Education

As school superintendents from around the East End discuss regionalization efforts, plans are in the works for a new shared special education program developed by the East Hampton, Amagansett, Springs, and Montauk Schools that will operate out of the Springs Youth Association building on the Springs campus starting in September. 

Sharing stories of challenges faced communicating with school staff, Spanish-speaking parents have asked the Sag Harbor School Board to add more bilingual staff.

They didn’t need to speak the same language to build a school, play soccer, or partake in the most popular local pastime, Senegalese wrestling. For the 22 students on the buildOn service trip, it was a life-changing experience.

The Parrish Art Museum’s 2025 Student Exhibition, with artwork by about a thousand students ranging in age from prekindergarten through high school, will open on Saturday in Water Mill. 

When most people are focused on winter school sports like basketball and volleyball, something else is going on as well: the Special Olympics. 

Fourth graders at the Springs School went on a field trip to the Liberty Science Center and Planetarium in Jersey City last Thursday.

Donnelly McGovern, the boys varsity soccer coach, and Tom Lambert and Chris Schneider, school security guards, stepped up to help when a high school student experienced a medical emergency in the gym in January. “They are simply heroes,” Adam Fine, superintendent of the East Hampton School District, said.

The East Hampton Library has invited young teens ages 11 to 14 to become ambassadors for its Long Island Collection, a treasure trove of historical items and documents that draws visitors and researchers from near and far. 

Testing and training for East Hampton Town’s junior lifeguard program for ages 9 to 15 and lifeguard training and conditioning for those who will be 15 by July 1 will begin on Sunday at the Y.M.C.A. East Hampton RECenter pool.

Recently, the Springs School Diversity Club was granted a reward for all of its hard work: a field trip tot the Animal Rescue Fund of the Hamptons adoption center in Wainscott.

Our teen book reviewer recommends three classics that are as relevant and beloved today as when they were written more than 75 years ago: “Anne of Green Gables,” published in 1908; “Pride and Prejudice” from 1813, and “1984,” published in 1949.

Coming to the stage at East Hampton High School this weekend is John Kander and Fred Ebb’s musical “Chicago.” Performances are Friday and Saturday night at 7, and Sunday afternoon at 2.

For Karen Theiss the job of school nurse in Montauk has always been about creating a safe environment for children. “It’s not just fixing,” she said by phone last week, “it’s making better.” Ms. Theiss will retire from her longtime position at the end of June.

East Hampton School District voters could see a ballot referendum in May for capital projects that would create an independent science lab at the high school and a revitalized playground at the John M. Marshall Elementary School.

Special events for kids this week incude a “Moana” movie night and sing-along at the Children’s Museum of the East End, a salamander search with the South Fork Natural History Museum, and three free walks with museum educators during the school break week.

In anticipation of the bond vote needed for the Montauk School’s planned renovation, Joshua Odom, the district superintendent and principal, has begun meeting with community organizations and parents to talk about the need for the project.

East Hampton school officials have reached a new five-year tuition agreement with districts in Montauk, Springs, and Amagansett allowing them to send students to East Hampton schools after they age out of their home districts.

After watching the devastation wrought by the wildfires raging through Los Angeles County, three Sag Harbor Elementary School students spearheaded a read-a-thon to raise money to buy books for children who lost their schools and, in many cases, homes to the Eaton fire. It brought in close to $15,000.

Springs School is kicking off the midway point of the year with two new fund-raisers. Amanda Pond’s class initiated the bagel fund-raiser and the PTA is having its Valentine’s Day candy-gram fund-raiser.

At the Amagansett School Board’s budget presentation Tuesday evening Thomas Mager, the district’s treasurer, discussed the draft budgets for revenue and expenditure.

A proposal by Gov. Kathy Hochul for the state to cover the cost of school meals for all children could have a major impact on the Sag Harbor School District budget for 2025-26, the school’s business administrator, Jennifer Buscemi, told the board last week. But the largest part of the school budget is salaries and employee benefits.

For the school break coming up in less than two weeks, Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor will have kids 7 to 13 creating their own stage production in My Life: the Musical, a weeklong winter vacation camp.  

Springs School performers have had a busy month. Middle schoolers have been rehearsing for the musical “Moana,” which they will perform for the community tonight at Guild Hall, and student musicians had a chance in January to perform at the Hamptons Music Educators Association Music Festival at Southold High School.

High school students who need (or want) community service hours have lots of opportunities to lend a hand this week at the East Hampton Library.

The East Hampton Level Playing Field Foundation on Monday announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarships to help defray the cost of college counseling, SAT prep courses, and college visits and applications for “high academically achieving sophomores and juniors.”

“Our building ranges from 25 to 98 years old,” he said, “and it’s really starting to show its age,” the school's chief custodian told the school board.

The Springs School Board held its first of three budget meetings for the 2025-26 spending plan last Thursday, with Sam Schneider, the assistant superintendent of the business office, walking through school accomplishments and the reallocation of expenses.

Their essays never fail to impress the English teacher Emily O’Reilly, the mastermind behind the annual project.

The library at the John M. Marshall Elementary School has added 350 books to its collection since September, Patty Moyer, the school librarian, announced, and since the additions, monthly circulation has increased to 1,200 to 1,300 books per month.

Programs for young nature lovers, craft sessions, and a family Creativity Lab are on offer for kids and teens this week.