001Hello everyone. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance. 3.01 is correspondence. All correspondence received by the board of education since the last business meeting has been responded to. 4.01 superintendence report. This point I will turn to Dr. Yanni for his superintendence report. Good evening. We spent a great deal of time at these meetings discussing the mechanics of running a school district. We talk about budgets. We finalize. We analyze facilities. And we set academic standards. But tonight, I need to pause the business of school to talk about the most fundamental promise we make to the families of this district. The sacred promise to keep their children safe. We train for emergencies. We run drills. We have protocols. We deep but deep in our hearts we all pray that those protocols remain theoretical just a book on
002the shelves that we never have to open. On Friday, December 5th at Theodor Roosevelt Elementary School, the theoretical became unfortunately a reality. In a kindergarten classroom, a place designed for play, learning, and discovery, a student suffer a severe medical emergency. In an instant, the room shifted from a place of learning to a crisis scene. Time stood still. In moments like that, the difference between tragedy and relief is not measured in minutes, but is measured in seconds. I'm happy and profoundly grateful to report that today, because of the people that will be recognized tonight, our kindergarten student, Sebastian, and his entire family are here with us. And Sebastian is doing great. What happened that day was not only a testament to the training and the protocols that we have in place, but even more so, it
003was a testament to the instinct and character of our staff. Staff members just didn't just react, they mobilized. They formed what emergency responders call a chain of survival. It was seamless. Simultaneously, the school nurse was called, 911 was dialed, administration was called, the parents were notified, and the AD was rushed to the scene. But I want to highlight a specific aspect of this response that speaks to the true heart of our educators. While lifesaving measures were being administered to one child, staff members immediately realized the need to protect the emotional well-being of the other kindergarters. They quickly moved the other children out of the room. They kept them calm. They distracted them. They ensure that our first responders had the physical space to work while simultaneously ensuring that five and six year old were shield
004from trauma. Tonight we honor the heroes, the team that managed the impossible balance of crisis and care and that truly saved Sebastian's life. When I call your name, please come up to join me at the podium. Like to have Matthew Bansancy. [applause] Matthew Bansy is a school nurse. When the call came, you brought the calm clinical expertise needed to save a life. You are the reason why parents could breathe easier knowing there is a medical safety in our building. We thank you for all you do every single day. Thank you, Matthew. [applause] I'm also I would also to invite uh Councilman Vicky Walsh to the podium to give some certificates from the town. Thank you, Vicki. Thank you for being here. >> Uh, next person I would like to have up is Tara Cornelius, security
005guard. [applause] Tara, your assistance doing CPR, monitoring the situation, and making sure the path for help was clear was instrumental in making sure that the medical team could focus entirely on Sebastian's. We thank you for what you do every day. You're in the security phase of the TR and we are proud of that and we thank you for that. [applause] [applause] Nancy Mayor, kindergarten aid in the classroom. Nancy [applause] Nancy with us. Okay. Okay. Um Nancy acted quickly with the grace of a car a caring mom who was there to protect our children from witnessing something that could have been traumatic. They she protected their innocence while chaos was unfolding. She was the one who escorted the students in the other room. So we're grateful for that and thank you Nancy. I hope you feel
006better. [applause] Michelle Morris, kindergarten aid and district coach. [applause] [applause] Michelle was actually in another room, but when she heard the call, she rushed into the room, brought the AED, and applied the ED on Sebastian. Your coaching experience was truly instrumental and we are thank you for that. Thank you so much. [applause] [applause] Kobe Strum, uh, speech teacher at Roosevelt. [applause] Kobe, you supported the students while the entire emergency was going on, alerted the principal, the office staff about the emergency and accomplish one of the most important task I heard is to get make sure that the students all had the lunch at you back and you entertain them for a while. So, thank you for that and thank you for all the work that you do. Thank you. [applause] >> [applause] >> Ailen Pap,
007special education and co-teer. [applause] Eileen, you noticed that Sebastian was not doing well and you did not hesitate. You right away directed others to get nurse Matt and AED and the principal and call 911. You were right there providing the energy and support needed to sustain the response, supporting both your colleagues and your students with clear focus and determination. And at the end, you were right there to give Megan a ride back home to make sure that she would not sit in the cab or in the Uber. Thank you for that. Thank you for all your help. [applause] Dra small, principal of the building. [applause] Deborah, I admire you for the knowledge, experience, and the leadership that you bring to TR is second to none. I'm proud to have you there every single day with
