Riley Tamburello, a sixth grader at the middle school, has been making special headbands for her mother, an occupational therapist in Middle Island, and her mother’s coworkers, using sewing skills learned in Natalie DeSena’s family and consumer science class. The straps of their face masks hook onto the buttons so they do not hurt the back of their ears when wearing the masks for long periods of time.

“Needless to say, I’m glowing with Islip pride,” said DeSena.