The Copiague Board of Education hosted their biannual Student Recognition Awards ceremony to honor the outstanding accomplishments of its students on Jan. 28 in the Copiague Middle School auditorium.

The event is a way for the board of education to recognize excellence and the successes of students throughout the district. During the ceremony, board members read a list of accolades and accomplishments that students achieved this school year. 

Each of the 17 student-honorees was presented with a framed certificate presented by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon. The district congratulates the following students: Deauville Gardens East: Amelia Bright and Darlene Herrera; Deauville Gardens West: Kieran Erickson and Ny’Shawn Legette; Great Neck Road: Hunter Nicholas Natoli and Hailey Wendel; Susan E. Wiley: Kaitlyn Caldwell and Jonathan Marine Suarez; Copiague Middle School: Iran Sophia Gonzalez, Vaiva Kean, Andrew James O’Connell and Neisy Rivera Garcia; Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School: Ajhani Carroll, Wilson Murcia, Arelee Ramirez, Brenda Reyes and Kyree Scott.

The Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School varsity boys track and field team won the League II championship meet for the first time in school history on Jan. 19. The team was led by seniors as they scored 65 of the team’s 91 points. Thirteen athletes, representing grades 9-12, earned All-League status with Jackson Bright, Khalil Chester and James Holland earning league champions titles in the high jump, 300 meter and long jump, respectively.  

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School honored the accomplishments of its top 20 students in the graduating class of 2019 during a special luncheon in the school’s cafeteria on Jan. 25. The luncheon was a way to not only recognize the students but also to honor the teachers who helped them in their successes.

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Principal Joseph Agosta welcomed students, faculty, administrators, members of the board of education and family to the event. He addressed the parents and family members in attendance, thanking them for their role in each students’ success. “You are your child’s lifelong teacher,” he said. “They are here today because of your involvement, encouragement and support.”

Mr. Agosta encouraged the students to get involved in all that life has to offer. “Surround yourself with people who make you want to be a better person,” he said. “Remember the values you learned here in Copiague and continue to strive for excellence in everything you do.”

In chronological order, beginning at No. 20, Mr. Agosta introduced each student and read a short summary of their accomplishments and anticipated post-high school endeavors. Following their introduction, the students proceeded to the podium, where they expressed their gratitude to the teacher whom they value most and credit for helping them through their academic journey in the Copiague School District.

The district congratulates the top 20 students (in order beginning with No. 20): Emily Korba; Iris Romero; Mery Gomez Herrera; Faith McCombs; Darley Senat; Jocelyn Fernandez; Lacy McIntyre; Justin Taveras; Luis Castillo; Julia Brzozka; Kailee St. Angelo; Melinda Mercedes; Jahnay Cuffy: Jonathan Conlon; Jackson Bright; Liam Mahabir; Owen Rosenberg; Aleksandra Bugajczyk; Abigail Romero; and Aaron Eng. 

Thirty-one student-musicians will represent the Copiague School District at the 2019 Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association All-County Music Festival in March. Each of these students received outstanding scores on their performance at the NYSSMA solo and ensemble evaluation festivals last May.

Selection to the All-County band and chorus is the highest honor a student of music in grades 5-10 can attain. The district congratulates the following students:

SCMEA All-County I West Band
Esmeralda Claros Sanchez (flute)
Eve Estevez-Rivera (baritone/euph)
Alyson Tenebro (flute)
Rhianna Coleman (Bb clarinet)
Andrew Wagner (Bb clarinet)
Ismael Garcia (trumpet/cornet)
Raisaun Gibson (trombone)
Analiz Rosario (alto sax)
Dyson Brown (alto sax)
Hannah Alara (Bb clarinet)

SCMEA All-County II West Band
Shenn Barredo (flute)
Philip Popielarz (baritone/euph)
Sadia Velasquez (Bb clarinet)

SCMEA All-County II West Orchestra
Alice Sztabinski (flute)

SCMEA All-County III West Band
Ryan Bott (tenor sax)
Zuri Milliner (baritone/euph)

SCMEA All-County I West Chorus
Daniella Jiminez
Mykelle Moore
Linda Paiz Romero

SCMEA All-County II West Chorus
Sydney Forbes
Adam Guglielmelli
Ava Reichelt
Dominique Tetlak
Anthony Woods

SCMEA All-County III West Chorus
Jessica Chochorek
Jaheim Garcia
Shannon Greenlee
Denison Rosa
Ariana Tirino
Morgan Weeks
Oktay Yildiz

 

Forget the cute dolls you can’t wait to snuggle with in bed. Copiague students worked together to create Ugly Dollz.

Students in Christie Layden’s fourth period Studio Workshop class at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School and Jodi Embleton’s fourth-grade art club at Deauville Gardens East Elementary School collaborated on the cross-curriculum project. 

Ms. Embleton’s students drew their best version of a made up monster. When they were complete, they were sent to Mrs. Layden’s class to transform the drawings into real life dolls. Mrs. Layden’s students used the pictures and learned to sew and stuff the dolls. 

Prior to the holiday recess, the art club and high school students joined together for a breakfast to see the dolls. The students were excited to see their monsters come to life. 

Copiague School District’s DECA Club, under the advisement of Louise Curci, competed in the DECA Regional Competition at Suffolk County Community College. The students competed among 1,800 students from all across Suffolk County. The team finished the event with 12 first-place trophies.

