017 members of the Carle Place Key Club volunteered alongside the Mineola County-Seat Kiwanis for the Salvation Army.  Members of the club sang holiday songs and rang the Salvation Army bells in order to obtain donations outside of Carle Place North Shore Farms.  The Salvation Army assists in the fight to end hunger, helps the elderly and provides support for veterans.

By Caroline McLaughlin

Various members of the Key Club took part in the set up and success of the Festival of Trees, which took place on November 25 and 26, 2017.  The Festival of Trees is a fundraising event for Cerebral Palsy of Nassau (CPN).  Students assisted CPN volunteers Karen Kiefel and Tiffany Kiefel-Claeson, physical education and health teacher at CPHS.  During set up, which took place the week before the festival, members helped to move, unpack, and sort boxes to set up a giant display of a Christmas village.  During the actual event, members assisted in various areas of the Festival. The students helped make gingerbread cookies, assisted in the children’s center, and worked the tables for tree bids. 

By James Anastasio

​This year our school began participating in the Virtual Enterprises International Program.  On Friday, October 27, 2017, the Virtual Enterprises class participated in the Business and Entrepreneurship Leadership Conference at LIU Post.  The students in the Virtual Enterprises Class created a business called “A Lil Twist”. Andre Duarte, Senior and VP of Communications, presented the company’s elevator pitch. The elevator pitch placed in the top ten percentile in the U.S. The class transforms students into business professionals by bringing the workplace to the classroom. 

By Frank Ortiz

On Wednesday, November 15, 2017, Sparc went on a trip to Mineola to prepare food for the INN. The INN is an organization that runs soup kitchens across long island. SPARC teamed up with Mineola to prepare a chicken soup that was served on Thursday. It was an amazing experience for both groups, which came together for a common goal. They peeled potatoes, cut onions, baby carrots and chicken so the ingredients would be easily made into soup in the morning. The soup would feed hundreds of people. The group then celebrated Patricia Graca’s birthday over pizza and dessert. The club SPARC participates in events like these year round, helping our community unite and help others.

By Caroline McLaughlin

Under the guidance of Advisor Rosa Perifimos, every year, the Spanish Honor Society garners its efforts to bring a touch of Thanksgiving to the less fortunate neighbors in our community. Guided by President, Isabella Bileddo; Vice-president, Logan Kelly; Treasure, Skylar Reed;  Secretary, Gavin Manganiello and Representative Caroline McLaughlin, members of the Spanish Honor Society provided nonperishable items in order to create food-filled boxes and spread joy during the holiday season.

Thanks to Dr. Laudante, the school’s social worker, the Spanish Honor Society can reach out to those in need. By lending a helping hand and giving festive-filled boxes, we are happy to add smiles within the hamlet. Feliz Día de Acción de Gracias

By Katarina Zedlovich
 
Members of the Carle Place Key Club assisted in SEPTA’s “Learn to Ride” event.  The event was held at Rushmore Avenue School playground.  Sessions were held in which children brought their bikes and helmets to learn how to ride on two wheels. The organization provided handles that were screwed onto the back of their bikes. Key Club volunteers helped the kids out by holding the handle while the kids tried to pedal on two wheels. Through this experience, the Key Club members got to see kids that they helped small children learn how to ride their bikes. The looks on the children’s faces when they realized that they were riding on their own was priceless. This event showed the high school Key Clubbers that a small job can help make a big difference in someone’s life. 

By Logan Kelly

On September 8 and 9, the Carle Place Student-Run Theater Company put on a production of Into the Woods!  The show centers around the lives and struggles of a poor baker and his wife, a young boy named Jack who discovers a giant beanstalk, a poor woman named Cinderella whose wish to attend a festival is granted, a young girl known as Little Red Riding Hood who had a less-than-pleasant encounter with a wolf, and a surly witch who has locked a girl named Rapunzel in a tower since she was  baby.  The stories of these unforgettable fairy tale characters are ingeniously woven together with enough wit and humor to satisfy a giant.
 
If you were in the cast or crew, you know how much effort went into organizing, preparing, and rehearsing for this production.  For the entire duration of the summer, more than a hundred Carle Place students sacrificed an ample amount of time to put on the production!  This was no easy task, and we definitely would not have been able to prepare the show without the help of Doreen Scardino, Maria Pasquerella, and Sue Buffolino from the Arts and Education Booster Club, along with the support from the Board of Education, our school’s beloved principals and administrators, and, of course, our wonderful Mrs. Russo.
 
The Carle Place Student-Run Theater Company (CPSRTC) was started a couple years ago by a group of students who didn’t want the enjoyable community of theater and musicals to break for the summer, and who wanted to wow Carle Place with their ability to organize and perform a musical, with minimal assistance from adults.  This year, Into the Woods was directed by Pragna Krishnamurthy, produced by Logan Kelly, musically-directed by Frank Buffolino, and conducted by Matthew Castello.  The lighting booth was managed by Gabriel Barbosa and the stage was managed by Barbara Curran and Hector Rivera.  This production team would like to thank the astounding cast and crew for their enthusiasm, dedication, and sacrifice needed for the production.
 
The CPSRTC is such a great part of the summer lives of Carle Place students because it is a warm and welcoming community that takes auditions from kids entering seventh grade as new middle schoolers to the kids entering twelfth grade as eager seniors.  It is a great way for kids moving up into the school or busy during the school year to get involved, make friends, and have fun!  For several summers, the CPSRTC has thrived, even during stressful situations and the nervous last weeks before the performances, due to the teamwork and interdependence of the case, crew, and production team between all grade levels.
 
The night after our last performance is always a bittersweet one as we recall the countless hours of rehearsing and studying lines, and also as we say goodbye to our graduating class of seniors.  However, only weeks after closing night, the production team of the CPSRTC jumps right back into preparation with new members for the next show!  We are already excited and anticipating our next performances.
 
Thank you to the cast, crew, and production team of Into the Woods at Carle Place, and for the continued support and generosity of the Board of Education and our administrators.

By Caroline McLaughlin

​This past Thanksgiving, Ms. Kelly´s Spanish 3 classes were able to make food baskets for donation for the people in need in our local community. We were able to decorate boxes and place food inside with cards we had written in Spanish. It was a very positive experience in which we were able to help out people in our community while practicing our Spanish skills. We wrote letters wishing them a happy holiday and were able give back to the community in a beneficial way.

By Caroline McLaughlin and Savannah Weilert

By Kayla Yim