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It was the most wonderful time of year during the week of Dec. 14 in the gymnasiums at Timber Point, as the youngest students participated in safe and socially distanced holiday stations. The festively decorated stations included Candy Cane Lane, Up on the Rooftop, Skating Rink and the Reindeer Takeoff and Landing.

The high school presented its 2020 winter concert virtually this year, sharing the student-musicians’ talent and hard work with the community via YouTube and social media. The concert was sponsored by the local East Islip Music and Arts Program Support organization.

The concert band, directed by Christopher Neske, performed Henry Fillmore’s “His Honor”; the treble choir, directed by Bethany Affelt, performed Mark Miller’s “I Believe”; the concert choir, directed by Patricia Bryan, performed Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s “Once Upon a December” from “Anastasia”; the string orchestra, directed by Giovanna Ruggiero, performed the traditional holiday favorite “Deck the Halls”; and the honors choir, directed by Affelt, performed Noel Regney and Gloria Shayne’s “Do You Hear What I Hear.” Closing out the concert was the symphony orchestra – composed of the honors wind ensemble, directed by Neske, and the honors strings, directed by Ruggiero – performing Leroy Anderson’s classic “Sleigh Ride.”

“We would like to thank the East Islip community and school administration for their continued support during these unprecedented times,” said Ruggiero. “Thank you so much and we hope you enjoy.”

 

 

On Dec. 14, Connetquot second graders were treated to a virtual visit from Reena Pagnoni, author of the Rambee Boo series.

During two Google Meets, which allowed for six in-person classes to listen to Pagnoni read her book “Rambee Boo’s Snowed in Too!,” she discussed being a writer and the writing process with students and allowed them to ask questions about her books and profession.

“It was very inspiring for the students to hear from a real author,” said teacher Melissa Love.

 

High school cosmetology teacher Candace Rodriguez and art teacher Heather Toomey recently collaborated to create business cards for the cosmetology students to display at their styling stations. Students decided how they wanted to market themselves to show their specialty, such as a focus on hair, skin, nails or make up. Then Toomey and her electronic illustration students created the professional designs for the cards, and used a 3D printer to make card display holders for the styling stations.

“Seeing the students light up when I handed out the cards was amazing to see,” said Rodriguez. “They were really proud to put them on display.”

“It was so much fun collaborating with the cosmetology department,” said Toomey. “The business cards look fantastic and all of the students involved are so professional. I look forward to working with Mrs. Rodriguez and the cosmetology classes in the future on more creative projects.”

High school senior Giavanna Perrone signed a national letter of intent on Dec. 11 to play lacrosse for Young Harris College in Georgia. She plans to major in creative writing.

As a freshman at St. John the Baptist in West Islip in 2018, Perrone was the lacrosse team’s leading scorer and won the Sixth Man Award. The midfielder was the East Islip junior varsity leading scorer in 2019. She was named a 2018 Maverik National High School Lacrosse All-American in 2018 and a Maverik National Classic All-Star in 2019, playing in the Maverik National Lacrosse Classic both years, and was selected for the 2019 Intercollegiate Women’s Lacrosse Coaches Association’s Brine Presidents Cup. Perrone was also a field hockey team captain in 2018 and a member of the National Junior Honor Society.

Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ math students recently enjoyed finding arrays around the library and solving the amount in each array by skip counting, repeated addition, multiplying or using the distributive property.

Guided by coach Jason McGowan, members of the high school varsity softball team recently shopped for underprivileged children in the Amityville School District as part of the team’s annual partnership with local nonprofit organization Christmas Magic.

Masks have made mustaches less obvious this school year, but the high school'sl Key Club continued its annual participation in the annual Movember fundraiser for men’s health initiatives, led by social studies teacher and Key Club adviser Daniel Falkman. With the help of our Key Club President Hannah Lemp and Vice President Michaela Penafiel, the club raised $200 this year. Falkman and the club have raised more than $1,400 for the cause over the last decade.

“Our Key Club is always looking for ways to help in our community as well as looking at problems that face our world,” Falkman said.

Fourth-grade scientists at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ recently explored the scientific process with leftover Halloween candy. They were shocked to see the letter S float away from Skittles in warm water. They also created Skittle rainbows as the candy’s sugar and food coloring dissolved in water.

After extensive and cautious planning by the district’s team of teachers and administrators, morning music rehearsals at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ and RCK elementary schools successfully resumed in November. Band and orchestra students previously met with their teachers in smaller groups to maintain social distancing.

“I am so proud of how our team strategically planned for this transition, and it is a blessing for our students to share music together again,” said Dr. Robert J. Wottawa II, the district’s director of art, ENL, music, and world languages.

“It’s wonderful to hear the beautiful sounds of our musicians attending in-person lessons again,” said Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Principal Deborah Smith. “I may move the rehearsals to these locations from now on so I can hear the children from my office.”

High school senior and Olivia Zhang was recently named a Semper Fidelis All-American for 2020. She was recognized with an award presentation at the high school on Nov. 20, attended by Staff Sgt. Christopher Rivera, a Semper Fidelis program representative, as well as district administrators and Zhang’s adviser and Semper Fidelis mentor Lisa Rapiejko.

Zhang was one of less than 100 student-athletes nationwide chosen from 5,600 applicants by the U.S. Marine Corps as an All-American based on exceptional moral character and academic performance in addition to noteworthy athletic abilities. In a typical year, Semper Fidelis All-Americans and a mentor of their choice would have been honored this past summer at the Battles Won Academy experience in Washington, DC, but the event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Serving as Student Council President, Zhang is also a member of her school’s Math Honor Society, Foreign Language Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Interact Club, Academic Team and tennis and track teams. She also holds the rank of petty officer second class in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps and was chosen to be a facilitator for the Rotary Club’s Youth Leadership program.

The high school's SADD Club recently created and provided a virtual presentation to all of Christopher Padgur's health classes at the middle school. The message was "Make good decisions, your life depends upon it!" Topics included suicide, drinking, drug use, peer pressure and how to make good friend choices.

"EIHS is committed to continuing its usual programs even during a pandemic, and the middle school program is no different," said SADD adviser Bridget Lopiccolo. "We want to thank the school board, Superintendent Dolan and Mr. Bernard for helping clubs continue because they are important and make a difference."

 

 

In a fun engineering project, students at Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ recently planned and built “turkey towers” using toothpicks and marshmallows, attempting to discover which construction was tallest and strongest.