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October 23, 2026

THE ROCK REPORT: October 2026

Rock Report - October 2026

ACHIEVEMENT

Varsity Cheer Team Takes First Place
Congratulations to our varsity cheer team, who traveled to Binghamton for a regional competition and earned first place. Thank you to our cheerleaders, coaches and families for their hard work and dedication.

A cheerleading squad in orange and white uniforms raises their arms in celebration on a football field at night, with a illuminated scoreboard displaying 'ROCKS' in the background.   

Tristan Rose Named Newsday Gridiron Great
Varsity football player Tristan Rose was recognized as one of Newsday's Gridiron Greats following an outstanding performance in our homecoming game against North Shore. Tristan recorded 327 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries. Congratulations to Tristan, Mr. Pajer and the entire coaching staff.

A coach observes his football team wearing black and orange uniforms with pink accessories on a field.

Strengthening Writing Instruction Across the Curriculum
Ninth grade teachers from all core subject areas participated in professional development with Dr. Maureen Martin on The Writing Revolution. Building on their initial training during Superintendent's Conference Day, teachers attended specialized workshops for STEM and humanities instruction.

Dr. Martin explored strategies for strengthening student writing through language development, sentence structure and paragraph organization. This training supports our districtwide K-12 initiative to improve writing skills across all subject areas.

OPPORTUNITY

Fire Safety Comes to Life at Centre Avenue
Centre Avenue students welcomed members of the local fire department for a fire prevention assembly, learning important tips to keep themselves and their families safe. The visit concluded with an exciting opportunity to explore a fire truck and ambulance, and even handle a fire hose!

A firefighter helps a young girl hold and spray a large fire hose outdoors.

A Pumpkin Patch at Centre Avenue
Thanks to the Centre Avenue PTA, students enjoyed a special fall experience without leaving school! The PTA transformed the school field into a pumpkin patch, where students searched for the perfect pumpkins and celebrated the season with friends.

Expanded Clubs and Activities at Rhame Avenue
Rhame Avenue students have new opportunities to connect with classmates through lunchtime clubs, including recess sports and a games group. Mrs. Donovan has also relaunched the school's Garden Club, offering fourth, fifth and sixth graders hands-on opportunities to explore gardening and sustainability.

Academic Success Labs Coming to Elementary Schools
Planning is underway for new Academic Success Labs at Centre Avenue and Rhame Avenue. These school-day programs will provide additional opportunities for students to strengthen their skills in ELA, writing and mathematics. Building principals will share more information with families soon.

Hall of Fame Inductee Inspires Future Scientists
East Rockaway alumnus and 2026 Hall of Fame inductee Dr. Robert Deutsch visited science classes in grades 7-12 on Oct. 8 and 9, sharing his experiences as an analytical chemist and leading demonstrations that illustrated the role of chemistry in everyday life.

A former East Rockaway football player, Dr. Deutsch had an opportunity to pursue professional football but ultimately chose a career in science. His visit offered students an inspiring perspective on the value of education and the many paths to success.

A teacher leads a science class, standing in front of students seated at desks in a classroom.

Supporting Our Multilingual Learners
Our English as a New Language (ENL) department continues to participate in professional learning opportunities in preparation for New York State's new language proficiency assessments. This ongoing training strengthens instructional practices and helps ensure our multilingual learners receive the support they need to grow academically and linguistically.

Student Design Supports High School Music Program
Congratulations to senior Sophia Carnisi, whose original artwork was selected for this year's homecoming T-shirt. Proceeds from the shirts will support the high school music department's participation in its annual competition. The design was such a hit that the shirts sold out in just one week!

New Online AP Macroeconomics Opportunity
Six East Rockaway juniors and seniors are participating in a new Nassau BOCES pilot program that allows students to complete AP Macroeconomics through a fully online, asynchronous learning platform. This innovative option expands access to advanced coursework.

Student-Athletes Attend Leadership Summit
Student-athletes Amy Gamache, Ellie Nowakowski, Stephen James Jr. and James Giannatti attended the Section VIII Unity Summit alongside Mr. Gregory, Coach Poland and Coach Rinn. Through a series of interactive leadership sessions, students developed skills they can bring back to their teams, classrooms and school community.

INNOVATION

Coding Cars Bring Learning Outdoors
Students in Ms. Freudenberg's class took their coding skills outside, programming cars to navigate turns, follow different paths and respond to color-coded directions. The hands-on activity combined problem-solving, creativity and technology in an engaging learning experience.

Making Math More Interactive
Students in grades 7-9 are strengthening their mathematical skills through Magma Math, an interactive instructional platform. Since the initiative launched, East Rockaway Junior/Senior High School students and teachers have engaged with 153 assignments, building mathematical confidence and encouraging active participation in learning.

Introducing Habits of Mind
Elementary support staff have begun implementing new Habits of Mind social-emotional learning (SEL) sessions in classrooms. These lessons focus on developing positive thinking habits and essential life skills. The district plans to expand the initiative to the junior/senior high school in the future.

Woodworking Students Make a Splash
Students in Ms. Milleisen's construction and woodworking class created miniature wooden surfboards for their introductory project. From construction to painting, students gained experience with classroom tools and machinery while developing craftsmanship, creativity and attention to detail.

Graphic Design Students Build Creative Skills
In graphic design class, students are using Adobe Photoshop to develop original brand designs. By working with layers, incorporating images and experimenting with color and typography, they are building practical skills that connect classroom creativity with real-world design applications.

CONNECTION

Centre Avenue Celebrates Inclusion and Empathy
Centre Avenue students attended “Joyfully Josie,” a special assembly sponsored by the PTA. The presentation explored inclusion, empathy, rare diseases and learning differences, encouraging students to better understand and appreciate the experiences of others.

Magic Comes to Rhame Avenue
The Rhame Avenue PTA kicked off its 2026-27 assembly program with “The Extreme Magic of Eric Wilzig.” Students in grades K-6 and staff enjoyed an entertaining performance that brought excitement and wonder to the school day.

A magician performs a stage illusion, holding open a special box while a smiling assistant waves from inside.

Two Bands, One Team, One Community
East Rockaway and West Hempstead high school bands joined forces for a special performance at this year's homecoming football game. Reflecting the partnership between the two schools' combined football team, the performance gave student musicians an opportunity to collaborate, build friendships and celebrate their shared school spirit.

A spirited pep band fills the stadium bleachers at night, playing instruments with enthusiasm.

Expanding Youth Sports Opportunities
Coach Lores and Mr. Gregory presented plans to partner with South Shore Camps to bring sports clinics to our elementary schools. The initiative aims to strengthen youth sports participation and provide additional opportunities for students to develop athletic skills and connect with their peers. More information will be shared with families soon.

Leadership Lessons Continue at East Rockaway High School
Students in Mr. Vito's physical education classes welcomed Lamar Lee, who works with Dr. Nancy Kaplan, for the second session of an ongoing leadership development series. The program will continue through the end of the semester, helping students strengthen the leadership skills they will carry beyond graduation.

Learning History Through Personal Testimony
Ms. Anisis is collaborating with the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County to reinstate a speaker series for eighth and 10th grade students.

Eighth graders will hear firsthand accounts from a Holocaust survivor or descendants of survivors, while 10th graders will learn from a survivor of the Rwandan genocide. Through personal testimony, students will gain a deeper understanding of the human impact of genocide and the importance of tolerance, empathy and acceptance.

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable Halloween!

Watch the full recording of the October Board of Education meeting here, which included this report.