Education

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.

Bringing today’s current challenges to life onstage, Pierson High School students are making theater more accessible than ever by tapping into 2020’s most relatable phenomenon: quarantine. Their production of Don Zoldis's "10 Ways to Survive Life in Quarantine" will be live with a limited audience and stream free online.

The Bridgehampton School has quarantined one of its two sixth-grade classes for 14 days — 14 out of the 18 students that make up the whole sixth grade — after the administration learned a student in that grade has tested positive for Covid-19. Ten staff members are also quarantined, according to an announcement from the school district on Sunday.

The East Hampton School District tested 207 students and staff members for Covid-19 on Friday — and turned up zero positive results.

The East Hampton School District on Tuesday began offering free breakfasts and lunches to all students as part of a state-funded program intended to relieve the stresses of Covid-19 on families. The program will run through June 30.

A fabulous variety show, tree decorating, book clubs, and activities galore from Project Most.

Moooove over, chickens. At the Bridgehampton School, which welcomed a flock of barred Holland hens earlier this year, kindergartners have "adopted" a calf through a Discover Dairy adopt-a-cow program, the school recently announced.

A common theme emerged this year as school districts went through their routine audits: The Covid-19 pandemic has motivated some to hold on to more surplus funds than in past years, despite a state law limiting the amount of money a district can retain.

The Bridgehampton School was the beneficiary in November of expedited work by the Suffolk County Water Authority to install mains that connect the district's newly built classrooms and fitness center to the public water supply.

The East Hampton School Board on Tuesday formally accepted a retirement letter from Richard Burns, who has served the East Hampton School District as superintendent since 2011. His retirement, effective June 30, 2021, will cap a more than 30-year career in East Hampton.

The Bridgehampton School is anticipating approval from the Southampton Town fire marshal this week to begin using three temporary trailers for teacher offices and five of its newly constructed classrooms for educating students, even though the rest of the construction project is still in progress.