Dear District Community,
I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful fall! Thanksgiving season is a great time to appreciate what we have and reach out to our loved ones and neighbors to lend a hand. I am proud to announce that as a district we will be taking a step forward in our charitable efforts to assist The Village Church and St. Gertrude’s Church, organizations that provide for those who need assistance.
This year has been especially difficult for these community partners, so I am working to connect them with our schools to Pack the Pantries. Each school in Bayville and Locust Valley will be collecting a specific food item, to allow each shelter more time to devote to distributing the donations rather than sorting them. We ask that you place your donations into gently used recyclable bags if possible. Please see our website and social media accounts where the flyer will be pinned for more information on which items each school is collecting.
In a year when we are highlighting leadership and thoughtfulness through the Leader in Me program, I think it is very important that we demonstrate those qualities to our young students. I ask that you please have your students bring in their donations by Friday, Nov. 21.
Thank you for your care and attention!
Sincerely,
Kristen Turnow, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful fall! Thanksgiving season is a great time to appreciate what we have and reach out to our loved ones and neighbors to lend a hand. I am proud to announce that as a district we will be taking a step forward in our charitable efforts to assist The Village Church and St. Gertrude’s Church, organizations that provide for those who need assistance.
This year has been especially difficult for these community partners, so I am working to connect them with our schools to Pack the Pantries. Each school in Bayville and Locust Valley will be collecting a specific food item, to allow each shelter more time to devote to distributing the donations rather than sorting them. We ask that you place your donations into gently used recyclable bags if possible. Please see our website and social media accounts where the flyer will be pinned for more information on which items each school is collecting.
In a year when we are highlighting leadership and thoughtfulness through the Leader in Me program, I think it is very important that we demonstrate those qualities to our young students. I ask that you please have your students bring in their donations by Friday, Nov. 21.
Thank you for your care and attention!
Sincerely,
Kristen Turnow, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Schools throughout the Locust Valley Central School District welcomed local heroes for Veterans Day ceremonies on Nov. 10 and 12.
On Nov. 10, the district’s elementary and intermediate schools held ceremonies where students lined the hallways to cheer on veterans as they entered the auditoriums and some students introduced classmates to their relatives who have served the country in our armed forces.
On Nov. 12, Locust Valley Middle School/High School had an opportunity to speak with veterans of each branch of the military about their experiences serving the country in different ways. The high school’s culinary club also made sure the veterans were well fed, serving them meals cooked by the students.
On Nov. 10, the district’s elementary and intermediate schools held ceremonies where students lined the hallways to cheer on veterans as they entered the auditoriums and some students introduced classmates to their relatives who have served the country in our armed forces.
On Nov. 12, Locust Valley Middle School/High School had an opportunity to speak with veterans of each branch of the military about their experiences serving the country in different ways. The high school’s culinary club also made sure the veterans were well fed, serving them meals cooked by the students.
After months of hard work and preparation, the Locust Valley Jesters will welcome community members to the Howard A. Schmock Auditorium at the middle school/high school for its performance of “Clue: High School Edition” on Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Go to the link in our bio and on the news feed of our website.
We hope to see you there!
https://cur8.com/39980/project/135037
We hope to see you there!
https://cur8.com/39980/project/135037
Last week, Locust Valley High School students took to the auditorium stage and showcased hilariously choreographed lip sync performances of showtunes and pop hits of today and yesteryear. Classmates, alumni, friends and family filled the room, cheering the performers and buying treats, drinks and raffle tickets to help fundraise for end-of-year activities for the Class of 2026.
Faculty members judged each group, naming members of the football team who dazzled their way through The Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” to the delight of the audience. Congratulations also to the second- and third-place winners, who performed, respectively, “We Found Love” by Rihanna and “Dancing Queen” from “Mamma Mia!”
Thank you to all the students and faculty members who helped continue this annual tradition!
Faculty members judged each group, naming members of the football team who dazzled their way through The Backstreet Boys’ “I Want It That Way,” to the delight of the audience. Congratulations also to the second- and third-place winners, who performed, respectively, “We Found Love” by Rihanna and “Dancing Queen” from “Mamma Mia!”
Thank you to all the students and faculty members who helped continue this annual tradition!
Locust Valley Middle School honored Caught Being Kind students and Students of the Month last week. Giavanna Ballato, Michaela Blough, Roberto Chavez, Declan Habermehl, Layne Kalenderian and Alexa Wood were named Students of the Month for October as recommended by their teachers.
