Wing Elementary School welcomed local community members to Community Reader Day on the morning of March 5. The annual event, part of the Pick a Reading Partner program, invites guests to read favorite books to Wing students in support of the school’s initiative to instill a love of reading.

Guest readers visiting the Wing classrooms this year included Islip Board of Education Vice President Paul Austin and trustees Eric Buehler, Matthew Clareen, Tom Leggio and Laura Rogacki; Superintendent Dr. Dennis P. O’Hara; Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Michael Giacchetto; Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Administrative Services and Operations Donna Brower; Fine and Performing Arts Director Michael Hershkowitz; Technology, Innovation and Information Systems Director Dr. Chad Walerstein; World Language/ENL Coordinator Rabia Hirji; Science and Technology Coordinator Dan Oggeri; English Language Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Cosmetology Coordinator Barbara Wagner; Islip High School Principal Dr. Lara Gonzalez, Islip Middle School Dean of Students Jamie Wright; Commack Road Elementary School Principal Jacqueline Beckmann; Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School Principal Briana James; Islip Town Councilman James P. O’Connor; Islip Town Clerk Linda Vavricka; Islip Town Receiver of Taxes Andy Wittman; and several of the district’s counselors, social workers and teachers.  

“Community Reader Day is one of our favorite events at Wing,” Principal Catherine Glaser said. “We are deeply grateful to the members of our Board of Education, central office administration, district and building administrators, and local elected officials who took time out of their morning to read to our UPK, kindergarten and first-grade students.”

Date Added: 3/11/2025

The Islip School District held its annual Multicultural Night on March 4, celebrating the school community’s 20 different languages and numerous vibrant cultures through performances and displays.

The evening began with an exciting performance showcase in the Islip High School auditorium by multicultural clubs and the student population. The audience of over 200 attendees then moved to the school cafeteria to explore cuisine and displays, led by high school students. Family and consumer science classes cooked and served food, the functional academics students who operate the Bucs Brew beverage cart sold coffee, and cosmetology students offered face painting and henna. Three local eateries – Bubba’s Burrito Bar, Pizza Corner and The Pizzeria of Islip – also donated food for the event.

“Our students have been learning about different holidays and cultures through our multicultural clubs,” said Rabia Hirji, Islip’s administrator for ENL and world languages. “They were excited to show the displays they had created and eager to share what they’ve learned with the community. We are proud to highlight the diversity in our district.”

Date Added: 3/11/2025

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

A magical “Musical Candy Store” came to Islip’s Wing Elementary School on Jan. 16, bringing joy to students and visiting family members. Led by music teacher Shannon Fogarty, Wing’s kindergartners presented a pleasing program of candy-themed songs including “The Candy Man,” “I Want Candy,” “Lollipop,” “If All the Raindrops” and “This Candy Has Words.”

“Our students enthusiastically performed a show all about candy and sweets,” Fogarty said. “They wowed the audience with a colorful scarf routine, sang famous songs and even held candy hearts with words on them. We are so proud of all the hard work they put into this performance.”

Date Added: 1/30/2025