The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Junior Varsity (JV) Academic Team from the Port Jefferson School District recently concluded a very successful season, finishing second overall on Long Island.

This year’s JV academic team included freshmen Samuel Perez-Flesler, Clara Pearce, Lucas Smirnov and Luca Thomsen. The team went undefeated in their Regional Quiz Bowl competitions and made the final tournament at Plainview Old-Bethpage High School. The squad went on to finish in second place on Long Island and received a trophy recognizing their great accomplishment.

“I am so proud of this group,” said academic team advisor Matt Sefick. “To finish second on Long Island in the Regional Quiz Bowl Final Tournament in their first year of competition is quite impressive. The future is bright!”

The Port Jefferson Middle School science Olympiad team recently had a successful trip to the Suffolk County Regional Division B Science Olympiad Competition. Across the A, B, and C teams, Port Jefferson students received a total of 22 medals to go along with a third-place finish overall.

Port Jefferson students from grades six through nine competed against 32 teams in events that tested students’ study skills in biology, chemistry, earth science, engineering, physics, and scientific problem solving. Medal winners included:

·        Ninth graders Lucas Smirnov and Luca Thomsen, first place in Dynamic Planet

·        Ninth grader Sam Perez-Flesler and eighth grader Dean Zaltsman, first place in Fossils

·        Ninth graders Sam Perez-Flesler and Luca Thomsen, first place in Reach For The Stars

·        Eighth graders Austin Nam and Nathan Rubenstein, second place in Anatomy

·        Ninth graders Lucas Smirnov and Luca Thomsen, second place in Meteorology

·        Eighth grader Austin Nam and ninth grader Lucas Smirnov, third place in Ecology

·        Ninth graders Bryan Hyrycz and Oliver Rhame, third place in Mission Possible

·        Ninth graders Sam Perez-Flesler and Oliver Rhame, third place in Write It Do It

·        Eighth graders Kieran Browne and Kai Gronenthal, fourth place in Metric Mastery

·        Seventh graders Violet Perez-Flesler and Alice Turner, fourth place in Mission Possible

·        Eighth grader Milo Gugliucci and ninth graders Oliver Rhame and Lucas Smirnov, fifth place in Code Busters

·        Eighth graders Klea Mehmeti and Kaho Sugimoto, fifth place in Optics

·        Ninth graders Gayathri Abhilash and Veronica Shterengas, sixth place in Ecology

·        Ninth grader Phoenix Coleman, sixth place in Meteorology

·        Ninth graders Bryan Hyrycz and Luca Thomsen, sixth place in Road Scholar

·        Ninth grader Gayathri Abilash, seventh place in Anatomy

·        Ninth graders Brian Hyrycz and Sam Perez-Flesler, seventh place in Crime Busters

·        Eighth grader Ruari Hogan and ninth grader Oliver Rhame, seventh place in Entomology

·        Seventh grader Timothy Amadio and eighth grader Rahym Khan, seventh place in Road Scholar

·        Ninth grader Brian Hyrycz and eighth grader Klea Mehmeti, seventh place in Tower

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·        Eighth grader Jacob Fulton and seventh grader Alice Turner, eighth place in Dynamic Planet

·        Eighth graders Klea Mehmeti and Kaho Sugimoto, eighth place in Potions and Poisons

The Port Jefferson Middle School team also included ninth graders Hayden Chesler and Elizabeth Yin; eighth grader Avery Devine; seventh graders Bridget Grossman, Gloria Monaghan, and Claire Gearns; and sixth graders Jonathan Kogan, Alexandru Pittinsky, and William Wardhana. The team was coached by Adam Bouchard, the middle school’s Earth Science teacher. He was assisted at the competition by teachers Mrs. Garcia, Mr. Gorniok, Mr. Maletta, Mrs. Perovich, Ms. Sklar, Ms. Weaver and teaching assistant Mr. Holland.

“These students have truly proven themselves as Port Jefferson’s scientists of the future,” said Mr. Bouchard. “I am incredibly proud of all of their hard work leading into this competition.”

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School senior Aoife Hogan has been named a 2025 National Merit Finalist. This prestigious recognition is bestowed on only around 15,000 students nationwide among 1.6 million applicants.

Ms. Hogan’s recognition as a finalist means she is in the running to be one of around 6,870 students to receive a National Merit Scholarship of $2,500 for 2025.

The National Merit Scholarship Corporation seeks to identify academically talented students throughout the United States. Factors in the selection process include students’ academic records, PSAT/NMSQT scores, an essay submission, demonstrated leadership and contributions to school and community activities, and a school official’s written recommendation.

“Aoife has always exhibited incredible dedication to her academics and to the Port Jefferson community,” said Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Principal John Ruggero. “I am thrilled to see her named a finalist—she is truly deserving of the National Merit Scholarship.”

Edna Louise Spear Elementary School in the Port Jefferson School District held a program with Stony Brook Children’s Hospital recently that taught kindergarteners what to do if their teddy bear “gets hurt.” A fun and creative workshop, the lesson helped young children learn about safety and health care with several visitors from the trauma center at Stony Brook.

In this lesson, several Stony Brook nursing students, along with supervisors, held special clinics for the kindergarteners. The children participated in a hands-on activity that taught them how to handle and care for their own stuffed animals. After learning the importance of wearing masks, gloves, and caps, they dressed up as medical professionals and were shown how to conduct an exam as well as how to bandage minor injuries. The nursing students also shared how to stay safe while riding in a car, on a bicycle or a scooter, including the importance of seatbelts and helmets.

“This was a great learning opportunity and a really creative event. Children felt very comfortable with both health care procedures and the medical staff who are there to help them,” said Spear Elementary kindergarten teacher Marissa Shannon.