During the May 27 Connetquot Board of Education meeting, the trustees and administration recognized exemplary students and faculty for leadership and academic honors.

Helen B. Duffield Elementary School lunch aide Diane Rambold was recognized for her quick decision-making. She performed abdominal thrusts on a second grade student, dislodging a piece of a bagel and potentially saving her life.

Adrianna Clarelli and CJ Connolly from Ronkonkoma Middle School and Maeve Boland from Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School were also honored with the National Junior Honor Society’s Outstanding Achievement Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates the students’ exceptional dedication to scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. Adrianna, CJ and Maeve are three of the 500 students nationwide to receive this honor, along with a college scholarship to support their educational goals.

Nicolas Dilorio, a sixth grade student at Ronkonkoma Middle School, was recognized for being a 2025 Scholastic Storyworks National Contest winner. In his award-winning entry, Nicolas chose the animal superpower of night vision and explained how he would use it. His writing was chosen over entries from across the nation.

Connetquot supports student growth through emotional awareness and social learning, helping students build self-awareness, manage emotions and strengthen relationships. Each month, the district highlights an EASL theme such as collaboration and teamwork, responsibility, gratitude, citizenship and acceptance. Schools nominate standout students to be recognized as Connetquot’s Caring Leaders for their leadership in those areas. The following students were recognized as Caring Leaders: 

Roman Bradley (grade 8) – Ronkonkoma Middle School – responsibility

Aubrey Dean (grade 5) – Cherokee Street Elementary – grit

Emelia D’Antonio (grade 7) – Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School – collaboration and teamwork

Makayla Dowd (kindergarten) – Helen B. Duffield  Elementary – responsibility

Dylan Getty (grade 5) – Idle Hour Elementary – responsibility

Casey Mammolito (grade 4) – Edith L. Slocum Elementary – collaboration and teamwork

Vince Neckin (grade 5) – Idle Hour Elementary – acceptance

Peter Nicpon (grade 8) – Ronkonkoma Middle School – grit

Evangelos Paravalos (grade 4) – John Pearl Elementary – collaboration and teamwork

Francis Pipino (kindergarten)  – Edward J. Bosti Elementary – citizenship

Parissa Rana (grade 10) – Connetquot High School – responsibility

Gabrielle Takacs (grade 4) – Sycamore Avenue Elementary – citizenship

Alesa Wilson (grade 8) – Ronkonkoma Middle School – gratitude

 

The Connetquot High School turf field was the backdrop for Edward J. Bosti, Cherokee Street, Helen B. Duffield, Edith L. Slocum, Idle Hour, John Pearl and Sycamore Avenue fifth grade students who enthusiastically gathered for the Connetquot Central School District’s Coming Together Day on May 27. Sponsored by the Athletes Helping Athletes club and the high school’s Athletic Department, this tradition is an excellent, fun-filled opportunity for students to make new acquaintances prior to moving up to Oakdale-Bohemia and Ronkonkoma middle schools this coming fall.

The students first filed into the bleachers, according to school and wearing their color-designated T-shirts. Prior to the activities, Cherokee Street physical education teacher Joe Nelson riled up the students as he announced each school. Additionally, student-athlete and AHA club member Lily Jonas was presented the Tim Bassett Award for her extraordinary leadership qualities.

During the morning, the students participated in 10 different stations, including the cannonball brigade, crab soccer, noodle tag, tug-of-war, potato sack race and more. Best of all, the fifth grade students returned to their respective schools knowing that they made new friends and would see each other in the fall.

Date Added: 5/28/2025

Mrs. Lewis’ fourth grade students at Edward J. Bosti Elementary School combined their love for music, computer science and engineering to create music using Makey Makey.

Facilitated by Mrs. Hennessey and Ms. Russo, the students used their skills learned in computer science and engineering to showcase their note reading expertise from music to try and figure out how to play a popular song, “Hot Cross Buns.”

The students used the program Makey Makey to connect wires to a circuit board and Play-Doh to complete a closed circuit. Then, the students utilized a music staff to create a four-measure melody with four beats per measure, using the notes C, D, E, F and G to compose their own songs. They used their “Play-Doh Makey Makey Piano” to help bring their songs to life!

Click here to view the Bosti Fourth Graders Blend Music, Computer Science and Engineering slideshow.

Date Added: 5/20/2025

Ms. McNally’s kindergarten class at Edward J. Bosti Elementary wrapped up their 2D shapes unit with a deliciously fun shape pizza party! The kindergarten chefs crafted pizzas topped with green rectangle “peppers,” red circle “pepperonis,” triangle “mushrooms” and hexagon “onions.” After creating their masterpieces, they counted up all their toppings.

Click here to view the Bosti Kindergarteners Cook Up Shape Pizzas slideshow.

 

Date Added: 5/16/2025

The Helping Hands Club at Edward J. Bosti Elementary partnered with Suffolk Credit Union to host a successful coin drive, benefiting the Chestene Coverdale Food Pantry in Sayville.

Through the generous efforts of students and staff, the club raised over $1,500. Suffolk Credit Union then matched the donation, bringing the total to an impressive $3,100. A check was presented at the school’s assembly by Suffolk Credit Union’s VP of Corporate and Community Partnerships Laura Racioppi and Helping Hands Club adviser Lisa Manzo to Director of Chestene Coverdale Food Panty, Charlene Lehmann.

Date Added: 5/15/2025

The Musical Theater Club at Edward J. Bosti Elementary School recently took center stage, delivering three energetic performances that showcased the talents of 20 third and fourth grade students.

Under the direction of kindergarten teacher Ms. McNally, the performers brought to life three choreographed numbers, including “I Always Wanted a Brother” from the movie “Mufasa”, “How Far I’ll Go” from “Moana” and the high-energy classic “Footloose”. Dressed in vibrant costumes, the students performed for audiences made up of friends, family members and fellow students from kindergarten through fifth grade.

Click here to view the Edward J. Bosti’s Musical Theater Club Takes Center Stage slideshow.

 

Date Added: 4/22/2025

On April 10, elementary music students from Sycamore Avenue, Idle Hour, Edward J. Bosti and John Pearl visited Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School for a special Mock NYSSMA event in preparation for the upcoming NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) festival.

The young musicians were paired with members of the OBMS Tri-M Music Honor Society, who guided them through their solo pieces, scales and sight reading exercises.

The 2025 NYSSMA festival will take place on April 24 at Connetquot High School.

Date Added: 4/14/2025

The Connetquot community came together for an evening of reading, writing and student achievement on April 10 at the district’s 14th annual Library Literacy Celebration, presented by the district’s library media specialists.

The event showcased an impressive collection of student work from every school in the district, including original poems, stories and essays. Hallways were transformed into literary galleries, highlighting students’ talent in reading and writing.

Families also joined in the fun through a bookmark-making station and a scavenger hunt in which students uncovered letters around Connetquot High School that spelled out a secret word. The Connetquot Public Library also held a raffle drawing for attendees.

A standout moment of the evening was a special reading by student-author Meghan Miller, a junior at Connetquot High School, who shared her published children’s book, “The Great Adventures of Martha Mae”. Inspired by her real-life pet hamster, Martha Mae, the book began as an assignment in her ninth-grade children’s literature class and was completed in a sophomore creative writing course. Meghan detailed her two-and-a-half-year journey to publication in a question-and-answer session after the read aloud. The evening culminated in a book signing, where excited young readers lined up to meet Meghan and have their copies of “The Great Adventures of Martha Mae” personally signed by the author.

Click here to view the Connetquot’s 14th annual Library Literacy Celebration slideshow.

 

Date Added: 4/14/2025