Students at High School East heard an emotional and important message on Friday morning.

John Halligan, who lost his 13-year-old son Ryan to suicide in 2003, spoke with ninth and 10th graders about bullying, cyberbullying and teen suicide in a presentation sponsored by the PTSA and SADD.

At the time of his death, Ryan was a middle school student in Essex Junction, Vermont. It was revealed in detail after Ryan’s death that he was ridiculed and humiliated by peers at school and online.

“You are about to hear a sad story, but my intention is not to make you sad,” Halligan said. “I intend to get you to think, perhaps differently, about bullying.”

Halligan’s message: There is no simple cause and effect when it comes to bullying and suicide. But you never know how much someone is already hurting, especially from an underlying mental health issue, and you would never want to be the one who might push them over the edge.

Halligan spoke about the forgiveness he gave his son’s primary tormentors after they ultimately were confronted by him and showed remorse.

He also noted to the students, “You are loved beyond belief. Don't ever believe that you don't matter and that no one would miss you if you were gone.”

He asked students not to be ashamed to ask for help, and not to hesitate to seek help for a friend who has confided in you that they are suicidal.

He also asked bystanders who are friends with people who bully to get their friends to stop.

“Stand up to a friend who is bullying other people,” Halligan said, noting the difficulty.

Halligan closed his presentation by acknowledging that he may not have touched everyone in the respectful audience. Still, he knows someone’s life will be altered by his presentation.

“I’ve been out there long enough to know that at least one person in this room is going to take my son’s story to heart,” Halligan said. “Go up to somebody and simply say, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry for the way I treated you.' That apology — that real, sincere, heartfelt apology — will be lifechanging.”

Date Added: 1/14/2022

Tackan Elementary School students officially got into the swing at their new playground on Thursday.

With the temperature reaching the upper-40s and the sun brightly shining with no wind, Barbara Beard and Kelly Bennis’ third grade students became the first of several classes to use the new playground throughout the school day.

Students shouted, “I’m so excited!” and, “This is so cool!” and, “It’s like a wild carnival ride!” as they approached and then began using the state-of-the-art new playground.

The playground includes eight swings, a pair of slides and several other climbing structures. One swing even resembles a car seat for those who may have accessibility issues with a traditional playground swing.

Staff, including the entire group of cafeteria workers, were so excited by the Tackan addition, they posed for photos on Day 1 of its use.

The playground is part of director of facilities Daniel Leddy and the Smithtown Central School District’s ongoing project to try to introduce one new playground annually around the district, provided the budget continues to allow it.

A truckload of used clothing and other items is headed to needy families thanks to the generosity of the Tackan Elementary School community.

Students in Bill Schroeder’s fifth grade class helped load nearly 300 bags of recently collected clothing, car seats, bedding, stuffed animals and small toys on Tuesday morning. The truck filled with donated items was bound for a New Jersey distribution hub that will share it domestically and internationally with those in need.

Organized by the Tackan Elementary PTA, the generosity also will benefit the school’s cultural arts program. Once the contents arrive at the charity’s distribution hub and the truck pulls onto a scale, the program will receive a cash donation based on the weight.

Date Added: 1/11/2022

Dogwood Elementary School rang in the New Year in style on Monday.

Members of the Leadership Club from the fourth grade joined principal Renee Carpenter in her office at 9:40 a.m. for a New Year’s countdown shared throughout the entire school. And students celebrated the arrival of 2022 with a New Year’s Ball during gym and with a festive lunch menu.

Along the lines of a New Year’s resolution, Carpenter invited the students to set a goal for the upcoming year. She used examples of being a better reader, being a better friend, improving on an instrument and having a sports goal.

“What is it you would like to accomplish this second half of the year?” Carpenter asked the students.

During gym, students participated in line dances including the Electric Slide and Cha Cha Slide as well as competed maneuvering under a limbo stick.

The lunch menu included New Year’s specialty popcorn chicken.

Students dressed up with bow ties and other New Year’s attire.

Maria Zeitlin’s science students gathered in Room 136 at High School East at noon on Thursday for the annual revealing of the list of Regeneron Science Talent Search scholars.

The results of the prestigious competition did not disappoint.

Jonathan Chung and Sarah Schubel were recognized among 300 international scholars in the Regeneron Science Talent Search 2022. The competition is the nation’s oldest and most prestigious science and math competition for high school seniors. The 300 scholars and their schools each will be awarded $2,000. 

High School East was one of only three high schools in Suffolk County with multiple honorees.

Chung’s project was entitled, “Microbial Associations Constrain Coral Adaptations to Heat Stress: An Integrative Multi-Dataset Analysis,” which studied impacts of global warming on coral reefs.

“You have high concentrations of greenhouse gasses, which ultimately impact coral reefing —which is when you have the coral that expels symbiont, giving it a white color,” Chung said. “The basis of my project was finding out the key players in the coral microbiome, which ultimately contribute to coral health, and to try to find trends in which thermophilic, or heat-loving, bacteria are present under these increased ocean temperatures.”

Schubel’s project was entitled, “Loss of NMDA Receptor Signaling Results in Excess Proliferation of CNS and Neural Crest-Derived Cells.”

“We mutated a receptor inside the brain of zebrafish,” Schubel said. “And then, based on the physical effects of that, we found that a lot of them relate to what you see in neurodevelopmental diseases and other related diseases. From that, we believe that the mutation of this receptor could be part of the pathway that causes these neurodevelopmental diseases.”

The 300 scholars were selected from 1,804 applications received from 603 high schools across 46 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and eight other countries.

Scholars were chosen based on their exceptional research skills, commitment to academics, innovative thinking and promise as scientists as demonstrated through the submission of their original, independent research projects, essays and recommendation. The 300 scholars hail from 185 American and international high schools in 37 states, China, Switzerland and Singapore, including three homeschools.  

The Regeneron Science Talent Search provides students with a national stage to present original research and celebrates the hard work and novel discoveries of young scientists who are bringing a fresh perspective to significant global challenges. This year, research projects cover topics from tracking countries’ progress on sustainable development goals to the impact of states’ individual COVID-19 responses, and from improving the tools used to diagnose Alzheimer’s to analyzing the effects of virtual learning on education.

“Amid an unprecedented and ongoing global health crisis, we are incredibly inspired to see such an extraordinary group of young leaders who are using the power of STEM to solve the world’s most intractable challenges,” said Maya Ajmera, President and CEO of Society for Science, Publisher of Science News and 1985 Science Talent Search alum. “The ingenuity and creativity that each one of these scholars possesses has shown just how much intellectual curiosity and passion can thrive, even in difficult times.”

On Jan. 20, 40 honorees will be named Regeneron Science Talent Search finalists. The finalists will then compete for more than $1.8 million in awards during a week-long competition taking place March 10-16.

“We’re over the moon,” Zeitlin said. “The Science Talent Search is considered the nation’s most prestigious scientific competition.”

A pair of High School East students have received recognition from the National School Development Council.

Matthew Dowd and Jason Schmideler were honored with the organization’s Academic Growth and Student Leadership in Learning Award.

The National School Development Council is a network of regional school study councils that supports excellence and continuous educational improvement. The NSDC award is presented to high school seniors who have consistently pursued a high level of academic effort, and who have also served as positive role models for the student body. Recipients of the award exemplify admirable character and accomplishment.