For the fourth consecutive year, students in Copiague Middle School’s Builders Club, under the advisement of Maria Ostrofsky, collected and donated lightly worn shoes to benefit the homeless and less fortunate in the New York City area.
Working in conjunction with the Give Your Sole non-for-profit organization, more than 25 members of the Builders Club worked together to bag pairs of shoes for men, women and children. Donated by students and members of the community, the club collected more than 100 pairs of shoes. Each bag contained 20 pairs of shoes that were picked up and brought to the Bowery Mission in Manhattan.
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Soles for Souls
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Wearing Shades of Blue for Autism Awareness
In recognition of World Autism Awareness Day, students, faculty and staff at Susan E. Wiley Elementary School wore blue shirts to raise awareness about autism on April 2. Around the world, autism organizations celebrate the day with unique events to raise funds and awareness. Every year, April is recognized as National Autism Awareness Month, providing a special opportunity to educate the public about autism and issues that affect people with this disorder.
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Pizza and Conversation
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Ecology Club Works to Beautify the Environment
In honor of Earth Day, Copiague Middle School’s Ecology Club raised money to purchase and plant flowers in various locations on school grounds. The club sold Earth Day T-shirts with a picture of a tree and the earth to raise money for the flowers. According to club advisor Monica Csorny, members of the club will beautify the surrounding area outside by the school’s sign and inside across from the auditorium with flowers.
In addition, to raise awareness about the importance of keeping the environment clean, the Ecology Club held a poster contest for students in grades six to eight. Using various art materials, students had the opportunity to create posters that focused on the theme of protecting and respecting the environment. During their club meeting, members selected the winning posters from each grade. The winners will receive a prize and certificate for their artwork.
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Hip Hop Club proudly presents “Rewind"
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‘POP’ Sensations Hit the Stage
Talented students from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School showcased their various singing, dancing and instrumental abilities during the school’s annual POPS Concert on April 21.
Each year, the high school’s POPS Concert provides students with the opportunity to perform for their peers and family in a one-of-a-kind showcase that features past and current pop music hits. Members of the audience enjoyed the musical talents of the high school’s Madrigals choir, wind ensemble, jazz band, chorus, as well as numerous individual and small group solos from exceptional student performers.
Musical choices that evening included “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” by Michael Jackson, “Why Do Fools Fall in Love” by Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers, and John Legend’s “Glory.” To conclude the show, the Madrigals and chorus sang their show-stopping rendition of Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell’s timeless duet “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough.”
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Copiague - In Their Own Words (video)
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Eagle Soars to First
For the second consecutive year, Copiague Middle School’s newspaper, The Eagle, placed first in the American Scholastic Press Association’s annual review and contest for scholastic newspapers and other publications. Ranked among intermediate schools nationwide, The Eagle scored a 940 out of a possible 1,000 points for format, content, editing, creativity and presentation.
Under the advisement of Christine Barteldt, students work together to publish five papers during the school year. Featured articles include club accomplishments, sports, surveys and other topics relevant to middle school life. The Eagle staff’s accomplishments were recognized with an award certificate from the ASPA.
While The Eagle welcomes content from all middle school students throughout the school year, the following students are active staff members: Kacey Bilardi, Ben Cascone, Amy Cruz, Eric Dixon, Colby Farraher, Robert Fernandez, Gregory Jean-Baptiste, Yana Mera, Chantece Rowe and Jezne Sosa.
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Meet the Candidates – May 5 at 8 p.m.
The Copiague PTA Council will host a Meet the Candidates forum on Tuesday, May 5 beginning at 8 p.m. in the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School auditorium. This evening is an opportunity for community residents to hear from the various candidates running for the vacant seat on the Board of Education. We hope you can join us.
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Making Strides in Copiague History
The Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School girls track team placed first at the 121st annual Penn Relays at the University of Pennsylvania on April 23, marking the second time this victory has occurred in the history of the Copiague School District.
Sophomores Mikayla Angel and Vinnelle Grant and juniors Nickeela Austin and Nakai Matthews finished the 4x400-meter relay in a record time of 4:09.34. Highlights of the race included Angel (second leg) receiving the baton in fifth place and bringing Copiague into first, running a personal best 60.85 split. Engaged in a hard-fought battle, Copiague anchor Grant fended off the Ocean City, New Jersey team anchor, running a 60.42 split, and beat Ocean City at the finish line.
