A group of Mattituck High School teachers and students met with The Suffolk Times on Thursday to discuss the school’s ranking. (Credit: Jen Nuzzo)

Mattituck High School junior Julie Krudop is grateful for the teachers that helped her improve her reading and writing skills.

After she was diagnosed with dyslexia at a young age, she was enrolled into the district’s reading program and said her teachers immediately pushed her to work hard in overcoming her personal challenges.

It’s that type of support Julie and her fellow students attributed to the school’s recent success of ranking as one of the best high schools in the nation.

“The teachers really do a great job preparing us,” said Julie, who plans to pursue a career in business. “Looking back now, I don’t know where I’d be without them.”

U.S. News & World Report’s 2015 Best High Schools report analyzed about 21,000 public high schools across the country to find out which ones are successfully educating their student bodies.

Mattituck’s national ranking is 880, which puts the school in the top 4 percent of the country’s best high schools. The achievement carries a silver award.

Among the nearly 1,260 schools ranked across the state, Mattituck is number 95. And out of the 58 schools ranked in Suffolk County, Mattituck came in fifth place.

The best high schools rankings, first published in 2007, are based on AP test scores, disadvantaged student performance, and how well high schools overall prepare students for college.

Mattituck High School principal Shawn Petretti said he believes this is the first time Mattituck has ranked in the report. He described this year’s achievement as “truly an honor” because of the how the rankings’ criteria has shifted its benchmarks to show growth with ESL, special education and economically disadvantaged student performances.

“It’s been a culture of raising the bar for all students regardless of their backgrounds and to make sure they’re being supported,” Mr. Petretti said when asked what he attributes the school’s success to. “We have teachers passionate about teaching, their curriculums and, most importantly, their students. We have students that come here prepared to learn — they’re coming from households that value education. We also have a very supportive community and Board of Education.

“This didn’t happen by accident,” he continued. “A lot of different things had to take place in order to get those kinds of results.”

Greenport High School also ranked in the report, earning a bronze award this year after having received silver awards for the past two years.

“This is a real tribute to the hard work of our students, teachers and families,” said Greenport Superintendent David Gamberg. “Actually, it represents the efforts of everyone in the Greenport learning community who contribute to the achievements of our students.”

[Related: Greenport AP classes focus on environment, sustainability]

Of Greenport’s nearly 340 students, 20 percent take AP courses. Ninety percent scored proficient in math and 87 percent scored proficient in English. Forty percent of students come from low-income families.

Over in Mattituck, 56 percent of the high school’s nearly 770 students take AP courses. Eighty-eight percent scored proficient in math and 91 percent scored proficient in English. Twenty-two percent of students come from low-income families.

Like their classmate Julie, senior Rosa Perez and junior Samantha Kaelin said Mattituck has prepared them for the future.

Rosa is an ESL student who came to the U.S. five years ago from Guatemala. She’s currently taking medical courses at BOCES and wants to become a registered nurse. That dream wouldn’t have a chance of becoming a reality, she said, without the support she’s received from Mattituck’s programs.

Samantha, who was diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), said the school’s teachers, reading program and resource room helped her achieve her goals. The experience has even helped her to decide to enter into the education field and become a preschool teacher or special education teacher.

“I’ve overcome it and can help others overcome it also,” Samantha said. “All the teachers have challenged me in ways to help me work harder.”

AP biology teacher Janine Ruland said teacher collaboration is key to student success. For example, reading skills her students are learning in AP Composition are critical to their success in her biology class.

[Related: A bit beyond advanced for this crop of AP students]

ESL teacher Denise Cheshire and special education teacher Jennifer Cressy agree that the district’s encouragement and focus on teachers collaborating with each other has fostered student success.

“The faculty and staff have a passion for teaching — we all work together,” Ms. Cheshire said.

“It’s nice we got the recognition here, but it’s down in the elementary school where it all starts,” Ms. Cressy added.

Students Kimberly Scheer, Rony Javier and Lika Osepashvili believe their teachers’ enthusiasm about course materials has made them into high achievers.

Kimberly said her high school experience has made her want to pursue mechanical engineering and Rony has decided he wants to become a history professor.

“Take advantage of every opportunity and try to expand — you’ll never know what you may end up liking unless you try,” Rony said when asked what his advice is for other students to be successful. “Our teachers are very enthusiastic, have lots of positive energy and they movative us.”

