Community Update

October 27, 2023

Dear Syosset Community:

Congrats to our Varsity Football team for bringing home a win with some last minute heroics in their Homecoming match-up against Oceanside on Saturday. It gave us an opportunity to make last week’s postponed Pep Rally into a celebration and make our #SyoSpirit week 14 days long!

The event kicked off with a performance by our marching band and the Adelettes. The emcees of the rally were Brandon Mun, Senate President, and Zehran Muqtadir, 12th grade President, who introduced all of our athletic teams to celebrate their seasons and recognize the team’s seniors. The cheer and kickline teams also showed the crowd their routines. The rally concluded with a grade-level relay race around the track – and the juniors were triumphant.

A great way to close out another great week.

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#SyoSports

It’s playoff season for our Fall teams. I’m always so proud of our athletes and coaches, especially this year when every single one of our varsity teams made the playoffs! I will give a full round up once the season is done so I can “humble-brag” about all their success.

Next up? There’s still time for you to catch our girls soccer team in the county semi-finals against Port Washington tonight at 8pm hosted by Wheatley High School (#SyoStrong). Also this weekend, the boys and girls cross country finals take place at Bethpage State park tomorrow (#SyoSwift).

Halloween Reminders 🎃

One of my favorite milestones in the annual calendar is the end of October – when I get a chance to see all the costumed fun. I’m always so impressed with our students’ (and staff’s!) creativity and ingenuity. A quick reminder: all students are welcome to wear “school-appropriate” costumes, but props, masks, or makeup disguises are not permitted. If in doubt, check with your building principal to ensure a fun day for all.

Spotlight on Instruction 🔦

Our educators are always looking ahead to prepare our students to thrive in a rapidly evolving future. At Syosset High School, a Professional Learning Community (PLC) has coalesced to study the transformative possibilities of Artificial Intelligence (AI) both to harness its power in the educational process and to help students learn its use as a tool. This dedicated group of teachers comprises representatives from nearly all of our departments: library, business, English, math, social studies, technology, world language, music, art, special education, and science. Through research, discussion, and collaborative exploration, the PLC is committed to understanding how AI can enhance curriculum design, personalize learning experiences, and equip students with essential 21st-century skills. The group’s mission extends beyond the classroom as they actively consider the broader societal implications of AI on education, including equity, ethics, and workforce readiness. The goal is to define best teaching practices by leveraging web tools that integrate AI, and addressing the New York State Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards. I’m so proud of our teachers and leaders who are always restless to discover and explore new innovations for our students.

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#SyoStars⭐

Our music students are ending the month on a high note! Forty-six Syosset High School student-musicians were selected to be NYSSMA All-State musicians or alternates. Both vocal and instrumental musicians made the list and we even had one student, Junior Braden Moran, selected for electronic music composition. Sixteen of these talented students will participate in All-State Ensembles, and will have the opportunity to work with world-class conductors for three days, leading up to a performance at the NYSSMA Winter Conference this December.

We had to set up risers to fit all of these students into one photo – and I couldn’t be more proud! If we have to get more risers in the future, so be it! Congratulations to these brilliant musicians!

Bright Spot

Each year, our eighth grade Middle School classes travel to Washington, DC for an immersive history lesson exploring our nation’s capital. This trip is always transformative for our students – but this year, one very special moment defined the trip.

Students from both groups were able to honor our U.S. veterans and members of the armed forces by laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The moving ceremony at Arlington National Ceremony, before their peers and many other visitors to the Tomb, was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I’m so proud of the grace demonstrated by our students.

South Woods students Faye Kontos, Simon Kontos, Zeebana Muqtadir, and Kevin Liu were chosen to lay their school’s wreath – and Chloe Ng and Chase Pendrick represented HBT. These students were selected through a combined process that included a teacher nomination and an essay.

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#SyoSpooky

Tom Rogers