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East Islip eighth-graders perform spring concert; colleagues honor retiring music teacher Lisa
Summary
Eighth-grade students from East Islip Union Free School District performed a spring concert at the high school while colleagues used the event to honor a longtime music teacher, Lisa, who is retiring after many years in the district.
EAST ISLIP, N.Y. — Eighth-grade students from the East Islip Union Free School District performed a spring concert at East Islip High School while faculty and parents marked the retirement of a longtime music teacher, identified in remarks only as Lisa.
The concert featured the district’s eighth-grade orchestra, band and choir and was introduced by the school’s assistant principal, who asked the audience to take their seats and reminded parents that “this is the only time that you will watch this eighth grade concert,” urging them to put phones away. Dr. Waddle, the district’s director of arts and music, told the audience they would be “very impressed with the level in which your children are performing” and reminded attendees where emergency exits were located.
Why it matters: The spring concert serves as a final middle-school performance for students who will move on to high school next year, and the program doubled as a chance for staff and families to acknowledge a departing teacher whose colleagues praised her decades of service and classroom presence.
Staff and volunteers were thanked repeatedly during the program. Dr. Waddle and other speakers recognized custodians, high school staff and the district music-support organization (referred to in remarks as EIMAS/EIMax) for staging and live-streaming the event. The assistant principal noted the district’s live-streaming tradition and how it allows family members who cannot attend in person to watch from elsewhere.
Colleagues who spoke at the concert offered personal tributes to Lisa. One colleague said, “Lisa, we love you and we wish you nothing but the best in your next chapter,” and several speakers recalled long working relationships and shared anecdotes about her humor and dedication in front of students and families. One speaker described having worked with Lisa for about 15 years at the middle school and thanked her for always supporting students and staff.
The evening’s repertoire included contemporary musical theater selections and student favorites. Teachers and student volunteers who handled stage changes and technical support were publicly thanked; the program’s technician, Frank, was singled out for his role in live streaming the performance.
No district policy changes, contract actions, votes or formal board decisions were discussed at the event. The program was an extracurricular school concert and a community moment marking the students’ transition to high school and a faculty retirement.
The concert closed with final remarks thanking administrators, teachers, families and student volunteers. Staff said they wished the retiring teacher well and encouraged the audience to stay through the end of the program to support all performers.