Lika, who is a co-editor for the school newspaper The Mattitalk, said she believes courses like AP English helped her develop the skills she needs to become a better writer. This is her third year with school newspaper and she’s slated to become its lead editor in September.

Susan McGinn, who teaches Lika’s independent journalism class, said she and other teachers enjoy the opportunities the district provides them to work and engage with students even after they’ve move on to different grades and classes.

The district’s supportive atmosphere, Ms. McGinn said, allows teachers to follow through with students until they successfully graduate.

“We still get to talk and have that relationship, which is very important,” she said. “That’s the reason why we come to school — it’s for the kids.”

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Mattituck High School graduates Victoria Ireland and Abby Graeb, who have been friends since 1st grade, pose for a selfie. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Mattituck High School held its 101st commencement exercises at the school gym Saturday morning.

Joining the graduates and their parents at the ceremony were alumni from the class of 1965, among others. More than $107,000 in scholarships were given to the graduating class.

See more photos:

A group of graduates before the ceremony. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Olivia Finn gives Kaylee Bergen a hand before the ceremony. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Emilie Reimer, Lisa Angell, and Courtney Benediktsson. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

A group of graduates before the ceremony. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Gebriel Sierra and Ryan Zlatniski. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Abigail Terry gives the invocation. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Students listening to the speakers. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Mattituck High School Select Chorus sings. (Credit: Katharine Schroeder)

Mattituck High School students (from left) Adrianna Lawson, Sarah Pfennig and Emma Leaden were honored for their work in the New York State Art Teachers Association’s Portfolio Project contest. (Credit: Jen Nuzzo)

Art teacher Dina Rose’s students have earned top awards in art competitions during her 10-year tenure at Mattituck High School.

But this year is even more memorable for Ms. Rose since three of her current students — seniors Sarah Pfennig, Emma Leaden and Adrianna Lawson — recently swept the annual New York State Art Teachers Association’s Portfolio Project contest.

Mattituck’s division included schools across Suffolk County. For the first time in the school’s history, students took home first-, second- and third-place awards in the competition.

“I’m just very proud of them — they have such enthusiasm for the arts and are inspirational to me because they’re so passionate about it,” Ms. Rose said. “Even if they aren’t pursuing an art career, they hung in there and were a delight in class.”

Sarah won first place for an oil painting that was inspired by a photograph of a woman she found in National Geographic.

“I wanted to celebrate the beauty of a different culture,” she said. “Art teaches you to celebrate diversity, uniqueness and your strengths.

“There’s always something you can work on and improve on,” she continued. “It’s a challenge, in a sense, because you have to put your thoughts and emotions onto the paper.”

Sarah plans to major in biology and minor in art at Connecticut College; she hopes to become an ophthalmologist and work as an eye doctor. While Sarah said her future isn’t set in stone and she’d consider becoming a professional artist, she’ll always be grateful for the skills she’s learned.

“Art is always something you can turn to for relieving emotions or stress,” Sarah said. “It’s a good gift to give people.”

Emma Leaden, who won second place, plans to attend Merrimack College to study creative writing and art. She hopes to become a graphic novel writer and illustrator and have a career in television and film animation.

Her award-winning piece, “As Osiris Lays Dead,” was created using watercolor pencils, watercolors and a gold paint pen.

Emma said she became interested in Egyptian art and mythology as a child after watching the movie “The Prince of Egypt.” She still has a book she picked up a few years ago on a whim at a Michaels art store about how to draw fantasy creatures.

Her best friend, Adrianna Lawson, who she met in art class, won third place for “Black Halo,” which she made using watercolor pencils and a metallic gold pen. The piece features a halo covered in Hindu art above a woman.

Adrianna plans to become the first person in her family to attend college and will study art at the Fashion Institute of Technology in hopes of becoming an art curator.

Adrianna and Emma also took Advanced Placement Art this year and had to submit a total of 24 pieces for the class. They said they couldn’t submit their best work for the competition because those pieces had to go toward the AP course.

“Considering we couldn’t use our best pieces, it’s a good feeling because even though it isn’t our best, our artwork is still worthy of awards,” Adrianna said.

The three students first became interested in art when they were in Lee Harned’s ninth-grade art class, which they described as a “rewarding challenge.” Overall, they said the support they received from Mattituck’s art program has helped them become successful.

“Having people look at my work, critique it and help me with it has been most helpful,” Emma said.

Ms. Rose said she attributes her students’ success to their dedication and for coming into class on Mondays from 6 to 8 p.m. for extra help, especially in the midst of other responsibilities.

