Half Hollow Hills Central School District
Encyclopedia
Half Hollow Hills Central School District (#5) is located in Dix Hills
and Melville, New York
. The district includes parts of both Huntington
and Babylon
townships. The school district contains eleven schools (seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools). The current superintendent of schools is Mrs. Kelly Fallon.
The district continues to annually have large population increases due to extensive development within its borders. As a result, most of the schools have recently undergone expansions to accommodate additional students.
High School East ("Hills East" or "HSE"),
High School West ("Hills West" or "HSW")
Middle Schools (6–8):
Candlewood Middle School,
West Hollow Middle School
Elementary Schools (K-5):
Chestnut Hill Elementary School,
Forest Park Elementary School,
Otsego Elementary School,
Paumanok Elementary School,
Signal Hill Elementary School,
Sunquam Elementary School,
Vanderbilt Elementary School
, across the street from the Dix Hills branch of the The Half Hollow Hills Community Library. Hills East is fed from West Hollow Middle School and is the larger of the two high schools in the district. The current principal is Dr. Jeffery Woodberry, who started in Fall of 2007. The building was once used as both a middle school and a high school, which were located side-by-side and connected to one another, so the building is sprawling. For the same reason, Hills East has redundant facilities: two main offices, two nurses' offices, two gymnasiums (and two pairs of men's and women's locker rooms), two auditoriums, and two cafeterias (one has since been converted to a weight room). The class of 1978 was the last class where East was the exclusive high school in the district; commencing in 1979 there were graduating classes from both high schools.
, located one floor above the main office. It features a Spitz A3P planetarium projector, and is usually used to host class trips from the middle and elementary schools, in addition to being the home of the Hills East Astronomy Club, where students are taught about the night sky, astronomy and mythology by fellow students and teachers.
High School East also contains the Eugene Orloff Auditorium
, which seats a total of 2,200 on two levels, making it the second largest not-for-profit auditorium on Long Island. It hosts various school events throughout the year, including the Spring Musical, Graduation, Academic Awards, and Athletic Awards. The space is also rented out to local companies for events throughout the year. The stage is a full Broadway-sized stage (88 feet wide, 49 feet deep, three stories tall for fly space (hanging scenery)). The stage has a orchestra pit
containing two pistons (although only one functions) that are capable of raising and lowering the pit. The Eugene Orloff Auditorium is infamous for its low quality acoustics
, as it was constructed of concrete and never completed. The music wing of the school is located in the hallway right behind the stage.
The school also has a recently renovated Lecture Hall. It is usually the host of small gatherings and meetings, as well as Advanced Placement exams.
. High School West, which was built in 1975, includes a natatorium
adjacent to the "North Cafeteria" and the track, which sports the school colors, red and gold. It is primarily used for swim meets, community events, gym classes, and occasional school trips from the other schools within the district. The school grounds of High School West are adjacent to those of Signal Hill Elementary School, which is located at the intersection of Wolf Hill Road and Caledonia Road. Students of HSW have generally attended Candlewood Middle School from 6th to 8th grade. The official school mascot is the Colt
. Hills West has been successful in a variety of sports including Football, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball and Track. In addition, the Colts have fielded strong baseball teams over the years winning multiple league titles, two county championships, and a state championship in 2003. The Varsity Boys Basketball team finished last season undefeated while winning the Suffolk County AA championship two out of the last three years in a row (2008 and 2010). They also won its first Long Island Championship in school history (2010). Head Coach Bill Mitaritonna was named Newsday HS Basketball Coach of the Year(2010). The Varsity Soccer team made the state semi-finals in 2007. The Hills swim team has gone undefeated and won league and county champs. The Varsity Football Team has made the playoffs the past 5 of 8 years and were the 2009 Long Island Champions. The Hills West dance team, the Wranglerettes, are the 2007 champions in the Long Island Kickline Association competition, winning in the jazz category for the 14th year, and in the newly created hip hop category. The winter track team won 6 straight county titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) and in the spring of 2007, 2008 and 2009 the spring track team has won the league by going undefeated. Wayne Ebanks is the new principal of HSW for 2011. The assistant principals are Brett Kindelman, Mary Lippert,Naimah Trotter,and Frank Pugliese. A new turf field has just been completed at the school. The student body of High School West has approximately 1,500 students, but has increased to over 1,700 for the 08-09 school year. For the first time in school history the football team went undefeated, 8-0, during the 2009/10 season. They played in the Long Island Class 3 Championships vs. Lawrence and won, finishing 12–0 and winning the Class 3 Championship. The team was also awarded the Rutgers Trophy for the most outstanding football team in Suffolk County; Senior Jevahn Cruz also received the Hansen Award for the most outstanding high school player in Suffolk County and finally Coach Kyle Madden was awarded the Suffolk County Coach of The Year.
