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Ellis Island Day
When students reflect back on their elementary years, one thing is for sure, they will always remember “Ellis Island Day.” It is an extraordinary feat to execute, with the help of staff and so many volunteers who take it to the next level. And this year, it is not an understatement to say they took it to the next level – Wow! West Side fourth graders experienced the most incredible simulation of the immigration journey to Ellis Island back in the early 1900’s. Each student was given an identity and formed family units as they journeyed to America with momma and pappa. Students were crowded into darkened steerage aboard the ship as they sailed across the ocean and passed by the Statue of Liberty on the hill at West Side! At port they were taken through the various stations at Ellis Island; determining if they were healthy after medical examinations where the sick were separated from their families. Some were sent for mental examinations or to the hospital. They were checked for lice, yelled at or sent to deportation. They were stamped, documented, and provided papers and currency. This authentic experience helped them to better understand the challenges of being an immigrant. They also loved having their parents, grandparents, other family members and teachers roleplay and speak foreign languages to authenticate the experience...
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Junior High Tour Guides for Rising 7th Grader
West Side and Lloyd Harbor 6th graders look forward to their orientation and trips over to the Jr./Sr. High School. Next year, they will be walking the halls in their new school, which seemed daunting as they toured every corner of the building to familiarize themselves with what is to come. Assistant Principal Caitlyn Harman was so proud of the student government and junior peer mentors who assisted with tours and breakout sessions. But this year they did more than assist, student government President Sarah Paci and treasurer Andrew Leopard literally planned the entire day! From the assembly in the PAC, to assigning tour groups, to alerting classroom visits – they spearheaded the entire orientation. Kudos to these student teams for taking charge and being exemplary role models.
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Senior Art Show Exhibit
Senior Art Show Exhibit Please make sure you get a chance to see the exhibit in the PAC lobby and the Gottshalk Gallery by our seniors. This student exhibit premiered at the high school spring concert – and what a treat it was to see, WOW! Kudos to our incredibly talented artists, and to all our gifted teachers for the support and guidance instilled upon these artists over the course of their high school career.
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HS Spring Concert
It was a celebration of musicianship at the high school spring concert on May 29 showcasing the culmination of endless practice sessions, early morning arrivals, dedication and of course a love for their craft. These students sang and played their instruments to the delight of family members who gathered with pride watching the various ensembles. The evening program included the Chamber Orchestra and String Orchestra led by Director Amanda Segale, the Symphony Orchestra led by Director James Guarini, the High School Choir led by Director Daniel Santangelo, and the Honor Band and Wind Ensemble led by Director Andrew Hochler.
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CSH Research Symposium
The CSH Annual Research Symposium is a celebration of curiosity, discovery, and the transformative power of thoughtful inquiry. This event, which took place on May 19, highlighted the dedication and creativity of our student researchers, whose projects spanned diverse topics and reflected months of exploration, critical thinking, and perseverance. From hypothesis testing to historical analysis, students in our research courses—including our inaugural AP Research cohort—have engaged deeply with questions that matter to them and to the world.
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Guest Holocaust Survivor Marion Blumenthal Lazan
Born in 1934, Marion's story of horror and hardship began at the age of four in the Netherlands when both her and Anne Frank’s families tried to escape the holocaust but were caught by the Nazis. Both were young girls during the war, and both traveled from deportation camps to concentration camps. Although students sat in silence and tears listening to her story and her will to survive, they heard an important message - a first hand account of triumph of the human spirit and great courage seen through the eyes of a child...
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Sneaker Drive!
Lloyd Harbor Student Council was busy with their latest donation drive. Did you know that an estimated 600 MILLION pairs of shoes end up in American landfills every year? Shoes that do not end up in landfills are often incinerated which leads to toxic chemicals in our air and soil. So, the Student Council members voted to start a sneaker drive to help with this problem. On LHTV, Student Council President Maddie Dircks, Vice President CJ Paci, Secretary Annabelle Kelly and Treasurer Riley Lubin informed students about the drive and its purpose by writing and starring in informative and entertaining “commercials” to remind students to bring in their sneakers to donate. Over 100 pairs of sneakers were donated to Got Sneakers, a sneaker recycling organization. Advisors Julie Cooper and Julia Glass would like to thank all who donated and helped to make this drive a success!
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Spelling Bee Contest – West Side
The West Side School Spelling Bee took place in May in the Hilton Gymnasium. Participation is open to grades 4-6 with two participants per class moving forward to the school wide competition. This year’s event consisted of 15-spellers, who engaged in multiple rounds of nail-biting concentration that culminated with Dax Hall (grade 5), clinching the West Side School Spelling Bee championship title. Good luck to both Dax, and first runner-up, Annie Katz (grade 6), Thank you to WS Spelling Bee Coordinator, Maria Fritz-Rodriguez, and all the students in grades 4-6 who participated. Congratulations to all the spellers on their achievements!
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West Side Spring Concert
Spring concerts are in the air, and after much preparation and practice the West Side 5th & 6th graders entertained the crowd at the PAC with a fabulous performance by our students! Fun numbers like Ghostbusters and the Mission Impossible Theme drew applause and delight, and the angelic voices of the chorus sang out from the risers. So many of these dedicated students are participants in NYSSMA, LISFA and All County Chorus. Thank you to our West Side Music teachers and Directors; Leah Martin, Heather Daniels-Rosenblatt, and Laurette Roddin for your guidance and leadership to our student musicians. Principal, Dr. Barnes shared his early years of education began as a music teacher, and he stood in awe of the talent and dedication of the West Side music educators along with the talent of these students. Thank you to K-12 Music Chair James Guarini, and all the parents for coming out to support your children!
