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Three Village board honors graduates, athletes and longtime summer program leader
Summary
At its June 16 meeting, the board recognized a student headed to West Point, multiple county- and state-level athletes, winners of a middle-school safety-poster contest, scholarship recipients, and a longtime summer recreation leader who is retiring after 25 years.
The Three Village Central School District Board of Education used its June 16 meeting to recognize students, coaches and staff for academic, athletic and service achievements.
The principal of Ward Melville High School (speaker 4) led off by celebrating senior Claudia Retzlaff’s appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and formally certified that she has met graduation requirements. “Claudia, we are incredibly proud of all you have accomplished and even more excited for all that lies ahead,” the principal said.
Christina Driscoll (speaker 7), the district’s secondary coordinating chairperson for health and physical education, described a sixth-grade e-bike and e-scooter safety poster contest run by the district wellness committee. She named finalists from Gelinas and Murphy middle schools and said the posters were displayed in both buildings and shared on district social media.
Kevin Finnerty (speaker 9), the district’s executive director of health, physical education, recreation and athletics, summarized a strong spring sports season. He noted that Ward Melville teams won multiple league and county titles and singled out JJ Alcindor for winning the boys 100-meter state championship. Coaches and county champion teams were invited forward for recognition and photographs.
Stephanie Paragallo (speaker 13), head coach of the girls varsity lacrosse team, highlighted three players who earned US Lacrosse All-American or Academic All-American honors and listed individual statistics and college commitments, including commitments to Hofstra, Yale and Clemson.
The board also recognized Sahava Vittberg for 25 years of leadership of the district’s summer recreation program; Driscoll said the program serves nearly 600 campers each summer supported by a staff of nearly 160. The board acknowledged several personnel moves and honored Cheryl Taborski, a Ward Melville math teacher who has announced plans to retire in the middle of the next school year.
Mr. Carlson (speaker 15) reported a $500 donation from the Suffolk chapter of the New York State Association of School Business Officials to be awarded to a graduating senior named Katie; district administrators also noted a separate $500 scholarship offered to the student by ASBO during the meeting.
The recognitions took place amid routine consent and personnel business; the board temporarily adjourned later to await the results of a budget revote and reconvened to certify the outcome.
