Congratulations to Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School student Khalia Alleyne for winning the Town of Babylon’s Women’s History Month Celebration essay contest. Khalia was awarded a $25 gift certificate and a certificate of appreciation. Congratulations are also extended to Christina Bayonne and Yelitza Ynoa, who were presented with certificates of appreciation for their participation.
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Women’s History Winners
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Rescue Ink
On April 20, members of Rescue Ink, an education and advocacy group for animal rights, visited Copiague Middle School to speak to Jennifer Palazzo's and Marisa Anesse's Health classes, SADD members, and students who have helped collect supplies for animal shelters. Each member of Rescue Ink has their own story and shared their past with the students to let them know that you can make wrongs into rights, and be a positive influence to others and the community
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Tell Me a Story
Susan E. Wiley Elementary School in Copiague hosted its kindergarten through fifth-grade Poetry Night. During the event, winners of the school’s poetry contest read their poems to all in attendance, and each received a certificate of appreciation.
Following the poetry readings, stations were arranged for students and their families to create their own original poems. These included the creation of shape poems, haikus, acrostic poems, and story poems. The night was arranged by the Poetry Committee, which includes Assistant Principal Cynthia Florio, and teachers Chris Uccellini, Maryanne Basso, and Melanie Diamond.
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Copiague Senior Honored for Leadership
Lyndsay Vollmer, a senior at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, was selected by the Suffolk County High School Principals Association (SCHSPA) as a scholarship recipient. Ranked eighth in her class of three hundred and five students, Lyndsay is one of only 15 seniors across Suffolk County to receive this $1,000 scholarship. She was honored by the SCHSPA at their Senior Leadership Luncheon on April 28 at the St. John’s University Oakdale Campus.
In his nomination letter, Principal Albert H. Voorneveld wrote, “In the course of my work here over the past thirty years, I have met many exceptional students; however, I would honestly have to rate Lyndsay Vollmer among the students at the very top of that list because of the depth of her sincerity and the extraordinarily high quality of her accomplishments despite the challenges life placed in front of her. Truly, she is a model student and school leader who embodies all of the characteristics and attributes most students strive for, but are unable to attain.”
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Healthy Snack Day
More than 1,000 students from Copiague Middle School received fruits and vegetables and volunteered to avoid unhealthy snacks as part of the 22nd Annual Global Youth Service Day 2010. To prepare for this event, students in the Home and Careers/Consumer Science classes washed, cut, and prepared the healthy treats before distributing them to their classmates. “This “Healthy Snack Day” was inspired by vocal students looking for healthy alternatives in the cafeteria,” said Christine Barteldt, Home and Careers teacher who spearheaded the program. “Thanks to a grant from UnitedHealthcare/Heroes Youth Services of America and a generous donation of fresh produce from Sal’s Fruit Tree, these local youths will join more than three million young people in serving communities across the country.”
Taking into consideration all student allergies, the fruits and vegetables served included, but were not limited to, tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, pears, bananas, pineapples, and various berries. Professional chef Rob Tinelli also volunteered his time to help the students with the preparation. Chef Tinelli and Mrs. Barteldt also assisted the students in distinguishing between usable waste and garbage, with the waste being used to make soups and broths.
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Copiague Students Receive Scholarships from Copiague Kiwanis
Members of the Copiague Kiwanis Club attended a special breakfast at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School to present scholarships to senior members of the Key Club.
The Key Club is an international organization whose primary mission is to help others. The members, along with their advisors, work hard to organize fundraisers to promote social and economic equality, encourage students to participate in volunteerism, and coordinate efforts with the Copiague Kiwanis to provide for those in need.
Kiwanis Club President Carol Lynch presented four $500 scholarships to graduating seniors Sherley Demetrius, Nahree Fraser, Purvi Shah, and Jessica Tavarez, and a $1,000 scholarship to Brian Conroy.
Pictured left to right: Copiague Superintendent of Schools Charles Leunig, senior Brian Conroy, senior Purvi Shah, President of Kiwanis Carol Lynch, and senior Nahree Fraser.
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Zoned for Fitness
The Suffolk Zone of the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance sponsored the fifth annual Physical Education Student Leadership Awards Ceremony at Bay Shore High School. Honored at the ceremony were Copiague Middle School students Danesa Collado and Keiro Nunez and Deauville Gardens Elementary School students Olivia Clark and Vincent Ruggiero. Students who qualify for the award are recognized for their achievements in physical education, leadership, character and academics.
Photo A: (pictured left to right) Copiague Middle School Physical Education teachers Steve Rebholz, Dan Broadbent, and Kristin Havdoglous, students Danesa Collado and Keiro Nunez, and Physical Education teachers Joe Napolitano and Rachel Cone.
