Elementary and middle school students from Copiague School District were recently recognized for their superior physical education and leadership skills. The Suffolk Zone of New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, has established an award program to recognize an outstanding male and female physical education student in each elementary and middle school in Suffolk County. The students were recognized during a ceremony at Bay Shore High School.

The district congratulates the following students: Amelia Bright and Ismael Garcia (Deauville Gardens East Elementary School); Enzo Barrera and Claudia Nunez (Deauville Gardens West Elementary School); Erick Salgado Jr. and Amaya McFadden (Great Neck Road Elementary School); Patryk Bronakowski and Dana Romano (Susan E. Wiley Elementary School); and Isaiah Harris and Samantha Huynh (Copiague Middle School). 

Second-graders in Jackie Oquendo’s class at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School are practicing their math fluency in fun ways. The classroom divides into different math centers and rotates through different stations to hone their addition and subtraction skills. In one station, students used dice, the students tested their fluency with math word problems, while another station used popsicle sticks to work on different placement values. Students also played math games using their Chromebooks.

In recognition of Earth Day, Susan E. Wiley Elementary School taught its students about the importance of reducing, reusing and recycling during a “Bash the Trash” assembly sponsored by the school’s Parent-Teacher Association. Bash the Trash speakers taught the students about keeping the earth and environment clean while also playing musical instruments made from recycled and reused materials. They also demonstrated how science can transform even the simplest materials into musical instruments. Students also learned how to make their own instruments out of everyday items in their home.

The Kiwanis Club of Copiague sponsored its first poster contest for elementary students in the Copiague School District. The theme of the posters was what can students do to help their community. The posters were judged on their artists abilities and thoughtfulness on a topic. Winners were chosen for each grade level per elementary as well as overall winners. The top winners for each grade received a Barnes & Noble gift card.

Members of the Kiwanis Club of Copiague were on hand at the April 15 Copiague School District Board of Education meeting to recognize the winners. The district congratulates the following grade level and overall winners in each school: Great Neck Road Elementary School – Hailey Wendel, Robert Kowalczyk, Yarenis Olivia, (first grade overall winner) Judith Bonilla (second grade overall winner), Moriah Exantus, Bryan Ramos and Kaia Mabli. Susan E. Wiley Elementary School – Isabella Mejia, Jaxon Risch, Katherin Palencia-Mendez, Brandon Gorgone, Kevin Saravia and Vicky Chen. Deauville Gardens West Elementary School – Josiah Morrison (kindergarten overall winner), Jasmin Nunez, Julia Marie King, Jacob Godlewski (third grade overall winner), Alexa Blanco and Adrianna Carbajal. Deauville Gardens East Elementary School – Gabryela Tejada, Mert Ergal, Aliana Deleon, Gerald Pointing, Carissa Spencer (fourth grade overall winner) and Eliana Brito Morocho (fifth grade overall winner). 

Susan E. Wiley Elementary School encouraged its student body to make new friends, spread kindness and show their school spirit during Start with Hello Week.

During morning announcements, students started each day with a kindness quote and daily affirmation. Throughout the week, students were given kindness raffle tickets if they were caught being kind. To show their school spirit, the students dressed in different theme days such as “hats off to kindness” and “wear sunglasses to let kindness shine” days.

In the main hallway, Susan E. Wiley art teacher Jeanne Daly and the art club created a kindness banner, which every student signed and pledged to be kind. Team building activities were done during physical education classes to promote collaboration, teamwork and communication. As a culminating activity, students partnered up and created bracelets with kind words written on them.

It was a morning of community pride, as Copiague Public School hosted its annual Community Summit for more than 600 invited guests on March 16. Among those in attendance included the Copiague Board of Education, district administrators and staff, representatives of community organizations, local politicians and students and their families.

“The summit is an opportunity to showcase some of the things that are going on within our schools, celebrate the success we’ve had and collaborate on ways we can make things better,” board of education trustee Brian J. Sales noted in his address. Continuing, Mr. Sales shared a number of the district’s and student accomplishments. “For this board, our administration and staff, our top priority is putting children first. We are extremely proud of our results, we have spent our money wisely and effectively and we have delivered with excellent results.”

Echoing Mr. Sales’ message of success, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon presented her annual State of the Copiague Public Schools. During her address, Dr. Bannon provided an overview of district highlights, including various student accomplishments, expansion of the pre-K program and the completion of the community-approved capital project. She also provided an update on the budget process and the district’s funding.

“Over the last several years, we have stayed within the New York State tax cap,” Dr. Bannon said. “We continue to contain our costs and budget conservatively, so we can maintain the programs and services we have. If we were to see an increase in state aid, we would expand and add to our offerings, which would positively benefit our students. In a perfect world, there would be adequate and equitable funding for public education. Funding which is predictable, transparent and sustainable so that we can plan for the long term rather than year-to-year.”

With the theme “Copiague Students Soar,” the summit also featured student performances, spotlights on elementary, middle and high school programs, clubs and projects and an introduction of the Class of 2019 top ten students.