In honor of Disabilities Awareness Month, Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School seventh grader Emma D’Antonio introduced the idea of integrating sports wheelchairs into the school’s PE classes on March 20 and 21. As a dedicated player for the travel wheelchair basketball team, the New York Rolling Fury, Emma saw an opportunity to help her classmates gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for individuals who use wheelchairs.

Emma, who plays point guard for the team, wanted her classmates to experience the unique challenges and skills required to play sports from a wheelchair. With access to a handful of sports chairs, her fellow students first got used to moving and turning in the chairs before practicing shooting, dribbling and passing. Emma was there to share pointers and answer her classmates’ questions.

She hopes that by giving her classmates the chance to try wheelchair basketball, they’ll recognize the strength, determination, skills and perseverance it takes to navigate in a chair. “I want to normalize using and playing in a wheelchair,” Emma said. “Most kids don’t get the chance to experience what it feels like, and I want them to understand what it’s like to move and compete in one.”

Outside of school, Emma plays with the New York Rolling Fury weekly in Queens and helped her team secure a third place win at nationals last year. She was also named MVP in her latest tournament. Looking ahead, Emma hopes to bring sports wheelchairs back to OBMS next year to reach more students.

With a passion for the sport, Emma plans to continue playing throughout high school and dreams of competing for a division one college. Her ultimate goal is to represent Team USA as a Paralympian, and one day, coach others.

Click here to view the OBMS 7th grader introduces wheelchair basketball in honor of Disabilities Awareness Month slideshow.

Date Added: 3/25/2025

In preparation for their upcoming Pops Concert performance, the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School sixth, seventh and eighth grade bands rehearsed with guest conductor Mr. Greg Johnson, Connetquot High School’s wind ensemble director.  The 135 band members, students of Mr. Bryan Bowie and Mrs. Melissa Mellina, rehearsed I'm a Believer, which they will perform on stage together at the concert on March 27.

Click here to view the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School prepares for upcoming Pops Concert slideshow.

 

Date Added: 3/21/2025

In celebration of Digital Learning Day on Feb. 27, Connetquot honored and recognized teachers around the district who are leading the way in utilizing and integrating digital tools, dubbing them “Digital Heroes”.

These educators have gone above and beyond to support their students and colleagues in navigating the digital learning landscape. Each building principal nominated one Digital Hero from their building who exemplified leadership, innovation and dedication to the integration of technology into the classroom. These educators not only use digital tools effectively but are also sources of inspiration and support for their colleagues.

Congratulations to Julia DeMaio (Idle Hour Elementary), Nicolette D’Ambrosio (Cherokee Street Elementary), Douglas Dos Santos (Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School), Alan Fertmann (Connetquot High School), Patricia Firenze (John Pearl Elementary), Ross Grandin (Connetquot High School), Jessica Grieve (Helen B. Duffield Elementary), Elizabeth Jonas (Edith L. Slocum Elementary), Christina Ladick (Sycamore Avenue Elementary), Lisa Manzo (Edward J. Bosti Elementary) and Debra Smith (Ronkonkoma Middle School) on being named Digital Heroes!

Each winner received a certificate of recognition and a free school subscription to Gemini for the remainder of the year, further supporting their efforts in digital learning.

 

Click here to view the Connetquot’s Digital Heroes slideshow.

 

Date Added: 3/3/2025

From Feb. 10-14, Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School World Language Club members sold hand-woven bracelets, or “pulseras” in Spanish, to empower the artisans who make them in Guatemala and Nicaragua. The pulsera sale was organized through The Pulsera Project, a fair trade nonprofit organization that empowers and educates people in the U.S. and Central America.

The Pulsera Project provides fair trade employment for over 200 artisans and uses the funds from pulsera sales in U.S. schools to support programs that benefit the artisans, their families, their communities and other social impact organizations working to create lasting change in Guatemala and Nicaragua.

Since the project’s inception in 2009, nearly 4,000 school communities in all 50 states have hosted pulsera sales, providing students with a unique cultural education experience that allows them to bring the beauty of Latin American culture to life in their schools while creating real-world impact abroad.

Each pulsera takes about an hour to make, comes tagged with the picture and signature of the artist and is woven with the rich personal history of the person who made it.

The OBMS World Language Club sold over 100 bracelets and would like to thank the OBMS students and staff for purchasing these fabulous bracelets and supporting a great cause!

Date Added: 2/24/2025

Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School brought the magic of “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” to the stage on Feb. 6-8. Bravo to the talented cast and crew on their incredible performances and bringing this whimsical story to life!

Click here to view the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School presents “Alice in Wonderland Jr.” slideshow.

Date Added: 2/10/2025