Families of the Islip School District attended the annual Festival of the Arts at Islip High School on May 20, an event that celebrates the district’s outstanding art and music programs. A walkable art exhibition showcased hundreds of student artwork from grades K-12 displayed in the school’s auditorium, hallways and cafeteria, including paintings, drawings, sculptures and mixed media pieces. Musical performances in the cafeteria featured the Islip Middle School Chamber Orchestra and Show Choir, as well as the high school and middle school jazz bands. Visiting families were entertained with an art scavenger hunt, and a special instrument petting zoo gave younger students from prekindergarten to third grade the chance to try out string, brass and woodwind instruments for their upcoming instrument choice in fourth grade. 
 
“The Festival of the Arts is my favorite event of the year,” Director of Fine and Performing Arts Michael Hershkowitz said. “Our community has the chance to experience what the students of Islip experience everyday – absolutely top-notch art and music education. The creativity on display speaks for itself, and I am grateful for the hard work of our Fine and Performing Arts team.”

Date Added: 5/29/2025

Seven Islip High School students – Tiana Arroyo, Thalia Elie, Katerina Mennecke, Ava Mirenda, Olivia Conlon, Madelyn Smith and Jadyn Zink – were selected to participate in the weekly Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) program at Stony Brook University during the fall and spring semesters. The students worked with astrophysicist graduate student Ian Johnson, who instructed them on how to use Python coding software for computational astrophysics and how to estimate the mass of black holes. The Islip students also had the opportunity to tour the telescope at Stony Brook and learn about the types of courses and extracurricular activities provided through the university’s Astronomy Club.  

Date Added: 5/15/2025

Islip High School students enrolled in Preston Hulse’s Baking Level 2 class recently learned about the remarkable success story of Crumbl Cookie, a company that began with two friends in a Logan, Utah apartment and has since grown into a major player in the cookie industry. Inspired by this entrepreneurial journey, the class created their own Crumbl-inspired cookies. In a bold move, the class reached out to Crumbl Cookie via Instagram, sharing their learning experience and photos of the students’ creations. 

“Despite Crumbl's immense popularity, we were absolutely thrilled when they responded,” Hulse said. “Not only did Crumbl provide positive feedback to our students, but they also generously gifted the class with two free 12-packs of their delicious, shareable cookies. This gesture allowed our students to sample authentic Crumbl cookies, further inspiring their baking endeavors. This experience has been invaluable for our students, reinforcing the idea that with hard work, belief in oneself and determination, no dream is impossible, no matter how big or small. It has truly been a motivational and educational moment for our class.”

Date Added: 5/14/2025

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

Four dedicated Islip High School seniors signed national letters of intent on April 30, confirming their commitment to participate in collegiate athletics this coming fall. The student-athletes were joined by their proud families, coaches and school administrators for the recognition ceremony in the school’s cafeteria.

Students signing letters included Keira Ferreira, who will play soccer at Piedmont University; Brianna Gabbidon, who will join the track team at SUNY Cortland; Lou Poulos, who will play baseball for Felician University; and Robert Rais, who will play football at Western Connecticut University.

“Congratulations to all of our student athletes and their families,” Athletic Director John Sparacio said. “To go on and be able to play your sport at the next level, no matter what level it is, is truly amazing. Keep that passion burning hot. Enjoy every moment of it, because four or five years goes very quick. Enjoy every experience, make some great friendships and most importantly, do well in school.”

Date Added: 5/12/2025