Wantagh Union Free School District

International Dot Day is a celebration of creativity, and students at Mandalay Elementary Schools showed just how powerful their imaginations can be. To kick off the school year, students in kindergarten through fifth grade worked on dot-themed projects during STEAM classes with teacher Alexa Del Piano

Five Wantagh High School seniors were honored in the 2023 National Merit Scholarship Program, including one semifinalist and four commended students. Natasha Meagher was named a semifinalist for her outstanding academic achievements. She was one of approximately 16,000 students nationwide to be selected as a semifinalist by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Wantagh High School’s graduating Class of 2022 included 25 recipients of the Advanced Placement Capstone diploma, which acknowledges their success in challenging college-level courses. Nine students in the current senior class have also qualified for the diploma when they graduate in June 2023.

The Wantagh School District welcomes Christopher Kozak as the new director of STEM. He replaces Carol-Ann Winans, who was promoted to executive director of curriculum and instruction.

Schools in Wantagh opened for the start of the 2022-2023 school year on Sept. 1 with a renewed sense of optimism, as students arrived on buses, in cars and even by bike with smiles on their faces.

Wantagh Middle School welcomes Rachel Quattrocchi as the new assistant principal, who assumed the role on Aug. 29. She replaces Dr. Stephanie Scolieri, who held the position for eight years before becoming the district’s director of human resources.

Two administrators from the Wantagh School District will be moving into new roles in the central office for the 2022-2023 school year. Carol-Ann Winans has taken on the position of executive director for curriculum and instruction K-12 while Dr. Stephanie Scolieri is the new director of human resources.

The 189 graduates of Wantagh High School’s Class of 2022 will be remembered for their many achievements, their perseverance in the face of adversity and, most importantly, their value. As the sun slowly made its descent behind the stage, the senior class was celebrated for the last time as a group during the graduation ceremony on June 24 on Wantagh’s turf field. The scoreboard was lit up with “2022.”

The Wantagh School District welcomes veteran educator Alison Hazut as its new director of elementary curriculum and instruction, effective July 1. She was appointed to the position at the Board of Education’s June business meeting.

Perseverance was a major theme at Wantagh Middle School’s crossing-over ceremony on June 10, which celebrated the hard work of the district’s 209 eighth graders. When they start high school in September, they’ll just be on the other side of the connecting overpass, and will have to get up a little earlier each morning. Middle School Principal Anthony Ciuffo is confident that they will succeed.

Wantagh High School Principal Dr. Paul Guzzone was recognized with the Administrator of the Year award by the Nassau Counselors’ Association for his support of the guidance program. He was nominated by Wantagh’s director of guidance, Frank Muzio, and was honored at the association’s end-of-the-year dinner on June 6.

Kindness is a valued virtue at Mandalay Elementary School and 17 students were recognized for being kind and considerate throughout the 2021-2022 school year. Near the end of the school day on June 2, Principal Marie Pisicchio announced the winners of this year’s kindness awards.

More than 70 seniors were recognized at Wantagh High School’s senior awards night on May 31, with school and community leaders coming together to celebrate the Class of 2022. The soon-to-be graduates earned awards for their academic successes and community service, along with dozens of scholarships.

Some very important people made their way to Forest Lake Elementary School on May 20, and it brought a smile to face of every student. VIP Day returned as an in-person event for the first time since 2019, with parents, grandparents and other special guests invited to get a taste of life at the school.

Young artists are adding their creative touch to Wantagh’s schools with the addition of new several new murals. Wantagh Elementary School and Wantagh Middle School are both being beautified with student masterpieces.

Two students from Wantagh High School were recently recognized for their successes in business education classes. Senior Jennifer Rosen received a scholarship, while junior Ashlee Favata earned an award for a video submission.

Third graders got to explore their roots at Mandalay Elementary School while also improving their technology skills. Each student selected a country reflecting his or her ancestry and created a digital book using Google Slides.

