Dear Patchogue-Medford Raider Families,

Welcome to the 2023-2024 school year.

I hope your summer was exciting, relaxing, and rewarding. Our high school continues to undergo many changes to better meet the needs of our students and the 23-24 school year will be no different. I have never been more optimistic and excited of what lies ahead. There is always more work to be done to create an educational environment that we can all be proud of. Here at Patchogue-Medford High School, we strive to offer programs that we hope will excite students and spark their curiosity as they ponder what they want to do in the next chapter of their lives.

For example, we are very excited about our Cosmetology Program and cannot wait for our students to see their new state-of-the-art classroom. While students are with us, we want them to find their passion and unlock their hidden talent so that they will never have just a job, but look forward to building a career that they are excited to go to each day and make a difference as they build a successful life.

Our high school is a very diverse small city and each day students get the opportunity to interact with many individuals, much like they will experience in life as they merge into adulthood. Managing differences of opinions and ideas can be challenging, but also a critical ingredient to managing life and the world we live in today; a world that is becoming ever more challenging and harder to understand.

We will continue to offer a wide array of clubs, sports, and intramurals after the school day has ended because school does not end for us at 2:00 p.m. In many ways, it is only Part 1 of the school day. Our students also excel after school on many levels in our clubs and sports. These are great ways for your child to meet new people, work as a team, assist with community service, and make closer connections with our faculty.  We want our school to be a second home to our students and take advantage of everything it has to offer. We also want students to look back upon their high school years with fondness and delight because of their awesome high school experience.

So, as they say, “There is nothing to it, but to do it!” Please know I am always available to assist in whatever way I can, as is our entire school. Never feel that you are being a bother. This is what we do. Many times, it is through these interactions that we become even closer as a school and as a community. I wish you and your family and especially your high school child the best school year ever!

Sincerely,

 
Randy E. Rusielewicz, Ed.D.
Principal
631-687-6500