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Community Update

October 25, 2024

Community Update October 25, 2024

Dear Syosset Community:

First things first: this update is coming an hour early to remind you that tonight is our High School Homecoming game! The Varsity Football team is facing off against Herricks/Wheatley High School beginning at 7pm. Plus, our high school student government’s carnival is open until 10pm this evening. Swing by to cheer on the team, enjoy a ride, and support our student clubs!
Syosset High School’s Spirit Week kicked off with the annual walk-a-thon, this year to STOMP OUT SARCOMA. All money raised went to the Sarcoma Foundation of America in honor of current junior Ari Ziman, who is courageously battling sarcoma. The high school was excited to welcome back Ari to lead the walk with his family, and designed t-shirts with the phrase SYOSSET STOMPS OUT SARCOMA in recognition of his love for running as a dedicated member of our track team. The sale of these shirts has raised funds for the foundation that is committed to finding a cure. The high school’s efforts to support their fellow classmate don’t stop here. We just learned that the Fine and Performing Arts department’s annual Cabaret Night will also be raising money for the Sarcoma Foundation. Syosset Sings Out Against Sarcoma is on November 7th.

Community PSAs

  • NYSED Regionalization Initiative – Recently, the NY State Education Department (NYSED) announced an initiative to identify opportunities for collaboration that might result in cost-saving efficiencies or greater educational opportunities for students in our region. To start, school districts have been asked to complete a survey detailing student achievement, course offerings and operations. NYSED has clearly expressed that this is not an attempt to merge school districts or consolidate them within BOCES. Although we are only in the data collection phase, we’ve created a webpage with helpful resources for community members wishing to learn more and we will continually update it once the regional meetings begin and a plan starts taking shape. Plans will not be finalized until October of next year.

  • General Election Polling Sites – Thank you for voting in the recent school bond election. As the general election approaches on November 5th, please note that polling for the Nassau County Board of Elections will take place at all 7 elementary schools, but not at our middle schools or high school. There is also no early voting at any of our buildings. For more information, you can visit NassauVotes.com or call 516-571-VOTE.

  • NCPD Flyer on E-Bikes – Recently our region has seen an increase in the use of E-bikes and motorized scooters. While many utilize this technology appropriately, a handful of riders have operated these devices recklessly leading to accidents and injuries. Click here to view an informational flyer from the Nassau County Police Department governing the use of these vehicles.

#SyoSports

For the second consecutive year, our girls tennis team is county champ! In a fierce match up against Port Washington, our girls came out on top! This is the fourth championship they’ve won in the last five years. Next Saturday – the Long Island Championship. Good luck, ladies!

More sports updates to come as many of our teams compete in the playoffs. Stay tuned…

#SyoStars ⭐

Earlier this week, the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) held its annual convention. Teachers from across New York State submitted student artwork to represent their District and bring attention to their programs. There were 610 pieces submitted from 94 districts, and we are excited to share that Syosset had eight of our students’ works on display at the event! Congrats to Elsa Lin (Gr. 6), Elan Wu (Gr. 6), Kate Jung (Gr. 6), Hailey Moy (Gr. 8), Melanie Zuh (10), Candace Pan (Gr. 11), Corey Schack (Gr. 12), and Ethan Yau (Gr. 12)! You can check out the virtual presentation with their artwork at this link (Syosset is on slides 543 to 550).
The College Board has awarded Syosset High School “Gold Distinction” on its Advanced Placement School Honor Roll. Syosset High School offers 30 Advanced Placement courses–and in May 2024, that meant administration of 3,393 exams to over 1,200 students, a significant increase since May 2023, when we administered 2,877 exams. Plus, of all the students who took these exams last May, 89% of them scored 3 or higher! These numbers are astounding – and we are so appreciative of this recognition and the chance to provide our students with such a wide range of high-quality opportunities.
When Syosset High School principal Dr. Durante isn’t busy in the school’s halls, he’s committed to educational excellence as the host of “The College Admissions Process Podcast.” In this podcast, he speaks with college admissions officers, demystifying the application process and identifying how applicants can best present themselves. Recently, Dr. Durante celebrated a milestone with his 250th episode, during which he reflected on key insights he's gained over the years. Among his takeaways: be thorough in your application to avoid leaving admissions reps guessing, and remember that with over 4,000 colleges in the U.S., there’s truly a fit for every student. Congratulations, Dr. Durante, on your podcast becoming #7 on Apple’s list of “How To” podcasts!

Bright Spot

We are #SyoProud of our school community and the broader community that supports our District’s mission. It warms our hearts to see both come together to create lasting memories.


A group of 12 student musicians who are members of our Tri-M Music Honor Society volunteered to attend a different kind of Homecoming celebration at Excel at Woodbury for Rehabilitation and Nursing. Excel organized a special event that mirrored our high school homecoming celebration – to connect the residents to the excitement beyond their walls. Their celebration featured a balloon arch, pom poms, a float, a parade, and a mascot… they even crowned a king and queen! CBS News New York swung by to cover the event – and you can watch the full story below.

These intergenerational efforts enrich everyone involved, creating a beautiful blend of joy and connection across generations. Thank you to our Tri-M advisor and music teacher Rona Pontecorvo for encouraging our students to spread their love of music. And to our student performers (Michelle Chang, Daniel Chen, Andrew Cheng, Jordana Dickstein, Sara Dubrow, Garrick Liang, Dylan Linde, Savi Mehta, Eric Qu, Blake Schoenberg, Isaac Tsui, and Bryan Wan), thank you for sharing your light.

A reminder: the District is closed next Friday, so look out for a not-so-spooky Halloween edition of my update on Thursday! Now… off to homecoming!

#GoSyo!
Tom Rogers
Syosset Central School District