The Wantagh School District Board of Education celebrated the hard work, dedication and promising futures of 10 administrators and teachers who were granted tenure on May 5. During a tenure reception, Superintendent John McNamara and Assistant Superintendent for Instruction Dr. Marc Ferris talked about the accomplishments of the tenure recipients. They noted that this is a significant milestone in their careers and wished them much success is the years ahead.

A study on the memory of fruit flies earned Wantagh High School senior Julia Froese recognition from the Nassau County chapter of the Science Teachers Association of New York State. She will accept her award at a dinner on May 17.

The microphone was on, and more than 30 Wantagh Middle School students and staff stepped in front of it on the evening of April 12 for the seventh annual Word on the Street literacy celebration.

Acceptance is the theme for Autism Awareness Month at Wantagh High School, with an educational campaign spearheaded by the general organization. The morning announcements every Monday and Friday in April include facts and myths about autism spectrum disorder. Additionally, students and staff learn about the accomplishments of different celebrities who are on the autism spectrum.

About three dozen environmentally conscious students arrived early at Forest Lake Elementary School in the Wantagh School District on April 8 for some good old fashioned spring cleaning. By the time classes started, they had filled several bags with litter found around the back of the school.

The winter 2022 sports season at Wantagh High School featured some of the best individual athletic performances in school history, including its first individual Nassau County champion bowler, Seth Braum. It capped an undefeated season for the senior.

Treating others with kindness is an important lesson, and at Mandalay Elementary School, students also learned to treat themselves kindly. Mirror Talk Mondays is a new initiative to help children build confidence, be proud of who they are and understand all that they can offer.

Students at Wantagh Middle School are all about heart health, whether it is getting exercise for themselves or raising money to help others. This year, the school continued a long-standing fundraiser by participating in Hoops for Heart, to benefit the American Heart Association.

After raising more than $110,000 in 2021 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Warriors for a Cure team is determined for another big year. Two of the team leaders, Skyla Marchesi and Joey Labo, are seniors at Wantagh High School and say they are well on their way to meeting and hopefully eclipsing this year’s fundraising goal.

“Crazy For You,” which made its debut on Broadway 30 years ago, is coming a little closer to home, with upcoming productions at Wantagh High School from April 8-10. A cast of 35 student-actors will perform the feel-good musical comedy.

In a few months, Andrew Diano will graduate from Wantagh High School as one of the most accomplished swimmers in school history. As a senior, he set three school records, including breaking his own marks in two separate events.

Former Wantagh Elementary School teacher Karen Kerge couldn’t stay away for too long. After retiring in June following a 33-year career as an educator, she returned as a published author for a series of assemblies on Feb. 28 and March 1.

Wantagh Elementary School STEAM teacher Kaitlin Humphrey has been accepted into the New York State Master Teacher program, which will provide her with additional professional development opportunities as well as connections with educators across the state.

A creative photo of a friend turned into an award-winning venture for Wantagh High School senior Brooke Bellia. A picture for her Advanced Placement Photography class, “Euphoria,” was accepted into The Art Guild’s Into the Light photography competition and exhibition, earning third place in the student category.

Wantagh Middle School’s theater students are ready to showcase their talents for the community with the upcoming musical production of “Matilda." The show, with four performances from March 4-6, is based upon the book by Roald Dahl.

Acceptance, empathy, respect and tolerance are among the core values of Wantagh Middle School, which reinforced those principles during No Place for Hate day on Feb. 17. This year’s theme was “Be Inclusive.”

Students certainly know how to give it their all at Mandalay Elementary School. Principal Marie Pisicchio presented perseverance awards to 28 children on Jan. 31. Ms. Pisicchio explained that the awards are presented annually to students who never quit and give “110 percent.”

The winter Olympics are being held about 6,000 miles away in Beijing, but children at Mandalay Elementary School are still getting in on the action. Students are taking part in Olympic-inspired games during their physical education classes throughout February.

More than 30 Wantagh High School students got a glimpse of education through a different lens, as they were paired up with elementary teachers throughout the district for shadow day on Feb. 2.