Congratulations to the girls track team on demonstrating remarkable athleticism at the competition.
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Students Blossom Creativity
It was an evening for families to showcase their creativity when the Susan E. Wiley Elementary School hosted Family Craft Night on April 29. Throughout the evening, the Copiague students worked collaboratively with their parents, grandparents and siblings to decorate papier-mâché garden pots.
Students accessorized their flowerpots with foam ladybugs, frogs, bees, grass and flowers. Once their pots were complete, they and their family members had the opportunity to purchase flowers through the PTA plant sale.
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Marvelous Math Minds
Copiague Middle School eighth-graders Jackson Bright, Aleksandra Bugajczyk, Elizabeth Collado, Faith McCombs and Justine Taveras presented their mathematics research at the Al Kalfus Long Island Math Fair at Hofstra University on April 24. They attended the fair with advisor Stephen Temme.
Upon presenting their research, Bright’s “Math in Sports,” Bugajczyk’s “Logic and Sudoku” and Collado’s “Theory of Relativity” received bronze medals.
Competing in the math fair required students to write a properly cited eight- to 10-page research paper on a mathematical topic of their choice and orally present their research to a panel of judges. Students selected their topics in October and gathered information from multiple sources. They also created poster boards that demonstrated the main concepts of their research.
Congratulations to these students on their participation in this prestigious competition.
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Battle of the Classes
To encourage good sportsmanship and peer bonding in a fun environment, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School hosted their annual Battle of the Classes. The event featured student participation in various board games and sporting events to gain points toward becoming the ultimate class champion.
Students from each class grade went head-to-head in a variety of table games including Uno, checkers and table tennis. Putting their knowledge to the test, students were challenged during the event’s quiz and spelling bee competitions. In an effort to claim the class champion title, Copiague students demonstrated their athleticism in volleyball, soccer and hockey games as well as basketball shootout.
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Honoring Fine Arts Talent
The district’s fine arts department celebrated the artistic and musical talents of 38 Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School students as they were inducted into the National Art Honor Society and the Tri-M Music Honor Society.
Board of Education members, administration, family and friends were welcomed to the induction ceremony, which featured artwork by new inductees, as well as graduating Copiague seniors who plan to major in art or music at the college level in the fall. One member from each society read the names of new inductees as they received their certificates and were led in reciting the pledge of the Tri-M and National Art honor societies.
“What a delight it is to work with these students every day,” said Coordinator of Fine Arts Jennifer Pierre-Louis. “They really bring so much to our community and our school at large.”
The district congratulates the following new Tri-M Music Honor Society inductees: Luis Arciniega, Kevin Buffolino, Adrian Chockorek, Johan Corona, Giuseppe Dattolo, DeAnna Duryea, Mariana Espinoza, Nicholas Favichia, Jackalyn Gonzalez, Victoria Grinthal, Rachel Korba, Karla Lopez, Belen Morote, Samantha Sloane, Jamie Swenton, Ashley Weeks, Marcus Weeks, Chanyia Welch, Christopher Welc, Kimberly Wills, Lyndsey Wilson and Sofie Wilson.
Congratulations to the newest National Art Honor Society inductees: Monica Assaf, Amber Boswell, Grace Cirola, Valerie Contreras, Juan Gubisch, Jonathan Gudel, Ashley Hempfling, Ashley Hudson, Jenna Langan, Diana Palencia, Mariahelena Ruiz, Brionna Silva, Nicole Squiabro, Stephanie Squiabro, Estephany Villalobo and Nilsu Yildiz.
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Mother’s Day Tea
To celebrate Mother’s Day, kindergarten students at Great Neck Road Elementary School sang songs and created artwork to share with the special women in their lives at a Mother’s Day Tea.
Each kindergarten class hosted its own celebration, inviting guests into the classroom to enjoy a student presentation. To kick off the celebration, the kindergartners sang songs such as “Mommy, I Love You,” “Thank You Mom” and “My Mom Is a Special Lady.” In one class, students shared what they love about their mothers and handed them a carnation flower along with a hug and a kiss. They also drew pictures and created colorful artwork to surprise their mothers. Following the presentation, the attendees ate cookies and enjoyed spending time together.
