June 2015
First in the Nation for Science...
Burr’s first place National Science League fifth grade team, with advisors Leah Bernstein and George Morrish (on left), and Burr Principal, Paul Schmelter.
National Science League teams at both
Burr and Mandracchia Sawmill Intermediate Schools achieved the highest national
ranking across all three grade levels.
National Science League is a component of the Continental Mathematics
League, Inc. The multiple choice questions
that comprise each contest are based on
The first place Mandracchia Sawmill team with advisors Michelle
Goldstein (right), Lindsey Persichilli (center), and Assistant
Principal, Evelyn Cardenas-Smith.
factual knowledge, as well as students’ understanding of scientific processes.
Burr’s fifth grade National Science
League Team 2015 ranked #1 in the nation.
Team member, Jake, is the only student
in the nation who earned a perfect score,
which earned him the title of National Science League Team Leader.
Both Sawmill and Burr’s fifth grade Continental Math League (CML) teams came in first
place in the Euclidean division. Only eleven
schools in the entire country attained perfect
cumulative scores of 180 points. The team
received a perfect score for five consecutive
meets earning them the distinction of First
Place National Winners!
Four student team members obtained perfect scores at all five meets earning them the
National Student Leader Designation: Sawmill’s Max, and Burr’s Karen, Kellie, and Ryan.
“CML experiences are designed to both
maximize student opportunities to participate
and to improve their problem solving capabilities.” After several practice sessions, each
student works independently on his/her meet
within a prescribed time period. Paper and
pencil are used to solve the questions.
Congratulations to our students and team
advisors, Marianne Dorman and Michele
Quinn (Burr), and Fran Lettieri and Roberta
Harris (Sawmill) on another successful year!
Sawmill’s third grade team clinched first
place nationwide, and the fourth grade team
took third place, making it a clean sweep for
the Commack School District.
Congratulations to all team members
and their advisors for their dedication to
learning and outstanding performance in
science.
and Math
Sawmill’s entire fifth grade CML team with advisors, Fran Lettieri and Roberta Harris.
Burr’s entire CML team with advisors,
Marianne Dorman and Michele Quinn, and
Burr Principal, Paul Schmelter.
The Commack Courier is published online in full color!
www.commackschools.org
INTEL International Science & Engineering Fair
and National Merit Scholarship Winner
It’s been an amazing year for
Commack High School senior,
Scott. He’s traveled to science
competitions as far away as California, and most recently earned
second place in the Cellular and
Molecular Biology category at the
prestigious INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair in May
in Pittsburgh, PA.
Scott’s project, “The Importance of Endocytosis to Neuregulin
1 Back Signaling: Implications in
Neuropsychiatric and Neurodegenerative Disorders,” has garnered
many awards at many competitions. His research may lead to a
cure for Alzheimer’s disease and
schizophrenia. This was Scott’s
second year competing in the INTEL competition, something few
students ever accomplish.
Scott will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall. He
received a $2,500 National Merit
Scholarship, which is based on a
record of very high academic performance. Approximately 1.5 million
students entered the 2015 National
Merit Scholarship Program, and
Scott was one of only 2,500 seniors
across the nation to receive this
specific honor.
A volunteer and active honor
society member, Scott has received
numerous awards and accolades
this school year including: Intel Science Talent Search National Finalist, Intel International Science and
Engineering Fair Second Place
in Cellular and Molecular Biology,
National Merit Finalist and Scholarship Winner, High School Academic
Leader, High School Departmental
Awards in Mathematics and Science Research, Suffolk County Executive Public Service Award, President’s Volunteer Service Award,
Bronze, and the Stony Brook University Hospital Service Award.
Alison Offerman-Celentano, Director of Science, thinks the world
Scott with mentor and science research teacher, Dr. Lorraine
Solomon, at the INTEL ISEF Competition.
of Scott. “Scott is a unique individual with an unmatched
mastery of math and science. He is a scientist working at
the PhD level and yet he is only a senior in high school.
Scott is a genuine, kind, and humble young man and a true
gentleman.”
Commack’s Science Research Program Recognized
for Innovative Approach
Island at the InternaThe
Commack
tional Science and
School District was
Engineering Fair, and
recognized for “refirst, second, and third
defining what is posplace winners in the
sible” with a 2015
Junior Science and
Magna Award from
Humanities Symposia
the American School
Program.
Board Journal. The
Our students’
Magna Award recoriginal papers have
ognizes
“excellent
been published in
school district proscientific
journals,
grams
supported
and our students and
by excellent school
teachers have been
board governance,”
keynote speakers at
and “those who demrecent conferences.
onstrate
innovative
Dr.
Donald
thinking.”
James, Commack’s
Commack’s
ofaward winning Sci- The Board of Education was presented with a 2015 Magna Award. From left to right: Board Superintendent
ence Research Pro- Trustees Steven Hartman and MaryJo Masciello, Director of Science, Alison Offerman- fered, “Kudos to our
science
gram
received
a Celentano, Board President Deborah Guber, Trustees James Tampellini and Janine DiGi- dedicated
department staff, who
Magna
Honorable rolamo, and Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Donald James.
work from early mornMention for taking
students are constantly being recognized
bold steps to advance student learning. The in premier science competitions on Long ing ‘til late in the evenings and on weekDistrict was honored at the National School Island, in New York State, nationally, and ends, too, to prepare and mentor our young
Board Association’s annual conference in internationally. This year (so far), we have scientists and accompany them to the many
March.
two Intel Semifinalists, one Intel Finalist, a competitions. We are extremely proud of
The Science Research Program in our Long Island Science and Engineering Fair their accomplishments, and know their remiddle and high schools is thriving, and our first place winner, who represented Long search will change the world’s future.”
2
The Commack Courier
Sean Briody
Ryan Chan
William Claus Jr.
