Long Beach High School’s student-produced literary magazine, Fragments, has received significant national recognition for excellence in writing, design, and editorial leadership.

Fragments was awarded a Superior ranking in the 2025 NCTE Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM) program, an honor given to student publications that demonstrate exceptional quality in writing, design, and editorial vision.

In addition, Fragments has been named a 2025 CSPA Crown Award Finalist by the Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Only 221 publications worldwide were selected for this distinction, and finalists will receive either a Gold or Silver Crown at Columbia University this March.

These honors reflect the dedication, creativity, and leadership of the Long Beach High School student editors, particularly Editors-in-Chief Elliot Biern and Shea Rehnback, as well as the contributions of all student writers and staff. Their work continues to exemplify the strength of Long Beach High School’s commitment to student voice and the arts.

 

 

Date Added: 2/11/2026

Members of the Long Beach High School SMILE Club, accompanied by supervisors Mr. Butler and Mrs. Susko, attended the 2026 Human Rights Awareness Conference, “Your Human Rights Are My Responsibility,” hosted at Adelphi University. Throughout the day, students participated in interactive workshops centered on healthy relationships, human rights, and mindfulness, gaining insight into how their voices and choices can shape the future.

A highlight of the conference was a powerful presentation by journalist Angie Hernandez, whose message sparked meaningful reflection and thoughtful dialogue among students. Inspired by the experience, SMILE Club members are eager to return in future years and to bring what they learned back to the Long Beach High School community.

The mission of the SMILE Program is to empower individuals to become more self-aware and to develop the skills necessary to make informed decisions about their lives. Through resources, guidance, and support, the program helps individuals better understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, while fostering awareness of how personal choices impact both themselves and others.

Date Added: 2/11/2026

Three talented Long Beach High School student artists Sara Biancamano, Nataly Moriera and Lila Pinto have been selected as award winners in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards.

Sara Biancamano received an honorable mention for her painting, Jeanette, and a gold award for her Self-Portrait. Her gold award-winning piece will advance to the national competition, with winners to be announced later this spring. Nataly Moriera’s drawing, A Taste of Color, won a silver award and Lila Pinto had two pieces selected for awards, her ceramic sculpture, Shivat Haminim, which received a silver award, and an honorable mention for her other ceramic piece, Bloom After Darkness.

  Long Beach Director of Media, Visual and Performing Arts Julia Lang-Shapiro said, “We are incredibly proud of Sara, Nataly, and Lila for earning recognition in the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Their work reflects not only exceptional technical skill, but also creativity, voice, and thoughtful personal expression. Advancing to the national level is a remarkable achievement, and it speaks to the dedication of these students and the strength of our visual arts program.” She also shared, “I also want to commend their art teachers, Eric Fox and Joanne Harvey, whose guidance and support continue to help our students grow as artists and thinkers. This recognition underscores the impact of strong arts instruction and the meaningful opportunities provided to students in our district.” 

 

 

Date Added: 2/2/2026

Long Beach High School students enrolled in Dr. Tornabene’s IB Biology and Mr. Vaeth’s IB Physics classes recently took part in an engaging presentation highlighting careers in engineering and biomedical sciences. The presentation was led by John Brownell, Co-President of the Biomedical Engineering Society at Hofstra University.

During his visit, Mr. Brownell introduced students to a wide range of engineering disciplines, including biomedical, mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering, and discussed the diverse career pathways available to engineering graduates. He also shared insights into engineering-related professions, typical salary ranges, and the academic and experiential opportunities offered through Hofstra’s engineering programs.

In addition, Mr. Brownell offered practical advice on how high school students can begin preparing for college and engineering majors, emphasizing the importance of strong coursework in science and mathematics, participation in hands-on learning experiences, and exploration of personal interests.

The presentation provided the IB science students with a valuable real-world perspective on how their current studies connect to future college and career opportunities, while encouraging them to think broadly about pathways within STEM fields.

 

Date Added: 1/30/2026

Long Beach High School sophomores, juniors and seniors were invited to attend a panel presentation and discussion with members of the Class of 2025 alumni for the school’s annual Alumni Day that was held on Jan. 9. This year’s alumni panel included the following members: Angel Garcia, Isabella Alley, Gabe Asuncion, Ally Ayestas, Riley Barshak, Daniel Brenner, Jackson Carroll, Keyi Chen, Ariana Jara, Hailey Pilch, Stephania Robinson (MC) and Haylee Senter.

The former Long Beach High School students gave current students a first-hand accounting of the college process and college life. Alumni Day is hosted by the school’s counseling department and takes place in the school’s auditorium giving current students an opportunity to participate in a candid question and answer session to discuss post-graduation life and discuss all topics related to college life and academic success.  Some of those questions included, “How do you pick college classes, what happens if you don’t like your roommate and how do you prioritize your day without getting overwhelmed.”  

In addition to sitting on the panel, alumni visited throughout the week and presented to classes on various topics related to college; transition to college; how to succeed in high school. “It is so great when our graduates come back to share their experiences with the current students,” said Long Beach Coordinator of School Counseling Jaclyn McMahon. “The college application process can be stressful, and our seniors receive advice from parents, counselors and teachers, but it has a different impact when it comes from their peers.”