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Students Stop, Look and Listen for Road Safety
To educate students on the importance of road safety, Deauville Gardens East Elementary School held its third annual United Nations Global Road Safety Week for third-graders on May 4-10. The event is part of a worldwide initiative to heighten awareness and generate action for children’s safety on the roads.
In partnership, representatives from the Stony Brook Medicine Trauma Center and Safe Kids Suffolk visited the third-graders to address road safety topics. The discussion, led by Kristi Ladowski, Stony Brook Medicine Trauma Center injury prevention and outreach coordinator, and Susan Katz, Stony Brook Hospital and Safe Kids Suffolk coordinator, addressed ways to be safe in a car, on a bicycle and while walking.
Also in attendance was Suffolk County Executive Steven Bellone, who supported the presentation with his own message on road safety. In addition, a team of student nurses from Farmingdale State College distributed Global Road Safety information and assisted the students as they drew pictures and wrote road safety messages.
“I am so glad you are participating in Safety Week with kids from all around the world,” Bellone said to the students. “You are setting the standard here in Copiague for all of us in Suffolk County.”
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Science Students Earn Covantage Ecotech Scholarships
Four science-minded students from Copiague Middle School were recently recognized by the Town of Babylon for placing among the top students who entered the Babylon Covantage Ecotech Scholarship contest.
Owen Rosenberg placed second among all entrants and earned a $750 scholarship for his science research project, “What Are the Smarter Solutions to Beach Erosion and Coastal Flooding?” Additionally, Jackson Bright earned a $175 scholarship and finished in sixth place for his project, “Which Household Oil Is an Effective Substitute for Biodiesel Fuel?”
Individually, Abigail Romero’s project, “How Is it Possible to Eat the Same Plant Over and Over Again?” and Lacy McIntyre’s research on “Food Desserts” earned top honors, as they each took home $100 scholarships.
According to the Town of Babylon website, the town, in partnership with Covanta Energy Inc., awards these scholarships annually to students who create the top-ranking school science projects with eco-tech themes. Open to grades eight to 12 throughout the Town of Babylon, students are encouraged to explore projects related to sustainability and environmental solutions.
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Kind Words Can Make a Difference
In an effort to make a difference using words of encouragement, members of Copiague Middle School’s student council created cards and necklaces based on the theme of positivity. During an after-school meeting, club members wrote messages of cheer and inspiration that were distributed to students and faculty the following school day.
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ESchoolData STEM + Art Honor
Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School junior Elizabeth Pitre and senior Jennifer Sanchez earned honorable mention for their artwork submissions in the inaugural eSchoolData STEM + Art Contest.
Applicants were required to submit works of art that focused on the theme of “STEM + Art,” which challenged students to explore how art is incorporated in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Under the advisement of art teacher Lorraine Ciccotto, Pitre entered a piece titled “Half Face,” while Sanchez’s submission was “All Connected.” Students were allowed to submit either a photograph or a scanned image of their drawing.
As honorable mention winners, Pitre and Sanchez will each receive $50 from eSchoolsData for their exceptional artwork.
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Middle School Inducts New NJHS Members
Forty-nine Copiague Middle School seventh- and eighth-grade students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society. Their academic and extracurricular achievements were celebrated during an annual candle-lighting ceremony.
To be eligible for membership consideration, students must have a cumulative average of at least 90 percent. During the ceremony, members of the NJHS executive board explained the high standards of leadership, service, citizenship, character and scholarship that candidates must meet to be inducted into the society.
With friends and family in attendance, members of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Schools Charles A. Leunig, Middle School Principal Andrew Lagnado and Assistant Principals Michael Ferretti and Stephanie Valeiko, NJHS co-advisors Paul Harvey and Francesca Walker, and middle school science chairperson and special guest speaker Dr. Daniel Leccese congratulated the students on this special achievement.
During his speech, Leccese quoted 1980 USA Olympic hockey coach Herb Brooks: “‘Great moments are born from great opportunities,’” he said. “Keep in mind those opportunities are here in Copiague. Keep making your family, community and the whole school proud of you.”
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