HERRICKS MIDDLE SCHOOL :

ADDRESS: 7 Hilldale Drive, Albertson, NY 11507

PHONE: 516-305-8600 FAX: 516-739-4738

Student spotlight news & awards

Welcome to our News & Awards section, where we proudly celebrate the incredible achievements of our talented students at Herricks Middle School! This space highlights the creative contributions and hard work of our young creators, including their outstanding recognition in prestigious competitions like the NPR Student Podcast Challenge.

We’re thrilled to share that several of our students have earned Top 100 Honorable Mentions in past years, and in 2023-24, one of our podcasts achieved the remarkable honor of being named a Top Ten Finalist in the Nation! These accolades reflect the passion, dedication, and creativity that define our Content Creation program.

In addition to contest achievements, you’ll find newspaper articles and YouTube videos showcasing the extraordinary work and stories of our students. Join us in celebrating their inspiring accomplishments and the lasting impact they have on our school community!

Explore Below:

• NPR Student Podcast Challenge Highlights

• Newspaper Features on Our Students

• Videos on YouTube Celebrating Student Success

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

I have three graphics that are links to the different years of student podcasts (this is our third year) with the following text: Choose a year to hear our incredible student podcasters. You can learn more about their work and episodes!

BROADCAST BEGINNINGS

NPR 2025 Podcast Challenge

Click to hear podcasts submitted for the 2025 NPR Podcast Challenge

Special project: Collaboration with STAC PROGRAM

Middle School Content Creation Class Visits STAC for Improv WorkshopOn Feb. 14, 8th graders from Mr. Heit's Content Creation class visited the STAC program at Herricks High School to learn all about improv theater.

Herricks students hone improv skills – LI PressOn Feb. 14, eighth-graders from the Content Creation class at Herricks Middle School visited the Student Theater Arts Company program at Herricks High School

Special project: Collaboration with sra podcast

Herricks Middle School Content Creation Joins Forces with Shelter Rock Academy HumanitiesShelter Rock Academy Humanities students and the Content Creation Foundations class from Herricks Middle School had an exciting collaboration last week!

Herricks Students: NPR Student Podcast Challenge

Link to NPR Article (Honorable Mentions)

out of thousands of entries, Herricks Places in the top ten throughout the country with "Part-time egyptian" (by Ayasophia)

NPR Challenge: Part-time Egyptian (AyaSophia)

(This Podcast was submitted as an entry in the 2024 NPR Student Podcast Challenge 5th-8th Grade Competition)

Did you ever wonder what it’s like for someone to have two homes? In this podcast, I explore and share what it’s like to have a strong cultural attachment to both Egypt and living in the US. Listen as I speak to my mom, my stepdad and my grandmother as I explore what it’s like being a Part-time Egyptian. We will finally answer the long awaited question– Does a person have to choose one culture or can they be a mix?

This podcast was recorded in Herricks Studios with Michael Heit in the Content Creation Foundations 8th Grade Elective.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these recordings do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Herricks School District.

NPR Challenge 2023-24 Contest: top ten finalist

Hear what the nation's top student podcasters have to sayIn its sixth year, our contest handed over the mic to fourth graders for the very first time. We received nearly 2,000 entries from all around the country — and we've narrowed it down to 10 middle school and 10 high school finalists.

What's it like to learn to read with dyslexia? How could I put two elements like oxygen and hydrogen in conversation? Why is marijuana farming still around in my hometown when it’s illegal in so many places?

Those are just a couple curiosities students brought to our annual Student Podcast Challenge this year.

We're wrapping up year six of running the contest for middle and high schoolers — and this year marked our very first time opening it up to fourth graders. Each year, we continue to be impressed by the openness and vulnerability, the range of stories, the quality of reporting, writing and sound-rich audio production students bring to us at NPR.

This year, we received nearly 2,000 entries from all around the country.

The NPR Ed team spent the summer listening to every one of them, compiling a list of the very best to submit to our panel of judges. And so, we're excited to share our 10 middle school and 10 high school finalists. From these great podcasts, our judges will choose one Grand Prize winner from each age group, and we’ll announce the winners in September.

Below are the middle school and high school finalist podcasts, in alphabetical order. Congratulations!

Part-time Egyptian
Student: AyaSophia Abdrabo at Herricks Middle School in Albertson, N.Y.
Teacher/Sponsor: Michael Heit

"Did you ever wonder what it's like for someone to have two homes?" Abdrabo explores what it's like being a "part-time Egyptian," living in the U.S. while embracing her strong cultural attachment to Egypt.

NPR Challenge: Part-time Egyptian (AyaSophia)

(This Podcast was submitted as an entry in the 2024 NPR Student Podcast Challenge 5th-8th Grade Competition)

This podcast was recorded in Herricks Studios with Michael Heit in the Content Creation Foundations 8th Grade Elective.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in these recordings do not necessarily reflect the views or position of Herricks School District.

NPR Challenge 2023-24 Contest: honorable mentions

out of thousands of entries, Herricks wins Honorable Mentions Two years in a row!

Two Student Podcasts Earn Honorable Mention in NPR ChallengeCongratulations to Herricks Studios for another amazing achievement! Two podcast groups from the 8th Grade Content Creation Foundations elective have received an honorable mention on the NPR Student Podcast Challenge Top 100 list!

NPR Challenge 2022-23 Contest: honorable mentions

www.herricks.org/cms/lib/NY02208178/Centricity/Domain/14/103123_NEW_23_fall_NL_web.pdf

A Fortnight In Fortnite – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.

Hijab Pride, Hijab Hide – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.

13 Going On COVID-19 – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.

Family Style – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.

The Impact of Damar Hamlin – Herricks Middle School, Albertson, N.Y.

Herricks Happenings

Content Creation Students are featured on Herricks' Happenings with Dr. Sinanis. These five students assisted in one of the videos that Dr. Sinanis creates to inform the community about Herricks School District.

These students demonstrated a wonderful collection of skills including the ability to communicate clearly, confidence and developing and executing a plan.

You should really check this out!

Herricks Superintendent spotlight

Content Creation Students are featured on Herricks' Happenings with Dr. Sinanis. These five students assisted in one of the videos that Dr. Sinanis created to inform the community about Herricks School District.

These students demonstrated a wonderful collection of skills including the ability to communicate clearly, confidence, and developing and executing a plan.

You should really check this out!

Herricks Students: Content Creation in Action

Link to Article (Herricks Website)

Students in Mr. Heit’s Content Creation elective at Herricks Middle School are working towards the creation of their first podcast episodes. Each group or individual “host” have been working on developing their ideas into original intellectual creations and creating blueprints that will serve as a structure for their unique podcast shows.

They started their journey by focusing on working on the “Three Cua/Qua’s of Podcasting”: Content, Quality, and Chemistry. The students are learning how to engage with their co-hosts as well as their audience for good chemistry, how to source and research information to support their topic and practicing microphone technique and vocal exercises. By focusing on each of these areas, students are learning how to develop compelling and cohesive podcasts.

Mr. Heit has created a safe space for students to take positive creative risks. It is common to see students share ideas outside of their groups and develop creative solutions that they didn’t know they were capable of. There is a lot that goes on behind the scenes for students even up to this point. They have proven themselves to take on the challenges ahead and create podcasts for the world to hear.