The district has named its 2019 Torch Award recipients. The Torch Award is presented to Smithtown teachers who have significantly contributed to the growth and professional development of their teacher colleagues. The Smithtown Teacher Center hosted a reception to honor all Torch Award recipients and nominees. The 2019 Torch Award recipients are, from left, Tracy McAlvin, Christa Braunreuther, Jonathan Ferrante, Christina Cone, Jeanmarie Wilson, James Schiraldi and Barbara DiSalvo.

Fifth-graders at St. James Elementary School brought history to life during their wax museum on March 20. Each fifth-grader studied a person in history and transformed into that person for the day. Wax figures stood frozen until a visitor pressed their button. When they came alive, the wax figures spoke about important facts about themselves and their notable accomplishments.

High School East junior Amanda Davidson raised $25,500 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and was named one the Students of the Year. She placed in the top five of teams from Long Island. Her brother Andrew Davidson, a fifth-grader at St. James Elementary School, raised more than $5,000 and was the youngest to receive an award. Amanda also received a community and development scholarship from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. 

The district’s elementary and middle schools have been selected as Project Lead the Way Distinguished Schools for 2018-2019 school year.

For a second consecutive year, all seven of the district’s elementary schools have been designated as Distinguished Launch Schools based on their PLTW Launch implementation and participation in the 2017-2018 school year. Smithtown’s elementary schools represent seven of the 11 schools identified in New York State, and seven of the 216 Launch schools being recognized nationally.  

All three of the district’s middle schools have been designated as Distinguished Gateway Schools based on their Gateway implementation and participation in the 2017-2018 school year. Smithtown represents the only three schools in New York State, and three of the 148 Gateway schools being recognized nationally.  

“This recognition is certainly representative of all of the hard work that has gone into our successful implementation on the part of the many staff and faculty members involved,” said Paul Strader, executive director of curriculum.