Brittany Colatosti
Julie Costa
Jianna Cressy
Brown University
CUNY-Macaulay
Honors College
Purdue University
Marist College
University of
Pennsylvania
Johns Hopkins
University
Olivia De Sonne
Ammaccapane
Lauren DiSalvo
Lindsay Eller
Victoria Fetzer
Sidnie Futerman
Erica Giatas
Boston University
Vanderbilt University
Marist College
University of Michigan
SUNY College at Geneseo
Erica Hecht
Sami Hirsch
Daniel Hosseinian
Amanda Innamorato
Samantha Irace
Paige Isser
SUNY College at Geneseo
Syracuse University
University of California,
Los Angeles
Cornell University
Adelphi University
Union College
University of Notre Dame
Gazal Kathuria
Casey Keenan
Andrew Kim
Julia Kolanovic
Angela Kubik
Briana Kubik
Indiana University at
Bloomington
State University of New
York at Albany
University of California,
Berkeley
St. Joseph’s College
SUNY College at Geneseo
SUNY College at Geneseo
Commack High School’s Top Cohort Group
Skyler LaFemina
Samantha Lauro
Madeline Lecarie
Philip Lin
Christopher Lindsay
Matthew Lowe
Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Rochester Institute of
Technology
Binghamton University
Northeastern University
Stony Brook University
The Ohio State
University
Mallory Masiello
Scott Massa
Ryan McCaffrey
Daniel Merz
Angela Mironis
Amanda Morgan
Tulane University
University of
Pennsylvania
Princeton University
Colgate University
Cornell University
Washington University in
St. Louis
Adam Nieto
Andrea O’Brisky
Matthew O’Connell
Erin O’Neill
Izabella Ostrowski
Erica Pacello
Binghamton University
Rensselaer Polytechnic
Institute
Stanford University
The University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Vermont
Wingate University
Samantha Palladino
Jin Ho Park
Stephanie Parlato
Alexa Pisano
Shira Pollack
LaxshikaRaveendran
Binghamton University
Stony Brook University
Fashion Institute of
Technology
Boston University
The College of New
Jersey
FordhamUniversity
Congratulations to the Class of 2015
Hannah
Reichelscheimer
Brianna Riordan
Alexandra Rivera
Eric Rizzo
Paul Shalhoub
Marissa Theodorellis
Temple University
Stony Brook University
Stony Brook University
Boston College
SUNY College at Cortland
Brigid Walshe
Amanda Weiss
Rachel Witt
Lauren Wolk
Providence College
Rochester Institute of
Technology
Stony Brook University
Rochester Institute of
Technology
Binghamton University
Blake Tobias
Bentley University
Lauren Vecchio
Marist College
Jesse Woltal
Chantel Yang
Marley Zelinger
Northeastern University
Stanford University
Duke University
The seniors in the individual photos on these pages
have maintained weighted averages in excess of 100%.
Each member of the A++ cohort will be attending a
four-year college or university next year, and many of
these students have received full or partial scholarships.
Many of these students have taken advantage of the
rich course offerings available at Commack High School
such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced
Placement (AP), and college level classes. They are wellprepared to succeed at the post-secondary level.
NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence
NYS Scholarships for Academic
Excellence provide up to $1,500 per
year for up to five years of undergraduate study in New York State. Each year,
8,000 scholarships are awarded to top
scholars from New York State high
schools. Awards are based on student
grades in certain Regents exams.
Nineteen Commack High School
seniors were recognized this year. In
photo, administrators congratulate the
students on their accomplishment.
From left to right: Superintendent of
Schools, Dr. Donald James, Commack
High School Assistant Principal, Susan
Shapiro, and on right, Director of Guidance Jonathan Macaluso, and Assistant
Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, K-12, Dr. Adele
Pecora.
Student scholarship winners:
Sean Briody
Jianna Cressy
Olivia De Sonne Ammaccapane
Lindsay Eller
Victoria Fetzer
Erica Giatas
Daniel Hosseinian
Andrew Kim
Mallory Masiello
Scott Massa
Ryan McCaffrey
Angela Mironis
Amanda Morgan
Alexa Pisano
Paul Shalhoub
Amanda Weiss
Jesse Woltal
Chantel Yang
Marley Zelinger
Middle School Students’ S.O.S - Save the Species
Art and science teachers, Grace Barrett and Jeanne
Suttie teamed up to raise awareness of endangered species and their habitats with an S.O.S – Sidewalk of Species Chalk Walk. The Commack Middle School teachers
collaborated on a school-wide “Share a Square” effort
and the results were spectacular.
Students had the opportunity to sign up to draw a
chalk picture on the sidewalk in the rear courtyard of the
school during their lunch period. Students were able to
“share a square” with four people, even if their friends
had different lunch periods, so squares were shared
throughout the day.
Each grade level focused on a different a layer of the
biosphere that included land creatures, water creatures,
and air creatures.
6
The Commack Courier
Bridging the Generations
to Combat Childhood Poverty
Red Nose Day
CLASS OF 2015 GRADUATION
Friday, June 26, 2015
5:00 p.m.
SIMULCAST on the Commack Website!
Photos from the graduation will also be posted online.
BOARD OF EDUCATION
REORGANIZATION MEETING
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Hubbs Administration Center
8:00 p.m.
Commack reading teacher, celebrated on May 21, raises
Carol Levine, has brought joy funds that are used to address
and laughter to many people the immediate needs of children
living in our area’s residential living in poverty in the U.S., Afhomes. For the past ten years, rica, Asia, and Latin America.
Mrs. Levine has coordinated
The children and many resitrips for every first and second dents at the Bristal purchased
grade class at Wood Park Pri- a red nose for the visit (photo
mary School to three local as- above). The students discussed
sisted living facilities including the importance of raising funds
Gurwin, Birchwood, and Bristal.
for children less fortunate than
Before each trip, Mrs. Levine themselves and proudly wore
schedules time with each class their red noses in support of this
to prepare
worthy
them for
cause.
the hourThe stulong prod e n t s
gram. “By
a l s o
the
time
s a n g
the
chilsongs
dren go,
for their
they
are
“ b u d all aware
d i e s ”
of the ima b o u t
portance
“good
of their trip
characand
the
ter.”
power they
The
The residents at Gurwin enjoyed Mrs.
possess to
success
Levine’s musical chair exercises.
bring hapof
this
piness to
visitaothers. The students join their tion program was made possible
new senior friends to sing, folk with the help of Lynlee Klug,
dance, converse, and chair Wood Park’s music teacher, and
dance (a musical form of exer- Michelle Collison, the principal
cise).”
of Wood Park, who graciously
Most recently, Mona DeMar- provided the support necessary
co’s second grade class visited to make this worthwhile program
the Bristal in East Northport for possible.
Red Nose Day. Red Nose Day,
COMMUNITY EVENTS
There are oodles of summer fun
activities and camps for kids
listed on the
Community Events Page :
www.commackschools.org
Click on the Community Events
Button
Free Summer
Lunch Program
Children who qualify for free lunch during the school
year can participate in the Summer Food Service
Program. Meals will be provided to all eligible children
free of charge. For Income Eligibility Guidelines and
program locations, please go to the Lunch page on the
Commack Website. www.commack.k12.ny.us/lunch/
index.asp.
Breakfast Program Waiver
Consistent with past years, the Commack Union Free
School District has applied for a waiver of the school
breakfast program. This waiver was requested after a
poll of primary, intermediate, and middle school parents
determined that the large majority of families would not
avail themselves of a breakfast program. Interested parties may address comments or suggestions to the attention of Laura A. Newman, Assistant Superintendent for
Business, PO Box 150, Commack, NY 11725.
