The falling snow at Rockefeller Center added a touch of magic to the 52nd annual Tuba Christmas this past Sunday. Twenty-eight students from Howitt Middle School and Famringdale High School, along with alumni, gathered under the famous tree for a truly special performance.

They joined nearly 300 other musicians to fill the city air with beautiful holiday carols. The snowy backdrop transformed the afternoon into a cozy, unforgettable winter memory for everyone involved.

Teachers David Abrams and Erica Hartmann accompanied the students, who gathered for rehearsal just a few hours before the performance in the basement of Rockefeller Center.

Howitt Middle School participants included Stella Levenson, Ethan Ianotta, Dylan Nguyen, Matthew Alvarado, Tyler Brinkman, and Gianni Sparacio.

High school students included Dylan Moritz, Gabriel Winter, Earl Jones III, William Herbert, Nicholas Astuto, Isabella Salay, Chloe Grimes, Charlie Cartagena Caceres, Juan Bonilla, and Thomas Blaser.

Farmingdale alumni participants included Jayne Matzelle, Joe Geraci, Andrew Adamo, Gabe Ruiz, Aidan Timko, and Charlotte Rutkowski.

Congratulations to the following musicians on a spectacular performance

Woodward Parkway is ready for the spotlight! To prepare for their big debut, our talented students performed three daytime concerts for their peers and staff members. The festive showcase included:

• The 3rd Grade Chorus, directed by Mrs. Stephanie Haas
• The Senior Band was directed by Mr. Joseph DeAngelis.
• The Senior Orchestra, directed by Mrs. Tara Cocheo.

We ended on a high note with the 4th and 5th Grade Chorus, led by Ms. Emilie D’Andrilli, performing a “Polar Express” medley featuring special guests from the North Pole! 

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.