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

At Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School, the Writing Workshop initiative provides a supportive and collaborative environment for writers to improve their skills by encouraging regular writing practice and providing individualized feedback. This “workshop model” emphasizes and focuses on the importance of the process of writing by incorporating peer review, meaningful communication, critical thinking and editing and revising skills.

“This approach aligns with our growth mindset philosophy and provides students with opportunities to learn from one another, share their writing, and gain confidence in their growing writing ability,” Principal Briana James said.

Last November, Sherwood’s writers showcased all that they learned during Writing Workshop by participating in the first schoolwide writing celebration of the 2024-2025 year. Invitees to the celebration included second-grade parents, district administrators and Board of Education trustees. To keep the tradition alive, the celebration was kicked off with student representatives from each grade sharing what they learned as writers with the entire student body via livestream, which they also shared when presenting at the district’s October Board of Education meeting.

On Jan. 23, Sherwood celebrated again, with parents of third graders invited to join the festivities.

“At this time, we have completed one fiction and one nonfiction unit,” James said. “We can’t wait to dive into our next writing pieces and look forward to another celebration in April.”

Date Added: 2/3/2025

For the third consecutive year, the National Circus Project came to Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School in January for a weeklong program of circus training with professional circus performers and educators, made possible by the school’s PTA and generous contributions from families during Sherwood’s 2024 Boosterthon fundraiser.

All Sherwood students in grades 2 through 5 participated during physical education classes, learning circus tricks and skills in acrobatics and balance. These activities foster physical strength and motor skills; promote confidence; build character; and encourage creativity, patience, perseverance, self-discipline and teamwork, all while having a tremendous amount of fun. Over the course of the week, each child participated in at least 80 minutes of training, in activities such as balancing feathers and brooms, walking on stilts, juggling, spinning plates, manipulating flower sticks, twirling hula hoops, and creating clown comedy acts. Fifth graders practiced every single day, and on some days more than once, creating great memories while preparing for a culminating Jan. 10 performance in front of their friends and families.

“During the five intensive days of training, it was truly incredible to see the confidence of our students grow, as they persevered through a new challenging, yet supportive experience,” Principal Briana James said. “Overall, it was a great week of growth and development for the children, as their hard work really paid off. The children really supported each other throughout the entire week, and hearing them cheer each other on and offer words of encouragement was wonderful. We love hosting the National Circus Project and are already looking forward to next year.” 

Date Added: 1/27/2025

Student singers from Islip High School and Islip Middle School embarked on their caroling rounds across the district on Dec. 19, making cheerful stops at Commack Road, Sherwood, Wing and the district office, as well as over the high school’s PA system. Led by Dr. Rich Harris, who accompanied the singers on keyboards, the approximately 100 choral students worked hard to prepare for this exuberant annual celebration of holiday music and community spirit.

“This is one of our favorite Islip traditions, and a reminder of music’s ability to connect us all, especially during the holidays,” Director of Fine and Performing Arts Michael Hershkowitz said.

Date Added: 1/9/2025