The Farmingdale School District’s annual All-District Concert drew a full house to the Farmingdale High School Auditorium, where 371 student musicians in grades 5 through 12 took the stage. This year’s performance highlighted the Chorus, featuring students from all six schools, as part of the district’s tradition of rotating among Band, Strings, and Chorus each year. Families and community members gathered to celebrate the students’ musical growth from elementary through high school.

“Our choral staff began preparing for this concert more than a year ago,” said Director of Fine and Performing Arts Greg Warnokowski. “I am deeply grateful for their dedication, the countless hours of preparation, and the unwavering commitment they showed to our students. Because of their hard work, our students were given a truly special musical experience they will carry with them for a lifetime.”

The evening featured a sequential showcase of talent:

Elementary All-District Chorus, directed by Deanna Cupolo and Irene Smykowski

Howitt Middle School Chorus, directed by Danielle Tucker and Eric Hulse

Farmingdale High School Treble Chorus, directed by Joseph Franzino. Mixed Chorus and Combined Chorus, directed by Jessica Mischke

For the Grand Finale, all 371 singers filled the stage. Conducted by Danielle Tucker, the combined group performed "This is Me" from The Greatest Showman.

As the evening concluded with a powerful grand finale, Superintendent Paul Defendini left families with a heartfelt reminder of the program’s lasting value. “I encourage you to do everything you can to keep your child involved in our music program, because it’s so much more than a class — it’s a community. Through rehearsals, performances, and shared experiences, your children form meaningful connections that help guide them through middle school, high school, and beyond with confidence and a true sense of belonging.”

The All-District Concert is a cherished tradition that brings together the entire Farmingdale School District. While this year’s performance highlighted the Chorus, next year’s 2026–2027 All-District Concert will proudly feature the Strings ensemble.

Congratulations to our talented students and the following choral directors: Abigail Coacci, Deanna Cupolo, Emilie D’Andrilli, Joseph Franzino, Stephanie Haas, Eric Hulse, MiHee Hwang, Catherine McLoughlin, Jessica Mischke, Nicole Nappi, Irene Smykowski, and Danielle Tucker.

The Farmingdale High School Varsity Cheer team won its fourth straight Nassau County championship! With a score of 94.9, the Dalers now head to the state championship in Binghamton on March 7th. This follows a historic top-20 finish at the national level in Orlando. Congratulations to our hard-working student-athletes. 

Our Daler Hydrant Heroes sprang into action after the snowfall, clearing out neighborhood fire hydrants to help keep our community safe! Through this incredible partnership between the Farmingdale Council of PTAs and the South Farmingdale Fire Department, our students are learning the true meaning of service and community pride.

Dalers of all ages throughout the district donned purple on Friday, February 13, 2026, to show their support for P.S. I Love You Day. This day shines a light on mental health and combating bullying. By introducing mental health education to students at an early age, discussions will become more open, enabling students to identify when they or others require assistance. Every second Friday of February, communities wear purple to promote kindness, create a welcoming atmosphere, and emphasize that mental health is as crucial as physical health.

Stepping into the heart of New York’s legislative landscape, our student leaders demonstrated that their perspectives are vital to the decisions that shape our classrooms. This important visit to Albany serves as the culmination of a year's worth of hard work and preparation. Throughout the school year, the Legislative Action Committee (LAC) meets several times at Howitt Middle School to collaborate with local officials and refine its goals.

On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, this work was put into action as the committee—which includes Board of Education members, staff, residents, and students—met with Senator Steven Rhoads and Assemblyman Michael Durso. Our students also led the way by engaging in insightful discussions with Assemblymen Sam Berger, Jake Blumencranz, and John Mikulin on student health and special education funding. These meetings allow the committee to promote laws that support the district's mission and protect our schools' interests.

Albany Avenue's hallways are full of energy as The Daler Perk coffee cart makes its bi-monthly rounds to provide staff with an afternoon pick-me-up. Started by teachers Gianna Ventiere and Olivia Lechner, this student-led business was designed to provide authentic, recurring opportunities for students to practice communication and career development in a real-world setting. Students take on the role of baristas, responsible for greeting customers, clarifying orders, and managing inventory. While the cart currently runs twice a month, the school hopes to offer it every Friday following the overwhelming positive response from staff.

The spirit of the games has arrived at Northside Elementary! The Physical Education department hosted a spectacular Winter Olympics where students competed in team skiing, curling, bobsled, and a torch relay. These young athletes learned about Olympic traditions and winter sports while staying active and showing incredible teamwork!

Congratulations to Thérèse M. Mannino for her nomination for the Manilow Music Teacher Award! Help our orchestra director win $10,000 for new school instruments. Please vote every day through March 19 at 11:59 PM.

