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

Science in Shoreham-Wading River doesn’t take a break for the summer!

The next round of Shoreham-Wading River High School’s SPARK science scholars were hard at work last week at Brookhaven National Laboratory, learning about infrared spectroscopy and developing projects to look for microplastics present in oyster shells, root vegetables and prepackaged seaweed snacks. Lab time on July 5 taught the rising sophomores (from left in photo) – Hayden Shea, Timmie Nigrel, Spencer Lee and Conner McVeigh – the techniques for extracting those microplastics and staining them to make them visible. This week they will take those microplastics to the NSLS-II facility where they will utilize the infrared microscope to identify which types of plastics those particles are made of.

The students are working at the NSLS-II for two weeks in July, introducing them to the SPARK program, spectroscopy and the process of developing a project, from designing a question and procedure, to collecting and analyzing data collected and then communicating it through oral presentation, as well as preparing it for manuscript. They will continue with the SPARK program in their second year of Science Research with teacher Dana Schaefer in the 2024-25 school year.

Date Added: 7/8/2024

At the final Shoreham-Wading River School District Board of Education meeting for the school year, 14 employees were honored on their retirement. Building principals Lou Parrinello, Frank Pugliese, Claudia Smith and Kevin Vann spoke highly of the tireless efforts each retiree put into serving the students of SWR schools. Superintendent of Schools Gerard Poole, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Glen Arcuri [http://www.swrschools.org/staff/default.aspx?school=434] and Athletic Director Mark Passamonte – who is also a retiree – also lauded the careers of SWR staff members.

Under the baton of Prodell Middle School music teacher Fred Volz, string students Joseph Calandrillo, Lauren Gallucci, Kai Hidaka, Kevin Loscalzo, Emily Minetti, Clara Pedersen, Valentina Pinos, Izrael Salgado and Aiden Weng performed for the retirees before the Board of Education meeting.

The Shoreham-Wading River school community applauds these retirees for their dedication and years of service and wishes them well in their new endeavors. Congratulations to Mary Ellen Alfano, Eileen Baird, Wayne Beatty, Amanda Browne, Cathy Caracciolo, Deborah D’Elena, Janet Hansen, Ronnie Malave, Linda Mattia, Maria Mistretta, Mark Passamonte, Thomas Redman, Nancy Sperling and Else Vizzo.

Click here to view the photo slideshow.

Date Added: 6/24/2024