Manhasset Union Free School District

Manhasset MS Presents "Newsies, Jr."

Manhasset MS Theatre Department proudly presents: Newsies, Jr!

Showtimes are May 6 and 7 at 7:30pm in the Manhasset HS Auditorium. Tickets are $15 and available at the following link:

https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/64221

Click here to view the flyer

Ronald McDonald House Donation

Students in the National Art Honor Society visited the Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park to make a generous donation on March 31. Members met with staff to deliver student-made coloring books and crayons for families who are staying at the organization. Additionally, they presented a check for $1,000 which they raised by selling the coloring books.

The Ronald McDonald House keeps families who are seeking medical treatment for their children physically near the care they need. It also provides a community of support outside of the clinical setting.

Presenting 'Radiant Vision'

Manhasset Gallery of Fine Arts is pleased to present “Radiant Vision,” a display of paintings by the local artist Marceil Kazickas. The artwork will be on view from March 14 to April 13. Ms. Kazickas’ art is a collection of large abstract pieces and small intimate seascapes and landscapes of Long Island. Her inspiration comes from nature’s unrivaled and unpredictable beauty, especially the vast display of light, color, texture and movement. All art students will have the opportunity to view the work on display and learn from Ms. Kazickas who will be visiting our school to speak with our students in early April.

Manhasset HS Presents '42nd Street'

The Manhasset HS Theatre Department proudly presents, “42nd Street.”

Showtimes are March 31, April 1 and April 2 at 7:30 p.m., as well as April 3 at 2 p.m.

Tickets at $20 and available online at the following link:

https://www.showtix4u.com/event-details/62984

Art Honor Society Celebrates Holi

Students in the National Art Honor Society celebrated Holi with a bright, public display on March 18. Art teacher Ms. Macumber worked closely with student Sonia Purani to organize beautiful sidewalk art. Members of the Art Honor Society were encouraged to join in, using stencils to create colorful pieces. Holi is celebrated in India and is known as the Festival of Spring, Festival of Colors or the Festival of Love.

Manhasset Conducts Virtual Recital Hall for Student-Musicians

The Manhasset School District’s fine and performing arts department is conducting a Virtual Recital Hall for student-musicians to submit musical performances and receive meaningful feedback from district teachers.

More than 600 Manhasset School District students registered to perform at the New York State School Music Association solo and small ensemble festivals that were scheduled for this spring. The festivals are designed for students to perform before NYSSMA adjudicators, who in turn provide written feedback to the students. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the NYSSMA spring festivals were canceled. NYSSMA sponsors approximately 145 solo and small ensemble and major ensemble festivals in New York State each spring.

“Some of these kids spend over a year working on their solos for the NYSSMA spring festivals,” said Manhasset Director of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Christopher Hale. “In light of this, we brought our music educators together and, after a number of virtual conferences, we developed a system for students to upload their solo recordings to our Google for Education Classroom.”

The end result is Manhasset’s own Virtual Solo Recital. Although the performances are not formally adjudicated, Manhasset music teachers are providing constructive written feedback to the students. All Manhasset music educators have access to the student recordings and are responding as they come in. Since the Virtual Recital Hall was launched earlier this month, nearly 200 of Manhasset’s 600 NYSSMA student-performers have registered to submit their solos. The hall will remain open to students through April 30.

“From a music perspective, it almost brings a feeling of normalcy to the current situation,” Dr. Hale said. “It’s another way to keep our kids playing, keep their skill level up and provide them with continuity of instruction and well-deserved recognition.” 

Manhasset Named a Best Community for Music for the 11th Time! 

The Manhasset School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education. This is the 11th year Manhasset has received the award. 

Manhasset is one of 754 school districts in the country named Best Communities for music education for 2020. The designation is awarded to districts and schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education, recognizing teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who strive to make music part of a well-rounded education.

To qualify for the designation, the district answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, and support for music programs. 

“Being named a Best Community for Music Education for the 11th year is a testament not only to the incredibly talented students and staff, but to the incredible support that this community provides to the fine and performing arts,” said District Director of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Chris Hale. “A rich and robust music experience is part of what defines a child’s school experience in Manhasset.”

The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 10,400 members around the world. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving, and public service programs.

