Commack Road Elementary School held its 24th annual Flag Day ceremony on a sunny June 14, reinforcing the community’s patriotic commitment.

After local Scouts and American Legion Rusy-Bohm Post 411 members led the Flag Day parade past the bus loop’s Honor Garden of Flags, Principal Jacqueline Beckmann welcomed the smiling students and parents, decked out in red, white and blue and waving American flags. The family of late Islip firefighter Billy Moon then joined American Legion Rusy-Bohm Post 411 2nd Vice Commander Tom Stryjewski and Sergeant-at-Arms Peter Militello for the raising of the flag. Fifth graders Ayden Diaz, Jaxon Gerena, Alexa Gonzalez, Julia Sanchez and Matthew Vale joined teacher Dr. Chris Sclafani for an explanation of the Pledge of Allegiance, while third graders and the school’s American Sign Language Club demonstrated the pledge in American Sign Language.

Throughout, the CRES school’s band and vocal NYSSMA students performed an array of stirring patriotic music, including “America the Beautiful, “God Bless America,” “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and “You’re a Grand Old Flag.”
Student essay awards were presented to second-grade winner Caila Lawrence, third-grade winner Karla Martinez, fourth-grade winner Adoniah Chlystun, fifth-grade winner Makenzy Covelli, academic award winners Covelli and Maryam Raza, and music award winner Na’ilah Farrell.

“Today we celebrate Flag Day, a day to honor the symbol that unites us all as Americans,” Beckmann said. “Today is about celebrating patriotism and recognizing the flag as a symbol of our nation’s history, from the fight for independence, to the struggles and plans we face together. The red stripes remind us of the bravery of those who fought for our freedom, the white stripes represent peace and unity, and each of the 50 stars represents a state – a different voice and a different story, all woven together to form a strong and vibrant nation.”  

“Today I feel like we’re joined by real heroes, and that’s the many men and women who serve our country each and every day,” Dr. Sclafani said. 

Date Added: 6/21/2024
 

Islip’s elementary coding teams – Commack Road Elementary School’s H@ckCR3s and Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School’s Hackaneers – recently competed in the kidOYO Upper Elementary Division Hackathon at Mineola Middle School, persevering through a three-hour coding challenge against schools all across Long Island.

Both teams consisted of eight students each. All team members needed to have knowledge of Hatch, a coding language based on SCRATCH, as well as Sprite Editor.

Commack Road’s Hackathon team was coached by STEAM teacher Beth Fazio and technology teacher assistant Fred Stroh, while Sherwood’s Hackathon team was coached by STEAM teachers Kenneth Bailey and Megan Savold and technology teacher assistant Rob Going.

Date Added: 6/14/2024

Second graders at Commack Road Elementary School recently completed a fun science experiment based on the Will Hubbell book “Pumpkin Jack.” Students place a pumpkin in a glass jar and watched it decompose and eventually sprout new growth over the course of several months.

“It was a successful experiment, and the students each took home their own plant from our original pumpkin,” teacher Jennifer Beck said. “We are hoping to eventually plant our pumpkins in our future outdoor garden at CRES.”

Date Added: 6/10/2024

The Islip School District recognized numerous exceptional student and Board member accomplishments on May 13 at the spring Night of Champions event, held during the Board of Education meeting.

Elementary and secondary students who demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, art, music and leadership received certificates honoring their achievements in front of their proud families.

Director of Fine and Performing Arts Michael Hershkowitz and music teachers honored students who were selected for SCMEA Division 1 All-County honors in band (Addison Auciello, Jackson Bosley, Alice Champion, Lily Champion, Cassidy Chandler, Makenzy Covelli, Ashleigh Galyardt, Nicolette Powers, Marleigh Stumme, Elisabeth Volk and Murphy Wallace), chorus (Lily Ahlgren, Jason Desir, Na’ilah Farrell, Colten Grace, Giuliana Hubert, Jace Hunt, Taylor Juillet, Gavin Kirchner, Stella Krakaur, Samuel Massa, Juliet McEnaney and Gabriella Valdiviezo) and orchestra (Chelsea Cooper, Milani Clendaniel, Emerson Cox, Titley Das, Christopher Liang and Keelin Rao); for SCMEA Division 2 All-County in band (Tillie Ancipink, Gwen McEnaney, Teagan Quinn and Megan Soto), chorus (Shea Alfano and Donna Mandamiento) and orchestra (Ryan Brown and Malcolm Friedman); for SCMEA Division 3 All-County in band (Joshua Alarcon, Kathleen Desrochers, Nicholas Gulick and Jadyn Zink), chorus (Tiana Arroyo, Addison DeFalco and Juliana Sclafani) and orchestra (Alexandra Fitch).

Next, Hershkowitz and art teacher Lisa Sacco recognized the students selected for the SCALA All-County Scholarship Show (Breanna Questel), The Atelier at Flowerfield Juried Art Show (Alexarae Casas, Eva Diesso, Ryan Donohue, Samantha Krut, Nelysa Petersen, Kathiangelys Rios Cruz and Katalina Villalba) and the Long Island Museum’s Colors of Long Island (Aaron Thorn and Sofia Zurbaran).

Islip High School administrators honored the students chosen for this summer’s American Legion Boys State (alternate Mason Nasta and primaries John Oggeri and Dijimon Senior) and American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State (alternates Aliannah Madriz and Melanie Marroquin, and citizens Elizabeth Ford and Kathryn Quinn) programs.

Islip High School Principal Lara Gonzalez then recognized Class of 2024 salutatorian Erica De Lapi and valedictorian Jaci Narducci.

Athletic Director John Sparacio and several of his coaches presented sports recognitions for the winter 2024 season to high school student-athletes including boys basketball player Andrew Owen (Academic All-County); girls basketball player Carley Mullins (All-County); competitive cheerleaders Jasmin Fields-Robinson (Academic All-County) and Makaila Preston (All-County); boys bowler Gavin Connell (perfect game); boys winter track athletes Matthew Breslin (All Long Island in pole vault) and Kaiden White (All-League, All-County, All-State and All-Long Island 300-meter champion); girls winter track athletes Wilorda Frenel (All-Sectional 4x200 relay champion), Brianna Gabbidon (All-Sectional 4x200 relay champion, All League in 55- and 300-meter, All-County in 300-meter), Imani Hood (All-Sectional 4x200 relay champion, All League in 55- and 300-meter, All-County and All-Section in 300-meter) and Brooke-Lynne Martin (All-Sectional 4x200 relay champion); and wrestlers Dominick Albertelli (All-County), Zachary Miller (All County, All-State) and Jared Spahn (All County, All-State).

Superintendent Dr. Dennis O’Hara presented New York State School Boards Association recognitions, which acknowledge Board members who continue to expand their governance knowledge and skills by participating in NYSSBA training, workshops, events, activities and webinars. This year, three Islip Board members earned awards from NYSSBA for their ongoing educational efforts. Matthew Clareen won a Level 4 Lifetime Achievement Award and Danielle Flora and Laura Rogacki earned Level 3 Board Mastery Awards.

Additionally, Regina Sanko, a school monitor at Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School, was given “Above & Beyond” recognition by Dr. O’Hara and Sherwood Principal Briana James for her efforts in assisting a student who was choking during lunch.  

Date Added: 6/3/2024