The entire Elwood school community gathered outside John H. Glenn High School on April 28 to enjoy Health and Wellness Community Day. This year’s program featured a competitive mile race and wellness walk; kan jam and corn- hole contests; inflatable carnival games and slides; numerous varsity and JV sports games to view including baseball, softball, tennis and lacrosse; and the John Glenn High School Athletic Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

“Holding Community Day for our students and their families gives us a chance to strengthen our bonds and promote wellness,” Superintendent Dr. Kenneth Bossert said. “It was a perfect day for everyone in our community to come together and celebrate what makes this a wonderful school district.”

Date Added: 5/10/2022

Science-minded seventh graders at Elwood Middle School recently worked with visiting scientists from Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory’s DNA Learning Center, exploring how DNA fingerprints work. Students learned about restriction enzymes, observed how agarose gel electrophoresis is used to produce a DNA fingerprint, and compared DNA fingerprints from “evidence” and “suspects” to determine who left their DNA at a “crime scene.”

Date Added: 4/27/2022

Students and staff at Elwood Middle School had the opportunity to “Drop Everything and Read” for five minutes before every period on April 12. The school library held DEAR Day to celebrate the love for and importance of reading.   

Date Added: 4/21/2022

In a show that was two years in the making, Elwood Middle School’s young actors put on a magnificent production of “Mary Poppins” on April 1 and 2. Starring Margarita Agrawal and Olivia LoBue on respective days, playing the title character, the musical was directed and produced by Lindsay Brady, Joanna Capitelli, Denise Crean, Karen Maggio, Alex Wightman and Carolyn Zielinski.

“This show was first scheduled to be performed in March 2020, just six days after schools closed,” Principal Christina Moran said. “Some of our eighth graders were other characters two years ago as sixth graders, so it was so good to finally have them perform it in front of a live audience.”

Date Added: 4/7/2022

Numerous student-musicians from the Elwood School District earned All-County recognition this year from the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education and the Suffolk County Music Educators' Association.

Elwood-John H. Glenn High School juniors and seniors Anson Kwan (choir), Gabrielle Bouzas (choir), Emma Giardina (choir), Blake Goehring (orchestra), Quinn Hines (choir), Aaram Lee (orchestra), Shannon McGrath (band), Aidan McNamara (choir), Toni Meyer (choir), Diana Muniz (choir) and Kaitie Schieble (choir) were selected for NYSCAME All-County ensembles based on their NYSSMA score and teacher recommendation. The NYSCAME All-County festival usually takes place in November but was canceled this school year. 

“We are proud to honor the musicians selected from John Glenn High School, who represent our finest musicians,” teacher Rachel Nagle said.

SCMEA is a competitive and prestigious All-County festival, selecting students from across Suffolk County. Freshman and sophomore musicians were selected for SCMEA All-County Division 3 ensembles, seventh and eighth graders in All-County Division 2, and fifth and sixth graders in All-County Division 1.

Fifth and sixth graders participating in All-County Division 1 were James H. Boyd Intermediate School fifth grader Madelyn Moreno and Elwood Middle School sixth graders Olivia Charlambous, Gregory Gross, John Haintz, Joey Meyer, Armando Muniz, Jason Scarola and Ashley Show.

Seventh and eighth graders participating in All-County Division 2 were Elwood Middle School seventh graders James D’Angeli and Angelica Viviani, and eighth graders Camila Avila, Peter Bell, Louise Hartough, Raim Kim, Olivia LoBue and Emma Rothleder.

Freshmen and sophomores participating in All-County Division 3 were Elwood-John H. Glenn High School students Joseph Bahr (choir), Gino DiRico (choir), Julia Faria (band), Aidan Hanratty (choir), Joanna Kim (orchestra), Davin Li (orchestra), Melina Neofitos (choir), Nolan Reinhardt (choir) and Christopher Sinelli (band).

Those chosen participated in the SCMEA festivals during the weekends of March 5 and 11. Elwood’s students engaged in rehearsals with guest conductors and students from throughout the county, culminating in a final performance for family members and friends to enjoy. 

“This achievement is a testament to our students’ dedication and hard work and the music department couldn’t be prouder of our outstanding musicians,” teacher Diana Gotzen-Berg said.

Date Added: 4/1/2022