James H. Vernon School’s talented 5th and 6th grade students made an impressive mark at the 2nd Annual CLASS National Chinese Talent Contest—a nationwide event celebrating K-12 students' creativity and skills in Chinese language and culture. This year, our students excelled in multiple categories, earning top awards in singing, dancing, sports and art.

The 5th grade took center stage in the singing category, earning 10 first-place awards for their lively performance of “Happy New Year.” Congratulations to our winners: Annalee Jane Campiglia, Ava Fishberger, Fisher Duxbury, Joshua Torres, Julia D’Anna, June Hux, Milana Isakarov, Oliver Khalife, Paulina Kartsonis and Victoria Peltzer.

Both 5th and 6th grade students displayed remarkable talent in the art category, earning well-deserved recognition. Milana Isakarov secured second place, while June Hux and Katerina Belesis earned third place.

Our 6th grade students showcased elegance and cultural appreciation in their stunning dance performance of “Blue and White Porcelain.” Anna Bakalis, Sharlynn Biel and Alayna Shamalov earned third place for their exceptional performance.

In the sports category, Alayna Shamalov demonstrated impressive skill in aerial yoga, earning a third-place win.

These incredible achievements were made possible under the dedicated guidance of Vernon’s Mandarin teachers, Ms. Wang (5th Grade) and Ms. Song (6th Grade). Their support and encouragement have helped our students excel in their appreciation of Chinese language and culture. Congratulations to all our participants and winners for their outstanding performances!

Date Added: 4/3/2025

While March is officially recognized as Music In Our Schools Month, Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District embraces music education as a year-round priority. On Mar. 20, the OBHS gym was filled with the rich sounds of student musicians from five distinguished bands, who gathered to present the highly anticipated Cavalcade of Bands.

Each ensemble delivered a compelling performance, demonstrating their dedication and musical growth. The evening culminated in a spectacular grand finale, as all 242 students joined forces for a powerful rendition of the “Mission Impossible” theme. This extraordinary collaboration showcased not only their talent but also the unity and teamwork fostered through music education.

Erica Giglio Pac, Director of Fine, Performing, and Media Arts, underscored the significance of the event: “Witnessing the development of our student musicians across the district is both inspiring and deeply rewarding. Their achievements are a testament to their dedication, and I am profoundly grateful to our exceptional music educators whose passion and commitment make these moments possible. It is also incredibly meaningful to see families, board members and administrators in attendance, supporting music education and fostering a strong, community-centered event.”

The district congratulates the talented student musicians for their commitment to excellence. Special recognition also goes to the outstanding music educators – Ms. Macy, Mr. Devassy, Mr. Giannetta, and Mr. Sisia – for their unwavering guidance and support. Additionally, the district welcomed alumna Laura Angelone (Class of 2017) as the special guest conductor, whose expertise and enthusiasm enriched the experience.

 

Date Added: 3/21/2025

On Mar. 18, sixth and eighth graders from the Oyster Bay-East Norwich School District had the unique opportunity to attend a presentation by 3GNY, an educational non-profit organization founded by the grandchildren of Holocaust survivors. 3GNY’s mission is to educate communities about the perils of intolerance and to provide a supportive forum for the descendants of survivors.

3GNY partners with schools throughout the tri-state area to provide opportunities for students to hear personal family stories from those impacted by the Holocaust. In Oyster Bay High School’s auditorium, guest speaker Ms. Jane Pashman shared the story of her Hungarian grandmother, Ella Baumohl, whom she affectionately called “Nagymami.”

Ms. Pashman recounted how her grandmother was just 24 years old when her family was first relocated to the Hungarian ghetto in Budapest and later deported to Auschwitz. She showed the students a striking photograph of Jewish people being moved into the ghetto while bystanders watched silently from the street. This image underscored a powerful message about the dangers of remaining passive in the face of injustice.

At Auschwitz, Ms. Baumohl was separated from her family and her fiancé. Ms. Pashman explained her grandmother’s experiences in a manner appropriate for the students’ age group, detailing the hardships she endured. She also shared a photograph of her grandmother’s arm, permanently marked with a tattooed identification number, a painful reminder of the atrocities she survived.