“It’s great for the students to have their own individual outlet instead of everyone coming up with the same solution,” Ms. Rose said. “Art gives them broader, deeper thinking skills and more individual expression, which is what we want to accomplish.”

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Ian Husak with the Vietnamese flag on a fishing boat in Ha Long Bay. (Credit: Ian Husak courtesy photos)

When Ian Husak first arrived in Vietnam, he didn’t have the benefit of international date on his phone. There was no GPS in his pocket to direct the Mattituck High School graduate from Ho Chi Minh City to Mui Ne, a journey of more than 130 miles on a motorcycle across foreign terrain.

“I had no map,” he recalled. “I spent the whole day wondering, ‘Am I going the right way?’ ”

In a way, that uncertainty was a key experience for Mr. Husak, a sophomore at Fordham University. Along with a more nuanced global perspective, he said the greatest reward from his month-long trip was learning to live in the moment.

“I had to learn to enjoy being lost,” he said. “As a person, I like knowing where I’m going and having a plan. But you develop a sense that you’ll get there when you get there.”

Mr. Husak had known since high school that he wanted to see the world. A documentary on Vietnam and an episode of the BBC television series “Top Gear” convinced him that the quickly growing Southeast Asian country would be his first destination.

From May 17 to June 12, he took the plunge and pursued that goal.

“I just think that was so brave,” said Gary Buckner, Mr. Husak’s former social studies teacher at Mattituck High School. “Most kids, if they do go away after high school — which many don’t — usually go to Europe. But Ian had this fixation on Vietnam and I loved it. I thought it was fantastic.”

Before Mr. Husak left, Mr. Buckner gave him some advice on exploring the world.

“Be a sponge,” Mr. Buckner recalled telling him. “Keep your mind open and absorb what is out there. Trust everyone until you’re given reason not to.”

In total, Mr. Husak traveled about 2,000 miles on a Honda Win 110cc he bought for $300 his first day in Vietnam. His journey took him from Ho Chi Minh City in the southern part of the country all the way to Sa Pa, in northwestern Vietnam, near the border of China.

His favorite part was the cuisine, especially since he could get a bowl of pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) for a dollar or two at every meal. He estimated that his trip cost about $1,500.

“You can live on $15 a day including hotels and food,” he said.

Perhaps dauntingly for some, Mr. Husak arrived at and departed from Vietnam without a single companion.

“If you’re by yourself, you’re so much more open to meeting new people and talking to new people,” he said.

He spent the majority of his trip with three documentarians from Lebanon who he met at a hostel in Mui Ne.

“I’ve been telling my classes for 20 years that you’re never alone when you’re traveling,” Mr. Buckner said. “There are people you meet that are doing the same thing as you … You get to know people, and you find out about their culture.”

Ben Pileski is listed in critical condition at Stony Brook University Hospital. His brother, Zach, posted this picture of Ben after Sunday’s accident and asked the community to keep him in their thoughts and prayers. (Credit: Zach Pileski/Facebook)

A Mattituck High School graduate, on leave from serving in the U.S. Navy, was critically injured Sunday in Montauk after he was hit by a taxi while crossing the street.

Benjamin Pileski, 20, of Mattituck was walking with a group of people on Montauk Highway when the accident occurred shortly before 3:10 a.m. just west of Carl Fisher Plaza, according to an East Hampton Town police report.

His friend, Justin Tyler, 20, of Cutchogue was also hit by the 2001 Honda van and appeared to have “rolled over the hood of the vehicle, breaking the windshield,” according to the report.

The vehicle involved in the crash is registered to JEB Tech of Bohemia, the report states.

No tickets or violations were issued and no arrests were made, according to the report.

The driver, Muhammad Irfan of Shirley, was driving with two passengers and stated to police that he was traveling west when two pedestrians “ran from the south side of the street onto Montauk Highway” and he was unable to avoid the collision, the report states.

No other witness statements were included in the officer’s narrative. Police Capt. Chris Anderson didn’t return a phone call seeking comment.

Both victims were initially taken to Southampton Hospital, the report states, and later transported to Stony Brook University Hospital.

Mr. Tyler’s mom, Susan, said her son returned home Monday night and had suffered a “slight skull fracture where the head meets the neck.”

“From what I understand, if it had been a fraction off of where it was, it could have been horrendous, so he’s very lucky,” she said, adding that he suffered a mild concussion and had “a small spot of blood on his brain.”

