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.   

Fifth-grade student council members at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School shared their appreciation for the special mentors at their school during an Honor a Teacher celebration on May 21.

The fifth-graders chose a person who has inspired them during their time at Susan E. Wiley. Joining the teachers were administrators, assistants, aides and cafeteria workers. The students presented them with a plaque, and wrote about why they have been inspirational to them. They connected one on one with their mentors and asked them questions about what inspired them.

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. 

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.

Faculty and staff members at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School wore blue every Friday throughout April to help raise awareness for autism. The Light It Up Blue campaign helps to celebrate and support World Autism Awareness throughout the month.