Two seniors from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School – Abigail Romero and Jackson Bright – were presented with the New York State Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Suffolk Zone Award on Nov. 28. The two students were awarded certificates and gold medals for their outstanding achievement as physical education students, scholars and citizens. From left: Bill Bennett, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High school physical education teacher; Jackson Bright, Abigail Romero, Toni Spencer, physical education teacher, and Athletic Director Pete Cesare. 

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School held a guest lecture for science research students in the library on Nov. 30.

Organized by science teacher Tracy Wenzler and coordinated by science chairperson Renee Locker, guest lecturers Luke Gervase and Dr. Steve Pearson presented a seminar on invasive species to the group of more than 50 students. Mr. Gervase works with Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management, while Dr. Pearson is part of the Long Island Invasive Species Management Area. After speaking about research, the two conducted a training on iMap, a website and software application used to track invasive species introductions and spreads.

Junior science-researchers Kiara Bennett and Nolan Johnson, who are part of the advanced science research program at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, are currently conducting research surrounding the effects of certain invasive species. Kiara has attained high honors in three local competitions. This year, she teamed up with Johnson to expand their research surrounding  “The Effect of Helianthus angustifolius on the Invasive Species Eleocharis dulcis.” Kiara and Nolan were responsible for making initial contact with the Invasive Species Management program.

In the advanced science research program, students are taught a multiplicity of skills including conducting research, writing scholarly papers and networking. Under the supervision of Locker, in conjunction with advisers Ms. Wenzler and Minnett Hall, students reach out to professional experts in the field to authenticate and assist in the development of their research. According to Ms. Locker, who works with the research students alongside teachers, “This seminar is teaching students instructional enrichment, application and how to effectively utilize the superior district technology.” Consequently, Ms. Wenzler said, “It opens up an opportunity for them to pursue a popular area for research studies.”

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School presents its Golden Eagle Awards for the fall 2018 sports season to eight deserving student-athletes in late November. 

The award is presented to the top scholar-athlete in each sport for the quarter. The district congratulates the following students: Jackson Bright (boys soccer), Aleksandra Bugajczyk (girls tennis), Christopher Canenguez (cross-country), Isabella Galarza (girls soccer), Victor Gamarra (football), Faith McCombs (volleyball), Abigail Romero (field hockey) and Gianna Torres (gymnastics). 

Members of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School senior class recently attended the Malcolm Bernard Historically Black Colleges and Universities College Fair at Riverbank State Park in New York City. Historically Black Colleges and Universities from around the country were represented at the fair. Students met with admissions counselors and received dozens of college acceptances.

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School held a Sports Leadership Conference for students on Nov. 20 in the school’s library.

Students were nominated by the coaches to attend the conference. Leadership was the main focus and students were chosen because their coaches have witnessed their leadership potential. Essential questions about how to lead, what leaders look and act like, and the passion/desire to succeed were just some of the topics the students discussed.

Chris Pettit, director of college scouting for the New York Giants, was the keynote speaker. Other presenters included Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Principal Joseph Agosta, cross-country coach and social studies teacher George Schroeder, baseball coach and physical education teacher William Bennett and coordinator of guidance James McCabe. 

Students, teachers, administrators and community business leaders recently met for the Copiague Industry Advisory Board’s annual “Principal's Roundtable.” The 2019 Business Olympics theme – create a mobile business – was introduced. In addition, students and business leaders worked in breakout session to brainstorm ideas and troubleshoot potential presentation problems.

Students in Lorraine Ciccotto’s digital photography and graphics class at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School visited Old Bethpage Village Restoration on Oct. 19 to take pictures and explore the site. Students will use the images in upcoming projects. “Taking students to a live experiences is invaluable for them,” said Ms. Ciccotto. “It gives them an opportunity to develop their artistic eye.”

Whether its geometry, algebra, pre-calculus or calculus, math students at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School are working hard to stay ahead of the learning curve by using their analytical and technological skills.

In Scott Kuhn’s pre-calculus class, 11th- and 12th-graders are working on analyzing quadratic functions, finding roots, intercepts, vertex, domains and range and rewriting absolute values.

