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EI Medals at Special Olympics!
Coached by physical education teachers Laura O’Donnell and Julie Susskind, the 11 proud student-athletes on East Islip’s 2022 Special Olympics team competed in this year’s Special Olympics New York Spring Games North, held at Farmingdale Middle School. The competition was preceded by East Islip’s annual kick-off breakfast at East Islip Middle School, with the team, their families, coaches, SEPTO, volunteers and administration coming together to celebrate the athletes’ hard work in preparing for the Games to wish them the best of luck. Throughout the day, the athletes showed their skill and athleticism, bringing home seven gold medals, seven silver medals, three bronze medals. Additionally, East Islip earned four fourth-place, one fifth-place and one sixth-place showing. “The kids were all amazing,” Susskind said. “They trained and then went out there and killed it.” “It was a hot day, and we were missing the torrential rains of the last few Special Olympics games, but in the end, we were all grateful to be back after the long pause due to COVID,” O’Donnell said. Date Added: 7/28/2022
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Seventh Graders Explore the Science of Rocketry
Seventh Graders Explore the Science of Rocketry Students in Pamela Avella’s seventh grade technology classes at East Islip Middle School made rockets in June, learning about the forces of flight as well as Newton’s laws of motion. Using empty plastic bottles, the students added cardboard fins, paper tubes and nose cones made from manila folders. A ping pong ball was used for the parachute, to add drag on the way down. For the launch outdoors, each rocket was filled halfway with water, acting as the “rocket fuel.” After pressurizing the air in the bottle, the safety release was pulled, allowing the rocket to fly high. Date
Added: 7/25/2022
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"The Broadcaster" Returns
After a few years of inactivity, East Islip High School’s school newspaper, “The Broadcaster,” returned in 2022 in the form of a website, EIBroadcaster.com. Led by English teacher Michael Augello and rising senior and Editor-In-Chief Tristan Hearth, the staff used the SNO Sites, platform a branch of WordPress designed for student journalism, to resurrect the publication and coordinate their efforts. The initial run of articles was published in June. “One of my goals for my first year of teaching in East Islip was to get involved right away in as many ways as possible,” Augello said. “During the interview process, administration mentioned that there was a group of students who were hungry to bring back the newspaper, and they hoped the candidate they hired might be interested in leading the charge. I felt this was the perfect opportunity for me: In high school, I was the editor of my school newspaper and wrote for a local high school football website. In college, before studying education, I studied journalism, and before coming to East Islip, I helped to reshape a digital media/broadcasting course to center more around digital storytelling. It was so much fun to start recruiting a staff, teaching about journalism, and hearing the stories that are out there. We decided to make the switch and go digital to adapt to the way people consume their media today and to expand the way we can tell our stories.” “It is impossible to know what the future of the paper holds, but I am happy to have helped it get started, and I cannot wait for whatever comes next,” Hearth said. View "The Broadcaster" here. Date Added: 7/21/2022
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Cosmetology Grads Ready to Enter the Industry
East Islip High School’s cosmetology program held a June ceremony to celebrate students completing 1,000 hours in the program. The two-year program allows students to take a New York State licensing exam upon completion of their required hours. Each student received a certificate and their cords for graduation.East Islip High School’s cosmetology program held a June ceremony to celebrate students completing 1,000 hours in the program. The two-year program allows students to take a New York State licensing exam upon completion of their required hours. Each student received a certificate and their cords for graduation.
These students have really grown so much over the last two years in this program,” teacher Candice Rodriguez said. “They have all taken their licensing exam and are more than ready to enter the cosmetology industry upon graduation. Many are already currently working in the industry in salons in the community. The students have had so much hands-on experience from working a variety of events over the past two years, including the SADD Fashion Show, school plays and homecoming events. It is always sad saying goodbye to a graduating class, but I have no doubt that all of these students will be successful.” Date Added:
7/19/2022
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Sundberg Delivers at Bowling Nationals
East Islip eighth grader Matthew Sundberg delivered an outstanding performance at the 2022 U.S. High School Bowling National Championship, hosted by the U.S. High School Bowling Foundation in Louisville, Kentucky from June 18-20.
