In a return of a popular science initiative, West Islip students from kindergarten through eighth grade have been visiting the high school’s planetarium this year. Each grade experiences a customized planetarium program, guided by high school astronomy teacher Thomas Vitti.

“I feel truly blessed to be able to share with the West Islip community the wonders of the universe and to be able to use this planetarium to spark interest in our night sky,” said Vitti.

Ten exceptional West Islip music students - Delaney Bartling, Jillian Olfano and Francesca Tofano from Bayview; Erick Burciaga, Caitlin Fallon and Courtney Xippolitos from Beach Street; Anthony Pickering from Udall; and Jonathan Delanoy, Thomas Interrante and Sophia Randazzo from the high school – recently participated in the 14th annual Day of Horn, held by the Suffolk County Music Educators’ Association at Northport High School.

The event featured a master class and recital by a guest artist from the United States Marine Band as well as exhibits, rehearsals, clinics and performances.  

Bayview’s PTA was recently named the 2018 Pick a Reading Partner winner for Suffolk County. The school’s theme, chosen by the PARP committee, was “Cruising Through a Good Book,” with the building transformed into a cruise ship.

Areas decorated included the main lobby (the departure dock and front of the cruise ship), gymnasium (the Lido Deck), library (the tropics), cafeteria (an underwater coral reef complete with sunken ship), kindergarten wing (the Arctic, complete with an upcycled “milk jug igloo”).  Each Bayview student was outfitted with a reading passport to inspire a reading journey, and staff wore cruise attire and sailor hats.

Bayview’s award-winning PARP program also included a book fair and the “Monster Hunt!” class assembly in the library, designed and implemented by author and performer Jason Edwards.

During the recent holiday season, students in Maria Lucie’s and Alissa Rush’s third-grade classes at Bayview collected and sorted more than 100 coats for needy children and adults, for donation to the CSJ Learning Connection in Brentwood.

“Part of the education process is doing good for others,” said Lucie. “Thank you to the Bayview community for helping us help others.”

In an innovative initiative, the district’s world language program connects high schoolers to their younger counterparts in Bayview, Manetuck, Oquenock and Bellew.

Senior students from the high school visit elementary classrooms once a week for 30 minutes to share Spanish, Italian or American Sign Language with the younger students. The seniors teach basic language concepts such as clothing, numbers, days of the week and items in a house, choosing a different category each week, mixed with seasonal activities and learning games.

“I had the same experience in elementary school and cherished it so much,” said senior Douglas Dillman, a member of West Islip’s International Baccalaureate program. “When I started learning foreign languages, I wanted to share so the younger students could take some of it and apply it.”

“The seniors do a great job,” said Manetuck fourth-grade teacher Mark Levine. “It gets my students excited about learning. It’s something new, and something the kids look forward to every week.”