Tenure Recipients Reflect The Best Of Wantagh Schools
Nine educators in the Wantagh School District hit a career milestone on May 8, as they officially were awarded tenure by the board of education. Prior to the meeting, the six teachers and three administrators were honored at a reception, joined by their families and colleagues.
“We pride ourselves here
in the district on hiring the best, and we can certainly say that about this group,”
Superintendent John McNamara said. “We’re very proud that they’re part of our team.”
During the ceremony, Mr. McNamara spoke about each tenure recipient and highlighted their strengths as educators.
Executive Director for Human Resources and Administration Dr. Stephanie Scolieri, Wantagh High School Assistant Principal Dr. Christopher Widmann and Wantagh Elementary School Assistant Principal Rachel Iannuzzi were administrators who received tenure.
This year’s tenure recipients are:
• Dr. Stephanie Scolieri, executive director for human resources and administration.
• Dr. Christopher Widmann, Wantagh High School
assistant principal.
• Rachel Iannuzzi, Wantagh Elementary School assistant principal.
• Daniel Bonomini, Wantagh High School special education teacher.
• Kerri Anne Chiara, board certified behavior analyst.
• Alexa Del Piano, Forest Lake and Mandalay elementary schools STEAM teacher.
• Ashley Chamberlain, Wantagh Middle School special education teacher.
• Lindsay Glasser, Wantagh Elementary School reading and special education teacher.
•Allison Santaniello, Forest Lake fourth grade teacher. Photos courtesy of the Wantagh School District
The Wantagh Board of Education recognized nine educators who received tenure on May 8 during a ceremony before the meeting.
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Wantagh Nation Flag Football Building Champions On
Wantagh Nation Flag Football (WNFF), a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is making a lasting impact in youth sports by doing more than just teaching kids how to play—it’s shaping confident, disciplined, and respectful young individuals.
At its core, WNFF is committed to inspiring and empowering young athletes to excel both on and off the field. By providing a nurturing and dynamic environment, the organization helps every child develop a lifelong love for the game of flag football.
Led by professional coaches, Wantagh Nation ensures that all players receive highquality instruction in a fun, structured setting. Beyond the fundamentals of the sport, athletes gain life skills like teamwork,
and Off the Field
discipline, sportsmanship, and respect values that serve them well far beyond the field.
Wantagh Nation Flag Football welcomes boys and girls of all ages and experience levels, and focuses on creating a space where athletes can grow in both skill and character. It’s about developing great players—and even better people.
We are also committed and dedicated to bringing Girls Flag Football as a varsity sport to Wantagh High School, giving young women more opportunities to compete, grow, and lead through athletics.
Learn more at: www.wantaghnation.com
Email: wantaghnation@gmail.com
Follow on Instagram: @wantaghnation Join the Nation—where youth sports are about passion, purpose, and progress.
ey excel in academics, proudly wear the black and gold as athletes and give back to their community. ere are many similarities between Wantagh High School seniors
Skylar Mondelli and Gabriel Avitabile, including both earning speaking roles at the June graduation ceremony.
Skylar is the Class of 2025 valedictorian with a weighted grade point average of 108.526, followed closely behind by Gabriel and his 108.293 GPA. e scholars have made the most of their high school careers, both in and out of the classroom.
During a physical education class, Skylar was visited by Principal Dr. Paul Guzzone, who asked her to come to his o ce. Soon he con rmed what
she was thinking – she was the valedictorian.
“Once he told me the news, I was very excited,” Skylar said. “It shows that all of the hard work I put into this ended up paying o .”
“I was shocked,” added Gabriel, who was called down to Dr. Guzzone’s o ce to learn he earned the second rank. “I was so happy. It’s a culmination of all I’ve done throughout the years.”
Skylar got her start at Mandalay Elementary School and Gabriel had his rst years at Wantagh Elementary School.
Since coming to high school, both have taken doubledigit numbers of Advanced Placement and college-level courses. e rigorous schedules have prepared them well for college, where Skylar wants to
study to be a nurse anesthetist and Gabriel plans to major in engineering.
