This year, as a way to promote independent leisure reading, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School English teacher Michael Ferretti collaborated with librarian Beth Kattleman to create Project Read.
The program encourages students to visit the library during their lunch periods, study halls, and after school to enjoy the various fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and digital books at their disposal. After the students read a book of their choice, they’re asked to write a “Rant and Rave,” a review that will be added to a book on the circulation desk and shared with other students. The review will include a rating out of five stars, a brief written review, and the student’s current grade level. Once a student completes six reviews, they qualify for a raffle and have their photo taken, which will then be made into a Read poster. “We’ve had a great response so far,” said Mr. Ferretti. “Kids are participating for the love of reading.” Added Mrs. Kattleman, “I hope that the students, who don’t already have a love of reading will find it. That they’ll realize reading isn’t a chore. That they’ll find a book, read it, and tell us about it.”
To promote Project Read, Mrs. Kattleman has been visiting study halls and freshmen English classes with various books that are available in the library.
Also new to the high school this year is an afterschool book club. Approximately 15 students meet once a week to discuss their love of books, as well as to participate in a group discussion on the book club selection. The first book the students are reading is Ann Brashares’ novel My Name is Memory.
↧
Project Read
↧
JA In A Day
Junior Achievement Day was filled with fun and educational activities for students at Susan E. Wiley Elementary. Students in grades K-5 participated in six different hands-on lessons taught by representatives from major corporations, including this year’s major corporate sponsor, Ernst & Young. “Junior Achievement’s programs are intended to change students’ lives by helping them understand business and economics through a series of lessons tied into state math and social studies curricula,” commented Assistant Principal, Dr. Randee Bonagura.
While kindergarteners listened to stories about working, earning, and saving money, second graders were busy making “donuts” and learning the value of assembly line procedures versus single unit production. Each student was given an individual ingredient to add to the donuts and was taught that an assembly line would benefit production by providing the most efficient and cost-effective way to make a product. Third graders in Mrs. Linda Drenckhahn’s class were excited to construct a large 3D city on a floor map as a culmination of their lessons about city planning, economics, and zoning. The students decorated and labeled 3D cutouts of buildings and placed them in specific areas on a large, colorful floor map.
Throughout the day, other lessons involved learning about needs versus wants, identifying resources and making decisions, and creating a web of interconnectivity after learning about the global economy.
↧
↧
Cultural Flags Fly High at International Night
The Copiague School District’s second annual International Night was a great success, attracting people from all over the community. Parents, students, and community members all showed their appreciation through their enthusiastic applause as performers graced the stage with elaborate, ethnic dance performances, songs, and a cultural fashion show. Grades 6-8 participated in the event, with 100 students performing and 60 students volunteering. The students represented more than 35 different countries from around the world. “This celebration of our diversity is a wonderful example of what can be done when students and staff work together. Everyone is so proud to see the community enjoying the evening,” stated Assistant Principal Claudia Prisinzano.
The chorus, led by Gina Occhiogrosso, opened the night with a moving rendition of the patriotic Cuban song, “Guantanamera.” Kirsten Ostrofsky, a sixth-grade science teacher, and Stephanie Colagiacomo, a middle school English teacher, worked together to organize the fashion show. The students walked the stage displaying authentic, native clothing from various countries. “The fashion show creates a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the diversity in the district and is a way for the students to express their cultural pride,” commented Ms. Ostrofsky.
The Exhibition Hall in the gymnasium displayed self-made documentaries and video interviews of relatives in other countries. There were also research-based project boards which focused on many different individual countries that the students chose to explore. Before entering into the exhibition hall, the students received “passports” that would allow them to “take a journey around the world” and would be stamped at each station they visited.
All of the attendees were given red, white and blue tickets representing the passports needed to enter the international buffet entitled “A Taste of Copiague.” The food was donated by 23 community restaurants and was representative of the student ethnic population.
The success of the night was due in a large part to the hard work and dedication of all the staff members and students at the Copiague Middle School. “We celebrate diversity and promote tolerance all year long,” stated Middle School Principal Andrew Lagnado, “Tonight is a true celebration of our community.”
↧
Copiague Students Donate Blood
On Friday, October 29, the Key Club at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School held its annual blood drive in the high school gymnasium. Students, faculty, and staff were urged to donate in support of the New York Blood Center. In all, 64 pints of blood were collected.
↧
Copiague Band Wins Competition
Congratulations to the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Marching Band for winning the Group 5 Open United States Scholastic Band Association (USSBA) State Championships. During the competition, which was held at the Mitchell Athletic Complex in Uniondale on October 23, the band scored an 89.338.
