Community Update

Shortly, if it hasn’t arrived already, a bond bulletin will arrive in your (traditional) mailbox with even more information about next month’s propositions.

Syosset has always been known for its extraordinary arts programs. So one of the first things I did when I joined Syosset 10 years ago was create a “Student Artist of the Month” program where every 4 weeks, our Arts supervisor would select a new portfolio of student work to cover an entire wall of my office. Our students are so creative, so dynamic, and so talented. I’m simultaneously devastated and thrilled every 30 days when some favorite pieces disappear only to be replaced by new treasures. My staff enjoys the display too and it occurred to me I should share the wealth. September’s Student Artist of the Month is Senior Julia Rhee, and of all her remarkable works, this is the one that resonates most with me. Congratulations Julia and thanks for sharing your talent both with me and our neighbors.

The district is implementing a number of technology changes and upgrades we want to share with you.

Many of you are likely familiar with FamilyID – a registration platform the District uses for team sports registration, health forms, photo objections, student registration, etc. We are still using the same platform, but the company has changed their name to ArbiterSports. The functionality of the site has not changed – and we will continue to use this platform per our established practice.

Beginning this school year, the District is posting approved community flyers directly on our District website. You can access the flyer portal from the District home page on the right hand side information panel, or follow this link to the community section of the website. Before submitting a flyer for review, please take a moment to review the guidelines at this link to ensure compliance.

Also in the coming months, we will be transitioning to ParentSquare as our parent communications platform. It will combine Remind and parentportal@syossetschools.org communications into one robust app and email platform as a one-stop shop for all parent-to-district communications. We are currently testing out the platform with plans to roll it out by January 2025. Before the launch, we will make sure that parents, students, and staff are comfortable using the tool.

And finally, we will be soon updating the entire website to make it more modern, easier to navigate, and put the most frequently used information in the most accessible locations. Also, the “back end” infrastructure is more robust than our current site.

Please be patient with our growing pains as we make all these transitions.

As you may know, Syosset partners with SCOPE Education Services to offer before and after school care services for elementary students. SCOPE is trying to accommodate every child that is on a waitlist, but to do so needs to recruit more staff. If you or someone you know might be interested, check it out here.

Finally, the IRS asked us to pass along information to help increase awareness about tax credits that may be available to your family. Resources can be found at this link.