The middle schools recently began a joint theater program also.
Both High School East and High School West are known for their research departments, which have produced a number of Intel Science Talent Search
, Intel ISEF, and Siemens Westinghouse Competition
finalists over the past century.
program for children and certain community events, as well as child care services. The Academically High Aptitude Program (A.H.A.P) of the district is also held at Manasquan for 3rd-5th graders along with a preschool and Reach CYA.
Dix Hills, New York
Dix Hills is a hamlet Dix Hills is a hamlet Dix Hills is a hamlet (and a census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Huntington on the North Shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Dix Hills was named the 19th most affluent U.S. neighborhood by Forbes in 2008.. It is one...
and Melville, New York
Melville, New York
Melville is a hamlet and census-designated place in the town of Huntington in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, 14,533 people resided there.-Location:...
. The district includes parts of both Huntington
Huntington, New York
The Town of Huntington is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York, USA. Founded in 1653, it is located on the north shore of Long Island in northwestern Suffolk County, with Long Island Sound to its north and Nassau County adjacent to the west. Huntington is part of the New York metropolitan...
and Babylon
Babylon (village), New York
Babylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
townships. The school district contains eleven schools (seven elementary schools, two middle schools, and two high schools). The current superintendent of schools is Mrs. Kelly Fallon.
The district continues to annually have large population increases due to extensive development within its borders. As a result, most of the schools have recently undergone expansions to accommodate additional students.
Schools
High Schools (9–12):High School East ("Hills East" or "HSE"),
High School West ("Hills West" or "HSW")
Middle Schools (6–8):
Candlewood Middle School,
West Hollow Middle School
Elementary Schools (K-5):
Chestnut Hill Elementary School,
Forest Park Elementary School,
Otsego Elementary School,
Paumanok Elementary School,
Signal Hill Elementary School,
Sunquam Elementary School,
Vanderbilt Elementary School
High School East
High School East is located at 50 Vanderbilt Parkway in Dix Hills, New YorkDix Hills, New York
Dix Hills is a hamlet Dix Hills is a hamlet Dix Hills is a hamlet (and a census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Huntington on the North Shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Dix Hills was named the 19th most affluent U.S. neighborhood by Forbes in 2008.. It is one...
, across the street from the Dix Hills branch of the The Half Hollow Hills Community Library. Hills East is fed from West Hollow Middle School and is the larger of the two high schools in the district. The current principal is Dr. Jeffery Woodberry, who started in Fall of 2007. The building was once used as both a middle school and a high school, which were located side-by-side and connected to one another, so the building is sprawling. For the same reason, Hills East has redundant facilities: two main offices, two nurses' offices, two gymnasiums (and two pairs of men's and women's locker rooms), two auditoriums, and two cafeterias (one has since been converted to a weight room). The class of 1978 was the last class where East was the exclusive high school in the district; commencing in 1979 there were graduating classes from both high schools.