A school day rarely ends for them when the nal bell rings. Skylar is a three-sport athlete, with four years on both the varsity volleyball and spring track teams, and three years on varsity basketball. is year, she will do winter track instead of basketball. She also is president of the Wantagh Foundation for Furthering the Sciences, co-vice president of Health Occupation Students of America, vice president of the World Language Honor Society and a member of the Key Club and the National, English and Science honor societies.
Skylar plays the ute in the wind ensemble and volunteers with Shooting Stars,
a local program that promotes tness for children through developmentally appropriate activities.
Gabriel is president of the World Food Club and Art Club, treasurer of the Fashion Club and a member of Art Portfolio Development, Future Business Leaders of America and the National, English, Math and World Language honor societies. rough his work with the Art Club, he has contributed to several murals including at the middle school and the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter. He plays the trumpet in the wind ensemble, has been a two-year member of the varsity swimming and spring track teams, and joined the varsity volleyball team this year. Gabriel does fundraising for
the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and volunteers with the St. Frances de Chantal Church youth group.
Both seniors will earn an AP Capstone Diploma in June and are pursuing the Seal of Biliteracy – Skylar for Spanish and Gabriel for Italian and Spanish. As juniors, Skylar received the Harvard Book Award and Gabriel earned the Chicago Book Award.
e soon-to-be graduates are very appreciative of their time in Wantagh schools. Skylar said the wide-range of course o erings allowed her to make a schedule that focused on her interests.
“ ere are so many wonderful opportunities I’ve been exposed to here,” she said, “and there’s so much guidance
and support at Wantagh High School. I had an extremely positive time here. I wouldn’t want to be at any other school.”
“I feel very lucky to be here and I’m grateful for the opportunities that I’ve gotten,” Gabriel added, citing an environment with supportive administrators, teachers and classmates. “ ere’s so much to learn here at Wantagh High School.”
Dr. Guzzone described Skylar and Gabriel as humble and driven, and will be proud to share the podium with them at graduation.
“Beyond GPA, they’re just model students,” he said. “What they do for our student body and our community beyond school hours is just tremendous.”
Congratulations to the Wantagh Class of 2025!
Skylar and Gabriel were congratulated on their achievement by their parents, as well as school and district administrators.
Gabriel has found a passion in Wantagh’s art classes and clubs.
e sciences have been a big part of Skylar’s high school experience.
Photos courtesy of the Wantagh School District
Skylar Mondelli and Gabriel Avitabile are the valedictorian and salutatorian of Wantagh High School’s Class of 2025.
e message board outside the school proclaims the accomplishment for Skylar and Gabriel.
Mia A atigato
Gianna Aiello
Sabrina Albano
Stephen Albano
Alyssa Alexander
Michael Alongi
Melanie Alvarado
James Ambrosio
Christos Andrinopoulos
Abigail Ardelean
Gianna Arteca
Ariana Au ero
Julia Avena
Gabriel Avitabile
Michael Avitabile
Juliette Azzariti
Rishabh Banerjee
Grace Bellia
Nicole Bellia
Gabriella Benisvy
Riley Berardis
Saige Blaney
Avery Bogacki
Nikolas Boiko
Kate Bonasera
Owen Borod
Maya Boyko
Brody Bozzo
Nicholas Brown
Emma Burns
Isabelle Byrne
Cole Ca so
Anthony Calise
Dylan Campisi
Evelyn Caputo
Justin Catanzaro
Juliana Cerasi
Mia Cheng
Isabella Cicero
Emma Colaco
Michael Colaianni Jr.
Mattea Conforti
Ryan Conigliaro
Edward Correa-Baez
Robert Corry
Nathaniel Cortes
Christopher Coseglia
Margaret Craig
Damien Crowley
Dominick Cusumano
Miles Dale
Christian Danzilo
Krista DeBiase
Olivia DeSeta
James DiBona
Gavin Diegnan
Tyler Dietz
Kaitlin Dillon
Michael Dimoulas
Natalie Dispenza
Alexa Dowden
Krista Dowling
Hannah Doyle
Haley Fahey
Jared Fernandez
Nicholas Figueroa
Peyton Florez
Riley Forthofer
Ashley Fox
Eva Franzitta
Kyle Frey
Ashlee Fucarino
Alexandra Gaal
Davian Galdamez-
Marmol
Enjoli Gatterdam
John Gendels
Nicholas Genovese
Tessa Genovese
Jayla George
Jonathan Glasser
Jack Goodwin
Maya Green
Vincent Grogan
Tyler Groppe
Brianna Guardado
Kevin Gut eisch
Kelly Hauck
Mackenzie Hayes
Nathan Healy
Brianna Henriques
Riley Henry
Dylan Herman
Gregory Heym Jr.
