October 23, 2026

Dear BMS, Ames and MHS Families,

I hope this letter finds you and your family well. I am writing to share that the Massapequa School District will be conducting a Student Climate Survey as part of our ongoing efforts to create a positive, safe, and supportive school environment for all students.

We are committed to ensuring that every student feels safe, supported, respected, and connected at school. An important part of that work is listening directly to our students, understanding their experiences, and using their feedback to help guide our efforts moving forward.

The anonymous survey will be administered to students at Berner Middle School, Ames, and Massapequa High School during social studies classes on October 27, 2026. It will focus on students' experiences at school, including school climate, peer relationships, feelings of safety and belonging, and bullying-related behaviors they may have experienced or witnessed.

The survey will be administered by the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying (LICAB) as part of our partnership with the organization. LICAB works with schools and communities throughout Long Island to support bullying prevention, education, and student well-being.

LICAB will independently administer the survey and compile and analyze the results. The District will receive a report summarizing overall trends and findings. Because the survey is anonymous, the purpose is not to identify individual students, but rather to better understand the experiences and perceptions of our students as a whole.

Hearing directly from our students and understanding their perspectives is an important part of shaping our initiatives and strengthening our school communities. Their feedback will help us recognize what we are doing well and identify opportunities for continued growth and improvement. 

Thank you for your continued partnership and support.

Sincerely,

Dr. William Brennan
Superintendent of Schools
Massapequa Public Schools

Dear East Lake and McKenna Parents/Guardians,

The secure lockout at East Lake Elementary School and McKenna Elementary School has been lifted. Police have cleared the area, and all students and staff remained safe throughout the incident.

We would like to thank our students, staff, and families for their cooperation and for following our safety protocols during this time.

Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District

Dear East Lake and McKenna Parents/Guardians,

Please be advised that East Lake School and McKenna Elementary School are currently in a secure lockout due to a police presence in the surrounding area. All students and staff are safe, and normal school operations are continuing inside the buildings.

We ask that you please do not approach the schools at this time so that law enforcement can effectively manage the situation. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and will provide updates as additional information becomes available.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District

To Our Massapequa Family:

It’s hard to believe we’re already a month into the new school year! September was filled with energy and excitement as we welcomed back our Learners and Leaders, including our newest students, the Massapequa High School Class of 2039!

Across Massapequa Schools, we came together to remember and honor the 25th anniversary of September 11. Our youngest students focused on kindness, service and community, while our secondary students heard firsthand accounts and reflected on the impact of that day and the humanity that emerged. Less than a week later, our young citizens celebrated Constitution Day, exploring the principles and responsibilities at the heart of our democracy.

September also gave us plenty to celebrate! We recognized our All-State musicians and Class of 2027 valedictorian and salutatorian. Our Chiefs football team defeated Garden City 21-14 in a first-ever crossover game before 6,000 fans at Hofstra. We also officially opened our renovated high school gym alongside our Board of Education, administration, coaches, and student-athletes – with girls varsity volleyball christening it with a 3-0 win over Oceanside!

Please enjoy these moments and much more in our latest monthly news recap: 

Massapequa Minute – September 2026

Massapequa Moment – September 2026

There’s plenty more ahead in October! Homecoming is on Oct. 10 and Safe Halloween is on Oct. 25. Be sure to check our website calendar and join us as we continue celebrating all the great things happening across Massapequa Schools!

Also new this year, our Board of Education has launched Massapequa Board: Key Takeaways in Two – a quick, two-minute video recap of each Board meeting, shared the following day on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and Massapequa pride!

Sincerely,

William Brennan, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools

Dear Families.

We are excited to invite you to our annual special education transition fair, now officially named the Blueprint For Your Future fair!

This event supports students at every stage of their educational journey. Whether your child is in elementary school, middle school, high school, preparing for college, or transitioning into adult life, you will find valuable services, support programs, and community guidance.

This year’s fair is set to be our biggest yet, with more committed vendors and agencies attending than in any previous year. To help you plan your visit, we have launched a dedicated event webpage where you can view our "Spotlight" vendors and see real-time updates on all attending agencies.

Event Webpage: https://grapegamersgames.my.canva.site/blueprint-for-your-future

Please Register Early: While admission is always free, registration is highly encouraged. Letting us know you plan to attend ensures our visiting vendors bring enough physical resources, guides, and materials for every family.

No matter where your family is on the path from early education to college and beyond, this fair is designed to connect you directly with the resources to help guide your student's future.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Massapequa Special Ed Department

Good afternoon,

Registration for Varsity Ice Hockey is open on Arbiter Sports https://students.arbitersports.com/organizations/massapequa-public-schools-athletics. This process needs to be completed for your child to be eligible for participation. Please note, tryouts for Ice Hockey begin prior to other Winter sports:
Wednesday, October 28th, 8:30pm - 9:30 pm at AMP fitness, off ice tryout.
Thursday, October 29th, 9:00pm - 10:00 pm at Town of Oyster Bay Ice Skating Center, on ice tryout.