The Commack Courier
7
ead!
R
o
t
e
Lov
As we come to the end of another wonderful school
year, I’d like to take this opportunity to express my thanks
to the community for your continued support of our schools
and our children. Our school budget passing rate of 77%
reinforces the approval of the District’s academic and fiscal multi-year planning practices. We are on solid footing
as we go forward. Thank you to all those who contributed
to a successful budget season!
Our students and staff have earned many accolades
and honors this year, some of which are included in this
publication. I am deeply proud and humbled at the depth
of commitment shown at every level. Our students and
staff go the extra mile to help others and to seek solutions
to better the world through their outreach, their compassion, their research, and their actions.
I hope you take advantage of the many summer activities available through the District and local organizations
and towns. Please continue to support our advocacy efforts to reduce the over-testing of our children, and check
the website for back to school information and calendar
events.
I wish you a peaceful and safe summer.
Sincerely,
Dr. Donald James
Guest readers from throughout the District and the Commack
community were invited to the North Ridge Primary School Library
to celebrate Children’s Book Week in May. Guest readers are asked
to demonstrate their love for books and the importance of reading by
reading their favorite books aloud to students.
Readers included Commack BOE President, Deborah Guber;
Superintendent, Dr. Donald James (pictured above); Assistant Superintendent for Education, Dr. Adele Pecora; Director of Fine and
Applied Arts, Paul Infante; Director of Science, Alison OffermanCelentano; North Ridge Principal, Katherine Rihm, and Burr Intermediate School Principal, Paul Schmelter.
North Ridge staff members also participated in the read-aloud
program along with community members Peter Wunsch, former
Commack BOE President, Joanne Kelleher, Librarian from the Commack Public Library, and Erin McCann, Librarian from the Commack
Branch of the Smithtown Public Library.
North Ridge Librarian, Patricia Lopez, remarked, “Our guest
readers passed on their gift of reading and their joy for books.”
Ribbons of Respect Show Support for the Men and Women in Blue
With the recent
death of NYPD Police
Officer Brian Moore
and the killing of police officers around our
country, the Commack
School District is en-
School and community members are
encouraged to tie blue
ribbons around the
trees on their property
as a show of thanks
and support for our police force.
Sawmill
Intermediate
School’s Student
Council
spent
their free time tying blue ribbons
around the trees
on the school’s
Student Council members Allie grounds to show
and Brianna tie the blue ribbon their support and
around a tree.
respect for all
police officers.
The
students
couraging community
residents to show their hope to show the many
support for those who law enforcement ofserve and protect us on ficers who are living in
a daily basis through its and around the Com“Ribbons of Respect” mack area how much
they are appreciated.
campaign.
8
In photo above, members of the Student Council in front of Mandracchia Sawmill
Intermediate School.
The Commack Courier
SCIENCE STUDENTS GAIN MAJOR ACCOLADES
NYSSEF Andromeda Division winners, with science research mentor Richard Kurtz (on right): Thomas,
Monica, William, Claire, Eric, Gabe, Eric, Austin, Julianna, and Christine. Adam is missing from
this photo.
Congratulations to the following students for their accomplishments at the New York State Science & Engineering Fair (NYSSEF)
Andromeda Division:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Claire and William – 1st Place in Engineering, Top 10 in Fair for “The Design and Construction of a Device to
Aid Emergency Service Personnel in Utilizing a Bag-Valve Mask”
Eric and Gabriel – 3rd Place in Animal Sciences for “The Effects of Environmental and Seasonal Changes on the Diel Vertical
Migration of Zooplankton”
Austin, Adam, Erick – 3rd Place in Mathematics for “To What Extent Does Salary Affect the Level of
Performance of Professional Baseball Players?”
Monica – 3rd Place in Animal Sciences for “The Effect of Increased Levels of Estrogen on the Mating Behavior of
Drosophila Melanogaster”
Christine and Julianna – 3rd Place in Behavioral Sciences for “The Effect of Mental Imagery on a Figure Skater’s Performance”
Thomas – 3rd Place in Behavioral Sciences for “The Analysis of OCD Perceptions and the Stigma that Surrounds
Mental Illness”
We have an amazing team of teachers that assist our students in science research: Mr. Richard Kurtz, Dr. Lorraine Solomon, Ms.
Jeanette Collette, Ms. Andrea Beatty, Dr. Daniel Kramer and Ms. Kimberly Stiso.
Check out how our high school science research students are exploring the moon and asteroids through the
Lunar and Planetary Institute: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/exploration/education/hsResearch/
Student Research Published in
Prestigious Journal
David, a junior and an Intel
Finalist, was chosen to present his manuscript at the 2015
IEEE Long Island Systems, Applications and Technology Conference on May 1.
His paper, “A Wireless
Tracking System for At-home
Medical Equipment during
Natural Disasters,” was also
published in the IEEE Xplore
journal, one of the leading resources of scientific and technical information in the world.
In photo with David are
Commack’s Director of Science, Alison Offerman-Celentano, and Dr. Fred Kruger, a volunteer in the science research
program.
The Commack Courier
9
SCIENCE NEWS
Molloy College Science Fair
Congratulations to:
• Sam, Jake, and Muzzafer - Honorable Mention for their
project titled, “A Comparative Analysis of Phytoplankton
Populations and the Variables Which Influence them in
the Arctic and Pacific Northwest”
• Megan and Kelly - Honorable Mention for their project
titled, “An Exploration on the Sequential and Structural
Diversity of Antibodies”
• Jessica and Nicolette - 5th Place for their project titled,
“The Effect of Caffeine on the Movement and Foot Attachment of Ramshorn Snails
(Planorbus rubrum)”
Long Island Science Congress
Congratulations to:
• Manvi, William, and Gabrielle – High Honors (2nd Place)
– Catapult Physics: Torsional Energy Storage
• Louis, Samantha and Tyler - High Honors (2nd Place) –
Heat Absorption and Color
• Anthony – Bronze Medal in Physics Honors (3rd Place) –
Magnus Effect on a Baseball
• Pragati and Brianna – Honors (3rd Place) – Regeneration of Blackworms
• Monishka, Emma, and Delina Honors (3rd Place) – The
Effect of Pitch on the Wave it Produces
• Deniz and Catherine – Honors (3rd Place) - Using Computer Models to Explore the Spread of Viruses
WAC Invitational Science Fair
Congratulations to:
• David - 1st Place - Prototype Engineering, Underclassman
• Andrea - 1st Place - Physics and Astronomy, Senior Division
• Ryan - 1st Place - Prototype Engineering,
Senior Division
• Allyson, Sara, Caitlin - 2nd Place - General Biology, Underclassman
• Jianna, Marin - 2nd Place - Earth and Environmental Science, Senior Division
• Alexis, Raphael, Trevor - 2nd Place - Prototype Engineering, Underclassman
• Vincent- 3rd Place - General Biology,
Senior Division
• Jin Ho- 3rd Place - General Biology,
Senior Division
• Melike, Abinaya, Yonghyun, Anoop- 3rd
Place - Prototype Engineering, Underclassman
10
• Brandon, Josh, Raymond - 3rd Place - Earth and Environmental Science,
Underclassman and the Sustainability Award- Junior Division
The Commack Courier
Young Inventors Welcomed by Suffolk Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club
Student inventors from Commack
High School were invited to present the
products they designed at the Suffolk Inventors and Entrepreneurs Club on May
19, at the H. Lee Dennison Building in
Hauppauge.