The school recognized another group of students for their acts of charity, kindness and spreading positivity among their classmates and faculty members.
Thank you to Jade Adwar, Emilie Baldwin, Nicholas Cayirli, Roberto Chavez, John Dembowski, William DeNatale, Petra Fernandes, Ashley Grassi, Adrianna Guarderas, Sophie Holland, Kenna Jadezuk, Cooper James, Danica Johansen, Christina Lazarus, Luca Lionetti, Ethan Mahadeo, Ramon Martinez, Rosemary Martinez Magana, Michaela Mejia, Eric Mohan, Charlize Pierro, Eric Rajkowski, Kosly Ronqillo, Desmond Sahai, Dylan Sorensen, Matteo Tan and Michael Virga for your kindness in our halls.
The school recognized another group of students for their acts of charity, kindness and spreading positivity among their classmates and faculty members.
Thank you to Jade Adwar, Emilie Baldwin, Nicholas Cayirli, Roberto Chavez, John Dembowski, William DeNatale, Petra Fernandes, Ashley Grassi, Adrianna Guarderas, Sophie Holland, Kenna Jadezuk, Cooper James, Danica Johansen, Christina Lazarus, Luca Lionetti, Ethan Mahadeo, Ramon Martinez, Rosemary Martinez Magana, Michaela Mejia, Eric Mohan, Charlize Pierro, Eric Rajkowski, Kosly Ronqillo, Desmond Sahai, Dylan Sorensen, Matteo Tan and Michael Virga for your kindness in our halls.
The Locust Valley High School girls cross country program heads into the state qualifiers this weekend at LIU Post with momentum hoping to continue an incredible season for the team, which has seen many successes and a new program record.
On Nov. 1, the team finished in second place at the county championships, with incredible efforts by Lillian Thompson, Emily Martinovich and Delilah Modlin, who finished 2nd, 9th and 13th overall, good enough for a spot on the all-county team. In October, Thompson set a new school record for the girls program in the 5000-meter event with a time of 18 minutes, 59 seconds, eclipsing Roisin O’Neil’s (Class of 2017) previous mark of 20 minutes, 15 seconds.
The team already has plenty to be proud of, but they will set their sights even higher at the state qualifiers on Nov. 8, at LIU Post.
On Nov. 1, the team finished in second place at the county championships, with incredible efforts by Lillian Thompson, Emily Martinovich and Delilah Modlin, who finished 2nd, 9th and 13th overall, good enough for a spot on the all-county team. In October, Thompson set a new school record for the girls program in the 5000-meter event with a time of 18 minutes, 59 seconds, eclipsing Roisin O’Neil’s (Class of 2017) previous mark of 20 minutes, 15 seconds.
The team already has plenty to be proud of, but they will set their sights even higher at the state qualifiers on Nov. 8, at LIU Post.
Student government leaders from throughout the Locust Valley Central School District congregated at the middle/high school’s mini-theater on Nov. 5 for a leadership conference.
Locust Valley middle and high school students welcomed Bayville Intermediate and Locust Valley Intermediate leaders from grades 3-5, and led them in workshops covering leadership qualities, decision making, prioritizing, listening and mindfulness. The students also participated in a team building activity where students used toothpicks and marshmallows to build towers and created sticker designs to give to community members when they participate in the budget vote in May.
Locust Valley middle and high school students welcomed Bayville Intermediate and Locust Valley Intermediate leaders from grades 3-5, and led them in workshops covering leadership qualities, decision making, prioritizing, listening and mindfulness. The students also participated in a team building activity where students used toothpicks and marshmallows to build towers and created sticker designs to give to community members when they participate in the budget vote in May.
Ahead of Election Day, students at Bayville Primary School cast their own ballots for which smoothie they preferred during their lunch period. Student volunteers passed out pineapple and strawberry banana smoothies to each student and asked them to use an ink stamper to cast their vote for which healthy food item they preferred. Strawberry banana won in a 70-32 landslide. The activity gave students an idea of how voting works and how they can have their voices heard.
While students were relaxing at home and community members were out at the polls, district staff members spent the day at Locust Valley Middle/High School connecting with their peers and strengthening their bonds through training sessions during Superintendent’s Conference Day on Nov. 4. The day was headlined by team building exercises on the Leader in Me program with trainer Gary McGuey in the cafeteria, where elementary school staff members worked in small groups to envision ways they can promote good habits, such as setting detailed goals and being a good teammate, in their classrooms.
