Dozens of students and teachers honored by Connetquot schools

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The Connetquot school board kicked off the school year right at its meeting last month — celebrating the accomplishments of dozens of students, educators and staff members in the district.

Headlining the parade of outstanding achievements was Connetquot High School swimming and diving coach Alex Schichilone, who was recognized by the National Federation of State High School Association as a Coach of the Year for Excellence in coaching during the 2018-19 season.

Coach Schichilone (third from left) is pictured with a number of district administrators, staff members and students at Connetquot’s Sept. 24 Board of Education meeting.

A large numbers of Connetquot High School students earned a perfect score of five on one or more of their Advanced Placement examinations. They were presented with and certificates of commendation by the school board.

The students who earned a perfect score of 5 on an advanced placement test are pictured here with Connetquot Central School District Superintendent of Schools Lynda G. Adams (far left) and Board of Education President Milynn Augulis (far right).

Dozens of Connetquot students were recognized by the board for earning scores of 100% on one or more of their New York State Regents examinations in June.

Connetquot students who earned a perfect score on the Common Core Algebra I Exam are pictured with Connetquot Central School District Superintendent of Schools Lynda G. Adams (far right) and Board of Education President Milynn Augulis (far left).

Ten Connetquot High School students earned perfect scores on the Foreign Language Association of Chairpersons and Supervisors Checkpoint B exams.

Pictured above are six of the 10 students who earned perfect scores on the Foreign Language Association of Chairpersons and Supervisors Checkpoint B exams, along with the district’s director of ENL/World Languages, Denise Hannaoui (far left).

Connetquot High School students Biproprosad Das, Abuzar Hussain, Madeleine Pittigher and Melissa Oz took part in the Brookhaven National Lab’s six-week summer internship program this summer. This program provided them the opportunity to conduct cutting-edge research alongside Brookhaven scientists who are experts in their fields.

Pictured above are the four Connetquot students who participated in the Brookhaven National Lab’s prestigious six-week summer internship program this summer, along with the district’s Science, Technology and FACS Chairperson Mary Loesing (far left), Superintendent of Schools Lynda G. Adams (second from left) and Board of Education President Milynn Augulis (far right).

Connetquot High School students Toni Gallo and Trinity Harper were honored by the school board for taking part in prestigious summer journalism programs this past summer.

Pictured, from left, are Connetquot’s Director of ELA Christina Poppe, Superintendent of Schools Lynda G. Adams, high school student Toni Gallo and Board of Education President Milynn Auguluis.

Students in grades sixth through ninth represented the district at the Suffolk County Battle of the Books competition, placing first in the competition.

Members of Connetquot’s Battle of the Books team are pictured above with Superintendent of Schools Lynda G. Adams (far left), Connetquot Central School District Director of ELA Christina Poppe (second from left) and school board President
Milynn Augulis (far right).

Helen B. Duffield Elementary School teacher Teresa Hewitt was commended by the board for being selected by the New York State English Council as a 2019 Educator of Excellence. This award honors teachers who are leaders in the classroom, collaborators with colleagues and mentors for teachers new to the profession.

Pictured, from left, are Helen B. Duffield Elementary School Principal Lisa Farrell, Connetquot Director of ELA Christina Poppe, school board President Milynn Augulis, 2019 Educator of Excellence Teresa Hewitt and Superintendent Lynda G. Adams.

The quick-thinking action of Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School music teacher Lauren Drinkwater was acknowledged by the board, who commended her for coming to the aid of a choking student at school in September. During class, Mrs. Drinkwater performed the Heimlich maneuver and saved the choking seventh grade student, Braydon DiRoso.

Pictured, from left, are Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School Principal Susanne Bailey, Board of Education President Milynn Augulis, Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School music teacher Lauren Drinkwater and Connetquot Superintendent Lynda G. Adams.

Three physical education teachers from the district were named as Physical Education Teachers of the Year by the New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.