Commack School District

CHS’ mock trial team has earned its first Law Day championship.

At the 50th annual Law Day, hosted by Northport High School in conjunction with the New York Bar Association, the team advanced to the playoff round.

Then, after three additional mini-trials, the team had won the championship.

Students from school districts across Long Island competed in the mock trials, which were judged by real-life attorneys and judges.

Teams rotated among classrooms and received information about fictional cases. They then had just a few minutes to construct prosecution or defense cases.

The trial topics were inspired by famous films from each of the past five decades.

CHS’s mock trial team has earned its first Law Day championship.

At the 50th annual Law Day, hosted by Northport High School in conjunction with the New York Bar Association, the team advanced to the playoff round.

Then, after three additional mini-trials, the team had won the championship.

Students from school districts across Long Island competed in the mock trials, which were judged by real-life attorneys and judges.

Teams rotated among classrooms and received information about fictional cases. They then had just a few minutes to construct prosecution or defense cases.

The trial topics were inspired by famous films from each of the past five decades.

CHS honored academic achievers among the senior class during a Top Cohort Breakfast on Thursday morning.

The 101 students, all of whom had weighted averages of 100 or greater, were treated to waffles — with administrators manning stations with toppings including whipped cream, chocolate syrup and sprinkles.

“That is an incredible accomplishment,” principal Carrie Lipenholtz told the students about their academic achievements, coupled with their community involvement.

The students will be formally honored at a ceremony with their families on June 5 at 6 p.m.

They will receive a special honor cord to affix to their gowns during graduation.

The honorees also will have the opportunity to serve as speakers at the various department functions and other events at the end of the school year.

In accordance with the provisions of the “Open Meetings Law,” the Board of Education of the Commack Union Free School District shall hold a Regular Meeting and Budget Adoption on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. at Hubbs Administration Building, 480 Clay Pitts Road, East Northport, NY 11731. It is anticipated that the Board of Education will make a motion for the purpose of adjourning into Executive Session at this time, and at 8:00 p.m. the Board will reconvene in Public Session for the purpose of holding its Regular Business Meeting and Budget Adoption.  Please note, that the District will adhere to the District’s policy that speakers will be limited to 3-minutes. The meeting will also be livestreamed so that the public will be able to view and/or listen to the meeting; see www.commackschools.org for more information. 

 

Newsday has selected three Commack student-athletes as All-Long Island selections for the winter season.

Congrats to Jeffrey Longstreet (fencing), Sofia Vasselman (basketball) and Ilana Kaplan (bowling) on receiving the recognition.

Sawmill students had the opportunity to participate in a Day of Drums and Dance program with Path to Rhythm on Wednesday. 

 

Students were split into two 20-minute stations in the program: drumming and dancing. At the drumming station, students learned about African hand drums called Djembes with Adam Issadore and joined together in song as they picked up rhythm techniques. As part of the dancing station, Yahaya Kamate taught the students a short African dance as he drummed a song, with some of the teachers joining in to dance.

 

Participation in the program is part of Sawmill’s mission to expose students to different cultures each month.

CHS ninth and 10th graders learned about how they control their decision-making during a pair of assemblies on Wednesday morning.

Youth speaker and behavior coach Kevin Mecchella shared his own evolution to that conclusion with the students inside the auditorium.

Mecchella emphasized that decisions stem from “your story.”

For instance, you can tell yourself you are not proficient at a subject, or you can tell yourself you are not proficient at a subject yet. And that one extra word will totally influence your actions and ultimately the results.He also noted — while readily acknowledging it has been said by others before — that decisions have consequences.

He relayed the story of a car accident caused by him falling asleep at the wheel, and how his decisions materially impacted the lives of women in another vehicle.

Mecchella also noted that decisions are your own to make.He called up a student volunteer and began filling the pitcher she held with water. It eventually overflowed.

Then Mecchella had the student put the pitcher on an adjacent table.He noted the problems aren’t necessarily lifted, but not physically carrying every burden you cannot control allows for better decision-making.Mecchella even encouraged the students to journal positive things that occurred each day and consider meditation.

“This is not a dress rehearsal,” Mecchella told the students about how the decisions they make now may affect their lives.