Copiague School District has named Kristina Biamonte as principal of Deauville Gardens West Elementary School, effective July 1.

With more than 13 years of experience in education, Ms. Biamonte began her teaching career in Far Rockaway and the New York City Department of Education, teaching grades 1-2 and 4-5. Ms. Biamonte also served as a grade team leader, math coach, staff developer and assistant principal. She joined the Copiague School District in 2015 as assistant principal at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School.  

“My educational background and personal experiences have helped shape my philosophy of education centered around providing all students with opportunities to become good citizens and lifelong learners,” she said. “My goal is to support students with developing self-confidence, a love for learning and kindness, balanced with their academic success to become compassionate, creative and critical thinkers throughout elementary school and beyond.”

Ms. Biamonte has a Bachelor of Science degree in communications and early childhood education from Molloy College and a master’s degree in teaching and childhood special education from CUNY Queens College. 

Copiague School District’s elementary-aged summer program closed out it first week with plenty of activity. Here’s just a sampling of some of the happening this week:

• Incoming kindergarteners worked in small groups and performed an experiment to determine if the shape of a bubble wand affects the shape of a bubble.  
• Fourth-graders built “All About Me” towers using trial and error.
• Fifth-graders learned about scientific method. They placed gummy bears in four different solutions and used the step by step procedures to observe, investigate, problem solve, test their hypothesis and analyze their results. 
• Fourth-graders used the scientific method to determine if people who are taller have a larger shoe size than people who are shorter. 
• Fifth-graders participated in mindfulness exercises.
• Fourth-graders worked on different STEM challenges in small groups, balancing and moving cups using teamwork and in some cases, nonverbal communication. 
• Tech-savvy third-graders used Z-Space computers to engage in different lessons. 

Kindergarten students in Terri Alzmann’s class at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School and first-graders in Katianne Howe’s class and Marissa Krause and Jennifer Smith’s class at Deauville Gardens West Elementary School learned about the lifecycle of a chicken as they patiently waiting for 21 days for their eggs to hatch.

For three weeks, the students watched the eggs, which were delivered from Suffolk County Farm in Yaphank. The eggs were kept in 100-degree heated incubators. In early June, baby chickens were born in the classrooms. Once the baby chicks broke through their shells, they were moved to other containers and cared for by the students until they return to the farm.

In an effort to recognize students for their artistic talent, character, academic successes, leadership and citizenship, Copiague School District held its Superintendent’s Art Gallery Inductees and Student Recognition Awards ceremony prior to the June 18 board of education meeting in the Copiague Middle School auditorium.

District administrators, faculty and board of education members gathered with invited students and their guests to celebrate their successes. 

The Superintendent’s Art Gallery inductees and Fine Arts Festival crowd favorites – 34 pieces of art – were on display for the audience to enjoy. Now in its 22nd year, the Superintendent’s Art Gallery began when the Copiague art teachers selected several pieces of student artwork to display. 

Through 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 – three in total this year from the elementary, middle school and high school – were also chosen by the Copiague community during the annual Fine Arts Festival. The crowd favorite artwork is professional framed, and each winner receives a $100 check courtesy of the Copiague Teacher’s Association.

Chosen by the Board of Education, the Student Recognition Awards highlight students for their outstanding achievements. They are presented twice a year to a small number of students for their special accomplishments. Thirty-five students were honored during the ceremony, as board of education members read a brief description from teachers and principals on why the students were designated for the honor.  

“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. 

The Deauville Gardens West Parent Teacher Association honored Michael Kelly by presenting him with the Honorary Life Membership Award during the PTA meeting on June 11. Mr. Kelly retired at the conclusion of the school year.