Celebrating 13 years of the science research program in Copiague School District, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School held its ninth annual science research symposium on May 17 in the school’s cafeteria.

Joined by district administrators, board of education members, representatives from the Town of Babylon, members of the science department and invited guests, the students in the independent science research program, the advanced science research program and the introduction to science research program showed off their award-winning works.

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School science chairperson Renee Locker spoke about some of the highlights and accomplishments of the program this year. “The research power of Copiague was represented and respected in the scientific community,” she said.

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Principal Joseph Agosta congratulated the students on their tremendous successes this year. “Your research and the recognitions you’ve received at competitive events this year speak to the quality and timeliness of your projects,” he said. “These intellectual powerhouses have demonstrated that they can recognize problems, understand experimental methods, organize and interpret data, and understand how the data relates to solution for the problem. They can plan experiments to test hypotheses, make generalizations and assumptions. These are the students who will change the world.”

Town of Babylon Councilman DuWayne Gregory presented proclamations to the five seniors in the program: Laila Campbell, Nayshawn Ferebee, Francheska Guzman Guittierrez, Alice Sztabinski and Edison Peguero Rosario. This year’s keynote speaker was Abigail Romero, 2019 Copiague graduate and a recent graduate of Harvard University.

Several Copiague science research students presented a brief overview of their projects, many of which have garnered numerous awards throughout the school year. Projects were on display for a poster presentation walk prior to the ceremony, giving attendees an opportunity to speak with the students firsthand about their research.

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Date Added: 5/26/2023

For the first time in Copiague School District history, three Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School students have achieved the highest honors, winning first place in their categories at Long Island Science Congress.

Andrew Falco (first place in chemistry, senior division), Hannah Alara (first place in biomedical science, junior division) and Damaris Bonilla (first place in chemistry, junior division) will be representing Long Island at the New York Science Congress Competition in Syracuse on June 11. Copiague will compete against the top science research programs in the New York State.

Date Added: 5/19/2023

Community members came together to join Copiague School District administrators, staff, board of education members and students to showcase the many highlights offered in all the schools during the Community Summit on May 13 at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School.

Copiague School District’s Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon welcomed guests to the annual event, which serves to celebrate the many accomplishments and accolades of the district. Copiague School District Board of Education President Kenneth Urban thanked those in attendance for coming together to get a firsthand view of the district’s successes and support its students. “We are very proud of what our students and staff accomplish here in the Copiague,” he said. “We are always moving forward and making changes as needed to ensure our students get everything they need and deserve to be successful.”

As part of the opening ceremony in the auditorium, Dr. Bannon invited select groups of students to the stage to speak about their unique experiences in the school district. Members of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School mock trial team, the elementary school Project Beyond students, Copiague Middle School Studio Art students, the Copiague Middle School Civics Club and students in the electrical training program spoke about how they have benefited and learned from these programs.

In the school’s gymnasium, there were performances by the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School vocal jazz members, the dance teams from Great Neck Road, Susan E. Wiley and Deauville Gardens East elementary schools, the Copiague Middle School Dance Club and the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Zumba Club. 

In the cafeteria and gymnasium, clubs, programs, organizations and enrichment activities showcased their various offerings for attendees. Some of the highlights included the robotics team demonstrations, the police department’s Girls on the Go program, the electronic music lab, STEM learning, science research students and art offerings.

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Date Added: 5/17/2023

Members of the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Class of 2023 celebrated their college of choice with a Decision Day photo opportunity in the hallway. Students had the chance to meet up with their classmates and pose for pictures to celebrate their next chapter.

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Date Added: 5/12/2023

Showing their appreciation and dedication to the arts, 48 students from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School were inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society or National Art Honor Society on May 3. Joined by family, friends, administrators and board of education members, the students pledged their commitment during an induction ceremony held in the school’s cafeteria.

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School band director and Tri-M Music Honor Society adviser Eric Dobmeier welcomed guests to the ceremony and spoke about the talented musicians and artists who were honored and their dedication to both their school and community.