As of 4:30 p.m. Monday, Mr. Pileski was listed in critical condition, hospital spokeswoman Elizabeth Streich said. His family wasn’t immediately available for comment.

Ms. Tyler said her son and Mr. Pileski have been very good friends throughout their childhood and enjoyed playing sports. They had gotten together over the holiday weekend after Mr. Pileski, who’s serving in the Navy, returned home.

Ms. Tyler said she’s grateful community members have contacted her to express their support.

“It’s very comforting — everyone is reaching out with calls and texts,” she said. “It seems like nothing to the person offering help, but to the recipient — until you’re in that situation — it’s huge.”

Sunday’s incident comes nearly a year after another Mattituck High School graduate, Kaitlyn Doorhy, was killed Aug. 22 at age 20 after a car struck her while she was crossing the street near her sorority house in Bridgeport, Conn.

Kait’s Angels, a non-profit charity group dedicated in Ms. Doorhy’s memory, posted the news about Mr. Pileski’s accident on its Facebook page and asked the community to keep him and his family in its thoughts and prayers.

“It’s a waiting game at this point and he and his family are in need of all of your angel prayers and positive energy,” the message reads. “Kait, please watch over this young man and guide him back to us.”

Senior naval science instructor Major Bill Grigonis said in an interview Tuesday he was saddened to learn of Mr. Pileski’s condition and is hoping for a speedy recovery.

“By joining the Navy, I think he was pursuing that path not only to give back to his country but it was also something in his heart that he wanted to do,” Major Grigonis said. “Everybody is saying a prayer for him and hoping he gets better soon.”

Benjamin Pileski. (Credit: Pileski family)

Benjamin Pileski, the 20-year-old Mattituck High School graduate who was critically injured July 5 after being struck by a taxi while crossing the street in Montauk, has awoken from a coma.

His father, Thomas Pileski, confirmed in an interview Monday his son awoke from the medically-induced coma Sunday night. He is recovering at Stony Brook University Hospital.

“He recognized me and I tried to explain to him that he’s been in a bad accident,” Thomas said. “He’s groggy, gets confused and doesn’t know what’s going on, but he’s making progress and reacting to directions.”

[Related: Navy, community rallies around Benjamin Pileski after accident]

There are over 100 staples in Benjamin’s head from surgery he had July 7 when doctors removed a piece of his skull in order to make room for his brain to swell, Thomas said, adding doctors are “very happy” with Benjamin’s progress, which includes leg and hand movement. His son is now breathing on his own, too.

“It’s a long-road recovery,” Thomas said, adding the next step in Benjamin’s recovery is to get him off pain medication in order for the doctor’s to evaluate him.

An official update on Benjamin’s condition from the hospital wasn’t immediately available.

After successfully completing U.S. Navy basic training, Benjamin was stationed aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln in Newport News, Va. on Nov. 11, which is his father’s birthday.

Benjamin was on leave over the Fourth of July holiday weekend and was walking with a group of people July 5 on Montauk Highway when the accident occurred shortly before 3:10 a.m., just west of Carl Fisher Plaza, according to an East Hampton Town police report.

His friend, Justin Tyler, 20, of Cutchogue was also injured and returned home from the hospital two days later.

The incident comes nearly a year after another Mattituck High School graduate, Kaitlyn Doorhy, was killed Aug. 22 at age 20 after a car struck her while she was crossing the street near her sorority house in Bridgeport, Conn.

Kait’s Angels, a non-profit charity group dedicated in Ms. Doorhy’s memory, is planning a community yard sale Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Doorhy family’s home located at 1125 Ole Jule Lane in Mattituck. All proceeds will benefit Benjamin and his family.

The Doorhys are asking for donated items, except large pieces of furniture. The deadline to drop off items is Aug. 14.

• For more information about donating, volunteering or sharing ideas, visit the Kait’s Angels Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kaitsangels?fref=ts

Benjamin’s friends also created a Facebook group following the accident called Ben’s Corner where friends and family can post pictures and share stories. His brother, Zach, has been also posting regular updates about Benjamin’s condition.

In addition, a GoFundMe page was recently launch to secure online donations.

“My family has never asked for handouts before, but we ask if you could please lend a helping hand during our time of need,” Zach wrote. “We don’t ask for a lot but any bit can help. Even if at the time you can’t afford to, we still ask that you help by sending your thoughts and prayers.”

As of 4 p.m. Monday, $5,770 had been raised.

