Holiday cheer filled the auditorium as Howitt Middle School hosted its spectacular final concert of the season on December 15.

The spotlight shone bright on the 6th Grade Chorus, who took the stage under the expert direction of Mr. Eric Hulse, with beautiful piano accompaniment provided by Mrs. Danielle Tucker. The audience was treated to a festive showcase featuring the combined talents of the Varsity, Mixed, and Lunch Choruses, all harmonizing perfectly to celebrate the season.

Five of our district educators recently visited Google’s NYC Headquarters for an exclusive look at the future of AI in education.

Our team spent the evening mastering Gemini and NotebookLM, exploring how these tools can streamline admin tasks and enhance student learning.

Key Takeaways:

• Deep Dive into Google AI: Explored practical, high-impact use cases for Gemini and NotebookLM that streamline administrative tasks and enhance instruction.
• Shape the Products: Connected directly with Google product teams to provide essential feedback and influence the development of these platforms to better serve our schools.
• Lead Responsibly: Learned best practices for navigating data privacy, security, and the responsible implementation of AI in our district.
• Connect & Collaborate: Networked with peer districts and shared authentic strategies about what’s actually working in schools today.

Proud to have our team leading the way in responsible AI implementation

(from L-R) Director of Instructional Technology & MTSS Ginny Dalton, teachers Chris Woska, Charles Collica, and Esther Hernandez-Kramer, and Assistant Superintendent for Administration Dr. Samuel Thompson.

The Farmingdale School District is proud to announce that two of its high school students were honored on Monday, December 9, at the Nassau Zone 2025-2026 Outstanding Physical Education Student of the Year Awards ceremony.

The award, presented by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (NYSAHPERD), recognizes students who exemplify leadership, sportsmanship, and outstanding achievement in physical education.

The two students, Gianna Recine and William Herbert, were selected by the physical education department at Farmingdale High School for their exceptional dedication to fitness, health, and wellness.

“We are immensely proud of Gianna and William,” shared Farmingdale Director of Physical Education and Athletics Don Herr. “This recognition is a testament to their commitment to a healthy, active lifestyle and their leadership among their peers. They truly embody the spirit of our physical education program.”

The award recipients were recognized in front of their families, physical education teachers, and administrators from across the Nassau Zone.

Students from Northside recently visited St. Joseph’s Community Hospital for their annual community event. Teachers Ms. Wozny, Mrs. Cupolo, and Ms. Nappi accompanied 13 of our amazing fifth-grade musicians and artists to share holiday cheer.

This touching tradition began three years ago, inspired by the joy a simple handmade card once brought to Ms. Wozny’s mother while she was a patient. That simple act of kindness has grown to include the beautiful sounds of our School Chorus.

We are so proud of our students for brightening the days of patients and staff!

The district's winter concert series continued on Thursday, December 11, with two spectacular band performances at Howitt Middle School.

The evening began with the talented 6th Grade Band, which performed under the direction of Mrs. ToniAnn Taibi, with the assistance of Ms. Elena Scarano. Following the younger students, the Symphonic Band took the stage, directed by Mr. Philip Scanze. Finishing the night with outstanding precision and musicianship was the Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Mrs. Erica Hartmann.

We congratulate all of our student musicians and their dedicated directors for presenting an outstanding and memorable evening of music for the community.