Girls’ Basketball Team Falls to Undefeated Comsewogue

Connetquot High School girls’ basketball coach Charlie Hafner knew that this could be a challenging year for the team, considering there would be fewer than five returning varsity players this season. While that prediction was fulfilled the first two games, the Connetquot T-Birds came to play on Dec. 6, at home against the undefeated Comsewogue Warriors. 

Led by 12th graders Jenna Erdman, Emma Jasinski and Kiara Roth, Connetquot scored early, broke the Comsewogue press and played aggressive defense. The T-Birds took an early lead in the first period and led at the half 20-16.   

Unfortunately, the visitors made critical adjustments at the half, took the lead late in the third period and continued that into the fourth. While Comsewogue took the win 40-30, Connetquot coaches Hafner and Piscitelli were pleased with the team’s effort and improvement. Their players came away from this game with a belief that they would continue to improve and would be surprising a few opponents sooner than expected.

Top scorers for Connetquot were Jasinski (8), followed by Edron (6) and Emily Mohr and Hayley Weltner (5 apiece).  Senior Kiara Roth led the T-Birds with her aggressive defense and rebounding.   


Grapplers Fall to Commack HS

In Connetquot High School’s first Suffolk County League II wrestling match of the year, the T-Birds fell to Commack 38-28. Earning wins for Connetquot were James DeLucia, Scott Gifford, Miguel Lozano, Dalton Otto, Sean Schaller, Eddie Stepanek and Steven Wilkinson.

Connetquot was coming off a first-place finish in the Dec. 7 Sayville Invitational tournament. The T-Birds recorded 23 place winners and Steven Wilkinson was named the tournament’s Outstanding Wrestler.

 

Connetquot High School Business Honor Society students visited with fifth grade students at the Edith L. Slocum Elementary School to share tips on how to make sensible financial choices.  

Through hands-on activities and games, students learned a practical approach to possibly starting a business and making smart decisions about managing money. The High School Heroes program is a service-learning project sponsored by Junior Achievement USA that enables high school students to become role models for elementary students.  

These “heroes” teach and empower elementary students using lessons centered around work readiness, financial literacy and entrepreneurship. Connetquot Business Honor Society advisers Andrea Pizzimenti and Gina Senft bring the high school students to each of Connetquot’s elementary schools over the course of the year.

 
 

Based on their professional dedication and teaching innovation, Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School teachers Mary McGonnell and Dr. Carmela Gustafson were selected to present at the National Council for the Social Studies in Austin, Texas, on Nov. 22-23.  

Their presentation, “Bringing History Home: Your School as Historical Inquiry,” invited teachers and administrators to learn how to plan and implement a collaborative local history project. This presentation was based on the work of the social studies department at Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the school.  

For that project, each grade created a different learning opportunity for its students. In sixth grade the students completed historical research on the history of the building by reviewing yearbooks, time capsules and resources from the local community. The seventh grade interviewed former teachers and administrators to create an oral history of the building. The eighth grade completed historical research on demographic, economic and social changes over the last 50 years in and around the school.

Shortly before the Thanksgiving holiday, Connetquot students and staff gathered with classmates and teachers to celebrate and give gratitude. 

Connetquot High School’s Best Buddies and Helping Hands clubs enjoyed an evening playing board games, followed by a tasty Thanksgiving dinner. Club advisers Michael Hansen and Carolyn Paul joined with club members and their buddies to enjoy an evening of friendship and a Thanksgiving feast. The same night, in another section of Connetquot High School, Louise Burger and her alternate high school students and staff members gathered for their annual Thanksgiving meal. The students mingled with their teachers and classmates while enjoying their Thanksgiving dinner.

Sycamore Avenue Elementary School kindergartners, teachers and staff members also celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday with a savory feast. Prior to the feast, the students learned about the first Thanksgiving as well as about gratitude and collaboration. They even worked together to create a delicious cranberry relish to bring home to their family table this Thanksgiving and colorful and creative Pilgrim and Native American costumes, which they wore to their school feast. 

Edith L. Slocum Elementary School kindergartners entertained members of their families with the annual Thanksgiving play. Dressed in colorful costumes made by their teachers, the students recreated the first Thanksgiving and the wonderful cooperation between native Americans and the immigrant Pilgrims. Following the performance, students enjoyed Thanksgiving treats before heading home for the family Thanksgiving weekend! 

Sycamore Avenue Elementary School fourth and fifth grade student-musicians helped to set the stage for the holiday season as they hosted a preview of their upcoming winter concert.   

The orchestra, under the direction of Jessica Mayor, opened the program with two pieces and were followed by the band, under the baton of Debbie Guiney, which performed a winter medley and the “1812 Overture.” The school chorus, led by teacher Rachel Carter-White, also performed a selection of songs, including a Nicaraguan folk song in Spanish (“Nino Precioso”), and the Robert Frost poem “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening.”