Administration

Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Joseph Giani

August, 2021

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

Welcome to the 2021-22 school year. I hope this letter finds you healthy and enjoying the final days of summer vacation with family and friends. Whether we are greeting you in person or virtually, we eagerly anticipate another successful year here in South Country School District, and look forward to seeing you all on the first day of school, which is Wednesday, September 1, 2021. 

I am delighted to announce the following administrative changes, which I am certain will result in a multitude of positive educational gains in our schools: 

• Erika Della Rosa- Principal, Bellport High School
• Brian Ginty- Principal overseeing South Haven ECC and Remote Learning
• John Frankie- Assistant Principal, Bellport High School
• Aimee Iuliucci- Assistant Principal, Bellport High School
• Rosa Kalomiris- Assistant Principal, Bellport Middle School
• Reinaldo Latorre- Assistant Principal, Bellport Middle School
• Anthony Cavalluzzo- Assistant Principal, Brookhaven Elementary School

Once again, I would like to thank you for joining me during our district-wide parent meetings via Zoom to discuss the reopening plan for September. I enjoyed hearing your thoughts and sharing information at these meetings. As a reminder, a copy of the reopening plan in its entirety may be found on our district website at the following link: https://www.southcountry.org/district/Preliminary_Reopening_Plan. Some key points from our plan are as follows:

• Schools will reopen for students on Wednesday, September 1, 2021
• Students will follow traditional in-person schedules, 5 days per week
• Remote Learning is available for students with a documented medical condition or where students who have otherwise struggled have excelled with remote learning
• The District will make available all co-curricular and interscholastic sports, grades 4-12
• The District has removed all Plexiglas Desk Barriers
• Face Coverings/Masks will be required Indoors
• Face Coverings/Masks will not be required Outdoors
• Face Coverings/Masks will be required on the school bus or district transportation
• Daily attestations for students and staff will be required
• Temperature checks will occur upon entry to any school
• Students will be a minimum of 3-feet of physical distance within classrooms
• Remote Learning opportunities will be available when quarantining is required

Effectively communicating with you is important to us. In our effort to maximize school to home/home to school communication, we will continue to communicate with you through email and the Parent Portal. This will maximize our use of technology and get information to and from school quickly and efficiently. Similar to last year, all summer mailing material has been posted on our district website, rather than mailing hard copies. These materials may be found on the home webpage of your child’s school. Please note that the “Student Temperature Checks” affirmation included with this material must be completed in Parent Portal by August 30, 2021, along with the parent/student affirmations. If you have any questions or concerns regarding these materials, please contact the principal of your child’s school. Listed below, please find the contact information for each of our schools:

• Bellport High School (631) 730-1575
• Bellport Middle School (631) 730-1626
• Frank P. Long Intermediate School (631) 730-1725
• Brookhaven Elementary School (631) 730-1700
• Kreamer Street Elementary School (631) 730-1650
• Verne W. Critz Elementary School (631) 730-1675
• South Haven Early Childhood Center (631) 730-2180

In addition, the District has established procedures to respond effectively to questions and suggestions from parents and residents. The procedures start with the person closest to the situation, as it is that person that will have the most information. Because situations sometimes require that additional staff become involved in the conversations, we have categorized the major areas of interest, with a list for each area of those responsible. This information may be found on our district website at the following address: http://www.southcountry.org/district/have_a_question

Finally, there may be times when the weather will cause schools to have a delayed opening or close for the day. These decisions will generally be made by 5:30 am. All delays and closings will be posted on the district’s website at www.southcountry.org, and the district will place a phone call through ConnectEd to your home or cell phone notifying you of any closings or delayed opening. The information will also be broadcast on the following stations: WALK 97.5 FM; WBAB 102.3 FM; WBZO 103.1 FM; WRCN 103.9 FM; WBLI 106.1 FM; and Channel 12 TV News.

I look forward to working with you to ensure that all of our children have a very successful, safe and enjoyable school year. On behalf of the District, welcome to the 2021-2022 school year!

Sincerely,

Joseph Giani

Dr. Joseph Giani

Superintendent of Schools