Readers of all ages came together in the Wantagh School District to celebrate World Read Aloud Day on Feb. 2. Elementary students were treated to virtual guest readers from Wantagh High School and Wantagh Middle School throughout the day.

Students at Wantagh Elementary School kicked off the new year by gaining some background knowledge about the devices they use every day. Throughout January, children in kindergarten through fifth grade are working on computer programming activities during their STEAM classes.

The Wantagh High School football team continues to shine on an off the field. Not only did the team advance to the conference semifinals in the fall 2021 season, the players were also recognized for their community service work with two awards.

When Wantagh Middle School eighth grader Paul McHale correctly answered “Vermont” as the lone New England state that doesn’t border the Atlantic Ocean, he was crowned the winner of the annual Geography Bee.

There are so many good things happening at Wantagh High School, that it is hard to list them all. But seniors Emma Alexander and Angelina Maciak do a pretty good job during their monthly reports to the board of education and the Wantagh community.

The inaugural day of giving at Forest Lake Elementary School was a huge success, with students filling about 350 treat bags. The donations will be given to the nonprofit Interfaith Nutrition Network in Hempstead, which helps the hungry and homeless on Long Island.

By putting their engineering skills to the test, students at Forest Lake and Mandalay elementary schools got to make themselves part of popular holiday tale. Children were tasked with a fun building project to aid in the escape of the Gingerbread Man.

A partnership between students, an animal rescue group and a coffee shop are helping cats and dogs find new homes. About 40 student-artists from Wantagh High School created portraits of animals up for adoption at Last Hope Animal Rescue, right across the street. And those drawings and paintings are on display a mile up the road at Starbucks.

Wantagh High School’s cross-country team wants everyone to stay healthy and fit. Knowing that some children might face physical limitations to do so, students recently held a fundraiser to help them overcome these challenges.

Fifth graders at Wantagh Elementary School are thinking like inventors. That’s because they are. They were recently tasked with taking simple, everyday problems and coming up with solutions to make life a little easier. Some of their inventions included a super caddy, school supply catcher and cookie dunker.

Seven Wantagh High School seniors will continue their athletic careers at colleges throughout Long Island, New York State and the country after making their commitments during an afterschool National Letter of Intent signing ceremony on Nov. 10, hosted by the district’s Athletic Department.

In the course of a year, children spend more than 1,000 hours in their school, and they should feel like it’s their second home. That’s why the student council at Forest Lake Elementary School is given great opportunities to make positive differences.

Team-building was the goal as Wantagh Middle School hosted a series of competitive events for eighth graders on Nov. 22 and 24. Students were divided into two teams, Skittles and Starburst, and could earn points in different challenges.

Veterans Day served as a reminder for students at Mandalay Elementary School about the sacrifices that have been made by countless Americans through their service in the different branches of the military. Children showed their appreciation to those who have served, past and present, by wearing red, white and blue attire to school on Nov. 10.

Wantagh High School is doing its part to spread kindness around the community. To mark World Kindness Day on Nov. 13, students are placing kindness rocks with personalized designs around the community. The initiative was spearheaded by librarian Catherine Mottola.

Wantagh High School will stage its first live theatrical performance in more than a year and a half with “The Outsiders.” Audiences are welcome to see the show in person, with four viewings from Nov. 19-21. The lead actors are Anthony Lerro as Ponyboy and Riley Wood as Johnny.

To honor a classmate who died of a rare form of cancer, students at Wantagh Middle School are doing their part to boost funding for pediatric cancer research. In his seven years, James Lodato made a huge impact on everyone around him, including his classmates at Forest Lake Elementary School.

Fifth graders at Wantagh Elementary School gained insight into the valuable support that canines provide humans during a visit from the Guide Dog Foundation on Oct. 8. On the back blacktop, students met with Tracey McCarthy and Emily Tullo, as well as guide dog ambassador Harper and guide dog-in-training Lola.

Kindness was the message at Mandalay Elementary School in the Wantagh School District on Oct. 20, which took part in the national Unity Day initiative. Students and staff showed their solidarity by wearing orange.

