Last week, a musical ensemble of fifth graders from Bayville Intermediate and Locust Valley Intermediate performed at the Long Island Music Festival held at Suffolk County Community College. The band and chorus each earned Superior ratings – the highest level of recognition at the event – while the orchestra received an Excellent rating.
Congratulations to all the students and dedicated teachers Mrs. Kelly, Mr. O’Flanagan and Mrs. Ruffo-Scott on achieving these feats!
To celebrate their hard work and achievements, Locust Valley Middle School students enjoyed exciting end-of-year events last week.
The festivities kicked off with awards night on June 3, where the middle school administration celebrated student achievements from the classroom and extracurricular activities.
To close out the last two periods of the day on June 5, Italian class teachers welcomed back Incanto Productions to teach students authentic dances such as “La Pizzica” and “La Tarantella.”
Finally, on June 6, the eighth-grade students enjoyed a beautiful day for their annual picnic, organized by class coordinators Susan Beers and Elizabeth Bressel and the middle school parents’ council. There, students played games such as cornhole, volleyball, spike ball and wiffle ball, enjoyed the company of their classmates and enjoyed some delicious frozen treats from a Gooseberry Grove ice cream truck.
Last week, Locust Valley Middle School honored its final group of “Caught Being Kind” students for the year. Zoe Bamba, Griffin Bathie, Jack Capobianco, Jack Fernandes, Lucas Garcia, Henry Gianatasio, Brayan Nolasco, Anderson Soto Castro and David Vasquez Lemus were recognized for helping classmates and teachers around the building.
The Locust Valley Middle School Parents’ Council invites all district students for a fun-filled day at Adventureland on Wednesday, June 18, from 5:30-9:30 p.m. The park will only be open to LVCSD community members, and there is no school on Thursday, June 19. Food and beverages will be available for purchase at the park. All attendees must have a ticket. The park will not honor season passes at this event.
Tickets are $44 per person. Attendees can also purchase tickets on the night of the event at the entry gates for $60. Make sure you purchase your ticket at the link below before the deadline on Thursday, June 12. If the event is canceled due to weather, a park voucher will be offered.
If you have any questions, please contact Lori Minicozzi at lvmspcpresident@gmail.com or 516-448-7872.
https://my.cheddarup.com/c/lvcsd-toa2025/items
Locust Valley Central School District is adding two new special education positions for the 2025-2026 school year in an effort to ensure consistency and continuity in its services. Tina Messina and Jennifer Masa will take on new roles at the Assistant Director of Elementary Special Education and Assistant Director of Secondary Special Education, respectively.
Messina joined the district in October 2024 as a special education teacher and subject matter coordinator. She has been an important part of communication with the Committee on Special Education (CSE) chairing meetings, serving as the primary point of contact for parents, staff and external agencies and overseeing CSE compliance. Additionally, she oversaw the implementation and evaluation of the district’s Multi-Tiered Systems and Supports (MTSS) plan in collaboration with building principals. Messina’s experience ranges from roles as a special education teacher at Longwood Central School District from 1998-2004 to time as an assistant principal, program facilitator, director of special education, administrator of pupil personnel services and principal.
Masa has been in the district since 2009, and has been a familiar and friendly face in the high school serving as assistant principal for the past four years. She, too, has served as a point of contact for CSE meetings and a liaison for the special education community, as well as working with parents on Life Skills program-related inquiries and student concerns. During her career, Masa has held such roles as administrative dean, high school special education coordinator, dean of students and special education testing coordinator.
“This strategic structure will not only strengthen support for both students and staff, but also enhance curriculum oversight, foster stronger relationships and improve communication with families,” Executive Director of Pupil Personnel Services Effie Kyvelos said. “With a dedicated point person at each stage of a student’s educational journey, we can deliver more responsive, high-quality support tailored to their unique needs.”
Both Messina and Masa will be available to meet with community members before the SEPTA elections on Tuesday, June 10, at 6:30 p.m.
Locust Valley High School hosted its annual Flags for Freedom event in partnership with local organization Operation Democracy on June 6. The ceremony gave each members of the Class of 2025 a moment to appreciate our heroes who sacrifice so much for them and acts as a lesson on flag etiquette and symbolism.