During the ceremony, honor society advisers shared examples of the high level of talent and community service contributions of their society members. Each society’s executive board members explained the criteria a student must exhibit to be inducted into the society. In unison, they were led in reciting the pledge of the Tri-M Music and National Art honor societies.

Honorary lifetime membership for the Tri-M Honor Society was given to retired elementary music teacher Lynne Cook, inducted based on student nominations. For the National Art Honor Society, Coordinator of Fine Arts Jennifer Ross-Troise received lifetime membership.

The district congratulates the following students who were inducted into the Tri-M Music Honor Society: Angelie Acosta, Hannah Alara, Kaydee Bonilla, Cristhian Cruz Meraz, Anne Marie De Oleo Mayorga, Anamaria Espinoza, Dwight Evans Jr., Heily Fernandez, Angely Garcia, Raisaun Gibson, Lilian Gonzalez-Amaya, Mason Koziarz, Emma Luvera, Henry Romero, Analiz Rosario, Olivia Sandoval, Kamila Tineo, Olivia Tyszko, Claudia Valladares, Jaylin Vargas, Kali Weiss and Daniel Zheng.

The district congratulates the following students who were inducted into the National Art Honor Society: Nicole Boksan-Gurila, Alana Cambridge, Josephine Catania, Catherine Coco Yanese, Marlyn Cruz, Brianna Damus, Violet Feal, Liliana Febo, Laila Francis, Angeni Hernandez, Ronan Higgins, Madalyn Molina, Keyri Palacious, Cianna Parchment, Bielka Perez, Princess Ramcharan, Bianca Reyes, Julianna Sakin, Sabrina Sammy, Eva Santos-Garcia, Anisa Sattaur, Rosa Solorzano, Isabella Torres, Olivia Tyszko, Rosina Marie Wickham and Analysse Zapata.

Date Added: 5/8/2023

The Copiague Middle School wind ensemble had the company of music teacher Mr. Hayes from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School as a guest conductor at their May 1 rehearsal. Mr. Hayes worked with the group and music teacher Ms. Mayo as they prepared for their New York State School Music Association’s Majors performance at West Islip High School on May 18. “The rehearsal gave an opportunity for not only the colleagues to collaborate, but for the students to meet their potential teacher for next year,” said Copiague School District’s Fine Arts Coordinator Jennifer Ross-Troise.

Date Added: 5/5/2023

Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School senior Liza Shehbaz was one of six students on Long Island who received a full scholarship from the U.S. Army at a surprise ceremony held at the Suffolk County H. Lee Dennison building on April 26.

Shehbaz was awarded $220,696, a full scholarship, to continue her education at Long Island University next fall. The scholarship was awarded by the Minuteman Reserve Officer’s Training Corps., which offers guaranteed Reserves Forces Duty scholarships to cover full tuition and fees. The six Long Island students received $1.5 million in scholarships. Shehbaz was joined by family members and Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School Principal Joseph Agosta and Copiague School District Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kathleen Bannon.

Date Added: 5/3/2023

Date Added: 5/1/2023

Thirty-one new members from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School were inducted into the Isabella M. Driscoll Chapter of the National Honor Society during a ceremony held in the school’s auditorium on March 29. They were joined by administrators, board of education members, family members and friends to celebrate the occasion.

Guests were welcomed to the ceremony by National Honor Society co-advisers Clare Nugent and Maria Stamatelatos. To be inducted into the National Honor Society, students must exhibit the society’s four pillars: scholarship, leadership, service and character. The four National Honor Society officers –Alice Sztabinski, Victoria Wheby, Emily Newman and Anthony Woods – spoke about each of the pillars and their importance.

