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A Tribute to Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½'s 2018 Class
Click to watch a tribute to this year's Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½'s class, shown at the moving up ceremony!
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Timber Point Second-Graders Are 'On Their Way'
At Timber Point, the annual “On Our Way to Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½” celebration on June 13 found 142 second-graders singing together and sharing their dreams for the future as they prepared to move up to third grade.
Music teacher Kathy Carter led the students in performances of “Hello Around the World,” “This Land Is Your Land,” “It’s a Small World” and “Adios, Amigos!”
“There was not a dry eye in the house,” said Principal Danielle Naccarato, “and watching them shine made me feel extremely proud to be their principal.”
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Notice of Public Hearing
The Board of Education will hold a public hearing on Thursday, July 5 at 7:30 p.m. in the district office boardroom. The reorganizational meeting and regular business meeting will follow immediately. The public hearing is an opportunity for all interested parties to provide comments and questions regarding the district’s code of conduct and safety plan (both documents are attached and available for download below).
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EI's Class of 2018 Graduates
As sunny skies shone overhead, the high school held its 91st commencement on June 21, giving the Class of 2018 a chance to celebrate their achievements and get ready for a new phase of life.
Seniors Alexa Benitez and Stone Locke led the audience in the pledge of allegiance, Gabriella Commisso sang the national anthem, and four gifted senior vocalists – Jake Acocella, Jenna Anderson, Sarah Bloom and Sara Rapuzzi – sang the school’s alma mater.
“It is time for the Class of 2018 to set sail on the sea of life,” said Superintendent John Dolan. Speaking to the graduates, he told them, “Remember your family and the entire East Islip community will forever be your foundation, your lighthouse, your home…giving you comfort in the stormy times and shining brightly on your many accomplishments yet to come.”
Also addressing the new grads were Principal William Brennen and Board of Education President Jessica Carney, who urged them to be genuine. Carney honored 21 alumni from the Class of 1968 who were in attendance, and Kerri Kolensky recognized the top 25 students in the senior class.
Salutatorian Kevin Varga kept his promise to keep his speech short, thanking his teachers and parents and leaving his fellow graduates with a quote from Clint Eastwood, “It doesn’t matter what you do in life, just be the best at it.”
Jason Burke, the valedictorian, said, “Everyone has their weaknesses, but in this class, there are so many strengths – future mechanics, nurses, doctors, engineers, computer scientists, CEOs and musicians. I can’t tell you what you have to do to get there, but I know you all have what it takes. I am positive that when each of you set your goals, you will have the ability and work ethic to achieve your dreams.”
After the diplomas were presented, Class President John Camlet gave a lighthearted farewell address, followed by the familiar traditions of turning tassels and tossing caps.
As a Beethoven symphony finale poured from the orchestra’s strings, EI’s Class of 2018 walked out of the stadium to their new future.
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Livestrean the HS Graduation Ceremony on YouTube!
Click to livestream the high school graduation ceremony at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 21.
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High Schoolers Experience 'Anastasia'
High school juniors and seniors recently visited New York City to view the Broadway show “Anastasia.” The hit musical, nominated for the Drama Desk award, was adapted from the 1997 film of the same name, both based on the legend of Russian Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna of Russia.
“The staging of this production was amazing, from the elaborate palace sets to the train car, with the screens in the background giving a sense of travel as scenes of Russia's lush landscapes blended into Paris's magnificence,” said English teacher Linda Leach, who accompanied the students. “The universal themes of love lost and found, familial relationships torn asunder due to war, and discovering who you are all played out to music sung beautifully by Christy Altomare and Zach Adkins.”
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A Special Day for EI’s 13 Olympians
The East Islip Special Olympics team took the field for the third consecutive year, competing on May 19 at the Long Island Spring Games North hosted by Bethpage High School. Despite heavy rain, the student-athletes maintained their focus and competitive spirit, resulting in the team bringing home a total of 24 medals.
