Spirited Commack High School students and staff were featured on the 5:00AM and 6:00AM CBS news broadcasts as a part of their “Class Act” series on May 30.
The event was heavily advertised and promoted in the lead-up to the pep rally, which resulted in the bleachers full of energetic students seen during the broadcast. The event also included the debut of the Commack Schools food truck, which served breakfast sandwiches to students.
“[…] We posted a lot on our Instagram about it and we just encouraged a lot of kids to come,” said senior Nicole F., second vice president of Student Life.
CBS news anchor Chris Wragge, with the help of producers and camera crew, worked with students and staff to create an enthusiastic production.
“[…] Commack turned out in droves and this is by far our best ‘Class Act’,” said Wragge.
The energy and volume of the students who attended the event maintained the atmosphere that could be seen on TV screens across the nation.
“I think that it’s an example of how great our community is, and it’s just a really great chance to show it off and be proud of us being members of the Commack community,” said math teacher Amy Cappiello.
As a part of the event, the marching band and orchestra delivered live music, while the Cougarettes performed twice during the broadcast.
“I thought it was really nice how we got to see everyone and especially the kickline, they were super great,” said junior Saswati B., member of the marching band.
This event gave students who are a part of these groups a chance to show off their hard work and talent to a very large audience.
“It’s a really special moment that we get to be able to share what we do with everyone,” said band teacher Benjamin Hochman.
Many staff members attended the early morning pep rally, including many Commack alumni, who were featured during the broadcast.
“It was a lot of fun, the students seemed to be pumped up, it was a good way to show the amazing things that we have here at Commack High School and I was once a cheerleader, so I felt the energy. I’m very proud of our students,” said Cappiello.
During the broadcast, there were pre-recorded segments along with live interviews featuring certain students and staff members. One of these segments highlighted orchestra teacher Dr. Frank Hansen, who is finishing his 28th year teaching at Commack High School before he retires at the end of the school year.
“I was really surprised. I knew that they did interview me a week before, but I really didn’t think that they were going to show it. I figured they interviewed just about many people so I figured I wasn’t really going to get that much attention and then when it showed, I was really taken aback by it,” said Hansen.
Certain facilities and spaces were showcased during the broadcast, including the courtroom, the Bloomberg Lab, and the E-Sports Lab.
“It’s just really really cool, all the different things you can do here,” said Wragge.
When all the segments, features, and the hundreds of students in the gym during the broadcast are put together, they give key insight into what it’s like to be a part of the Commack High School community.
“I hope that it brings a lot of good publicity into Commack, especially with the amount of kids and teachers and staff members who showed up,” said Nicole.
The “Class Act” segments create an opportunity for students and teachers to be presented to a national audience, while recognizing the accomplishments and features of schools around the country.
“I think it’s nice for students and teachers to get a little pat on the back every once in a while. There’s a lot of bad news out there that’s reported every day. These are such feel good segments where you can really feed off the energy of the kids,” said Wragge.
Students and staff showed off their Commack spirit to the nation, while being a part of a unique experience.◼️
A highlight reel of the broadcast can be found at cbsnews.com
