North High senior named Student of the Quarter by Nassau BOCES

North High School senior Jennifer (Avigail) Pinsky has been named a Student of the Quarter at Nassau BOCES Barry Tech career and technical education high school. She is currently in her second year of the Computer Game Design and Programming Skills course at Barry Tech, which is a hands-on program that immerses students into the video game development industry as they learn to design and program their own high-level, fully functioning video games.

Nassau BOCES Students of the Quarter are selected based on grades, attendance, work ethic, and preparedness. Honorees take the initiative on class projects and serve as role models for their fellow students, in both the classroom and the workplace.

Saddle Rock organizes Thanksgiving food donation

Saddle Rock School helped support local families this Thanksgiving by hosting a food drive for the St. Aloysius Interfaith Food Pantry in Great Neck. This building-wide donation drive, now in its ninth year, was sponsored by the Saddle Rock Student Government. Kindergarten through fifth-grade classes worked together to collect the components of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Student government representatives and alternates decorated boxes and bags that were used to transport the generous donations to the food pantry on Nov. 18. Student Government faculty advisors are Evan Chen, Lauren Rio, and Jessica Schatz.

Improv at South High

Theatre South’s Improv Troupe, known as Hot Lunch Improv, will perform on Friday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m., in the GP Room at South High School, 341 Lakeville Rd. During the performance, students create characters and scenes based on ideas from the audience.

The public is encouraged to attend the improv show, always a popular event, to enjoy a spontaneous production by a talented cast. Tickets ($5 general admission – cash or check only) will be sold at the door starting at 7 p.m.

For further information, please contact Ilana Meredith Schikler, drama teacher/director, at (516) 441-4873 or visit www.gntheatresouth.com/improv-troupe. Members of the Hot Lunch Improv Troupe are Anishka Arolkar, Antranig Baghdassarian, Cooper Brown, Joshua Davis (co-captain), Alexis Dorf, Nathan Gaysynsky, Amanda Roth (co-captain), Isabella Spagnoli, and Jessica Tamari.

South Middle winter concerts & art show

The South Middle School Music Department and Art Department are pleased to present the Winter Concerts & Art Show on Monday, Dec. 12, and Tuesday, Dec. 13, at 7:30 p.m. at South Middle School, 349 Lakeville Rd. Concerts are free, open to the public, and each lasts about an hour.

Winter Concerts

The Concert on Dec. 12 will feature the Senior Orchestra, Senior Chorus, and the Senior Band. Classical selections performed will include music by Handel, Strauss, and Tchaikovsky. Popular works by Brian Balmages, Pinkzebra, and Ben E. King will also be heard, along with traditional holiday classics.

The Concert on Dec. 13 will feature Orchestra 6, Chorus 6, and Band 6. Classical selections will feature music by Haydn and Rossini. Popular works by George M. Cohan and The Beach Boys will also be performed, in addition to a winter wonderland of a grand finale!

Instrumental students are taught by Music Department Head Alan Schwartz, Mark Boschen, and Andrew DeNise. Choral students are taught by Korey Coppola.

According to Mr. Schwartz, these concerts “offer perfect opportunities to introduce children from pre-K through grade 5 to the concerts in which they may very well perform in the future.” For more information, please contact Mr. Schwartz at (516) 441-4651, or at [email protected].

Art Show

Concertgoers can also enjoy the Art Show, which will be on display in the school lobby during the week of Dec. 12. The exhibit includes a variety of drawings, paintings, and prints created by students in grades 6, 7, and 8. Art students are taught by Art Department Head Cynthia Smith, Karla Krupala, and Hannah Lauth. For more information about the Art Show, please contact Ms. Smith at (516) 441-4640, or at [email protected].

North Middle winter concert series

The North Middle School Music Department is pleased to host their annual Winter Concert Series, featuring two evenings of music performances on Tuesday, Dec. 13, and Thursday, Dec. 15, at 7 p.m. in the Daniel J. Tomaselli Auditorium, 77 Polo Rd.

Music selections for both performances will include holiday classics, original works, and classic repertoire. The concerts are free and the public is invited to attend.

The concert on Dec. 13 will feature performances by the Grade 6 Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. The Grade 6 Chorus is under the direction of vocal music teacher Arielle Murdocco, and the Grade 6 Band and Orchestra are under the direction of instrumental music teacher Anthony Virgilio.

The concert on Dec. 15 will feature performances by the Grade 7-8 Band, Chorus, and Orchestra. The Grade 7-8 Chorus is under the direction of vocal music teacher Arielle Murdocco, and the Grade 7-8 Band and Orchestra are under the direction of music department head/instrumental music teacher Matthew Trinkwald.

For more information, please contact Mr. Trinkwald at (516) 441-4551, or [email protected].

Calendar notices for December 2022

 Wednesday, Dec. 7

• Adult Learning Center Registration for Trimester II ENL & GED-Prep Classes, 9 a.m.–noon and 6:30–9:30 p.m., 105 Clover Drive. Info: www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/alc or (516) 441-4950.
• North High School Winter Concert I, 7:30 p.m., 35 Polo Rd. Info: 516-441-4751.

Thursday, Dec. 8

• Adult Learning Center Registration for Trimester II ENL & GED-Prep Classes, 9 a.m.–noon and 6:30–9:30 p.m., 105 Clover Drive. Info: www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/alc or (516) 441-4950.
• South High School Winter Concert I, 7:30 p.m., 341 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4851.

Friday, Dec. 9

• South High Improv Night I, 7:30 p.m., 341 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4851.

Monday, Dec. 12

• South Middle School Winter Concert & Art Show I, 7:30 p.m., 349 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4651.

Tuesday, Dec.13

• North Middle School Grade 6 Concert, 7:00 p.m., 77 Polo Rd. Info: 516-441-4551.
• South Middle School Winter Concert & Art Show II, 7:30 p.m., 349 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4651.

Wednesday, Dec. 14

• Board of Education Public Action Meeting, 7:30 p.m., Parkville School, 10 Campbell St., New Hyde Park. Info: www.greatneck.k12.ny.us/meetings or (516) 441-4001.

Thursday, Dec. 15

• North Middle School Grades 7 & 8 Concert, 7:00 p.m., 77 Polo Rd. Info: 516-441-4551.
• South High School Winter Concert II, 7:30 p.m., 341 Lakeville Rd. Info: 516-441-4851.

Tuesday, Dec. 20

• North High School Winter Concert II, 7:30 p.m., 35 Polo Rd. Info: 516-441-4751.