Students worked all year in their science research class to hone their product
design with help from teacher Richard
Kurtz and Brian Fried, an inventor himself, and founder of the Suffolk I&E Club.
Mr. Fried has volunteered his time at the
high school for three years, but this was
the first time the students were invited to
a monthly I&E Club meeting.
Similar to “Shark Tank,” investors
also attend the meetings, and there was
interest sparked by the students inventions. To protect their ideas, students also
learn about the patent process, and one
student already has a patent-pending for
his device (David). The class has, over
the years, designed helpful apparatus for
people with handicaps to help them function in a work and home environment.
The drive to develop unique products
that help people motivates these students.
Some of this year’s projects include: The
Gua Sha Backpack, an Easy Entry Door
Opener and Stopper, a Device to Aid
Emergency Medical Service Personnel
in Utilizing a Bag Valve Mask, OfficeTop;
An Assistive Technological Device to Improve the Efficiency of the Office Workspace for Quadriplegics, A Device for the
Tracking of At Home Medical Equipment
During Natural Disasters, the Design and
Construction of a Recreational Foam Dart
Launcher for a Person With Duchenne’s
Muscular Dystrophy, and a Mobile Allergy
Warning Computer Application.
These amazing students are featured in this month’s “InnovateLI” newsletter in an article titled: Invention, With A
Side Order of Altruism: www.innovateli.
com/invention-with-a-side-order-of-altruism/
There is no charge and no registration is required to attend the I&E meetings. For more information, call (631)
853-4805 or e-mail: lisaann.broughton@
suffolkcountyny.gov.
Rolling Hills Science:
The Life Cycle of Living Things
The kindergarten students in Rolling Hills Primary School are busy
learning about “Living Things” in their
current science unit. As part of this unit
the children observe and learn about
the life cycle of a frog.
Each classroom is equipped with
a frog tank and two tadpoles so observations can be made on a daily basis.
The students are involved with setting
up the tank, naming their new class
pets, and taking care of them.
As they observe the changes from
tadpole to frog, they are amazed and
extremely excited. Each stage of the
life cycle (except the egg stage) is
seen, studied, and logged in journals.
A local pet store supplied the schools
with a froglet, so the various stages
were represented.
As the end of the year approaches, the children are hopeful that all the
tadpoles will turn into frogs before they
leave kindergarten! Even if they don’t,
one of the RH teachers will give them
a home in her backyard pond and enjoy them as her pets with her family! In
September, Mrs. Havern will bring in
photos to show the now first graders
how big the frogs grew over the summer. It is such a wonderful learning experience for them all.
Suffolk Science
Teacher Honors
S u s a n
Rosner, a fifth
grade teacher
at Burr Intermediate
School,
was
recognized as
the
Science
Teachers' Association
of
NYS Elementary
Science
Teacher of the
Year for Suffolk
County.
The Association honors one teacher from
each of the following
levels each year: high
school, middle school,
and elementary school.
Nominated
teachers
must supply a portfolio
including a personal
narrative, letters of
recommendation from
administrators,
col-
The Commack Courier
leagues, parents, and
students, as well as
supporting documentation as an outstanding
teacher and leader of
science students.
The awards dinner
was held at Villa Lombardi’s on May 20th,
where Mrs. Rosner
received her plaque.
Congratulations Mrs.
Rosner!
11
Trifecta at NYIT Connect-To-Tech Competition
Technology and research students won first,
second, and third place at
the New York Institute of
Technology engineering
competition, and $2,400!
Projects are evaluated
based on their originality,
potential for practical applications, and the significance of the problem they
seek to address. Teachers, Joseph Castrogivanni
and Richard Kurtz, work
with the students on many
complex engineering projects each year. This is the
fifth year Commack has garnered first place in the competition, go-
ing to David and Kayla
for their medical database and fingerprint ID
invention. Their $1,000
prize will be donated to
the Future Engineers
Club towards ongoing
projects.
Second
and third
place was won by Brianna, Anoop, Melike, Abinaya, Yonghyun, Claire,
Will, and Chase for the
Voice Assist Office Top
and Bag-Valve-Mask resuscitation device. Be
sure to check out the
Technology Club Blog: http://commackfec.blogspot.com/
Crazy Rube Goldberg Contraptions at CMS
The enrichment classes at Commack
Middle School are a big hit! One of this year’s
newest offerings is the eighth grade STEM
(science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) course taught by Jordan Jankowski.
The class participated in a Rube Goldberg machine project and competition. Rube
Goldberg was a cartoonist mostly famous for
his illustrations of intricate machines that accomplished simple tasks. Rube’s legacy was
specifically utilized to teach physics and engineering.
The project involved applying various skills
and knowledge gained from previous investiga-
tions, including simple machines and reverse
engineering. The students were challenged
to tap into their engineering skills by using repurposed materials to develop a machine that
was composed of ten energy transfers before
achieving its final goal of popping a balloon.
Mr. Jankowski guided students in constructing a functioning machine, while deepening their understanding of inertia, potential energy, kinetic energy, and displacement versus
distance. Most importantly, students learned
these concepts through practical experience,
making learning easier while having a whole
lot of fun.
Commack Middle School Students Judge the Flame Challenge
Sixth grade students in Diane Flynn and
Randi Seideman’s classes had the opportunity to participate as student judges for this
year’s Flame Challenge. The Flame Challenge is presented by The Alan Alda Center
for Communicating Science at Stony Brook
University.
The Flame Challenge began in 2012
with Alan Alda’s childhood query: “What
is a flame?” He was not satisfied with the
answer he received, and came up with the
idea of a competition for scientists, who
would need to answer a challenging question in a way that an eleven year old child
12
could understand.