A three-day competition featuring both singles and team events, this was the sixth U.S. High School Bowling National Championship event to showcase the best boys and girls high school bowlers from across the country. Athletes from more than 25 states were in attendance. Sundberg, one of the youngest competitors in a field of 354 varsity boys, finished the tournament in the top 15 percent of athletes, ranked at No. 49.
On Sunday, he bowled a four-game set and averaged 215.75 for the day, enough to move him to the first cut, where the field went to 180. He was ranked in 36th place. On Monday, survivor rounds commenced. Each round was cumulative total pin fall and after the first round, Sundberg made the cut to top 90 and was ranked in 24th place. During the next round, lane conditions changed, but he managed to cover all his makeable spares. A few splits cost him some wood and he was eliminated at the end of the round, falling just seven pins short. Over the course of two days of highly competitive bowling, Sundberg missed only one makeable spare.
He is currently competing in the under 20 category at the 2022 Junior Gold Championships, held from 11-15 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Sundberg, who recently graduated from East Islip Middle School and will attend East Islip High School as a freshman in September, finished second in Suffolk County this year with a 233 average, earning him All-Star honors as well as All-League and All-County recognition.
“Matt has a really super future ahead of him, and represents East Islip with pride and outstanding sportsmanship whenever he is on the lanes,” coach Judy Fischer said. “This was a wonderful opportunity for this young man.”
Date Added: 7/12/2022
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EIHS Artists Prepare Portfolios
East Islip High School students Naomy Mukai and Maddalena Toto recently participated in the NYSATA Portfolio Project, an initiative developed in cooperation with the New York State Education Department that provides students with an opportunity to present portfolios of their work at regional adjudication sites. The student portfolios provide evidence of understanding and student learning in the visual arts. Feedback is available for the student, parent, school and community.
During the past school year, Mukai was enrolled in Dan Figliozzi’s drawing and painting class as well as Amarilis Singh’s photography class, while Toto was enrolled in Singh’s studio in art class as well as Figliozzi’s honors design and drawing.
“Naomy and Maddy did an amazing job at the NYSATA Portfolio evaluation,” teacher Amarilis Singh said. “They received fantastic scores and feedback. I am incredibly proud of them and the work they have created this year. Naomy is a talented student who excels in art. In her classes this past year, and with her own artistic initiatives, she was able to produce a body of work to create a portfolio for submission to this project. She will be taking AP Art next year and I believe that this experience will help her immensely when making her AP body of work and portfolio preparation. As a freshman, Maddy’s talent stood out to us. I believe this was a great opportunity for her to experience writing and speaking about her creative process as well as receiving feedback outside of our school’s art teachers. She has a great creative initiative and constantly wants to learn more. At school, she is often found working on an art project or seeking out new knowledge and feedback from the art teachers.”
“The NYSATA Portfolio Project was an amazing experience that allowed me to showcase my talents,” Mukai said. “I found the evaluation to be extremely beneficial to understand how an outside viewer will react to my pieces. I hope this experience will help me in the process of making my later work, and understanding how my viewer will conceptualize my work. The act of composing a portfolio together, allowed me to understand how the order of my pieces will demonstrate a story to the viewer. I hope these efforts will help me next year as I will be making a portfolio for college applications as well as AP Art.”
“NYSATA was just what I needed to give me confidence in my art,” Toto said. “Finding out about what other art teachers think of my work and having them give me tips on my pieces expands my ideas more and pushes me to do better. Being only in ninth grade, this really gave me a good look into the future in terms of putting my portfolio together. The waves of emotions that I went through while putting it together and making new pieces for the portfolio were stressful, but in the end, I felt a sensation of achievement.”
Date Added: 7/8/2022
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Zachry Returns as Board of Ed President, Dorgan Named VP
For the second consecutive year, Christopher Zachry was named the East Islip Board of Education's president for 2022-2023 during the annual reorganization meeting on July 5. Zachry, who was first elected as a trustee in 2014, previously served as Board president in 2015-2016 and 2018-2019.
Michael Dorgan, who joined the Board last year, was named vice president.
New trustee Timothy Sassone, who was unable to attend the reorganization meeting, was sworn in earlier.
