ACHIEVEMENT

AP Honor Roll Recognition

East Rockaway High School earned recognition on the 2025 AP Honor Roll for expanding access to Advanced Placement courses while helping students achieve college readiness. The school received an overall Silver designation, with 63% of the Class of 2025 taking at least one AP exam. ERHS also earned a Gold designation for college credit, as 48% of the Class of 2025 scored 3 or higher on an AP exam. The school achieved Platinum designation for college optimization, with 31% of graduates taking five or more AP exams before graduation.

State Lab Completion in Life Science

Regents Life Science students completed their second state lab on homeostasis, exploring how the body regulates temperature through hands-on scientific investigation.

LI Spotlight on Education Feature

Superintendent DeTommaso, Assistant Superintendent Van Wart, and Director of Instructional Technology McClelland were featured on LI Spotlight on Education, discussing capital improvements and instructional technology in the district. The episode will air on Feb. 14.

Updated ELA Curriculum Guides

Updated ELA curriculum guides for grades K-6 are now available on the district website, providing families and staff with transparent access to learning standards and instructional approaches.

Wall of Heroes Revitalization

A revitalization of the Wall of Heroes is underway, led by Mr. Weissman-Canale and Ms. Robbins. This project includes learning initiatives that deepen students' understanding of military service and the sacrifices made by community members.

OPPORTUNITY

Cheer Team Performances

The ERHS cheer team showcased their skills at Newsday's Cheer Fest on Jan. 11 at Hofstra University, performing alongside teams from across Long Island. The team will also perform at a Long Island Nets game at Nassau Coliseum on Jan. 28.

Mathletes Competition

The ERHS Mathletes team competed in the 2026 math tournament at Hofstra University, testing their problem-solving abilities and mathematical reasoning against students from neighboring districts.

INNOVATION

Hands-On Elementary Learning

Elementary students engaged in hands-on learning throughout the month. Rhame students completed science investigations exploring the properties of matter through observation and experimentation. Third graders at Centre Avenue began research projects on U.S. presidents, developing information literacy and presentation skills.

Advanced Secondary Projects

Secondary students tackled advanced projects across disciplines. Graphic design students are using Photoshop to create children's books that will be presented to elementary students in the spring, connecting digital literacy with storytelling. Seventh graders presented their science fair projects, with top entries advancing to the Long Island Science Congress to compete at the regional level.

Artificial Intelligence Implementation

The district is advancing its work with artificial intelligence in education. Director of Instructional Technology McClelland and the AI committee developed grade-level AI guidelines and began implementing Magic School, a platform that supports teachers in creating personalized learning materials. A digital equity survey has been shared with families to assess technology access and needs across the district.

CONNECTION

Cross-Grade Mentorship

High school students visited Rhame Avenue to complete holiday crafts with younger students. Coordinated by Mr. Weber and Mr. Poland, this provided an opportunity for ERHS students to serve as positive role models and build connections across grade levels.

Course Selection for 2026-27

The course selection process for next year has begun. On Jan. 8, ERHS held its annual programming workshop for students and families to learn about course offerings for the upcoming school year. This year, sixth-grade families were invited for the first time and received building tours as part of the transition to high school, helping incoming students and their families feel prepared and connected.

Future Fair Post-Secondary Connections

The Future Fair at the end of December connected students with over 40 post-secondary opportunities, from universities to military service to employment pathways. This event provided students with direct access to representatives who could answer questions about their next steps after graduation.

Holiday Toy Drive

The ERHS volleyball and basketball teams donated toys to the pediatric cancer center during the holiday season, demonstrating our students' commitment to supporting children facing serious health challenges.

Athletic Signing Ceremony

An athletic signing ceremony celebrated students who have committed to college sports teams, recognizing their achievements both on the field and in the classroom as they prepare for the next level of competition and education.

Family Literacy Night Announcement

ERHS will host its first Family Literacy Night on Apr. 23. More details about this new community event will be shared in the coming months.

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Watch the full recording of the January board of education meeting here, which included this report.