Nov. 13 was World Kindness Day and Copiague Middle School did its part to spread kindness through the school and community. Staff members wore kindness day T-shirts. Throughout the day, students participated in different kindness activities. Each student in the school had the opportunity to write a kind note to a peer with a warm fuzzy attached. The notes were delivered to every student in the building the following day at homeroom. Lastly, the students posed for pictures by “becoming the I” in the word kind. 

Copiague Middle School eighth grader Rosangel Peralta has been named a second-place winner in the Town of Babylon’s Veterans Awareness Week essay contest. Rosangel was honored at a veterans ceremony at town hall on Nov. 1. She is pictured, from left, with Middle School English chairperson Christopher Gaudioso, Middle School English teacher James Cleary and Middle School Principal Andrew Lagnado. 

Copiague Middle School students in the everyday living class took an educational field trip to Red Lobster in Copiague on Oct. 24. The group of 15 students had a special visit even before the restaurant opened for business.

They started the day by gathering around the lobster tank to learn about the life of lobsters and a few brave students even touched the lobsters. Dressed in their hairnets and aprons, the students then began their tour of the kitchen. Each student made their own biscuit to later enjoy at lunch.  

Following their kitchen tour, the students watched another educational video about the sea, lobsters and the inner workings of Red Lobster. For lunch, students had the opportunity to practice their manners and enjoy their meal together. 

On Oct. 20, Copiague Middle School’s builders club joined thousands of other people at the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk at Jones Beach State Park. The members of the builders club have raised more than $2,000 so far and continued their fundraising efforts through the end of October. 

Copiague Middle School students started their school year off right with a donation from Holbrook, New York-based marketing company Shift44. The company donated 100 backpacks to the Copiague students. Pictured with a Middle School student are (from left): Copiague School District’s director of school climate Michael Ferretti, Shift44 co-founder Corey McCutcheon, Middle School health teacher Amy Mello, Shift44 president Joseph Barreca, Middle School Principal Andrew Lagnado and Middle School assistant principal Francis Salazar. 

Copiague Middle School inducted 33 eighth grade students into the National Junior Honor Society during a ceremony in the school’s auditorium on the evening of Oct. 17. Advised by Middle School teachers Paul Harvey and Francesca Walker, the new inductees pledged their commitment to character, leadership, scholarship and community service in front of family and friends.
Eighth graders with a culminative grade point average of 92 or higher are eligible for induction. Students must also demonstrate a strong commitment to community service. 

Middle School Principal Andrew Lagnado congratulated the inductees as they walked across the stage. The district congratulates the following inductees: Rebecca Alara, Daniel Barnes, Shenn Barredo, Nina Bartoli, Andrew Bena, Alana Cambridge, Nolan Curto, Andrew Falco, Alice Fartushynska, Aliyanna Fernandez, La-von Green, Maciej Grzegorzek, Shannon Higgins, Tiaja Hughes, Jordanna Jagnarine, Zachary Korba, Jadaiah Levy, Soled Liborius, Stefana Lipari, Yalerin Marine Salazar, Julianna Milonas, Emily Newman, Mercedes Novell-Gillard, Joshua Osofsky, Annamaria Pepe, Giselle Peralta, Rosangel Peralta-Plasencia, Diliany Perez-Espinal, Shawn Smaldon, Theresa Soraire, Arianna Vargas, Jorge Villatoro-Amaya and Victoria Wheby.

In celebration of October as National Principals Month, this October we will be spotlighting our assistant principals. Our final spotlight is on Copiague Middle School Assistant Principal, Francis Salazar.

Copiague School District celebrated the 22nd annual Hall of Achievement induction ceremony by recognizing alumni who have made a positive impact on the school and community. Invited guests and honorees gathered in the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School cafeteria following the homecoming festivities on Oct. 19.

The five new inductees – which brings the total number of members to 105 – are: Anthony Cipriano, Class of 1988; Richard Lynch, Class of 1982; Kelly Mooney, Class of 2000; Nadia Pepe, Class of 2000 and Yaniriz Rodriguez, Class of 1999. 

“Each inductee will serve as a source of inspiration for the students of Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School,” said Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Principal Joseph Agosta. “Each inductee will serve as a positive example for our students, building a sense of pride for the Copiague graduates past, present and future.”