The district congratulates the following students: 10th graders: Wildania Baez Polanco, Rhianna Coleman, Marlyn Cruz, Anthony Diaz, Anamaria Espinoza, Dwight Evans Jr., Samantha Fuentes, Adonai Adam Gugliemelli, Zoe Henderson, Sara Mierzejewski, Valery Ortiz, Linda Paiz, Glorianni Pena Feliz, Salvatore Pepe, Abigail Rodriguez, Lennon Sabel, Lucy Sztabinski, Alyson Tenebro and Claudia Valladares; 11th graders: Rebecca Alara, Claire Alexandre-Quinones, Alana Cambridge, Zachary Korba, Emily Meyer, Mercedes Novell-Gillard, Jonathan Singh, Jorge Villatoro-Amaya and Jose Villatoro-Amaya; 12th graders: Yulian Amador, Anthony Meneses and Joanna Rivera.

“Congratulations to our new inductees; you have made your families and your school very proud,” said Walter G. O’ Connell Copiague High School Principal Joseph Agosta. “Your achievement in the realms of scholarship, leadership, community service and character are being honored here tonight by being inducted into a very prestigious society. An honor such as this is a wonderful way for the school and community to recognize and celebrate the choices, and sometimes the sacrifices, you have made. You are all leaders – whether you are leaders because of your academic achievement, leaders in sports or in clubs – you represent the part of our school of which we are most proud. As members of the National Honor Society, I challenge you to not just rest on your laurels, but to continue to strive toward even loftier goals.”

After all the new members were called, Mr. Agosta recited the Honor Society oath for all the members to repeat to signify their official induction into the National Honor Society.

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Date Added: 4/14/2023

Four students from Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School recently attended the Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute. Hadasa Argueta, Giselle Peralta, Jorge Villatoro and Jose Villatoro were invited to travel to Albany for the Institute.

The Angelo Del Toro Puerto Rican/Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute is an innovative collaboration with the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate Puerto Rican/Hispanic Task Force in conjunction with BOCES. The purpose of the PR/HYLI is student empowerment.

Prior to the trip, the students attended four training sessions to learn parliamentary procedures, meet with elected officials, and research current proposed legislation. The Copiague students were invited to participate in the Long Island delegation as they excelled during the training sessions. Hadasa Argueta’s performance during the Mock Assembly and her initiative throughout the training sessions resulted in her being the only junior on Long Island to receive the award of “Outstanding Student.” She is the first student in Copiague to receive this honor.

Date Added: 4/12/2023

On March 21, the district’s electronic music program and music teacher Brian Genua were featured in a video managed and produced by SoundTree. The locally-based company is behind the development of the teaching space that makes up the electronic music lab at Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School. During the two hours of filming, Mr. Genua taught and demonstrated the program with his students. Several students were interviewed along with Mr. Genua and Copiague School District’s Coordinator of Fine Arts Jennifer Ross-Troise. “The relationship Mr. Genua has established with SoundTree has helped transform this space to accommodate the interests of our students while incorporating 21st-century tools,” said Ross-Troise.

Date Added: 3/27/2023

Congratulations to Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School senior Edison Peguero on winning the News12 Scholar Athlete Award. Kevin Maher from News12 and a representative from the Bethpage Federal Credit Union visited the school last week to interview Edison. See the story at: https://longisland.news12.com/scholar-athlete-eddie-peguero-rosario

Date Added: 4/6/2023

For the first time in nearly 20 years, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School has formed a mock trial team this school year. The team also has a new mock trial room recently completed at the high school and just held its first mock trial competition.

Copiague students worked with a volunteer lawyer in preparation to compete with other teams in Suffolk County. As students learned about the judicial system, they also increased their interpersonal, public speaking and research skills, as well as their abilities to formulate and defend legal arguments.

Mock trial team adviser Stephanie Rafuse said, “Students proved to be impressive at every match, working as both the plaintiff and defense teams against other teams. Many of our students stayed after school nearly every day and brought such fierce competition in their first year that many of their competitors were shocked to find out our students were participating in the competition for the first time. I’m so proud of everything they’ve accomplished and can't wait to see what’s in store next year.”

The New York State High School Mock Trial Program is a joint venture of the New York Bar Foundation, the New York State Bar Association, and the Law, Youth and Citizenship Program. In this educational program, high school students gain firsthand knowledge of civil/criminal law and courtroom procedures.

Date Added: 3/31/2023