Later, Ms. Baumohl was transported to another concentration camp, where she was completely isolated from her loved ones. During this time, she contracted typhoid and, in a fevered state, hallucinated about being home in Hungary with her entire family—a vision that provided her with the strength to endure the darkest days. In 1945, Russian forces liberated the camp. Ms. Baumohl awoke one morning to find the Nazi officers gone, marking the beginning of her path to freedom. She was transported to Denmark and later to Sweden, where she began rebuilding her life. Eventually, she discovered that she was the sole survivor from her family. Despite this unimaginable loss, she was reunited with her fiancé, and they married in 1946.

Ms. Pashman expressed her admiration for her grandmother’s resilience, sharing how she draws strength from her story whenever she faces challenges in her own life. She encouraged the students to be “upstanders” rather than passive bystanders in the face of injustice. She concluded her presentation with a powerful quote from Holocaust survivor and author Elie Wiesel: “When you listen to a witness, you become a witness.”

Students were deeply engaged throughout the presentation and asked thoughtful questions. Some of them shared that they had family members who were also Holocaust survivors. Ms. Pashman encouraged those students to connect with 3GNY and to explore ways to preserve and share their own family histories.

She left the students with a final call to action: to practice resilience, to speak up against intolerance and to embrace empathy by learning about people from different backgrounds. She also encouraged them to talk to their parents and grandparents to learn more about their own family histories.

The presentation provided students with a powerful, personal connection to history and reinforced the importance of remembrance, empathy, and standing against hate.

 

Click here to view the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Students Learn Powerful Lessons from Holocaust Survivors Granddaughter slideshow.

 

Date Added: 3/19/2025

We are thrilled to celebrate the exceptional talent of our student artists whose work was proudly displayed at the 2025 All-County Art Exhibit, hosted by the Art Supervisor’s Association of Nassau County this past weekend at Herricks High School. These young artists have demonstrated remarkable creativity and dedication, showcasing a diverse range of artistic styles and mediums that highlight the vibrancy of our district’s arts program.

A heartfelt congratulations to the following students for their outstanding artistic achievements:

Oyster Bay Middle/High School:

* Amelia Fernandez
* AnaLuz Ferrer
* Brianna Mulnard
* Chloe Gheerow
* Donald Vega
* George Giorgou
* Leonel Escoto Soto
* Nicoletta Sakellis (Nassau County Senior Scholarship Recipient)
* Vallery Guevara

Vernon School:

* Anna Elize Bakalis
* Emily Morea
* Sarah Laurita

Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School:

* Michaela Byrne
* Olive Guglielmo
* Reese Acevedo

This remarkable achievement would not be possible without the dedication and support of our outstanding art teachers. We extend our deepest appreciation to Ms. Brustman, Ms. Crowley, Ms. Miley, Mr. Boris and Ms. Randazzo for their unwavering commitment to fostering artistic growth and inspiring creativity in our students.

The All-County Art Exhibit is a prestigious event that brings together talented young artists from across Nassau County, celebrating their unique artistic expressions and hard work. We are incredibly proud of our students for representing our district with such distinction and for continuing to inspire us all through their art.

Congratulations once again to all the honorees—we can't wait to see where your artistic journey takes you next!

 

Click here to view the Celebrating our student artists at the 2025 All-County Art Exhibit slideshow.

 

Date Added: 3/13/2025

Oyster Bay-East Norwich Schools is thrilled to celebrate Joanna and Joyce Sun, two talented 4th graders at Vernon, who have been selected as National Finalists in the prestigious Meet the Breeds Art Contest, hosted by the American Kennel Club.

Their incredible artwork was proudly displayed at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City, where young artists from across the country showcased their creative expressions of the bond between people and their beloved canine companions.

This national competition invites students from grades K-12 to share their love for dogs through art, and Joanna and Joyce’s exceptional talent has earned them well-deserved recognition.

A huge thank you to their dedicated art teacher, Ms. Crowley, for her guidance and support in helping them achieve this amazing accomplishment.

Join us in celebrating Joanna and Joyce’s outstanding achievement!

 

Date Added: 2/28/2025