Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Student Achievements And Programs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Great Neck students honored for vocabulary.com national championship, Unity Day; champions Vincent Yu and Victor Yang recognized
Summary
Board recognized North Middle students and teachers for winning the vocabulary.com fall 2024 Division II national championship and honored North High's Unity Day participants; individual student champions and staff received certificates.
At a regular meeting of the Great Neck Union Free School District Board of Education, district leaders recognized students and staff for several academic and cultural achievements, including North Middle School's victory in the vocabulary.com fall 2024 Division II national championship and North High School's Unity Day program.
North Middle Principal Mr. Nelson told the board the school collectively mastered 44,347 words during the fall 2024 season and introduced the top students and their teachers. English department chair Cynthia Raffo and teachers Melissa Sefton and Kim Bliss described how the vocabulary.com platform was used in classrooms to build reading comprehension and writing skills through adaptive practice and gamified elements.
"This achievement represents a commitment to learning, growth, and effective communication," Nelson said while introducing the honorees. Melissa Sefton presented her class's leading champion, Vincent Yu, who mastered 1,646 words during the vocabulary competition. Vincent told the board the program "gives personalized questions to help anybody's academic needs" and said the repetition and tailored practice made learning words both enjoyable and effective.
Kim Bliss presented Victor Yang, who mastered 2,497 words and was the leading champion in her class. Teachers said students also used the platform to prepare for spelling bees and other contests; North Middle student Brian Lewis was noted as returning to the national spelling competition in Washington, D.C., later this spring.
Separately, North High administrators and Dr. Holtzman reported on the school's second annual Unity Day, a student-run event that included stories, performances and student-led introductions connecting classmates and celebrating diversity. North High presenters described the program as "an incredible and cathartic experience" that emphasized empathy, respect and belonging among students.
Ending
Board members congratulated students and staff and displayed trophies and certificates for the meeting. The board said the recognitions illustrate the district's focus on literacy, cultural awareness and student leadership.
