Message from Mr. Payton

Dear Phillips Avenue Families,

Welcome to the 2008-2009 school year!  I hope you had an enjoyable summer and are excited as we are for the school year to begin.  We would like to welcome our new Assistant Principal, Ms. Patty Nugent to Phillips Ave School.

We will continue to implement the Teachers’ College approach to balanced literacy.  All grades will continue to focus on literacy instruction during reading and writing workshop sessions. Many of our staff members participated in a Teachers’ College advanced reading training over the summer.  Professional development will continue throughout the year, within Phillips and at the district level. >More

All children … No exceptions … No excuses

Current News from 2008-09
Highlights of the news at Phillips

The Block: A Kindergarten Collage
(November, 2008 - Riverhead, NY) A brightly colored Kindergarten Collage from the Phillips Avenue School currently decorates the lobby of the District Office. Read about this creative effort. >More

Spooky Science at Phillips Avenue
(October, 2008 - Riverhead, NY) Solids, liquids and gas were the concepts taught in a recent spooky science lesson that used steaming cauldrons of dry ice and a Halloween theme. The district’s new K-12 Science Director, Lois Etzel, teamed with STAR Academy teacher/facilitator Peter Huszagh and STAR students Nicole and Kaniesha (pictured in Mrs. Boscola’s first grade classroom at the Phillips Avenue School) to teach this science lesson. These science wizards fully engaged all the kindergarten and first grade students at Phillips in a giggle-inducing science lesson that used rocks, colored liquids, balloons, ice cubes, dry ice and a little teaching magic to help these tiny scientists embrace critical thinking and begin their study of science. >More

The Third Annual Reading Week. . .
(March 2008)
This year Mr. Payton challenged his students to read for at least 75,000 minutes (outside of school.) Mr. Payton promised that if the students met his challenge, he would allow the class and teacher who read the most minutes to turn him into a human sundae during the final celebratory assembly. >More

The First Annual Math Bee . . .
(November 2007) "The intention of the Math Bee was to provide motivation for students to learn their Math Facts and have a chance to earn the title 'Math Bee Winner' --as well as prizes," shared the Phillips Avenue Math Coach Theresa Curry. "All contestants were treated to a pizza party. Math Bee Winners earned gift certificates, got their picture in the newspaper, and will be treated to a winners luncheon with a special guest. We also worked in a sense of teamwork by having each class make signs to encourage their contestants. I was very happy with the results." >More

Phase III of Phillips Playground . . .
(November 2007) It was a cold and windy November day, but the eager students at the Phillips Avenue School cheered enthusiastically as Principal Tom Payton called on them to thank all of the parent association (PAPA) volunteers who worked so hard to raise the funds for the final phase of their playground. Another cheer went up for John Trent and the district's maintenance workers who assembled all of the equipment. Yet another cheer went up for Superintendent of Schools Diane B. Scricca, who congratulated the school on working together to ensure "that our students have a fun and healthy place to play." >More

The First Day of School, the Boo Hoo Breakfast and PAPA . . .
(September 2007) It’s 8:45, September 6th, the first day of school at the Phillips Avenue School, and the principal, Mr. Tom Payton, is eagerly waiting at the curb for the first bus to arrive. Mr. Payton's first order of business is to greet all of the students as they come off the bus. Some children spontaneously hug him as soon as their feet hit the pavement. Then he's off to the "Boo Hoo Breakfast," which he instituted upon his arrival in the Riverhead School District two years ago. >More

Phillips News Archive
Highlights of the news at Phillips from previous years.
2004-05, 2006-07

All of the News in the District
A chronological overview of the news in the District as it happens.

District News Archive
A chronological overview of the news from 2002-2006.