Locust Valley High School art students are off to an incredible start to the school year, earning accolades in both the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County Student Art Competition and the Nassau County High School Art Competition.
Junior Kali Frazer won the gold award in the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s competition, and her piece will appear in the June section of the extension’s 2026 Gardening Calendar and Guide. Fellow junior Humnaa Abid, sophomore Sebastian Canales and alumna Annemie Germans were all recognized with the bronze designation.
Seniors Evie Bergman, Nicoletta Friedrich, Xen Naimsushyna and Julia Pisciotta and junior Chloe Arrata all had works accepted into the 2025 Nassau County High School Art Competition. The Locust Valley students contributed six of the 85 projects selected by juror Stephanie Yovino-Folk to be displayed at The Art Guild in Manhasset from Nov. 2-29, as Pisciotta had two works chosen.
Junior Kali Frazer won the gold award in the Cornell Cooperative Extension’s competition, and her piece will appear in the June section of the extension’s 2026 Gardening Calendar and Guide. Fellow junior Humnaa Abid, sophomore Sebastian Canales and alumna Annemie Germans were all recognized with the bronze designation.
Seniors Evie Bergman, Nicoletta Friedrich, Xen Naimsushyna and Julia Pisciotta and junior Chloe Arrata all had works accepted into the 2025 Nassau County High School Art Competition. The Locust Valley students contributed six of the 85 projects selected by juror Stephanie Yovino-Folk to be displayed at The Art Guild in Manhasset from Nov. 2-29, as Pisciotta had two works chosen.
Students and staff members showed their spooky season spirit, dressing as athletes, superheroes, monsters, ghosts and more on Halloween. Ann MacArthur and Bayville Primary students celebrated the day with the annual Halloween parades, showcasing their unique costumes for friends and family.
The Locust Valley High School Jesters are excited to present their rendition of “Clue: High School Edition” on Friday, Nov. 21, and Saturday, Nov. 22, at 7 p.m. each night. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Scan the QR code or go to the link below and in our social media bios to purchase your tickets today!
https://cur8.com/39980/project/135037
https://cur8.com/39980/project/135037
It’s game day for the girls varsity field hockey team! The Falcons will take on Cold Spring Harbor in the Nassau County Class C Semifinals at our very own Fred Smith Field at Locust Valley High School at 4:30 p.m. Bundle up, wear green and cheer the girls onto victory!
Locust Valley High School students Raffaele Giannattasio, Justin Kwok and Dean Wolfe took home the honors for Best Use of Character in their project ‘Chronicle of a Boy Displaced’ from the Long Island 72-Hour Film Festival at Five Towns College in October.
The three filmmakers received prompts requiring them to utilize a prop, a genre, a character name and a line of dialogue from the competition. The boys quickly got to work, spending the weekend writing, shooting and editing the film over a weekend.
The mockumentary follows Brody Bruce, played by Giannattasio, who is dropped into a separate dimension where he meets an alternate version of his sister, played by classmate Laura Warner. Wolfe served as director, while Giannattasio and Kwok worked as cinematographer and editor, respectively. The three boys, working as Piejinks Productions, are a mainstay of the Locust Valley High School Film Festival.
The three filmmakers received prompts requiring them to utilize a prop, a genre, a character name and a line of dialogue from the competition. The boys quickly got to work, spending the weekend writing, shooting and editing the film over a weekend.
The mockumentary follows Brody Bruce, played by Giannattasio, who is dropped into a separate dimension where he meets an alternate version of his sister, played by classmate Laura Warner. Wolfe served as director, while Giannattasio and Kwok worked as cinematographer and editor, respectively. The three boys, working as Piejinks Productions, are a mainstay of the Locust Valley High School Film Festival.
Over the past few weeks, students throughout the district got into the spooky season spirit with the Halloween Dance, Hulabaloo, and Howl at the middle school, Locust Valley Intermediate and Bayville Intermediate. Parent councils and school leaders helped to make each event exciting and unique, giving the students opportunities to play, dance and have fun with their classmates. The Middle School, Locust Valley Elementary and Bayville Elementary parent councils provided delicious foods and treats for students at each event, as well.
After a spirit week of tropical-themed hallway decorating, costumes and pep rallies, the Locust Valley Central School District community packed the bleachers at Fred Smith Field and cheered their Falcons on to a critical 35-6 win over the East Rockaway Rocks on Oct. 25.
