Students enrolled in Kathryn Minerva’s first grade class at Slocum Elementary School recently presented their own telling of the popular Arnold Lobel book, “Mouse Soup,” for attending family members and friends after months of rehearsing their lines in the classroom setting. In the play, a clever mouse tells a trickster weasel four silly stories about bees, stones, loud crickets and a thorn bush in an effort to distract him. The weasel leaves his house to collect these ingredients to make “Mouse Soup,” but upon returning with the collected ingredients, he finds that mouse nowhere to be found, proving that he successfully outdid the weasel.

Students enrolled in Lauren Farrell’s class, Loretta Powell’s class and Jacqueline Marquez’s ENL classes from Slocum Elementary School recently took a field trip to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum in Great River. During their time at the arboretum, the students explored the beautiful property and ornate gardens. The district would like to thank Board of Education trustee Lee Kennedy for organizing the day for the students to enjoy.

Students, staff members, parents and first responders from Slocum Elementary recently joined one another to celebrate Flag Day on June 14.

Organized by physical education instructor John Zambriski, the sidewalks outside the school building were filled with patriotic images of the flag, as well as those of the first responders. Students and staff members dressed in their red, white and blue outfits, recited the Pledge of Allegiance, and sang patriotic songs around the school’s flag pole. In addition, members of the Slocum Elementary School band entertained the audience with upbeat patriotic music throughout the course of the celebration. 

Joining the staff and students were local first responders, one U.S. Naval Officer and two Vietnam-era veterans. After the flag-raising ceremony, many of the guests visited the classrooms to talk to students about their dedication to the community they serve. It was Mr. Zambriski’s hope that the students would recognize the honorable service these professionals provide, and show their appreciation for that dedication.  

Edith L. Slocum Elementary School Principal John Delio thanked the students for their attention, as well as Mr. Zambriski for planning such a wonderful program for the annual Flag Day celebration.

Connetquot High School alumna Alexa Sheryll recently visited with the kindergartners enrolled in Linda Ziegler Pennington’s class at Slocum Elementary School to speak with the students about her journey toward being named Miss Empire State 2019.

During her time spent in the classroom, Alexa talked to the excited students about her years as a Connetquot student, and the positive effect Mrs. Pennington had on her future career. After reading a book to the students about dealing with bullies, she answered their questions about growing up in Ronkonkoma, her experiences as Miss Empire State, and her real job as director of community affairs for the Town of Hempstead.  

The children were excited to talk about her pageant experience, her pageant clothing, as well as the volunteer community work she does to fight bullying and to register citizens to vote.

 “The children loved her; it was an honor to have her come back to visit my students and the district,” said Mrs. Pennington. “I am so very proud of the woman she has become, and honored to have worked with her as a student. We are all so very proud of Alexa.”  

Additionally, The Town of Oyster Bay declared April 16, 2019 as Alexa Sheryll Day due to her altruistic efforts. Alexa will represent New York at the USA National Miss Scholarship Pageant at Disney World this summer.