Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School’s Jose Villatoro-Amaya has learned how helping others pays off. The recent graduate has been named a first-place winner in the Junior Achievement of New York’s 2023-24 High School Heroes Essay Contest. Jose was a member of the school’s program under the guidance of teacher Colleen Gurtner. His essay focused on why volunteering as a High School Hero is important. Along with being featured on the Junior Achievement of New York website, Jose also received an award of $500.

Date Added: 7/8/2024

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School held its 65th commencement exercises on June 25 celebrating the Class of 2024 in the arena of Suffolk County Community College’s Brentwood campus. Led by faculty and staff, the students marched in to “Pomp and Circumstance” and were met by thunderous applause from family and friends in attendance.

Copiague School District Board of Education First Vice President Anthony S. Pepe offered his congratulations to the Class of 2024 on behalf of the board. “Today, we stand of the precipice of a momentous occasion, your high school graduation,” he said. “Today is not just a celebration but a testament to your hard work, resilience and determination. You have faced challenges head on – each hurdle you overcame and each victory you achieved has led you to this very moment. As you reflect on your high school journey, remember the lessons learned and the bonds formed. These experiences have shaped you into the person you are today, ready to make your mark on the world.”

Copiague School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon said she will remember this class for all their accomplishments in the classroom, on the fields, on the stage and everywhere in between. “You are all to be commended for the positive energy, effort, flexibility, dedication that you put into everything you accomplished while you were here,” she said. “I have watched you all grow over the past 13 years, and I know you are leaving us more than ready to embark on the next chapter in your lives. Hold on to the excitement and anticipation you feel tonight and look at every new opportunity with that same excitement.”

Salutatorian Jonathan Singh urged his classmates to take charge of what’s ahead and make an impact on the world. “Tonight is the start of the long life that lays ahead of us, and we finally made it,” he said. “Although high school contains some of the most beautiful memories of our lives, it is only a small fraction of what is yet to come. Our lives are not defined by our grades or our extracurricular activities, our lives are defined by what we do with them, who we choose to be, and how hard we choose to work.”

Kemmora Simmons, Class of 2024 valedictorian, advised her fellow graduates to not wish the future away, but instead live in the present. “There are 1,140 minutes in a day, half of which we spend sleeping in the comfort of our beds. Why waste the rest of our day trying to fast forward time when we could just bask in the sun and make meaningful memories that will last lifetimes. Graduates, take a minute to just cherish the moment we’re currently in. Take it all in… because this might be the last time we’re experiencing a moment like this with all of us here together.I hope you all remember to appreciate your life for what it is and to stop comparing it to others. Live in the present and enjoy the life you’ve been given because at the end of the day, your happiness is all that matters.”

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Principal Joseph Agosta addressed the soon-to-be graduates for the final time. “Each step of this journey has presented a variety of opportunities for growth, overcoming adversities and celebrating successes,” he said. “Looking forward, much is expected of you, and I have great confidence in your abilities. As you move on in life, remember the values, pride and sense of community that each member of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School staff has worked so hard to provide. Many people have worked hard to help you grow academically, socially and emotionally. Now I charge you with the task of continuing to put what you learned to good use and to be a positive force in your community.”

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Assistant Principals Jonathan Cutolo and David Aguado announced the names of each student. Graduates made their way across the stage and were congratulated by Mr. Agosta and Dr. Bannon. After all names were called, Mr. Agosta instructed the students to turn their tassels, and they then tossed their caps high into the air in celebration as official graduates of the Class of 2024.

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Date Added: 6/26/2024

To showcase the achievements of its student body, Copiague School District held a Student Recognition Awards ceremony at Copiague Middle School on June 10. Surrounded by administrators, Board of Education members, family, friends and faculty, students were recognized for their hard work in academics and for their abilities to show kindness and respect for their peers.

The student recognition awards are held only twice a year, and the Copiague Board of Education selects students who have been chosen by administrators, teachers and staff in their respective buildings for their efforts.

“Publicly recognizing excellence is our way of celebrating some of the great successes of the Copiague Public Schools’ programs and, at the same time, enabling us to showcase outstanding role models to our community,” said Copiague School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon.