Facilities
High School East features a PlanetariumPlanetarium
A planetarium is a theatre built primarily for presenting educational and entertaining shows about astronomy and the night sky, or for training in celestial navigation...
, located one floor above the main office. It features a Spitz A3P planetarium projector, and is usually used to host class trips from the middle and elementary schools, in addition to being the home of the Hills East Astronomy Club, where students are taught about the night sky, astronomy and mythology by fellow students and teachers.
High School East also contains the Eugene Orloff Auditorium
Auditorium
An auditorium is a room built to enable an audience to hear and watch performances at venues such as theatres. For movie theaters, the number of auditoriums is expressed as the number of screens.- Etymology :...
, which seats a total of 2,200 on two levels, making it the second largest not-for-profit auditorium on Long Island. It hosts various school events throughout the year, including the Spring Musical, Graduation, Academic Awards, and Athletic Awards. The space is also rented out to local companies for events throughout the year. The stage is a full Broadway-sized stage (88 feet wide, 49 feet deep, three stories tall for fly space (hanging scenery)). The stage has a orchestra pit
Orchestra pit
An orchestra pit is the area in a theater in which musicians perform. Orchestral pits are utilized in forms of theatre that require music or in cases when incidental music is required...
containing two pistons (although only one functions) that are capable of raising and lowering the pit. The Eugene Orloff Auditorium is infamous for its low quality acoustics
Acoustics
Acoustics is the interdisciplinary science that deals with the study of all mechanical waves in gases, liquids, and solids including vibration, sound, ultrasound and infrasound. A scientist who works in the field of acoustics is an acoustician while someone working in the field of acoustics...
, as it was constructed of concrete and never completed. The music wing of the school is located in the hallway right behind the stage.
The school also has a recently renovated Lecture Hall. It is usually the host of small gatherings and meetings, as well as Advanced Placement exams.
Student life
Hills East was recently named to the Newsweek list of Best High Schools for 2007 and was ranked #209. Hills East is also a part of the Long Island Forensics Association, and has had been extremely successful with Speech and Debate, Quizbowl, We the People, tennis and Science Olympiad. Recently, the school has formed its own chapter of the National Federation of American Students. In the 2010–2011 school year, a District Student Government was initiated by students from East.Mascot
The school mascot of Hills East is the Thunderbird, which wears the school colors: red, black, and white.High School West
High School West (HSW), commonly referred to as "Hills West" within its district, is located at 375 Wolf Hill Road in Dix Hills, New YorkDix Hills, New York
Dix Hills is a hamlet Dix Hills is a hamlet Dix Hills is a hamlet (and a census-designated place (CDP) in the Town of Huntington on the North Shore of Long Island in Suffolk County, New York, United States. Dix Hills was named the 19th most affluent U.S. neighborhood by Forbes in 2008.. It is one...
. High School West, which was built in 1975, includes a natatorium
Natatorium
A natatorium is a term given for a building containing a swimming pool. In Latin, a cella natatoria was a swimming pool in its own building, although it is sometimes also used to refer to any indoor pool even if not housed in a dedicated building...
adjacent to the "North Cafeteria" and the track, which sports the school colors, red and gold. It is primarily used for swim meets, community events, gym classes, and occasional school trips from the other schools within the district. The school grounds of High School West are adjacent to those of Signal Hill Elementary School, which is located at the intersection of Wolf Hill Road and Caledonia Road. Students of HSW have generally attended Candlewood Middle School from 6th to 8th grade. The official school mascot is the Colt
Colt (horse)
A colt is a young male horse, under the age of four. The term "colt" is often confused with foal, which refers to a horse of either sex under one year of age....