“Not only did our students judge five to
six entries in a variety of formats per class,
we were honored with an invitation to participate in this year’s World Wide Assembly,” said Mrs. Flynn. Commack was one
of only nine schools selected from a field
of over 21,000 student judges. Alan Alda
videoconferenced with all nine schools in
order to discuss the six finalists in the competition, streamed live on the Flame Challenge website.
This was a unique and enriching experience for our students, giving them the opThe Commack Courier
portunity to connect with students all over
the world. The Flame Challenge gave them
the opportunity to add their voices to the
world of science.
“It was really interesting because we
were chosen to participate in a worldwide
event,” Mia said.
“It was a great opportunity. We won’t
be 11 years old ever again. It was amazing
that we connected with a school in India!”
stated Alyssa.
For more info, visit: www.centerforcommunicatingscience.org/the-flame-challenge-2/flame-challenge-2015/.
Community Outreach from Home Depot Transforms Butterfly Garden at Sawmill
The third grade
students at Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School
have been studying the life cycle
of insects. They
“raised”
Painted
Lady
butterflies,
and as a culminating activity, the students released the butterflies into the school’s butterfly garden.
The garden had undergone an amazing
transformation just the day before, thanks
to Christopher Longstreet, a Sawmill dad
who noticed the garden needed some loving care. Mr. Longstreet also is an Assistant
Manager of the Freeport Home Depot. The
garden was badly in need of “More Savings, More Doing,” so Mr. Longstreet paired
up with Smithtown Home Depot Operations
Manager, Miguel Pichardo, and associates,
Kristine Lomardie and Gloria DeJesus, to
transform the garden just in time for the
third grade students to release butterflies.
After ripping out all the weeds that had
taken over, beautiful plants and trees that
attract these flying beauties were planted,
also courtesy of Home Depot. The garden
will provide a wonderful place for teachers
to take their students out during the warm
weather to read, write, and learn.
Sawmill was so appreciative of this donation. The student council created thank
you care packages for the team filled with
orange drinks and orange treats with a note
that read, “Orange you glad you helped us
out? We are!”
“Let’s do this!” was music to the ears of
Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School
Student Council. The Student Council Advisors, Tara O’Grady, Kathi Woolley, and Laura Keen, would like to send a special thank
you to all the students that came out to help
the Home Depot team get the job done!
Battle of the Languages
Pictured above is the winning team, “Las Chicas,” who won Tshirts and gift cards to Tropical Smoothie: Christina, Alyssa,
Leeza, Alex, and Erica.
More than 100 students kicked off
the spring at Commack High School’s
“Battle of the Languages.” The event
was cosponsored by the Spanish and
Latin Honor Societies.
Enthusiastic teams made up of students representing the Spanish, Italian,
The officers of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica, from left to right: Jessica, Erica, Sociedad Onoraria Hispánica Advisor, Margaret Krone, Jesse,
Colleen, and Jae Yoon.
Latin, French, ASL, and English Honor
Societies participated in fun, culturallythemed competitive events. The events
included chariot races, a soccer goal
contest, a beret toss, badminton, sign
language telephone, language and culture trivia, and even the running of the
The Commack Courier
bulls.
“The Battle of the Languages provided a fun and safe opportunity for students to join in celebration of the diverse
languages and cultures we explore at
our high school,” said Laura Anne Weiss,
Coordinator of World Languages.
13
Teach a Man to Fish:
Good for the Sole
Grant Furthers
Food-to-Table Initiative at CHS
There are more than 300 million people without shoes
in the world. Shoes are a necessary protection against injury and illness, and a necessity to attend school and work.
Commack Middle School is happy to do its part in helping
to fulfill this need through a partnership with Soles4Souls.
Soles4Souls is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
fighting poverty through the collection and distribution of
gently used shoes through individual donations or shoe
drives. These shoes are then given to micro-enterprise
organizations, which deliver the shoes overseas to those
in need. The shoes are given, on loan, to people living in
poverty. Those who receive the shoes can start their own
micro-enterprises, which are small businesses in their villages or the nearest local marketplace. Once they sell the
shoes, they repay the loan and keep all of the profits.
Three eighth grade students, Rachel, Kaitlyn, and Hailey (photo) chose to work with this organization as a part
of Mrs. Cohn’s Global Citizens class. All students enrolled
in the class are required to do a service project. There are
no limitations on what the students can do to make a difference.
After exploring a unit on poverty, the girls thought it
would be appropriate to seek out Soles4Souls and try to
organize a shoe drive to help those in need. Interestingly
enough, seventh grade teacher, Mrs. O’Boyle had contacts
with Soles4Souls, and had conducted a shoe drive last
year. As a result, all parties joined forces, worked together,
and strived to make a difference.
This style of giving generates much needed jobs and
revenue in poverty stricken communities found in such
places as Haiti, Tanzania, and the Dominican Republic. It
stimulates the economy and fosters the belief behind the
age old proverb, “If you give a man a fish, he eats for a day.
If you teach a man to fish, he eats for a lifetime.” It does all
of this while providing a most basic human need, shoes.
Rachel, Kaitlyn, and Hailey have worked tirelessly, creating and hanging flyers, sending emails, making phone
calls, and promoting the shoe drive at school. With the help
of their peers in their Global Citizens class, they collected,
sorted, and prepared the shoes for shipment. Hundreds of
shoes have been collected as a result of this service project. Not only will people all over the world be impacted as
a result of these donations, but Rachel, Kaitlyn, and Hailey,
along with their teachers and the CMS community will be
forever changed as well.
Commack High School is helping to feed the hungry.
Science teacher, Ryan McGrath, with the support of the
entire science department, has refurbished the greenhouse in one of the school’s courtyards, and an edible garden is growing well for the second year.
Mr. McGrath and Director of Science, Alison OffermanCelentano, coauthored a grant application to Whole Kids
Foundation and were awarded a $2,000 grant. The garden was started by Mr. McGrath and a few students in the
spring of 2013 with one raised garden bed. The Commack
Lowe’s provided a grant last year, and the garden was expanded to three raised beds.
The monies from the Whole Kids Foundation will be
used to erect winterizing tunnels to extend the growing
season so the garden will provide the local food pantry
with more fresh, organic produce.
The produce provided from the high school is donated
to a local food pantry, and “leaves the pantry the day we
deliver it, which indicates there is a great need for free
fresh vegetables and fruits in our community,” said Mrs.
Offerman-Celentano. “We will also use the funds to purchase additional tools to quantify our crop output each
season so that we can plan accordingly over the winter to
either sustain or increase our yield. Currently, we estimate
our production at 10-20 pounds/week which we hope to
increase to better provide fresh produce for our community
members. It is our hope to provide a greater service to
our local community and continue to educate our children
about the importance of healthy eating and the significant
need for edible gardens.”
