Earl L. Vandermeulen High School proudly announces that seven of its talented student-musicians have been selected to participate in the prestigious New York State Council of Administrators for Music Education (NYSCAME) All-County Music Festival. The festival was held at Connetquot High School and Hauppauge High School, bringing together top-performing students from across Suffolk County.

The selected students are Avery Eisaman (grade 11), Mari Fukuto (grade 12), Kevin Hong (grade 12), Joshua Kwon (grade 11), Ava Sexton (grade 11), Victoria Snaden (grade 12), and Isabela Thomsen (grade 12). These exceptional musicians earned their spots through a highly competitive process, with NYSSMA scores serving as the primary criterion, supported by strong teacher recommendations.

“We are incredibly proud of our students’ dedication to musical excellence,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, Director of Music and Fine Arts. “Their hard work, talent, and commitment to their craft are truly inspiring, and it is an honor to see them recognized at the county level.”

The Earl L. Vandermeulen High School community congratulates these students on their outstanding achievements and celebrates their continued contributions to the school’s vibrant music program.

Photo 1 (L-R): Joshua Kwon, Kevin Hong, Avery Eisaman, Mari Fukuto, Ava Sexton, and Dr. Michael Caravello (Director of Music & Fine Arts).
Photo 2 (L-R): Dr. Michael Caravello, Victoria Snaden, and Isabela Thomsen.

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School students participated in the Special Olympics Suffolk County Youth Summit. This trip was organized by Port Jefferson’s Unified Sport coaches, Michelle Landetta, Gina Fedler, and Kristen Wendel.

This event included a series of student-led conferences designed to unite high school students from across Long Island. The summit aims to bring together students with and without disabilities to learn, connect, and collaborate on building more inclusive and supportive school communities.

During the event, student attendees joined peers from across the region to hear from youth leaders who are actively creating more inclusive school environments. These inspiring speakers shared their experiences, strategies, and personal stories, offering participants meaningful insights into how they can help strengthen acceptance and belonging within their own schools.

In addition to keynote sessions, students took part in a variety of interactive leadership activities. These hands-on experiences encouraged teamwork, creative problem-solving, and open dialogue, while reinforcing the importance of empathy, advocacy, and collaboration. The activities were designed to empower students to understand their own leadership potential and to inspire them to make positive changes in their communities.

By participating in the Special Olympics Suffolk County Youth Summit, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School continue their commitment to fostering an environment where all students feel valued, supported, and empowered to lead.

Click here to view the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School and Port Jefferson Middle School Students Attend Special Olympics Summit slideshow.

 

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School is proud to announce the continued success of its Physical Education Mentor Program, an initiative developed by the school’s physical education department to foster leadership, mentorship, and community among students.

Originally piloted last spring as an alternative to a second lunch period or study hall, the program allows high school students to “push in” to middle school physical education classes to assist and mentor younger students. After a highly successful trial, the program has been expanded for the 2025–26 school year.

This rare opportunity enables high school students to share their skills, experience, and enthusiasm for fitness while serving as positive role models. As mentors, they develop valuable leadership, communication, and teamwork skills, gain volunteer experience that strengthens college and job applications, and earn community service hours for their contributions.

Middle school students, in turn, benefit from the encouragement, guidance, and example of older peers by helping them build confidence, motivation, and a deeper appreciation for teamwork and sportsmanship. This year’s physical education helpers include Ava Reilly, Jameson Roeber, Lucas Sweeney, Mekenzie Rogers, Kevin Johnston, Bennet Furjanic, Madilyn Peterson, and Kieran Casey (Sport Event Management). Through this ongoing initiative, Earl L. Vandermeulen High School continues to empower students to lead, inspire, and give back—promoting a culture of support, responsibility, and shared success across grade levels.

 

Date Added: 12/10/2025

Over the past several months, students in Ms. Moran’s Career & Finance class at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School have had the opportunity to engage with a dynamic lineup of guest speakers representing a wide range of professions. The series provided students with invaluable, real-world perspectives from experts in the healthcare, finance, and legal fields, helping them connect classroom learning to future career paths.

Through this initiative, students heard from speech pathologists, physical therapists, and occupational therapists who shared their experiences working in healthcare and helping others improve their qualities of life. The finance and business sector was represented by accountants who discussed the importance of financial literacy, budgeting, and the diverse roles within the industry.

A highlight of the series was a comprehensive panel from the Suffolk County Court System, featuring a New York State Supreme Court Justice, court officers, a court reporter, a LAN administrator, and public relations professionals. The panel offered students a firsthand look at the many careers that support the legal system, while also emphasizing civic engagement and ethical responsibility.

The guest speakers shared personal stories of perseverance, key decisions, and career milestones, helping students understand that success often comes from hard work, resilience, and lifelong learning. This ongoing program exemplifies Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s commitment to college and career readiness, empowering students to explore their interests, set goals, and envision meaningful futures.

Click here to view the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Students Gain Real-World Insights Through Career & Finance Guest Sp slideshow.

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s varsity club brought Halloween spirit and community together by hosting its annual drive-thru trick-or-treat event at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School.

Club members, joined by enthusiastic elementary and middle school staff, decorated a series of colorful and creatively themed tables for elementary students to visit and collect sweet treats. The event has become a beloved fall tradition, offering younger students a safe and festive way to celebrate Halloween while fostering school-wide connections.

Senior student Gianna Viviano shared her excitement, “This is one of my favorite events of the year! I’ve done it since freshman year, and seeing everyone be super creative with how they're decorating and getting more and more involved every year is awesome. This year, my group did The Lorax! We each picked a different character and decorated our table with DIY truffula trees, Dr. Seuss books, and a ginormous mustache.”

Fellow senior Julia Lima De Oliveira Gomes echoed that sentiment, “I think that our drive-thru trick or treat event is a good experience and opportunity for the high school kids to get involved with our elementary school. The kids look forward to it, and it’s nice to see kids coming back every year. I've done it since freshman year, and I think it's something we all look forward to and a tradition that is a staple of Varsity Club!”

The drive-thru trick-or-treat event is one of many ways the varsity club promoDate Added: 11/10/2025 tes community spirit and leadership among students. Organizers expressed pride in seeing high school students work together to create a memorable experience for the district’s youngest learners.

For more information regarding the Port Jefferson School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website at https://www.portjeffschools.org and follow its Facebook page. Click here for the Port Jefferson Facebook page.

 

Click here to view the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Varsity Club Hosts Annual Drive-Thru Trick or Treat Event slideshow.

Date Added: 11/10/2025