Sincerely,
Matt McLees, CMAA
Director of Athletics

Dear Massapequa School District Community,

Please be advised that there has been a change to the 2026 Homecoming Parade Route. To ensure everyone has the most up-to-date information for parade viewing, participation, and event planning, we ask that you review the attached NEW 2026 Homecoming Parade Route.

The 2026 Homecoming Parade will still take place as scheduled on Saturday, October 10, 2026, with a 12:30 p.m. kickoff. Please refer to the attached route map for complete details regarding the updated parade route.

We encourage all participants, families, residents, staff, and community members planning to attend the parade to familiarize themselves with the revised route prior to the event.

We look forward to seeing community members lining the streets as we celebrate our students, school spirit, and Massapequa pride. Your support helps make Homecoming a special tradition for everyone involved.

Thank you for your continued support as we work to provide a safe and enjoyable Homecoming experience for all.

Sincerely,

Massapequa High School
Massapequa School District

Grades K-2 Reading Under the Lights Update

Dear Grade K-2 Parents/Guardians,

The Reading Under the Lights event scheduled for October 5, 2026 has been relocated to the Massapequa High School Main Campus Football Field.

Enrollment is filling quickly, but a limited number of spaces are still available for K-2 students. To register, please use the following link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HhIL7f7h_Q8_v9WHp-w6HnVNpb5sX0EF/view?usp=sharing

All registered participants will receive a follow-up communication later this week with event confirmation and additional details.

We look forward to an exciting evening of reading and community spirit!

Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District

Dear Massapequa School District Community,

The Massapequa vs. Garden City Varsity Football Game has been postponed by Section 8 until Monday September 28th 5pm at Hofstra. Tickets already purchased in advance will be honored at the gate. The safety and well being of all involved remains our highest priority.

Sincerely,

Massapequa Public Schools Athletic Department

Dear K-2 Parents/Guardians,

We are excited to invite your child to participate in a special literacy event that celebrates school spirit, reading, and the joy of books!

Space is limited, and advance registration is required. Enrollment will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage families to sign up as soon as possible.

Event Information: Flyer

Register here: Registration Form

We look forward to sharing this exciting literacy experience with our young readers!

Sincerely,

Massapequa School District

Dear Elementary Families,

At Massapequa, we are committed to helping every student grow as both a learner and a leader. We believe that each child has unique strengths, interests, passions, and potential, and it is our responsibility to create learning environments where all students can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. By recognizing and supporting the whole child, we help students build the confidence, skills, and mindset needed to succeed in school and beyond.

Just as we intentionally build strong foundations in literacy and mathematics, we recognize the importance of helping children develop the social and emotional skills that support their daily growth and long-term development. By intentionally teaching children to recognize, understand, label, express, and regulate their emotions, we empower them to make thoughtful choices, build positive relationships, develop self-awareness, and take responsibility for their actions and behaviors. These foundational skills support both academic achievement and personal well-being, helping children become confident, capable learners and leaders.

Our schools have long recognized the importance of social-emotional learning and character development as essential components of educating the whole child. Through the collaborative work of the District’s Social-Emotional Learning Committee, RULER was identified as a common framework to strengthen and align these efforts across our elementary schools. This shared approach will provide students with consistent language, tools, and experiences that support their social, emotional, and academic growth.

Our teachers, administrators, and staff have and will continue to receive comprehensive training and are excited to introduce RULER tools, key vocabulary, and social-emotional learning strategies to students throughout the school year. The first two tools that you may hear your child mention are the Charter and the Mood Meter.

The Charter is a collaboratively developed agreement (sometimes referred to as a class agreement or constitution) that helps define how members of a classroom or school community want to feel, what actions and behaviors support those feelings, and how everyone will work together to create a positive, respectful, and supportive environment. The Charter serves as a foundation for building strong relationships and fostering a sense of belonging in the classroom.

The Mood Meter is a tool that helps students recognize, understand, and label their emotions or others (such as characters in a story) by identifying how they and others are feeling and reflecting on the energy of those emotions and the associated response. By developing a richer emotional vocabulary and greater self-awareness, students become better equipped to express their feelings, manage and embrace challenges, and make thoughtful decisions throughout the day.

Together, these tools help create a common language around emotions and relationships, supporting students as they develop the self-awareness, empathy, and emotional regulation skills needed to succeed both in and out of the classroom. Our goal is to give students the time and guidance they need to become confident, capable and empowered learners and leaders.

We believe that strong partnerships between schools and families are essential to supporting student success. Throughout the year, we will offer opportunities for parents and caregivers to learn more about RULER and the ways it can support children both at school and at home. When schools and families work together to support children's academic, social, and emotional growth, students benefit enormously. We look forward to partnering with you as we continue to build a school community where every child is encouraged to discover their strengths, pursue their passions, develop the skills needed to flourish and recognize the leader within themselves.

Sincerely,
The Massapequa School District