Long Beach Middle School’s eighth graders marked their transition to high school during a Moving-Up Ceremony held on June 25 at Veteran’s Field.

Principal Erica Northcutt opened the late afternoon event with a warm welcome following the Pledge of Allegiance. The ceremony featured a student performance of Billy Joel’s “Vienna,” setting a reflective tone for the occasion.

Board of Education Trustee Dr. Dennis Ryan offered advice to the graduates, stressing the value of punctuality, face-to-face connections, and cultivating a few close friendships. He shared his confidence in their future success.

Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Gallagher also addressed the class, noting that their start in kindergarten coincided with her own start in Long Beach. She expressed pride in their accomplishments and excitement for what lies ahead.

Student Organization President Lola Gildersleeve delivered heartfelt remarks midway through the presentation of diplomas and awards, representing her classmates’ voices and memories. To close the ceremony, incoming Long Beach High School Principal Dr. Andrew Smith welcomed the students to their next chapter.

Date Added: 6/26/2025

Long Beach Middle School students explored a wide range of professions during the school’s annual Career Fair that took place on June 16. Held in the gymnasium, the event provided students with an interactive opportunity to rotate through various career-focused stations and engage directly with professionals.

Representatives from various fields including law enforcement, fire services, healthcare, education, arts and literature shared their experiences and insights. Students heard from police officers, firefighters, nurses, teachers, artists, and authors, among others. Each presenter offered a unique and hands-on experience, giving students a deeper understanding of daily responsibilities and the skills required in their respective careers.

In addition to highlighting the day-to-day aspects of each job, speakers discussed the educational and professional pathways that led them to their current roles.

Beyond career exploration, the event also fostered stronger ties between students and the community. Many volunteers were Long Beach residents and alumni. By showcasing a variety of local career opportunities, the Career Fair helped students gain a clearer understanding of the diverse professions that contribute to the fabric of Long Beach and its surrounding areas.

Click here to view the Long Beach Middle School Students Explore Careers slideshow.

Date Added: 6/25/2025

Students in Long Beach’s LARC (Learning Activities to Raise Creativity) and APT (Academic Program for the Talented) programs achieved remarkable success in a variety of prestigious competitions at the regional, national, and international levels. These students were recognized at a recent Board of Education meeting.

WordMasters Challenge National Honors

Long Beach LARC students earned impressive accolades in the 2024 WordMasters Challenge™, a national critical thinking competition that tasks students with mastering vocabulary and solving analogies that require both analytical and metaphorical reasoning.

A team of LARC 3rd graders placed 4th in the nation out of 81 teams in the second meet. Contributing to this success were:

- Beckett McCaffrey-Ricardo
- Grace McCaffrey-Ricardo
- Reef Tomao
- Leo Kushner
- Ade Burgess
- Jesse Sardis
- Graham Wilsusen
- Max April
- Benjamin Onufrock
- Juliet Polland
- Waverly Schaffer
- Declan Garvey

Additionally, Jackson Ferraro, Theodore Bergman, and Jiya Klarner each earned a perfect score of 20 on the final meet.

Top Honors:
The following students ranked in the Top 2% nationally and were recognized with High Honors:

- Max April
- Presley Cavallo
- Caylee Donaghy
- Arwyn Donofrio
- Charles Johnston
- Slate Koss
- Benjamin Kupferman
- Beckett McCaffrey-Ricardo
- Kylie McDonnell
- Rowan McLaughlin
- Jack McNicholas
- August Rodabaugh
- Luke Weiss
- Graham Wilsusen
- Theodore Bergman – Perfect Score
- Jiya Klarner – Perfect Score

Honorable Mention:
Awarded to students who ranked in the Top 10% nationally:

- Mason Bermeo
- Ade Burgess
- Noelle Calabrese-Decatrel
- Colin Cestaro
- Brody Dowler
- Madeline Eckert
- John Fenrich
- Peter Latman
- Daniel Mooney
- Vittoria Mortillaro
- Savannah Munisteri
- Maeve O’Sullivan
- Juliet Pagano
- Wolfe Scanio
- Laina Sisko
- Lincoln Tomao
- Jack Wilsusen
- Jackson Ferraro – Also earned a perfect score
- Juliet Polland – Also part of 4th-place team in Meet 2

Wonder League Robotics International Invitational

Long Beach’s 4th grade LARC Robotics teams qualified for the Wonder League Robotics Competition (WLRC) International Invitational Round, an international challenge with over 8,000 teams from 70 countries. Only the top 12% advance to this round, following five months of intensive, story-based coding and problem-solving challenges.

Invitational Team Members Include:
Rider Lalli, Blythe Aull, Noa Johnson, Dylan Llewellyn, Benjamin Kupferman, Jiya Klarner, Luke Kupferman, Noelle Calabrese, Rocket Martin, Savannah Munisteri, McCartney Borello, Presley Cavallo, Brynn Gerns, Elliana Kessler, Dylan Lomitola, Juliet Pagano, Rafe Kaminsky, Luke Weiss, Cole Weiss, Dylan Watts, August Rodabaugh, Mackenzie Pastuch, Abigail Northrop, Ila McNally, Theodore Bergman, Colin Cestaro, John Fenrich, Jonah Jackowitz, and Charles Johnston.

SIFMA Foundation’s Regional Stock Market Game Success

Two LARC teams earned Top 10 Regional Rankings out of approximately 200 teams in the SIFMA Foundation’s Long Island Stock Market Game:

Rosalia Heindrichs and Truman Rodabaugh (Grade 5): 6th Place
Anthony Amato and Luke Johanson (Grade 3): 8th Place

Additional students placing in the Top 30 include:

Dana Donofrio, Samuel Valencia (Grade 3)
Luke Kupferman, Juliet Pagano (Grade 4)

This financial literacy challenge teaches students to manage a $100,000 virtual portfolio, enhancing their understanding of economics, investing, and personal finance.

Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Science Awards

Four LARC teams earned Honorable Mention in the Toshiba NSTA ExploraVision Science Competition, placing in the Top 10% of entries across the U.S. and Canada. These projects were recognized for their innovation in solving real-world challenges.

Award-Winning Projects (Grade 6 APT Students)

TFOBL: The Future of Bionic Limbs
Harlen Werner, Ryann Jennings, Jack Wilsusen, Madeline Eckert
BreatheEasy: The Asthma Shirt
Laina Sisko, Grayson Eichin, Jayden Torres
FinSpotter
Arwyn Donofrio, Kailin Haber, Brody Dowler, Murphy Moser
Brain Buddy Robot
Caylee Donaghy, Cruz Nafte
Additional Honorable Mentions

EcoBot Cleaner: Harper Tomao, Abe Jackowitz, Emmet Klein
Artificial Ice Sheets: Brendan Smith, Jack O’Grady, Joseph Montone, Lucas Onufrock
Air20: Mackenzie Kaplan, Victoria DaSilva, Isla Lomitola, Zoey Pinto
Regional Winners

Visionary: Cole O’Connor, Sam O’Donoghue, Sullivan Limmer, Edward Grossman

WordMasters Gold Division – Additional Honorable Mentions

Paxton Cavallo
Lucas Onufrock
Diane Seman


These outstanding results are a testament to the creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking fostered through Long Beach’s LARC and APT programs. Congratulations to all students, coaches, and families involved!

Date Added: 6/11/2025