Education

Coming to the stage at East Hampton High School this weekend is John Kander and Fred Ebb’s musical “Chicago.” Performances are Friday and Saturday night at 7, and Sunday afternoon at 2.

For Karen Theiss the job of school nurse in Montauk has always been about creating a safe environment for children. “It’s not just fixing,” she said by phone last week, “it’s making better.” Ms. Theiss will retire from her longtime position at the end of June.

East Hampton School District voters could see a ballot referendum in May for capital projects that would create an independent science lab at the high school and a revitalized playground at the John M. Marshall Elementary School.

Special events for kids this week incude a “Moana” movie night and sing-along at the Children’s Museum of the East End, a salamander search with the South Fork Natural History Museum, and three free walks with museum educators during the school break week.

In anticipation of the bond vote needed for the Montauk School’s planned renovation, Joshua Odom, the district superintendent and principal, has begun meeting with community organizations and parents to talk about the need for the project.

East Hampton school officials have reached a new five-year tuition agreement with districts in Montauk, Springs, and Amagansett allowing them to send students to East Hampton schools after they age out of their home districts.

After watching the devastation wrought by the wildfires raging through Los Angeles County, three Sag Harbor Elementary School students spearheaded a read-a-thon to raise money to buy books for children who lost their schools and, in many cases, homes to the Eaton fire. It brought in close to $15,000.

Springs School is kicking off the midway point of the year with two new fund-raisers. Amanda Pond’s class initiated the bagel fund-raiser and the PTA is having its Valentine’s Day candy-gram fund-raiser.

At the Amagansett School Board’s budget presentation Tuesday evening Thomas Mager, the district’s treasurer, discussed the draft budgets for revenue and expenditure.

A proposal by Gov. Kathy Hochul for the state to cover the cost of school meals for all children could have a major impact on the Sag Harbor School District budget for 2025-26, the school’s business administrator, Jennifer Buscemi, told the board last week. But the largest part of the school budget is salaries and employee benefits.

For the school break coming up in less than two weeks, Bay Street Theater in Sag Harbor will have kids 7 to 13 creating their own stage production in My Life: the Musical, a weeklong winter vacation camp.  

Springs School performers have had a busy month. Middle schoolers have been rehearsing for the musical “Moana,” which they will perform for the community tonight at Guild Hall, and student musicians had a chance in January to perform at the Hamptons Music Educators Association Music Festival at Southold High School.

High school students who need (or want) community service hours have lots of opportunities to lend a hand this week at the East Hampton Library.

The East Hampton Level Playing Field Foundation on Monday announced the recipients of its 2025 scholarships to help defray the cost of college counseling, SAT prep courses, and college visits and applications for “high academically achieving sophomores and juniors.”

“Our building ranges from 25 to 98 years old,” he said, “and it’s really starting to show its age,” the school's chief custodian told the school board.

The Springs School Board held its first of three budget meetings for the 2025-26 spending plan last Thursday, with Sam Schneider, the assistant superintendent of the business office, walking through school accomplishments and the reallocation of expenses.

Their essays never fail to impress the English teacher Emily O’Reilly, the mastermind behind the annual project.

The library at the John M. Marshall Elementary School has added 350 books to its collection since September, Patty Moyer, the school librarian, announced, and since the additions, monthly circulation has increased to 1,200 to 1,300 books per month.

Programs for young nature lovers, craft sessions, and a family Creativity Lab are on offer for kids and teens this week.

Coming less than a week before Gov. Kathy Hochul detailed a plan to ban smartphone use in schools statewide from “bell to bell,” parents gathered in the auditorium of the Pierson Middle and High School on Jan. 15 heard from an expert on just how detrimental screen time can be to younger children.

Recently, the Springs School Diversity Club took a field trip to the local food pantry, and used their time there to make a difference in the community.

Our Fabulous Variety Show at LTV, a rundown of PG movies, and crafts galore at local libraries.

Nine Pierson High School varsity basketball players, five of them seniors, have left the team, frustrated by the behavior of the head coach, Dan White. Some parents have called for his removal, while some players who remain on the team have spoken up in support of him.

Amaden Gay Agencies in East Hampton will award two $10,000 scholarships to graduating East Hampton High School seniors who are heading off to a trade or technical school.

A podcasting club for high school students, winter crafts, and Saturday fun with Project Most.

Every year students in third through eighth grade sit down for New York State assessments. While the tests can be challenging for students, they also provide an opportunity for school districts to do some assessing of their own curriculums.

The youth sports training facility Hub 44, on Tan Bark Trail in East Hampton, will host a glow dodgeball session for children 8 to 12 on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m. Plus: board games, trivia, book buddies, and a new fort-building club at the East Hampton Library.

The auto repair classes housed at the East Hampton School District's new bus depot are the talk of the district, and with good reason — dozens of students are engaged in meaningful work that merges traditional academics and career-oriented training for which they don’t have to go very far.

Springs School recently had its annual Winter Spirit Week. Every year, the school celebrates by giving students a fun week to dress up and be creative with their holiday outfits.

This installation of the column for teens and tweens focuses on a selection of favorite books from the mystery, fantasy, and dystopian genres.