• To donate, visit http://www.gofundme.com/benscorner

After receiving additional monetary donations since the accident, including from the Mattituck Lions Club and Boots on the Ground, Thomas said he recently created an account, Ben’s Benefit Fund, at Capital One Bank where people can also drop off donations.

Fighting back tears during Monday’s interview, Thomas reiterated his messages of thanks for the community’s support.

“I wish I could thank everybody personally for what they’ve done,” he said. “I hope they understand that I can’t.

“Hug your kids; hug your loved ones,” he continued, “and if you can’t, at least call them up and tell them how much you love them because you don’t think this is going to happen to you.”

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

From a state championship in soccer to a state title in baseball, Mattituck High School achieved a near unprecedented level of success in athletics this past year. 

All those accolades, when combined together, put Mattituck as one of the top schools in the state for the 2014-15 school year. Mattituck finished third overall in the boys standings for the Kerr Cup, an all-sport championship award presented by the New York Sportswriters Association. The Kerr Cup is determined by tallying points for how successful each team in a school is over the course of a year.

For the boys, Mattituck finished third behind Shenendehowa (42.17) and Victor (35). Mattituck totaled 30 points and was the top Class B school in the state.

The results were announced Tuesday morning by the New York Sportswriters Association.

In boys and girls combined, Mattituck finished eighth and was the third Class B school.

Mattituck was the only Long Island school to finish in the top-10 for the boys and girls combined score.

This is the seventh year of the Kerr Cup. It’s the first time a North Fork school made the list.

The success for Mattituck this past season was sprinkled throughout the year. Starting in the fall, the boys soccer team won the Class B state championship. The wrestling team in the winter won the Division II county title. And the baseball team in the spring won the Class B state championship.

Click here to read more about how the Kerr Cup is determined.

Some members of Mattituck High School’s state championship baseball team enjoyed a rare opportunity to see the Mets up close and visit the broadcast booth at Citi Field on Thursday afternoon.

What Mattituck’s coach, Steve DeCaro, described as a “wacky, play-it-by-ear day,” involved a bus ride to Flushing, Queens, along with three of his players and his assistant coach, Rich Pisacano, to watch the Mets play and get a behind-the-scenes view of Citi Field in the process. DeCaro said the trip was orchestrated by Pisacano’s father, Steve, who has friends with the club.

Chris Dwyer, Will Gildersleeve and Joe Tardif were the players who made the memorable trip. Before the game against the Colorado Rockies, the Tuckers were taken to the Ralph Kiner Television Booth in the press box where they met the SNY play-by-play announcer, Gary Cohen, and SNY analyst Ron Darling, a former Mets pitcher.

Another thrill awaited the Tuckers during the fourth inning, under a brilliant blue sky, when the scoreboard flashed these words: “Mets WELCOME MATTITUCK HIGH SCHOOL 2015 STATE CHAMPS.”

DeCaro and Rich Pisacano were both ready to shoot photos of the scoreboard message. “That was a big thrill, too, which is now the background of every computer I own,” said DeCaro.

The Tuckers won their first state championship this past spring, defeating Livonia in the New York Class B final, capping a 27-1 season. It is the first state title in Mattituck’s 95-year history of playing baseball.

Top top things off Thursday, the first-place Mets won, 12-3, for a four-game sweep of the Rockies, extending their lead atop the National League East.

For a longtime Mets fan like DeCaro, that’s a pretty good day. Asked how the experience rated with him, DeCaro said: “I would say being treated this way by the team you have rooted for since you jumped on the bandwagon in 1969 [the year the Mets won the World Series], this was pretty fun. Not quite as fun as winning the state championship or your children being born, but this was up there.”

“It was a fantastic day,” he continued. “It was very cool.”

Photo Caption: Members of Mattituck High School’s state champion baseball team were welcomed by the New York Mets on the Citi Field scoreboard. (Credit: Courtesy photo)

bliepa@timesreview.com

Attention Class of 2016: Yearbook portraits for incoming Mattituck High School seniors will be taken in the school auditorium Thursday and Friday, Aug. 27 and 28.

Call Pixels Photography Studio directly at 631-878-1848 with any questions regarding your appointment.

Construction of the greenhouse at Mattituck High School has come to a halt because the greenhouse doesn’t meet state building code, school board member Douglas Cooper said at Tuesday’s board of education meeting.

“We have a small greenhouse, 35 by 45 [feet],” he said. “You’re allowed up to 350 square feet without a state building permit and this would be three times that size, or four times that size.”

Jamesport farmer Carl Gabrielsen donated the greenhouse as part of the district’s sustainable agriculture initiative and began construction on it this summer.

