A New Year Of Learning In Garden City

GARDEN CITY, NY — Garden City students and staff members were filled with excitement on Sept. 1, when a new year of learning, achievements and discoveries began. The first day of school was bright despite the cloudy skies as Hemlock, Homestead, Locust, Stratford and Stewart schools, and Garden City Middle and High schools, embarked on new adventures.

All who entered the buildings were welcomed by signs and banners provided by PTA groups. Administrators and faculty members greeted students and directed them past decorative balloons, through the doorways and to their classrooms.

Districtwide, the 2021-22 school year will feature enhancements to STEAM and project-based learning. Technology will continue to be integrated into the curriculum and new instructional resources and reimagined learning spaces will further support collaboration and creativity.

This year also brings several leadership changes — Eileen Vota now serves as Locust School’s Principal and Christopher Hartigan and Lauren Kaufman are Stratford’s Principal and Assistant Principal, respectively. Matthew Samuelson joined Garden City Middle School as Principal and Connor Cohn was introduced as a Garden City High School Assistant Principal. Michael Vespe and Robert Panariello are the district’s new Director of Literacy K-12 and Interim Athletic Director, respectively. Additionally, all district-level coordinators are now K-12, which will reinforce alignment of programs across grade levels.