Please scan the QR code below to sign up, and celebrate former teacher Scott Bowden!!! Scott not only has become our historical resource for everything West Side, but his dedication to the West Side Run has never wavered for 31 years and counting! Please consider joining and signing up - see you at the annual West Side Run! Click link to sign up (or click QR code) https://runsignup.com/Race/NY/Syosset/WestSideRun
Congratulations to our newly tenured teachers – who were all granted tenure at the recommendation of the Superintendent at the Board of Education Meeting the night of May 13 - we bid you congratulations! The ten recipients were Kristen Raszka, Caitlyn Harman, Dr. John Barnes, Kristen Schmid, Lauryn Grefe, Jennifer O’Kean, Amanda Segale, Shannon Boelsen, Daniel Santangelo and Lauren Kenedy. Superintendent Joseph Monastero and the Board of Education offered their heartfelt congratulations with the highest of praise and support. Each recipient has distinguished themselves as outstanding in their field, bringing their knowledge, leadership, and impressive work ethic to the district. All agreed with confidence that their insight will serve the community well in the years to come. Congratulations on reaching a major milestone in your career as a teacher. The evaluation system in Cold Spring Harbor requires non-tenured teachers to be observed by their administration team four times a year in four specific domains: planning, classroom environment, instruction, and other professional responsibilities. By achieving tenure, your supervisors have determined through direct observation and consultation that you have the knowledge, teaching skills, work habits, and commitment that are needed to successfully impact the academic achievement of our students. This is a decision that building and district administrators have weighed carefully knowing that granting tenure is a decision of long-term investment by the district in you as a teacher. Congratulations to each of you on this prestigious honor!
At the May 13 Board of Education meeting, 15 Retirees were honored. On behalf of the Superintendent, Board of Education and the administrative team, all were recognized prior to the meeting for a celebratory gathering and congratulatory wishes and cake. For the many years dedicated to the Cold Spring Harbor School District, we wish you much happiness in your retirement and thank you for the many contributions you have made to Cold Spring Harbor. You will be missed! Thank you to all the recipients who were each honored in a special booklet detailing their career and service. The fifteen retirees honored were: William Arloff, Robert Colascione, Earl Cross, Margaret Diehl, Lori Farriella, Christine Watt-Geertgens, Susana Gonzalez-Condell, James Hardy, Joseph Judge, Devora Kon, Linda Mastriano-Letica, Genevieve LaGattuta, John Neary, Maria Segura and Joseph Toscano.
Cold Spring Harbor School District Music Education Program received National Recognition once again! The Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students. The NAMM Foundation celebrates and promotes the intrinsic value of music education nationwide. NAMM is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants with approximately 10,300 members around the world. This designation is a credit to our entire community. Thank you to our Board of Education, parents, and staff for funding, recognizing and promoting the arts. Special thanks to James Guarini for leading and celebrating our students and staff! As K-12 Music Chairperson, he shared, “We're honored to be recognized by the NAMM Foundation as one of the Best Communities for Music Education. This award celebrates our students' creativity, our dedicated teachers, and the strong community support that makes music thrive in our schools!”
Thank you to the community for coming out on May 13 for our monthly Board of Education meeting. It was a night of celebration and gratitude for our newly tenured teachers and retirees. This month, it was a privilege to hear from our junior high student government, who shared photos of all the wonderful events and happenings at the junior high. The community and Board also had the pleasure of hearing from the high school Environmental Club along with advisor Erin Oshan. The students shared their desire and hope to eliminate plastic water bottles at the Jr./Sr. High and why this action should be considered for the health of both students and staff. They also shared suggestions, solutions and their research findings. It is always a pleasure and highlight of the evening to hear from our students. The Board also recognized the accomplishment of the Jr./Sr. Robotics Club and senior Ryan Smith for his Congressional Award Gold Medal. It was an honor and privilege to recognize these students with certificates. To our newly tenured staff members – we bid you congratulations!. And to our fifteen (15) retirees – we wish you all the very best in your retirement, and thank you for your tremendous contributions and years of service to the Cold Spring Harbor School District...
“I am a painter and a storyteller, and this is how I tell my stories.” These are the words of Christopher Agostino, who tells folktales of transformation and wonder through face painting. His one-of-a-kind performance delights audiences using a combination of skillful storytelling through the spoken word, while illustrating the journey through face painting. He has an extensive repertoire of tales that fit grade level curriculum or cultural studies. Thanks to the Cultural Arts Committee, his unique presentation comes to both West Side and Lloyd Harbor. Here, the students at West Side listen as they are taken on mysterious journeys through magical lands and seas while having their faces painted with dramatic body painting as marks of personal identity. Mr. Agostino brings these tribal cultures to life, saying, “The face is my canvas…I bring together the imaginary and the supernatural to bring legends to life.” As the stories unfold, the face painting changes and comes to life...
Each year, Applebee’s sponsors an “Above & Bee-yond Teacher Essay Contest” where four deserving teachers from Long Island are chosen to receive a $500 sponsorship check for their classroom AND an end-of-the-year party hosted at Applebee’s restaurant! When West Side School student, Josephine Pologruto (grade 6) learned about this contest she knew she had to nominate her band teacher Ms. Roddin! At the West Side morning assembly on May 6, Ms. Roddin received a surprise ceremony honoring this amazing award, and she was completely caught off guard and humbled. Thank you to Superintendent Joseph Monastero and K-12 Music Chair Jim Guarini for joining Dr. Barnes at the ceremony. Josephine Pologruto was very proud to read her winning essay and to present the plaque, balloons and flowers to her teacher. Ms. Roddin shared, “It is an absolute privilege working with the students and faculty at West Side.” Congratulations Ms. Roddin – we are all humbled by your dedication and devotion to your students...
Each year our elementary students enter submissions for the World Language AASTP Poster Contest, and this year we are happy to announce that two of our students placed as top 3 finalists – amazing! The contest is for 5th and 6th graders, and the winners are Colin Gilroy who placed 1st (grade 5-Lloyd Harbor) and Dax Hall who placed 3rd (grade 5-West Side). These posters are in celebration of World Language Month in April. AATSP (American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese) selects a theme which students show in their posters. This year's theme was “Celebrando nuestras raíces y culturas en el corazón del universo” which means “Celebrating our roots and cultures in the heart of the universe.” FLES teacher Sandra Rivadeneyra shared, “It’s very exciting, this is the first time we have had two students place in this competition. ¡Felicidades to Colin and Dax!"