Mr. Cooper didn’t specify which state regulations the greenhouse didn’t meet.

“The state regulations are ridiculous,” Mr. Cooper said. “What we have is small, quite small. It’s going to be beautiful for our school district, and we’re not allowed to do it. So that’s going to be on hold for the time being.”

Although the plans for the greenhouse have stalled, the high school environmental class created to function in conjunction with the greenhouse will continue this year.

“We’ll get through the greenhouse part … the curriculum is looking really, really good,” said board member Barbara Wheaton.

The high school class focuses on gardening, sustainable practices and environment and organic farming at local farms.

Ms. Wheaton said the district’s agricultural program is working with staff at the elementary school in an effort to coordinate between the elementary school garden and the high school.

“I just felt that the curriculum is alive here,” she said.

nsmith@timesreview.com

Photo Caption: The greenhouse at Mattituck High School that doesn’t currently meet state building codes (Credit: Jen Nuzzo file). 

Students from Mattituck High School joined 25 other high schools and universities from around the world at the United Nations’ Manhattan headquarters Monday to celebrate the International Day of Peace.

“Partnerships for Peace — Dignity for All” was designed to educate young people, referred to as peacebuilders, about the problems plaguing today’s world and to encourage them to strive for peace on large and small scales by introducing them to speakers and other students from around the world.

“There’s a lot more going on that just what we see,” said Mattituck junior Carter Montgomery, 16. “It kind of opened our minds up to what else is going on in the world.”

Superintendent Anne Smith, who was one of seven educators and 23 students from Mattituck to attend the event, said the day focused on uniting people through music and performance. Famed musicians Herbie Hancock and Yo-Yo Ma spoke and Mr. Ma also performed.

Participants were also treated to taekwondo demonstrations, a musical performance by the United Nations International School Chamber Ensemble and a drama created by students in Lebanon who Skyped into the conference.

“You see people from these countries and the media documents it as all these countries are crazy; everybody there is getting killed,” said sophomore Justin McKinney. “But then you look at the kids from these countries and they’re all normal kids but they’re just in need of some help.”

The students listened to a Q&A with U.N. Messenger of Peace Jane Goodall, a renowned anthropologist, and actor Michael Douglas. They also heard a speech by U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.

“When we were going in I didn’t really know what to expect at all because we’ve never really done any of those types of field trips,” said senior Anna Kowalski, 17. “I especially didn’t think such famous and renowned people would be there. It was definitely really interesting.”

Social studies teacher Gary Buckner shook hands and had a conversation with Ms. Goodall about her foundation Roots and Shoots.

Mattituck High School students at the United Nations’ Manhattan headquarters. (Credit: Courtesy)

Established in 1981, the first International Day of Peace was celebrated in September 1982. Originally held on the third Tuesday of each September, it has been held every Sept. 21 since 2001.

“The task of international peace is pretty daunting,” Mr. Buckner said. “But when you see the world body that is intended to do that and you see them reaching out to young people — I know this sounds corny — but it gives you some hope.”

The high school received an invitation to the event after filling out an application. Dr. Smith said they were given 30 seats and strongly encouraged to fill them with as many young people as possible.

Students from numerous groups, such as the Southold Youth Bureau, Unity Club, student government and Students Against Drunk Driving were chosen in order to represent a cross-section of the district, she said.

“It’s such an incredible honor to be the student representatives there and getting to hear these people speak,” said senior Sam Shaffery, 17. “I would really like to especially thank the administration for doing that, for making that a priority to show us something so real and so important.”

Dr. Smith hopes students take what they learned and apply it not only during the school year but for the rest of their lives. She and assistant principal David Smith both agreed the conference’s message goes hand in hand with the district’s motto of “What does it mean to make a difference?”.

Ms. Finnegan, an elementary staff member who attended, said she loved how the conference related the message of “What kind of world do you want?” on both a global scale and a small one, using bullying as an example.

“It was a moment they will never forget,” Mr. Smith added. “It was one of those impactful experiences that will hopefully be a catalyst to propel them to do some amazing things.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Top photo: Mattituck High School senior Sam Shaffery. (Credit: Courtesy) 

Mattituck High School’s basement is haunted! Well, it will be on Friday, Oct. 16.

The fundraiser event, called “Haunted Basement: Alien Abduction,” benefits the senior chorus class. Check it out between 4 and 6 p.m. Admission is $5 per person.

