Education

In the aftermath of the racially motivated mass shooting in Buffalo on May 14, the New York State Education Department announced this week that it is canceling this year's Regents exam in United States history because of concerns that some of the test's content "has the potential to compound student trauma caused by the violence in Buffalo, which created an unexpected and unintended context for the planned assessment."

It’s the time of year when recognition pours in for students, giving standout kids credit where credit is due in the arts, academics, sports, and other areas in which they excel. Here’s the latest round of honors for South Fork kids — and stay tuned, more is sure to come.

Another mass shooting has claimed the lives of school children, with at least 19 students and two teachers dead in Uvalde, Tex., after an 18-year-old gunman opened fire at Robb Elementary School on Tuesday. The deadly attack has police and schools on the South Fork on high alert, though no specific threats have been identified.

Drip-painting workshops are back in person for kids at the Pollock-Krasner House, plus trivia games, gardening, chess, and more in store for kids and teens.

Kids will be very busy this week, if the lineup of fun, local activities for teens and younger children is any indication.

Gabe Jaffe has launched Teen Hampton, an online community of young adults who want to work as babysitters and sports coaches this summer on the East End.

Monday's basketball game between East Hampton High School and Patchogue-Medford — the first home contest for Bonac's unified basketball program — had all the thrill of a varsity playoff game and all the heart a community could muster, showcasing the meaningful moments that can happen when players with developmental disabilities are given the same opportunity to do what many of their non-disabled peers do.

The changes have been subtle, but nevertheless troubling, Marrina Jacka and Morgan Johnson Quamina alleged this week, ever since the Ross School brought in Charlie Abelmann as its interim head-of-school. In response to the change in administrators, Marrina and Morgan, co-presidents of the school's student body, led a walkout on Monday, during which 50 or so students streamed out of classroom buildings and walked around the campus, holding signs and chanting: "Hey hey, ho ho, this head of school has got to go!"

Voters across the South Fork approved their districts' 2022-23 budgets in Tuesday's vote. In the only districts with contested school board races, Springs and Sag Harbor, Emma Field and Erik Fredrickson were elected to the Springs board and Grainne Coen and Ronald Reed won seats in Sag Harbor.

Monday is the deadline for voters to request an absentee ballot for the annual school budget vote and board member elections. Voters must request them from their respective school district clerks; applications for such ballots are generally available on the schools' websites or in person in the administrative offices.

Through SoFo, kids and teens can take a full-moon hike, help tag horseshoe crabs, learn about snakes, or help with a beach cleanup. Plus, library activities and fun with Project Most.

For the first time, the Wainscott School District and the Bridgehampton School District have come together to put a contract on the ballot that would offer a third choice for Wainscott families with children in fourth grade and up: the option to attend the Bridgehampton School.