Islip High School senior Isabella Field successfully participated in the 2025 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Gymnastics State Championships, held on March 1 at Clarence High School outside of Buffalo. Competing against 115 other student athletes from across the state, Field placed seventh overall in the All-Around, seventh in the Vault, eighth on Beam, 10th on Floor and 11th on Bars.  

“A big congratulations to Izzy for her performance,” Islip Athletic Director John Sparacio said.

Date Added: 3/4/2025

Islip High School experienced an incredible week leading up to the 15th anniversary of P.S. I Love You Day on Feb. 14, as students and staff wore purple to celebrate a day of fostering love, kindness and acceptance.

This year’s theme was “A Brighter Tomorrow Begins Today,” and the week began with students entering the building on Monday morning to find every locker adorned with inspirational, positive magnetic messages and posters displayed throughout the building. they also found the senior lounge artfully decorated with messages of love and encouragement. Each day, various organizations visited the school and set up tables for students to participate in activities to promote positive mental health, coping skills and the many resources available to students to turn to in times of need. Students also wrote positive messages for survivors of domestic violence and those struggling with mental illness. In addition to learning about positive self-care and mental well-being, the students listened to presentations from the National Alliance for Mental Health Institute, where guest speaker Miss Long Island shared her experiences with mental health issues and the stigma that surrounds it. 

To raise funds for suicide prevention programs for American veterans, many high school clubs organized activities such as shirt, bracelet, coffee and dessert sales, and the school’s cosmetology students offered purple hair extensions. Meanwhile, the Business Leadership and Commerce Club designed shirts with the saying. “Don’t let the hard days win, tomorrow needs your light.” and sold them throughout the Islip learning community. 

The week concluded with a visit from P.S. I Love You Day cofounder Brooke DiPalma and Suffolk County Legislator Steve Flotteron.

“It truly was a collaborative effort of teachers, students, community members, high school clubs, the PTSA and our community partner organizations,” teacher and event organizer Renee Clock said. “Keep spreading positive messages of friendship, kindness, love, acceptance and the message that ‘you are never alone,’ and together, we can continue to make our community a great place for everyone.”

Date Added: 2/27/2025

Islip High School’s athletic department held a recognition ceremony in the school’s cafeteria on Feb. 12, honoring four outstanding seniors who recently signed national letters of intent confirming their commitment to participate in collegiate athletics next fall. Their proud families and school administrators were on hand to congratulate the students on this happy achievement.

The students signing to continue their athletic careers in college were Jamie Atlas (soccer, Springfield University), Christian Hall (football, Western Connecticut State University), Brooke Martin (indoor track, Molloy College) and Brady Nash (football, University of New Haven).

“This is an amazing accomplishment and another milestone in your athletic careers,” Athletic Director John Sparacio told the senior athletes, before offering advice for college. “No matter what adversity comes your way, always try to keep a positive attitude on what it is you're doing. Your schoolwork is still first and foremost the most important thing. Obviously being part of that athletic program in your college is right up there as well, and making and developing friendships, too. That’s the trifecta. Enjoy it, continue to work hard like you did here, and remember we are always here for you. Just because you walk out these doors doesn’t mean you’re not an Islip Buccaneer. You are forever a Buccaneer.”

Date Added: 2/14/2025
 

Finding a unique way to give back to their community, several Islip High School students in Jesse Eilbeck’s Design and Drawing for Production, Home Improvement and Wood/Materials classes recently volunteered to combine their skills to craft 50 toy cars. The students cut, sanded, painted and assembled these cars to donate to the Town of Islip Youth Bureau, who added them to baskets for families in need.

Date Added: 2/12/2025

The Islip School District honored numerous elementary and secondary students for their exceptional achievements during fall and winter at the annual Night of Champions event, held on Jan. 30 at the Board of Education meeting. Students demonstrating excellence in academics, athletics, music and leadership earned certificates, with their proud families in attendance.    

Director of Fine and Performing Arts Michael Hershkowitz and the district’s art and music teachers honored students who were selected for the SCMEA PEAK Festival from Commack Road Elementary School (Josephine Bosley, Benjamin Rovery, Madison Sclafani, Brandon Vergara and Julianna Willett) and Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School (Everly Farrell, Julia Haug, Beckett Kelly, Teagan Koller and Olivia Powers); students participating in the Long Island String Festival from Commack Road (Aidan Kelly), Sherwood (Lilah Hirschmann), Islip Middle School (Chelsea Cooper, Malcolm Friedman, Christopher Liang and Dominick Lovo) and Islip High School (Connor Clifford and Emily Flora); students chosen for NYSCAME All-County Band (Sophia Zurbaran) and NYSCAME All-County Chorus (Addison DeFalco, Isabella Dragos, Alexandra Noles, Juliana Sclafani and Aaron Thorn); and Islip High School participants in the Islip Arts Council’s Art of Healthy Eating contest (Camila Granados Godoy, Samantha Krut, Gabrielle Longobardi and Emma Newman) and the New York State Boards Association Student Art Exhibit (Abigail Butler-Lentini, Gianna DeMonte Alexa Diaz, Matthew Levy, Alexandra Mendez Duran and Kathiangelys Rios Cruz).