Lorenzo Hilliard
So a Hilliard
Angelo Hilo
Antonia Hilo
Oliver Iacobazzi
Tucker Iacobazzi
Lyla Ingrilli
Daniel Jackson
Abby Jacobs
Nicole Johnson
Tasso Kasimis
Alessandra Kearney
Aiden King
Elizabeth Kirchner
Parizoda Kodirova
Kendall Koppe
Leonard Korman
Jamielynn Korotki
Isabella Kugal
Joseph LaCova
Jacklynn LaMacchia
Leo Lampasona
Arianna Laucella
Jason Lee
Madeline Lehrer
Isabella Libranti
Caden LiCausi
Bridget Lindquist
Ryan Lipski
Evan Lydon
Jessica Maggio
Samantha Magri
Stephen Manolio
Dylan Martini
Anthony Marullo
Christopher Massari
Alyssa Massey
Morgan Masterson
Quinn McBride
Colin McCann
Maeve McGlade
Margaret McLoughlin
Shareef McMillan
Frank McNally
Fiona McQuillan
Lianna Menegalli
Tamiah Mercier
Matthew Merecka
Lexie Merting
Sadie Merting
Paige Miller
Michael Molina
Skylar Mondelli
Mia Monniello
Brendan Moser
Michael Muscarnera
Justin Mustacciuolo
Anthony Nace
Maximus Naglieri
Peyton Naus
John Nicoletti
John Nocera
Hailey O’Brien
Sydney Owens
Gianna Paccione
Ava Padula
Joseph Panella
Aditya Pasricha
Francesco Pellicoro
Andrew Perez
Luke Perfetti
Christopher Pickford
Aidan Post
Congratulations to the Wantagh Class of 2025!
Emma Priest
Bryson Prochilo
Richards Qu
Shannon Quinn
Kaitlin Rapuano
Sadie Reich
Matthew Riley
Logan Rivera
Christopher Romano
Catherine Russo
Layla Saka
Sean Salfarlie
Isabella Sandoval
Derek Schafroth
Logan Schroh
Isabella Sclafani
Nicholas Simone
John Sims
Riana Singh
Riley Smith
Cole Spinelli
Kayla Spisto
Owen Stachlik
Lincoln Sundvall
Evelyn Susco
Robert Terrana
Hannah eissen
Devyn Tinoco
Veronica Titone
Ava Tomeo
Bridget Toscano
Nicholas Troise
Julianna Tsempelis
Joseph Valentino
Juliana Vanorden
Owen Venne
Liza Wasnieski
Colin Winges
Benjamin Wojcik
Macen Wood
Riley Wood
Tommy Wunderlich
Dylan Yannelli
Carlos Zetino Flores
Senator Rhoads Honors Local Students With Statewide Scholarships
New York State Senator Steve Rhoads proudly awarded two $3,000 scholarships on behalf of the New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators. This year, two outstanding students from his district were honored for their academic achievement, athletic excellence, and remarkable stories of perseverance, service, and leadership.
Damien Crowley of Wantagh was awarded the James Conte Academic Scholarship. Damien is a standout scholar with a perfect ACT score, ten AP exam scores of 5, a weighted GPA of 108.8, and completion of college-level Multivariable Calculus. He’s a published researcher, having presented on sustainability topics like coastal erosion and
polymer recycling. Beyond academics, Damien raised over $82,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, served as a research intern with PhD candidates, and leads multiple school clubs. This fall, he will attend Stanford University to study engineering.
Thomas DiLeo of Plainview received the Senator John Marchi Athletic Scholarship.
Ending high school with a 100.1 GPA and receiving a 35 ACT score, Thomas is now a sophomore in Stony Brook University’s highly competitive 8-year Scholars for Dental Medicine Program, where he has excelled academically with a 3.8 GPA while also serving as a starting left-fielder on the club baseball team. Despite living with severe asthma, Thomas became an MVP
athlete, All-League award recipient, and inspiring team leader. He’s also deeply involved in faith-based service, youth mentorship, and dental community outreach. Thomas holds his Italian heritage and family close to heart, enjoying activities such as cooking and dancing.
