The Islip School District recognized numerous outstanding student accomplishments at the spring Night of Champions event, held during the Board of Education meeting on May 7. Elementary and secondary students who demonstrated excellence in art, music, athletics, academics and community service received certificates honoring their achievements in front of their proud families.

“We do Night of Champions several times a year, and they are always the best nights of the year because this is when the effort, the grit, the growth mindset and the stick-to-itiveness get recognized,” Superintendent Dr. Dennis O’Hara said.

Director of Fine and Performing Arts Michael Hershkowitz and music teachers first honored music students who were selected for SCMEA Division 1 All-County honors in band (Zara Canbaz, Owen Chandler, Elena Motto, Nicolette Powers, Henry Sepulveda and Timothy Stolz Jr.), chorus (Abigail Bolanos, Haleigh Casimir, Grace Fernandez-Cabero, Gavin Kirchner, Martino Masiello, Samuel Massa, Julia Sanchez, Savannah Torres and Joseph Zarchy) and orchestra (Chelsea Cooper, Lilah Hirschmann, Taylor Juillet, Christopher Liang and Layla Lazaro); for SCMEA Division 2 All-County in band (Tillie Ancipink, Jackson Bosley, Cassidy Chandler, Ashleigh Galyardt and Anna Stephenson), chorus (Ella Carbello, Donna Mandmiento and Rocco Pollina) and orchestra (Alice Champion, Lily Champion, Alexa Duckworth, Malcolm Friedman and Dominick Lovo); for SCMEA Division 3 All-County in band (Ryan Brown and Nicholas Gulick) and orchestra (Christopher Duckworth and Max Kjeldsen); and for the Long Island String Festival (Ella Fishbein, Malcolm Friedman, Elise Lettieri, Dominick Lovo and Ashley Stephenson).

Next, Hershkowitz and art teacher Lisa Sacco recognized the art students selected for the The Atelier at Flowerfield Juried Art Show (Tillie Ancipink, Abigail Butler-Lentini, Makenzy Covelli, Allison Czekaj, Matthew Levy, Aimee Rich, Kathiangelys Rios Cruz, Julia Sanchez, Aaron Thorn and Madz Weiss).

“This district and the Board of Ed provided these students with the resources, our teachers provided them with the tools, but it’s really the students that took that and ran with it and achieved all the things that we see tonight,” Hershkowitz said.

Athletic Director John Sparacio and several of his coaches presented sports recognitions for the winter 2025 season to high school student-athletes including competitive cheerleaders Jasmin Fields-Robinson (Academic All-County) and Jailany Pacheco (All-Classification); girls basketball players Abbey Dieumegard (All-League), Rylee Moran (All-League) and Teagan Rao (All-League, All-Conference); boys basketball players Devon Carter (All-County), Chase Herrington (All-County) and Vincent Tyre (Academic All-County); girls bowlers Juliana Conlon (All-League), Olivia Conlon (All-League), Isabella Dragos (All-League), Brooke Lemanczyk (All-League), Nicole Matute (All-County) and Tatum Palme (All-County); boys bowlers Anthony Bullaro (perfect game), Gavin Connell (All-League) and Jacob Petelin (2nd Team All-League); girls winter track athletes Nicolette Bastidas (All-League), Madelyn Corrigan (All-League), Judeline Daniel (All-League), Wilorda Frenel (All-League, All-Section), Brianna Gabbidon (All-League, All-Section), Imani Hood (All-League, All-Section, All-County), Guyveline Jean-Charles (All-League, All-Section, Academic All-County), Brooke Martin (All-League, All-Section), Kathryn Quinn (All-League, Academic All-County) and Kaila White-Walters (All-League); boys winter track athletes Ryan Donohue (All-State, All Federation, All-Sectional Relay Team), Collin Haug (county champion), Josiah Patterson (All-County), Evan Rahner (county champion), Adrian Sanchez (county champion), Kaiden White (county champion, All-State, All-Federation); wrestlers Landon Dalaker (All-League), Nico Fallacaro (All-League), Joseph Frangella (All-League), Jonathan Hernandez Rosales (All-League, All-County), Kevin Horner (All-League), Aiden Nassire (league champion), Spencer Nassire (league champion, All-County), Matthew Patterson (league champion, All-County), Cartier Perez (league champion), Dylan Smith (All-League) and Jack Whitehouse (All-League); and gymnastics athlete Isabella Field (All-Long Island, All-State).

Sparacio also recognized the winners of the Suffolk Zone Awards (Sara Geldmacher and Jack Whitehouse) and Islip High School’s NYSPHSAA Student Leadership Conference representative (Vincent Tyre).