To show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, students at Wantagh Elementary School wore pink to school on Oct. 12. They incorporated the color into their wardrobes in many different ways including pink shirts, shorts, socks and face masks.

Wantagh Middle School nurse Hildi Dzigas will receive the Excellence in School Nursing Award for Zone 1. The honor is bestowed by the New York State Association of School Nurses and recognizes members who excel in their practice of school nursing.

They studied hard, they maximized their potential and they accomplished so much despite the challenges of learning during a pandemic. That is the high praise that Wantagh High School Principal Dr. Paul Guzzone had for this year’s valedictorian, Julianna Rose, and salutatorian, Skyla Marchesi.

From championship sports teams to community pride to a big Warriors win, it was a day of celebration at Wantagh High School for homecoming on Oct. 16. The festivities began with a parade up Wantagh Avenue, and crowds lined the street from Bunker Avenue to Beltagh Avenue. The parade, led by an honor guard from the American Legion, featured the class floats, cheerleaders, dance team, marching band, homecoming court, youth sports teams and Board of Education trustees and administrators.

They clapped, they cheered and they even did the wave. Students from Wantagh Middle School gathered on the bleachers at the end of the school day on Oct. 1 for a pep rally to recognize the fall sports teams.

The Wantagh School District announces the appointment of Stephen Moran as the new assistant superintendent for pupil personnel services. In his role, Mr. Moran supervises the special education department as well as nurses, psychologists, social workers and speech therapists.

From the tug-of-war to relay races, freshmen field day at Wantagh High School on Sept. 17 featured many familiar events as well as some new games designed to foster teamwork. Ninth graders spent their morning on the back field bonding as class and earning points for their teams.

From their shirts to their shorts to their shoelaces, students at Wantagh Middle School found many ways to incorporate yellow and gold into their wardrobes on Sept. 24. The school participated in the Go Gold initiative for Childhood Cancer Awareness Day.

After eight years as a special education teacher in New York City, Rachel Dender is on the move to both the suburbs and to administration, as she was recently named the new assistant principal of Wantagh Elementary School.

“Bringing back the joy” was the purpose of the Wantagh Olympics, a series of team events for Wantagh High School and Middle School teachers during Superintendent’s Conference Day on Aug. 30.

It was a brief but impactful ceremony for students at staff at Mandalay Elementary School in the Wantagh School District, who came together at the flagpole to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

With the flip of the calendar, the hallways of Wantagh’s five schools were bustling again. The new school year began on Sept. 1 as students returned to class after their summer vacations. Administrators, teachers and board of education trustees greeted arriving students at the entrances.

The recent graduates of Wantagh’s three elementary schools are coming together for the first time this year as sixth graders at Wantagh Middle School. Making way for them are the recently departed eighth graders, who are starting the final leg of their educational journey at the adjacent Wantagh High School.

For her work supporting science educators both locally and throughout New York State, Wantagh School District Director of STEM Carol-Ann Winans is the recipient of the 2021 Champion of Teacher Development award, presented by the Science Teachers Association of New York State.

Forest Lake, Mandalay and Wantagh elementary fifth grade students marked an important academic milestone as they attended individual moving-up ceremonies held outside and on the lawns of their respective schools. Each celebration was punctuated with musical interludes that added to the sentimental occasions.

The Wantagh School District Class of 2021 overcame the academic obstacles faced during the COVID-19 pandemic to a restored celebration of 221 graduates during the high school’s 66th annual commencement exercises.

Wantagh Middle School faculty and parents joined in celebrating the advancement of 219 eighth grade students, who will meet more rigorous academic challenges upon entrance into the high school, during the annual 2021 Crossing Over Ceremony on June 15. For the first time, the exercises were held on the school’s front lawn during two separate functions.

Mandalay Elementary School Student Council hosted an ABC Countdown to Summer for the last 26 days of school. For the letter N, the students hosted Nationality Day and asked that the student body wear clothing that represents their heritage. Students also discussed their nationalities with one another and where their ancestors may have come from. Most importantly, students discussed their similarities and some of the different customs they celebrate.