Mr. McGrath and his students have worked closely
with The Long Island Community Agriculture Network
(LICAN) to receive assistance with the setup of the first
raised bed and to provide information to be successful in
the first growing season. They continue to provide support
for our food-to-table garden initiative.
14
The Commack Courier
Leading By Reading
Students in Diane Flynn and Eric
Jensen's science classes at Commack
Middle School participated in the fourth
annual Leading by Reading Community
Service Project to benefit Pal-O-Mine
Equestrian.
Children gathered sponsors who
agreed to donate a certain dollar amount
for each book read during the third marking period. All proceeds went into a
scholarship fund at Pal-O-Mine so that
disabled children from economically disadvantaged families could benefit from
the many programs available at Pal-OMine. This year's participants raised over
$3,000!
PTA Council Awards
Art Scholarships
Congratulations to Sarah and Cristina on winning the
Usdan Scholarship Award. The Commack PTA Council
Arts-in-Education Committee awards two $1,000 scholarships annually to middle school students for their exceptional talent, commitment, and experience in the performing
and/or visual arts. The scholarship will help pay for the girls
to attend the Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing
Arts Summer Camp.
Featured in the picture are Denise Pihlkar, Guidance
Counselor, Cristina, Dave Goldman, Guidance Counselor,
Sarah, and Nancy Neibloom, Guidance Counselor.
In May, a group of students visited
Pal-O-Mine and had the opportunity to
participate in an Equine Assisted Learning experience.
In photo, Lisa Gatti (on right), Director
of Pal-O-Mine Equestrian, along with her
little burros and horses thank the children
and teachers for their fundraising efforts.
Keeping Us Safe:
Thank You Officers!
The third graders in Jackie Oster, Marianne Dorman, and Linda
Zehner's class enjoyed a visit from
Suffolk County Police Officers
Quinn, Sheridan, and Stahl, who
arrived in their SWAT vehicles.
The class enjoyed an informative presentation, and learned
about the tools and special equipment used in emergencies. Students loved hearing about the
The Commack Courier
officer’s experiences, and were impressed by the tactics used to keep
our community safe.
15
Second Graders Leave Their Legacy
The second grade students at Wood Park Primary School in Commack create a lasting legacy
for the school each year. This year’s Legacy Project is a cooperative endeavor based on the book,
"Only One You," by Linda Kranz. Each second
grade student chose a two-color theme to paint
on his/her ceramic fish. These fish will become a
unique and colorful part of a SOLE Mates installation, “A school of fish, a school of friends.”
The SOLE Mates artwork are hand-built clay
tiles created by the children using the soles of their
shoes to add texture and pattern. These tiles are
placed together to create beautiful images. Other
Sole Mates projects include an apple tree and outdoor scenery in the main lobby of the school.
Kathy Russell works with the Wood Park children on similar legacy projects through the PTA's
Arts in Education program. Past creations also include a student mailbox and beautiful mobiles in
the cafeteria.
I
The entire second grade works hard to leave a
special gift behind at North Ridge Primary School.
This year, the children were inspired by Dale Chihuly, a world famous glass artist. He has taken the
art of glassblowing to another whole level.
The students created a Chihuly-like mobile
during art classes. It was designed using plastic
instead of glass. In the words of Chihuly, “Glass is
the most magical of all material, it transmits light
in a very special way.”
Art teacher, Carolann Lally, worked intensely
with Paul Infante, Director of Fine and Applied
Arts, and visiting artist Kathy Russell on this farewell project.
The students are excited about their colorful
mobile, which is displayed in the cafeteria at North
Ridge for everyone’s enjoyment. This project was
made possible through the NR PTA and the Arts in
Education program. Pictured above are students
from Mrs. Mackenzie’s class, along with Mr. Infante, Mrs. Lally, and Mrs. Russell.
INDIAN HOLLOW STUDENTS
CELEBRATE MOTHER EARTH
There are so many ways we can help the
Earth conserve its resources and stay healthy!
The students in Mary Fox’s first grade class at
Indian Hollow Primary School became Earthly
helpers to preserve our planet.
The children decided to recycle milk cartons from their lunchroom and make them into
beautiful planters. After decorating the cartons
with paper scraps, markers, and crayons, the
children planted flowers inside the cartons.
Recycling and planting are just two of the
many things people can do to save the planet.
This Earth Day activity inspired the students to think of ways to recycle each day,
and to gain an appreciation of how to help the
Earth every day.
Mrs. Fox’s class would like to send everyone a message: Help the Earth every day!
16
The Commack Courier
*********** One Book, One School ***********
As
you’ve
read in previous Courier issues, Commack
Middle
School
launched an exciting new project,
“One Book, One
School,” this year.
CMS families and
staff were invited
to read the novel,
Wonder, by R.J.
Palacio, to promote reading and
encourage conversations about
how
“choosing
kind” can inspire
great things.
Under
the
guidance of lead
reading teacher, Kerry Vitola, related inschool activities occurred. Students met as
part of the Wonder Book Club for six consecutive Tuesdays in February and March.
Each Tuesday was made memorable with
group activities, special guest speakers,
games, role playing and fun, crafty handson projects.
A culminating celebration was held with
special guests Dina Zuckerberg, myFace
Director of Family Programs, and Kir Selert
from the myFace Foundation. Myface was
introduced to the club through Commack
teacher Stephanie Zweibel. Myface is a
foundation that provides medical, monetary,
social, and psychological support to patients and their family going through similar
surgeries and procedures like the character
Auggie in Wonder. Other special guests included Burr fourth grade student Hannah,
her mother, Stacy Klein, and Dina’s friend,
Maryanne Dos Santos.
The myFace guests worked on hands
on activities with the club and talked about
their foundation. Together Ms. Zuckerberg
and Ms. Selert facilitated some break out
activities which opened up some real life
connections between the club members,
the book, and the guest speakers. Ms. Dos
Santos and student Hannah were then able
to share their own personal experiences
as individuals born with
facial differences in a
Q&A session. Together
they discussed their own
‘text to world’ connection to Wonder, and the
realities of dealing with
facial differences including Auggie’s condition,
Treacher Collins Syndrome. Hannah’s mom,
Stacy Klein, was able to
share her experiences
from a parent perspective.
Over the summer, the Klein family will
be participating in the
annual myFace walk,
Races for Faces. To
read about Hannah’s
story, visit: Caringbridge.
org/visit/hannahklein, More information regarding donations for myFace can be found
on the myface.org website. This project
is also featured on the middle school’s
website:
www.commack.k12.ny.us/cms/
departments&programs/reading/wonder.
htm.
