Accolades And Arrangements Highlight Dec. 10 BOE Meeting

LEVITTOWN, NY. — The Levittown Board of Education celebrated the talent of its students and the achievement of one of its schools Dec. 10, as the school board heard performances from the MacArthur High School Wind Ensemble and commemorated Wisdom Lane Middle School for being named a 2025 School of Distinction.

The wind ensemble opened the meeting, performing holiday classics like “Deck The Halls,” “Jingle Bells” and “Winter Wonderland” under the direction of Joseph Romano. During “Jingle Bells,” the ensemble invited meeting attendees to jingle their keys and become part of the ensemble.

The school of distinction award is conferred to just 24 schools nationwide by the Association for Middle Level Education, a national organization that seeks to help middle school educators, “reach every student, grow professionally, and create great schools.” The distinction gave Wisdom Lane staff members the opportunity to present at a national conference in November among other middle school educators to highlight what they did to earn the title. At the Dec. 10 meeting, superintendent Todd Winch presented teachers, faculty, students and parents with certificates, commemorating their contributions to earning this award.

“These 24 schools exemplify what’s possible when educators prioritize the unique needs of young adolescents,” AMLE CEO Stephanie Simpson said when announcing the awards in August. “The Schools of Distinction program not only celebrates their achievements but also fosters a collaborative network where schools learn from and inspire one another.”

Winch thanked Wisdom Lane Assistant Principal Craig Arvelo-Shaw and district Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Beth Zirogiannis for being particularly important to the effort that led to the award for Wisdom Lane.