“Unlocked Underworld,” the Jr.-Sr. High School’s literary magazine published in June 2025, was recognized as a “superior” magazine in the Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines contest, sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English. This year’s REALM contest welcomed entries from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, Canada and American schools abroad. 

The Literary Magazine Club has published “Unlocked Underworld” for the last decade and is advised by teacher Alissa Murphy. The editor in chief for the June 2025 edition was Josie Shuman, who has since graduated. Julia Cestone, then junior editor, was also responsible for the magazine’s accomplishments. Members responsible for the magazine’s superior rating also include Keira Albanese, Rebecca Benson, Ashlyn Burst, Antonio Castro, Julia Cestone, Lilyana Cupolo-Bangle, Terrance Davis, Cassie DeGorter, Madyson DesLauriers,Allison Dippel, Julia Faulkner, Destiny Fehner, Serenity Flaherty, Greg Gonzalez, Brittany Hayton, Aidan Lee, Cat Nicholson, Verdi Pedian, Charlotte Perrone, Jackson Roux, Josie Shuman, Brianna Silliman, Danika Silliman, Brooke Stimpson, Juliana Terry, Anna Villeda, Camryn Warsaw and Allie Zadow.  

The district congratulates the Literary magazine Club on this outstanding accomplishment and extends best wishes for success with future issues. 

 

 

Date Added: 2/11/2026

 

 

Dayton Avenue School students held their annual Souper Bowl food collection for two weeks prior to the big game in which students collected 892 food items. The food was then delivered by sixth grade volunteers to food pantry at The Presbyterian Church of Center Moriches. 

The Souper Bowl was also a competition between grades and classrooms to see which could collect the most food. The fourth grade came in first overall, having collected a total of 317 food items. Linda McGinness’ and Katie Orlando’s fourth grade class won first place with 189 items collected. Additionally, Karen Moran’s and Dawn Skelton’s fifth graders collected 109 food items and placed second, while fifth graders in Peter Edwards’ and Aaron Weiss’s class placed third, having collected 79 food items.  

Congratulations to all the students who demonstrated leadership and altruism by helping those in need.   

 

Date Added: 2/10/2026

The College Board has named Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School to the 2025 Advanced Placement Program School Honor Roll, which recognizes schools whose AP programs are delivering results for students while broadening opportunities for participation. Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School earned a Silver distinction for developing an AP program that creates a college-bound culture and provides opportunities for students to earn college credit and maximize college readiness.   

Most recently, 98 current juniors and seniors qualified as AP Scholars by the College Board for their exceptional achievement on the college-level AP program exams. The Jr.-Sr. High School currently offers 20 AP courses, as well as opportunities to earn the distinguished AP Capstone Diploma, and 384 students took one or more AP exams. 

“Being named to the AP Honor Roll is an honor and testament to the dedication of our students and teachers,” Superintendent of Schools Joseph A. Steimel said. “This recognition reflects the district’s commitment to providing access to rigorous coursework and preparing students for success beyond high school while empowering them to reach their full potential.”  

 

Date Added: 2/9/2026

On Feb. 2, Jr.-Sr. High School students learned the story of Moshe Furshpan, the only survivor in his family of eight who escaped the Nazis at age 10 by hiding in a forest in his native Poland during World War II. During the school assembly, his son, Dr. Bernie Furshpan, provided a second-generation testimony about human survival and confronted the rising intolerance throughout the world in his presentation, “The Little Boy in the Woods: An Incredible Story of Survival in the Face of Evil.”

Dr. Furshpan asked students the question, “Why haven’t we learned to be better [as a society]?” He stated that 50 million people have been killed in genocide since the Holocaust and that all genocide starts with words of hate. He also conveyed his idea that good people are capable of doing bad things, and the Holocaust is an example of how society can turn on its citizens.

Dr. Furshpan also weaved together historical facts and intimate testimony to the story of his late father’s survival. He explained how his father ate tree bark and berries to survive and covered himself with twigs and leaves at night to hide from the Nazis. Most importantly, Dr. Furshpan’s story advocated against hate and rising intolerance throughout the world.

“You don’t have to inherit hate,” Dr. Furshpan said. “Hate is not congruent to what we are as a society.”