Huntington Union Free School District

Pasta Night at Jefferson Primary School . . .

“I would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the PTA for organizing another great Pasta Night,” Jefferson Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said. “It's one of our favorite events of the year. Thank you to our wonderful faculty and staff volunteers for helping make our event such a success! Your support serving food, selling raffle tickets, and creating a fun and welcoming atmosphere for our families and students was truly appreciated."

"A special thank you to: Ms. Amaya, Mrs. Campagnoli, Mrs. Cortes, Ms. Dooher, Mrs. Engelke, Mrs. J. Garcia, Ms. Gemunder, Ms. Guevara, Mrs. Hiscox, Mrs. Lindo, Mrs. Lopez, Mrs. Milewski, Mrs. Muradyan, Dr. Oz, Mr. Rodriguez, Mrs. Sejarto, and Mrs. Sejarto," Ms. Capitulo-Saide said. "We are grateful for your teamwork, enthusiasm, and dedication to our school community!”

Last week, Jefferson Primary School Kindergarten and Grade 1 students enjoyed an engaging and interactive performance by Janice Buckner.

"Thank you to Arts in Education for making this special experience possible for our students," Jefferson Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said.

Nora Moss was Principal for the Day at Jefferson Primary School on Friday, May 22. She assisted with morning arrival, all schoolwide announcements, and bus dismissal.

"Nora did a great job," Jefferson Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide said.

Huntington Senior Ethan Ambrosio Chooses Hamilton College...

One of the really great things about Huntington High School is that it offers so many courses, programs, clubs and activities that there really is something for everyone as each of its more than 1,300 students searches for their calling in life. Senior Ethan Ambrosio is a perfect example of a student who discerned his likes and dislikes and then worked hard with impressive results.

“The key to my success has been having persistent and clear goals throughout my life,” Mr. Ambrosio said. “Even though they change, goals help motivate me and streamline my efforts so that I don’t waste my time. I’ve enjoyed playing music, making friends, building strong bond with my teachers, and discovering new passions throughout my high school career. When I first entered high school, I had a pretty bleak view of the world, but these experiences helped me grow and see things differently.”

Mr. Ambrosio stands near the very top of Huntington’s Class of 2026 with a weighted academic grade average in excess of 97. He was feted earlier in the spring as a Distinguished Senior after compiled a grade average of at least a 90 during every semester of high school.

“Some highlights of my extracurricular activities include working from virtually nothing to captaincy in the Huntington Blue Devil marching band,” Mr. Ambrosio said. “I also contributed to an award-winning play during my freshman year, earned the rank of Eagle Scout and Youth Court.”

As time passed, Mr. Ambrosio quietly gained the respect and admiration of his classmates and teachers. Being able to identify a clear set of goals and having the capability to pursue them with complete determination is a special gift.

Mr. Ambrosio plans to study international security at highly regarded Hamilton College in Upstate New York.

News from Jefferson Primary School Principal Valerie Capitulo-Saide . . .

We are excited to announce our May 2026 Jefferson Jaguar Citizens of the Month! These students were honored with medals and certificates for embodying the core values of our school. These students demonstrated safe, responsible, respectful, and kind behaviors during the month of May: Alexa, Alisson, Aurora, Ayomikun, Bridget, David, Deylin, Emersen, Hans, Helena, Jack, Jared, Konner, Lyric, Rhys, and Xander.

In addition, we recognized one exemplary class from each grade level for their outstanding demonstration of safety, responsibility, respect, and kindness during lunch and recess.

These classes were awarded the prestigious Golden Spatula trophy and a certificate:
• Kindergarten – Ms. Russell/Ms. Bifulco
• Grade 1 – Mrs. Giulietti/Mrs. Pierson
• Grade 2 – Mrs. Hiscox
• Grade 3 – Ms. Pfeiffer

Senior Matthew Jimenez Captures Otto Kahn Scholarship...

The Friends of OHEKA has announced that Huntington High School senior Matthew Jimenez is one of eight recipients of its 2026 Otto Kahn Scholarship Awards. Each student will receive a $2,700 scholarship to support their studies in the arts.

“The key to my success has been keeping my mental health safe and trying to submit assignments way before the due date,” Mr. Jimenez said. “Having good mental health allows me to keep track of school and other things in life and turning in assignments early helps decrease stress throughout high school. I enjoyed the music part of my high school career; such as the marching band, chamber orchestra and orchestra in general. It’s all about the experience, even though there can be hard times. Some of my highlights of my extracurricular activities include marching band competitions and Syracuse. In chamber orchestra, going to NYSSMA Majors and Six Flags. In stage crew, building and painting for shows have been fun experiences.”

Recognized as a Distinguished Senior earlier in the spring after compiling an academic grade average of at least a 90 during every semester of high school, Mr. Jimenez plans to study music education and mathematics at SUNY Geneseo.

