In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, the Islip School District held its third annual Hispanic Heritage recognition event on Oct. 15, celebrating the culture, language and contributions that Hispanic, Hispanic heritage and Hispanic American students have made to the district.

At the ceremony, held at the Board of Education meeting in the middle school library in front of proud families, students – one from each of the district’s schools – were recognized: Melissa Castellanos Orellana of Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School, Osman Marroquin-Mejia of Islip High School, Nicole Matute of Islip Middle School, Jeremy Pacheco of Wing Elementary School and Joshua Trejo Jandres of Commack Road Elementary School.

“These students’ civic and community engagement contributions continue to make Islip a better place,” said Priscilla Zarate, Islip’s coordinator of ENL and world languages.

High school students Richie Castronova (tenor), Tyler Cirulnick (alto), Nick D’Auria (bass), Marisa Esposito (alto), and Joseph Leo (bass) were selected for this year’s Suffolk County Music Educators Association All-County High School Vocal Jazz Ensemble, and Islip Middle School students Maggie Frazer (alto) and Madelynn Lang (alto) were selected for this year’s SCMEA All-County Middle School Vocal Jazz Ensemble. The seven singers will perform at the SCMEA Day of Jazz, held on Nov. 2 at East Islip High School.

High school students in the Virtual Enterprise International program opened their companies on Oct. 3. The students prepared by applying for posted careers in a virtual company, ranging from CEO to department heads to various management positions. Each student created letterhead; completed a cover letter, resume and job application; and participated in a live interview panel.

The high school’s fitness training area for athletes and physical education students has undergone a major upgrade, rebranding the space as a true fitness center and not just a weight room. 

“When I came here three years ago, we already had the rack system, dumbbells and pin loader machines, but the one thing the fitness center lacked was cardio equipment,” said John Sparacio, Islip’s director of health, physical education and athletics. “It was really just a weight room, not a real fitness center.”

Over the past two years, Sparacio and his team started transitioning in cardio equipment such as treadmills, recumbent bikes, advanced motion trainers, ellipticals and rowing machines. They also painted the room, brightening it and branding it with Islip’s purple and gold. Access to the room is available throughout the day as part of the curriculum for PE classes.

“We are trying to meet all the needs of the district’s high school children, providing kids of all abilities with more opportunities and options,” Sparacio said. “It is not just for athletes. We want students of all body types and abilities to find something in here that would appeal to and benefit them. They can learn different kinds of athletic plans through our physical education classes and athletic programs, whether its sports-specific or just living a healthy lifestyle.”

Enhancing the center with cardio and classes is just the beginning, as Sparacio envisions even more intensive use of the space.

“Our future goal is to create classes where students spend more time in the fitness center learning about different training methodologies, health and nutrition,” he said. “Down the road, we hope to create programs where freshmen and sophomores can do a 10-week wellness unit during their phys ed classes. Instead of a traditional sports skills class for the first marking period, they could utilize the fitness center as well as our track and turf field, and learn the different aspects of living a healthy lifestyle through fitness and nutrition. That’s the long-range plan. Adding all the cardio equipment really ties it all together in providing a true fitness room.”

“The greatest benefit of marching band, on a personal basis, is the discipline of it,” said Steve Campanella, the director of Islip’s proud and talented marching band. “On an overall basis, I think it’s the camaraderie of everybody working together. That camaraderie is the thing I look back at when I was in marching band in high school. My best friends were all in the band with me and we spent a lot of time together. It’s nice mixing the social aspect with the musical and educational aspects.”

Campanella has been the Bucs marching band director for the last 14 years, after previously serving as assistant director. When he started, enthusiasm was at a low for what was merely a pep band. Responding to the community’s desire to have an authentic marching band, Campanella worked to enhance the quality of the program. In the beginning, it took him an entire season to teach 10 pages of drill, and now he manages to impart twice that much in a week in band camp.

“They’ve made some massive leaps and bounds in those 14 years,” he said. “It has become self-sustaining. The kids understand exactly what they’ve been asked to do.”

“I’ve been doing this since seventh grade,” said junior Jenna Lindskog, a mellophone player and drum major. “I have loved the marching band all my life and getting to perform and work with all my friends is such a privilege.”

Junior Shannon Brody, a member of the front ensemble or “pit,” also serves as field marshal. “Marching band has allowed me to meet some really great people,” Brody said. “It’s primarily student-run, and gives me an opportunity to work with my peers who are all trying to make this band great.”

“I joined this band and it completely changed my life,” said junior Erin Quinn, a tenor saxophonist and drum major. “It made me want to pursue music as a career in college. I love everyone here and it’s a family.”

This fall, the band has been diligently practicing, getting ready for the Newsday Marching Band Festival in October. They also participated in the Pursuit of Pride Competition at Malverne Senior High School, hosted on Sept. 28 by the New York State Field Band Conference. Islip’s current theme is the music of Queen, including a theatrically exciting use of bicycles.

“We try to take the next step each year, and this show is a little bit more technical and hopefully engaging for both the students and the audience alike,” Campanella said. “What they’re doing on the field is actually quite difficult, but hopefully by the time we are finished with our season, it won’t look difficult anymore. We want them to really hone those skills so they become transparent.”

“We’re taking a new perspective on the Marching Band Festival this year,” Quinn said. “I think we are going for a more fun experience but also trying to step up our technical skills.”

“Our band is preparing very hard to perform in the Newsday competition, and just getting that experience is what really matters,” Lindskog said.