“It’s nice to see how many of our students not only do well in the music and the arts, but also excel in athletics,” Sparacio said. “That’s just the beauty of Islip, so many of our student athletes are involved in so many things outside of the classroom.”

Finally, in the areas of academics and community service, Islip High School Principal Lara Gonzalez honored the students chosen for the Long Island Youth Summit (Max Kjeldsen and Sara Pellegrino); this summer’s American Legion Boys State (alternate Aidan Biscari and primaries Connor Ancipink and Kieran Freelin) and American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State (citizens Anna Lettieri and Jadyn Zink) programs; the New York State Senate Youth Leadership Recognition (Jenna Haug and Taylor Reising); the Office of State Comptroller Student Achievement Awards (Juliana Conlon and Jailany Pacheco); the Office of New York State Attorney General Triple C Awards (Ryan Abin, Keira Ferrera, Caleb Rader and Kailey Roarty); and the Office of New York State Attorney General Civic Ambassador Award (William Hamm); as well as Class of 2025 salutatorian Ryder Miranda and valedictorian John Oggeri.

Date Added: 5/13/2025

Islip High School’s Buccaneer University students recently visited Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School to conduct a lesson about leadership. Buccaneer University mentors worked with counselor Nicole Hall to prepare an engaging, interactive lesson for presentation to Sherwood’s Leadership Club students. 

“All of the students enjoyed learning about each other, and our Sherwood students are definitely looking forward to high school after meeting with this group of leaders,” Principal Briana James said. “These kinds of collaborative, meaningful moments are so important. Seeing our young children looking up to these high school students was an incredibly powerful experience that just cannot be taught from a book.”

Date Added: 4/24/2025

Islip High School and Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School students recently collaborated on a horror-themed but heartwarming project. Sherwood students in Audrey Cella’s class created unique monster dolls with guidance and instruction from art teacher Melissa Trocchio-Cohen. The prototypes were then passed on to family and consumer science teacher Ali Catalano at the high school, whose students brought the dolls to life by measuring, cutting, stuffing and sewing each and every part of the dolls.

With the support of Fine and Performing Arts Director Michael Hershkowitz and K-12 Administrator for English Language Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Cosmetology Barbara Wagner, high school students then visited Sherwood to deliver the stuffed dolls, speak about the process and answer questions that the younger students had prepared in anticipation of their arrival.

“Sherwood looks forward to having Ms. Catalano and her students again next year,” Principal Briana James said.

Date Added: 4/9/2025

The Zuzu African Acrobats recently came to Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School for a cultural arts assembly, sponsored by the school’s PTA. Students learned about the performers’ country of Tanzania, and even learned to speak a little Swahili. Traditional music, dance, and comedy were performed, providing an interactive experience that showcased African culture.

“The Zuzu African Acrobats not only entertained but also educated,” Principal Briana James said. “They introduced us to Tanzanian cultural traditions, emphasizing the importance of artistry, strength, skill, teamwork and joy. Their performance was jaw-dropping and inspiring.”

Date Added: 4/9/2025

Fourth- and fifth-grade students from Commack Road Elementary School and Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School recently competed in the 39th annual Town of Islip Sharp Shooter Basketball Contest. This program, sponsored by the Islip Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs, challenges local students to score as many baskets as possible in one minute. Schoolwide winners moved on to the townwide Sharp Shooter competition, held on March 1 at East Islip High School in front of numerous local dignitaries. A total of 35 elementary schools participated in the event.

Commack Road’s in-school winners, guided by physical education teachers Jason Orlick and Carrie Rittberg, were fourth graders Michael Macaluso and Emma Orlick and fifth graders Ellie Spallina and Ja’mere White-Grey, while the second-place finishers were Milan Matute, Colin Moon, Emma Myles-McAnally and Reese Stapleton. Macaluso, Spallina and Stapleton went on to compete in the townwide event.

“Michael, Ellie, and Reese did a wonderful job representing our school,” Rittberg said. “We’re so proud of our athletes, and all of their hard work and their dedication.”

Sherwood’s in-school winners, guided by physical education teacher Jeff Atlas, were fourth graders Tyler Deutsch and Skylar Winter and fifth graders Brady Dromerhauser and Sophia Zvonik. All four participated in the townwide event, with Zvonik winning first overall in the fifth grade girls division and Deutsch taking second place in the boys fourth grade division.  

“Sophia and Tyler made Sherwood proud, congratulations to them both,” Atlas said.

Date Added: 4/3/2025