More than 150 Connetquot High School music students recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the Festivals of Music. The hardworking students from band, choir, kickline and color guard proudly represented our school, performing with outstanding professionalism and showing true school spirit both on and off the stage.

Under the direction of James Nagle, Nicole White and Rachel White, the Connetquot Touring Choir received second place in their division along with an “Excellent” rating. The Connetquot Concert Band, under the direction of Gregory Johnson and Stacy Stollberger, received first place with an “Excellent” rating and the Jazz Band placed first in their category with a “Superior” rating. The Connetquot High School kickline and color guard, under the direction of Jennifer Bay, placed first in their division with a “Superior” rating.

In addition to the ensemble awards, Elizabeth Smith was selected as an Outstanding Soloist for her bass solo at the festival and was presented with a medal. Also, the percussion section received the Esprit de Corps Award, which recognizes a participating organization that displays an exemplary attitude of positive support and outstanding personal behavior throughout the festival weekend. 

Along with competing at the Festivals of Music, students toured the city of Washington, D.C., visiting the Smithsonian museums, Medieval Times and a Mets and Nationals baseball game.  The trip concluded with an exciting day at Six Flags America.

The district is proud to recognize its students, whose impressive performances and respectful conduct were a true reflection of the values and spirit of the Connetquot community.

Click here to view the Connetquot High School musicians place at Festivals of Music  slideshow.

 

Date Added: 5/2/2025

The Connetquot High School mathematics department is proud to announce that four of its juniors, Declan Doran, Madison Holzmacher, Michael Ibraham and Elaine Wang, took on the challenge of solving complex real-world problems as part of the prestigious MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge, also known as the M3 Challenge.

The competition tasks students with using mathematical modeling to address real issues facing the world today. This year’s topic was, “Staying Cool as the World Heats Up”. Though their submission did not advance to the final round or earn a formal award, the students received thoughtful and encouraging feedback from the judges, a testament to their effort, creativity and analytical thinking.

“These students went all in with just a little bit of independent preparation,” said team adviser Mr. Dolce. “They worked hard, supported each other and showed incredible perseverance. I am just so proud of them. They absolutely deserve every bit of praise coming their way.”

The M3 Challenge, sponsored by MathWorks and organized by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, is a highly respected competition that attracts thousands of high school students nationwide each year. Participants must work in teams under time pressure to come up with viable mathematical solutions to problems.

Congratulations to Declan, Elaine, Madison and Michael for stepping up to the challenge and representing Connetquot High School with excellence!

 

 

Date Added: 4/24/2025

The Connetquot community came together for an evening of reading, writing and student achievement on April 10 at the district’s 14th annual Library Literacy Celebration, presented by the district’s library media specialists.

The event showcased an impressive collection of student work from every school in the district, including original poems, stories and essays. Hallways were transformed into literary galleries, highlighting students’ talent in reading and writing.

Families also joined in the fun through a bookmark-making station and a scavenger hunt in which students uncovered letters around Connetquot High School that spelled out a secret word. The Connetquot Public Library also held a raffle drawing for attendees.

A standout moment of the evening was a special reading by student-author Meghan Miller, a junior at Connetquot High School, who shared her published children’s book, “The Great Adventures of Martha Mae”. Inspired by her real-life pet hamster, Martha Mae, the book began as an assignment in her ninth-grade children’s literature class and was completed in a sophomore creative writing course. Meghan detailed her two-and-a-half-year journey to publication in a question-and-answer session after the read aloud. The evening culminated in a book signing, where excited young readers lined up to meet Meghan and have their copies of “The Great Adventures of Martha Mae” personally signed by the author.

Click here to view the Connetquot’s 14th annual Library Literacy Celebration slideshow.

 

Date Added: 4/14/2025

Connetquot High School seniors Alexander DeVita, Emily Pascariello, James Chen and Sameer Umar each scored higher than 1500 on the SAT exam.

This impressive accomplishment earned the students spots in the school’s “1500 Club,” and their plaques will join those of alumni club members, hanging outside the guidance office. The district congratulates them on this well-deserved achievement!

Date Added: 4/8/2025

Connetquot High School was buzzing with energy, creativity and talent during the annual Showcase of the Arts, held on April 4. Parents, students and community members had the opportunity to peruse hundreds of elementary and secondary-level artwork, and attended multiple concerts and performances in the auditorium.

Director of Fine Arts and Music Vincent Malafronte thanked the community for attending the event and the faculty for sponsoring such fine workmanship. “Because of the support from families and the community, we are able to provide opportunities for our students that showcase their creative talents,” Mr. Malafronte said.

The performance schedule included the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School kickline, Ronkonkoma Middle School kickline and Connetquot High School’s color guard and kickline. Elementary school-level student musicians also showcased their talents in the districtwide orchestra, ukulele, band and chorus ensembles. There were also more intimate performances by the high school’s chamber orchestra and the middle school chamber orchestra.

Click here to view the Connetquot’s Showcase of the Arts slideshow.

Date Added: 4/8/2025