Commack School District

Nancy Carillo’s first-grade class at Rolling Hills had parents and other sponsors donate money for each book the students read.

And on Friday, visitors from the Helen Keller Services for the Blind — including guide dog Mocha — visited the class to accept the donation, offer their gratitude and share information about guide dogs and even sign language.

The class raised $250 for the foundation, and Carillo matched the donation to double it.

The foundation is near and dear to her heart, because her father used tools for the vision impaired.

Helen Keller Services for the Blind is an organization that helps people of all ages with visual impairments to live their lives the best way possible. By either providing special equipment, tools or training, the staff members of Helen Keller Services do remarkable things for our friends with low-vision issues.

Commack Schools parent and accomplished author Jill-Lynette Piazza visited Burr Intermediate School on Friday to read from her book, “Belly Rise.”

Piazza joined Michelle Dick’s fourth-grade class.

The book is all about overcoming nerves and anxiety.

Piazza is a former elementary educator with 14 years of experience. She earned a master’s degree in reading. 

She also discussed the writing process with the students.

CHS seniors donned their college and military branch apparel during a gathering in the school's courtyard before classes began on Friday.

Burr Intermediate has enjoyed a relationship with the ALS Association for 24 years. It’s hard to imagine any moment during that span could have topped Thursday.

The ALS Ride for Life made its annual stop at Burr. And the event, moved inside because of the rainy weather, turned into a pep rally in the school’s auditorium.

The entire school greeted several Long Islanders who are battling ALS with signs and pompoms. Burr then presented a check for more than $5,000 to the association to help combat the disease.

In an emotional moment, Commack resident Desi Kessler — who has lost her ability to speak due to ALS — thanked the students for their support using computer-generated audio, which she typed with her eyes using an Eyegaze computer.

“You all give us hope and strength,” Kessler told the students.

Burr students have raised more than $100,000 for the ALS Association during the 24-year relationship. This year, the donation came from proceeds from the fifth-grade play, a basketball tournament, readathon, loose change and three students selling lemonade (which raised $131).

Principal Daniel Ciccone reminded the students about the importance of supporting their community.

“We are stronger and better when we all work together,” Ciccone said.

The event closed with the students in unison singing the ALS Association’s Anthem, “Ride for Life.”

Executive Director of Instructional Technology Alise Pulliam surprised Ashley Kennedy's class at Burr Wednesday afternoon with a special presentation to recognize their achievements in using the Book Creator program. Each student in the class worked on creating a book within the platform, and was presented with a certificate for showing excellence in writing and using Book Creator.

The students each were given the opportunity to share their favorite part of using the book creator platform. Many students cited the easiness of the platform, while others thought that the photo search feature was unlike any other.

"You're not finding these images on Google images," one student remarked. "The results that are given when we search a photo are so specific and it's amazing."

One student even took it upon herself to draw illustrations throughout her book, and then published her book into a physical copy. 

"I'm so proud of the amazing work that you've done and will continue to do in Book Creator," Pulliam told the class. "You all truly are digital leaders and should be proud of yourselves."

CHS students in Robert Raeihle’s Studio in Digitial Media Arts classes had the opportunity to create gel print artwork on Tuesday and Wednesday with guidance from an accomplished visitor.

Via the Boces Arts in Education program, illustrator and designer Moriah Ray visited Raeihle’s classes to discuss the Gelli Plate art technique.

The tutorial — which involves applying acrylic paint to gelatin plates and then transferring images, similar to how a printing press would function — fit in well with the Studio in Digital Media Arts coursework. The class generally focuses on skills with digital tools such as Adobe Photoshop, but the hands-on arts lesson similarly utilized layers to create art.