Date Added: 7/6/2022
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Middle School NJHS Shows Support for ALS Ride for Life
Guided by adviser Betty Muller, East Islip Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society recently held a school and community fundraiser for ALS Ride for Life, raising $1,000 by selling baseballs and bracelets both in the school and in the community.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a progressive nervous system disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, causing loss of muscle control. Founded in 1997, ALS Ride for Life works to raise research funds to find a cure for while supporting patients and their families.
Several East Islip students proved especially dedicated to the cause. Student Government President and NJHS member Sahil Patel raised $54 dollar, NJHS Treasurer Chloe Garatina and NJHS Secretary Kaylee Garatina together raised a total of $185, and NJHS members Lexie Chocko and Kathryn Elliott both raised over #45 dollars. Additionally, teacher Carolyn Hummel contributed $150 from her Kindness Challenge fundraiser, bringing the total donation towards a cure for ALS to $1,150 dollars.
On June 14, Ride for Life representatives visited the school to accept the donation from the NJHS students, Muller, Hummel and Principal Bill Brennen.
“I want to thank all of the students for their hard work and dedication in supporting ALS Ride for Life,” Muller said. “I would also like to thank Mr. Brennen and the middle school staff at who supported us and this great cause during this school year.”
Date Added: 7/6/2022
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Three HS Photographers Honored at Huntington Camera Club
Guided by teachers Amarilis Singh and Heather Toomey, East Islip High School photography students recently participated in the annual Huntington Camera Club High School Photography Competition, sponsored by Nikon.
Marni Jacobowitz took first place in traditional black and white photography, Kelly Waldron received honorable mention and Naomy Mukai was awarded the 2022 Roberta Strent Memorial Award. A $500 award in memory of photographer and Huntington Camera Club member Roberta Strent, the latter is bestowed on a high school student who has demonstrated a superior aptitude and continuing interest in photography. The students were recognized at an awards ceremony held at Huntington Public Library.
“It was unexpected to be acknowledged by some of the top photography students on Long Island, but it was very exciting and I was very honored,” Waldron said.
“I am very honored to have been acknowledged during this year's Huntington Camera Club competition,” Jacobowitz said. “Last year, I had the honor of working with Mrs. Toomey, who kickstarted my love of photography. This year, I had the pleasure of working with Mrs. Singh, who guided me through the darkroom and helped me grow as an artist. The art department at East Islip High School has allowed me to continue my love for art and has helped me flourish into who I am today. Winning this award has given me the opportunity to continue to learn new techniques and the courage to continue pursuing art.”
“Winning the Roberta Strent Memorial Award for the medium that brings me the most joy is a huge honor,” Mukai said. “I would like to thank everyone who helped me through this process and gave me the tools I needed to succeed. I am able to put my ideas and thoughts into a visual representation, and that feeling means the world to me. I will forever push myself to create, and am unbelievably proud of what we have accomplished together.”
“I am very proud of our students’ accomplishments,” Singh said. “They are incredibly talented, hardworking and deserving of being recognized. I am very thankful to the Huntington Camera Club for providing these amazing opportunities to our students, and so proud of Naomy and Marni for their dedication and passion for photography.”
“It was an incredible ceremony with great speakers and a display of wonderful student photography from across Long Island,” Toomey said. “Kelly has really excelled in photography this year, and it is so wonderful to see her get the recognition she has worked for. Naomy and Marni were my students last year, and Mrs. Singh did an incredible job with them this year. As a department, we all unanimously nominated Naomy for the Strent Award, and she created a powerful video with the help of teacher William Lackner as well. We have a great team supporting our students here at East Islip, and it’s an honor to be a part of it.”
Date Added: 7/5/2022
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Softball Success for East Islip
It was a season to remember for East Islip High School’s varsity softball team, tying the school record with 23 wins and concluding with the Lady Redmen’s fifth consecutive League IV championship and third Suffolk County title (the first since 2017).
Senior Kyra Kreuscher was named Newsday Long Island Player of the Year as well as All-County, first team All-Long Island and first team All-State. Kailyn Bloch, Madison Sturtz and Kayla Varga were all named All-County and Alyssa Benvengo was named second team All-County.
“I am very proud of this group,” said coach Jason McGowan, who was named League IV and Suffolk County Coach of the Year. “They were resilient, put the work in and believed in themselves. Kyra, being the only senior, was a great leader and role model.”
Date Added: 7/5/2022
