The Board of Education will hold its next regular business meeting on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 8 p.m downstairs at the Early Childhood Center at 1 Craig B. Gariepy Ave. in Islip Terrace. The community is invited to attend.

Two days before school officially began, incoming sixth-graders at the middle school walked into their new school for Sept. 4 orientation. Accompanied by family and older siblings, the students at the acclimating event met teachers, set up their lockers and walked their schedules, getting prepped for the beginning of the year.

From the high school and middle school to Connetquot, JFK, RCK and Timber Point elementary schools, East Islip students arrived back in classes on a warm Sept. 6, enjoying a terrific first day of school to start the educational year.

“Despite the incredible heat, the middle school students returned with great enthusiasm for the new school year,” said Principal William Brennen.

“JFK students enthusiastically started the new school year,” said Principal Deborah Smith. “Smiles and laughter once again filled the hallways as we welcomed our new third-graders as well as the returning fourth- and fifth-grade students. We look forward to all the wonderful learning that will take place this year.”

 

 

 

 

 

Mark Bernard was recently appointed as principal of East Islip High School, replacing William Brennen, who moved to the middle school.

Bernard had been principal at East Islip Middle School for the past dozen years, where he had also previously served as assistant principal and director of mathematics. His other prior positions included working as a math teacher at Plainedge High School, Amityville Middle School, South Jamaica Junior High School and Southwest Texas High School.

The Syosset resident earned his bachelor’s degree from SUNY Cortland, his master’s degree from Queens College and his administrative degree from Stony Brook University.

“As I begin this new journey in my professional career, I’m looking forward to inspiring our students to take advantage of all East Islip High School has to offer,” Bernard said.

William Brennen was recently named East Islip Middle School principal, replacing Mark Bernard, who moved to the high school. Brennen, who had served as principal at East Islip High School for the past nine years, earned his administrative diploma from Queens College.

“I am looking forward to working with the middle school staff to ensure that all students realize their full potential,” said Brennen.

The district has hired Frank Pillitteri as the new director of math and science, replacing Janet Jones.

Pillitteri previously was employed as a physics teacher at Smithtown High School West from 2001 to present, at Plainview-Old Bethpage JFK High School from 1999 to 2001, at Westbury High School from 1998 to 1999, and at Jane Addams Vocational High School from 1997 to 1998. He also worked as a research chemist at LeaRonal, Inc. from 1995 to 1997.

The West Islip resident earned his bachelor’s degree in physics from Stony Brook University, a master’s degree in education from Mercy College and a school district administration degree from Stony Brook. He is a member of the Long Island Physics Teacher Association, American Institute of Physics and American Association of Physics Teachers.

“I am very excited to be part of the East Islip administrative team,” said Pillitteri. “I look forward to providing leadership and support for a STEM-based learning environment, which maximizes student potential, ensuring they are well-equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century.”

The high school's Senior Wellness program, organized by Paul McHugh and Bridget Lopiccolo, brings students and seniors in the community together as they learn about healthcare, Medicaid and Medicare. Students learn how to show seniors how to use computers to complete applications and where to look for information. At a special workshop this past school year, attending experts from the field explained how to ensure seniors receive proper care.

Nicholas Bilotti was recently named the new principal of Connetquot Elementary School, replacing Danielle Flaumenhaft.

Bilotti, now in his 23rd year in the district, previously worked as an assistant principal at the middle school and high school, and before that as a high school social studies teacher.

A resident of Setauket, he earned his bachelor’s degree in history from Stony Brook University, a master’s degree in elementary education from Dowling College and a master’s degree in administration from Stony Brook.

“I would like to continue to work with the teachers and community to improve upon the high educational goals and standards set for the children that I’ve had the privilege to work with for 23 years in East Islip,” said Bilotti.

Janet Jones was recently named the new principal of Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School, replacing Hillary Bromberg.

Jones most recently served as the district’s K-12 math and science director. She previously worked as assistant principal at East Islip’s middle school and high school, as math and science director for North Babylon School District, and as a chemistry and biology teacher at Bayport High School.

