The Shoreham-Wading River School District’s Roundout program is once again a place for friendships, socialization and camaraderie for community students. The popular, annual summer recreation program features a wide range of activities, including general recreation, games, outdoor adventures, teambuilding and creating artistic masterpieces, including colorful, tie-dyed T-shirts, in Miller Avenue School’s art room. Additionally, the students take part in several different theme days.

The sessions take place for three morning hours from mid-July through mid-August, and students enter the building ready to embrace that day’s activities. They participate in activities designed to build fine and gross motor skills and learn the importance of working together with others as part of a team. The program also allows students to socialize, play with and get to know students they will attend school with in September.

Much of the organized play is provided by the student volunteers, who attended the summer program as campers and enjoyed it so much they came back to share the fun with the younger students.

Date Added: 7/25/2024

Art has long been noted as a means of personal expression and a dynamic form of communication: a language that speaks volumes without relying on words.

During the July 11 Board of Education meeting, a moment of personal expression was presented by local resident, parent and sculptor Byeongdoo Moon. 

Mr. Moon donated “By the Island,” a piece of metal wire artwork he created. The piece will be placed on display in the District. Mr. Moon is also the proud parent of 2024 SWRHS graduate Jiseung Moon, an artist in her own right, who will continue her studies in fine arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.

Date Added: 7/17/2024

The Shoreham-Wading River School District held its annual Board of Education reorganization meeting on July 11.

Trustee James Smith was sworn in by Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Brian Heyward for an additional three-year term and newly elected trustee Jim Lauckhardt was sworn in for a first three-year term. Additionally, the trustees reelected Thomas Sheridan as president. James Smith was elected as vice-president.

Date Added: 7/12/2024

The Shoreham-Wading River Central School District has named Mr. Jonathan Lilla assistant principal of Shoreham-Wading River High School. He began his role on July 1.

Mr. Lilla holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history with a political science minor from Millersville University, a Master of Science degree in social studies education from Hofstra University and a Master of Science degree in Progressive Leadership/LEAP graduate from the Bank Street College of Education. Additionally, he is certified as a New York State school building leader and a New York State school district leader and holds New York State professional certification in social studies education (7-12).

His most recent role was at Manhattan’s Gramercy Arts High School, where he served as a climate and culture liaison and principal intern. Mr. Lilla was instrumental in serving on the Instructional Leadership Team and collaborating with the other department leads to design the school year’s professional development cycles. In this role, Mr. Lilla developed and facilitated Gramercy Arts’ Professional Learning Cycles that focused on student engagement and literacy, mentored new social studies teachers, coached both new and veteran teachers in classroom instruction and conducted classroom visits and feedback sessions, and assisted teachers in creating department unit plans and course sequences as well as formative and summative assessments. He also operated as the school dean, conducting restorative circles, mediations, parent meetings and calls. He developed a system for behavior management and collaborated with teachers to organize and schedule more after-school clubs, activities and events as the coordinator of student activities. His teaching career began as a social studies teacher at Gramercy Arts High School.

Mr. Lilla’s extracurricular activities are varied, from serving as both faculty council and chapter adviser for the National Honor Society, and as adviser for Student Government, the Anime Club and the Weightlifting Club. He also taught a credit recovery night class for off-track seniors and was the coach for the Washington Irving varsity baseball team.

Date Added: 7/12/2024