008our students. And this December 5th incident remind us once again that leadership is tested not when everything is going right, but when something goes wrong. You orchestrated this response with composure and care and we are grateful for all that you do for our students at TR every day. [applause] Thank you. Finally, I would like to take a moment to highlight Megan Castro Javanni, the classroom teacher. [applause] >> [applause] >> Megan, your actions in the classroom were heroic, but it is what you did after the ambulance arrived that defines you. When the EMT took over, your job was technically done, but you didn't stop there. You climbed into the ambulance. You rode with your student to the hospital because you knew he needed a hand to old and a familiar face to reassure him. Thank you
009for treating him not just like a student but like he was your own family. To the entire team standing over here on behalf of the entire board of education, the administration and the family, we are grateful for what you have done. we will never forget. So at this point for the community and the parents listening at home, I want you to know one thing that when you send your children to our schools, they are surrounded by people who will move mountains to protect them. So at this point, I know Sebastian is here. Where's Sebastian? Sebastian, come up. [applause] Mom, come up. Mom, dad, come up. >> [applause] [applause] >> It is. >> Please join you. Join me again to thank the heroes of Theodor Roosevelt. Please stand. [applause] [applause] I have the water. [applause] [applause]
010Hi everyone. and I'm Councilwoman Walsh. And anyone who knows me will know I do not like public speaking. But when the supervisor's office called me and told me what happened, I got a bit emotional and I knew I had to be here to say thank you to everybody. Um, seven years ago, was around seven years ago, I had an incident in my family with my child who had to be rushed to the hospital. And the staff stayed at the hospital, your staff stayed at the hospital till about 10:00 that night until we found out that my son was ready to go home. So, I always say, especially to new parents, um you're nervous when your kids go off to school, but trust the school, trust the system, and they will keep your child safe. So,
011thank you everybody, and especially to all of you who you ran towards the danger and uh didn't know what was going on instead of running away from it. So, thank you so much and thank you for having me here tonight. [applause] Take a picture. [applause] Want to take a picture? >> [applause] [applause] >> Good evening. Excuse me. My name is Karen Melendez, Sebastian's mom. This is my husband, Jorge. Um, this is the man of the hour. Um, I had to write write down what I would like to say. Um, because I know I won't be able to get through it otherwise. Um, first and foremost, Dr. Diani, thank you so much for giving us this opportunity. The board of education, thank you so much. Um, this is such an honor to be here tonight. Uh
012there are no words to describe how we feel. The gratitude that is in our hearts for the way that all of you on stage handle the situation. Everyone here from start to finish. It was handled seamlessly beautifully. This is a parents nightmare to get a phone call while you're at work. I work in a school. Unfortunately, I missed the first calls. Um it was a nightmare. It was the longest 45 minutes of my life to get to Glenov Hospital. Um the outpouring of love, support, and um caring has been unbelievable. It's messages every day, calls, texts, visits to the house. Um it's just we are unbelievably so proud and so gracious for everyone in this community and school district for being here for Sebastian. Um of course you know I want to just thank especially
013Miss Casher Giovani, Miss Pap, Mr. Bonsi, Miss Morris, Miss Cornelius, Miss Strum, Miss Nancy, Miss Small. Because of you we have our son. And a very big thank you to Dr. Iani who rode in the ambulance along with Miss Cash Giovani to comfort Sebastian. That was a huge comfort in something that was truly a nightmare for us. Knowing that he had both of you in the ambulance with him was extremely comforting to us, especially when we couldn't be there. Um, and I was begging Jorge to let me know what was going on because he was closer to the hospital than I was. And when he finally got there, he was able to FaceTime, but I was not in a position to speak with my son on FaceTime or um WhatsApp rather, sorry. And Dr. Yanni
014was wonderful in just calming me down as well so that I can just look at Sebastian. Um we just feel so blessed to be a part of this community and being being new parents, having Sebastian as our, you know, our one and only. just starting kindergarten. It's only been a few, you know, a few months. It's we're so excited for what's, you know, in in the future. And um we just wanted to say thank you so much to everybody here. You're all a blessing to all of us. We are just ecstatic to be a part of this community, to live here, to have Sebastian attend school here. The best school ever. Sorry. It is. and I brag about it all the time at my school where I work um and the most wonderful amazing community.
