Seniors will take part in a graduation rehearsal on Wednesday, June 21, at 1 p.m. on the football field or the auditorium in case of rain. Members of the Class of 2023 must return their Chromebooks by Tuesday, June 20, in order to receive their cap and gown for rehearsal.
Locust Valley High School sophomore Celeste Field took home the National Champion Award for vaulting at the 2023 USA Gymnastics Women’s Development Program National Championships in Oklahoma City in May and is ready for when the college recruitment period starts on June 15.
Field, 15, prepared a new vault with her coaches for the competition over the past few months and was not sure what to expect going into the championships.
“I was so happy it paid off and I think my coaches’ reactions were probably the best part of the experience,” Field said. “I’m really proud of myself, my coaches and my parents for all the work and dedication we put in to the process.”
Field has spent the year preparing for the competition with coaches Kevin Budney, Amanda Depaola and Rob Wing at Apex Athletics in St. James. She travels to the practice facility every day, leaving school around 1 p.m. and getting home close to 8 p.m. most nights.
“All of my teachers have been very helpful,” Field said. “I miss a lot of school during meet season and they’ve empowered me to go for it. The school has been very accepting of what I’m doing and everyone has helped me a lot.” Field makes up her work and studies often when she’d on the road to events.
After placing ninth in the country in her age group, Field is going into college recruitment with and open mind.
“With my other teammates that have gone through that, it seems like a cool experience,” Field said. “Right now, I’m just excited and grateful that any school might have interest in me.”
Earlier this quarter, 46 Locust Valley Middle School eighth grade students traveled to New York City to participate in the GCI Model U.N. Conference for the first time since 2019. Over the course of three days, 300 students met in committees to debate, negotiate and write resolutions to be voted on. The closing ceremony was held in the U.N. headquarters’ conference rooms and General Assembly Hall.
Ollie Tomlinson and Caitlyn Capobianco’s position paper “Children’s Mental Health in the Crises of Our Time” won best position paper in their committee. The experience helped students develop their critical thinking and research skills, as well as their public-speaking abilities. It was an unforgettable experience for all involved.
Locust Valley Middle School eighth graders took to the fields on June 2 as part of their class picnic, organized by the Middle School Parents Council and class coordinators Susan Beers and Nicole Santoli. Students received pizza, snacks, drinks and class towels when they arrived, got to play soccer, lacrosse, football, spikeball and cornhole and enjoy music from a DJ.
Five Locust Valley High School spring teams attained NYSPHSAA scholar-team status. The girls golf, lacrosse, tennis and track teams and boys tennis team qualified for the feat by having three quarters of the team achieve a 90 average. It was a great season in the classroom and on the field for each team.
“We are so proud of our student-athletes who have successfully balanced their time, effort and energy in athletic activities with their highly challenging academic responsibilities,” Acting Superintendent of Schools Janine Sampino said.
Bayville Primary students competed in activities like obstacle courses, volleyball and crab soccer for field day on June 2 at the Bayville Intermediate Field. Students started the fun with a rehearsed dance for their parents, family and friends before running over to their stations where Bayville Intermediate students and staff helped run each game. After the games concluded, students headed back to the primary school for a barbeque to finish off a great day in the sun.
Bayville Intermediate fifth graders made their way to West Harbor Beach on June 5 for a day of fun as the school year winds down. The Bayville Elementary Parents Council provided a dunk tank, inflatable slide, taco truck and healthy food and beverages for the beach party, and students took advantage of the perfect weather by playing on the beach and in the water.
Locust Valley High School’s talented music department students traveled to New Jersey on June 2 to compete in the Music in the Parks Festival.
Participants and ensembles were graded by judges from across the country, and Locust Valley students took home several awards before heading to Six Flags for the rest of the day.
The high school string orchestra, concert band and concert chorale all took home first place and superior rating, while senior Elizabeth Neumeyer was named overall outstanding vocalist out of all participating high schools.
“We are incredibly proud of the talent, teamwork and dedication of our students and staff,” the district’s Coordinator of Instructional Technology and Fine and Applied Arts AnnMarie Buonaspina said. “What a wonderful way to celebrate our high school performing ensembles and close out a great year! Bravo to all!”
Locust Valley High School media and communications teacher Roger Boucher has been named a Nassau Association of School Technologists Award Recipient (NASTAR) by the district for his innovation, ability to integrate technology and for his exemplary technology leadership.
Boucher has helped the high schoolers make Locust Valley TV a fantastic production that sees students get hands-on experience in front of and behind the camera. Additionally, his work putting together Monday Night at the Movies and the annual film festival has given ambitious student-film makers in Locust Valley and beyond an opportunity to showcase their works to a large crowd of their peers. Boucher inspires his students to push the boundaries of what they thought they could do.