. Hills West has been successful in a variety of sports including Football, Soccer, Basketball, Volleyball and Track. In addition, the Colts have fielded strong baseball teams over the years winning multiple league titles, two county championships, and a state championship in 2003. The Varsity Boys Basketball team finished last season undefeated while winning the Suffolk County AA championship two out of the last three years in a row (2008 and 2010). They also won its first Long Island Championship in school history (2010). Head Coach Bill Mitaritonna was named Newsday HS Basketball Coach of the Year(2010). The Varsity Soccer team made the state semi-finals in 2007. The Hills swim team has gone undefeated and won league and county champs. The Varsity Football Team has made the playoffs the past 5 of 8 years and were the 2009 Long Island Champions. The Hills West dance team, the Wranglerettes, are the 2007 champions in the Long Island Kickline Association competition, winning in the jazz category for the 14th year, and in the newly created hip hop category. The winter track team won 6 straight county titles (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010) and in the spring of 2007, 2008 and 2009 the spring track team has won the league by going undefeated. Wayne Ebanks is the new principal of HSW for 2011. The assistant principals are Brett Kindelman, Mary Lippert,Naimah Trotter,and Frank Pugliese. A new turf field has just been completed at the school. The student body of High School West has approximately 1,500 students, but has increased to over 1,700 for the 08-09 school year. For the first time in school history the football team went undefeated, 8-0, during the 2009/10 season. They played in the Long Island Class 3 Championships vs. Lawrence and won, finishing 12–0 and winning the Class 3 Championship. The team was also awarded the Rutgers Trophy for the most outstanding football team in Suffolk County; Senior Jevahn Cruz also received the Hansen Award for the most outstanding high school player in Suffolk County and finally Coach Kyle Madden was awarded the Suffolk County Coach of The Year.
Candlewood Middle School
Candlewood is the second middle school that underwent renovations in 2003. The school is located at 1200 Carll's Straight Path, Dix Hills, New York. The current principal is Andrew Greene. The assistant principal's are Traci Roethel and Michael Abrescia. The mascot is the Cougar, and the current school colors are Red and Gold. A track has been completed. Roughly 1,200 students attend the school.West Hollow Middle School
West Hollow is the largest middle school in the district. It was built in 1970. Its located at 250 Old East Neck Road, Melville, New York. The current principal is Milton K. Strong. The assistant principals are Robert Newton, Steven Hauk, and Allison Beyersdorf. The mascot is the Wolverine, the current school colors are Red, White, and Black. Around 1,700 students attend the school. There are many activities, including leaders club and cheerleading.District Programs
Half Hollow Hills is known for its district-wide theater programs that extends to all schools in the district. This opportunity begins in 5th grade with the "Hills On Stage" program. Recent "Hills On Stage" productions include Free To Be... You and Me, Cinderella, Peter Pan, Honk My Fair Lady, The Wizard of Oz and Bye Bye Birdie.The middle schools recently began a joint theater program also.
Both High School East and High School West are known for their research departments, which have produced a number of Intel Science Talent Search
Intel Science Talent Search
The Intel Science Talent Search , known for its first 57 years as the Westinghouse Science Talent Search is a research-based science competition in the United States for high school seniors. It has been referred to as "the nation's oldest and most prestigious" science competition. In his speech...
, Intel ISEF, and Siemens Westinghouse Competition
Siemens Westinghouse Competition
The Siemens Competition is a science competition funded by the Siemens Foundation and administered by the College Board.- Eligibility requirements :The Siemens Competition is open to high school students who are citizens or permanent residents of the US...
finalists over the past century.
Central Office
Previously Manasquan Elementary School, the Fran Greenspan Administration Center now serves as the central administration building for the Half Hollow Hills School District. It is located on Half Hollow Hills Road, on the same property as High School East. In addition to housing the offices of the Superintendent and other administrators, Central Office serves as the location for a small mock-astronauticsAstronautics
Astronautics, and related astronautical engineering, is the theory and practice of navigation beyond the Earth's atmosphere. In other words, it is the science and technology of space flight....
program for children and certain community events, as well as child care services. The Academically High Aptitude Program (A.H.A.P) of the district is also held at Manasquan for 3rd-5th graders along with a preschool and Reach CYA.
