The auditorium at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School was abuzz with energy as staff, faculty, administrators and Board of Education members kicked off the 2024-2025 school year with Superintendent’s Conference Day on Sept. 3.

Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon highlighted the hard work and dedication of the buildings, grounds crew and custodians over the summer. She presented an array of before and after photos that showcased the transformations completed by Copiague employees over the past few months. In addition, she thanked all the staff for their work behind the scenes as it takes many dedicated individuals to create such an environment in Copiague. “As we start the new school year, I want to thank you all for the wonderful things you do for our students,” Dr. Bannon said. “I hope you have a great school year and always remember: If it’s good for kids, it’s good.”

Copiague School District Board of Education President Anthony S. Pepe welcomed staff back for another year of growth and success. “This year is one of tremendous progress and exciting changes, and it’s all thanks to the collective efforts of this exceptional community,” he said. “Our goal is to provide the best possible learning environments for our students and none of this would be possible without the tireless efforts of our custodial and ground staff. As we look ahead to this school year, we are energized by the possibilities that lie before us. Every corner of our district is buzzing with new initiatives that will enhance the educational experience for our students.”

Executive Director of Technology, Data and Assessment Dr. Jonathan Krawchuk spoke about the comprehensive safety and cybersecurity measures implemented over the summer, highlighted new technology initiatives designed to safeguard data integrity, shared new technology initiatives and announced the launch of a new district website. Deputy Superintendent Karla Cangelosi offered up some fun “did you know?” facts about the school district to highlight some of the many moving parts that it takes to make the district a success.

Before heading back to their respective buildings, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Todd Andrews presented service awards to those individuals who celebrated 20, 25, 30 and 35 years with the Copiague School District.