Boucher will be honored at the NASTAR Awards Luncheon in Uniondale on June 8.
Bayville Intermediate students in Mikele Galligan’s class had family come in to participate in music class with them on May 24. Music teacher Nicole Kelly led family members through the some of the class’ favorite songs and used rhythm sticks, maracas and xylophones.
Four Locust Valley High School student-athletes signed their National Letter of Intent to continue their career into college during a ceremony at the school with friends and family present on May 31.
Evan Shriberg and Brandon Villanueva; who received All-County and All-State honors in wrestling and soccer this year, respectively, plan to attend Ursinus College and Five Town College in the fall. Charles Ehni and Jolie Pye will attend SUNY Potsdam and the University of Albany for basketball and soccer, respectively.
Locust Valley High School seniors were honored for their academic dedication and community work on May 25. Each department of the high school celebrated students’ excellence, and dozens of outside organizations awarded scholarships and awards for students who donated their free time to better their communities.
Elementary school students throughout the district spent May learning about Long Island’s soil, plants and animals as part of the LI Native Pollinator Garden Library Research Project. This week, students got hands-on experience planting flowers, vegetables and more with their teachers and librarians.
Students throughout the Locust Valley Central School District honored those who gave their lives in service to the United States during ceremonies at Ann MacArthur Primary School and Bayville Village Hall on May 26 and Locust Valley High School on May 30. Wearing red, white and blue, students performed patriotic songs, laid flowers and dedicated wreaths to honor the fallen.
Today, the district remembers and thanks those brave individuals who gave their lives in service of our country.
Dear Locust Valley Community,
It is with great pleasure that we announce the official appointment of our new superintendent of schools, Dr. Kristen Turnow. We ask you all to join us in welcoming Dr. Turnow into our Falcon family.
After an extensive search process, and with input from all stakeholder groups, we, the Board of Education, found Dr. Turnow's background, educational training, talents and expertise in the field of education to be the perfect combination for our future leader. As we noted during her appointment, Dr. Turnow went above and beyond during the interview process, providing the Board with a 90-day plan to lead the District into the future, and we are confident that her deep commitment to developing strong relationships with her team will help to maintain our district’s excellence. We would like to thank the community, parents, staff and students for entrusting us with this tremendous responsibility.
On behalf of the entire Board of Education, we congratulate Dr. Turnow, welcome her and look forward to all the future has in store for LVCSD!
With thanks and congratulations,
The Locust Valley Board of Education
Margaret Marchand
President
John Del Tatto
Vice President
Shawn Steele
Trustee
Lauren Themis
Trustee
George Vassiliou
Trustee
Michele Schaeffer
Trustee
Nick J. Della Fera
Trustee
Family, friends and faculty honored 19 members of the district as they head into retirement at a ceremony in the MS/HS courtyard on May 18. Building principals and administration thanked teachers and staff for their years of dedicated work creating a special environment for all in the district.
Retiring staff:
Meryl Alstadter, Bayville Primary School teacher (25 years in-district)
Elizabeth Boudreau, Ann MacArthur Primary School teacher (30 years in-district)
Robert Buonaspina, Locust Valley High School teacher (32 years in-district)
Linda DeFeo, Locust Valley High School teacher (27 years in-district)
James Doran, Bus driver (36 years in-district)
Joan Florio, Bayville Primary teaching assistant (27 years in-district)
Gina Gruter, Locust Valley Middle School Monitor (20 years in-district)
Alison Guerriero, Ann MacArthur Primary School cook/leader (17 years in-district)
Susan Hammerschmidt, district clerk (15 years in-district)
Winnifred P. Herzog, Locust Valley High school custodian (25 years in-district)
Lawrence Lynch, Locust Valley High School teacher (29 years in-district)
Judith A. Maruca, Locust Valley High School teacher (27 years in-district)
Anthony J. Perrone, Locust Valley High School teacher (29 years in-district)
Santa Rovere, Bayville Primary School teacher (22 years in-district)
Sheryl Silberman, Bayville Primary School teaching assistant (Seven years in-district)
Alan Stella, Locust Valley High School teacher (24 years in-district)
Robert Taylor, Locust Valley High School custodian (22 years in-district)
Dawn M. Vissicchio, Bayville Intermediate School teacher (31 years in-district)
Donna Wengrofsky, district assistant bus manager (27 years in-district)
The Locust Valley CSD community came to the middle/high school on May 17 for the annual art show. Hundreds of drawings, paintings and sculptures adorned the hallways as student artists showed family and friends the projects they have completed this year.
A memorable spring concert season was celebrated throughout the district over the past few weeks. During special performances, students and their conductors entertained many in the community with their hard work and incredible talent on the Locust Valley Middle/High School stage. Audiences were serenaded with a variety of performances from the bands, choruses and orchestras.
