A pair of CMS eighth graders have been awarded a college scholarship because of their character while involved in youth basketball.

The awards were presented to Sophia A. and Nicholas D. on Tuesday morning in memory of lifelong Commack resident John Newman, a parishioner of Christ the King parish for 67 years.

Newman’s wife Donna and daughter Gabriella — herself a CMS student — were on hand for the ceremony.

Newman was a St. Anthony’s High School Hall of Fame inductee, who coached baseball and basketball for 35 years. He was the coordinator for the Christ the King CYO program for more than a decade.

Newman received the CYO role model award recognizing his impact on hundreds of children.

To honor is legacy, Christ the King Parish has created the award for an eighth grade boy and girl who participated in the Christ the King CYO program.

Sophia and Nicholas have exemplified the award’s values — faith, good character and fair play. The students also have supported their teammates, treated the other team with respect and always have a positive attitude.

CMS honored its "Science Superstars" in a ceremony after school on Wednesday.

Teachers each selected a member of his or her class who exemplified intellectual curiosity and an embrace of science.

Congrats to our winners ...

Sixth grade: Miles K., Dina D., Warren I., Matteo B., Sophiel L., Thomas K., Endre F., Joanna G.

Seventh grade:  Ciro A., Mihir R., Daniel N., Nathan G., Anderson M., Riley F.

Eighth grade: Buse S., Isaac K., Molly S., Omar A., Kaylie G., Dean D. and Jasil A.

Dr. Melissa Young-Dorn's art student at CMS, Isabella C., created an interdisciplinary painting, inspired by the famous mathematical artist M.C. Escher.  This piece will be installed in Mr. Cuff's classroom on the ceiling.

Commack Middle School students helped launch Police Week in Yaphank on Monday.

Students studying forensics and science history cinema and in leaders of tomorrow attended Day 1 of the week-long event at Suffolk County Police Department headquarters. In total, more than 1,000 students from across the county joined police officers at assorted stations during the opening morning. The SCPD then invited groups to a grandstand to watch an exhibition of police vehicles and police dogs.

The CMS students visited stations that included a mock crime scene and CPR and NARCAN training and spoke with pilots for a pair of SCPD helicopters. They got to see the inside of an ambulance, try on SWAT gear, use police robotics equipment and try to lift the jaws of life hydraulic rescue tool.

The Commack Schools family officially welcomed its newest member at Thursday night’s Board of Education meeting.

Victoria Hogan was appointed the next assistant principal at Commack Middle School.

She will succeed Frank Agovino, who is retiring at the school year’s completion.

Hogan has served for the past two school years as a district-wide instructional leader with the Mineola Union Free School District. In that role, her duties included collaborating with teachers and administrators on the creation and implementation of competency-based learning scales for kindergarteners through eighth graders as well as coaching new teachers.

“Her energy, enthusiasm and experience separated her from more than 200 applicants for the position,” assistant superintendent for human resources Scott Oshrin said.

Hogan earned a bachelor of arts in English with a minor in secondary education from Queens College, a masters in reading instruction from Goucher College and an advanced certificate in school building and school district leadership from The College of Saint Rose.

“The most exciting thing about being able to come to Commack is being welcomed into the Commack family itself,” Hogan said. “I’m excited to get to know everybody — the students, the staff, the community — and really make this my home.”

A transition plan is currently being implemented at CMS.

“We wish both Ms. Hogan and Mr. Agovino much luck and happiness as they begin the next journeys in their professional and personal lives,” Oshrin said.