Long Beach students continue busy, successful year

Long Beach students are seemingly always busy. Whether it be academia, athletics, a mix of both or neither, they’re always accomplishing or completing something.

To that tune, the Long Beach High School Model Congress recently won their first competition of the year. Eight school districts gathered at East Meadow High School on Oct. 21 for public speaking and other fun events. Long Beach students secured Best Delegation with their strong debating and exceptional decorum.

Additionally, 11 Long Beach delegates won individual awards in committee. Best Speaker Awards went to Josh Cohen, Jake Maloney and Ava Stavrianeas. Honorable mentions went to Zach Kramer and Gabby Moreira. Noam Borenstein, Daniel Brenner, Sophie Ferrera, Orly Keynan, Sebastian Perez and Emma Rosenthal earned commendations.

Model Congress is an extracurricular club that gives students a chance to engage in a role-playing simulation of the United States Congress. The schools get together and compete during eight weekends throughout the school year and rotate among the districts so each has an opportunity to host. The weekend event also includes meals, entertainment and awards, all organized by the students. Host schools welcome their guests with an opening ceremony in the auditorium and then break into small groups — or committees — in classrooms. Host students chair committees and lead debates on mock legislation dealing with a host of foreign and domestic issues.     

Long Beach High School 10th grader Reese Gallinaro made an impact, completing fundraising efforts to help the people affected by the recent fires in Maui. Gallinaro explained as she felt similarities between the beach communities of Maui and Long Beach.

“I felt compelled to help the families impacted by these fires any way I could,” Gallinaro said. “Having been impacted by Superstorm Sandy, I can relate to having to rebuild after a natural disaster.”

She organized an online apparel store that allowed for the purchase of a shirt or sweatshirt with all the profits going to the non-profit Maui Food Bank, MauiFoodBank.org.

The fundraiser was able to raise enough money to enable the food bank to provide 1,200 meals for residents of the Maui community.

“I believe this fundraiser would be a good way to give back and recognize those in desperate need during this difficult time in Maui,” she said.

Long Beach Public Schools also have 79 student musicians from throughout the district who have been accepted to the Nassau All-County Performance Ensembles including elementary, middle school and high school students.

Long Beach Middle School and Long Beach High School chorus students top the list with 30 total acceptances, including this year’s salutatorian Sam Adler. Students will begin rehearsals for All-County Performance Ensembles in January and culminate with concerts at the Tilles Center in January 2024.

Also, in accordance with Fire Prevention Month, Long Beach elementary students throughout the district were excited to meet members of the Long Beach Fire Department who shared important fire safety and emergency protocols during school visits throughout the month of October. 

The students learned about fire safety awareness and what to do in emergency situations, if caught in a dangerous situation.

–Brendan Carpenter