↧
↧
Walking for a Cure
Joining 55,000 people at Jones Beach on Sunday, October 17, members of the Copiague Middle School Builders Club participated in the annual American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. The students walked the five miles alongside survivors and family members who lost loved ones to the disease, as well as people like themselves who just wanted to lend a hand. Together, the club helped raise more than $1,500.
↧
Community Recognizes Copiague Board of Education
Each year, the Governor of the State of New York sets aside one week in October to recognize Boards of Education statewide for their efforts to provide a quality education to all students.
This year during the October 18, 2010 Copiague Board of Education meeting, administrators, staff, students, parents, and community members expressed their appreciation to the Board for their ongoing dedication and commitment to the students and Copiague community.
“This Board of Education is devoted to our children and to our community,” stated Superintendent of Schools Charles A. Leunig. “They are the reason we are as good as we are and why Copiague is the envy of so many other school districts and superintendents.” Mr. Leunig also noted that the current Board represents 84 years of combined experience in serving as Board members.
Words such as grateful, thankful, leadership, caring, and dedicated were heard over and over again as several representatives from the Copiague Teachers Association, Copiague Association of Principals, Copiague Educational Secretaries Association, Copiague Supervisory Association, Teacher Assistant Teacher Aide Association, and the PTA Council each paid tribute to the Board. Several donations were made to various charities in the name of the Copiague Board.
To add to the evening’s celebration, the Copiague Middle School Chamber Choir, under the direction of Gina Occhiogrosso, performed several songs and invited everyone to join them in a sing-along. “Thank you for your kind words,” stated Board of Education President Laura Gavey. “We are truly blessed with a great school district, administration and staff. Seeing the Chamber Choir perform tonight just reminds us of why we do what we do.”
↧
Copiague Art Students Visit Bronx Zoo
On Friday, October 22, students in Lorraine Ciccotto and Krys Lipinksi’s upper level art electives (Graphic Arts, Drawing and Painting II) at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School visited the Bronx Zoo. There, students were able to take photographs that would become the basis for graphic arts and painting projects they will create in class.
↧
Singing for Our Veterans
Members of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Madrigal Choir, led by Larry Wurtzel, performed at the Veterans Celebration at the Dominican Village in Amityville on Thursday, November 4. During their hour-long performance, the students sang patriotic selections such as an Armed Forces medley and “God Bless America.”
↧
↧
Stockings for Soldiers
Students in Nancy Csorny’s third-grade class at Great Neck Road Elementary School organized a “Stockings for Soldiers” drive during the month of November. With the hold of students and staff throughout the building, the children collected items such as batteries, toiletry items, single-serving sizes of foods and snacks, and writing paper and envelops, among other requested items. The donations were then arranged and put into Christmas stocks before being sent oversees to the men and women serving in the United States Military.
↧
America, Home of the Free
In recognition of Veterans Day, Susan E. Wiley Elementary School in the Copiague School District hosted a celebration for residents of the Dominican Village in Amityville who are veterans of the United States Armed Forces. During the celebration, students read original essays and poems about Veterans Day and librarian Lisa Miller created a photo slideshow highlighting the veterans during their years of service. “Today is to show the veterans how grateful and thankful we are that they risked their lives for our freedom,” said fifth-grade teacher Peggy Murphy who organized the event.
Following the slideshow, the students spent time with the veterans asking them questions such as their reasons for joining the armed forces, and listened as the veterans shared stories of their time in service to the United States of America.
↧
Commemorating Veterans
For the third consecutive year, Copiague Middle School math teacher Matt Pellettier commemorated Veterans Day by sharing his personal experiences as an Iraqi War veteran. Mr. Pellettier was a member of the fighting 69thArmy National Guard, where he served six years before being activated and sent to Iraq. During his presentation, he showed the students two videos, one highlighting his personal photos and a tribute video to all soldiers. He also spoke to the students what he experienced while in Iraq, told of his reasons for joining the National Guard, shared stories of his time in the National Guard, and answered student questions.
↧
Saluting Those Who Served
At Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, six veterans from the V.F.W. 9482 in Copiague and American Legion 1015 in Amityville visited students to speak about their experiences while serving in the United States Armed Forces.
Daniel Wilmer (United States Army), Richard Iacona (United States Air Force), Bob Waidler (United States Army), Alfred Davolio (United States Army), Robert Bruney (United States Marine Corp), and Jerry Schatz (United States Navy) spoke about their personal experiences of why they enlisted, leaving for the war, adjusting to a world of combat and cultural differences, and answered students’ questions. The gentlemen represented various war efforts from World War II to the Vietnam and Korean Wars, and included a career army man, prisoner of war, and a soldier wounded in action.