“Damien and Thomas embody the values we strive to honor through these
scholarships—dedication, leadership, resilience, and pride in their heritage,” said Senator Rhoads. “They make our community incredibly proud, and I can’t wait to see all they accomplish.”
Last year, the district celebrated one winner— this year, two remarkable young men have earned well-deserved recognition on a statewide stage.
DAMIEN CROWLEY
THOMAS DiLEO
By Deb Colton
Following a precarious weather forecast, the Wantagh Spring Festival was greeted by an afternoon of bright sunshine, families, neighbors, and a wonderful day for all that attended. The festival is a major part of the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh’s annual fundraising efforts that help support the scholarships we give out in the spring and sending children to Kamp Kiwanis, among other community efforts.
As we quickly slide into the warm haze of summertime with no school, children are getting ready to go to camp, summer jobs, and more free time enjoying days outdoors. The Kiwanis Club of Wantagh has once again asked the community to help support our local food pantries at the Kiwanis Food Drive on June 14th.
WHAT’S HAPPENING AT THE Kiwanis Club Of Wantagh
Summer is all about Children at Kiwanis
When school is out there are often one or two less meals in some homes each weekday. No matter what the calendar says, children still need nourishment to develop all year long. If you missed the recent Food Drive at King Kullen, please consider donating on your own to one of our local Wantagh food pantries at St. Francis & St. Jude Episcopal churches.
A wonderful way for children to break away from the worries of daily life, even if just for a week, can be found in Taberg New York. Kamp Kiwanis will soon begin welcoming children from all over the state to have fun hiking, living in nature, breathing fresh air, and having plenty of healthy food in a safe, protective environment. Children ages 8 –14 are hosted by local Kiwanis Clubs from across
New York to attend at no cost to their families. The Kiwanis Club of Wantagh is working diligently to host as many campers as possible again this summer for the experience of a lifetime.
Kamp Kiwanis is located a few miles outside of Rome New York on over one hundred acres of open and wooded land in the western foothills of the Adirondack Mountains. The rolling landscape is a perfect place to make friends and experience new adventures while getting lots of physical exercise. It offers children the opportunity to participate in creative outdoor experiences in a noncompetitive environment with an emphasis on group and team building. Children meet new people with many starting lifetime friendships and enduring memories in the fresh mountain air.
To support sending more children to Kamp Kiwanis in 2025, the Kiwanis Clubs of Wantagh and East Meadow will be holding a fundraiser on July 9th at Borrelli’s,1580 Hempstead Tpke, East Meadow, from 6PM to 9:30PM. This event is open to everyone that wants to help support children. There will be karaoke, dancing and music donated for the evening by DJ Tim Aldridge. Tickets are $20. If you are interested in a fun night out that helps children, please contact Debbie Tota, 516729-0521, for tickets and/ or to donate raffle baskets. By offering children new opportunities to discover the gifts they have within themselves, Kamp Kiwanis offers children a chance to spread their wings.
In May the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh gave out numerous scholarships to
graduating seniors for their tireless efforts performing service projects in the area. Through the Wantagh High School Kiwanis Key Club, students helped to improve our community in conjunction with the many efforts of the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh. Many of the winners and their parents attended the Kiwanis Club of Wantagh’s monthly June meeting. These young adults who will soon be embarking on their collegiate careers shared some of their successes with club members. It is so impressive to hear these thoughtful young people as they prepare to leave to start their next phase of growth. The Kiwanis Club of Wantagh wishes each of them many successes and hope that they will continue to find satisfaction helping others wherever they may go in the future. The Wantagh community has been enriched through their service during their high school years.
Children from Wantagh will eventually be part of the next generation of
leaders shaping the future. Every one of them deserves the opportunity to develop completely and to strive to reach whatever dreams they may have. Within our Kiwanis community, we embrace our future leaders wherever their dreams take them.
With the impressive
accomplishments of our graduating seniors we can all be inspired to do something that will make an impact on people’s lives. Every good action becomes a small miracle to help make life better for someone else. Together, let us make the summer of 2025 the summer of our children!