Islip High School Principal Lara Gonzalez and Assistant Principals Charlie Rizzuto, Meghan Stern and Lisa Ward presented the high school’s academic awards. Advanced Placement awards were recognized, for students earning the AP Seminar and Research Certificate (Jamie Atlas, Ankita Dhar, Layla Quinn), AP Scholar designation (Oliva Auerbach, Melina Bennett, Rafael Bonilla, Juliana Conlon, George DiJulio, Keira Ferrera, Mushfiqa Jahan, Amy Marconi, Melanie Marroquin, James Mugan, Harris Mukhtar, Mia Nano, Malik Nayab, Jake Teuschler, Caden Tierney, Isabela Ulloa, Lauren Wade and Aiden Zaneski), AP Scholar and AP Seminar and Research Certificate (Isabella Dragos, Aliannah Madriz, Nicole Matute, Riley O’Malley and Djimon Senior), AP Scholar with Honor designation (Reese Breslin, Guyveline Jean-Charles, Adrian Pantaleon and Kathryn Quinn), AP Scholar with Honor and AP Seminar and Research Certificate (Kaitlyn Riordan), AP Scholar with Distinction designation (Ryder Miranda), AP Scholar with Distinction and AP Seminar and Research Certificate (Elizabeth Ford), AP Scholar with Distinction and AP Capstone Diploma (Isabella Field, Emily Flora, Jake Mulholland and John Oggeri). Also recognized were the school’s National Merit Commended Students (Ryder Miranda and John Oggeri).

Athletic Director John Sparacio and several of his coaches presented sports recognitions for the fall season, noting that all of Islip’s fall varsity teams achieved New York State Scholar Athlete Team status. Honored high school student-athletes included boys cross-country athletes Ryan Donohue (All-League, All-Division) and Evan Rahner (Second Team All-League); girls cross-country athletes Elizabeth Hamm and Aliannah Madriz (both All-League); football players Jake DeGennaro (All-County), Christian Hall (First Team All-Division), Brady Nash (All-County, Boomer Award finalist, LaBue Award finalist, National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete), Josiah Patterson (First Team All-Division), Robert Rais (First Team All-Division), Jack Rao (Second Team All-Division), Dylan Smith (All-County, Long Island reception leader), Caden Tierney (Second Team All-Division), Louie Tuorto (Second Team All-Division), Michael Vitale (First Team All-Division) and Callahan Zusi (Second Team All-Division); boys golfer Jacob Petelin (All-League); gymnastics athletes Elaine Biscari (All-League, Scholar-Athlete), Emily DeCotis (All-League), Nicolette Ferraro (All-County) and Isabella Field (All County, state qualifier); boys soccer players Gavin Argenziano (All-League), Jamie Atlas (All-Conference, All-County), Jonathan Lovo Lopez (All-Conference) and Jack Whitehouse (All-League, League 7 Goalkeeper of the Year); girls soccer players Julia Dromerhauser (All-County), Shea LaGiglia (All-League), Nicole Matute (All-County, All-State, Newsday Top 100 Players, League 7 Player of the Year), Peighton McKenna (All-County, All-State, Newsday Top 100 Players), Amanda Owen (All-League) and Taylor Unverzagt (All-League); girls tennis players Addison Andria (All-League), Rowan Barry (All-League), Juliana Conlon (All-County), Elizabeth Desrochers (All-League), Isabella Dragos (All-League, Section XI Sportsmanship Award), Alexis Hand (All-County), Alyssa Muschenick  (All-County), Mia Nano (All-League) and Reese Wallace (All-County); and girls volleyball players Cali Addeo (All-Tournament), Riley Haynes (All-League), Ava Maresca (All-League, All-Classification), Arianna Speer (All-League), Jami Sullivan (All-League) and Jane Tierney (All-League, All-County, All-Tournament). Additionally, four coaches – Danielle Martello (girls tennis, Kristie Najdek (JV girls volleyball), Elizabeth Pyz (JV girls soccer) and Mike Reilly (varsity girls soccer) – were recognized for earning Coach of the Year honors in their respective sports.

Date Added: 2/11/2025