One way in which Wantagh School District demonstrated a return to normalcy was in the board of education’s recognition of student accomplishments during the June 17 business meeting. The board and central administrators held the recognition section of the agenda on the front lawn of Wantagh Middle School, which was already set up for a previous crossing over celebration earlier in the week.

The district’s elementary schools were a sea of red, white and blue as Forest Lake, Mandalay and Wantagh elementary school students celebrated Flag Day on June 14. Flag Day commemorates the adoption of the American Flag in 1777 by resolution of the Second Continental Congress and is a time to reflect on the importance of this patriotic symbol.

When was the last time you were moved and motivated by a book? For Nicole Pataky’s fifth grade class at Forest Lake, Catherine Ryan Hide’s national bestseller “Pay it Forward” not only spawned altruism on the school campus but will be a book the students will remember their entire lives.

After discussing ways to improve the community and secure a Bronze Award, members of Wantagh Girl Scout Troop 3654 decided to tackle the issue of trash and abandoned disposable masks that litter the Wantagh community and surrounding Forest Lake Elementary School grounds.

The Wantagh High School Guidance Department held its annual Junior Class Awards Program in the library and media center on June 4. Under the coordination of school counselor Marie Malafis, the program afforded the school the opportunity to recognize members of the junior class who demonstrated academic success and made contributions to the school community. Various colleges and universities participate in the Junior Awards program, offering scholarship opportunities and prize books.

Wantagh High School’s top seniors were recognized for their scholarship, service, enthusiasm for extracurricular activities and for overcoming hardships during the annual senior awards ceremony, held on May 26 in the high school auditorium for students and virtually for parents.

Wantagh High School Theatre is pleased to announce that Katriana Koppe was awarded the Best Actress Roger Rees Award for Excellence in Student Performance presented by Disney Theatrical Group and The Broadway Education Alliance. The Award recognizes distinction in student performance on the stage and outstanding achievement in high school musical theater programs in the New York City area. Katriana received the award for her stellar lead performance as Cinderella in the school’s production of Rogers & Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.”

A co-curricular project at Wantagh Middle School resulted in eighth grade students deeply exploring human rights violations which occurred during World War II and sharing their findings with peers during a Humanities Project Gallery Walk through history.

The Wantagh High School Business Department is pleased to announce that six seniors have earned Career and Technical Education endorsements that can be added to college applications and job resumes. This is the first group of students who have fulfilled the requirements for the department’s CTE pathway for students, and students have been working to acquire the endorsement since the eighth grade.

The Wantagh Elementary School Student Council, under the direction of school counselor Lauren Mulry, collected allergy friendly food during National Food Allergy Awareness Week from May 10-14. Students requested shelf-stable donations, which were free of one or more of the top food allergens including gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish shellfish and sesame.

Wantagh Theatre is pleased to announce that its earlier production of “Clue” and its current production of “Cinderella” has garnered the special 2021 PlayBillder Award from the Roger Rees Awards committee. This award recognizes school theater programs for their comprehensive and engaging marketing plans, including a Broadway-quality playbill or program.

The Wantagh School District’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts is pleased to announce that 24 students represented the district in the annual Art Supervisors Association All-County Art Exhibit from their respective schools. Additionally, Wantagh High School senior Francis Peretti was selected as one of 42 ASA All-County Senior Scholarship winners.

Wantagh High School Theater is proud to present an enchanting on-stage performance of Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s “Cinderella.” Under the direction of Kimberly Davis, Sameerah Cassidy, Danillo Aviles and Eric Gartner, 75 student-actors, crew and musicians will create a celebration of magic and possibility. For more information and to purchase tickets, access the following links: ShowTix4U.com/events/Wantagh and Virtual program.

Cards of gratitude were crafted by Mandalay Elementary School students for local law enforcement officers during National Police Week, held on May 9-May 15. The activity was sponsored by the Town of Hempstead’s Thank a Law Enforcement Officer program in the spirit of recognizing the contribution of law enforcement officers.