Notable alumni
- Actor Ralph MacchioRalph MacchioRalph George Macchio is an American actor, best known for his roles as Daniel LaRusso in the Karate Kid series, Bill Gambini in My Cousin Vinny, and Johnny Cade in The Outsiders. He is also known to American television audiences for his season five recurring role as Jeremy Andretti on the...
(Class of ’79) of The Karate Kid film series - Vinnie Deceglie, NHRA pro-stock professional drag racer (class of '82)
- Actress Dina MeyerDina MeyerDina Meyer is an American film and television actress, best known for her roles as Dizzy Flores in Starship Troopers and Detective Allison Kerry in the Saw films. She portrayed Mrs. Hong as a recurring guest star on ABC's Scoundrels.-Personal life:Meyer was born in Queens, New York...
(Class of ’85) of Starship TroopersStarship TroopersStarship Troopers is a military science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein, first published as a serial in The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction and published hardcover in December, 1959.The first-person narrative is about a young soldier from the Philippines named Juan "Johnnie" Rico and his...
and SawSawA saw is a tool that uses a hard blade or wire with an abrasive edge to cut through softer materials. The cutting edge of a saw is either a serrated blade or an abrasive... - Comedic director Todd PhillipsTodd PhillipsTodd Phillips is an American screenwriter and film director. He is best known for directing the comedy films Road Trip, Old School, The Hangover, and Due Date.-Early life:...
(Class of ’89) of hit films such as Road TripRoad TripRoad Trip is a 2000 American comedy film written by Todd Phillips and Scot Armstrong and directed by Todd Phillips.-Plot :The movie begins with Barry giving a tour of the University of Ithaca to some prospective students...
, Old SchoolOld School (film)Old School is a 2003 American comedy film released by DreamWorks SKG and directed by Todd Phillips, director of the documentary Frat House. The story was written by Court Crandall, and the film was written by Phillips and Scot Armstrong...
, and Starsky & HutchStarsky & Hutch (film)Starsky & Hutch is a 2004 American comedy film directed by Todd Phillips. The film stars Ben Stiller as David Starsky and Owen Wilson as Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson and is a film adaptation of the original television series of the same name from the 1970s.... - Greg MottolaGreg MottolaGregory J. "Greg" Mottola is an American filmmaker, screenwriter and television director. Mottola wrote and directed the 1996 independent film The Daytrippers, then concentrated for several years on directing in television for series such as Undeclared and Arrested Development...
, writer and director of The DaytrippersThe DaytrippersThe Daytrippers is a 1996 independent drama film written and directed by Greg Mottola. It stars Hope Davis, Stanley Tucci, Parker Posey and Liev Schreiber.-Plot:...
and AdventurelandAdventureland (film)Adventureland is a 2009 Retro comedy-drama film written and directed by Greg Mottola. The film stars Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart, Margarita Levieva, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, and Kristen Wiig.-Plot:...
and director of SuperbadSuperbadSuperbad may refer to:* Superbad ** Superbad * Superbad * "Super Bad" , by James Brown* Super Bad , by Terminator X* Superbad: The Return of Boosie Bad Azz, an album by Lil Boosie... - Actor Brian BloomBrian BloomBrian Keith Bloom is an American actor, voice actor, and screenwriter.Bloom was born in Merrick, New York, the brother of producer/actor Scott Bloom and musician Mike Bloom....
(Class of ’88) starred in As the World TurnsAs the World TurnsAs the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light... - Brian Bloom's brother Scott BloomScott BloomScott Matthew Bloom is an American actor and film producer.Bloom was born in Merrick, New York. He began acting in film and television at a young age, starring in the cult horror film The Stuff and subsequently appeared in numerous TV serials and TV movies including the role of Jesse Nash in the...