Students in fourth and fifth grade at Saltzman East Memorial joined the Kids Heart Challenge on February 12, 2026. They took part in a jump rope event to support heart health and learned about staying active and caring for others. We are proud of our heart-healthy Dalers!

Kindergarteners at Woodward Parkway had a blast learning about Groundhog Day and making crafts. Mrs. Spencer’s class predicted more winter, and Punxsutawney Phil agreed! We will keep our mittens handy for six more weeks of chilly fun.

The Howitt Middle School stage was filled with energy and school spirit yesterday. On February 2, 2026, the Howitt Players, the Howitt Steppers, and the Howitt Kickers came together for a unique performance showcase. This event allowed our talented theater and dance students to share their hard work with one another in a supportive environment.

During the event, each group performed one or two routines for their peers. The goal of this showcase was to give students a chance to practice in front of a live audience. By performing for fellow club members, students built the confidence they need for larger community events later in the 2025-2026 school year.

The energy reached a high point at the end of the showcase. Performers from all three groups took to the stage to teach one another steps from their specific routines. Even the teachers got involved and learned some new moves alongside their students.

Albany Avenue Elementary School held its third annual International Night. Organized by Emily DiSanto and the Shared Decision Making Team, this vibrant event invited students and their families to share and celebrate the diverse cultures that make up the school community.

The cafeteria was transformed into a global showcase. Families organized detailed displays featuring traditional clothing, historical information, and heritage artifacts. To encourage engagement, the event featured coloring pages representing each country, allowing students to learn about global symbols while exploring the room.

The highlight of the event was the international food spread. Families prepared and shared traditional dishes, and the Shared Decision Making Team provided recipes next to each dish for families to take home. The evening was a significant success, fostering a sense of community as families learned about one another through food, art, and conversation.

For the past ten years, Howitt Middle School's 6th-grade health teacher, Mrs. Pietronigro, has proudly hosted the annual Anti-Tobacco Advertising Contest. This meaningful project gives our students the opportunity to bring the truth about tobacco to life by creating powerful, eye-opening advertisements to share with their peers. Truth ads play an important role in raising awareness of the harmful effects of all tobacco products and reinforcing the importance of protecting our health. The smart decisions our students make today can have a lasting impact on their future well-being

This year, every 6th grader created an outstanding advertisement, and Mrs. Pietronigro is incredibly proud of the hard work, creativity, and effort shown by all. A special congratulations to this year’s contest winners, Gavin Arenella and Conor McDougall!

The 100th day of school is a significant milestone, marking that students have passed the halfway point. It is also a great occasion to highlight how much children have learned since September. At the district’s elementary schools, students participated in a range of festive activities, including creating lists of 100 favorite things, stringing together 100 beads, and making 100 Days headbands. However, the highlight was when students dressed in costumes to envision what they would look like at 100.

The REAL Harmony Club honored 100 years of Black history with a powerful performance on Feb. 11, 2026. The event, held at Farmingdale High School, featured a fashion show, dancing, music, poetry, and the Steppin’ Dalers. Through their voices, vision, and leadership, students transformed the stage into a living tribute to the past and a bold promise for the future.

Howitt Middle School began its Wellness Week celebrations on February 9 with "Mindful Monday". While the district-wide initiative runs through February 13, Howitt Middle School started the week by focusing on the power of breath and movement.

Mrs. Rapinat led 20-minute yoga sessions at the beginning and end of each lunch period for both staff and students. These sessions focused on light yoga and stretching, requiring no previous experience. Students participated during the second half of their lunch period, while teachers had the flexibility to attend either the first or last 20 minutes. Because these sessions were high in demand, a formal sign-up was required to ensure a calm, organized environment.

Seven talented theater students from Farmingdale High School recently took center stage to help the Long Island Children’s Museum (LICM) launch the premiere of the musical Pete the Cat.

On Monday, February 16, 2025-2026, these student-actors used their improvisational skills to create a high-energy experience for young fans and their families. The group included the following students:

Seniors Gabbi Martinez, Olivia Renyak, and Ava Vaden

Sophomores John Golio, Danica Mistretta, and Ty Rambeau

Freshmen Madeleine Burfitt and Ray Negron

The event, titled "Pete’s Blue Carpet Catwalk," transformed the museum entrance into a gala. Armed with prop cameras and character acting experience, the Farmingdale High School students portrayed enthusiastic paparazzi. They interviewed guests and posed for photos as families arrived for the sold-out opening performance.

The collaboration allowed students to apply their theater training in a real-world, interactive environment.

"The kids did an excellent job," said Lisa Rudin, artistic director of the Long Island Children’s Museum. "They were respectful and professional. The event was such a success that we are considering a second one later in the run."

Teacher Glen Beck noted that this partnership highlights the theater department's commitment to providing students with performance opportunities and community engagement throughout Long Island.