The Connetquot community came together for an evening of reading, writing and student achievement on April 10 at the district’s 14th annual Library Literacy Celebration, presented by the district’s library media specialists.

The event showcased an impressive collection of student work from every school in the district, including original poems, stories and essays. Hallways were transformed into literary galleries, highlighting students’ talent in reading and writing.

Families also joined in the fun through a bookmark-making station and a scavenger hunt in which students uncovered letters around Connetquot High School that spelled out a secret word. The Connetquot Public Library also held a raffle drawing for attendees.

A standout moment of the evening was a special reading by student-author Meghan Miller, a junior at Connetquot High School, who shared her published children’s book, “The Great Adventures of Martha Mae”. Inspired by her real-life pet hamster, Martha Mae, the book began as an assignment in her ninth-grade children’s literature class and was completed in a sophomore creative writing course. Meghan detailed her two-and-a-half-year journey to publication in a question-and-answer session after the read aloud. The evening culminated in a book signing, where excited young readers lined up to meet Meghan and have their copies of “The Great Adventures of Martha Mae” personally signed by the author.

Click here to view the Connetquot’s 14th annual Library Literacy Celebration slideshow.

 

Date Added: 4/14/2025

Connetquot High School was buzzing with energy, creativity and talent during the annual Showcase of the Arts, held on April 4. Parents, students and community members had the opportunity to peruse hundreds of elementary and secondary-level artwork, and attended multiple concerts and performances in the auditorium.

Director of Fine Arts and Music Vincent Malafronte thanked the community for attending the event and the faculty for sponsoring such fine workmanship. “Because of the support from families and the community, we are able to provide opportunities for our students that showcase their creative talents,” Mr. Malafronte said.

The performance schedule included the Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School kickline, Ronkonkoma Middle School kickline and Connetquot High School’s color guard and kickline. Elementary school-level student musicians also showcased their talents in the districtwide orchestra, ukulele, band and chorus ensembles. There were also more intimate performances by the high school’s chamber orchestra and the middle school chamber orchestra.

Click here to view the Connetquot’s Showcase of the Arts slideshow.

Date Added: 4/8/2025

On March 6, Helen B. Duffield Elementary hosted their annual Literacy Night with the theme “A Night at the Library”. Families received traditional library cards and explored fun stations all night long. Highlights included a reader’s theatre, bingo, an interactive hallway, read-alouds, crafts, a fairytale forest (STEM building center) and even a Mo Willems hallway! It was a magical evening celebrating the joy of reading!

 

Click here to view the Duffield’s “Night at the Library” slideshow.

 

Date Added: 3/11/2025

Students across the district showcased their dedication and digital skills in this year’s highly anticipated typing competition, “Typing in a T-Bird Wonderland!” Participants collectively logged an impressive 2,690 hours and 32 minutes honing their typing abilities, achieving an outstanding 97% accuracy rate!

The competition, open to second through fifth grade students, challenged the participants to improve their speed and precision. This event not only highlighted the importance of keyboarding skills in today’s digital world but also fostered a sense of accomplishment and friendly competition among students.

The highlight of the event was the much-anticipated winner’s announcement video, which celebrated the top-performing students and classrooms. Teachers and students eagerly watched as winners were revealed.

A heartfelt thank you goes out to the Instructional Technology team, whose creativity and dedication brought this initiative to life. Special recognition is extended to Victoria Pappas, Nikki Frink-Martin and Kristen Fantry, under the leadership of Director of Instructional Technology Elizabeth Weis, for their hard work in organizing this event. Their efforts ensured a seamless and engaging experience for all participants.

Additionally, the success of “Typing in a T-Bird Wonderland” would not have been possible without the encouragement and support of our incredible teachers and staff. Their dedication to fostering student growth and enthusiasm for learning played a crucial role in the competition’s achievements.

As we celebrate this remarkable accomplishment, we extend our gratitude to everyone who participated and supported this initiative. Congratulations to all our students for their hard work, determination, and impressive typing skills! Below are the winning classes with the most minutes total:

Grade 2 - Ms.  Abbinanti, Cherokee Street

Grade 3 - Ms. Gonzalez, Duffield

Grade 4 - Ms. Fierenze, John Pearl

Grade 5 - Ms. D'Ambrosio/ Ms. Feil, Cherokee Street

 

 

Date Added: 3/5/2025

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

Congratulations to the winners of the Kindness Grows Here contest at Duffield! Students were asked to write on the petals of a flower, stating what they could do to spread kindness. The winners were selected based on their creativity and use of descriptive language:

Kindergarten: Aliya Nihal
Grade 1: Aubrey Puckett
Grade 2: Jolianna Plafker
Grade 3: Ian Salas
Grade 4: Sharvesh Iyyappan
Grade 5: Caleb Castracane

Each winner received a special gift bag filled with a mini trophy, a coupon for a free sundae at Applebee’s, a kindness bracelet, kindness play dough, a kindness eraser, and both a wind chime and flower pot to decorate.

 

Click here to view the Duffield announces Kindness Grows Here contest winners slideshow.

 

Date Added: 2/27/2025