For more information, contact the school at 631-298-4242.

A Mattituck girls soccer game was suspended Tuesday evening following a report of possible gun shots in the neighboring area, school and police officials have confirmed. 

The athletic fields at the high school were evacuated shortly after 5:30 p.m. and students were brought into the building until police deemed the area safe again, administrators said.

Police chief Martin Flatley said officers were “unable to verify where [the shots] came from or if they were even gun shots.”

“We asked Mattituck High School to bring their students in from the athletic fields to the school until we could identify where the shots were coming from,” he said. “They complied and, after conducting a door-to-door check of the neighborhood, students were allowed to leave the high school properties and return to their homes.”

Superintendent Anne Smith said the lockdown lasted about 30 minutes before administrators decided to suspend the game and close the campus.

“We made sure all the kids were picked up and no one walked home,” she said.

Athletic director Gregg Wormuth, who said he did hear what he “thought could have been gunshots,” said he did not believe anyone at the school was in imminent danger.

“We just took precautionary measures,” he said.

Mr. Wormuth credited athletic trainer Colleen McGowan with helping to safely usher players to the gym.

Parent Kim Fabb said she received a phone call from her worried 12-year-old daughter, who was a spectator at the game and told her “shots were fired but she was OK.”

“Mrs. Zuhoski [a math teacher] took some of the younger kids who were very upset to her room,” Ms. Fabb said, adding that she drove to the school and waited with another parent until the students were released.

Mattituck’s girls soccer team was playing Pierson/Bridgehampton in a “Coaches vs. Cancer” fundraiser game when the incident occurred. The game was stopped with 3:49 left in the first half and Mattituck leading, 5-0. Mr. Wormuth said he did not yet know if the game would be continued at a later date.

The school will be opened and operating under a normal schedule Wednesday, Dr. Smith said.

gparpan@timesreview.com

The Mattituck-Cutchogue Athletic Booster Club hosted its annual bonfire and Tucker Bowl at the high school Friday night to kick off homecoming weekend. 

Under the watchful eyes of the Mattituck Fire Department, a 10-foot tower of wood and hay was lit and burned for about 20 minutes as students, faculty and parents looked on.

After the bonfire, students participated in the annual Tucker Bowl in which freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors competed in games such as blind volleyball, tennis ball relay and an army crawl.  Competition was fierce, as was school spirit with many of the students sporting face paint and waving banners.

Today, the Mattituck girls soccer team will host Southold/Greenport at noon. The boys will then play Southold at 2 p.m.

Southold Town police arrested a 28-year-old man on weapons charges Monday, nearly two weeks after Mattituck High School’s campus was cleared following a report of possible gun shots in the neighboring area.

Edward Hug, 28, allegedly fired “several rounds from a shotgun” in his yard on Pike Street in Mattituck that evening, according to a Southold Town police press release. He was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and illegal discharge of a firearm, and released on $200 bail.

Police Chief Martin Flatley said it’s “unknown if [Mr. Hug] was intoxicated at the time” he fired the gun, which was pointed skyward. He was home alone at the time, the chief said.

The athletic fields at the high school were evacuated that evening  and students were brought into the building until police deemed the area safe again, police said.

Mattituck’s girls soccer team was playing Pierson/Bridgehampton in a “Coaches vs. Cancer” fundraiser game when the incident occurred .The lockdown lasted about 30 minutes before administrators decided to suspend the game and close the campus, superintendent Anne Smith said at the time of the incident.

This is not Mr. Hug’s first arrest. He was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs in 2011, according to the Riverhead News-Review.

jnuzzo@timesreview.com

Instead textbooks and Smartboards, Mattituck High School students worked with their hands Wednesday.

The senior class split into groups and completed various community service projects as part of the school’s first “Day of Service” event.

Over at the Habitat for Humanity house on Greenway East in Orient, about 20 students worked painted walls, ceilings and doors, as well as insulated the basement.

In addition to learning how to restore a house, students learned about mortgages and affordable housing, among other life lessons.

“The experience is definitely different from anything else we’ve done before, especially at school,” senior Frank Imbriano said. “It was really nice to be able to get away and just work with all my classmates.”

Fellow classmate Raven Janoski agreed the volunteer project was a great experience.

“It wasn’t just community service hours,” she said. “It was really rewarding.”

Mattituck High School students and teachers volunteered to work with Habitat for Humanity on Wednesday (Credit: Nicole Smith).

