Learn how students at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School live by the six pillars of character.

 

Donovan Graham, a student at Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, recently took his interest in music to the next level when he composed a piece that was played at the school’s spring concert.

The fifth-grader used music-writing software Noteflight, to create a ballad-style piece, “Bird Song,” approximately two and a half minutes long. Donovan conducted a woodwind ensemble comprised of teachers and fellow students, which he named Super Sound.

Music teacher Jolene Maccarone said she was very impressed when he brought her the music, and very few changes were made before the performance. She said this was the first time in her 23 years teaching at Park Avenue that a student-written piece was included in a school concert.

“His enthusiasm and his passion for music stimulates his creativity,” she said. “He’s a great musician. Donovan has only been playing for two years and he can play two instruments beyond his level.”

Donovan plays bass clarinet in the fifth-grade band and clarinet in the sixth-grade band. He is now composing a piece for a brass ensemble that he hopes will be performed at a school concert next year.

Several students from the district were recognized for their contributions to local art shows.

At Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School, fourth-graders Jesus Barrios, Timothy Pratt and Emma Reme, and sixth-graders Messiah Marshall, Amaya Nelson and Makayla Warrick had their pieces selected for the Suffolk County Arts Leaders Association children’s art show. The SCALA show was held at Old Town Hall in Babylon.

Messiah and fifth-grader Aysia Francis represented their school in the Colors of Long Island Art Exhibition at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook. All students completed their work under the direction of art teacher Susan Zaratin.

Astrid Dixon, a ninth-grader at Edmund W. Miles Middle School, and her art teacher, Nicole Scoca, will have their self-portraits displayed in the sixth annual SCALA Invitational Art Show at Farmingdale State College. Suffolk County art students have their exceptional artwork on display next to the artwork of their teachers in a side-by-side format. The reception will take place on Saturday, June 3 from noon to 2 p.m. in the Memorial Gallery of Hale Hall and the show runs through June 8.

Eight students represented the district in the 14th annual 12x12 High School Art Exhibition at LIU Post including ninth-graders Odalys Murcia and Ebony Toney, 10th graders Milagro Arevalo, Sharmin Arshad, Angela Kalin and Katherin Rojas and seniors Christina Brown and Kayla James. There art teachers are Nicole Scoca, Jennifer Dibble, Jayne Grasso, Heather Rickard and Nicole Pappas.

Aleyna Kokoglu, a student at Amityville Memorial High School, received the Visitor’s Choice Award in the Long Island’s Best Art Exhibition/Competition this year for her artwork, “Elegance.” He piece was exhibited at the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington.

Two students from Park Avenue Memorial Elementary School were recognized by Child Abuse Prevention Services for their efforts to fight bullying through art.

Fourth-graders Tiffany Asbell and Hilary Escobar Mejia took part in the CAPS bullying prevention poster contest, and were both awarded honorable mention. The theme of Tiffany’s poster was “Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out,” and the slogan for Hilary’s piece was “Stop the bullying. Let’s be friends.”

The students created the posters after participating in anti-bullying workshop at the school, presented by CAPS, as part of Park Avenue’s character education program.