Hewlett students spring into busy mod

Midterms have passed, winter break ended and March is here, and Hewlett High School has never been busier. Though students were upset that the recent vacation ended so suddenly, everyone swung back into full action last week.

Students and teachers came together for Sports Night on March 2. The event is held annually in honor of Adam Barsel, a Hewlett High School student who died in a car accident in 2000. Student admission fees from the event benefit both the Adam Barsel Scholarship Fund and the Student Council.

Sports Night was comprised of various games and activities, including volleyball, relays, and an academic bowl. Each grade designed a theme banner and choreographed a dance. Student council officers for each grade chose a theme, selected team captains, and ordered T-shirts. This year’s overall motif was music. The seniors’ theme was house, the juniors had rock, sophomores did pop and hip-hop was for the freshmen. It was an evening full of camaraderie and competition as students of all grades came together for a good cause.

Students and teachers in the music department were busy with last week’s All-District band and All-District chorus concerts. These exciting concerts included performances by ensembles representing all Hewlett-Woodmere district schools. Not only were the concerts enjoyable, but meaningful as well. Younger students looked up to older ones as older students reflected on past experiences. The bleachers were filled with proud parents, siblings, and teachers. Traditional songs were performed along with contemporary pieces, including the high school band’s rendition of the “Family Guy” theme song. The All-District band concert ended with “Let’s Go Band!” as all bands performed together.

On the horizon for the music department is its trip to Disney World in Florida later this month. The marching band, orchestra, and chorus ensembles will perform in front of huge audiences during the four-day excursion. Because the trip takes place every four years, music students are very excited, counting down the days until the planes leave. The performing groups and dance team have been practicing diligently and teachers have been figuring out logistics. In addition, piano NYSSMA will take place at Nassau Community College on March 9. The pressure is on for high school students who hope to score high enough to qualify for All-County or All-State ensembles. 

The first few weeks of March is a stressful time for juniors enrolled in the English honors class because of the looming annual Book Trials; a tradition at Hewlett for more than a dozen years. Teams consisting of three or four students come together to present their views about a provocative or controversial book. This year’s book is “Sag Harbor” by Colson Whitehead and students need to explain why they support or oppose the book’s inclusion in the eleventh-grade English curriculum. The students design a legal case to convince the judges that their arguments are correct. 

The weight on juniors’ shoulders is certainly extra heavy during March. The SAT exam is administered on March 10 as well as SAT subject tests. Many juniors are thinking more than ever about college as they meet with their guidance counselors and visit prospective universities.

The spring sports season began this week and marks a very exciting time for athletes, who have been preparing for some time now by attending preseason sessions. Many teams are in advanced conferences so it is important that they are in shape early in the season.

With so many activities and academic pressures, students could be asking, “When is the next vacation?”