A world of thanks to the CMS teachers
and students who helped facilitate the book
club sessions. Teachers included: Maria
Quinn, Stefanie Fields, Ellen Richardson,
Tom Stevens, Jeanne Suttie, Kathy Terrell,
Trish DeRose, Joyce McPhillips, Linda St.
Pierre, Stephanie Zweibel, Dr. Randie Taylor, and Amy Biblow.
ber when Mr. Hochman worked with the
students to explore themes of respect,
friendship, and acceptance. He guided
the children through the writing process as
they brainstormed ideas, developed characters, and explored problems and solutions. Revising and editing was also part
of the process.
The stories contained in the book are
all about respecting others. The book
has nine insightful and engaging stories
dreamed up by more than two hundred
creative, caring, and respectful Mandracchia-Sawmill Intermediate School third
graders. Thank you to the PTA for publishing the book for the school!
“Sawmill
Knows
Respect”
Author Steven Hochman worked with
the third grade students of MandracchiaSawmill Intermediate School to create a
compilation of stories inspired by the students. The final product is a printed book
called “Sawmill Knows Respect.”
This exciting journey took place during the months of October and Novem-
The Commack Courier
17
Silver Anniversary Celebration
T
he Commack School District hosts a
celebration to honor those who have
worked here for 25 years, and those about to
begin a new time in their lives (retirement).
This year, 20 retirees and seven Silver Anniversary honorees were recognized at the
Annual Retirement and Silver Anniversary
Gala, held at Commack Middle School.
Reza Kolahifar, Personnel Director, was
the Master of Ceremonies, and the ladies
who work with him in personnel planned this
delightful event. Honorees were presented
with plaques and flowers to commemorate
their service to the District and its students.
Thank you to Frank Hansen and the Commack High School ICA Jazz Messengers for
their sweet music.
We wish all our honorees a fulfilling future, and thank you for your many years of
dedication to the students of Commack.
Silver Anniversary Honorees
Leslie Davis
James Driscoll
Robert Dubriske, Jr.
Craig Gorton
Orris Graff
Anthony Grubel
Edward Storck
Retirement Honorees
Angela Abamo
Frances Cahill
Elaine Curley
Leslie Davis
Patricia DeRose
Mary Fazio
Christine Ferdenzi
Jean Fitzpatrick
Laurindia Foster
Robert Heaning
Earth Day Poster Wins First Place
Congratulations
to Mateo, who won
the Senator John J.
Flanagan Earth Day
2015 Poster Contest.
Ms. Patricia Tappin’s entire fourth
grade class at Sawmill
Intermediate
School participated
in the contest.
Mateo’s
original and creative
poster is displayed
on Senator Flanagan’s website: www.
nysenate.gov/earthday-2015-postercontest-0.
18
Retirement Honorees
Kathleen Huergo
Susan Kenney-Miller
Carol Levine
Rochelle Levenson
Denise Mungioli
Mark Nappi
Nancy Pally
Eileen Sansone
MaryLee Tramonte
Joyce Zaccaro
BNL Honorable Mention
Science inquiry and discovery are alive and well at Burr
Intermediate School! In March,
students participate in Burr’s annual Science Fair. Six projects,
two from each grade level, are
chosen to represent Burr at the
2015 Brookhaven National Lab
Elementary Science Fair.
About 120 Suffolk County
The Commack Courier
schools participate in the fair. Volunteer BNL scientists and teachers team up to judge over 500
projects from grades K-6. We are
pleased to announce that Burr
had three Honor Mention winners:
Grace, Ava, and Zaphiria, in photo, with teacher, Sue Rosner, and
Burr Principal, Paul Schmelter.
Celebrate, Remember & Fight Back
This year’s Relay for Life was the top
event in the entire Metro NY area and
raised over $200,000 thanks to the combined efforts of students, staff, and the entire community.
It was a beautiful Friday evening fo celebrate the lives of people who have battled
cancer, to remember loved ones lost, and to
join the fight against the disease.
The overnight event on the football field
at Commack High School was the culmination of months of planning by community
volunteers and co-chairs Leslie Boritz, Maria
Kalonaros Susan Nissen, Sarah Sobel, and
Susan Shapiro.
“With every walker, every step and every
dollar raised today, lives are being savedlives of family and friends who will be with
us to experience graduations, weddings and
the birth of grandchildren - all those mile
stones that mean so much,” said Sarah So-
bel our American Cancer Society Staff Partner.
There were 904 participants this year
and 88 teams walking the track that evening,
filling the infield, camping around the track,
and helping ‘create more birthdays’ for the
people with cancer.
“There has been a 20 percent decline in
cancer death rates in the U.S. since the early 1900s,” said Sarah. “That means we’ve
helped save nearly 1.2 million lives during
that time, but we all know there is more work
to be done.”
After darkness set in the traditional
words “HOPE” and “CURE” were dramatically illuminated in lights across the bleachers, and more luminaries outlined the track.
Volunteers entertained the walkers throughout the night, and family games and activities continued until dawn.
These luminaries that are the hallmark of
Relay honor people who have been touched
by cancer. During the Luminary Lighting,
candles are lit inside paper bags filled with
sand, each one bearing the name of a loved
one. After the lighting, all participants walked
a lap in silence; this is a time that truly highlights the importance of defeating this disease.
The top fundraising teams this year were
Wear Purple for Joey, Team MBB, Kicking
Cancer, The Jackson-Evan Alliance 2015,
and Team Sara Commack Cheerleading.
Top individual participants included Nalini Krishman, Joan de la Prida, Maeve Smart,
Jacki Camiolo, and Christina Garcia.
Cancer survivors inspire us, they reaffirm our mission with the American Cancer
Society and reinforce, in a very personal
way, the need to eliminate cancer from our
lives, and within our lifetime. For more info,
visit www.relayforlife.org/commackny.
More Relay Efforts...
Regina Gleason’s
class at the middle
school worked with
Laura Ann Weiss to
pot purple petunias in
purple cups. During fifth
period, the students
sold the petunias outside of the cafeterias,
and donated exactly
$100 to Relay for Life
(the American Cancer
Society).
The Commack Courier
Commack Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society students
raised close to $300 during lunch periods for their Relay for Life team. In
remembrance of loved ones who have
been lost to cancer or to honor those
battling this disease, they sold Relay
for Life, Sun, Moon, and Foot donation
cards for $1.00 and luminaries for $10.
In addition to this fundraising event,
the students also gathered donations
outside of school.
19
Middle School Students
Rule the Region!
Commack Middle School Math/Science Research students competed at two
regional science competitions: The Long
Island Science Congress and the New
York State Science and Engineering Fair
(NYSSEF).
