June 2025 vol. 9

The Harrison High School spring musical, Disney's Mary Poppins won two Metro Awards: Outstanding Performance of a Production Number and Outstanding Achievement (Step in Time)  in Choreography (Ms. Toteda). Once again, with seven nominations, the Harrison musical was one of the most highly nominated shows of the more than 70 districts participating in the Metro Awards.  In addition to the two wins, the nominations included Outstanding Performance in a Leading Female-Identified Role: Tessa Marsico (Mary Poppins); Outstanding Performance in a Featured Female-Identified Role: Alicia Zihenni (Miss Andrew); Outstanding Performance by a Chorus: Mary Poppins Ensemble; Outstanding Performance by a Student Critic: Ella Zamek; Outstanding Achievement by a Student Stage Manager: Callum Robertson. The Metro Awards spotlight spring musical productions staged at high schools throughout Westchester, Rockland, Putnam and Bergen counties.  A team of judges evaluates a variety of elements for each production, including performances, production aspects, and technical elements. The Metro Awards organization has celebrated high school musicals for the past 25 years.  

An original painting by Junior Matthew Carrea is featured in The Bruce Museum's annual iCreate Exhibition.  This highly selective juried exhibition showcases exceptional high school artists from across the tri-state region. Matthew’s oil painting, Rolling Meadows, selected for the showcase from more than 400 entries, won 3rd place - a remarkable accomplishment. Matthew is currently a student in the HL Visual Arts IB program and a promising up-and-coming artist.  The iCreate exhibition opened on June 8th and will be on display through September 7th at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, CT.

Rolling Meadows draws its inspiration from a trip exploring my family heritage through three unique regions of Italy. Among them, Abruzzo left a lasting impression, a place where rugged mountains are softened with gentle meadows and charming towns nestled harmoniously into the landscape. While enjoying traditional dishes with relatives and exchanging stories about our upbringing, I stepped away from the table to take in the grandeur of the surrounding landscape. Walking out into the back garden of the farm-to-table restaurant, the sounds of laughter and conversation faded into the mountain air. As I wandered further into the meadow, I felt a connection to my roots, recognizing that I was standing on the same ground that my grandparents and generations before them had walked. This painting is intended to capture the inspiring, rich texture of my family’s homeland, and as an exploration beyond the known, to experience family, roots, and culture.

The HHS Strings Ensemble earned its third consecutive Gold Rating at the New York School Music Association (NYSSMA) Major Ensemble Festival. The ensemble performed a Level V difficulty program, one of the most challenging in the NYSSMA repertoire rating system.  The Strings ensemble is an extracurricular, volunteer experience for students in grades 9-12   that meets once a week. Receiving a gold rating is an incredible testament to the culture of commitment and excellence within the group, cultivated and modeled through the exceptional leadership of Mr. Bastone. Congratulations to all on this amazing achievement!

Twenty-six Harrison High School students performed with the 2024 NYSSMA Area All-State Festival. They were selected based on their performance and scores at NYSSMA Solo Festivals last spring, and are among the best young musicians in Westchester County.  The honor ensembles, composed of 10th - 12th grade students from across Westchester, rehearsed over several weeks in preparation for the concert in November. In addition, Mary Grace Crozier will perform as a Soprano in the All-State Treble Chorus in December; Ella Zamek, Chorus, and Rina Iwasaki, Band, were named All State alternates. What does it take to achieve the All-State honor? “Practice, practice, practice” topped the list of student replies. Our accomplished musicians believe perseverance and joy are essential to their success, and encourage others to “Never give up and try with all your heart...attend extra help and be willing to receive feedback….try your best and most of all have fun.” 

Senior Cara McGovern received the New York State Dance Education Association's 2025 Artistic Merit, Leadership, and Academic Achievement Award. The award is presented to only one student in New York State who exemplifies the organization's Artistic, Leadership, and Academic Standards. To be considered for this highly prestigious award, students from across New York state submit two short essays, a three-minute video of original solo choreography, a recommendation, and resume.

HHS actors and tech crew members walked away with multiple awards at the Hudson Valley One Act Competition. Dylan Bouteneff won Best Student Director for Prisoner Pandemonium. Neeve Kenny won Best Student Playwright, the Audience Favorite award, and Most Dramatic Moment award for Estranged. HHS Theater Club President, Luke Castellano, received the student leadership award. Students performed their original One-Act plays, Prisoner Pandemonium and Estranged, which were written last year in the Theater 1 & 2 classes, and staged in one act festival.  The event, sponsored by the Educational Theater Association.  Prisoner Pandamonium: Written and Directed Dylan Bouteneff; Plonks-Neeve Kenny; Dink-Kai Hickey; Frank-Luke Castellano; Mr. Crasht-Shane Larkin

Harrison Named Best for Music Education for 3rd Consecutive Year

For the third consecutive year, Harrison has been honored with the NAMM Foundation's Best Communities for Music Education designation,  awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in their efforts to provide access to an exceptional music education to all students. Only 935 districts across the country, including only 12 in Westchester County, earn this designation.

HHS Students Earn 2 Gold & 5 Silver Scholastic Art Awards

Gold Key Award Winners:

• Priya Kaji, Caving In, (Photography) 
• Melanie Lombana, Innocence and Hope (Printmaking)

Silver Key Award Winners:

• Michelle Aldana, The moon man (Digital Art)
• Matthew Carrea, Serenity, (Painting) 
• Priya Kaji, Reflection (Photography)
• Liliana Tesoriero, Convenience Store, (Digital Art)
• Giulia Thone, Turning back time, (Printmaking)

Honorable Mention Award Winners:

• Michelle Aldana, creations to life (Digital Art)
• Michelle Aldana, Lunar (Digital Art)
• Michelle Aldana, MOVE IT (Digital Art)
• Michelle Aldana, The moon and back hole (Digital Art)
• Michelle Aldana, The playful young god (Digital Art)
• Michelle Aldana, the shapes to make a charmer (Digital Art)
• Antonio Reyes Hernandez, Spotlight (Photography)
• Giulia Thone, Happy Death Day! (Drawing & Illustration)
• Giulia Thone, Forgotten, (Digital Art)

Benji Ferris earned the Helen and Milton A. Williams Scholarship, awarded to qualifying students entering grades 10, 11, or 12 who pursue a summer music learning opportunity. Benji is one of two students to earn the award, which is presented by the Westchester County School Music Association (WCSMA), and will be attending the Ithaca Music Camp this summer.

Three Harrison High School students, Bora Kose, Cassidy Manzo, & Anna Youngstrom, have been featured in the School of Visual Arts exhibition of selected works from its global contest "We the Public."  The exhibition "showcases a wide range of perspectives that explore the civil and the civic. High school students were asked to submit work considering the questions: What are our hopes, needs, and responsibilities, both individually and collectively? How do we participate in community, caring for each other and our shared resources? And how can we affect change on local, state, national, and global levels?"

IB Art Student Exhibit - A Culmination of Creativity & Connection 

A unique mural created by 104 8th grade elective art students portrays a reflection of their "hidden stories" about personal growth from 6th through 8th grade at LMK Middle School.  In addition to creating the piece, students wrote personal artist statements, recognizing how their LMK experience impacted them. The mural is a powerful depiction of the ability for students to reflect on their personal growth and share their learning experiences.  The piece is displayed adjacent to the LGIR at the middle school.  Learn more about the Hidden Stories mural process

Annual Art Exhibition Features Creativity of LMK Students

Spring and Winter Concerts

Coffee House