Veterans from Bayville American Legion Post 1285 and Locust Valley American Legion Post 962 demonstrated how to fold the American flag and what each fold of the flag represents. Each student met a veteran on stage, took time to get to know each other and received a flag and a copy of the U.S. Constitution to take home.
“Today, I encourage the Class of 2025 to reflect on the sacrifices and take this opportunity to speak with the veterans joining us today,” Assistant Superintendent Dr. Janine Sampino said. “It has been a privilege to see this tradition grow each year and I look forward to seeing the impact in the years ahead.”
“This event is a moment when generations meet, and the hands that once carried the weight of our nation’s freedom now passes it off to the next generation,” Operation Democracy representative Carol Cotton told the audience. This will be especially true for senior Ricardo Moran-Cruz, who will be joining the United States Marine Corps after graduation.
United States Air Force veteran Renato Spampinato, father to three children who all attended Locust Valley High School, addressed the students and faculty in attendance. He presented his son, senior Nick Spampinato with the first flag of the day.
“My military time deeply shaped my life with tough work and long hours, and also great times and lasting friendships,” Spampinato said. “Good people have given up a lot for you to enjoy this great country.”
Locust Valley High School Tri-M National Music Honor Society students will showcase their talents for the Spring Coffeehouse on Monday, June 9, at 7 p.m. in the MS/HS courtyard or the auditorium, depending on the weather. Admission is $10 for guests or $5 for performers. All proceeds will go towards supporting Tri-M activities. Come out and support these ambitious young students!
International Baccalaureate World Language students enjoyed a morning of friendly competition, competing in the fourth annual volleyball tournament on June 2. The French, Italian and Spanish classes went head-to-head in a round robin, with Team Spain winning the trophy.
As they head towards the end of their time at Bayville Intermediate School, the building’s fifth graders enjoyed a day at West Harbor Beach. The fun-filled event took place on June 3, and included games, food and desserts provided by the Bayville Elementary Parents Council. The students will celebrate their moving-up ceremony on June 17.
Last week, Locust Valley Middle School students got outside and enjoyed the beautiful gardens on campus during the eighth annual Garden to Table lesson, led by Tina Hament and volunteer high school students. The event focused on teaching students how to grow different types of fruits and vegetables, as well as maintaining the growing flowerbeds.
During the lesson, which is part of the nutritional unit of their health classes, students identified types of plants, removed weeds, created compost and went home with a seed of their choosing to grow over the summer.
This Friday, Locust Valley High School will host military veterans and active servicemembers for the annual Flags for Freedom event in collaboration with local civics organization Operation Democracy. During the ceremony, the Class of 2025 will meet these military heroes on the stage in the auditorium to speak with them about their service. Each student will receive a trifolded American flag and a copy of the U.S. Constitution.
Community members are invited to see talented high school theater students present a musical revue on Friday, June 6, at 6 p.m. in the mini-theater. Enjoy an evening of song, storytelling and student talent. Refreshments will be included. We hope to see you there to support these amazing performers.
Locust Valley High School celebrated student-athletes and IB Diploma candidates at ceremonies last week. At Senior-Athlete Recognition Night on May 28, the athletic department and community organizations presented awards to members of the Class of 2025 for their achievements and hard work on the fields of play. The department also named the late Julie Feltman, a beloved member of the athletic and academic community, as Coach of the Year.
On May 29, the 24 International Baccalaureate candidates in the Class of 2025 presented an overview of their final essays, the CAS projects they worked on in the community and how the program has impacted them to a crowd of their family and friends. Each student received a pin, which they will wear on their gowns during graduation.
This spring brought amazing playoff runs and success from young athletes and newcomer coaches. Off the field, the boys varsity tennis and track teams and girls varsity golf, lacrosse, softball and track teams all achieved New York State Scholar Athlete status for maintaining a 90 GPA or higher.
The varsity softball team, led by first-year head coach Joseph Migliano and assistant Alexandra Senglaub, won Conference VI. The team put together a 12-6 record, scoring 178 runs and allowing just 88, thanks in part to conference Player of the Year Gwen Velsor and Pitcher of the Year Sofia Baron.
The girls varsity lacrosse team finished 12-5, making the playoffs in Conference II and making their way to the Class C county championship game. The young team was led by consistent performances from Tessa Matozzo, Elizabeth Vitale, lone senior Katie Nabet and goaltender Emery deLauzon.