“This year’s inductees, like those before them, are outstanding individuals, each of them have many memories of growing up in Copiague and going through our school system,” said Brian Sales, Board of Education president. “They have continued the tradition of Eagle pride throughout their lives and careers.” 

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon welcomed guests and honorees to the ceremony. “In honoring successful past graduates of Copiague School District, the Hall of Achievement’s primary purpose is to introduce these alumni as positive and motivating role models to our entire school community,” she said. “We keep these role models connected in a variety of ways to our schools and students. By the nature of their accomplishments and service, the inductees of the Hall of Achievement inspire our students to reach for high goals. As students of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School pass through our main hallway and the Hall of Achievement every day, they can stop and read about the accomplishments of our inductees.”

Mr. Cipriano coaches the wrestling team at Copiague and teaches physical education at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School. Through the years, he has coached four county champion wrestlers, 25 All-County wrestlers, 130 All-League wrestlers and has had county finalists for the last three years. He currently serves as the Suffolk director of U.S.A. Wrestling.

Mr. Lynch joined the New York City Police Department in 1986, working in the anti-crime unit and robbery squad. In 1996, he was promoted to detective 3rd grade. During his time as detective in the next 10 years, he received citations for excellent policy duty as well as meritorious and honorable mentions and a Silver Star. Since his retirement in 2006, Mr. Lynch has been a security guard in the Copiague School District.

Ms. Mooney has been involved with Copiague School District in some capacity since kindergarten. After graduating from Quinnipiac University with a communication degree, she joined Syntax Communications as an assistant account executive and was assigned to Copiague School District. Now an accounts director, Ms. Mooney still oversees the district, in addition to several other school districts and account executives. 

Ms. Pepe has also remained an active member of the Copiague School District and community. She began working at the Copiague Memorial Public Library in high school and still remains an employee there today as a library assistant. Ms. Pepe graduated from Dowling College with a degree in psychology. With three children in the Copiague School District, she is actively involved in volunteering at Susan E. Wiley and Copiague Middle School’s PTA, extracurricular activities, fifth grade booster club and is a Girl Scout troop leader.

Ms. Rodriguez came to the Copiague School District at the age of 7 from the Dominican Republic and credits her teachers for helping her learn English. In high school, she was a member of the Spanish Club, Humanities Club, Intercultural Club, National Honor Society and vice president of the senior class. She graduated from St. Joseph’s College with a bachelor’s degree in education and received a master’s degree in education from LIU/Post. Since 2003, Ms. Rodriguez has been an English Language Learners teacher at Babylon School District. In 2018, she was awarded the New York Sen. Boyle Teachers of Excellence Award.

Showing off their Copiague spirit, the community and schools came together to celebrate the district’s homecoming on Oct. 19. Kicking off with spirit week activities at the elementary schools and a pep rally at the high school on Friday, students and staff were beaming with school pride in the days leading up to the big game.

Gathering for the parade at Great Neck Road Elementary School, school and community organizations came together to march to Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School. The Copiague Little Ladies cheerleaders and Copiague Youth League football marched alongside elementary school organizations including the Susan E. Wiley Dance Club and student council and students from Copiague Middle School and Great Neck Road, Deauville Gardens East and Deauville Gardens West elementary schools.

The freshman, sophomore, junior and senior classes showed off their creativity with different Disney-themed floats including “Toy Story,” “Moana,” “Coco” and “The Lion King.” Back at Walter G. O’Connell High School, the Copiague Eagles took the field against the Half Hollow Hills East Thunderbirds. Despite their best efforts, the Eagles couldn’t come out with the homecoming win.

The varsity cheerleaders and step team entertained the crowds during the halftime show. The homecoming court from each grade – including homecoming king Malik Leftenant and homecoming queen Brianna Gomez – were formally announced  and recognized in front of the Eagle’s Nest.

Later that evening, the district held its 22nd annual Hall of Achievement induction ceremony, recognizing five alumni who have made positive contributions to both their community and school district. This year’s inductees were: Anthony Cipriano, Class of 1988; Richard Lynch, Class of 1982; Kelly Mooney, Class of 2000; Nadia Pepe, Class of 2000; and Yaniriz Rodriguez, Class of 1999.