Photo B: (pictured left to right; front row) Deauville Gardens Elementary School students Olivia Clark and Vincent Ruggiero; (back row) Deauville Gardens Elementary School Physical Education teacher Pam Atlas, Michele Bonaventura and John Sack.
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Student-Athletes Honored for Sportsmanship
Athleticism, sportsmanship, teamwork, and hard work were honored at the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Varsity Sports Awards Dinner. The Booster Club-sponsored event recognized student-athletes from the baseball, softball, and girls and boys track and lacrosse teams.
This year, Jonli Falk, a member of the top ten and the baseball team, received the Daniel O’Connell Memorial Award. On hand to present the award were Daniel’s brothers – Walter, Francis, Joe, Chris, and Patrick – to a baseball player who has demonstrated the outstanding virtues of sportsmanship, character, and conscience. Additionally, the Jarred Pennington Memorial Award was presented to boys lacrosse player Justin Stewart and the Tom Curry Award was given to boys track star Tyrek English.
The Section XI Gold Key Award, the highest Section XI honor that an athlete can receive, and Golden Eagle awards were also presented at the ceremony. The Gold Key is awarded to student athletes who letter in eight Junior Varsity or Varsity seasons in grades 10-12. This year’s recipients were Kaitlyn Denby (soccer, winter track, and lacrosse) and Patrick Franklin (soccer, basketball, and baseball).
The Golden Eagle Award is given to a student on each team who had the highest cumulative grade point average for the season. For the spring season, Emily Clark (softball), Laury Gomez-Pena (girls track), Alex Marcello (baseball), Lawrence Miller (boys lacrosse), Jessica Murphy (girls lacrosse), and Max Woelk (boys track) received the awards.
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Honoring Dedication
Members of the Copiague Board of Education held a special ceremony prior to the June 7 Board meeting for district administrators, faculty, and staff to give thanks to the year’s retirees. The retirees were honored for their many years of dedicated service to the students and community.
The Board of Education and administration extend their best wishes to the retiring staff of the Copiague School District:
Robert Donnellan, Principal, Deauville Gardens
Albert Voorneveld, Principal, High School
Warren Bender, Art Teacher, High School
Michele Bonaventura, Physical Education Teacher, Deauville Gardens
Silvia Dorsky, Social Worker, High School
Carol Gamba, Elementary Teacher, Great Neck Road
Bonny Harris, Special Education Teacher, Great Neck Road
Kathleen Holm, Elementary Teacher, Great Neck Road
Rosann Libretto, Elementary Teacher, Susan E. Wiley
Sandra Natal, Elementary Teacher, Deauville Gardens
Frances Pinder, Elementary Teacher, Susan E. Wiley
Eileen Plaskon, Elementary Teacher, Deauville Gardens
Linda Quatela, Elementary Teacher, Great Neck Road
Carole Schildhaus, Special Education Teacher, Deauville Gardens
Arlene Sherer, Elementary Teacher, Susan E. Wiley
Etta Williams, Home and Careers Teacher, Middle School
Ann Marie Bruce, Teacher Aide, Middle School
Barbara Drennan, Food Service Worker, Great Neck Road
Kathleen Green, Clerk Typist, Middle School
Frank Delvecchio, Groundskeeper, District
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Excellence on Display at NJHS Induction
Induction into the National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) is both a privilege and an honor. On May 12, 57 seventh and eighth-grade students from Copiague Middle School were inducted into the Eagle Chapter of the NJHS.
On hand to congratulate the students for this achievement were Board of Education President Laura Gavey, trustees Henry Johnson, Everett E. Newman III, and Brian Sales, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Kathleen Bannon, Middle School Principal Andrew Lagnado, co-advisors Kimberly Henson and Jessica Talmage, guest speaker math teacher Richard Radziewicz, and other members of the middle school administration.
“Tonight we have come to recognize 57 students who have achieved the very highest level of success in their middle school careers,” said Mrs. Talmage.
Added Dr. Kathleen Bannon, “Your success and acceptance into the NJHS is a huge step on your ‘road to college.’ I congratulate you and look forward to seeing you at the High School National Honor Society in two or three years.”
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Copiague Inducts New Members into National Honor Society
Nineteen students from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School were inducted this May into the Isabella M. Driscoll Chapter of the National Honor Society (NHS). Officers Julian Perez (President), Marta Sulima (Vice President), Purvi Shah (Secretary), and Monika Sulima (Treasurer) spoke about the characteristics that best describe a National Honor Society member: Leadership, Service, Character, and Scholarship.
