Education

Federal lawmakers have awarded a five-year, $125,000 grant to the group SAFE in Sag Harbor to help combat substance abuse among young people, Representative Lee Zeldin announced Tuesday.

High school students interested in veterinary medicine have the opportunity to attend a Zoom career exploration program hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Suffolk County Farm and Education Center.

Pre-registration at ccesuffolk.org and registration at suffolkcountyfarm.campbrainregistration.com will be open until the lecture series begins. The online classes are on Thursday evenings, 7 to 8:45 p.m., Feb. 25 to March 25. The registration fee is $100.

For Carolyn Fitzgerald, a lifelong resident of East Hampton and a 30-year employee of the East Hampton School District, working in the school cafeteria every weekday from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. was a way to take her mind off the harsh realities of the Covid-19 pandemic.

John Daniels, the head custodian at the Bridgehampton School, is no stranger to the concept of clean. Forty years in the job not only means he knows how to take care of maintenance, but he also knows for whom he is doing it.

"I call them my babies. I get to see them all the way from pre-K to graduation," he said the other day.

When you know his background, it's easy to understand why Michael Donovan came to the aid of thousands of schoolchildren by donating Chromebook computers for them to do remote schooling during the pandemic.

Few groups had their worlds upended during the pandemic as much as students and teachers. Put to the test, many teachers became students of new technologies and rose to meet the challenges that distance learning presented.

Animal-themed activities, ugly sweaters, dance classes, and a countdown to "Noon Year's Eve" on New Year's Eve.

When the Eleanor Whitmore Early Childhood Center got a call from Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's office asking if it could open its doors to provide free care to the children of essential workers, the staff made it happen.

Being a school nurse has always been a mixture of care, compassion, and common sense. Now, you can add "contact tracing" to that list.

A leaky roof over the junior high wing at the Springs School was an unforeseen addition to the construction projects ahead, brought to the attention of Michael Henery, the school business administrator, by recent weather, and discussed at Monday's school board work session.

Family art activities, children's museum hours, wildlife walks, and more options for kids this week.

Four out of five East Hampton Middle School students agree: Going to school during the Covid-19 pandemic is tougher than it was before. Also, a disclaimer: In no way is that a scientific statistic, as the sample size was pretty limited, but the point is still accurate, according to the students themselves.

"There were more things to do that we can't do now," Emma Hand, a sixth grader, recalled during a Google Meet interview last week. "It's a little bit harder, but at least we get to go to school."

As a substitute teacher shortage continues to plague school districts on Long Island, the Sag Harbor School District on Monday hired five more substitutes, and continues to seek more candidates.

In partnership with the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, the East Hampton School District has continued to test its students and staff members for Covid-19, turning up zero positive cases out of what are now 290 tests.

The East Hampton School District on Tuesday awarded contracts to construction companies for the new bus depot the district is going to build at the former scavenger waste property on Springs-Fireplace Road.

After the administration put together a survey about what Spirit Day themes the children would like to see in school next week, students cast their votes.

The New York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance has honored four South Fork high school seniors for their athletic prowess and leadership in physical education and health classes, as well as their academic achievements and outstanding character.

After 31 years with the East Hampton Town Police Department, 26 of them leading the DARE program in schools, Officer Kim Notel's retirement on Tuesday was the start of a new era, not just for her but for everyone who knew "Officer Kim" in the classrooms and on the roads.

The Parrish Art Museum blazed a trail this year in education, with courses for teachers that will boost the teaching of art across the board. For its efforts, the Water Mill museum has been recognized by the New York State Art Teachers Association.

During a virtual ceremony at the agency's This Is Art 2020 conference on Nov. 20, the Parrish received the association's Special Citation Business/Institute Award.

Storytime sessions, a historic building tour, art workshops, and more coming up for kids and families.

Compared to most people, Jake Lorefice was one New York University music technology master's degree more prepared to roll with the pandemic's punches and modify the Montauk School's music program, setting his sixth graders up for podcasting success. 

The Bridgehampton School has instituted remote learning for six days starting Wednesday as more Covid-19 cases were diagnosed there. One staff member and two students tested positive for the virus, according to Robert Hauser, the district superintendent.

The School Covid Report Card, a state database that details the number of cases in local schools, shows one new case reported on Monday, three on Tuesday, and one on Wednesday. Of those five, four were students and one was a staff member.

Statistics are showing that schools with Covid-19 protocols in place are among the safest places for children to be, but remaining open for in-person classes may depend on staffing. "If we close, that will be the reason we have to close -- that we don't have enough staff to cover classes," the East Hampton School District superintendent said.

The Amagansett School District has opted into a Suffolk County program intended to boost safety for students riding buses to and from school.

The Stop Arm Enforcement Program equips buses with cameras that can record cars that drive around a school bus that has its stop sign extended. Seth Turner, the Amagansett superintendent, said that Bus Patrol LLC owns the cameras and monitors the footage for offenders, and that the cameras will be installed by the office of the county executive.

At the Springs School, the PTA is hosting a Sunday, Dec. 20, fund-raiser in which families and businesses are being asked to set up holiday decorations in the parking lot.

Events, programs, and online activities for children and families on the South Fork.

A new sod athletic field is about to be installed at the Springs School as part of the school's ongoing construction and renovation project, but the district has a message for its families and community: please stay off the sod.

The Covid-19 pandemic has cast a shadow over the holiday season for many families. The good news is that Toys for Tots, now in its 35th year, is stepping in to fill gaps and provide gifts for children whose families need help.

Eric Casale, the longtime principal of the Springs School, formally resigned from his position on Monday after being on a leave of absence since late August.