Members of Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s World Language Honor Society and International Club worked hard assembling holiday-decorated shoeboxes for “Operation Christmas Child” on Nov. 22. 

Operation Christmas Child is a project of Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization whose mission is to provide local partners around the world with shoeboxes filled with small toys, hygiene items and school supplies for the holidays. These gifts are shipped to families outside of the United States to help bring joy to children affected by war, poverty, natural disaster, famine and disease, in addition to children living on Native American reservations in the U.S.

Items were donated from students in Nicole Correia’s American Sign Language and Nicole Gendjoian's Spanish classes, as well as members of the World Language Honor Society. Students donated a total of 35 shoeboxes this year. 

Kindergartners dressed in turkey costumes were met with thunderous applause as they paraded into the auditorium at Harley Avenue Primary School on Nov. 22. The students welcomed their friends and families to the school’s annual Thanksgiving Feast with several choregraphed holiday-themed songs.

After the brief concert, parents were invited into their children’s classrooms for some snacks, including popcorn, cornbread muffins, cookies and more. 

Members of John H. Glenn High School’s Italian and community service clubs were eager to lend a helping hand this holiday season. On Nov. 25, students’ desks were loaded not with textbooks, but rather with boxes of stuffing mix and canned goods.
The groups spent hours together, packaging food that was donated to the high school for its annual Thanksgiving food drive. In total, the students completed 10 baskets and donated two turkeys, which were donated to the school by the Greenlawn Fire Department with the help of the elementary school’s Special Education Parent-Teacher Association.
The baskets and turkeys were then donated to the Long Island Cares Huntington Station Pantry and the Ronald McDonald House.

Elwood’s John H. Glenn High School administration is proud to announce Matthew McNierney as the Class of 2020 valedictorian and Michael Browne as the salutatorian. 

Over the years, both students have been active members of the school community, according to Principal Carisa Burzynski, who shared a few words about their achievements at the district’s Board of Education meeting on Nov. 14. 

Ms. Burzynski described Matthew as a “natural born leader,” praising him on his devotion to his studies as well as his commitment to serving as president for the school’s All-School and Mock Trial teams. 

Throughout his high school career, he has also served on the Band Leadership Council, played in John Glenn’s marching, jazz and concert bands and played saxophone and piano in the school’s last two musical productions. Matthew’s achievements are a result of his hard work, dedication, sacrifice and commitment,” Mrs. Burzynski said. 

Aside from studying, Michael’s high school career has also been spent playing on both the varsity soccer and track teams, as well as tutoring his peers as a member of the National Honors Society. Outside of school, he volunteers as a member of his church’s youth group.

Both Matthew and Michael will graduate with advanced regents’ diplomas with mastery in math and science and have earned the highest distinction of summa cum laude. 

Michael, as well as his peers, Matthew Devitt and Katherine Yoskowitz, were also recognized by the board on Nov. 14 as National Merit Commended Students.  

Additionally, earlier in the week, Superintendent of School Dr. Kenneth Bossert visited the High School to congratulate all of the graduating seniors who have earned the distinctions of summa cum laude, magna cum laude and cum laude.  

“You do make us all incredibly proud,” Mrs. Burzynski said. “It is a true testament to your outstanding work and commitment. It’s a credit to you, your parents and the John Glenn High School.”


Summa Cum Laude:
Michael Browne 
Aidan Desmond
Matthew Devitt
Ryan Devitt
Benjamin Drucker
Samantha Groark
Hannah Kleinman
Matthew Liu
Matthew McNierney
Madison Mullman
Maira Riaz
Aimee Rubin
Ava Wilkinson
Jennifer Wood

Magna Cum Laude:
Kayla Alers
Mina Ban
Ryan Boody
Sabrina Competiello
Jessica Goldhamer
Halle Greenwood
Danielle Gross
Melissa Mandel
Steven Josey
Tristan Morlock
Maria Papadopoulos
Kerri Rhatigan
Patrick Russo
Zain Siddiqui
Kaitlyn Sorok
Michelle Torzilli
Katherine Yoskowitz

Cum Laude:
Matthew Brignati
Dylan Buchstein
Sophia Ciriello
Sarah Clinard
Rebecca Hardie
Lauren Kawecki
Brendan Knott
Kenneth Mady-Aguiar
Michaela Mahoney
Alison Pelkonen
Sarah Plohetski
Eleanor Rees
Caitlin Rossi
Jeremy Tast
John Weinrobe
Ian Williams