At Connetquot High School, students in Mrs. Doheny and Mr. Wilans’ elective social studies and English language arts courses, which explore the history, literature and lasting impact of the Holocaust, recently took a powerful journey through history using cutting-edge technology.

Through a partnership with the organization Spirit of Triumph, students participated in a fully immersive, 360-degree virtual reality tour of Auschwitz Concentration Camp in Poland. Spirit of Triumph’s mission is to teach students to confront injustice and build a future in which empathy triumphs over intolerance through virtual reality. 

Using virtual reality and audio headsets, the experience provided a deeply moving and educational opportunity, bringing students as close as possible to visiting the historic site without leaving the classroom.

Ahead of the experience, daughter of a Holocaust survivor, Alice Lambert, spoke to students about her father’s escape from Dachau Concentration Camp. After surviving for several days, he eventually made his way to England and then ultimately, the United States, where he joined the American armed forces. Once enlisted, he returned with American forces to Germany. Due to his knowledge of the land and his ability to speak German, he helped support the allies in their victory during the Battle of the Bulge. 

This initiative not only brought history to life but also showcased the potential of virtual reality as a transformative teaching tool. It allowed students to connect emotionally and intellectually with the past, deepening their understanding of the Holocaust.

Click here to view the Connetquot High School students experience Auschwitz through virtual reality slideshow.

Date Added: 5/8/2025

Connetquot High School is proud to announce the Class of 2025 Valedictorian, Alexander DeVita, and Salutatorian, Valentina Gutierrez, for their exceptional academic achievements.

Throughout his time in Connetquot, valedictorian Alexander DeVita stood out for his strong academic performance and leadership both in and out of the classroom. Alexander is an Eagle Scout, a National Merit Scholar Finalist and was also a U.S. Department of Education Presidential Scholar Candidate. He served as president of both the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. He was also the vice president of the Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society. Throughout his high school career, Alexander was also a member of the school’s chamber orchestra. Alexander will attend Stony Brook University in the fall, where he plans to major in Pre-Medicine.

Salutatorian Valentina Gutierrez demonstrated remarkable dedication across a wide range of academic and extracurricular pursuits. She served as the public relations officer for the Science National Honor Society and was a member of the National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society and English Honor Society. Valentina will attend St. Joseph’s University in the fall to pursue a degree in Nursing.

The Connetquot Central School District extends its heartfelt congratulations to Alexander and Valentina for their hard work, commitment and achievements and looks forward to all they will accomplish in the future!

 

Date Added: 5/6/2025

Connetquot High School’s Drama Club brought laughter and charm to the stage with their spring production of Neil Simon’s “Fools”, performed on May 2 and 3 in the Eric Martinsen Auditorium. The witty and whimsical comedy, set in a cursed Ukrainian village, showcased the talents of Connetquot’s student cast and crew, earning enthusiastic applause from packed audiences both nights.

“The cast has worked very hard over the past few weeks to put this production together and bring these characters to life,” said director Bryan Bowie. “Comedy isn't easy, and these students rose to the challenge and had the audience rolling in their seats! Thank you to Mr. Wilans, Mr. Coffin and their stage crew students who gave us amazing sets, lights and sounds to help complete our play!”

Click here to view the Connetquot High School presents “Fools” slideshow.

 

Date Added: 5/5/2025

More than 150 Connetquot High School music students recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to attend the Festivals of Music. The hardworking students from band, choir, kickline and color guard proudly represented our school, performing with outstanding professionalism and showing true school spirit both on and off the stage.

Under the direction of James Nagle, Nicole White and Rachel White, the Connetquot Touring Choir received second place in their division along with an “Excellent” rating. The Connetquot Concert Band, under the direction of Gregory Johnson and Stacy Stollberger, received first place with an “Excellent” rating and the Jazz Band placed first in their category with a “Superior” rating. The Connetquot High School kickline and color guard, under the direction of Jennifer Bay, placed first in their division with a “Superior” rating.

In addition to the ensemble awards, Elizabeth Smith was selected as an Outstanding Soloist for her bass solo at the festival and was presented with a medal. Also, the percussion section received the Esprit de Corps Award, which recognizes a participating organization that displays an exemplary attitude of positive support and outstanding personal behavior throughout the festival weekend. 

Along with competing at the Festivals of Music, students toured the city of Washington, D.C., visiting the Smithsonian museums, Medieval Times and a Mets and Nationals baseball game.  The trip concluded with an exciting day at Six Flags America.

The district is proud to recognize its students, whose impressive performances and respectful conduct were a true reflection of the values and spirit of the Connetquot community.

Click here to view the Connetquot High School musicians place at Festivals of Music  slideshow.

 

Date Added: 5/2/2025

The Connetquot High School mathematics department is proud to announce that four of its juniors, Declan Doran, Madison Holzmacher, Michael Ibraham and Elaine Wang, took on the challenge of solving complex real-world problems as part of the prestigious MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge, also known as the M3 Challenge.

The competition tasks students with using mathematical modeling to address real issues facing the world today. This year’s topic was, “Staying Cool as the World Heats Up”. Though their submission did not advance to the final round or earn a formal award, the students received thoughtful and encouraging feedback from the judges, a testament to their effort, creativity and analytical thinking.

“These students went all in with just a little bit of independent preparation,” said team adviser Mr. Dolce. “They worked hard, supported each other and showed incredible perseverance. I am just so proud of them. They absolutely deserve every bit of praise coming their way.”

The M3 Challenge, sponsored by MathWorks and organized by the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, is a highly respected competition that attracts thousands of high school students nationwide each year. Participants must work in teams under time pressure to come up with viable mathematical solutions to problems.

Congratulations to Declan, Elaine, Madison and Michael for stepping up to the challenge and representing Connetquot High School with excellence!

 

 

Date Added: 4/24/2025