Long Beach High School celebrated its 6th Annual Wellness Week from May 18–22, a student-led initiative organized by the Youth Wellness Council and co-advised by Special Education Teacher and Wellness Educator Kristen Ford and Science Teacher Karen Bloom.

The week began with Mindful Monday and continued with Treat Yourself Tuesday, Workout Wednesday, Thankful Thursday, and Fresh Air Friday. Each day featured activities centered around its theme, encouraging students to focus on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Activities included fitness competitions, writing notes of gratitude, and mindfulness exercises designed to promote healthy habits and positive connections throughout the school community.

Over the past six years, Wellness Week has evolved into a signature schoolwide event dedicated to promoting the well-being of students, staff, and the broader school community. This year’s celebration was especially significant as it coincided with the launch of The Well, Long Beach High School’s new Wellness Center. Designed to support students’ emotional, mental, physical, and social well-being throughout the school day, The Well represents an important milestone in the school’s ongoing commitment to supporting the whole student.

The goal of Wellness Week is to inspire students and staff to prioritize wellness in meaningful and sustainable ways. A defining feature of Wellness Week is its emphasis on student leadership. The initiative demonstrates how students can positively shape school culture, strengthen community connections, and create lasting change when they are empowered with opportunities to lead.

The vision for The Well began with Kristen Ford, who proposed creating a dedicated space where students could access wellness supports beyond traditional school programs. The Youth Wellness Council played a vital role in advancing the project, ensuring that student perspectives remained central throughout the planning process. A key moment came when council members presented their vision to the Board of Education, advocating for a space dedicated to connection, stress reduction, movement, and overall wellness.

Since opening, The Well has quickly become a welcoming resource where students can pause, reset, and engage in wellness-focused activities during the school day. Its success, along with the continued growth of the Youth Wellness Council and participation in wellness initiatives, reflects a broader cultural shift toward prioritizing well-being across the school community.

Together, Wellness Week and The Well embody Long Beach High School’s commitment to fostering a culture of wellness built on collaboration, student leadership, and the belief that supporting the whole student is essential to a thriving school community.

Date Added: 6/10/2026

The Long Beach Odyssey of the Mind teams recently competed at the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals held at Iowa State University. The event brought together teams from 42 states and 25 countries, making it one of the largest academic competitions in the world.

Once again, Long Beach students made their families, coaches and schools proud. The Long Beach teams achieved outstanding results against some of the most talented young problem-solvers from around the globe. Student creativity, teamwork, dedication, and perseverance were on full display at the highest level of competition.

Congratulations to the following:

Problem 2 – Middle School Division
Team members: Isla Lomitolla, Mavis Fox, Arwynn Donofrio, Zoey Pinto, Maddie Eckert, Rowan McLaughlin, and Caroline McCarthy. This team finished 21st overall in their division and 10th in the world in Long-Term performance.

Problem 3 – Middle School Division
Team members: Kyveli Pelfani, Jasa Decese, Nila Pennant, Farhaal Kahn, Rauri Kennedy, Freyja Bay Rowlands and Layla Collucci. This team finished 5th in the world in Long-Term performance and 10th overall in their division.

Coaches Middle School: Eric Fox and Douglas MacConnell.

Problem 2 – Elementary Division
Team members: Waverly Schaffer, Summer Schaffer, Will Cohen, Elle Cohen, Dana Donofrio, Sadie Bergstiens and Maebry Kotula. This team finished 4th in the world in Long-Term performance and 9th overall in their division.

Problem 3 – Elementary Division
Team members: Anna Chapman, Lexi Fink, Jackson Dali, Jackson DeVito, Rafe Kaminsky, Sariyah Tobin, Max Sendik, and Maisie McChesney. This remarkable team finished NUMBER ONE IN THE WORLD in Long-Term performance and 8th overall in their division.

Coaches Elementary: Andie Techera and Douglas MacConnell.

Special gratitude to the administrators who supported the teams throughout the year, especially Mrs. Connolly for providing a home for the program. Also, thanks to the Board of Education for its continued support.

Congratulations to all our competitors on an unforgettable season!

The Long Beach High School Research Department proudly celebrates two students who qualified to compete at the prestigious Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF), the world’s largest international pre-college science competition.

Karina Rios and Sydney Olivo earned their places at Regeneron ISEF through the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (LISEF), where only 20 students were selected from a highly competitive pool of participants representing schools across the region.

Regeneron ISEF finalists are chosen from among students advancing through 365 affiliated science fairs in more than 60 countries, regions, and territories worldwide. Each finalist demonstrated exceptional scientific research and innovation, securing the opportunity to compete on the international stage by earning top honors at a local, regional, state, or national science fair affiliated with the Society for Science.

This year’s competition was held in Phoenix, Arizona. Karina Rios competed in the Behavioral and Social Sciences category, while Sydney Olivo competed in the Earth and Environmental Sciences category.

Date Added: 6/3/2026

Long Beach High School recently attended the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Conference in Albany to celebrate the induction of two Long Beach students into the statewide MBK community. Representing the district were Kyran Briggs (Fellow), Zackary Gause (Fellow), Jaron Burns, and Maurice Dupree.

During the conference, students were recognized by Dr. Betty Rosa, Commissioner of Education; Dr. Anael Alston, Assistant Commissioner; Dr. Lester Young, Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents; Honorable Carl E. Heastie, Speaker of the New York State Assembly; and other elected officials.

The conference featured keynote speakers, breakout sessions, a college fair, and the official induction ceremony for the 2026 MBK Fellows. Throughout the upcoming year, the Long Beach Fellows will participate in ongoing leadership and service initiatives as part of their commitment to the MBK grant program. These experiences will provide opportunities for leadership development while supporting projects that positively impact our school community.

On May 13th and May 14th, LBMS students delighted families, staff, and community members with their spring musical performances in the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Band, Orchestra, and Chorus as well as in our morning music groups, including Chamber Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, LBMS Singers, and Jazz Band.

Special thanks to our incredible music teachers, Mrs. Farrell, Mr. Lobenstein, Mr. Marks, and Mr. Neri for their support of our students in their music development and to our families for supporting our students in their dedication to music. Of special note, these concerts marked the final spring concerts for our amazing music teacher, Mr. Lobenstein, who will be retiring at the end of this school year. We are thankful to him for his many years of service to our middle school students and to Long Beach Public Schools and wish him the best in his retirement!

Click here to view the LBMS 2026 Spring Concerts 2026 slideshow.

Date Added: 5/28/2026