Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School held its sixth annual Voice to Voice Empowerment session on Dec. 9. Though this year’s program was virtual, the powerful messages received during the session still resonated within the group. 

Walter G. O’Connell Assistant Principal Tamika Eason welcomed the attendees and offered opening remarks. Jessica Chochorek performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Beautiful” by Christina Aguilera. This year’s guest speaker was security guard Arenia “Angel” Miller.  

Following Ms. Miller’s presentation, students were placed into virtual groups to generate questions to ask her during the question and answer portion of the program. Each virtual cooperative group was facilitated by student leaders who have been members of the Voice to Voice Women’s Empowerment Program for a number of years. 

Each group asked Ms. Miller questions about her upbringing, education and professional accomplishments. Ms. Miller shared anecdotes about her life experiences and sought multiple opportunities to inspire the participants with words of encouragement. Subsequently, the students reestablished their groups to collaborate and reflect upon how Ms. Miller’s journey resonated with them. The students recited poems and offered reflections on lessons learned from Ms. Miller’s personal journey. To conclude the program, the audience affirmed their inner strength and power in unison.

Thirty six student-musicians from Copiague School District were selected for inclusion in the Suffolk Country School Music Educators’ Association’s All-County Festival. Although the in-person events are canceled this year, these students were honored by SCMEA for their exceptional dedication and talent. Students were nominated by their teachers for their past excellence at NYSSMA Festivals and performances.   

Congratulations to the following students:  

Copiague Middle School – Hannah Alara, band, clarinet; Adrianna Carbajal, band; trumpet/cornet; Raisaun Gibson, band, trombone; Adonai Adam Guglielmelli, chorus, baritone; Veronica Karwowska, band, trumpet/cornet; Daniel Kister, chorus, baritone; Linda Paiz Romero, chorus, alto; Analiz Rosario, chorus, children’s voice; Kasper Sztabinski, band, baritone/euph; Santiago Taveras, band, flute; Alyson Tenebro, band, flute; and Arianna Townsend, band, trumpet/cornet.  

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School – Joshua Archer, chorus tenor; Emily Banegas, chorus; Shenn Barredo, orchestra, flute; Ryan Bott, band, tenor saxophone; Sevon Brown, chorus, tenor; Jennifer Calderon, chorus, soprano; Jessica Chochorek, chorus, soprano; Sydney Forbes, chorus, alto; Maciej Grzegorzek, chorus, baritone; Jordan Kelly, chorus, bass; Logan Madden, chorus, bass; Samantha Maldanado-Jurado, chorus, alto; Adrianna Michal, band, flute; alto; Denison Rosa, chorus, bass; Mayra Ruiz, band, clarinet; Mackenzie Scotti, chorus, alto; Theresa Soraire, band, clarinet; Shawn Smaldon, chorus, baritone; Josiah Soto, chorus, bass; Dominique Tetlak, band, flute; Abigail Webb, chorus, soprano; Morgan Weeks, chorus, alto; Anthony Woods, chorus, tenor; and Oktay Yildiz, chorus, tenor.

Our food service workers have adapted and changed with the evolving needs during this pandemic. Watch this video that shows how their roles have changed both in schools and in the community.

Twelfth grade Advanced Placement English literature students at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School are currently studying “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller. After digging into the historical background of the play, they are now performing the play together through daily Google Meets. Each day, they focus on literary elements and devices Miller used to develop his theme. On Oct. 28, the students used Jamboard, an interactive whiteboard tool, to sign up for roles as always and then worked together to create a plot map as a review of dramatic structure.

To help ensure Copiague residents were well stocked in time for Thanksgiving and the holiday break, the Copiague School District community came together to distribute produce, grocery bags, lunches and turkeys.

On Nov. 21, members of the school district community – including administrators, staff, board of education members and faculty– distributed the items throughout the morning at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School.

It was a truly a team effort by members of the Copiague School District, thanks to donations from the school community and Island Harvest. The Eagle’s Nest food pantry held a food drive and collected donations for Thanksgiving dinners that totaled 264 grocery bags filled with holiday staples. Island Harvest donated fresh produce that amounted to 400 pounds of goods. In addition to the produce items, Island Harvest also contributed 344 grocery boxes.

Thanks to monetary donations received by the school community for the food pantry and Island Harvest, 163 turkeys were also distributed. The Copiague School District’s food service program prepared, donated and distributed 1,611 individual lunches.