015Thank you from the bottom of our hearts. God bless all of you. Thank you. There aren't enough words. Thank you. [applause] [applause] Sebastian, this would be a good time to to go home to do your homework. Uh so if you have to go, you are excused to go. I know the teachers do. Thank you so much. Thank you again. [applause] So I want to thank the leadership of uh Dr. Diana on the outstanding support of our counseling team. Um, Oyster Bay High School hosted a highly informative standardized testing night for families of 10th and 11th graders. Um, we were pleased to welcome Mr. Tom Edlers uh from the method learning who provided parents with valuable insights into the standardized testing landscape with the presentation that covered how to interpret the PSAT scores to what upcoming
016tests are coming and the practical strategies to help students. It was great for the students and and the family. So, thank you Dr. Dian and the counseling team. [applause] Uh this past uh week we had a a vibrant celebration of students talent and community connection filling our auditoriums and the town with the holiday spirits from the various kindergarten to second grade uh fifth grade sixth grade ensembles. Our students shine under the guidance of Mr. Castidis, Miss Maisie, Miss Mr. Devesy, Miss Muller, and Miss Murphy. This musical excellence goes beyond our walls as the chamber singers led by Miss Coy opened the town holiday stroll and shared uh touching performance with the life enrichment center bringing generation uh together with the music. These events not only showcased artistic achievement but demonstrated the profound power of music
017to unite the entire Oyster Bay community. I want to say many thanks to Miss Erica Gopac for our passion, our love for music and the art. Your passion is second to none and is palpable in every presentation and every music concert. Thank you. [applause] in the arts. Uh we also have uh some young artists who were selected as winners in the Long Island uh Herald annual wrapping paper design contest. So we have uh Anali Balager grade five, William Campa, grade four, Chileia Deato, grade four, and Olivia Uh first grade. So thank you so much. A great job on that. [applause] And now I'd like to give the microphone to Jovanna Lisa for a student report. Jovanna, >> good evening everyone. I hope you're all having a wonderful holiday season. Firstly, I wanted to share with
018you some events that we've been having in the past few weeks. Over a course of a few days, each grade level in the high school was treated to a powerful presentation about the power and impact of words. The presentation was titled Understanding the Power of Language: Words Matter. I would like to extend a special thank you to Mr. Lamar Lee for sharing such an important message with the high school students. Before the November break, the high school held its triam and art honor society induction ceremony. Congratulations to all who were inducted. Furthermore, our high school chamber singers performed holiday carols for the Learning Tree Nursery School students and the seniors from the Life Enrichment Center. It was a beautiful and touching holiday performance. The high school also has some events to look forward to very
019soon. Tomorrow, the Roappa Honor Society will be holding its history movie night where students will be watching Save Saving Private Ryan. The next day on Thursday, 12:18, Oyster Bay High School will be hosting a blood drive. Make sure to spread the word and help save lives. Finally, I encourage all members of the community to come order tickets for the 4D holiday movie night this Saturday. The high school will be showing the Polar Express with some special effects. It's sure to be an unforgettable experience. This is all the news I have to share with you this evening. Have a safe and warm holiday season as well as a happy new year. And thank you, [applause] >> Joanna. Thank you so much for your report. And at this time before I bring to the podium Miss Mcanti
020and Dr. Danka for the uh presentation um and the awards ceremony, I'd like to wish uh all the families a very very happy holiday and a wonderful uh new year. Um I hope you enjoy time with family and friends. Thank you, Miss McInty. Good evening. Thank you to the Board of Education and Central Administration for having me here tonight to celebrate and honor our fall 2025 student athletes. It's been an incredible fall season, which resulted in eight out of our 10 varsity teams being awarded playoff bids, including our first ever girls varsity swim team. Girls soccer, girls volleyball were undefeated conference champs. Uh cross and girls cross country were undefeated division champs. Boys soccer, girls soccer, and girls volleyball all qualified for the semi-final rounds within their respective classifications. T uh girls tennis had two
021individuals, Riley Bear and Julie Duke, compete in the county championship tournament. Boys and girls cross country competed in both the county and state qualifying meet. and four athletes Lyanna Anttoano, Emilyn Zeller, Zachary Green, and Vladimir Morales represented Oyster Bay in the New York State Championship tournaments. Additionally, all 10 of our varsity teams were named scholar athlete teams and impressive accomplishments which speaks to the uh athletes dedication to their studies as well as their athletic programs. We also had many individual fall accomplishments that I'd like to share with you. First, let us acknowledge our except exceptional achievements of our academic leaders, validictorian Mia Bencal and saludiatoran Juliana Milos, who truly embody the essence of a student athlete, making a significant impact in both the classroom and on the field and water as key members of the
022girls varsity soccer team and the varsity sailing team, respectively. Andrew Janette was named uh was recognized for his excellence in the classroom as well on as well as on the volleyball court as News12 scholar athlete of the uh for the month of October. Joseph Henry was declared News Day athlete of the week for his incredible accomp accomplishment of surpassing 3,000 career rushing yards this fall. This accomplishment also received him the title of two-time grid iron great. Lastly, we had five fall athletes named to News Day's top uh 50 and 100 athletes to watch this past fall season. Andrew Janette, top 50 boys volleyball. Emilyn Zeller, top 50 girls cross country. Zachary Green, top 50 boys cross country. And Tess Egan and Nicole Gaddy were uh Gaddy were both uh top 100 for girls volleyball. Congratulations
023to all the teams and their coaches on an outstanding fall season. [applause] That was a lot. >> At this time, I would like to present our student athletes who have been honored at the county and state level. Athletes, when I call your name, please come up to the stage. Miss Argamman is going to help be uh going to help situate you for our group picture at the end. [snorts] Okay. Okay. Boy, cross country. Zachary Green, all state, all county. [applause] Vladimir Morales, all county. [applause] David Medina, all conference, [applause] boys soccer. Jazelle Cruz, All County. [applause] Jeffrey Herrera Rodriguez, all county honorable mention. [applause] Owen Mitchell, all conference. [applause] Joel Mo Molina, all conference. [applause] and James Ortiz Zab Lava scholar athlete. Sorry, James. [applause] Taking away you from your duties right now. Thank you.
