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By Isabella Skvarla
As the 2018-2019 school year comes to a close and students look forward to summer, Oyster Bay High School’s Class of 2019 is making preparations to close one chapter and open another. For Oyster Bay’s Valedictorian, Jason Hom, the end of senior year presents a unique opportunity to reflect on the experiences he has had with his teachers and peers during his time at Oyster Bay. Jason expresses the emotions surrounding the end of high school perfectly, saying, “I have mixed emotions. It’s been something we’ve all been looking forward to as a milestone, but at the same time, it’s strange to be over with this part of my life.”
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By Shania Kuo
Michael Biggiani, 2019 Salutatorian, has solidified himself in Oyster Bay High School’s history as one of its most accomplished students. Heading to the University of Virginia next year to pursue a career in biophysics, Michael accredits much of his success to his science teachers who have prepared him for this moment. In his words: “I want to thank Ms. Hallock, Ms. Badean, Ms. Fagan, Ms. Annicelli, and Ms. Gross as they are all excellent teachers and shaped the trajectory of my career choice. I also wanted to thank my parents for giving me the motivation to succeed.” By Maia Difiglia
After teaching for 36 years, Mrs. Gross, beloved physics teacher, will be retiring this year. Recently, Mrs. Gross sat down to share more about her time here at Oyster Bay High School. Mrs. Gross expressed that the best part about teaching at OBHS has been the impact the students and their families have had on her. She has taught most of her students’ siblings and has even taught some of their parents! The longtime physics teacher is an OBHS alumnus and even attended Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School, so leaving this district is going to be quite difficult considering it has been a part of her life for so long. By Caleigh O'Toole and Beryl Rosenberg
Mrs. Antonia Woodman, home and careers teacher, has decided to leave Oyster Bay High School after 38 years of teaching. Although Mrs. Woodman is sad to see her career come to a close, she is excited to see what the future holds for her. We asked Mrs. Woodman what she loved most about her time here in Oyster Bay. “It is the kids and the families here,” she said without hesitation. Mrs. Woodman also said she loves walking through Oyster Bay, knowing that she’s a part of the school district and the By Matthew Tepper
This year, Mr. Kevin McCarthy will be retiring after teaching for 37 years, 28 of which he served in the Oyster Bay-East Norwich CSD. While at Oyster Bay, Mr. McCarthy has served as District Intervention Coach. During his tenure, he has made a positive impact on students in self-contained and inclusion classroom settings at Roosevelt, Vernon and OBHS. Mr. McCarthy pursued a degree in education at Geneseo State University, where he obtained a BS in Elementary and Special Education. He received his MS in Reading Education from Dowling College. When asked why he chose to become a special education teacher, McCarthy stated, “When I was younger, I worked at a By Stefanie Sadocha
OBHS Sophomore Brianna Barefoot was selected as the “Youth of the Year” at the OBEN Boys and Girls Club. The Youth of the Year competition originated in 1947 in order to recognize the most dedicated teens within the club. Being selected as Youth of the Year at a local club is the highest honor one can receive. These individuals have strong character, strong academic achievements, and dedication to service and leadership. Brianna balances an extremely rigorous academic schedule and maintains excellent grades. She is a member of the National Honor Society and serves as the President of her class. Outside of school, Brianna dances five days a week and attends many competitions throughout the year. Additionally, she volunteers at the Oyster Bay Boys and Girls Club on a regular basis. By Michael Biggiani
Beloved teacher Deborah Hom dreamed of becoming an educator since she was in the fourth grade. She fulfilled that dream and has successfully taught hundreds of students since becoming a teacher in 1979. After deciding it was time to pursue her many other interests, Deborah Hom announced her retirement from teaching at Oyster Bay High School. Her teaching career at the Oyster Bay-East Norwich CSD, which started in in 1993, is coming to an end. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from St. Joseph’s College and her Master’s Degree in Special Education from Michigan State University, Ms. Hom had a stint of teaching in East Lansing, Michigan. Ms. Hom moved to Long Island and started her career in our district as a leave replacement teacher at Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School. Soon thereafter, she became a full time faculty member at Oyster Bay High School. During her tenure, Ms. Hom has been a jack of all trades, having taught almost every single academic subject, at every single grade level at our school. By Jillian Haguisan
On Saturday, April 13th, the Oyster Bay High School Wind Ensemble departed to Commack Middle School. At 4:00 pm, high school students from Oyster Bay, Baldwin, and Brentwood, as well as members of the Long Island Wind Ensemble, all gathered to rehearse Of Our New Day Begun by Omar Thomas. Thomas wrote Of Our New Day Begun in memory of the victims of the Charleston church shooting, a tragic event in 2015 that resulted in the death of nine African American members of the church. Thomas’s piece incorporates jazz, stomps, and claps. During the middle of the piece, the ensemble sings James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson ́s piece, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” a song often sung in African American churches. By Stefanie Sadocha
Students of the OBHS Band Department welcomed successful composer Omar Thomas to the high school to discuss his life as a composer and music educator. Students were left inspired by Thomas’s success and motivated to improve their own musical skills. Originally from Brooklyn, New York, Omar Thomas, 35, is an accomplished composer and educator. Thomas knew in high school that he was meant to pursue music. He attended James Madison University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Music Education. At college, he was able to make it into the top jazz ensemble his freshman year and fell in love with jazz and composition. By Ava Aschettino
During 2018-2019 school year, OBHS joined many Long Island schools in an island- wide event known as Breaking Borders. So, what exactly is Breaking Borders? Students from schools across Nassau and Suffolk counties meet at a host school each month to discuss a current controversy in America. The host school creates a proposed list of questions regarding the controversy. Controversies debated this year included racial inequality, economic inequality, and gender issues, to name a few. Students arrive at the host school after their school day ends and snack on pizza while they meet students from other schools. Then, students are placed into random groups and given questions to debate. Each group controls their own |
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