Ninth-graders in Timothy Montera’s elective math research class are working to put together a research paper and presentation for the Long Island Math Fair at Hofstra University in March. Students are conducting their own research, reaching out to industry experts for guidance on their topics. 

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School has announced the top 10 students for the graduating Class of 2019. With a weighted GPA of 103.39, Aaron Eng has been named the valedictorian. Abigail Romero has been named salutatorian with a weighted GPA of 103.13.

Valedictorian Aaron Eng is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction and a member of the National Honor Society, Global Ambassadors Club, Quiz Bowl, and Rotary Youth Leadership Awards. He has been a member of the marching band for five years and volunteers with the Key Club and Tri-M Music Honor Society. Aaron plans to major in civil engineering but is still undecided on a college.

Salutatorian Abigail Romero is an Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction, a National Hispanic Scholar and vice president of the National Honor Society. She has participated in the Farmingdale State College STEP Program since sophomore year. She has participated in the independent science research program and her research has been recognized and honored with awards. Abigail is also on the varsity winter track team and was a member of the varsity field hockey team. She is in the wind ensemble, plays in the jazz band, is a member of the pit orchestra for the musical productions and was vice president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society. Abigail plans to major in pre-med but is still undecided on a college. 

The district congratulates the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School graduating Class of 2019 top 10 students: Aaron Eng (valedictorian); Abigail Romero (salutatorian); Aleksandra Bugajczyk (third); Owen Rosenberg (fourth); Liam Mahabir (fifth); Jackson Bright (sixth); Jonathan Conlon (seventh); Jahnay Cuffy (eighth); Melinda Mercedes (ninth); and Kailee St. Angelo (10th). 

Members of the digital photography and graphics classes at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School recently had a visit from a representative from the College of Art in Maine. Students had the opportunity to see varied projects developed during a collegiate study of art as well as sampled pieces from portfolio submissions.  

To recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of its student-athletes, the Copiague School District held its 19th annual Fall Sports Awards Night on Nov. 13 at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School. Sponsored by the Booster Club, student-athletes in gymnastics, girls soccer, boys soccer, field hockey, girls tennis, volleyball, cross-country and football were recognized for their dedication to their sports by coaches, Copiague School District administrators and members of the board of education.

Throughout the night, coaches praised the student-athletes for their success and distributed individual awards, including the Coaches’ Award, Most Improved and the MVP award, to worthy receipients. Seven special memorial awards were handed out to outstanding athletes for demonstrating leadership on and off the field. Robert Elias (cross-country) was presented with the Christopher Urban Award, Emily Korba (gymnastics) was the recipient of the Dolores Sandefur Award and Jonathan Panameno (boys soccer) was presented with the Richard Lombardo Award. The Barbara Day Award was given to Nicole Hernandez (field hockey), Melinda Harris (volleyball) received the Debra Tekosky Award, Tamara Washington (girls soccer) was presented with the Michael S. Cohen Award and Gabriela Ordonez (girls soccer) was the recipient of the Brittany Walsh Memorial Award. 

Members of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School senior class recently visited Farmingdale State College as part of the College: Yes You Can program. They had the opportunity to go on a campus tour, meet with members of the Farmingdale faculty, admissions representatives, financial aid officers and current Farmingdale students.

On Nov. 2, five Copiague student-musicians attended the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association’s Day of Tuba/Baritone at Central Islip High School. The students from Susan E. Wiley Elementary School and Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School – Anastasia Brzozka, Christopher Tejada, Kasper Sztabinski, Jeremiah Moya and Christina Cross – were joined by Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School band director Brian Genua. They performed with more than 150 other student-musicians from throughout Suffolk County and meet and work with world-renowned clinicians and musicians.

On Oct. 29, more than 125 representatives from colleges and universities across the United States visited the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School. High school students met with admissions representatives regarding a various topics ranging from college admissions, majors, careers, financial aid, activities and residential life.

On Nov. 4, the Madrigal Choir from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, under choral director Gina Occhiogrosso, performed at the Veterans Day Remembrance held at the U.S. Postal facility in Melville. The group sang several patriotic selections.