She obtained her bachelor’s degree in biology from SUNY Oneonta, a master’s degree in education from Dowling College, and school district administrator and school administrator and supervisor certificates from Stony Brook University.

“I am honored and privileged to serve as the new principal of Ruth C. Kinney Elementary School,” said Jones, a resident of Great River. “Before joining RCK, I served in a variety of teaching and educational leadership roles over the past 23 years, including classroom teacher,
assistant principal and director of math and science. I am excited to begin this new chapter in my career. I look forward to building strong relationships with RCK staff, students, families and community members. My goal as principal is to guide, motivate and support our staff and students to reach their highest potentials, in a safe and nurturing environment.”

For their bronze award project, members of the Girl Scouts Troop 995 who attend RCK recently worked on a patriotic campaign to send cards and cookies to local American troops serving overseas, supported by school administration and Suffolk County Legislator Tom Cilmi.

Middle school student Stephanie Landaverde is proud of her newfound ability to sew pillows and clothing and design new scarves.

Landeverde, who will attend eighth grade this fall, began to learn how to sew in her family and consumer science class during the last school year. She enjoyed it so much that her parents bought her a Brother sewing machine, which she brought to school daily. Landeverde met with her FACS teacher, Patricia Emmons Fritz, before school and after school to enhance her impressive sewing skills and help her to create more pillows and scarves. She also assisted other students with their sewing projects. 

“Once you start something that you enjoy, you should continue doing it,” said Landeverde of her sewing.

“It is such a pleasure to see a young student who has learned the skills of sewing and cooking in her family and consumer science classroom, and now spends time at home practicing her art and learning new skills that will help her in the future,” said FACS director Israel Malinowitzer.

Christine Cirillo’s fourth-grade class at JFK shared their knowledge of Italian culture and language in a “Festa D’Italiano” presentation at the JFK Cafetorium. The performance for family and friends began with a traditional Italian dance, the tarantella. Translated for the audience by Cirillo, the students then spoke in Italian, including facts about famous Italians like Michelangelo and Christopher Columbus, a discussion about the weather and other conversational Italian they learned to speak throughout the year. The show concluded with a special rendition of the song “That’s Amore.”

Students in Donna Beal’s class at Timber Point designed and created paper tube marble runs after studying premade designs.

After using magnetic runs to create a workable track system, the students drew blueprints using paper tubes and duct tape. During the design process, the students tested out their runs and corrected any problems so that their marbles would roll smoothly through the mazes. Finally, the children painted their runs, reflected upon their work, and wrote out the steps they followed. Each child presented their project and told the audience what they liked about the entire creative process. 

“We are very proud of the students’ perseverance and hard work,” said Beal.

At the annual “Writing and Art” celebration, third-graders at JFK displayed artwork and creative compositions they completed over the course of the school year, as well as special zoology research projects.

Under the direction of librarian Melanie Ash, the students had conducted research using Google Classroom and Chromebooks. Each student selected an animal of interest, and Ash provided instruction on how to navigate to different websites to gather facts on the animals. The students then spoke about what they learned while working on the project.   

East Islip held a three-day Challenge Day event this year at both the high school and middle school, opening the hearts and minds of the students and adult volunteers who took part in the programs for an hour each day. Each day, 100 students and 25 adults were divided into groups of four students and one adult, joining in activities, sharing their stories and learning to be less judgmental.

“The program was a huge success, and after experiencing it, the consensus from everyone present was that Challenge Day did more for people in our schools than any assembly or event ever had,” said Guidance Director Israel Malinowitzer. “The event allowed people to feel free to express themselves in such a short amount of time, and once the participants felt good about each other’s company, that’s when we were able to get our stories out to each other and get to the realization that we all have a story, we all have common needs in life, we have all faced adversity, and none of us need to hide behind that anymore because there is someone in the school that is here to listen to us without judgement. I would love to see Challenge Day return every year, and I think if we can make a habit of having our community open their eyes to the experiences of others, then the schools will be safer, kinder, happier places that are free of judgement, ridicule and bullying.”