The boys lacrosse team posted an 11-6 record on the way to a Conference 2 county finals berth. The team had a great combination of youth and experience with freshman goaltender Grayson Iannotti earning All-County Honorable Mention along with senior Jackson Hoban. Senior Owen Pye and junior William Summers earned All-County honors.
Ashton Klar of the boys varsity golf team placed top nine in the county championships and qualified for the New York State championships on June 6.
The boys and girls varsity track teams also put together a great season, with India Arrillaga, Emily Martinovich, Delilah Modlin, Lillian Thompson and Peter Vitale qualifying for the county championships.
The flag football team continued to grow, nearly upsetting first-seeded Plainedge in the Class C semifinals. Unified basketball went 3-3 and made it to the Division 3 semifinals. The young Falcons baseball team laid the ground work for the future, with a very young roster that included several eighth graders. The boys tennis team qualified for the Division D playoffs, making it into the quarterfinals.
Locust Valley High School seniors Sean Lyons and Dylan Mueller committed to compete collegiately this coming fall during a ceremony surrounded by friends, family and coaches on May 28. Lyons will continue his swimming career at SUNY Maritime College and Mueller will wrestle at St. John Fisher University.
Lyons was a member of the varsity boys swimming team in its inaugural season this past winter. He holds the team’s 100-yard backstroke record at 1:17:37 and had an incredible performance as the anchor leg in the 200-yard freestyle relay at the county meet, posting a 26 second 50-yard swim to help secure a program record. Alexandra Senglaub, who took home Coach of the Year in her first season with the team, remarked on Lyons’ confidence in the difficult 100-yard butterfly.
“After he swam it for the first time, he came up to me and immediately started talking strategy for the next time he’d swim it paying no mind to the fact that his arms were burning and he was completely out of breath,” Senglaub said. “That was the moment that Sean completely embodied what it means to be a Falcon.”
Mueller, a captain over the past two seasons, is a four-year varsity starter, two-time All-County wrestler and state qualifier. He set himself apart with his dedication in the wrestling room for practice and on the mat in every match. In his time in Falcon green, Mueller received the Locust Valley Wrestling Coaches Award four times, and earned the Locust Valley Leadership Award and the Coach Sanzone/Coach Axman Memorial Scholarship at the Senior Athletic Awards.
“From my first day at Locust Valley, Dylan stood out for his hard work and dedication to himself, our team and the sport of wrestling,” wrestling coach John Brush said. “His commitment to himself and his team will bring him great success in all that he does in the future.”
This week, Locust Valley Intermediate School fifth graders learned about space exploration from NASA engineer and brother of science teacher Caroline McBride, Justin Cassidy. Cassidy made the trip up from Maryland’s Goddard Space Flight Center, where he helps develop tools for astronauts to use during missions, to share his expertise and inspire students with stories of his work in space flight. He answered students’ questions about astronaut training and the intricacies of space travel.
Bayville Primary School second graders in Ms. Fassari’s class strode down the red carpet and put on an incredible show for their family and friends on May 22. This year’s show, called “The Weather Boys,” gave students a chance to showcase their interest in different weather phenomena and their incredible public speaking and performing ability to the rest of the school.
Locust Valley High School and local organizations honored seniors at the Academic and Community Awards. Students were honored with scholarships and department awards for the hard work they have done to better their communities.
Members of the Locust Valley Central School District and Locust Valley School Employees Association honored 16 retiring faculty and staff members at the Crescent Club in Bayville on May 21. Friends, family, coworkers and community members praised Anne Craven, Annette Dippolito, Stacey Eno, Janet Genossa, Eva Geyer, Tina Hament, Rachel Levy, Pamela Loher, Caroline McBride, Toni Meliambro, Marie Mills, Lori Sperandeo, Leslie Stein, Sharon Steele, Donna West and Diane Yanez for their years of hard work.
“It warmed my heart to hear about the love and care our retirees have provided to our students and community,” Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kristen Turnow said. “As they move forward into a new journey, we hope they know the incredible impact they have had in our beautiful district.”
Congratulations to Locust Valley High School senior Ashton Klar for finishing in the top nine in the Nassau County golf championships. Klar will represent Locust Valley in the state championships in June.