Congratulations to the following recipients:

Deauville Gardens East Elementary School: Gianna Alston, Mason Marner and Leah Rupper

Deauville Gardens West Elementary School: Angel Jayce Fabian and Hazel Ramirez Mendoza

Great Neck Road Elementary School: Anala Amin and Anhelina Pahulych

Susan E. Wiley Elementary School: Luke Basile, Shnahaly Fortisme, Yasmin Garcia-Torres, Lonnae Leftenant and Natalie Lopez-Canales

Copiague Middle School: Ludrose Naima Alcime, Ariana Bonilla, Dean Coleman Jr., Savanna Hughes and Fatima J. Jimenez Ardon

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School: Brian Chacon, Alex Ochoa Hercules, Abigail Rodriguez and Phidgena Saint-Surin

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Date Added: 6/24/2024

Copiague School District recognized and honored the 51 student-artists who had their artwork inducted into the Superintendent’s Art Gallery during a ceremony held at Copiague Middle School on June 10.

The 51 pieces of art were framed and placed on display for the audience to enjoy. Each student was presented with a certificate to acknowledge their achievement.

In 1996, the Superintendent’s Art Gallery began when the Copiague art teachers selected several pieces of student artwork to display. Through the years, the collection has grown to provide a showcase of student artwork in corridors and offices in each of the schools. Each of the framed pieces is identified by a brass plate noting the student-artist’s name, grade level and year the piece was completed. Selections for the gallery seek to represent works that reflect the artists’ efforts.

Congratulations to the following student-artists:

Deauville Gardens East Elementary School: Autumn Cassar, Mia Gaeten, Sharelle Leon and Armando Sagastume; Deauville Gardens West Elementary School: Leah Boyd, Danika Eldora, Chelsie Fernandez, Imet Hanley, Katherine Holguin, Emely Moran, Desmond Ramirez and Valentina Vicente; Great Neck Road Elementary School: Sheila Canales, Kamila Chiesa, Tiffany Dominguez, Jayden Cepeda Espinal, Fathima Seyed Fazmil and Sayumi Valladares; Susan E. Wiley Elementary School: Olivia Rose Charles and Josser Reyes Vargas; Copiague Middle School: Elianie Barona, Amy Flores, Hailey Hitzel, Alice Pierre Joseph, Yerdalys Fernandez Leon, Wendy Arrazola Lovo, Grace Mauro, Jailah Rix, Aliah Castro Santos, Aaron Sosa, Sophia Tejada and Sean Yanase; Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School: Victoria Abayev, Cecilia Rodriguez Arguera, Fraileny Mejia Batista, Brian Blake III, Alejandra Banegas Cardenas, Adber Guzman Casrellanos, Skya Cham, Valerie Diaz, Erica Flores-Reyes, Angela Otero Garcia, Veronica Karwowska, Ashley Matute, Sydney Osorio-Brathwaite, Holy Tineo Peralta, Anthony Taveras Rodriguez, Jazlene Rodriguez, Haslen Aguirre Sanchez, Sarah Singh and Alyson Vargas.

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Date Added: 6/21/2024

Recognizing and honoring the accomplishments of the members of the Class of 2024, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School hosted its annual Senior Awards Ceremony on June 6.

Community members, administrators, Board of Education members, staff, friends and family gathered in the school’s auditorium to honor the soon-to-be graduates with scholarships and awards for their hard work and dedication to their school and community during the past 13 years.

Following the national anthem sung by senior Shawn Smaldon, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Principal Joseph Agosta welcomed guests to the ceremony and praised the students for their accomplishments thus far. “As you embark on the next chapter of your lives, remember the values and lessons you have learned during your time here,” he said. “Continue to pursue your passions, embrace new challenges and never lose sight of your dreams. You can achieve anything you set your mind to, and tonight is just the beginning of the incredible journey that lies ahead.”

Mr. Agosta also thanked those who supported the students along the way for their unwavering love and guidance, including friends, family and all of those in the Copiague School District. More than $90,000 in local, memorial and organizational scholarships were presented to the seniors. To close out the evening, Mr. Agosta presented awards to the top 10 students in the Class of 2024.

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Date Added: 6/19/2024