Sunrise Drive Moving Up

  • Moving up at SUNRISE

    Significant goodbyes were made during Sunrise Drive’s Moving-Up Ceremony this year as the Fifth-grade class parted company and a Fifth-grade teacher waved ‘so long’ after 25 wonderful years in Sayville.

    To open the ceremony, the Fifth-graders performed the school song composed by Mrs. Amy Baron Sunrise Drive You Are the One for the last time as Sunrise Drive students.

    In her Welcome, Principal Rose Castello first introduced Middle School Assistance Principal Peter Branscombe, who greeted the future Sixth-graders with reassuring words. Mrs. Castello continued by proudly citing  many good works performed by the students, especially noting: “Sunrise Student Council this year received two awards for their community service-learning projects from the Long Island Regional Service-Learning Network….These students, your children, have definitely made a difference! A difference here in Sunrise Drive, in Sayville, and to people they will never meet….We are very proud of all of our students and know they will continue to make a difference.”

    Prior to the presentation of certificates to all students by the classroom teachers, select students were named for specific awards (see list below). 

    A special tribute recognized retiring Fifth-grade teacher Mrs. Susan Burton with high words of praise from Mrs. Castello. This was followed by the Fifth-graders singing For Good (from the muscial Wicked) directed by Mrs. Amy Baron.

    Stemming grateful tears, Mrs. Burton hugged the bouquet in her arms and expressed her thanks to the boys and girls, her colleagues, and Mrs. Baron for their “unbelievable job…Who has a better job than I do? I want to thank you all from the bottom of my heart.”

    Reading a popular email,  called Mean Moms, Mrs. Castello encouraged authoritative parenting. “...help them to make solid decision, continue the educational partnership you started with us six years ago.” She thanked the Sunrise Drive faculty for also making a difference in the lives of their students, and parents for their “patience, support, and assistance. You are the key to our success at Sunrise Drive.”

    Addressing “these fine Fifth-graders,” Mrs. Castello reminded them about the Third-grade butterfly lesson. “You too will go through many changes as well, but know the results you get are well worth your efforts.” Once more, the auditorium swelled with music when the students performed Unwritten before they marched away amid tremendous applause.


    PRESIDENTIAL
    ACADEMIC AWARDS
    GOLD AWARDS
    Grace Aversano
    Emily Benedetto
    Kylie Buck
    Nicholas Cameron
    Nicholas Cannetti
    Cassandra Deutcsh
    Cayleigh Dillon
    Andrew Faughnan
    Owen Ifferte
    Jillian Knopf
    Evan May
    Michael McKillop
    Deanna McNally
    Kelly Read
    Cassandra Rosado
    Benjamin Scapellati
    Christian Simpson
    Eric Stenzel
    Amy Tomko
    Patrick VanWickler
    Liam Wallace

    SILVER AWARDS
    Amanda Albanese
    Sierra Boyce
    Robert Cascio
    Laura Eichele
    Katie Feeley
    Kellyn Gregory
    Megan Hassig
    Deanna McNally
    Anna O’Connell
    Madeline Recker

    PRESIDENTIAL
    FITNESS AWARD
    Grade 5
    Grace Aversano
    Olivia Boucher
    Kylie Buck
    Nicholas Cannetti
    Cassandra Deutcsh
    Cayleigh Dillon
    Laura Eichele
    Aidan Fitzpatrick
    Sarah Gallagher
    Kellyn Gregory
    Michael McKillop
    Patrick VanWickler

    Triple “C” Award •Evan May & Cayleigh Dillon
    NYS Comptroller Achievement Award •Eric Foster
    County Executive Public Service Award •Grace Aversanon;
    County Legislature Presiding Officer Award •Kellyn Gregory

    SD PTA Cultural Arts Awards •(art) Megan Hassig, Christopher Hlavaty, Owen Ifferte, Anna O’Connell; (brass) Madeline Recker; (percussion) Anthony Borruso; (strings) Robert Cascio, Eric Foster; (voice) Ariana Annarumma, Samantha LoGrippo; (woodwind) Amy Tomko, Lauren Vahle