The rest of students took part in the school’s “College and Career Day” on Wednesday. Sophomores and juniors took the PSAT and freshmen went to Adelphi University and SUNY Farmingdale to tour the campuses.

Originally, the school was going to have seniors spend the day applying to colleges, but senior class advisor and English teacher Amanda Barney requested they work on community service projects instead.

“That’s such an individual process for the kids,” Ms. Barney said of college applications, “so, I said: ‘How about we do a day of service?’ ”

Students then came up a list of groups they would like to volunteer with, including: Community Action Southold Town, North Fork Animal Welfare League, North Fork Community Theatre, Group for the East End, John’s Place at Mattituck Presbyterian Church and Kait’s Angels.

They also said they like to help out at their elementary school.

“The one that surprised us, pleasantly, was how many students wanted to go to Cutchogue East to work,” Ms. Barney said. “After the assembly, we had all the folders and the sign up sheets ready to go and they stormed that folder.”

Ms. Barney said community service is something that has always been important to the district. The school has a service learning enhancement program, where students who complete 65 hours of community service get a local enhancement on their diploma and additional recognition at graduation.

“It’s something the kids have done independently,” she said. “So I think it’s important to bring them all together and let them share in the experience.”

nsmith@timesreview.com

Photo Caption: Alec Durkin, 17, works on insulation in the basement of a Habitat for Humanity home in Orient on Wednesday (Credit: Nicole Smith). 

A Mattituck High School NJROTC member has earned a full scholarship to learn to become a Merchant Marine.

Cadet Lieutenant Bill Stuckart received an appointment to the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., which comes with a full scholarship of over $350,000.

Major Bill Grigonis said that Lt. Stuckart’s appointment also comes with the opportunity to receive a commission as an Ensign in either the Navy, Coast Guard or National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration or a commission as a second lieutenant in the Army, Marine Corps or Air Force.

Lt. Stuckart will graduate with a Bachelor in Science, as well as a U.S. Coast Guard license for the deck or engineering, Major Grigonis said.

nsmith@timesreview.com

Photo Caption: Cadet Lieutenant Bill Stuckart (Credit: Courtesy).

The Mattituck girls volleyball team is heading to Glens Falls for the fifth time in six years.

The Tuckers picked up a straight-sets win over Wheatley in the Long Island Class C Championship game Saturday. They will continue play in the state final four this coming Saturday.

Top caption: The 2015 Class C Long Island champions storm the court following Saturday’s victory. (Credit: Garret Meade photos)

Sophomore outside hitter Kathryn Zaloom goes up for the ball.

Senior middle blocker Skyler Grathwohl with a block.

Sophomore outside hitter Kathryn Zaloom goes up for the ball.

Sophomore outside hitter Madison Osler serves the ball.

Senior libero Meghan McKillop with the dig.

Coach Frank Massa talks to his team during a stoppage in play.

Senior Dawn Rochan looks to slip one past two opponents.

The 2015 Class C Long Island champions.

Setter and co-captain Carly Doorhy (13) and coach Frank Massa were all smiles after the win.

The Mattituck Junior High Players present “Murderous Night at the Museum” at the Mattituck High School auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday.

Murder and mayhem take place on the stage in a play directed by Gwyn Foley and assisted by Cheyenne Harris. Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, or a non-perishable food item.

See more photos below:

A 28-year-old man was arraigned on a misdemeanor weapons charge Friday for allegedly shooting a shotgun in a neighborhood near Mattituck High School last month.

The gunshots lead school officials to clear the campus until police could clear the area.

Police officials said Edward Hug had allegedly fired “several rounds from a shotgun” into the sky from his yard on Pike Street in Mattituck the evening of Oct. 6. The athletic fields at the high school were and students were brought into the building until police deemed the area safe again, according to a news release at the time.

In Southold Town Court Friday, Mr. Hug was partially arraigned on a misdemeanor fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapons charge. According to court documents read aloud by Justice William Price, Mr. Hug faces the criminal charge because he was previously convicted of a felony.

The court did not say what Mr. Hug was convicted of or when the felony conviction occurred.

Mr. Hug represented himself at the arraignment Friday, but did not enter a plea, instead opting to push back the conclusion of the arraignment to a later date when he could have a lawyer present. He remains free on the original $200 “stationhouse” bail set by police in October.

The October incident had stirred memories in some residents of a different shooting incident at the school in 2009, when a student was shot in the head with a BB gun through a classroom window by a 29-year-old man. The student suffered minor injuries when the BB grazed her, authorities at the time said.