The district congratulates Amityville Memorial High School senior Henry Martinez on his numerous accolades a member of the state championship boys varsity soccer team. The midfielder was instrumental in bringing the team its second title in four years.

Henry was one of only two players on Long Island to earn a selection to the United Soccer Coaches Association’s 2018 fall high school boys All-America team. He recently was honored at an awards ceremony in Chicago. 

“It is certainly an amazing accomplishment to be recognized as an All-American athlete,” Superintendent Dr. Mary T. Kelly said. 

Henry was additionally named as an All-County, All-State and All-Region player as well as the Section XI Small Schools Player of the Year. He had 14 goals in the regular season along with both goals in the title-clinching game.

Amityville Memorial High School welcomed 39 students from East Islip High School, who made the 15-mile journey west on Jan. 7 to take part in the Cultural Exchange program.

East Islip students were warmly greeted by their peers from Amityville shortly after 7 a.m. The groups gathered in the auditorium for breakfast, light conversation and icebreaker activities to explore common interests. Each East Islip student then attended classes with his or her Amityville buddy from the Warrior Awareness Club before everyone reconvened at the end of the day for lunch. 

“I just love the new connections that are made,” said Jason McGowan, advisor of the Warrior Awareness Club and coordinator of the Cultural Exchange program. “It doesn’t end today. The students will continue these relationships.”

Amityville students will visit East Islip High School in February. Each year, Amityville partners other districts on Long Island for the Cultural Exchange program which is designed to foster new friendships and have students appreciate the cultural diversity of the world. Earlier this year, students from Bayport-Blue Point High School came to Amityville, and past partnerships have included Islip and Sayville.

Suffolk County deputy sheriffs recently visited Amityville Memorial High School to present the “Say Something” program. The initiative is a collaboration between County Sheriff Errol Toulon’s office and the Sandy Hook Promise. 

The deputy sheriffs spoke to students in social studies about how to notice the signs and symptoms of a fellow student in distress or with bad intentions. Students learned how to approach a trusted adult to intervene, the pros and cons of social media and the efforts taken by school and law enforcement officials to keep them safe.

A pair of student-artists from Amityville Memorial High School had their work selected for the Advanced Visions 15: High School Artists of Excellence showcase at LIU Post. 

Juniors Brianna Desire and Jonathan Gambella are enrolled in Advanced Placement art classes with teacher Jayne Grasso. Brianna’s digital photography piece, “Space,” and Jonathan’s digital photo, “Johnny Pump,” are on display in the S.A.L. Gallery, located in the B. Davis Schwartz Memorial Library at LIU Post. The students will be honored during a closing reception on Jan. 9. 

“We are so proud to have two of our talented artists represent Amityville at this regional exhibit,” said Director of Fine Arts Dr. Fran Fernandez. “Congratulations to Brianna, Jonathan, their families, and their past and present art teachers on this fine accomplishment.”

Amityville Memorial High School students are bringing joy to children on Long Island for the holidays. The Warrior Awareness Club, commonly known as the WAC PAC, recently worked with the non-profit Christmas Magic organization for provide gifts for 69 children at a shelter in Mastic Beach.

Students went shopping at Target to fulfill the “Dear Santa” lists, then returned to the high school to wrap the gifts. Adviser Jason McGowan said the presents were then picked up by Christmas Magic to be delivered to the children.