The boys track team competed at the Armory track meet on Jan. 9. The 4 x 400-meter relay team qualified to compete in the 2019 Millrose Games on Feb. 9. The team set a new school record with a time of 3:29.21. The 4 x 400-meter team members are Jackson Bright, Esdras Canales, Khalil Chester and John Jerrick. 

Students throughout the Copiague School District showed they are doing their part to be college and career ready during a districtwide College Day on Jan. 11.

While faculty and staff showed off their alma maters by wearing their college shirts, the district’s youngest students dressed for success, either in business attire or the uniform of their career choice. At Great Neck Road Elementary School, students became video game designers and created their own video games. Kindergarten students interviewed one of their school’s security guards about her career choice. Fourth-graders listened to a presentation from a military servicemen who spoke about the benefits of joining the military. 

Second-grade students at Deauville Gardens West Elementary School focused on academic clubs in college and how they compete against different colleges. Each classroom learned about mascots, pennants and college academic clubs. At Susan E. Wiley and Deauville Gardens East elementary schools, students explored different colleges by taking online virtual tours of the campuses and discussing college and career options. 

Middle school students also centered their day around different college and career path lessons, while students at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School has recent high school graduates and current college freshmen come back to the school to discuss some of the experiences, highlights and struggles of college life. 

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School’s valedictorian Aaron Eng and salutatorian Abigail Romero have both been accepted to Ivy League colleges.

Aaron plans to attend Princeton University and will major in civil engineering. Abigail has been accepted to Yale University and although still undecided on her definitive college choice, she plans to major in pre-med. Congratulations on this accomplishment! 

Two students from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School – Arelee Ramirez (left) and Brenda Reyes (right) – recently completed the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Internship Program. The program gives criminal justice students an in-depth view of working in the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office offers a broad spectrum of work areas which contain different aspects of law, both criminal and civil. The two students were the first high school students to participate in the 16-week program. Brenda was appointed sergeant of an intern group of college students. 

The Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School girls varsity lacrosse team recently held a paint night fundraiser at the school. Eighty guests, including Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon, were in attendance for the annual event. The team raised $1,600 to help send the players to summer lacrosse camp at Adelphi University. The Walter G. O’Connell Varsity Club also ran their Coffee and Hot Chocolate Cafe during paint night and raised $150 for the club’s spring trip.

Twenty students from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School recently participated in Congressional Black Caucus Youth Leadership Day. 

Assemblywoman Kimberly Jean-Pierre invited the students to take part in the day’s events. The students were selected by members of the social studies department. They traveled to Brooklyn Borough Hall to participate in a legislative session and a legislative committee meeting. Once the morning session ended, the students met with legislators from across the country. 

“The Congressional Black Caucus Youth Leadership Day was an excellent opportunity and experience,” said student Ajhani Carroll. “I left with a renewed sense of pride and hunger to make a difference and give back to my community.”

Student Jeanine Guelee added “It was an honor and privilege to be selected to attend this meeting. To be in the presence of state legislators and state senators that look like you was absolutely inspiring.”

During their social studies classes at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, students are also learning about giving back to their community.

Prior to winter recess, students in Allison Weller’s Facing History and Ourselves class participated in Operation Gratitude. The class made cards and letters to be included in care packages sent to veterans and currently deployed military personnel, first responders, wounded heroes and caregivers.

Students in Colleen Gurtner’s Leadership in History and Action class held a Band-Aid drive for cancer patients at Columbia Presbyterian Children’s Hospital. Thanks to the donations of staff at the high school, the class collected more than 100 boxes to be sent to the hospital along with cards filled with well wishes. 

Helping young females find their inner strength and power, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School held its third annual voice to voice empowerment session in the school’s library on Dec. 12. The mission of the initiative is to motivate and empower one another through teamwork and conversation. It was developed to provide opportunities for young women to gain awareness of their individual and collection skills, experiences and professional goals.

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Assistant Principal Tamika Eason welcomed the attendees and introduced the school’s women’s Madrigal Choir, under the direction of Gina Occhiogrosso, who performed “Rise Up.” This year’s guest speaker was Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School English and drama teacher Sylvia Walsh. Ms. Walsh spoke to the students about her upbringing in Colorado, her family life and how those experiences molded her into the person she is today. 

“You have the power to be in charge of your own destiny,” she said. “Be true to yourself.” Following her speech, Ms. Walsh answered questions from the audience as part of the voice to voice dialogue. Working together in teams, the students reflected on the lessons learned and shared their thoughts in a brief presentation with their peers. 

Since 2002, two years after Copiague High School was officially renamed in honor of former principal Walter G. O’Connell, Copiague alumni and brothers Walter M., Christopher, Francis, Joseph and Patrick O’Connell have chosen their own special way of keeping the memory of their father alive. 

On Dec. 19, Walter and Christopher delivered 53 autographed books to the district, bringing the 16-year total to more than 1,200 books by 1,177 individual authors. Each book has been signed and personalized for the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School and its library. 

“The original idea was to show our appreciation to the district,” said Walter M. O’Connell. “I never anticipated it going this many years, but it just keeps growing.”

The project originally began with books authored by distinguished Americans and has expanded to other genres over the years. Included in the district’s collection are signed biographies from every U.S. president since Jimmy Carter, with the exception of Ronald Reagan. 

“We are very grateful to the O’Connell family and their continued generosity,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon. 

Every January, a selection of the books is displayed in the main lobby of the high school in recognition of Walter G. O’Connell’s birthday.