Community Update

Syosset prides itself on educational excellence and innovation--and it’s obvious that artificial intelligence (AI) is both here to stay and educationally impactful. To stay abreast of this transformative development, the pioneering educators in our AI Pilot Program have been exploring how to best integrate these new technologies into their teaching practices.

Last week, the AI Steering Committee hosted its first “AI Showcase,” where team members from each of the Pilot Projects presented ideas they’ve been developing to incorporate AI into their work. From generating content and creating personalized learning experiences to streamlining workflows, teachers exchanged insights and gained valuable strategies to improve their instruction. Sharing these early successes sparked ideas for deeper work and even more creative innovations to be developed to maturity and ultimately implemented.

One thing that won’t change, however, is our belief in the power of teaching. If anything, the Pilot Projects have illustrated that they succeed by magnifying our teachers’ magic – by freeing them to do deeper work, allowing them to personalize assignments and supports, and to develop innovations even more quickly.

Newsday is releasing its top player lists ahead of what’s sure to be an exciting Spring Season.

• On the diamond, junior Sienna Renny and sophomore Taylor Renny have been placed on Long Island’s top 100 softball players list. Senior Ethan Ramirez and junior David Lieberman top the baseball players list.

• Out on the lacrosse field, Senior Will Cawley is among the best defensemen in the state, and junior Brody Waxer is already committed to play lacrosse at University of Michigan in 2026. Both find themselves on the top 100 boys lacrosse players list. Junior Julie Shaugnessy is also committed to playing at Michigan after graduation next year and is on the top 100 list.

The curtain has closed on all three of our Spring productions… I hope you enjoyed them as much as I did:

Finding the “drama” in drama, HBT’s actors hit the stage to perform, "When Bad Things Happen to Good Actors" last month. The one act comedy is about a school production of The Wizard of Oz where nothing seems to go right. In the show, Dorothy tries valiantly to keep the show together even as the Scarecrow won't stop singing, the Lion performs lines from a different show, the Tin Man can't figure out when to come on stage, and the sound tech refuses to play the correct cues. Missing props, fire alarms, and even a Mom interrupting from the audience had everyone laughing out loud. Congratulations to all the members of Drama Club for turning “drama” into fun!

Syosset High School students’ performance of “School of Rock: The Musical” brought the house down! Based on the 2003 film, the production features a washed up rock musician who impersonates a teacher at a prestigious prep school, simultaneously discovering the musical potential in his students and his love of teaching. Remarkably, our actors played all of their instruments live on stage!! Nearly 1,000 people attended the show throughout the weekend – and all proceeds will go to the Syosset Scholarship Fund. Seventy students participated in the cast, crew, orchestra, and house management. Our Theatre Department is on a roll!

And last, but certainly not least, the cast and crew in South Woods’ Drama Club put on a marvelous rendition of Annie Jr. – the traditional rags to riches story of Annie, told in brief but with all the best songs intact. The fast-paced production had mobile sets, choreography (and tap dancing!), and endless amounts of music. Our theater tech members ran the lights, sound, curtain, and helped move scenery during the show. The delighted audience of proud families and peers was thoroughly entertained. I even made a cameo as President Roosevelt. As I waited in the wings for my cue, several students encouraged me (“you’ll be great!”) and when the lights went down as the show closed, unasked, one steered me off the darkened stage so I’d be safe. Thanks, y’all!

This week, we hosted the second and final meeting of this year’s secondary “student cabinets” – student leaders who represent their schools in refreshing conversations with my administrative cabinet about the issues of the day.

Since this was our second meeting, we skipped the usual introductions and instead each shared a “fun fact” about ourselves. We learned some fascinating things! One student is a certified Zumba instructor, another has aspirations to run for office (specifically, the White House), and yet another is independently studying American Sign Language. I shared my personal ASL history, but the students were much more impressed to learn that one of my cabinet members is a certified yoga instructor, that another was once a competitive surfer, and still another restores classic cars.

Among many topics, we had lengthy discussions about cell phone use and the current debate in Albany about restricting it for students; our aspirations and worries about the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms; and the students’ thoughts on our future mascot. Time with students is always the best part of this job!

Next week is our last full week of school before Spring recess. Let’s make it a great one!

#SyoSpring

Tom Rogers