024Football, Joseph Henry, all county honorable mention. All conference academic all conference [applause] Chase Lordy all conference [applause] George Henry unsung hero Well, [applause] girls cross country. Emilyn Zeller, all county class C sportsmanship award winner. [applause] Lyanna Anttoano, all state, all county. [applause] Olivia Lewis, all county. [applause] Ava Czechovic, all conference. [applause] Ann Marie Cochran, all conference. [applause] Girls field hockey. Alexander McGaris, all conference. [applause] Lillian Montik, all conference. [applause] Khloe Romano, all conference. [applause] [laughter] Tamara Isakur, all league. [applause] Leila Pitel, exceptional senior. [applause] Khloe Gro, scholar athlete. [applause] Hannah Vedro, unsung hero. [applause] Girls soccer. Mary Woodstock, all county offensive player of the year. [applause] [applause] Leah Putnham, All County. Christa Thomas, all county defensive player of the year. [applause] Julia Torres, all county honorable mention. [applause] Ellie Mazar, all county honorable mention. [applause]
025Maline Benal, all conference. [applause] Nina Balone, all conference. [applause] Mia Ben Cal, scholar athlete. [applause] Coach Megan Castra Giovani, Nassau County Conference AB3 Coach of the Year. [applause] [cheering] Girls volleyball. Tess Egan, all county, all state, third team, class B. [applause and cheering] Nicole Gaddy, all county, all state, second team, class B. [applause] Sophia Pavick, all county. [applause] Sabrina Eisner, all county honorable mention. >> [applause] >> Isabella Rudo, all county honorable mention. [applause] Avery McCuster, scholar athlete. [applause] Tess meer all conference [applause and cheering] girls tennis Riley Bear all conference [applause] Julie Duke, all conference, [applause] Savannah Gallo, all conference [applause and cheering] Leam McConville USA Sportsmanship Award. [applause] Boys volleyball. Andrew Janette, all county conference player of the year, scholar athlete. [applause] Alex Arnidos, all conference [applause] and Lucas Sansson, unsung hero. [applause and
026cheering] That's it. Do you want me to do my closing now? Picture first. Do you want to do the picture first and then I'll close? Okay. All right. We're gonna take Families, please take out your cameras. You are welcome to take photos. >> [applause] [applause] [cheering] >> Okay. In closing, I'd like to thank the board of education, central administration, and building administrators for all your support. We couldn't run these programs successfully without your encouragement, guidance, and support. Thank you to facilities, grounds, and the custodial teams for getting our athletic spaces ready for practices and games. Thank you to the booster club and the community members for incredible opportunities you supply our teams. Thank you, Dr. Joe Kenise, and athletic trainer Nick Kelly and our building nurses for caring for and keeping our athletes healthy. Thank
027you for the co. Thank you to the coaches for your passion, dedication, and endless hours of hard work. Thank you to Miss Ronaldo who keeps everything running smoothly. And last but not least, thank you to the athletes. Thank you for your commitment, drive, and pride. I feel nothing but joy attending your games, playoffs, and champions uh championships. I am so excited to see what you uh do in the future seasons. Thank you, and go Bayon. [applause] Thank you, Miss McInty. I don't know if the board has any questions. At this point, I'd like to invite to the podium Dr. Danka for a guidance presentation. I'll try not to take it personally at all. It's fine. Good evening and thank you to the board of education, Dr. Yanni, Miss Rayor, and all who join us this
028evening for this opportunity to share key updates from the counseling department. It continues to be an honor to walk beside our students and their families and navigating the worlds of elementary, middle, and high school, as well as planning for life after Oyster Bay High School. The journey is a story, and a good one at that. So, allow me to tell you ours. As you often hear me say, we are devoted to educating the whole child, mind, heart, and body. From the earliest grades, student learn students learn about emotions, mindfulness, and caring for themselves and others. By grades three through six at Vernon, this work becomes more intentional through the guidance of Miss Low, our elementary school counselor, who partners closely with our social worker and teachers. Together, they deliver meaningful lessons on feelings, problem solving,
029and friendship. Miss Low is also a steady, welcoming presence throughout the day, supporting students during arrival, dismissal, lunch, and recess. Those moments when guidance matters most. Unity Day offered a beautiful opportunity for our students to celebrate kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. Their creativity shine through the kindness chain they built together, a symbol of how connected and compassionate our school community truly is. Our elementary counseling program is rooted in proactive care. Through regular student review team meetings, we work collaboratively to support students social, emotional, and academic needs before challenges grow. We also teach Erin's law and both TR and Vernon, helping students understand healthy boundaries and empowering them to seek help from trusted adults. As our sixth graders prepare for the transition to middle school, we recognize how meaningful and sometimes overwhelming this moment can be. Miss
030Low meets with each student individually and in groups to answer questions, ease worries, and help them understand what to expect socially and academically. She also introduces them to Naviance, the college and career digital portfolio they'll use throughout their secondary years. This year, students and families experience the interactive open experience where they learned how our secondary counselors guide and inspire students as they navigate their unique paths. Our mission is simple, to support every child and family with knowledge, care, and opportunities so each student can grow with confidence and resilience. I would be remiss if I didn't highlight the unending support of our elementary building administrators, Miss Small, Miss Smith, Mr. Marorrow, and Miss Caponia, who are always there to lead a helping hand or a word of support in all that we offer our school community.