Thirteen middle school students won
awards at the Science Congress and twenty-one students were recognized at NYSSEF.
Two student research projects finished
in the top ten at NYSSEF. William’s project,
“Polarization of Light,” and “Heat Absorption and Color,” by Samantha, Louis and
Tyler, qualified as nominees for the Broadcom Masters competition. These students
have the chance to become one of 300 national semi-finalists.
Courant Wins Awards
Making Paper with Peers
Congratulations to The Courant's editorial board! The Courant was named one of the top high school newspapers on Long
Island at the Long Island Press Awards at Hofstra University. Of
the 24 high schools that competed from across Long Island and
the 1,600 entries submitted, The Courant won 26 awards, and
Katie was named Student Journalist of the Year.
The following students also won awards for individual categories: Sarah, Anna, Sydney, Sarah, Marlie, Katie, Megan, Judy,
Emma, and Catherine.
Nancy Castaneda’s second grade class from North Ridge Primary School went on a trip with their art teacher, Carolann Lally,
to Burr Intermediate School. They learned how to make paper with
Christine Levine and Pat Barabino’s fifth grade class during Geralyn
Russo’s art class.
The fifth graders assisted the second graders, showing them how
to make the paper pulp in the blender and pour it into the screens in
order to create a thick layer of paper pulp. The students then used
a sponge and rolled the extra water out. It was fun, and a wonderful
opportunity to participate in a creative, positive experience in their
future school.
20
The Commack Courier
Students Honored at All-County Music Festival
Burr
CHS
S aw m i l l
Commack Middle School
M
usic teachers from school districts
across Suffolk County nominate their
students to participate in the annual Long Island String Festival Association (L.I.S.F.A.)
and the Suffolk County Music Educators’
Association (S.C.M.E.A.) All-County Festival Concerts. The Long Island String Festival Association and the Suffolk County
Music Educators’ Association are county
music organizations that offer students the
ability to perform with students from other
districts in annual All-County Concert Festivals. These honor groups rehearse two to
three days in preparation for the concerts.
Over 100 musicians from Commack
participated in these prestigious festivals.
“Once again, the students performed at
their usual high level of musicianship, and
we congratulate them for earning this outstanding recognition! It is a tremendous
achievement to be selected, as thousands
of students are nominated to participate in
these well known festivals,” stated Paul R.
Infante, Director of Fine and Applied Arts.
The photos above contain many of our
students who were chosen as outstanding
musicians in Suffolk County.
In photo below, seventh grade student
Luke is designing wheels for a CO2 car
project on CAD (Computer Aided Design -- SolidWorks) software.
Anything you can design in the
software can be printed on the
Middle School’s 3-D printer.
Tech teacher, John Murray,
designed and printed hinges.
Layer by layer, the item is
printed, which does take
considerable time. Below, the finished product.
The files are transferred to CAM
(Computer Aided Manufacturing
– Cura) software, which converts the design to work with the
printer. The printer uses special
plastic ribbon and heat to form
and produce the wheels.
The Commack Courier
21
NON-PROFIT
CARRIER ROUTE
PRE-SORT
US POSTAGE PAID
PERMIT NO. 8
Commack, NY 11725
POSTAL PATRON
Commack Union Free School District
Commack, New York, 11725
The 2014-15 school year has been one for the record books for our Commack Athletics. We have had some of the most memorable
moments that our student-athletes, family, and community will remember forever. During this unbelievable school year we have seen our
athletes earn All League, All Conference, All County, All Long Island, and even All State honors. We had a News12 Scholar Athlete and a
High School All-American.
This year, our Boys Varsity Soccer Team won a State Championship, our Girls Basketball team took home a Long Island Championship, and our Girls Fencing Team win its first Suffolk County Championship.
Our athletic teams have given back to the community in many way including fundraiser events, youth clinics, and physical education
workshops. Commack has again qualified as a NYS School of Distinction with ALL of our 32 varsity teams earning a 90 % or above academic grade point average! We are Commack! #MACK
Congratulations to all of our athletes, many of whom will go on to play at:
Samantha Abbott
Michael Ambrosino
Peter Brennan
Victor Bisulca
Michael Campione
Daria Castrogivanni
Justin Cebollero
Christian Costello
Joshua Cremer
Kristen Daly
Michael D’Angelo
Vincenzo Diliberti
Ryan Doerschug
Jake Feigenbaum
Scott Flores
Jake Forman
Nicholas Fox
Gabriella Gambino
Jason Gerber
Connor Gill
Nicholas Giordano
Noah Gittleman
Matthew Glubiak
Fencing
Lacrosse
Soccer
Baseball
Track and Field
Soccer
Soccer
Football
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse
Wrestling
Soccer
Baseball
Football
Soccer
Track and Field
Tennis
Softball
Tennis
Soccer
Soccer
Soccer
Baseball & Basketball
Sacred Heart University
Farmingdale State College
SUNY Geneseo
Mount Saint Mary College
Kutztown University
Molloy College
Long Island University - Post
SUNY Cortland
Florida Atlantic University
SUNY New Paltz
Princeton University
Misericordia University
Molloy College
SUNY Cortland
Dowling College
SUNY Geneseo
SUNY Oneonta
Plattsburgh College
Juniata College
Rochester Inst. of Technology
Loyola University
SUNY Fredonia
Muhlenberg College
Joshua Hadity
Brian Huang
Jonathan Iadevaia
Mary Kanzler
Richard Kim
Kyle LaMantia
Brianna Law
Lisa LePera
Jillian McFadzen
Sean McNierney
Nicole Michaels
Nicholas Monte
Erin O’Neill
Erica Pacello
Alyssa Persich
Ryan Quinn
Christina Rayfield
Justin Scalise
Chelsea Schultz
Michael Smith
Chantel Yang
Cross County,
Track and Field
Fencing
Baseball
Soccer
Track and Field
Baseball
Track and Field
Track and Field
Softball
Lacrosse
Softball and Fencing
Track and Field
Fencing
Soccer
Softball
Baseball
Softball
Lacrosse
Basketball
Baseball
Fencing
Sacred Heart University
John Hopkins University
Adelphi University
Caldwell University
Binghamton University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Nova Southeastern University
Suffolk Community College
Saint Joseph’s College
Bridgewater College
Queens College
University of New Haven
UNC Chapel Hill
Wingate University
SUNY Geneseo
Bloomsberg University
Rutgers Newark University
Adelphi University
Pace Universtiy
Adelphi University
Stanford University
Commack Board of Education:
Deborah Guber - President
Steven Hartman - Vice President
Trustees: Janine DiGirolamo,
MaryJo Masciello, James Tampellini
www.commackschools.org
Superintendent of Schools:
Dr. Donald A. James