Oyster Bay-East Norwich Board of Education Highlights Academic Excellence at April Meeting
The Oyster Bay-East Norwich Board of Education convened on Apr. 21, in the Oyster Bay High School auditorium for its monthly meeting, celebrating student achievements, launching new community initiatives, and spotlighting the district's growing academic momentum.
Student representative Giovanna Lisa opened the meeting with an enthusiastic recap of recent school life. She highlighted the success of International Night, the induction ceremonies for both the National Honor Society and the Humanities National Honor Societies and the Cavalcade of Choirs, which she described as a beautiful evening. She also congratulated Rho Kappa, the district's social studies honor society, on hosting its inaugural Social Studies Showdown.
Superintendent Dr. Ianni delivered an upbeat report on the state of the district, noting that academic performance has risen significantly in recent years, with school ratings and Advanced Placement scores both climbing considerably.
Dr. Ianni highlighted several recent and upcoming initiatives. The high school recently hosted its Breakfast of Engineers, an event that brought alumni and parents working in engineering fields into the building to share their career stories with current students. On the heels of that event, Dr. Ianni announced the launch of the Oyster Bay Alumni Network, a new initiative designed to reconnect graduates with the district community. The network aims to connect alumni with current students as mentors and open doors to additional opportunities for both groups.
On the facilities front, Dr. Ianni reported that athletic fields across the district have been reseeded and manicured, and that a renovation of the sound system in the Oyster Bay High School gymnasium is currently underway, with completion expected by the end of the school year.
Looking ahead, Dr. Ianni noted that a Buddy Day program is scheduled for May 21, when sixth graders from Vernon Elementary will spend a full day at the high school to ease their transition ahead of the coming fall.
The heart of the evening was a deep dive into the district's mathematics and science programming, presented by OBMHS Principal Melissa Argaman and Assistant Principal Robert LoCastro.
Mr. LoCastro recognized students who earned top scores on the American Mathematics Competition across three levels – AMC 8, AMC 10, and AMC 12 – honoring the district's highest performers in each category.
Ms. Argaman then presented an overview of the district's Science Research program, tracing its roots from foundational work in seventh-grade science classes and the Atlantis program through to its most advanced levels. Students in the program develop skills in data analysis and public speaking and begin competing in regional fairs as early as ninth grade. By senior year, participants are conducting and publishing original research at a college level.
The evening's most celebrated moment came with the recognition of Chrysta Thomas, a standout science research student whose accomplishments have earned her national and international recognition. Thomas placed third at the Long Island Science and Engineering Fair (LISEF) and first at the New York State Science and Engineering Fair (NYSSEF). She will represent the district this spring at the International Science and Engineering Fair (ISEF) in Arizona. In recognition of her achievement, a plaque bearing her name will be installed in the school's academic hall of fame, and a banner honoring her will hang outside the science research classroom.
The board then resumed with general business to close out the meeting.