031And such education of the whole child continues on the middle school level with a strong emphasis on respecting oneself and others as these years are most formative when it comes to social and emotional and emotional maturity. In order to achieve excellence, the counseling department empowers our students to join together with the common goal of simply being good human beings. In addition to promoting kindness and inclusion during Unity Day, students will experience interactive discussions with representatives from the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying on becoming leaders in a world when the easier alternative to a challenging situation might just be to follow others. I'm also proud to say that we have continued our peer mentoring program in collaboration with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Long Island. In this program, which has now become a club, high
032school students are trained by Big Brothers Big Sister staff alongside Miss Pollins, our high school counselor, to serve as peer mentors to middle school students. Since we've piloted the program last spring, we have grown almost double in number of our student mentees. I have had the pleasure of observing this program several times this year, and the growth in leadership skills that radiate from some of our most quiet middle and high school students never ceases to amaze me through the simple concept of partnering with each other. In addition to educating the heart of our students, we continue to foster the power of their minds by getting them thinking about their futures through career assessments and exploration with the help of Naviance. We collaborate on the same subjects with our families during our grade seven night in
033January when we educate on graduation requirements, advanced course options, and the academic support available as their children continue on the road toward high school. When we reach the high school level, the focus transitions most to post-secary planning and exposure to the varying opportunities available to our students and how to successfully navigate them. Information nights are offered to students and families specific to the college planning process conducted by our experienced counseling team as well as outside presenters and college representatives with who our department has built strong professional relationships. Our most recent event, standardized testing night, as mentioned this evening, welcomed 12 families to experience an indepth discussion with the founder of method learning on the PSAT, SAT, and ACT, as well as their impact on the college admissions process. After a brief hiatus from standard standardized
034testing during the COVID era with an increase in test optional schools, we are finding that these exams are becoming necessary in the admissions process once again. Therefore, information nights such as standardized testing night are essential in introducing this aspect of the application process so that counselors can have more meaningful conversations with students and families. These opportunities for our students and families are made possible by the dedication and expertise of our secondary counselors, Miss Calli, Miss Eril, Miss Lieberman, and Miss Pollins, who are also assisted by our clerical extraordininaires, as I like to call them, Miss Mcbrook and Miss Patron, along with the wisdom of our teaching assistant partner, Miss Tio. Their deep knowledge and unwavering support truly sets our department apart. I am grateful to lead and work alongside such an exceptional team. On the
035secondary level as a whole, the idea of a proactive approach holds true with student review team meetings, individual check-ins on the personal and academic levels, individualized scheduling me scheduling meetings with students and junior and senior conferences with students and families. These sessions follow the same concept of educating for the sake of making the best decisions. In order to ensure that our students are present physically and mentally for us to teach them, we recognize and address the importance of understanding and supporting them through outside factors that may hinder their ability to be fully present in school. If attendance is a concern, we are on doorsteps speaking directly with students and families to make plans that will make our students feel as comfortable as possible to step foot inside the building to be their authentic selves. It's
036important that we meet students where they are, which as we know can vary greatly. This is why such personalized home visits, family meetings, teacher and team meetings are of the utmost importance because, as they say, it takes a village. The counselors also remain visible during lunch periods on the secondary level, rotating through the cafeteria and the library. And last spring in partnership with SEPTA and special services, we hosted our first post-secondary opportunities virtual panel where we welcome representatives from specialized programs for students with diverse learning needs. Marrist University, Adelfi University, Mitchell College, and the University of Mount St. Vincent were represented and shared an indepth look at programs that they have to meet the needs of neurodeiverse students to empower them towards excellence in the college or university setting. I look forward to once again
037presenting this panel this coming spring. I am most grateful to the partnership we have with SEPTA and our special services administrators, Mr. Bruo and Miss Freriedman, who make this experience most beneficial for our students and families alike. Perhaps one of our proudest events that is always a pleasure to organize and that is unique to most public high schools on Long Island and beyond is the 10th grade college trip. This year, 64 students and five chaperones embarked on a college thour colleges and universities varying in size, affiliation, academic competitiveness, and location in a span of three days. After each visit, students were supported in completing short campus reflections that allowed them to begin to understand the characteristics of colleges or universities that would make them happy. Here are some trip highlights. Thankfully, the weather held up
