Fourth- and fifth-graders in Copiague School District’s summer program tested their design and engineering skills as well as their knowledge of the laws of gravity when they launched their bottle rockets on Aug. 2 outside of Susan E. Wiley Elementary School. Fifth-graders used two-liter soda bottles, salt, water and an air pump to test their rocket design during launch. Throughout the summer, students learned about the forces of gravity and motion and aerodynamic design while also testing air pressure and how it would affect how far their rockets would travel. Fourth-grade rocket scientists worked in groups to design their own rockets, which were then ignited and flew high in the sky for all to see. Parachutes helped guide the rockets back to the ground and students tested how their designs fared compared to their classmates.
Elementary students are spending their summer months enriching their minds by participating in summer programs at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School during July and the beginning of August. The program’s activities focused on STEM, project-based learning, which allowed students the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities ranging from computer classes to science lessons and art and music, both inside and outside the classroom. Students participated in activities such as making their own bubbles, predicting whether items will sink or float in a science experiment or creating a water bottle flipping journal to test probability.
Copiague School District’s Board of Education held its annual reorganization meeting on July 6. Michael Greb was unanimously elected and sworn in to serve as president of the board of education. Laura Gavey and Doris Fischer were also unanimously re-elected and sworn in to serve as vice president and second vice president, respectively. District Clerk Mary Ellen Ruppert swore in the board officials. Brian J. Sales and Rosemary Natoli were each re-elected to three-year seats on the board of education in May. Christopher Madden was also elected in May to fulfill the remaining term on Everett Newman III’s seat.
Copiague School District recognized its finest artists and student achievements during a special ceremony held prior to the June 19 board of education meeting. District administrators, faculty and board members gathered with invited students and their guests in the Copiague Middle School auditorium to celebrate their successes. Chosen by the Board of Education, the Student Recognition Awards highlight students for their outstanding achievements in their academic, fine arts or community service. They are presented twice a year to a small number of students for their special accomplishments. “Publicly recognizing excellence is our way of celebrating some of the great successes of the Copiague schools’ programs and, at the same time, enabling us to showcase outstanding role models to our school community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon. Twenty students were honored during the ceremony, as board members read a brief description from teachers and principals on why the students were chosen for the award. The 2017 Superintendent’s Art Gallery inductees and Fine Arts Festival crowd favorites were on display for the audience to enjoy. Now in its 21st year, the Superintendent’s Art Gallery began when the Copiague art teachers selected several pieces of student artwork to display. Over the years, the collection has grown to provide a showcase of student artwork in corridors and offices in each of the schools. Each of the framed pieces is identified by a brass plate noting the student-artist’s name, grade level and year the piece was completed. Crowd favorite art pieces – four in total this year from the elementary, middle school and high school – are also chosen by the community during the annual Fine Arts Festival.
More than 400 eighth-grade students from Copiague Middle School celebrated the end of their middle school days and the beginning of their high school years during two moving up ceremonies on June 21 at the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School auditorium. With central administrators, board of education members, families and invited guests in attendance, the future Class of 2021 proceeded into the ceremony to “Pomp and Circumstance” played by select members of the Tri-M Music Honor Society and gathered on the stage to celebrate the culmination of their middle school careers. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon offered words of advice and encouragement to the future high schoolers. “Take advantage of all the high school has to offer,” she said. “Your middle school teachers have prepared you well for the next chapter. Continue to work hard and put in the effort and you will continue to be successful. I challenge you to join the clubs, musical groups or sports that interest you. I encourage you to get involved in high school.” Student Council president Aniyah Woods addressed her fellow classmates and echoed Dr. Bannon’s sentiments. “In high school, we all have a chance to get involved,” she said. “High school offers many opportunities and it is important to take advantage of all of them.” Principal Andrew Lagnado advised the eighth-graders to get out of their comfort zone and take a risk. “These next four years will lay the groundwork for your future,” he said. Assistant principals Stephanie Valeiko and Michael Ferretti called each student center stage to present his or her diploma before the class exited to “March and Chorale.”