Connolly School Celebrates Student Leadership at Annual Pinning Ceremony

Connolly School recently hosted its formal Student Council Pinning Ceremony, a prestigious event honoring the young leaders chosen to represent their peers and serve the Glen Cove community.

The Student Council is composed of two representatives from each classroom, elected by their fellow students. These individuals were selected for embodying the "Connolly Core" values: responsibility, ownership, courage, cooperation, and kindness. 

The ceremony was attended by local leaders who offered words of inspiration to the students. Thank you Mayor Pam Panzenbeck, Deputy Mayor Donna McNaughton, Superintendent Dr. Alexa Doeschner, and Assistant Superintendent Bryce Klatsky for your support. 

The guests emphasized that true leadership is rooted in character and the daily choice to lead with empathy. Principal Dr. James Grossane and Student Council Advisors Susan Stanco and Nancy Gorman were also recognized for their year-round dedication to fostering a sense of civic duty within the student body.

The pinning ceremony served as a reflection on the council’s impactful initiatives throughout the school year. Their efforts have reached far beyond the classroom, benefiting the city of Glen Cove and local veterans. Highlights of their service include:

Community Wellness: Organizing the annual Breast Cancer Walk-a-Thon in October.

Fighting Hunger: The "Soup-er Bowl" canned food drive and a collaborative Peanut Butter and Jelly drive with K-Kids and Assemblyman Charles Lavine.

Honoring Veterans: Creating handcrafted Valentine’s Day cards for local veterans.

Community Warmth: Assembling and delivering hot cocoa "cozy boxes" to neighbors throughout the city.

Spirit and Support: Creating vibrant signage for Homecoming and the District "Red and Green Games" to cheer on Connolly’s Green Team.

The council’s most recent success was the March Cereal Drive. Students collected hundreds of full-size cereal boxes for NOSH, a local food pantry. A standout effort was led by student Julie Steinhauser, who rallied her soccer teammates to donate over 30 boxes.

To celebrate the drive's success, the school organized a "Cereal Domino" event in the gymnasium, lining up the boxes to fall in a spectacular chain reaction before they were packed for delivery.

"Our student council representatives are more than just event planners; they are problem solvers and role models," said Dr. Grossane. "Through their hard work, they are making our school and our world a kinder, more welcoming place."

Thank you to the families and friends who attended the ceremony.