The district continued its partnership with the Suffolk County Police Department on April 19, with the department’s Canine Narcotics Unit conducting a sweep of student lockers at Islip High School. This is the second year that the district and the SCPD have worked together to bring the Canine Unit to the high school.

While students and staff were in their classrooms, two highly trained dogs and their handlers moved throughout the hallways and empty locker rooms. These dogs are able to detect illegal, unlawful or unauthorized substances, but after a thorough review of the building, the dogs and their handlers reported no “hits” for these kinds of materials.

“Principal Michael Mosca and I are grateful to Lt. Tom Zagajeski, the commanding officer of the 3rd Precinct Crime Section, and his officers, for their support and partnership,” said Superintendent of Schools Susan Schnebel. “The district will continue to remain vigilant at all times to prevent illegal drugs from entering our schools.”

High school business students recently collected pet food and animal care products for donation to Legislator Steven Flotteron’s Long Island Cares pet food drive.

“In addition to teaching students about business and careers, social responsibility is consistently taught throughout our business courses,” said teacher Renee Clock. “We take pride in knowing that our students give to others, whether it’s humans or animals. Teaching compassion and empathy, and leading by example, is incorporated into each of our classes. I’m very proud to teach students who help give back to our community.”

High school students Guadalupe Gomez and Madeline Marconi were recently honored with prestigious national world language awards by the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica, an honor society for high school students studying Spanish or Portuguese.

Recognized for their dedication to the study of Spanish and excellent skills in that language, the two students were presented with their awards by their Spanish teacher and World Language Honor Society adviser, Karen Maisano, along with Principal Michael Mosca, and Priscilla Zarate, the district’s ENL and world language coordinator. Islip has maintained an active chapter of the Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica for the last 22 years.

Gomez, a junior, won the 2018 Bertie Green Junior Travel Award for her dedication to the study of Spanish and her excellent skills in that language. Valued at over $3,000, the award is given to only 24 students from more than 2,400 SHH chapters across the United States. In July, Guadalupe will travel to Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands with the other 23 winners.

“I would like to thank La Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica for this amazing opportunity to travel to Ecuador,” said Gomez. “I would also like to thank Mrs. Maisano for encouraging, motivating and helping me with the scholarship process. I am looking forward to experiencing the Ecuadorian culture and learning about the country.”

Marconi, a senior, won the 2018 Joseph Adams Senior Scholarship, a $1,000 scholarship awarded to only 60 students from more than 2,400 national SHH chapters.

“I am so incredibly proud to have received this award,” said Marconi. “I humbly thank La Sociedad Honoraria Hispanica for its generosity, as well as Karen Maisano for all her continuous support and guidance.”

Students become eligible for these two awards by being an inducted member of the SHH and then submitting samples of their written and oral work in Spanish to a selection committee appointed by the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.

High school students in Renee Clock’s career skills and internship course have been learning transferable workplace skills within the Town of Islip’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Mary Pat Klueber, who is the executive assistant to Commissioner Tom Owens, meets with Clock and the students several times a week to assist the high schoolers in learning skills needed to succeed in the workplace after high school.

Taking charge of the department’s warehouse, the Islip students organized, categorized and counted equipment used for the town’s youth after-school and summer programs. They are now in the process of creating a working inventory system for these items.

“The students have been applying decision-making, critical thinking, organizational and mathematical skills during this internship,” said Clock. “We are appreciative to the town for providing this real-life work experience for our students. Their participation in the education and work experience of our students is a perfect example of a school-to-business partnership. Ms. Klueber has been paramount in creating this workplace environment for our students.”

The students also intern within the town’s offices at Brookwood Hall in East Islip, which houses the Islip Art Museum and Islip Arts Council, and assist with special assignments.

“Ms. Klueber and I vary the work experiences for the students to give them exposure to the numerous job skills that are required to perform the many jobs within this department,” said Clock.  

Islip High School student Daniel Brake, a member of Boy Scouts of America Troop 370 of Islip, was recognized at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor, held on Feb. 11 at Islip American Legion Rusy-Bohm Post 411, which sponsors the troop.

With his proud parents in attendance, Islip Superintendent of Schools Susan Schnebel presented Brake with his Eagle Scout certificate, an achievement he earned for his 2016 project to refurbish the Islip Breast Cancer Coalition’s Garden of Hope at Islip Town Hall. Brake also built a bench overlooking the garden so visitors can sit, relax and reflect.