Wantagh High School’s National Honor Society inducted 67 new members during a traditional candle lighting ceremony, held in the auditorium on April 26 and taped for the community. The evening featured words of wisdom from administrators, musical interludes by the Wantagh High School String Chamber Ensemble, under the baton of Dana Langer, and a rendition of the national anthem by Katriana Koppe.

After three years of planning and fundraising, the Wantagh School District and community congregated on April 17 at the newly dedicated James Lodato Field of Dreams, located at Forest Lake Elementary School, to honor former student James Lodato (2010-2018), whose life was cut short but whose legacy will always be remembered.

Seven Wantagh High School students received honorable mention awards in the Irish Cultural Society’s annual Martin J. Kelly Writing contest and monetary prize of $25. Additionally, Madeline Rose was one of three first-place winners and received a $200 cash prize for her winning essay.

A team of Wantagh High School students was recognized by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as the 2021 Long Island Students of the Year. Team leader Ashley Reisert revealed that the group raised $110,511 to support the fight against cancer during a seven week period, raising more funds than 23 participating high school teams across Long Island.

The District is pleased to announce that 58 high school students were inducted into the 2020-2021 World Language Honor Society during a pre-recorded, virtual celebration held on March 18. The ceremony celebrated the accomplishments of language learners who maintained a 90% grade point average in world language study, remained in high academic standing, and made a commitment to studying a foreign language.

It’s not every day that students can interview a “Hometown Hero” that they are researching and reading about in class. With Google technology, seniors in Julie Magnuson’s Sports Literature class at Wantagh High School were able to speak with Ultimate Fighting Championship fighter and 2005 Wantagh High School graduate Al Iaquinta.

A vibrant spring afternoon and community pride was the backdrop for Wantagh High School’s annual homecoming game and senior day, held on April 10 against the West Hempstead Rams. Fun filled activities started with decorated high school hallways and a Friday afternoon virtual pep rally, during which the district’s sports teams, musicians, club members and community supporters were celebrated.

The return to school after the spring break on March 6 took on a festive atmosphere as Mandalay Elementary School students prepared to welcome back fourth grader Nico Lombelino to the classroom. Balloons and a large, colorful welcome sign decorated the front entrance and music filled the air as students, debarking from the bus, rushed to the hallway and waited for Nico’s entrance.

In most cases, artistic works that have been painstakingly rendered are saved or hung on a wall or placed in a portfolio. For Wantagh High School members of the Art Honor Society, leaving art on a park bench or among stacks of books at the local bookstore for someone to take is a community service.

For the second consecutive year, Wantagh Middle School students paused on March 26 to imagine a world without hate during No Place for Hate Day. Throughout the school day, students participated in content-based activities where they ruminated and discussed tolerance, acceptance and kindness toward others in school and the global community.

The Wantagh High School administration is pleased to announce that senior Margaret Gates was named one of the nation’s 15,000 National Merit Scholarship Program Finalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program competition. As a finalist, Margaret has received a Certificate of Merit and will soon learn whether she has been chosen as a Merit Scholar designee.

The Wantagh High School newspaper “The Warrior,” in conjunction with the Wantagh Animal Rights and Recycling Club and the National English Honor Society, raised $1,030 in sales for the “Wantagh Warrior Holiday Cookbook: Cooking Our Way Through 2020-2021.” Proceeds were recently donated to Last Hope Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation in Wantagh and to Island Harvest.

Live music has been hard hit during the 2020-2021 school year, but Wantagh Middle School strings students finally had the opportunity to perform as an ensemble on March 16 and March 17. “I set up Fiddle Day so that orchestra students could get motivated and excited about a performance opportunity this year,” music teacher Courtney Miller said. “Sixth graders have been asking all year when they will be able to play as an ensemble, so this was a way of finding a compromise.”

Wantagh High School’s Virtual Enterprise International students exhibited their company Bagonizer, which sells customizable bags with organizers, at the annual Long Island Regional Trade Show and at the VE National Online Trade Show during the semester. During the Long Island event, Bagonizer generated more than $15,000 in sales, followed by $500,000 in sales at the national forum.