In honor of School Board Recognition Week, the Elwood School District Board of Education was celebrated at the Oct. 16 board meeting for its dedicated service to the community. Each of the district’s four school buildings presented a unique gift to express appreciation. Under the guidance of their art teachers, students at Harley Avenue Primary School created a large-scale collage featuring a heart drawn by every student, color-coded by class. James H. Boyd Intermediate School designed a blooming garden painting, using each student’s fingerprint as a petal, leaf, or blade of grass. Elwood Middle School presented a digital art project showcasing photos from the past school year, while Elwood-John H. Glenn High School offered a photo collage highlighting the many opportunities for students to learn and grow.

This extraordinary series of four framed artworks will be proudly displayed in the district office. In addition, Board members received personalized pens and cases, professional portfolios, and keychains designed by high school students – thoughtful tokens of gratitude for their continued commitment to the district.

“The students’ efforts to build and create are greatly appreciated,” Board President James Tomeo said. “This is why we are on the Board. We serve at the pleasure of our community, but most importantly, for the focus and enrichment of our students. We love being Board of Education members, and what we love most about it is seeing the fruits of the students’ labor. Tonight was a wonderful example of what our students can accomplish, and what we do to support them.”

“We want to acknowledge the members of our Board and thank them for their dedication to our schools,” Superintendent Dr. Gayle Steele said. “Public schools are the heartbeat of our community, and our board does an amazing job working alongside us to promote the success of every student. They develop a shared vision and goals for the district and ensure that strategies, resources, policies and programs are aligned with those goals. They assess and provide accountability measures, support a healthy school culture to work and learn, and give the residents of Elwood a voice in the education decision-making process. On behalf of the entire Elwood administrative team, faculty and staff, I want to say thank you for all that you do in making Elwood a special place.”

Date Added: 10/22/2025

Congratulations to Elwood for being ranked No. 6 in Niche's 2026 Best School Districts in Suffolk County. This annual assessment is based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data and user ratings. With an A+ overall grade from Niche, Elwood also ranked 44th in the state.

Date Added: 10/21/2025

The Elwood school community came together on Sept. 27 to celebrate Elwood-John H. Glenn High School’s homecoming with a day full of tradition, spirit and pride. Festivities began with a lively parade down Elwood Avenue, featuring the Knightline kickline squad, honor societies, athletic teams, Girl Scout troops, and each high school class accompanying floats designed around creative video game themes. Homecoming Queen Jocelyn Rizzi and King Nicholas Spataro waved to the cheering crowd lining the street, as the Marching Knights and Elwood Middle School bands filled the air with rousing music.

Following the parade, younger students enjoyed an array of games and activities at booths set up near the football field, while anticipation grew for the afternoon’s varsity football game. At halftime, the Marching Knights and Knightline wowed the crowd with spectacular performances that energized the stands and showcased the talents of the district’s students. Although the varsity team did not capture the win against Babylon’s Panthers, the spirit of homecoming shone through from start to finish, making the day a memorable celebration of school pride, family and community.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have such a dedicated school community, and the success of this year’s homecoming is a direct reflection of their contributions,” Interim Principal Irene McLaughlin said. “The level of collaboration, planning and preparation demonstrated for the weekend’s many events was truly remarkable. Our heartfelt thanks go out to all who invested their time, effort and dedication to our students.”

Date Added: 9/29/2025

Excitement filled the air on the morning of Sept. 3 as students from all four Elwood School District buildings – Elwood-John H. Glenn High School, Elwood Middle School, James H. Boyd Intermediate School and Harley Avenue Primary School – returned for the first day of classes, ready to learn and embrace the new academic year ahead.

“We had a terrific first day today,” John Glenn Interim Principal Irene McLaughlin said. “Thanks to our students and staff for kicking off the year on such a positive note.”

“It was an incredible first day back at Elwood Middle School today,” Principal Christina Moran said. “We were thrilled to welcome our seventh and eighth graders back and meet our new sixth-grade friends. The school was filled with smiles, and we can’t wait for a fantastic school year ahead.”

“What a wonderful first day at James H. Boyd,” Principal Elissa Millan said. “Our students came in with big smiles, positive energy and excitement for the year ahead. I can already tell it’s going to be an amazing school year.”

“We had a fantastic first day at Harley Avenue,” Principal Julie Bilello said. “The hallways were filled with smiling faces and positivity. Our first and second graders couldn’t wait to reconnect with friends and meet their new teachers, while our kindergartners were so excited to ride the bus and officially become Harley Knights. It’s going to be a great year.”

Date Added: 9/4/2025