Education

From movie quotes to history lessons to Taylor Swift lyrics, Saturday's Pierson High School commencement ceremony contained no shortage of sage life advice for the 61 seniors graduating in the traditional fashion on Sag Harbor's Pierson Hill.

East Hampton High School's class of 2023 graduated on Friday, and in speeches and reflections during the ceremony, it was apparent that the 226 graduates are ready to take on challenges both physical and mental as they go out into the world. "I look at all of you and I immediately consider you to be builders," said the principal, Sara Smith.

The East Hampton School District has a tall task ahead of it this summer: replace the seemingly irreplaceable longtime employees who retired this year. Among them are bus drivers, mental health staff, administrators, paraprofessionals, and teachers who have served the children of the district with distinction for more than 100 years combined.

Junior lifeguard training for children 9 to 14 begins this weekend in East Hampton, Amagansett, and Montauk. The programs not only give kids the training they need to become lifeguards in the future, but they also teach them “the skills to be safe in the ocean,” according to the East Hampton Town website.

From academics and activities to years of employment and volunteer service, the Springs School Board celebrated the accomplishments of numerous students, teachers, and helpful community members during its meeting last week.

Project Most, which hopes to turn a donated house into a brand-new facility on Three Mile Harbor Road, has filed an updated site plan with the East Hampton Town Building Department. The updated plan was the subject of a discussion last week before the town planning board.

It's time to sing, dance, create, and play with these upcoming events for kids and teens.

The Wainscott School District failed to get the 60-percent approval it needed on Tuesday to pass an over-the-tax-cap budget, throwing it into "uncharted waters," its superintendent said.

Bridgehampton High School's 2023 senior class got a fitting send-off on Sunday with a graduation ceremony that recognized their achievements both individually and collectively.

With the many mass shootings that have taken place at schools in mind, the East Hampton School Board on June 6 voted to pass a resolution in support of national gun control measures.

Ramblin’ Dan’s Freewheelin’ Band returns to the Southampton Arts Center on Tuesday for 10 weeks of energetic outdoor music classes for young children. Plus: story time, STEM activities, video games, fingerprinting, and more for kids and teens.

When the East Hampton School District embarked on its new bus depot on Springs-Fireplace Road, the vision was for a facility that would be able to service buses for neighboring school districts as well. That vision has begun to take shape.

A private child-custody dispute at the Amagansett School last month escalated into a public confrontation, as was learned at a meeting of the school board Tuesday night, with police involvement on the school’s front lawn during its 2:50 p.m. dismissal time. The incident has rocked the community and raised questions about safety and communication protocols at the school.

On Tuesday, voters in the Wainscott School District will have a chance to weigh in, once again, on the district’s proposed 2023-24 operating budget, which failed by three votes last month.

The East Hampton Trails Preservation Society has awarded its inaugural $1,000 scholarship to Skye Tanzmann of Wainscott, who is graduating from East Hampton High School.

They're actors, singers, dancers, stage managers, makeup artists, poster designers, musicians, lighting and sound technicians, and choreographers: More than 1,000 students were recognized on Sunday for excellence in the theater arts at the annual Teeny Awards, a program of the organization East End Arts that was established 21 years ago.

The Sag Harbor School Board on Monday approved end-of-year deposits into five of its reserve accounts, setting aside money for future expenses in the areas of technology and security, insurance, retirement benefits for teachers and other employees, and for facilities needs. Residents can expect a presentation on the school district’s potential plans for using the facilities money — nearly $5 million — during a June 26 school board meeting.

Camp season is almost here! Plus: 'Grandpa Magic,' fun with sidewalk chalk, a Goat on a Boat puppetry performance, and more coming up for kids and teens.

Over the objections of Ed Collum, Kate Collum Gibbons, and other members of their family, which has lived next to East Hampton High School since before it was built in 1970, the East Hampton School Board on Tuesday resolved that lights will be installed at the turf athletic field. According to the board’s resolution, Musco LED towers would be installed at the edges of the field, allowing athletes to play games into the evening hours.

The East Hampton Town Trustees have awarded their annual scholarship to Skye Tanzmann, an East Hampton High School senior who will attend Harvard University in the fall, at the high school’s awards night last Thursday.

In honor of the late Elizabeth (Chee Chee) Thunderbird Haile, a Shinnecock Indian Nation elder who was one of the “founding grandmothers” of the Hayground School in Bridgehampton, a bench was dedicated last week at the school. “This was a tangible way to always remember what Chee Chee gave us and is still giving us,” said Tinka Topping, Hayground's other founding grandmother.

In its first year broadcasting to the public on Instagram and YouTube, East Hampton High School's student-run news show took home a second-place award for Best Anchor Duo at the BASH Awards at Hofstra University, out of a field of close to 30 high schools, on May 15.

The Guild Hall Teen Arts Council will model its line of original upcycled fashion designs on Saturday at the Leiber Collection in Springs. Plus: teen community service opportunities, STEM and art activities, feeding time at the SoFo museum, and more.

With the hope that voters will see it as a good-faith gesture that turns some no votes into yeses, Wainscott School District officials have slightly trimmed their proposed 2023-24 budget ahead of a June 20 revote. The new plan, totaling $6,144,331, “is effectively the contingency budget,” said David Eagan, president of the school board.

Kites will soar above Main Beach on Saturday in a “fun-raiser” for the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center from 2 to 5 p.m. Plus: Teen community service opportunities, drum-making for kids, story time, and more.

Now that a slim majority of Sag Harbor School District voters rejected the district’s proposal to buy five wooded lots on Marsden Street for future school expansion, the community has a tall task ahead of it: mending the wounds from the bitter, nine-month battle over the controversial plan.

Also in the news this week: More administrative changes in Springs, free lunches in East Hampton, student film screenings, and writing contest winners.

Tours and art sessions for kids are back in person at the Pollock-Krasner House and Study Center in Springs starting Saturday, May 27. Plus: Pizza and pajama night at CMEE, STEM activities in Bridgehampton, an an all-ages tea party in Sag Harbor.

Bridgehampton High School has recognized Hugo Kapon as its 2023 valedictorian and Luna Paucar as its salutatorian.

After several months of heated debate over the Sag Harbor School District’s controversial plan to buy five wooded lots on Marsden Street, Tuesday’s vote did not end in favor of the district. The tally was 1,081 votes in favor and 1,156 votes against — a difference of 75 as the issue drew a record voter turnout.