In an effort to get their students and their parents ex­cited about higher learning and the prospect of attending college, the Copiague School District kicked off their first kindergarten through grade 12 college planning initiative – Who’s Going to College? I AM!

Throughout the day and into the night of January 7, students districtwide participated in informative and interesting activities and events planned by their teachers and administrators, as the entire district celebrated College Day.

Events ranged from alumni speakers and college pennants being constructed in art classes to an appearance by the Adelphi University Boys Basketball team – including Class of 2007 graduate Richard Byrd – sharing their experiences as student-athletes. At the Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School and Middle School, two true-to-life college dorm rooms were arranged in a portion of the library. Thetwo rooms featured typical dorm room items – a bed, mini refrigerator and micro­wave, desk and computer, and a staple of all dorm rooms – laundry.

The celebration continued into the night, as parents arrived at the high school to listen and garner advice from a broad range of experts in preparing their child for college. Workshops included tax and financial plan­ning, transitional services for students with disabilities, preparing an arts portfolio, and early planning for el­ementary and middle school parents. A college fair was also arranged and ran throughout the night.

“More and more Copiague students are attending col­lege each year,” said Superintendent of Schools Charles A. Leunig. “The goal of the Board of Education, admin­istration and staff is to educate and inspire all students, with the support of their parents, to plan to attend col­lege. The research is clear – children who aspire to col­lege perform better academically while in school. To­gether we can help our students travel down the road to higher education.”