East Islip had a team of 13 this year, consisting of six middle schoolers (Riley Carrillo, Madeline Director, Jake Kozak, Janissa Lloyd, Julia Modico and Michael Pacheco-Uvidia) coached by physical education teacher Laura O’Donnell, and seven high school students (Delany Conlon, Danny DiOrio, Robert Phillips, Jake Pippatone, Michael Quagliara, Sara Spruyt and Kelly Stupplebeen), coached by physical education teacher Julie Susskind.
The team trained for approximately two months to prepare for their track and field events – 50-meter dash, 50-meter assisted walk, 100-meter dash, turbo javelin throw, softball throw and tennis ball throw – with each athlete competing in two events. With their hard work and dedication, alongside the commitment of the coaching staff and support of the volunteers, the year was another huge success for East Islip’s team, which earned 11 gold, 11 silver and two bronze medals.
The team members and their families had gathered for a pregame breakfast the day before, hosted by the East Islip Athletics Department, and the district’s Special Education Parent Teacher Organization showed its support with the purchase of a new team banner. Volunteers included East Islip teachers and staff such as Paula Brinker, Renee De Vries, Josephine DiMaggio, Christine O’Connell, Marissa Rymer, Donna Tuck and Diane Wahrenburg; family members of competing athletes like SEPTO President Noni Kozak, Thomas Di Orio and Anthony Matteran; community members like EI alumni Alfio DiMaggio, Frankie DiMaggio and Teresa DiMaggio; and even a middle school student, Antonia Tuck, who was the first student volunteer since the team was organized.
“This day could not happen without the support of volunteers,” said O’Donnell. “They stand side by side with our athletes throughout the entire event, and this year they too stood in the rain. They were all amazing.”
Also on the field rooting for the athletes were East Islip Middle School Principal Mark Bernard and Superintendent John Dolan.
“It’s great for the kids to see the administrators out here cheering them on,” said Susskind. “Having the principal and superintendent at an all-day Saturday event shows support for the program and everyone involved.”
“It just gets better every year,” said O’Donnell. “Even in the pouring rain, there’s nothing better than the high five at the finish line or the pride each athlete exudes while holding up their medal. We couldn’t be more honored to share this day with everyone on the team. I’m already looking forward to next year and hoping more students and more volunteers join.”
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Senior Basketball Players Visit Former Teachers
In advance of graduation, seniors on the high school boys basketball team members brought flowers to their elementary school teachers to show their appreciation and give the educators a chance to see the end result of their teaching process. Among them was Patrick Connelly, who surprised Kim Loeffler, his former teacher at Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School.
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A Year of Musical Dedication
An entire school year of hard work, passion and dedication to music from both students and teachers was celebrated in style at East Islip’s annual spring concert series. The performances, all held at Rydzeski Hall, included the middle school on May 7 and 9, Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ on May 14, RCK on May 16, and the high school on May 22 and 23.
"Our spring concert series, featuring students from grades 3-12, began with our third-graders performing on the recorders and singing, and ended with our seniors performing their final number on the East Islip High School stage,” said Dr. Robert J. Wottawa II, the district’s director of art and music. “Smiles and tears of joy were shared among our students, teachers and community members as the music department took our breath away with each performance. We are so very proud of all the students and teachers who shared their musicianship this spring season.”
“I couldn’t be more proud of both of my beginner and advanced orchestras,” said Ñî¹óåú´«Ã½ Orchestra Director Jaime DeMaria. “They performed with energy, dynamics and – most importantly – heart. I am so honored to be their teacher and wish the fifth-graders all the best as they continue their musical journey to the middle school.”
“I am exceptionally proud of the performances of the seventh- and eighth-grade orchestra students,” said East Islip Middle School Orchestra Director Judith Fischer, whose students performed material ranging from Rimsky-Korsakoff to The Beatles. “I truly believe that their concerts were an outstanding example of the hard work we do each and every day in class. Congratulations on a job well done.”
