During the May 27 Connetquot Board of Education meeting, the trustees and administration recognized exemplary students and faculty for leadership and academic honors.

Helen B. Duffield Elementary School lunch aide Diane Rambold was recognized for her quick decision-making. She performed abdominal thrusts on a second grade student, dislodging a piece of a bagel and potentially saving her life.

Adrianna Clarelli and CJ Connolly from Ronkonkoma Middle School and Maeve Boland from Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School were also honored with the National Junior Honor Society’s Outstanding Achievement Award. This prestigious recognition celebrates the students’ exceptional dedication to scholarship, service, leadership, character and citizenship. Adrianna, CJ and Maeve are three of the 500 students nationwide to receive this honor, along with a college scholarship to support their educational goals.

Nicolas Dilorio, a sixth grade student at Ronkonkoma Middle School, was recognized for being a 2025 Scholastic Storyworks National Contest winner. In his award-winning entry, Nicolas chose the animal superpower of night vision and explained how he would use it. His writing was chosen over entries from across the nation.

Connetquot supports student growth through emotional awareness and social learning, helping students build self-awareness, manage emotions and strengthen relationships. Each month, the district highlights an EASL theme such as collaboration and teamwork, responsibility, gratitude, citizenship and acceptance. Schools nominate standout students to be recognized as Connetquot’s Caring Leaders for their leadership in those areas. The following students were recognized as Caring Leaders: 

Roman Bradley (grade 8) – Ronkonkoma Middle School – responsibility

Aubrey Dean (grade 5) – Cherokee Street Elementary – grit

Emelia D’Antonio (grade 7) – Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School – collaboration and teamwork

Makayla Dowd (kindergarten) – Helen B. Duffield  Elementary – responsibility

Dylan Getty (grade 5) – Idle Hour Elementary – responsibility

Casey Mammolito (grade 4) – Edith L. Slocum Elementary – collaboration and teamwork

Vince Neckin (grade 5) – Idle Hour Elementary – acceptance

Peter Nicpon (grade 8) – Ronkonkoma Middle School – grit

Evangelos Paravalos (grade 4) – John Pearl Elementary – collaboration and teamwork

Francis Pipino (kindergarten)  – Edward J. Bosti Elementary – citizenship

Parissa Rana (grade 10) – Connetquot High School – responsibility

Gabrielle Takacs (grade 4) – Sycamore Avenue Elementary – citizenship

Alesa Wilson (grade 8) – Ronkonkoma Middle School – gratitude

 

The Connetquot High School turf field was the backdrop for Edward J. Bosti, Cherokee Street, Helen B. Duffield, Edith L. Slocum, Idle Hour, John Pearl and Sycamore Avenue fifth grade students who enthusiastically gathered for the Connetquot Central School District’s Coming Together Day on May 27. Sponsored by the Athletes Helping Athletes club and the high school’s Athletic Department, this tradition is an excellent, fun-filled opportunity for students to make new acquaintances prior to moving up to Oakdale-Bohemia and Ronkonkoma middle schools this coming fall.

The students first filed into the bleachers, according to school and wearing their color-designated T-shirts. Prior to the activities, Cherokee Street physical education teacher Joe Nelson riled up the students as he announced each school. Additionally, student-athlete and AHA club member Lily Jonas was presented the Tim Bassett Award for her extraordinary leadership qualities.

During the morning, the students participated in 10 different stations, including the cannonball brigade, crab soccer, noodle tag, tug-of-war, potato sack race and more. Best of all, the fifth grade students returned to their respective schools knowing that they made new friends and would see each other in the fall.

Date Added: 5/28/2025

Over the course of two exciting days, John Pearl Elementary students took part in the “Our Living Planet” experience, an interactive program featuring a massive Earth balloon.

As part of the presentation, students got to step into the 19-foot-tall inflatable model of the Earth, printed with true-to-scale satellite imagery of our planet. While inside, students talked about topics, ranging from geography and climate to animals and global cultures, depending on their grade level.

Students discovered how the Earth’s major climate zones are shaped by their location on the globe, and how these climates influence ecosystems and the adaptation of plants and animals. The program also introduced students to the science of climate change and the human impact on the planet, emphasizing steps they can take to help protect the Earth’s future.

Date Added: 4/30/2025

Connetquot supports student growth through Emotional Awareness and Social Learning (EASL), helping students build self-awareness, manage emotions and strengthen relationships. Each month, the district highlights an EASL theme with April’s focus being “collaboration and teamwork”. Schools nominate standout students to be recognized as Connetquot’s Caring Leaders for their leadership in these areas.

We’re excited to recognize seventh grader Emma D’Antonio from Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School and Evangelos Paravalos from John Pearl Elementary as April’s Caring Leaders!

Emma was nominated by the school’s nurse, Ms. Dolan. “We are honored to recognize Emma for the positive attitude she displays daily at OBMS. She embodies many strengths, including her outstanding physical adaptiveness to play sports from her wheelchair and introducing wheelchair basketball to her classmates in PE classes. When Emma was recently asked who her favorite player is, she answered, me! This is based on her strong will and perseverance to do great things with her life. Thank you, Emma, for demonstrating emotional awareness and fortitude each and every day.”

Evangelos was nominated by his PE teacher, Mr. Sturtz. “Evangelos always works well with others. He will work with anyone and doesn't care who is on his team,” said Mr. Sturtz. “He encourages everyone to try their best. He is a good leader and lifts his teammates up. He’s always a team player when winning or losing. He’s a hard worker and is polite to everyone!”

Date Added: 4/23/2025

On April 10, elementary music students from Sycamore Avenue, Idle Hour, Edward J. Bosti and John Pearl visited Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School for a special Mock NYSSMA event in preparation for the upcoming NYSSMA (New York State School Music Association) festival.

The young musicians were paired with members of the OBMS Tri-M Music Honor Society, who guided them through their solo pieces, scales and sight reading exercises.

The 2025 NYSSMA festival will take place on April 24 at Connetquot High School.

Date Added: 4/14/2025