The Friends of OHEKA will hold its annual fundraiser, “Brunch in the Formal Gardens at OHEKA,” on July 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at OHEKA Castle. The event will feature live music, food and cocktails, along with a Great Gatsby-themed costume contest.Guests are encouraged, though not required, to dress in Gatsby-era attire, with prizes to be awarded for the best costumes. Tickets are available online at www.friendsofoheka.org and through the organization’s fundraising page.

According to Friends of OHEKA, the nonprofit has raised more than $300,000 to support high school seniors pursuing arts education, continuing the legacy of Otto Kahn, the original owner and builder of OHEKA Castle, who was known for his support of the arts.

Emma Polinsky Honored at Superintendent’s Valedictorian’s Luncheon...

Huntington High School senior Emma Polinsky was among those honored at the 32nd annual valedictorians’ recognition ceremony and luncheon hosted the Suffolk County School Superintendents Association at Villa Lombardi’s late last week.

Ms. Polinsky is the valedictorian of Huntington’s Class of 2026. She was joined at the luncheon by her parents, Dean of Student Support Robert Gilmor, Principal Rochelle C. Brown and Superintendent Beth McCoy.

“The key to my success has been trying to find the deeper meaning in my coursework,” Ms. Polinsky said. “When there’s something significant that I want to know more about, it makes learning more enjoyable. My drive for knowledge is exacerbated by noticing the value of understanding material of all different spheres. Throughout high school, what I’ve enjoyed most is the people I’ve met, who have shaped the positive environment around me. Good friends, as well as supportive teachers and administrators have made for a wonderful high school experience. Every relationship I've had has played a role in shaping my perspective and helping me better understand who I want to be.”

Ms. Polinsky played on the Blue Devil varsity girls’ tennis and Unified basketball teams. “I have been actively involved in several extracurricular activities throughout high school,” she said. “I served as a Public Health Ambassador for the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition and as the Vice President of the high school’s Habitat for Humanity chapter, helping to support community service initiatives.”

The teenager has served as president of the high school’s Science Olympiad program and vice president of the Environment Club, “which allowed me to pursue my interest in science and environmental issues,” Ms. Polinsky said.

The 2026 valedictorian has served as the Science Honor Society’s tutoring coordinator. She captured third place at the Long Island regional finals in the National History Day initiative. She even participated in the New York State Children’s Environmental Health Centers summer and winter academy programs.

Ms. Polinsky will graduate with the Seal of Biliteracy designation on her diploma, indicating she is completely bilingual .

An Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction Award recipient, Ms. Polinsky plans to study psychology at the University of Virginia.

🌱 Harvest of the Month: Cucumbers! 🌱🥒

We're wrapping up another exciting year of Harvest of the Month by featuring the cool, crisp, and refreshing cucumber!

Did you know that cucumbers are packed with water and can help keep you hydrated, especially during the warmer months? 💧 They also provide fiber to support healthy digestion and are a good source of important nutrients like Vitamin K, which helps keep bones healthy and supports normal blood clotting, and Vitamin A, which plays a role in vision, immune function, and the health of vital organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

Students will enjoy cucumbers on our school menus on:
📅 6/4, 6/5, 6/9, 6/10, 6/15, and 6/24

Looking for a fun way to enjoy cucumbers at home? We encourage families to try the included Cucumber Sushi Roll recipe for a fresh, healthy snack or meal that's sure to be a hit! 🍣🥒

Thank you for joining us throughout the year as we've explored new fruits and vegetables together. Stay tuned for more Harvest of the Month highlights and healthy inspiration throughout the year! 🌱

Huntington High School students recently enjoyed our Annual End-of-Year BBQ! ☀️🔥🍔 It was an incredibly beautiful 90-degree day filled with amazing food, great energy, and the unmistakable smell of the grill wafting through the windows all day long!

Our Food & Nutrition team proudly served:

🍗 BBQ Chicken
🍔 Hot-off-the-grill Burgers & Cheeseburgers
🥗 Green Garden Salad
🥔 Potato Salad
🥄 Macaroni Salad
🍉 Fresh Fruit Salad

A special thank you to Guest Chef Rob for helping make the day such a huge success! From the sunny weather to the smiling faces, it was the perfect way to celebrate the end of the school year. Students absolutely loved it, and we are so proud to continue creating memorable dining experiences for our Huntington High School community. ❤️🖤

Attention All Blue Devil Football Players & Their Parents . . . .

Mandatory football parents meetings tomorrow (Tuesday, June 2) for players in grades 8-11 at Huntington High School's Lou Giani Gym at 5 p.m.

Coaches will discuss the plan for the coming season and announce the 2026 team captains.