Summer Assignments

The district’s fifth-graders and eighth-graders celebrated their accomplishments and officially advanced to middle school and high school during touching moving up ceremonies held during the last week of school. Family, friends, teachers, administratorsand Board of Education members joined together to mark the occasion with speeches that praised their success and offered advice for the next chapters in their education.

At Locust Valley Middle School, the moving up ceremony honored the hard work and dedication of the entire eighth-grade class, who were dressed in green graduation gowns to mark the formal occasion. Board of Education Vice President Kerian Carlstrom addressed the eighth-graders and their guests with inspirational words, while class officers shared their memories of their middle school years. The ceremony also focused on how well prepared the students are to enter high school, thanks to their hard work and the support of faculty, staff and their parents. The eighth-grade select chorus and the seventh-grade band brought musical energy to the ceremony with their performances.

Bayville Intermediate School fifth-graders received praise from Board of Education trustee Sarah Henris, who encouraged them to be all they can be in middle school. The graduates performed multiple songs for their guests, including a song written about Bayville 125 years ago. Bayville Elementary School Principal Scott McElhiney and Assistant Principal Dorothy McManus each told the children how much they would be missed and how much they enjoyed having them in their schools. 

Locust Valley Intermediate School graduates smiled through their fifth-grade moving up ceremony, which included musical numbers and speakers that shared their pride in the students for their incredible growth throughout their six years of elementary school. Board of Education President Brian T. Nolan, a graduate of Locust Valley Intermediate School himself, said he knew firsthand that the faculty had prepared them well for middle school and beyond. Locust Valley Elementary School Principal Dr. Sophia Gary and Assistant Principal Amy Watson both spoke at the ceremony, sharing advice for the future.

At both intermediate schools, children rang the bells signifying the number of years they had been there. This tradition is included in the moving up ceremonies each year. 

Congratulations and good luck to all of the students that moved up!

 

 

Student musicians throughout the Locust Valley Central School District are performing their way to the top. Members of bands, orchestras and choruses have proven that Locust Valley musicians have talent! The Board of Education honored these musicians at its June 7 meeting.

Music in the Parks
On April 28, the Locust Valley High School Music Department competed at the Six Flags Music in the Parks Festival. Participants were adjudicated by judges from across the country and each performing ensemble was rated superior, excellent, good, fair, or poor and ranked within their ensemble classification.  The Locust Valley awards were as follows:

• The string orchestra, under the direction of Marc Yavoski and AnnMarie Buonaspina was awarded First Place, Excellent Rating.  
• The concert band, under the direction of Vincent Guerra and Lisa Conti was awarded Second Place, Excellent Rating.  
• The concert chorale, under the direction of Allison Hungate Wood and Jessica Pezdan was awarded First Place, Superior Rating.  


NYSSMA Majors

Four groups participated in the NYSSMA Majors Music Festival at Hofstra University. Each ensemble performed three pieces and was adjudicated by two judges. The awards were as follows:

• Middle School Concert Band directed by Vinny Guerra and Lisa Conti earned Gold with Distinction.
• High School Chamber Singers directed by Allison Hungate Wood earned Silver
• Sixth Grade Orchestra directed by AnnMarie Buonaspina earned Gold
• Middle School Orchestra directed by Marc Yavoski and AnnMarie Buonaspina earned Gold



Lincoln Center Summer Internship

Three Locust Valley High School students were accepted for a summer internship at Lincoln Center. Senior Leonardo D'Auria-Gupta and Juniors Sophie Matthaei and Timothy Peguillan. The summer program, Middle School Arts Audition Boot Camp, is a partnership between Lincoln Center Education, Carnegie Hall, and the NYC Department of Education.  The student interns will support the teachers, teaching artists and students involved in the summer program. 


Long Island String Festival
The following students participated in the Long Island String Festival (LIFSA) this spring:

Bayville Intermediate School: Ciaran Bowden, bass and Abigale Maselli, cello.
Locust Valley Intermediate School: Sophia Koler, violin.
Locust Valley Middle School: Gianna Palleschi, violin; John D’Addario, bass; Tessa Hutton, violin.
Locust Valley High School: Hannah FitzGerald, bass; Nils Coffey, bass; Nicholas Siconolfi, violin.


All-County Musicians
Students listed below performed in the Nassau Music Educators Association All-County Music Festival. They were selected for the festival based on their New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) evaluations and teacher recommendations. 

Bayville Intermediate School: Owen Pye, band,;Kathryn Constantin, chorus; Julianna DiLorenzo, chorus; Caleigh Encarnacion, chorus; Lauren Hoy, chorus; Ciaran Bowden, orchestra; Molly Bowden, orchestra; Abigail Maselli, orchestra.

Locust Valley Intermediate School: Sara Nearenberg, band; Mia Goodman, chorus; Rani Kapoor, chorus; Sofia Maragos, chorus; Hailey Martin, chorus; Julia Siegel, chorus; Alexander Kanter, orchestra; Sophia Kohler, orchestra; Andrew Wieman, orchestra. 

Middle School: Aidan Moran, band; Olivia Cody, chorus; Brett Dailis, chorus; Claire Sellars, chorus; Ava Titus, chorus; John D’Addario, orchestra; Tessa Hutton, orchestra; Kieran Moran, orchestra.

High School: Ashley Capozzi, chorus; Nils Coffey, orchestra; Hannah FitzGerald, orchestra; Matthew Guerra, band; Timothy Peguillian, chorus; Noah Pietrafesa, band; Nicholas Siconolfi, orchestra.