National PTA names 10 LI Schools of Excellence,plus new principal and superintendentappointments

Floral Park-Bellerose School PTA board members, from left: Jacqueline Payoute, Susan Saint-Joy, Pauline Ferrantè, Christina Donello, Kate Trainor and Shana Myones. Credit: John Dekams

By Michael R. Ebert

michael.ebert@newsday.com

Updated September 11, 2024 6:32 am

Ten Long Island schools have been named 2023-25 Schools of Excellence by the National PTA. The schools are among 19 statewide and 319 nationwide to receive the designation, which stems from a yearlong commitment to strengthen family-school partnerships. PTAs and schools collect feedback from their communities to create and implement action plans to improve family engagement. Those that exhibit improvement are named Schools of Excellence, a distinction that spans two years.

The selected schools are Lenox Elementary School in Baldwin; Boyle Road Elementary School in Port Jefferson Station; Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School; George H. McVey Elementary School in East Meadow; Floral Park-Bellerose School in Floral Park; Woodmere Middle School; Jackson Avenue Elementary School in Mineola; Meadow Drive Elementary School in Mineola; Lincoln Avenue Elementary School in Sayville; and Ogden Elementary School in Valley Stream.

“We strongly believe that family-school partnerships are critical and that it truly takes all of us working together to support our students’ success and improve our schools,” said National PTA president Yvonne Johnson. The Floral Park-Bellerose School PTA’s efforts included highlighting the district’s adult education programs through its email database and social media accounts, as well as creating an “Adult Resources” tab on its website.

The Floral Park-Bellerose School PTA’s efforts included highlighting the district’s adult education programs through its email database and social media accounts, as well as creating an “Adult Resources” tab on its website. The Floral Park Public Library’s adult education programs were also highlighted in the school’s Friday Footnotes Newsletter. “By holding regular meetings, conducing surveys and organizing community events, we ensured that the voices of our diverse community were heard and valued,” said Susan Saint-Joy, president of the Floral Park-Bellerose School PTA. “Together, we have implemented initatives that have strengthened our school culture and enhanced the educational experience for every student.”