OBMS's Tri-M Honor Society members mentored the district's elementary solo performers during “Mock NYSSMA” in preparation for the upcoming NYSSMA Solo and Ensemble Festival on April 18.

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Congratulations to Mr. Doug dos Santos, OBMS LEGO Robotics Coach!

Mr. dos Santos received the Coach/Mentor Award at the LEGO Robotics Championship held on March 10 at Hicksville High School. Mr. dos Santos was commended by his building administration, Mr. Joseph Piombo and Ms. Danielle Black, and by a fellow teacher for encouraging the students in the club to persevere, problem solve, perform and excel at a high level.

Both the OBMS and RMS Robotics Clubs performed well with OBMS Team 3592 advancing to the Championship round!

Date Added: 4/8/2024

Holocaust survivor and world-traveling author Marion Blumenthal Lazan visited Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School.

During the PTA sponsored presentation, Ms. Lazan shared her firsthand experiences as a child interned with her family in the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp.

Her message to the students focused on the values of determination, perseverance, faith and hope. She encouraged students to be kind to one another, especially on social media. Many students left the presentation with a signed copy of her memoir and valuable keepsake, “Four Perfect Pebbles: A Holocaust Story.”

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Date Added: 4/2/2024

On March 14, Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School held a Pi Day fundraiser, raising money for the school’s K.I.N.D. Program.

In preparation for getting “pied”, Principal Mr. Piombo, AP Mrs. Black, Board President Mrs. Mallon, and members of the school’s faculty and staff wore plastic ponchos, shower caps and goggles as they took their seats on a tarp-covered bench. During their lunch periods, students were invited to donate dollars in exchange for whipped cream pies. Students had a great time throwing the pies at the faculty and staff, all while raising money for a great cause: the K.I.N.D. Program or “Kids Inspiring a New Direction”

The mission of the program is to inspire, empower and educate all students to lead a life of kindness and to support one another to become a catalyst for positive change, not only at the middle school, but in the world. The Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School K.I.N.D. Program is student driven and puts on events throughout the school year such as P.S. I Love You Day, Career Day, monthly kindness challenges and more. Overall, the successful and fun Pi Day fundraiser raised $1,100 for the program!

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Date Added: 3/20/2024

Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School and Connetquot High School joined forces to collect hats for Operation Hat Drop, an initiative started by kindergartner Anthony D’Alessandro to collect hats for those with an autoimmune disease or who suffer from hair loss.

OBMS teacher Mr. Burger first came across Operation Hat Drop in a newspaper article. He read about Anthony D’Alessandro, a young boy from Massapequa who suffers from alopecia and who began collecting hats for children who also have an autoimmune disease.

Mr. Burger thought it would be a great opportunity to bring Anthony’s initiative to Connetquot, reaching out to OBMS’s community service club and several Connetquot High School groups to coordinate club efforts there. From his initial outreach, students excitedly got to work, collecting hats.

One of Mr. Burger’s students, Olivia Ekezian, became very involved in the drive and took it upon herself to reach out to several branches of police and several local groups for their support.

Olivia and the club’s efforts paid off as members from the Suffolk County Police Department’s K9 unit, emergency services unit, the fifth precinct and the Police Benevolent Association as well as members from the NYPD women’s lacrosse team, NYPD men’s hockey team, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office and Community Ambulance Company all gathered at the middle school to show their support on Feb. 8. With Anthony and his father in attendance, each group was able to meet with Anthony one-on-one and give their sizable hat donations.

At the high school, the efforts continued with the Business Honor Society, class of 2027, the Connetquot Civic Club and Connetquot Softball all collecting hats. By Feb. 16, students had collected 74 hats in total! To go along with the generous donation, each student also wrote a card with encouraging words of support.

UPDATE: At the recent March 12 Board of Education meeting, Mr. Burger and Olivia Ekezian were awarded Certificates of Special Congressional Recognition from Congressman Andrew Garbarino for their outstanding and invaluable service to the community. Olivia also received a Certificate of Merit from New York State Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo in recognition of her community service efforts, benefitting Operation Hat Drop.

Date Added: 2/20/2024