On hand to congratulate the newest members were members of the Board of Education – President Laura Gavey, and trustees Michael Greb, Everett Newman III, and Brian Sales – Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Kathleeen Bannon, High School Principal Albert Voorneveld and other high school administrators and co-advisors Denise Raimondi and Rose Anne Fuss. “We are here to honor these 19 sophomores and juniors for their high academic achievement and community involvement,” said Ms. Raimondi. Added Dr. Bannon, “Not everyone makes it into the National Honor Society, you did and you deserve to celebrate this tremendous accomplishment.”
Congratulations to juniors Tiffany Bourne, Stephanie Diegue, Amanda Espinal, Andrew Preda, Megan Pride, and Yeliza Ynoa; and sophomores Crysta Clarelli, Janet Fuentes, Amanda Haran, Domyae Ivory-Byrd, Sarah Jordan, Jessica Murphy, Erin Murray, Alison Nahrevar, Nathaly Pulido, Cassandra Riggio, Dana Romano, Nicole Vogt, and Britteny Walsh.
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Pentathlon Perfect
To commemorate Physical Education and Sports Week, the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School and Copiague Middle School held their annual pentathlon physical education units. Students in grades 6-10 competed against their classmates in the 50-meter dash, 100-meter dash, 400-meter dash, long jump, and shot put. The winning pentathlon students, one male and one female from each grade, were awarded plaques for their outstanding achievement.
MS Pentathlon: Pictured left to right: (back row) Middle School Principal Andrew Lagnado, Physical Education teachers Dan Broadbent, Kristin Havdoglous, and Rachel Cone, sixth grader Isaiah Bland, and Physical Education teachers Joseph Napolitano and Steve Rebholz; (front row) eighth graders Jalen Archibald and Julia Woelk, seventh graders Aaron McFadden and Edelin Espinal, sixth grader Donshaya Echevarria, and Director of Physical Education and Athletics Pete Cesare.
HS Pentathlon: Pictured left to right: (back row) Physical Education teachers Anthony Cipriano, Ken Berry, Jim Konen, and Erika Heller; (front row) Connor Zowak (9th grade), Rodney Williams (10th grade), Shantel Thompson (9th grade), Chade Marshall (10th grade), Director of Physical Education and Athletics Pete Cesare.
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Dellecave Award
On Sunday, June 6th, the Suffolk Sports Hall Of Fame recognized the top senior male and female athletes from each school. This year, the physical education department nominated Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School seniors Justin Stewart and Hannalee Fordyce for the "Dellecave Award." The award is named in honor of one of the founding fathers of the Suffolk Hall of Fame. Pictured left to right: Physical education teacher Erika Heller, Justin Stewart, Hannalee Fordyce, physical education teacher Toni Spencer, and Director of Physical Education and Athletics Pete Cesare.
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Community Cleanup
Just in time for the start of beach season, members of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Ecology Club dedicated a Saturday in May to cleaning up the beach at Tanner Park. With the use of garbage pickers, the students worked their way along the beach picking up trash and other debris.
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Art Matters
Alyssa Tasevoli, Jessica Molina, and David Rodriguez, students from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, had their artwork selected by Congressman Steve Israel’s Congressional Art Competition. Their art teacher, Lorraine Ciccotto, nominated the three students. Pictured (left to right) Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School art teacher Lorraine Ciccotto, Coordinator of Fine Arts Jennifer E. Pierre-Louis, Alyssa Tasevoli, Congressman Steve Israel, Jessica Molina, David Rodriguez, and Assistant Principal Jeanette Altruda.
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Fiesta-Val
Members of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Madrigal Choir represented Copiague Schools at the annual Fiesta-Val Competition in Virginia. The students, under the direction of Larry Wurtzel with accompanist Gina Occhiogrosso, took first place with a Superior rating. Additionally, Jamal Grey was recognized with an Outstanding Soloist award. The group fundraised throughout the year for this event and also visited the U.S.S. Wisconsin, Busch Gardens, and the Holocaust Museum, and participated in a walking tour of the monuments in Washington, D.C.
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Hoops for Heart
Copiague Middle School students hit the courts and participated in a basketball-related obstacle course in an effort to help others develop healthy hearts in the school’s first-ever “Hoops for Hearts.” The program is a basketball fundraising event for the American Heart Association that promotes physical fitness. The goal of the event was to increase awareness about heart disease and related illnesses, as well as raise money for research, prevention, and education programs.
