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On Friday, May 2, student musicians from Murphy Junior High School took part in a full day of workshops led by expert clinicians from Stony Brook University. The Murphy Chamber Choir, Chamber Orchestra, Jazz Band, Mixed Choir and Wind Ensemble all had the opportunity to refine their skills and collaborate with university-level instructors in a dynamic and educational setting.

The following day, Saturday, May 3, the students celebrated a successful year of music-making with a trip to Six Flags New England. The outing served as a well-deserved recognition of their hard work, growth and dedication throughout the school year.

Congratulations to all the student musicians for their commitment and achievements.

Date Added: 5/8/2025

Murphy Junior High School is proud to celebrate the success of three seventh grade students, Hannah Schnell, Olivia Lin and Mary Yuan, who were named winners in the 2025 Law Day Poster Contest sponsored by the Suffolk County Bar Association.

This year’s contest theme, “The Constitution’s Promise: Out of Many, One,” encouraged students in grades 2-8 to explore how the U.S. Constitution unites people through shared civic values. Guided by their social studies teacher, Ms. Allison Baron, the three students created original, thought-provoking artwork that powerfully conveyed the message of unity and the enduring relevance of E pluribus unum.

Their winning posters will be proudly displayed at the Suffolk County Bar Association and local courthouses. The students were recognized at the association’s annual meeting on May 5 in Hauppauge.

Congratulations to Hannah, Olivia and Mary for this impressive accomplishment. Their creativity and insight are a testament to the impact of civic education and the power of student voices.

Date Added: 5/7/2025

Daniela Casadei-Berwind, Italian teacher at R.C. Murphy Junior High School, recently presented at the AATI Annual Conference 2025, hosted at Princeton University by the American Association of Teachers of Italian.

Her presentation, “L’arte come veicolo di apprendimento” (Art as a Vehicle for Learning), explored how visual art can be used as an effective and engaging tool for language instruction. Casadei-Berwind demonstrated how integrating art into the classroom helps students develop their language skills across multiple grade levels – from seventh grade through college – while also meeting state standards.

The session emphasized the cultural and educational value of using art to enhance language learning in meaningful and creative ways.

Date Added: 5/5/2025

Eighth grade students Brayden Rosser of Murphy Junior High School and Olivia Mottola of Gelinas Junior High School have been named recipients of the prestigious Mario Mignone Award for Excellence in Italian. This distinguished honor celebrates students who exhibit exceptional achievement, dedication and enthusiasm in their study of the Italian language and culture.

Brayden and Olivia were selected for their academic excellence, strong work ethic and genuine passion for learning Italian. Throughout the school year, both students have shown an outstanding commitment to their language studies, making them well-deserving of this recognition.

Congratulations to Brayden and Olivia on this remarkable accomplishment.

Date Added: 4/30/2025

R.C. Murphy Junior High School recently held its much-anticipated annual Staff vs. Student basketball game, an event that brings together school spirit, friendly competition and plenty of excitement.

Organized by the physical education and world language departments, the event is a highlight of the year for both students and faculty. A key part of the lead-up to the game is a 3-on-3 basketball tournament held each March, in celebration of March Madness. The tournament is coordinated by world language teacher Mr. Geoninatti and open to all students.

The winning teams from the eighth and ninth grade brackets earn the unique opportunity to represent the student body in the final Staff vs. Student game. This year’s matchup showcased the talent, teamwork and sportsmanship of both sides, with the gym filled with cheers and support from the entire school community.

Date Added: 4/16/2025