038for us. So, we started our first day with a visit to the College of New Jersey and we ended that first day with a visit to the to Loyola University of Maryland. We followed our second day with Georgetown University as well as the University of Maryland. And finally, we closed our trip with a very nice long visit and lunch at the University of Delaware. So, of course, the goal of this trip remains to be a means to allow our students to experience numerous campus tours and information sessions alongside their peers at a purposeful point in their high school career. And while that goal is always achieved, the college trip has proven to be much, much more. I myself struggle I myself struggled to put this into words until I received a thank you letter from
039one of our students. With his permission, I would like to share a small portion of his sentiments, as I could never do with the justice that he so eloquently does. At the moment, I'm writing this letter on the bus heading home, and the words I wish to say elude me whenever I attempt to write them down. But I would like to show how this trip has changed the trajectory of my high school path. To start with, the trip was wonderful with every activity being fun and engaging. Each college struck some kind of interest in me and gave me insight to where I want to be when I'm older. That alone was a priceless result and all I needed to label this experience as worthwhile. But then the real impact happened. Upon boarding the bus at
0406:00 in the morning on Monday, I had no intention of making any more friends than I already had. I'm relatively new to Oyster Bay, so my friend group was limited. But to me, I had all that I needed. Oh, how I was wrong. This trip allowed me to network and form new connections and friendships with fellow classmates that I'd either be too shy to talk to or not even know existed. I formed acquaintances with my roommates and started to meet more like-minded people. Without this trip, I would have never connected with them. And finally, I really had a great time. The food was great. The staff and chaperones were friendly and sociable. And the buses were comfy and even had charger sockets. It's the little things. I truly believe that this trip is one of
041the best experiences I've had to date. I thank you from the bottom of my heart and I hope that one day somehow I can give the gift of this trip to someone who may not be able to attend. And so I say thank you very very much. This trip and you will never be forgotten. Thank you. The 10th grade college trip isn't just about finding the right college. It's about helping our students see their own potential. We want them to come away knowing that they have real talent, strong character, and so much to offer any school that is the right fit for them. This adventure was only made possible with the teamwork of our chaperones. So, Miss Corvo, Miss Duk Kiglio, Miss Thomas, and Mr. Pearlman, simply put, thank you. As our students step into
04211th and 12th grade, the journey becomes more personal for all of us. These are the years when everything they've been working toward starts to come into focus. And our goal is to help them see not just what they're doing, but why it matters to their futures. We want them to feel supported, guided, and genuinely understood as they begin making some of the biggest decisions of their young lives. When application season begins, we don't just show them the path, we walk it with them. This year, welcoming 40 seniors to our common application boot camp felt like watching a group of young people step confidently into the next chapter of their story. With the help of four generous representatives from Mallaloy and Adelfi universities, students heard firsthand what colleges look for in an essay, an experience that
043often turns anxiety into clarity and pride. Moments like these set such a meaningful tone for our college 101 course, which has also become a true anchor for so many of our seniors. Our two mini college fairs take that energy even further. Seeing students speak face-tof face with college representatives, sometimes shily, sometimes boldly, but always with hope, reminds us why we do this work. These conversations help us as counselors guide them toward building a list of schools that feels right for who they are. No two students are the same, and no two application years ever look alike. And while that can be anxietyprovoking, it it's also what makes this process so special. We also work hard to open as many doors as possible. Whether it's helping students apply to colleges for free, coordinating on-site admissions visits
044where they can receive immediate feedback, or sitting beside them to ensure every application is thoughtfully completed during Sunni and cutief free application weeks. We are with them. Sometimes that means cheering them on. Sometimes it means calming nerves. But most often it means believing in them even before they believe in themselves. And of course, we celebrate every step of the way. Our district-wide college shirt days turn ordinary hallways into a tapestry of pride and possibility. Every shirt represents a milestone, a hope, a future taking shape. And for our students, it's a reminder that their community is behind them, cheering for them as they take each brave step forward. This year's on-site admissions visits were most successful in both acceptances and merit money. Keep in mind that what is listed on this slide is merit money and
045does not take into account additional scholarships and grants. In other words, this amount will likely increase for each student once their ental the entire financial package has been created. It's important to note that each year our boot camp continues to grow as each of our students who attend leave with their common application complete. This get them get this gets them ready to meet with their counselor upon their return to school in September and finalize their college list and submit their applications as early as possible since more and more schools are accepting applications as early as August. The miniares are open to both 11th and 12th grade students and sometimes younger as a way for them to connect with college representatives to learn about various colleges and universities and show demonstrated interest to bolster their applications.
