Jericho, East Williston students celebrate first day of school today

For 5-year-old Sophia Davydov, Monday was a big day.

It marked the first day of kindergarten for the young girl, who joined her classmates at North Side elementary school in East Williston with a mix of nerves and anticipation.

"She got up, she was happy, Ms. Frazier had magic confetti for them to put under their pillow," said her mother, Ester, referring to her daughter's new teacher. "She's excited, a little nervous, but it's OK."

Sophia was also joined by her father, Yuriy, and her 3-year-old sister as she walked to the front door of the school.

As she held back tears, the girl made her way into the building with the help of Nicole Hunn, the district’s interim assistant superintendent for elementary instruction and personnel.

"I...believe that as an educator, it is our role to support children academically but also socially, emotionally," Hunn said. "And I think that people need to feel connected in order to really learn and be able to know that they are seen and that they're valued."

East Williston was one of two districts on Long Island to open Monday, the first on the Island to do so for the 2026-27 academic year. The other district was Jericho.

At Jericho High School on Monday morning, freshman Jeremy Huang, 14, was among the students who arrived ready to conquer a new year and new courses. Jeremy said he was looking forward to meeting new friends and learning about video production.

"It's a little nerve-wracking, but I have a feeling that it's going to be a great year," he said.

Superintendent Robert Kravitz and other staff welcomed students as they streamed into the building.

"I love to, you know, try to give them high-fives and excite them...They should be excited, and most of them are," he said.

He also sought to encourage the high school's educators, as they embarked on a new year as well.

"Some administrators are new, and we hope to invigorate everyone to continue the growth of Jericho to be the best that we can be, not only in Long Island and New York State, but across the country," he said.

The high school welcomed a new interim principal, David Cohen, who retired in June from his role as the district's assistant superintendent for human resources. Kravitz said the high school has also opened a new business lab and is launching an EMT program this year.

“I'm just thrilled and ecstatic to be with the kids again in the high school,” Cohen said. “We have amazing kids in Jericho, and they're incredibly mature. They're incredibly enthusiastic. They're brilliant, and the opportunity for me personally to spend my days with them just keeps me young.”

Jay Patel, 16, a junior, was eager to get back into the school routine and tackle challenging courses.

"I know there are going to be a lot of really hard classes," he said, adding he is taking AP Physics and Science Research.

"We're excited to come back to this amazing place," Patel said. 

For senior Janice Kwon, 16, the first day of her last year in the district was bittersweet.

“I'm kind of nervous because it's my first day of senior year, but I'm really excited to spend time with my friends and then go to college,” said Kwon, who is involved with the school’s newspaper and broadcast program.

'We get to start fresh'

Back at North Side in East Williston, 9-year-old Niam Gupta said he was excited to see his friends after a summer filled with soccer.

Niam, who wore a jersey from the French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain, said he was looking forward to physical education and math classes.

Superintendent Danielle Gately said district staff worked all summer to prepare for the first day of school.

The North Side school building was damaged in July when a Jeep drove into the library, which was unoccupied at the time. Police have said the Jeep's 77-year-old driver suffered a medical episode.

But on Monday, Gately said the library was open and ready for students. The front of the school building was blocked by concrete barriers as a protective measure.

“We’re so grateful for the swift action of our faculty, staff [and] the board of education, who really took action to ensure the front of East Williston Avenue was secure with barriers… so that our students and staff can rest assured that, should something like that ever happen, we will be protected,” Gately said.

Christina Mastronardi, who has four children attending district schools, said she was happy no kids were there when the accident occurred.

“I’m glad they put something up now and hopefully they’ll put something permanent up soon,” she said.

Mastronardi said she had a hectic morning Monday, as her kids got ready for the new school year.

“It was a little crazy, but it’s good, we manage,” she said.

North Side Principal Jamie Pandolf said the school welcomed about 500 students Monday.

“I think the big part of today is getting to know their teachers, getting to see one another, getting to be on the playground outside,” Pandolf said.

Christina Scaccia's youngest daughter, Mila, was one of the students who started school at North Side on Monday.

Scaccia watched as the girl walked into the school building for her first day of kindergarten. She said her 5-year-old had wondered who she would eat lunch with or if she would have friends to play with during recess. But, she said, Mila was also looking forward to playing on the playground and meeting the teachers.

Mila wasn't the only one excited for the first day. 

Even after 15 years of working in the district, Gately said she still had nerves leading up to the return of classes.

"We never sleep before the first day of school," she said. "That never goes away. It's really the magic of being an educator, as we get to start fresh like this every year."