“This award celebrates districts and schools that are working hard to assure that music education is part of a well-rounded education available to all students,” said NAMM Foundation Executive Director Mary Luehrsen in a video message sent to the recipients. “We hope this news also lifts teachers, parents, school administrators, community leaders and most of all, students, and supports the commitment we all share to advance music education to all students, everywhere.”

MSS Plays “Once In A Lifetime”

The Manhasset Secondary School Theater Deprtament presents “Once In A Lifetime,” a satirical comedy about the effect ‘talking pictures’ had on the entertainment industry in the 1930s. The show runs March 20-21 at Manhasset Secondary School. Showtime is 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $12. To purchase tickets online go to https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1026601

Renowned Artist Celebrates the Lunar New Year with Manhasset Schools

The Manhasset School District fine arts department, in conjunction with the Chinese American Association of North Hempstead recently hosted its first Lunar New Year Arts Festival at Manhasset Secondary School. The featured guest was world-renowned artist Cao Jun, who demonstrated his distinctive brush techniques for those in attendance.

In addition to celebrating the Year of the Rat – the rat is a symbol of vitality in the Chinese zodiac – the evening served as the kickoff to an exhibit of Cao Jun’s work being displayed in the Gallery of Fine Art at Manhasset Secondary School through February. Cao Jun painted a mural of a tiger before attendees in the middle school library, then generously donated the mural to the school’s future Wellness Learning Center.

Members of the Manhasset Secondary School Culture Club performed a traditional Chinese ribbon dance, and students from nearby Herricks High School performed a traditional lion dance. The Lunar New Year Arts Festival was coordinated by the Manhasset School District’s fine arts department at CAANH. Celebrations are also scheduled for Munsey Park and Shelter Rock elementary schools.

“We are so proud to have had Cao Jun share his work with Manhasset in this celebration of Lunar New Year,” said Manhasset Director of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Christopher Hale. “We look forward to many more opportunities to serve our community through the arts in the months and years to come.”

Additional Lunar New Year celebrations were also scheduled for Munsey Park and Shelter Rock elementary schools.

Manhasset Secondary School’s Middle School theater students will perform “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Feb. 7, 8 and 9 in the Black Box Theater. Come out for an entertaining show and support our young thespians. Tickets are $5 and available online at https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/1024355

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It’s a Wonderful Life Audition Information

Manhasset Secondary School Hosts Lunar New Year Arts Festival

The Manhasset School District Fine Arts Department, in conjunction with the Chinese American Association of North Hempstead, will host its first Lunar New Year Arts Festival on Monday, Jan. 27, from 7–8:30 p.m. in the Gallery of Fine Art at Manhasset Secondary School.

The festival will feature the work of world-renowned artist Cao Jun as well as cultural performances by Manhasset and Herricks students and the Little Peking Opera. To register, please click here: https://manhassetlunarnewyear.eventbrite.com

The exhibit of Cao Jun’s work will be on display in the gallery from Jan. 27 to Feb. 8.

All-National Musician Earns First Chair Bass

Congratulations to Manhasset Secondary School senior Jonathan Kim, who performed with the National Association for Music Education’s All-National Orchestra in Orlando, Florida, on Nov. 9. Jonathan competed in a customary “seating audition,” where he earned the right to sit as first chair string bassist, making him the best of the best!
Adding to this prestigious honor, he was chosen to serve as principal bassist of the All-National Orchestra following a competitive audition.

“Jonny is a very passionate musician and channels this passion into everything he does, whether it is sports or music,” Caroline Shyr, Jonathan’s string teacher, said. “His dedication and drive are the reasons for accomplishments such as this. It’s very rare to find a bassist of this caliber at the high school level. We are fortunate to have him as a member of our high school music program.”

In addition to All-National first chair, Jonathan has been selected for the All-County, Long Island String Festival Association and All-Eastern orchestras multiple times, including serving as principal bassist on several occasions. He was selected for the New York State School Music Association All-State Orchestra in his junior year. Student-musicians are prohibited from participating in the NYSSMA All-State and NAfME All-National ensembles in the same year.

Jonathan plays for the Manhasset High School Symphonic Orchestra and is a member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, as well.

“Jonathan is a wonderful representative of the excellent music program we have here in Manhasset,” Manhasset Director of Fine and Performing Arts Dr. Chris Hale said. “He is an extraordinary young man and we are proud of this and all of his accomplishments.”

11 All-State Musicians Named at Manhasset Secondary School