An 11-student team from Half Hollow Hills High School East in Dix Hills has taken the state title in a competition that assessed their knowledge of the U.S. Constitution.

The competition, “We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution,” challenged students to participate in simulated congressional hearings that allowed them to demonstrate their understanding of constitutional principles. They also faced a series of questions issued by a panel of lawyers, politicians and professors who acted as judges, according to competition officials.

The winning team — Nathan Anreder, Calista Bullard, Max Garnock, Ella Linn, Joseph Milohnic, Bailey Molina, Alexis Moore, Carla Nimeh, Blake Rabinowitz, Adrianna Stucchio and Samaya Syali — has earned a spot in the national competition this spring in Washington, D.C.

This is the fifth time the school has won the state title since 2011.

“This is a special group of students,” said David Pitman, the team’s coach and a social studies teacher at the school. “Not only did they work very hard to prepare for this competition, but they seemed to truly enjoy competing. More than any other team that I have coached they showed a real passion for the content and for the competition.”

The state competition was sponsored by the Justice Resource Center and held at Martin Luther King Jr. High School in Manhattan.

EAST SETAUKET

New principal

Sarah Kiersh has been named principal of Arrowhead Elementary School in the Three Village Central School District. She replaced Marisa Redden, who retired.

Kiersh, who joined the district in 2018, had been Three Village’s director of student and community services since 2023. Before that, she was an assistant principal at the district’s Minnesauke and W.S. Mount elementary schools as well as coordinator of the district’s pre-kindergarten.

“I am looking forward to joining this community of students, their families and our staff to continue to work toward excellence and belonging for all students,” Kiersh said in a statement.

ROSLYN

Mock trial winners

A Roslyn High School team earned its third consecutive title by winning the 41st Annual Robert J. Bernstein School Within a School Mock Trial Tournament, held last month at The Wheatley School in Old Westbury. The tournament challenged participants to demonstrate an understanding of courtroom procedures by acting as the defense, prosecution and witnesses.

To win, the team achieved three victories during the tournament — two while representing the defense, and one while representing the prosecution, Roslyn officials said. The team was coached by Shannen Delaney, a former attorney who recently joined the faculty as a teacher.

“I’m incredibly proud of this team and all they’ve accomplished,” Delaney said. “Their preparation, confidence and ability to think on their feet truly set them apart from the competition.”

WYANDANCH

Athletics Wall of Fame

Wyandanch High School held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last month to unveil an Athletics Wall of Fame consisting of a digital display on a television honoring its “most accomplished student-athletes and championship teams,” according to school officials.

The new display, situated in a hallway near the school’s gymnasium and auditorium, was initiated by athletic director Ty Scarlett. It is intended to be a “lasting source of inspiration for current and future athletes” and will recognize students who have earned all-county honors or higher, as well as teams that have won league championships or higher, according to the school.

“The Athletics Wall of Fame reflects who we are at the core,” Wyandanch Superintendent Erik Wright said in a statement. “A community rooted in perseverance, excellence and pride.”

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Michael R. Ebert is an education researcher and has worked for Newsday in various capacities since 2003. He was part of an 11-person team named as 2008 Pulitzer Prize finalists for investigative coverage of the LIRR's platform safety issues.