(Class of ’91) was featured on Who's the Boss?Who's the Boss?Who's the Boss? is an American sitcom created by Martin Cohan and Blake Hunter, which aired on ABC from September 20, 1984 to April 25, 1992... - Othniel Askew (Class of ’90) an aspiring politician who shot and killed his rival, James E. Davis, a New York City councilman, on July 23, 2003.
- Kim SozziKim SozziKim Sozzi is an American dance-pop singer originally from Long Island, New York.-Career:Kim Sozzi's career began in 1999 when she signed a contract on Columbia Records for her first major album, Life Goes On. Her first single from the album was "Til I Cry You Out Of Me", followed by "Letting Go"...
(East Class of '94), pop and dance musician. - Julie "Hesta PrynnHesta PrynnJulie Potash also known as Hesta Prynn , is an American musician, singer/rapper from Long Island, New York. She began her career in music as one-third of the all-female hip-hop group Northern State. After the band broke up she started focusing on solo material and, in July 2010, released an EP,...
" Potash, Robyn "Sprout" Goodmark, and Correne Spero of rap trio Northern State (West) - NFL CenterCenter (American football)Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the Buffalo BillsBuffalo BillsThe Buffalo Bills are a professional football team based in Buffalo, New York. They are currently members of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Melvin FowlerMelvin FowlerMelvin Thaddeus Fowler, Jr. is an American football center who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft...
(West class of '97) - NFL Defensive End for the Dallas CowboysDallas CowboysThe Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
, Stephen BowenStephen Bowen (American football)Stephen Alexander Bowen is an American football defensive end for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2006...
(West Class of '02) - Professional wrestler Mark LoMonaco (East)
- Professional Wrestler Alex RizzoAlex RizzoAlex Rizzo was a professional wrestler, best known for his work in Extreme Championship Wrestling as Big Dick Dudley, the eldest of the Dudley Family.-Professional wrestling career:...
(West) - Head Basketball Coach for Yale University James Jones (basketball coach) (West)
- Head Basketball Coach for Boston University Joe Jones (basketball coach)Joe Jones (basketball coach)Joseph "Joe" Jones is the head coach of Boston University's men's basketball team. He served one season as an associate head coach for Boston College's men's basketball team and was previously the head coach at Columbia University. In 2006-07, the Ronkonkoma, New York, native led the Columbia Lions...
(West) - NBA Player for the Milwaukee BucksMilwaukee BucksThe Milwaukee Bucks are a professional basketball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. They are part of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1968 as an expansion team, and currently plays at the Bradley Center....
, Tobias HarrisTobias HarrisTobias Harris is an American basketball player who plays for the Milwaukee Bucks. In May 2011, he declared his intention to enter the 2011 NBA Draft...
(West class of '10) - Lacrosse star and military hero Raymond EnnersRaymond EnnersLt. Raymond J. Enners was an officer in the United States military and champion high school lacrosse player. He attended and played for the West Point Military Academy before serving in the army during the Vietnam War where he was killed in action...
for whom the Lt. Raymond Enners AwardLt. Raymond Enners AwardThe Lt. Raymond Enners Award is an award given annually to the NCAA's most outstanding player in men's college lacrosse. The award is presented by the USILA and is named after Raymond Enners, who attended the United States Military Academy, class of 1967, and served in the U.S. Army during the...
(NCAA's most outstanding men's college lacrosse player) and the Lt. Ray Enners AwardLt. Ray Enners AwardThe Lt. Ray Enners Award is an annual award given to the outstanding high school lacrosse player in Suffolk County, New York. It is presented by the Suffolk County Boys Lacrosse Coaches Association to the player who best exemplifies courage, teamwork, skill and leadership...
(Suffolk County boy's lacrosse outstanding player) are named.
External links
- Half Hollow Hills Central School District website
- The National Federation of American Students chapter at Half Hollow Hills
- HHHPTA website
- HHH Community Library website
- HHH Community Newspaper online
- HHH Little League website
- Half Hollow Hills East Alumni
- NFAS @ Half Hollow Hills East
- Hills East Student Government