To conclude the program, the veterans, along with two student volunteers, taught the proper folding techniques of a United State of America Flag and discussed what each individual fold represents.
↧
↧
Honoring Those Who Protect and Serve
In honor of Veterans Day, students and staff at Great Neck Road Elementary School in Copiague hosted a Veterans Day Celebration. Approximately 20 current or retired members of the Armed Forces attended the breakfast, where the third-grade chorus and concert band treated them to musical performances. Additionally, fifth grader Claudia Ruiz and third grader Gianna Torres read their original essays, which both won third place in the Town of Babylon Veterans Day essay contest, while Selena Bonilla, Benny Rodriguez, Brian Oszkinis, and Christina Schnettler performed a skit about veterans.“Today, the staff and students of the Great Neck Road Elementary School are proud to honor the members of the United States Armed Forces,” said Principal Joseph Agosta in his opening remarks. “This morning, I invite you to enjoy the performances by our students and most importantly to enjoy your time in our school knowing that we truly appreciate all you have done to make the United States of America the greatest country in the world.”
In preparation for the breakfast, students created cards and letters that were given to those in attendance, as well as collected items that will be sent to troops currently serving overseas.
↧
Proud Girls on the Move
On Sunday, November 21, students from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School’s Proud Girls on the Move (PGOM) club participated in a charity fashion show, along with students from Bay Shore High School, at Old Navy in Bay Shore. During the fashion show, clothing items were available for purchase to be donated directly to residents of the Mary Brennan INN.
PGOM is a program that enriches and nurtures teen girls to become confident, independent, compassionate, self-starting leaders. PGOM teams are comprised of girls who want to join forces and turn their negative inner dialogue into positive action. The organization strives to make a difference in the lives of its member’s through community service projects.
↧
Stockings for Soldiers
Students in Nancy Csorny’s third-grade class at Great Neck Road Elementary School organized a “Stockings for Soldiers” drive during the month of November. With the help of students and staff throughout the building, the children collected items such as batteries, toiletries, single-serving sizes of foods and snacks, and writing paper and envelopes, among other requested items. The donations were then arranged and put into Christmas stockings to send overseas to the men and women serving in the United States Military.
↧
Thanksgiving Share
To celebrate Thanksgiving, students in the Intercultural and Spanish Clubs at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School participated in their second annual Thanksgiving Share. The clubs, along with their advisors Flor Melgar and Danielle Poletti, discussed the history of the first Thanksgiving, and spoke about what they were thankful for this year. They also shared a feast with traditional Thanksgiving foods, as well as foods native to their own cultures, including tostones from the Dominican Republic, Salvadorian lo mein, empanadas, and German apple crumb cake.
↧
↧
It’s a Feast
On Monday, November 20, the kindergarten students at Great Neck Road School in Copiague held their annual Thanksgiving Feast. At the feast, the students were treated to a meal with all the fixings cooked entirely by the kindergarten teachers. As a special treat, the parents of the students were invited to attend.
In preparation for the feast, the kindergarten students put their artistic and musical talents to good use as they designed their placemats and learned three songs, including
↧
Copiague Honors Fall Sports
Continuing its tradition of honoring student-athletes three times a year, the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School held its Annual Varsity Sports Awards Dinner. The event, sponsored by the Booster Club, celebrated the recently completed Fall Sports season by taking a night to recognize gymnastics, cross-country, boys golf, boys and girls soccer, field hockey, girls tennis, volleyball, cheerleading, and football.
Continuing a time-honored tradition, five special memorial awards were handed to outstanding athletes for demonstrating leadership on and off the field. This year, Jessica Murphy (Girls Soccer) was awarded the Michael S. Cohen Award, Dawn Dickson (Gymnastics) was the recipient of the Dolores Sandefur Award, and Alex Marcello (Boys Soccer) was presented with the Anthony Lombardo Award. The Barbara Day Award was given to Cathy Lam (Field Hockey), and Raven Walker (Volleyball) received the Deborah Tekosky Award.
For the first time this year, the Christopher Urban Memorial Award was presented to a member of the cross-country team. Christopher was a member of the cross-country team who passed away unexpectedly this past October. “His desire to better himself was obvious,” said cross-country coach George Schroeder. “He was one of those kids coaches loved to have around and teachers loved having in class. He will always be with us as we strive to be our best.” Danielle Dixon was presented with the award by Christopher’s parents.
↧
Key Club Hosts Food Drive
To give back to the community that supports its education, the Key Club at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School organized a food drive. To help local families in need during the holiday season, hundreds of pounds of nonperishable food were collected by the club and donated to Our Lady of the Assumption Church in Copiague.
↧