At the June 17 meeting of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Board of Education, Superintendent Dr. Francesco Ianni led an evening of celebration and recognition, highlighting the achievements of students, faculty and community leaders.

Dr. Ianni began by congratulating the district’s student athletes who recently competed at the New York State athletic championships. A total of 22 OBEN students qualified and participated at the state level - an impressive showing that brought pride to the district. Their dedication and success were acknowledged before the board and attending community members.

Principal Melissa Argaman and Assistant Principal John Pardue then recognized outstanding achievements by students in world languages. French and Spanish language learners at Oyster Bay High School earned high honors on national exams, placing in the top 25% of test takers across the country. Students received gold, silver and bronze medals for their performances on the French and Spanish National Exams. Each student was presented with a certificate of recognition from the Board of Education, honoring their academic excellence and commitment to language learning.

The meeting also included a special farewell to board member Joseph Laurita, whose term concludes at the end of the school year. Dr. Ianni presented Mr. Laurita with a commemorative plaque in appreciation of his dedicated service to the district. His contributions and leadership were met with warm applause and gratitude from colleagues and the community.

To close the evening, Dr. Ianni and Deputy Superintendent Maureen Raynor offered heartfelt thanks and congratulations to several district staff members who will be retiring at the end of the year. Their years of service and commitment to the students of Oyster Bay-East Norwich were commended by the board and administration.

The evening served as a reflection of OBEN’s strong school community and continued pursuit of excellence across academics, athletics and service.

On June 2, students at Lido Elementary School in Long Beach were treated to a special day of learning, thanks to a visit from Scarlett Friedman, a 7th grader at Oyster Bay High School and a passionate young conservationist.

Scarlett, a student bird keeper and volunteer with the Center for Environmental Education & Discovery (CEED), spent the day introducing students to three ambassador Bobwhite Quails and sharing her knowledge of local ecosystems and environmental stewardship.

Throughout the day-long educational event, Scarlett presented and led an interactive Q&A session for each student group. Her enthusiasm and expertise allowed students to safely interact with the quails while learning about the birds’ role in the ecosystem and the importance of their conservation.

The visit was part of CEED’s broader environmental education initiative, which connects communities with nature through hands-on learning and live animal encounters. The ambassador quails are a key component of a larger conservation effort to hatch and reintroduce Northern Bobwhite Quail on Long Island. This initiative supports tick population control and habitat restoration critical measures to revitalize native wildlife.

With aspirations of a future in conservation, Scarlett is already making an impact, embodying the values of leadership, responsibility and environmental awareness.

Date Added: 6/20/2025

James H. Vernon School students proudly represented their school and community in the sixth annual “I Am EM-Powered” Energy Conservation Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest, sponsored by PSEG Long Island. The contest challenged students in grades 4 through 8 to create 45-second video PSAs that encourage viewers to take action to conserve energy and help protect the environment.

This year, more than 3,300 students from 42 elementary and middle schools across 32 school districts in Nassau, Suffolk and the Rockaways participated in the program, with 91 teachers submitting a total of 244 videos. Each teacher was asked to submit their top three videos to be judged.

Vernon’s fifth grade students, under the guidance of Mrs. Hauser, Ms. Pellettiere, Mr. Sommo and Ms. Boucher, embraced the challenge and produced outstanding work. On June 3, finalists from those classes attended an award ceremony hosted by PSEG. Two students from Vernon were named among the top 10 winners across Long Island: Henry Gandolfo from Mrs. Hauser and Ms. Pellettiere’s class and Michael Capace from Mr. Sommo and Ms. Boucher’s class. Both students received a $75 Visa gift card in recognition of their creative and compelling videos.

Several other Vernon students were also honored as finalists in the competition, including Zane Rivera, Jake Grimaldi, Joie Guercia and Tessa Marchisetto. Their work stood out among hundreds of entries and exemplified OBEN’s strong commitment to community partners.

The school community is incredibly proud of all the students who participated in this meaningful project, using their creativity and voices to advocate for a more sustainable future.

Click here to view All of the winning videos.

On June 13, the cafeteria at James H. Vernon School was transformed into a vibrant celebration of history as sixth grade students presented their ancient civilizations projects. The event marked the culmination of weeks of research, creativity and hands-on learning.

Dressed as pharaohs, mummies and figures from ancient royalty, students welcomed families to explore a wide range of displays representing various cultures and time periods. Projects included sugar cube pyramids, hand-crafted artifacts and detailed artwork that brought ancient history to life.

As parents toured the exhibits, students eagerly shared what they had learned, offering insights into the civilizations they studied and the process behind their work. The showcase provided a memorable and educational experience for all and served as a fitting capstone to the school year.

 

Click here to view the Sixth graders bring ancient civilizations to life at James H. Vernon School slideshow.

 

Date Added: 6/16/2025