046But perhaps the silence the silent heroes behind the college process is of course our teachers and staff members. Whether it's doing the honor of writing a letter of recommendation for students enthusiastically accompanying their classes to many college fairs or simply showing their pride or words of encouragement when application results come in. Teachers and staff are our anchors for who we are most grateful. As of December 1st, the counseling office has processed 1,360 student applications across the various deadlines represented on this slide. Notably, the majority of our students submitted their materials under the early action deadline, typically November 15th, demonstrating their preparation and commitment to meeting important milestones in their post-secary planning. It is important to remember that students may apply to multiple institutions using different deadline pathways and that not all colleges offer every application
047option. Each submission reflects significant effort and intention and we're grateful for the hard work they continue to invest in their futures. Our students challenge themselves and with support from our counselors and families pursue a balanced list of four-year colleges and universities that include reach target and safeguard options. Applying to a reach school can be inspiring and rewarding when approached with honesty and supported by thoughtful alternative plans for which the councils provide. This year, I'm very proud to share that we have increased the number of students who have applied to at least one college or university by 1%, reaching a total of 94% as of December 1st. Our counselors began senior meetings in the second week of September and work closely with students, often across multiple sessions, to refine applications, essays, supplements, and all required supporting
048documents in preparation for early deadlines. We continue to encourage students to apply as early as possible as noted in the previous slides. And I think it's working. We are also thrilled to share that our ongoing efforts to encourage students to pursue admission to four-year colleges and universities continues to shine with a 4% increase in applications submitted as of December 1st to four-year colleges and universities. Early applications not only bring peace of mind to our students by providing timely responses, but they also give us valuable insight into the applicant pool, helping us support every student in exploring the fullest range of opportunities and achieving their dreams. It's important to highlight that chosen four-year application submissions from the perspective of the counseling department are always done in a purposeful manner as we want our students to challenge
049themselves with the most competitive schools appropriate to their personal academic profile. In other words, we want them to have a good shot at acceptance, which isn't always easy to gauge as each application year looks different. But that definitely does not stop us from trying. As the saying goes, "Your life is your story. Write well. Edit often." Every day, our students are writing their own stories. Stories filled with challenges, growth, and triumphs. On behalf of the counseling team, we feel truly honored to travel alongside them and their families on this journey, offering guidance, support, and the tools they need to craft their very best chapters. Our work is about more than just advising. It's about helping students find their voice, make choices, and grow into the people they are meant to be. We are grateful to
050you as the board, Dr. Yanni, Miss Rainor, and Dr. Harrian for providing the resources and support that make this possible, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to flourish. And I will say it once again, it takes a village. So, I also highlight our building administrators, Miss Argamman, Dr. Contras, and Mr. Liccastro for always supporting our department and student body through their connections and encouragement and of course for empowering students to share their artistic, athletic and technological talents which add a special light to the stories of our students. A shout out goes to Miss Julia Opac, Miss Mcante, and Miss Given. As you can see, it really does take a village. So, in the end, we're not just witnesses to our students stories, we're part of them, helping shape narratives of resilience, learning, and hope.
