Islip’s Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School recently held its second writing celebration of the year. During the workshop, students learned the importance of having a growth mindset, how to focus on “process over product,” and shared their work with classmates, teachers, support staff, special area teachers, literacy coaches, administrators and even the school nurse.

“We are very proud of all students from grades 2 through 5, and were thrilled to have fifth grade parents join us for our celebration,” Principal Briana James said. “We are truly a community of readers and writers, and these special writing celebrations are a great way to show it.”

Date Added: 3/21/2024

Fourth- and fifth-grade students from Commack Road Elementary School and Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School recently competed in the 38th annual Town of Islip Sharp Shooter Basketball Contest. The Sharp Shooter program, sponsored by the Islip Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs since 1993, challenges local students to score as many baskets as possible in one minute. The fourth and fifth grade students that score the most points in each of their respective grades make it to the final round.

Commack Road’s in-school winners, guided by physical education teacher Carrie Rittberg, were fourth graders Erin Lella and Colin Moon and fifth graders athletes Jaxon Gerena and Kelly Pitt, while Makenzy Covelli, Emma Myles-McAnally, Tanner Oswald and Matteo Spallina were the second-place finishers.

At Sherwood, guided by physical education teacher Jeff Atlas, the winners were fourth graders Tyler Bucaro and Kenley Simonetti and fifth graders Michael Monahan and Milania Paiz.

All eight of the first-place winners represented Islip in the townwide Sharp Shooter competition, held on March 2 at East Islip High School. At the event, Pitt put on a remarkable hoops performance, scoring 32 points to make her the overall winner for fifth-grade girls. It was Pitt’s second consecutive Sharp Shooter victory, as she won in 2023 as a fourth grader, breaking an event record. Town officials searched previous records dating back to the late 1990s and could not find another player who achieved this amazing accomplishment.

“Winning back-to-back is a phenomenal feat,” CRES physical education teacher Carrie Rittberg said. “Kelly outscored the second-place participant by eight points and was able to secure her lead and be crowned the Sharp Shooter champion. Our participants did an amazing job competing against the fourth and fifth grade student winners from each of the elementary schools in the Town of Islip, and we are so proud of our athletes and all of their hard work and dedication.”

Date Added: 3/20/2024

The National Circus Project once again visited Islip’s Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School for a five-day residency during gym classes, teaching students circus tricks, skills, and acts which encourage patience, self-discipline, and perseverance; promote confidence; build character; and encourage both team work and individuality. The program was sponsored by the school’s PTA and funded by last year’s Sherwood Booster-thon.    

Over the duration of the school week, each Sherwood student in grades 2 through 5 participated in 80 minutes of “circus training” under the guidance of specially-trained circus staff, learning to balance feathers and other objects such as hockey sticks, walk on stilts, juggle, spin plates, spin a diabolo, manipulate flower sticks, twirl hula hoops, and create comedy acts as clowns. Fifth graders practiced every single day, and more than once on some days, creating great memories while preparing for a culminating circus show for their friends and families.

“During the five intensive days of training, it was truly incredible to see the confidence of our students grow as they persevered through a new challenging yet supportive experience,” Principal Briana James said. “Overall, it was a great week of growth and development for the children and their hard work really paid off.”