This year, 96 students participated in the event and together raised more than $1,100. Additionally, all students who participated received an award certificate and a coupon for a free sundae from Friendly’s Ice Cream Restaurant.“At the elementary level, students participate in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart,” said physical education teacher Stephen Rebholz, who organized the event along with his colleagues. “We thought Hoops for Heart would be a nice carryover for our middle school students.”
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Copiague Board Honors Students
Recognizing that hard work, determination, and perseverance are character traits not every person exhibits, the Copiague Board of Education recognized select students throughout the District who embody those traits.
At the recent Board of Education Recognition Ceremony and Superintendent’s Art Gallery students from Deauville Gardens, Great Neck Road, and Susan E. Wiley elementary schools, as well as from Middle School and Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School were honored for their unique accomplishments. During a special semi-annual awards program, the Board of Education and administration honored students who have overcome personal adversities, placed the well being of others before themselves, brought distinction to their school and community through their academic and/or athletic achievements, and who serve as role models for their fellow students throughout the school district and community.
Students selected to have their artwork featured in the Superintendent’s Art Gallery were nominated by their art teachers and selected by Superintendent of Schools Charles A. Leunig. The pieces selected were framed and identified by a brass plate noting the student artist’s name, grade level, and year the piece was completed and will be showcased throughout the District. The young-artists each received a framed certificate of achievement acknowledging their outstanding artistic talent.
In addition to being chosen as part of the Superintendent’s Art Gallery, Saige Nuzzi, Nicolette Giordano, and Monika Sulima were chosen as the winners of the Fine Arts Festival, which was held during the Annual Budget Vote and Board Trustee Election. Each student was awarded a $100 savings bond from COPTA, the Copiague Teachers Union.
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A World of Opportunity Awaits the Class of 2010
You may add 377 names to the list of Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School alumni, as the school hosted its 51st Commencement Exercises on Friday, June 25.
Parents, siblings, extended family, friends and peers gathered on the Walter Reese Football Field to honor the members of the Class of Twenty-Ten and watch history in the making, as twins Marta and Monika Sulima became the first set of twins to achieve the rank of valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively. Additionally, for the first time ever, the District simulcast the ceremony over the Internet for family and friends to view from the comfort of their homes.
“We are all here to celebrate the graduation of the Class of 2010; however it is so much more than just that, it is a celebration of heading toward the future,” stated Marta in her valedictory speech. “Our four years at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School have molded us into individuals. Each of us will set forth on different journeys; no matter which directions we go, we will be prepared.” Added Monika, “High school was our time to grow, learn something new about ourselves, and, of course, to make memories.”
Prior to the presentation of the diplomas, Board of Education President Laura Gavey, Superintendent of Schools Charles A. Leunig, High School Principal Albert Voorneveld, and special guest speaker Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy were also given an opportunity to address the graduates and leave them with words of reflection, encouragement, and best wishes.
In his final remarks to the Class of 2010 and in his last official act before retirement, Mr. Voorneveld remarked, “As your high school career closes, other doors will open, providing paths to opportunities you may not have even dreamed about…It has been a pleasure to have had the opportunity to work closely with all of you for these many years, at both the middle school and the high school. Stay strong, live your life to the fullest, and enjoy the people who love you.”
As the Class of 2010 processed off the Walter Reese Football Field as alumni, a world of opportunity and endless possibilities for success awaited them.
Click here to view more Graduation Photos
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Achievement on Display at Middle School Moving-Up
According to Webster’s online, dictionary the definition of achievement is a result gained by effort. The Copiague Middle School eighth-grade graduating Class of 2010 can be defined by achievement. After three years worth of State and local examinations, the students have earned the right to proceed onto their next level of education – high school. “This is a group of students who have been here for the last three years as our school has enjoyed the strongest academic performance our building has ever seen,” said Middle School Principal Andrew Lagnado. “I thought about all the accomplishments of this outstanding group of young ladies and gentlemen. These successes span an array of areas. In this group of amazing students, we have a student who has reported for Fox News and was present at the inauguration of President Obama. We have students who spent the summer at leadership academies in Washington, D.C.; a student who won the grand prize in an All-Long Island essay contest; students who brought us NYSMMA Gold for our Wind Ensemble and Chamber Chorus; students who helped us win our very first Robotics competition; students who helped our newspaper win first place from the American Scholastic Press, and many more.”
Added Superintendent of Schools Charles A. Leunig, “Having achieved, you can now taste success. Like anything else, once you have success you can apply yourself to attaining more success, and it becomes increasingly natural to become successful.”
Also speaking to the class and offering words of encouragement and wisdom were valedictorian and salutatorian of the Class of 2010 Lindsay Griffiths and Stephanie Fisher, respectively.
Congratulations to the Copiague Middle School Class of 2010.
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