Seventy-four Long Beach High School students have been awarded the prestigious Seal of Biliteracy, a recognition of their proficiency in multiple languages.

Among these outstanding recipients, seven students have achieved an extraordinary milestone, earning the Seal of Biliteracy in two additional languages beyond English. These languages include Bangla, Greek, Hebrew, Mandarin and Ukrainian. Their dedication reflects not only a commitment to language mastery but also a deep engagement with diverse cultures and global perspectives.

 

 

Date Added: 6/6/2025

Long Beach High School recognized the outstanding accomplishments of its graduating seniors during the annual Senior Scholarship and Recognition Ceremony that took place in the school auditorium on May 29.

The evening began with a warm welcome from Coordinator of School Counseling Jaclyn McMahon, who praised the students for their dedication, perseverance, and academic excellence throughout the year. Her opening remarks were followed by an address from School Board Trustee Dennis Ryan, Ph.D., who offered congratulations and words of encouragement to the honorees.

The ceremony continued with the presentation of Departmental Recognition Awards, celebrating student achievements across a wide range of disciplines including World Languages, English, Social Studies, Music and Art, Business and Technology, Mathematics, Science, and Athletics. In addition, students were presented with certificates and citations honoring their hard work and contributions to the school community.

Long Beach High School extends its heartfelt congratulations to all of this year’s honorees for their exceptional accomplishments and wishes them continued success in their future endeavors.

 

 

Date Added: 6/6/2025

LB Fifth Grade Students Learn from Real Hearings and High School Mock Trials Ahead of Upcoming Competitions  

Odyssey of the Mind (OM) is a creative problem-solving program that encourages students to collaborate and tackle open-ended challenges. The program fosters teamwork, creativity, and essential life skills, culminating in an international competition with regional, state, and world levels. Recently, Long Beach was crowned Champions of the World!

The weekend of May 24, thirty-seven students from Long Beach arrived at the World Finals held at Michigan State University, competing alongside 900 teams for the coveted World Title. Long Beach's six teams faced off against competitors from across the globe, including teams from China, Mexico, India, France, Japan, and more. Five of these teams qualified for the World Finals based on their success in previous regional and state competitions.

The elementary team, featuring Dylan Pinto, Nila Pennant, Arwynn Donofrio, Dylan Watts, Summer Schaffer, Maebry Kotula, Max Sendik, and Eva Gonzalez, brought a classical novel to life in their performance. They focused on Through The Looking Glass by Lewis Carroll, creating a solution that included a drum set made from kitchen items, a foam fruit dragon, and a character named Chef Fungi Phil, who humorously struggled with cooking. Their blend of humor, professionalism, and teamwork led them to victory, earning Long Beach its second World Title. Coaches Andie Techera and Douglas MacConnell expressed immense pride as Coach Mac raised the trophy, solidifying the team's legacy as LBOM legends. The children savored a moment they will cherish forever as their names echoed in the Breslin Center Arena, home of the Michigan State Spartan Basketball team.

Long Beach Elementary also competed in Problem 5, where the team crafted a humorous narrative about an astronomer charting a course through the stars to preserve creativity.The team consisted of Kennedy Wynn, Farhal Kahn portrayed the astronomer, who met iconic figures like George Washington (Captain Rauri Kennedy), Lief Ericson (Elle Cohen), Cleopatra (Emelia Valencia), Elvis (Rafe Kaminsky) , Princess Diana (Grace Casale), and Albert Einstein (Jack MicNicholas). Their innovative use of UV lights, a team-designed palanquin, and a coded hologram wowed the judges, leading them to a commendable 4th place in the USA and 7th in the world.

Another elementary team designed a robot “squid” seeking to glow like its mermaid friends. With help from an evil octopus trainer, the robot assisted Marianna the Mermaid in finding love. The kids brought the house down with their singing of “Let it Glow.” This team, featuring Rowan McLaughlin, Laina Sisko, Anna Chapman, Garner Anastasia Senken, James Emery, Alexia Fink, Sadie Bergstien, and Madeline Eckert, delivered an impressive performance, securing 2nd place in New York, 6th in the USA, and 10th in the world. This marked a historic achievement for the elementary program with three teams finishing in the top ten.

Long Beach's success continued with the middle school team, led by Mr. Eric Fox and Rachel Yousha Spitz, who earned a 3rd place designation. Comprising Kyveli Pefani De La Rosa, Robert Tozer, Brendan Salem, Alison Salem, Vivienne De Palma, Mia Kupchik, and Camila Coad, this team created a humorous display centered around a futuristic culture that worshipped a space whale. Their creativity and rap performances captivated audiences, and they are eager to build on this momentum for next season.

The Long Beach OM program begins in 4th grade and concludes in 8th grade. This year, the program bids farewell to a group of 8th graders who have made a lasting impact on the world stage. Team members Jackson and Calie Spitz, Katherine O’Brien, Maven Aull, Patrick Maguire, Stella Gonzalez, and Arlo Fox began their OM journey during COVID-19, practicing with teams they had never met in person. Their perseverance led them to be crowned World Champions, State Champs, and five-time regional champions. In their final showcase, they presented a magical circus-themed performance, placing 12th in the world and 7th in the USA.

Known affectionately as “Team Believe,” this group highlighted the strong sense of community in Long Beach throughout their time at World Finals. Their belief in themselves, their teammates, and their coaches has placed Long Beach on the OM map as one of the most successful programs in the world.

Over the past ten years Long Beach has placed itself on the map with two World Titles, three USA titles, six top three Worlds finishes, 15 teams placing in the top ten in the World, seven State titles, and over twenty regional titles. We believe the future looks bright for these budding leaders and innovators as they continue to make their mark.

 

Click here to view the Long Beach Students Shine at Odyssey of the Mind World Finals slideshow.

 

Date Added: 6/6/2025

Long Beach Middle School recently partnered with the Long Beach Latino Civic Association (LBLCA) on a Seedling Project funded by a grant from New York State.  This meaningful opportunity was brought to the district by Helen Dorado Alessi, Director of the LBLCA. It was the perfect project for eighth-grade English as a New Language (ENL) students to work on as part of the IB Middle Years Program (MYP) community project. The community project provides an important opportunity for students ages 13-14 to collaborate and pursue service learning. 

After the students showcased their research, the project culminated with a hands-on community planting event. Families joined in the celebration, and after the planting activities were completed, the LBLCA hosted lunch for all attendees.

Date Added: 5/28/2025