Finley Middle School

Reading can bring about both fun and joy. Many J. Taylor Finley Middle School students already know this simple truth. Huntington UFSD hopes it will be an accepted fact this summer as teachers and administrators are encouraging everyone at Finley to read as often as possible throughout July and August.

J. Taylor Finley Middle School students participated in a Juneteenth Day poetry celebration at the Joseph Lloyd House in Lloyd Harbor, the site where Jupiter Harmon, the first published Black American poet, was enslaved by the Lloyd family and where he authored his best known works.

Alison Capewell is great at what she does. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School English teacher garnered the New York State Senate “Educators Inspiring a Generation” Award for her “profound impact, not only in the classroom but also across the Huntington school community.”

The Huntington School Board has appointed Alexis Estrada to serve as J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s assistant principal beginning July 1. She will succeed retiring Kenneth Parham, who has been in the post for many years.

J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society chapter welcomed 72 new members during the organization’s Tuesday night induction ceremony before a crowd of parents and district officials.

Huntington School Board members are considering a new eighth grade study skills course at J. Taylor Finley Middle School. If approved, the course will debut next September. Student registration is expected to total 20. Existing faculty will be redeployed to cover the class.

Huntington UFSD celebrated its three assistant principals during National Assistant Principals Week. The district recognized the good work and efforts of Kenneth Parham, Gamal Smith and Patricia Avelli.

Finley Middle School Community Club members spent a heartwarming day at Carillon Nursing Home this past weekend, playing bingo and connecting with the residents. Through laughter, conversation, and friendly competition, students brightened the day for the elderly community while building meaningful intergenerational connections.

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School drama club’s production of “Once Upon A Mattress Jr.” last weekend was a smash hit by any measure, especially audience reaction. A pair of near full houses enjoyed the musical and took delight in the efforts of both cast and crew.

Math teachers Abigail Simon and Denise Grodzicki recently accompanied J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s Math Counts and Mathletes teams to the first ever Masters Invitational at Udall Road Middle School in West Islip where about 120 math whizzes spread across 20 teams from Long Island middle schools vied in a challenging completion.

The mock trial club at J. Taylor Finley Middle School has been gathering steam throughout the current school year. Students recently had an opportunity to showcase their skills at Western Suffolk BOCES’ 41st annual mock trial tournament at Suffolk Community College in Selden.

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School drama club will present “Once Upon A Mattress Jr.” on Friday and Saturday, March 21-22 at 7 p.m. in the school auditorium. The cast and stage crew have been preparing and rehearsing for the production for weeks with final rehearsals set for this week before the curtain rises on Friday evening.

J. Taylor Finley Middle School students competing on the Dragon Racers team captured the 1st Finalists Champion Award last week at the FIRST Long Island Championships.

Traci Roethel is a motivator. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School principal is a big believer in the power of positive motivation. She knows it can make a difference in the lives of students and propel them to new heights.

The talented vocalist group Finley Voices entertained the crowd at Monday night’s Huntington School Board in the Adam Spector Auditorium at Jack Abrams STEM Magnet School, performing for trustees, district officials and residents.

A skilled group of 20 J. Taylor Finley Middle School students have had artwork chosen for exhibit at the 4th Annual Middle & High School Student Artists Juried Show at The Atelier at Flowerfield in St. James.

It all adds up and then some for the J. Taylor Finley Middle School MathCounts team, which participated in its chapter competition last weekend.

The Huntington UFSD’s recent Sixth Grade Guidance Night offered parents valuable insight into the J. Taylor Finley Middle School academic and extracurricular programs.

Restorative justice involves focusing on repairing relationships, promoting accountability and fostering understanding. J. Taylor Finley Middle School Principal Traci Roethel led a presentation at Monday’s Huntington School Board meeting about how the philosophy is being used in the building to improve student life and performance.

All across the world, December is Universal Human Rights Month. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School community observed it during an extended advisory period. Homerooms read through and discussed the importance of the No Place For Hate pledge before signing on to the school’s motto: Be Safe, Be Respectful, Be Responsible.

Jam and Hazel were back at J. Taylor Finley Middle School this week. The two therapy dogs couldn’t be more popular with students, teachers and support staff members. The love the dogs share with the Finley community is obvious to everyone.

The 22nd annual celebration of National French Week and all things French was a fun time for all at Huntington High School. The French Honor Society took the lead in developing activities consistent with this year’s theme: Le Francais – La Langue Globale (French – The Global Language).

J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s No Place for Hate initiative is off and running with the selection of a dynamic group of student ambassadors and a full set of activities.

Erica Parris is being recognized as one of the best at her craft. The J. Taylor Finley Middle School teacher will be honored by the New York State English Council and presented with the organization’s Educators of Excellence Award.

J. Taylor Finley Middle School’s enrollment increased by one this week. Coco the therapy dog was in the library for a visit and judging by the reaction, there’s no need to conduct and popularity contests around the building because Coco is the winner, hands down.

If as Shakespeare wrote in “The Tempest” that “What’s past is prologue,” then the J. Taylor Finley Middle School Community Club is poised to enjoy its best year yet.

This month’s J. Taylor Finley Middle School Meet the Teacher night will have a different spin on it from past year’s versions.

The J. Taylor Finley Middle School Yorker Club is for seventh and eighth graders who simply love history. Social studies teacher Jarrad Richter is the club’s faculty advisor.