The Falcons, wearing their brand-new black uniforms, were led by running back Aidan Russo’s 210 yards and four touchdowns, while the defense shook off a first drive score by the Rocks, pitching a shutout in the final three quarters. The Falcons’ captains were also joined at the coin toss by K-7 district students who won a jersey design contest.
The new Falcons uniform, which debuted on Oct. 10, was a project involving the team’s senior captains, Falcon Pride Booster Club and the Valley Sports store on Forest Avenue. Every year, the team works with Falcon Pride on fundraising efforts to enhance the team experience. This year, the Falcons dreamt big, hoping to add an alternate uniform in addition to their usual green and white. With evening home games now a reality with the addition of lights at the field, the team was eager to add a look that resembles the vastness of night. The team captains and head coach Michael Gilbert designed the stealth black look and went to Valley Sports to make it a reality. The team is excited to pass down these uniforms to future Falcons.
Throughout the game and at halftime, the high school and middle school squad, kick line team and the pep band, helped keep the energy high, making for a terrific game day atmosphere.
Locust Valley High School students Chelsy Arrata and Dax Campbell attended the Virtual Enterprise Leadership conference at LIU Post on Oct. 17. As the respective CEO and CFO of the high school’s virtual enterprises mock company “NaviGlass,” Arrata and Campbell received leadership advice from business professionals from Blackrock, Goldman Sachs and Merrill Lynch.
Arrata was one of 10 finalists of the elevator pitch competition, consisting of over 100 students from schools across Long Island. She confidently presented a 60-second business pitch from memory, on stage in front of hundreds of students, teachers and business professionals. The class’s product, NaviGlass, is a pair of glasses that utilizes a heads-up display that gives visual turn-by-turn directions and data like your route, distance to your destination and real-time warnings for signs of danger nearby. The non-intrusive design also allows the user to stay fully aware of their surroundings.
Arrata and Campbell made a great first impression and set the bar high for the many competitions the virtual enterprise class will participate in this school year.
Arrata was one of 10 finalists of the elevator pitch competition, consisting of over 100 students from schools across Long Island. She confidently presented a 60-second business pitch from memory, on stage in front of hundreds of students, teachers and business professionals. The class’s product, NaviGlass, is a pair of glasses that utilizes a heads-up display that gives visual turn-by-turn directions and data like your route, distance to your destination and real-time warnings for signs of danger nearby. The non-intrusive design also allows the user to stay fully aware of their surroundings.
Arrata and Campbell made a great first impression and set the bar high for the many competitions the virtual enterprise class will participate in this school year.
The Falcons are victorious on homecoming! Thanks to everyone who helped make today so special!
Spirit Week 2025 has been a huge hit, as students from Pre-K to grade 12 have shown their Falcon pride in many different ways! The football and cheerleading captains visited elementary schools for pep rallies, telling them how much their support means and teaching them cheers for the game on Saturday. The middle school and high school had pep rallies of their own and dressed up for theme days such as Twin Day, Country vs. Country Club, USA, Tropical and Proud to be a Falcon Day.
Come out and support the varsity football team this Saturday, Oct. 25, with the parade at 12 p.m., pre-game senior day activities at 1:30 p.m. and the game kick off at 2 p.m.
Come out and support the varsity football team this Saturday, Oct. 25, with the parade at 12 p.m., pre-game senior day activities at 1:30 p.m. and the game kick off at 2 p.m.
When the varsity football team captains walk out for the coin toss at the homecoming game on Saturday, they will have a few extra friends with them. Eight district students, one each from grades K-7, won the opportunity to join the team captains as they step onto Fred Smith Field by creating beautiful jersey designs depicting what they hope future Falcons jerseys might look like.
Congratulations to our K-7 winners Natalia Corniel, Bryce Zekraus, Carson Testa, Miles Coons, Giuliana Sicuranza, Kieran Sullivan, Sal Caruso and Jonah Friedman! And thank you to everyone who showed school spirit and created a design. All entries will be displayed in the school buildings next week.
Congratulations to our K-7 winners Natalia Corniel, Bryce Zekraus, Carson Testa, Miles Coons, Giuliana Sicuranza, Kieran Sullivan, Sal Caruso and Jonah Friedman! And thank you to everyone who showed school spirit and created a design. All entries will be displayed in the school buildings next week.
