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. 

Fifth-graders in Karen Coyle’s class at Deauville Gardens East Elementary School participated in a hands-on science lesson by dissecting owl pellets. Students learned that consumers in an ecosystem get energy by eating other organisms. They also learned that owls are tertiary consumers, which are at the top of the food chain energy pyramid and are generally not hunted or eaten for energy.

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. 

Dressed in red, white and blue, and displaying their American flags, first- and second-grade students at Deauville Gardens East Elementary School joined together to celebrate Flag Day. The students sang several patriotic songs, read together with their buddies and learned about symbols of the United States.

Fourth-graders in Jennifer Spizuco’s class at Deauville Gardens East Elementary School have been navigating different programs using their Chromebooks all year long. Upon completing their energy works unit in science, students created a slideshow using Google Slides to explain what energy is as well as the different types of energy that are all around us. Students learned how to change the font and color of their writing and add pictures to their presentations.

Fourth-graders in Jennifer Kelly’s class at Deauville Gardens East Elementary School are learning about Colonial America. They worked together to complete an online scavenger hunt using Chromebooks. Students used an interactive PowerPoint to research foods, jobs, chores, schooling and daily life on a plantation during Colonial times. The fourth-graders are preparing for their class trip to Old Bethpage Restoration Village.

Copiague School District administrators and Board of Education members recognized the faculty and staff members who will be retiring at the end of the 2017-2018 school year and also acknowledged teachers who were granted tenure during the June 4 board of education meeting.

Superintendent of School Dr. Kathleen Bannon, board of education members, district administrators and department chairs offered their congratulations to the 17 retirees, who have more than 400 years of combined service to the district. Retiring at the end of the school year are: Rosary Bertuzzi, foreign language teacher (32 years, HS); Vincent Calla, security aide (13 years, central office); Denise Cordella, elementary teacher (33 years, Susan E. Wiley Elementary); Karen Coyle, elementary teacher (32 years, Deauville Gardens East Elementary); Marie Deblasio-Silsdorf, social studies teacher (26 years, Middle School); Linda Drenckhauhn, elementary teacher (18 years, Susan E. Wiley Elementary); William Estees, security guard (20 years, HS); Patricia Field, senior clerk typist (19 years, HS); Lissette Feliz, foreign language teacher (14 years, Middle School); Lisa Flores, speech teacher (32 years, Deauville Garden East/Great Neck Road); Louise Gravina, elementary teacher (23 years, Great Neck Road Elementary); Linda Herbst, special education teacher (34 years, Middle School); Michael Kelly, elementary principal (14 years, Deauville Gardens West Elementary); Robert Pasqualone (12 years, HS); Maria Riviello, foreign language teacher (32 years, HS); Marie Salvia, senior clerk typist (23 years, Deauville Gardens West Elementary); and Karen Swenson, music teacher (34 years, Susan E. Wiley Elementary).

Thirteen Copiague School District administrators and teachers – Jeanette Altruda, Natalie Aviles, Kristina Biamonte, Karla Cangelosi, Ashley Cuffaro, Crystal Dicioccio, Heidi Fehring, Deysi Garcia, Alyssa Marino, Danya Plochochi, Vanessa Soto, Jennifer Spizuco and Katie Zecha – who were recently granted tenure, were also celebrated prior to the board of education meeting.   

Second-graders in Nancy Csorny’s class at Deauville Gardens East Elementary School performed a skit on June 1 for their school to educate them on the school’s character trait of the month ¬– respect. Holding up their “rally for respect” signs, students spoke about respecting each other, their environment and themselves. Each month, the school highlights a different character trait. Deauville Gardens East guidance counselor Lysa Mullady works with students throughout the school on different character traits. Students are given “character counts” cards when they are caught doing a kind act and recognized during the monthly assemblies.

For the eighth consecutive year, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School hosted the Urban & Walsh Memorial Invitational track meet on May 14. The event, organized by varsity track coaches George Schroeder and John Sack, honors the memory of two former track members, Christopher Urban and Brittany Walsh.

Eighteen boys track teams and 16 girls track teams from across Long Island competed in this year’s meet. The invitational featured 17 events including pole vaulting, the 2,000/3,000 steeplechase, high jump, shot put and discus jump throw. Copiague’s boys and girls track teams took first place in the competition for the first time. 

In addition to the standard track and field events, fifth-graders from Copiague’s four elementary schools – Deauville Gardens East, Deauville Gardens West, Great Neck Road and Susan E. Wiley – participated in a special boys and girls 4x100 relay, with each participant receiving a medal.

Some of the highlights of the event for the Copiague girls track team members included: Akajia Atkins, first place and new meet record in the 200-meter dash, second place in the 100-meter dash, and third place in long jump; Ashley Jeanne-Raymond, third place in 1500-meter run, and second place in 800-meter run; Halle Moore, third place in 400-meter run; Samelia Roberts, second place in high jump; and Kyria Moore, first place in shot put.

The Copiague boys track team members also took home some of the top awards including James Holland, first place in long jump; Edgar Tineo, second place in long jump; Joe Gomez, third place in 400-meter hurdles; John Jerrick, third place in 100-meter dash; and Aryes Garrett, second place in 110-meter hurdles and third place in high jump. 

Select fourth- and fifth-grade students from Deauville Gardens East Elementary School participated in the Suffolk Zone Fit Club competition on May 8 at Lincoln Avenue Elementary School in Sayville.

The students competed against 24 schools from across Suffolk County. The Suffolk Zone Fit Club is designed to teach skills, tools, training and confidence to live a healthier lifestyle while participating in difficult physical challenges. “The students feel part of a team by offering support, encouragement and inspiration to their teammates while helping them achieve their highest level of fitness,” said John Sack, physical education teacher. 

The Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance sponsored the annual Physical Education Student Leadership Awards Ceremony at Bay Shore High School on May 2. Students who qualify for the award are recognized for their achievements in physical education, leadership, character and academics.

Honored at the ceremony was Copiague Middle School eighth-graders Emma Nuzzi and Werly Cormier; Deauville Gardens East Elementary School fifth-graders Chloe Allen Jackson and Taki Mason; Deauville Gardens West Elementary School fifth-graders Jailene Solomon and William Daley; Susan E. Wiley Elementary School fifth-grade students Samantha Fuentes and Alex Juszczak; and Great Neck Road Elementary School fifth-grade students Keila Corona and Anthony Armando Diaz.