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Ultimate Human Board Game
Let the end of year festivities begin! At West Side School the Cultural Arts Committee (CAC) brought back an exciting character-building competition. Based on the foundation of sportsmanship and teamwork, the Ultimate Human Board Game ensures lots of participation with fun activities and friendly competition. This LIFE-SIZE game board featured three color-coded sides that represent a different activity. The entire group was divided into three teams (white, blue and red). Teams compete with dice games, dance challenges, cup stacking and more! The best part is total team participation which generated a spirited level of excitement and fun – and yes, lots of noise! What a wonderful way to kick off June as we near the end of the academic year.
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Lloyd Manor House Historical Landmark in our own backyard…
Lloyd Harbor School 4th graders experienced first-hand the life of Colonial times right in their own backyard at the historic Joseph Lloyd Manor House on Lloyd Neck. This annual trip for both Lloyd Harbor and West Side fourth graders educates the students about local Long Island history and the story of the Lloyd family. Beginning on the front porch of the house, students learned about the early history of Lloyd Neck by discussing the artifacts left be hind by the Native Matinecock people. Students explored daily life inside the house, identifying artifacts related to the activities of a colonial kitchen, laundry, candle-making and the role of merchants in shaping the economy and culture of colonial New York. The classes learned about the Lloyd family’s encounters with pirates on their trading voyages. They learned to barter for valuable goods and record their transactions on ledgers to understand trade and value currency. What a wonderful way to bring the curriculum to life!
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Lloyd Harbor Spring Concert
Thank you to our talented 5th and 6th grade musicians who performed at the Lloyd Harbor Spring Concert - held at the PAC on May 21. Each ensemble proved that all the practices and early morning sessions certainly have paid off - wow! The program included the orchestra directed by Heather Daniels-Rosenblatt, the concert band and jazz band directed by Laurette Roddin, and the chorus and the Harbortones directed by Haley Goodwin. (with special thanks to piano accompanist Richard Giordano.) Principal Carissa Shanahan and the music teachers thanked the community and families for all their support in getting their kids to early morning lessons and encouraging the love and importance of music in their children’s lives. We thank the entire music department for their continued guidance, and our K-12 Music Chairperson, James Guarini for a wonderful night of music!
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West Side Run Honoring Scott Bowden…
The 31st annual West Side Run held on May 19 was dedicated to Scott Bowden, former teacher and “all things West Side Historian.” Scott has been at the helm of the West Side Run for the past 31 years, well after his retirement, and this marked his last year before he steps down. Dr. Barnes shared, “Mr. Bowden has been working from his heart and giving all he has to this amazing West Side School tradition for so many years. He deserves to be recognized and honored by everyone in the West Side family.” Mr. Bowden certainly has left an indelible mark and truly is a legend who still graces the hallways of West Side. Both the 5K and 1 Mile Run went off without a hitch, attracting both young students, siblings, and residents of all ages. The smiles of joy and accomplishment were evident and Principal, Dr. Barnes, was grateful for all the support and dedication of faculty volunteers, participants, and the WSSPTG. What a wonderful tradition to uphold that brings the community together each year! Thank you to everyone for coming out to participate on such a beautiful day...
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Off to Philadelphia!
May 15 was a day in the history books for our fourth graders from Lloyd Harbor and West Side School, as they embarked on their annual field trip to Philadelphia. The students were so excited to visit the many monuments and landmarks they have been studying and preparing for – with maps in hand - guiding each group along the tour. Students demonstrated kindness and inclusivity throughout the day, and were greeted with compliments from tour guides on their historical knowledge, curiosity, and respectful behavior. Thank you to the many family members who joined and helped guide the trip and shared experiences during this amazing day!
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International Day
Students at West Side taught us that it truly is “a small world after all.” As they marched into the gym, flags in hand and speeches prepared, the kids taught so much about the many countries and continents in our world. Donning official costumes and shouting out their country name, each paid homage to their social studies curriculum at this annual celebration. Fun facts and even jokes were shared with guests. For instance, did you know that all the continents begin and end with the same vowel? Amazing job everyone, thank you for the tour around the world! Dr. Barnes thanked the third-grade team—Ms. Duddy, Ms. Dopico, and Ms. Schoenberg, Ms. McLaughlin for displaying the beautiful artwork and Ms. Martin for leading the musical performances with such energy and care. Bravo to everyone involved!
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Suffolk County Elementary Math Tournament
On May 15 ten students from the fifth and sixth grades competed in the Suffolk County Math Tournament. In this virtual competition, Lloyd Harbor and West Side students proudly represented Cold Spring Harbor’s young mathematicians. Blake Sabatino, Carter Mullen, Aviva Zinger, Warner Bohn, and Mason Burkhardt represented our fifth grade team. While Madeleine Dircks, Vivienne Zucklie, Will Morin, Lulu Meierhans and CJ Paci represented our sixth grade team. Engulfed in a full day of problem solving, our mathematicians competed individually and as a team. Each grade worked collaboratively to tackle the challenging math problems they were presented with. Lauren Grefe was pleased to report that the Lloyd Harbor sixth grade team placed fourth overall for the team competition and Madeleine Dircks was recognized for placing 8th in the individual competition! Blake Sabatino represented our fifth graders by taking sixth overall in the individual competition! Creative thinking, perseverance and teamwork were on full display and we are so proud of all the Lloyd Harbor participants! Kerry Markin was proud to lead the West Side team of top-performing math Olympiads and announced that the 6th grade Team earned 2nd place overall! In the individual competition, Louis England placed 4th, and Niuniu Ma earned 2nd place. What an exciting day for all participants!
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Tenure Granted
Congratulations to our newly tenured teachers and administrators – 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...
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Retirement Wishes
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.
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2025 NAMM Foundation Award K-12 Music Recognition
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!”
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May Board of Education Meeting
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...
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