051And just like any great story, their journey is one we are privileged to be a part of, editing and revising together, one step at a time. Thank you very much. [applause] >> Thank you so much. Those are excellent, excellent results. >> You're very welcome. Thank you. >> Just going to say thank you for both of those presentations tonight. >> Thanks. Any other questions? >> All right. Thank you very much. >> We're just very lucky to have you. >> Oh, thank you. >> Thank you very much. [applause] >> Good. All right. Thank you. >> Okay. Uh 5.01 is approval of minutes. Do I have a motion to approve the meeting minutes as listed and attached? >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> All opposed? Motion carries. 6.01 Opportunity for the public to be heard on
052agenda items. In keeping with its philosophy of open communication and informed decision-making, the board of education welcomes input from the community. However, it is important to note that while the board of education meets in public, it is not a meeting of the public. Respectful input and behavior by each member of the community is appropriate and expected at all times and should observe the following rules at board of education meetings. The board of education will listen to comments and input from the public. Debate between members of the audience andor board members will not be permitted. The board will address personnel or will not address personnel or individual student matters in public. No person shall present orally or discuss at any board of education meeting charges or complaints against individual employees directly or indirectly. The speaker shall
053identify themselves and confirm their residency in the district on the signing sheet. No one has sign in. So we will continue to 7.01 approval of instructional personnel items. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board of education of the Oyster Bay East Norwich Central School District hereby approves the instructional personnel items as listed in their entirety. Do I have a motion? >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. >> Motion carries. 8.01. The approval of non-instructional personnel items. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board of education of the Oyster Bay East Norwich Central School District hereby approves the non-instructional personnel items as listed in their entirety. Do I have a motion? >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed? Motion
054carries. 9.01 approval of business items. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools, the board of education of the Oyster Bay North Central School District hereby approves the business items as listed in their entirety. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. 10.01. Approval of special services resolutions. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board of education of the US Bay Norwich Central School District hereby approves the special services resolution as listed in their entirety. Do I have a motion? So moved. >> Second. >> Any discussion. All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. 11.01. Approval of new business resolutions. Resolved upon the recommendation of the superintendent of schools. The board of education of the
055Oyster Bay East Norwich School District hereby approves the new business resolutions as listed in their entirety. Do I have a motion? >> Motion. >> Second. Any discussion? All All in favor? >> I. >> All opposed. Motion carries. Um, I'd like to thank the donations, um, uh, the donations from our community, community member Mr. Okconor, the OBn Arts Foundation, the OBBEN Elementary PTA, as well as an anonymous donor for their generosity. Thank you. [applause] 12.01 the opportunity for the public to be heard on non-aggenda items. We have signed in today Miss Kendra Agugustanelloo. Please come up. [clears throat] The team will come back. District policy for overnight to miss school. takes much longer to check in hotel overnight. and very early the next day. It's not all professional or notate to do their best. Also, there
056department for this past Saturday, third place for the Nassau County and on Sunday for the national mentioning we are a small school district that competition isn't considered a real sad to hear that cheerleader alumni. This is a very strong and very talented team. They invest a lot of time and money to build them to athletes. to other sports award ceremonies where students are acknowledged for taking extra classes out of school for their accomplishments and display their >> Thank you for your question. >> Thank you. you like to answer that >> the um first of all we are very excited about the girls and the and their success. Um like we have done in the past um we have paused the I recommended the pause of the policy that we had in place. We had the
057500 miles now is no longer um in in place. That policy has changed but we still have the six months the board would have to approve that. So I will continue to work with the athletic director and the and obviously the athletic director is going to work with the coach regarding the itinerary. You shared your concern in our conversation the many conversations that that we had uh in terms of uh the the publicity for the team. Obviously we we support the team. We're very excited about it. Um and we will continue to do all the necessary posting and the awards at the at the right time. Thank you. Miss Nora Winhouse. >> Good evening. at the back of the building for longterm purposes. So I'm going to start with the second question. Um it is
058a tradition to do it in January. We've recognized them. We bring them to um to the to the meeting is at the January 6 meeting I believe. uh we have done that since I've been here. So that's that's going to continue to be the tradition that we have and that's what we're going to continue to do. I'm very proud of the solidaran and the valatoran and we have done all the posting and everything. So we'll continue to do that. But at the January meeting you'll be happy to to see that they're going to be recognized as we do every year. Uh the second thing is that um for the crossing guard we have recognized that there is an issue. One was Lar B and the other one was at the exit by the by the
059u the show road um it's called the show road right show road yeah so we have sent letters but we and discussing with uh Miss Small the principal of the building we also want to encourage the community this is something that the more they hear from us from our community the better it is we we wrote a letter um and Again yesterday we followed up with uh Miss Capuan Mr. Capuano follow up with another letter. So we can do only so much. I think the most important thing is that if every community member will write a letter would be a lot stronger than us just saying it. Um currently they're doing a study to to see if that's needed. We know that's needed. Um I'm there most mornings and and I I see that and
060it's crystal clear that uh there is a a new um spot where we need a crossing guard. So if the community members are listening at home, write a simple letter um and they write to the local prison so they can um we can make the case a lot stronger. >> Thank you. >> Yeah, we'll work with security staff. That's a good idea. >> Moving on to 13.01, adjournment of the meeting. Do I have a motion to adjurnn the meeting? >> Motion. >> Second. Any discussion? All in favor? >> I. >> Thank you everyone. >> Thank you.