Jayme Wonderland (pictured at left) and Jessica Castaneda, student council president, congratulated fellow classmates in their commencement addresses, and spoke of accomplishments despite adversity. "We are here," said Wonderland. "Congratulations to the Class of 2005!"

Senior officers also presented their class gift to Middletown High School during commencement—the Class of 2005 will combine their remaining funds with those from the Class of 2004 for a message board.

Middletown graduates will head off to some of the most prestigious schools in the country this fall including: Cornell University; Messiah College; Lehigh University; Colgate University; among others.

Inductees were honored with certificates by George Vanderzell, Interim Executive Principal, and NHS students gave speeches as well as an overview of the many events NHS students took part in during the school year. Special thanks to: Stephen Austin; Greg Bennett; Karen Banks; Bob Collins; Rick Milburn; Michelle Veeley; and Bill Wilcox.

The Chamber Singers and Men's Chorus received "excellent" ratings, while the Women's Chorale received a "superior" rating. The Pipers finished in first place, and received a "superior" rating, and were Division Champions for the show choir category.

According to Greg Bennett, choral director, Jessica Ruggles, Mallory Kinney, and Audrey DeRocker each received "Outstanding Solo Achievement" awards for the solo sections that they sang with the choirs during the competition performances.

The program featured several dance ensembles and troupes from throughout the local area. The headlining groups from our district were the MHS Pipers and the Sabor Latino ensembles. They were joined by Parks & Recreation Studio, MPAC, The Dance Emporium, The Marya Kennett Ballet Theatre, The Dance Diamond, Full Circle Dance Studio, Hudson Valley Conservatory, Strictly Ballroom, and authentic Indian dances were also featured.

The winning team of Nicholas Bertucci, Amanda Berrero, Jenna Hansen and Sara Murray was part of the 29 member MHS-NJROTC contingent. In individual competition, Bertucci won first place Kneeling and second place Standing; Berrero won first place Prone; and Hansen won third place in the New Shooters category.

The MHS-NJROTC team holds first place nationwide in the Navy Junior ROTC program. Team Coach MSgt. Thomas Willard (U.S.M.C., Ret.) is the Assistant Chairperson of the New York State American Legion Sport Rifle League.

According to Allee more than 100 MHS students and staff participated in this year’s reading—surpassing last year’s total of 85 participants. "We can’t wait for next year’s event," she said.

Students selected to participate in NYSSMA Festival
FALL 2004—Four Middletown High School students have been selected to participate in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) All State Festival in Rochester from Dec. 2-5.

Kristen Stanley, who plays piccolo; Jessica Castaneda, who plays bass clarinet; and Tim Takagi, who plays French horn, all scored in the top one percent of high school instrumentalists in the state during the Spring NYSSMA solo and ensemble adjudication festival. They will represent the Middletown Fine Arts Department in their respective sections in the All State Symphonic Band. Susan Riddick, who plays the flute, will serve as the alternate.

Middletown High School reorganized
FALL 2004—Students attending Middletown High School will be alphabetically divided into four separate “houses” —and each group will be served by one principal and two guidance counselors. Although all students will be educated within the same building, the “house” structure will allow principals and guidance counselors to be more responsive to student and parent needs.

The reorganization, approved by the Board of Education on July 21, 2004, was established to create a sense of stability and direction at the high school.

“The high school reorganization follows a model that I have had pervious experience with at Oswego,” said Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Eastwood. “It worked extremely well and was responsive to the needs of students, parents and teachers alike.”

As a result of the reorganization, the high school student body was split into four administrative houses, with each house containing 500 students divided alphabetically. Each house also has a house principal and two guidance counselors. Each guidance counselor will serve approximately 250 students, a ratio recommended by the National Guidance Counselors’ Association.

The house structure, said Dr. Eastwood, is led by an executive principal whose responsibility is to focus on the management and broad-based instructional needs of the high school.

“This structure provides a definitive and consistent response to student and parent needs,” said Dr. Eastwood. “It also provides an opportunity for house principals, guidance counselors and other house staff to become knowledgeable and attentive to individual student and family needs.”