Garden City Public Schools

The Long Island Coalition Against Bullying has named Mrs. Elizabeth Dukeman, a general education teacher at Locust School in the Garden City School District, as one of this year’s Long Island School Heroes.

The award recognizes K-12 educators and school community members across Long Island who go above and beyond to support kindness, inclusion and safety, leaving a lasting and positive impact on students and families. Honorees are nominated by parents, peers and students who see firsthand their commitment to supporting children in meaningful and life-changing ways.

Beyond celebrating the impact of these individuals, the Long Island School Hero Awards also serve as a reminder of the ongoing challenges schools face around bullying, mental health and student well-being — and the difference that one dedicated person can make in addressing them.

Mrs. Dukeman has been teaching for more than 20 years and has both her bachelor’s and master’s degree in special education. She has worked in general education as a classroom teacher in Garden City since 2007 and while there has taught first, fourth and fifth grade. She was nominated by Dr. Lisa Pasch, the parent of a student in Mrs. Dukeman’s class last year.

As a child psychologist with a strong background in bullying prevention, Dr. Pasch has worked closely with schools and community organizations on this important issue.

“In my 20-plus years in the field and around countless educators, I had never felt compelled to submit a nomination until Mrs. Dukeman,” Dr. Pasch shared. "Throughout the year, Mrs. Dukeman showed both her dedication to the students as well as being an anti-bullying warrior. While there had been some instances of bullying or potentially bullying behaviors, Mrs. Dukeman's responses all came from a place of kindness and wanting all students to feel safe and secure in and out of the classroom. I believe she truly helps children at a very vulnerable age.”

“I was honored when I was nominated, and even more honored to have been chosen for this award,” said Mrs. Dukeman. “It’s always been a goal of mine to be an advocate for others. Whether someone needs me to be their voice or simply hold their hand for a minute, I’m all in — everyday.”

“We are so proud of Mrs. Dukeman for being named a Long Island School Hero by the Long Island Coalition Against Bullying,” said Dr. Kusum Sinha, superintendent of Garden City Schools. “Her compassion, empathy and commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment have made a lasting difference in the lives of our students through the years.”

Mrs. Dukeman will be honored at the Long Island School Hero Awards ceremony, presented by the LICAB on Oct. 20.

Students, staff and families across Garden City Public Schools brought energy and pride to the district’s annual homecoming, pep rally and spirit week festivities. Leading up to the parade and football game, students took part in themed days including “Pajama Day,” “Tropical Tuesday,” “America Day,” “Color Wars” and “Spirit Day.”

On Sept. 19, high school senior varsity athletes and marching band members visited the primary, elementary and middle schools to join their pep rallies and share information about the weekend’s festivities. At the high school, students decorated the bleachers for each class year ahead of their own pep rally, which celebrated senior athletes and featured fun skits and activities. Seniors Danny Curley and Jisha Samuel were crowned this year’s homecoming queen and king.

The following day, the district’s homecoming activities kicked off with the annual parade and colorful class floats. Participants from student and parent organizations, including the PTA and SEPTA, as well as the Garden City Police Department and the board of education, all took part in the festivities. The parade concluded at Garden City High School, where the Trojans took on Baldwin in the homecoming game.

Halftime featured performances by the marching band, color guard, cheerleaders and the kickline squad, adding to the excitement. The day finished on a high note as the Trojans secured a 56-7 victory, ending an unforgettable homecoming celebration.

“Our students’ energy and enthusiasm made this year’s homecoming truly special,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha. “Seeing the entire community come together to celebrate Garden City spirit was a joy for everyone involved.”

On Sept. 15, Garden City Public Schools proudly continued its tradition of celebrating International Dot Day, a worldwide event inspired by Peter H. Reynolds’ book “The Dot,” which encourages students to embrace their creativity, take risks and see the impact they can make.

Each year, students across the district participate in art, writing and collaborative projects that highlight their unique voices. This year, classrooms brought the story of “The Dot” to life as students came together to “make their mark,” sharing their ideas, creating colorful displays and reflecting on how even small acts of courage can lead to something extraordinary.

“Literature has the power to spark imagination and inspire action,” said Lauren Kaufman, director of literacy K-12. “International Dot Day reminds us that when students are encouraged to be brave and creative, they discover just how powerful their voices can be. Each mark they make is a step toward shaping a bright future for themselves and for the world around them.”

Garden City Middle School German language students marched in the 68th Annual German-American Steuben Day Parade in New York City, an annual celebration of the great achievements of Austrian, German and Swiss immigrants in the United States. The parade has grown into the largest event of its kind in the U.S., and brings together the entire German-American community, with many groups visiting from overseas to attend this event every year. The students marched up 5th Avenue from 67th Street to 86th Street and after the parade, enjoyed ice cream treats outside the Guggenheim Museum and visited the Ancient Playground in Central Park.

On Sept. 11, Garden City Schools participated in lessons and activities to honor and remember the events of Sept. 11, 2001. Students engaged in age-appropriate discussions to better understand the significance of the day and the importance of remembering those lost, as well as the courage shown by first responders and everyday heroes.

At Garden City Middle School, the Garden City Police Department provided American flags for every student to place outside the building. In small groups throughout the day, students went outside with their social studies classes to reflect on the events of 9/11 and the bravery of the first responders. After a morning moment of silence, students quietly placed the flags across the front of the school as acts of respect and remembrance.

“Watching the students quietly place the American flags in front of the building is evidence of the respect that the entire school community has for this day as we recognize 9/11,” said Mr. Ed Escobar, interim principal of Garden City Middle School. “We need to remember 9/11 not only for its sorrow but also for the strength and solidarity it inspired and move forward with determination to create a safe and peaceful world.”

At Garden City High School, classes took turns going outside to the school’s 9/11 memorial, which consists of a piece of the twin towers, flags and benches and is dedicated to those who lost their lives on that day. Students and teachers discussed the significance of the day before going back inside to continue the conversations.

At the elementary level, Stratford School’s second grade team read “The Fireboat” with their students, a story highlighting the heroes and first responders of 9/11. Afterward, students colored pictures of first responders and flags and wrote descriptive words such as “brave” and “strong,” helping them build vocabulary while reflecting on the qualities of community helpers.

At Hemlock School, primary students created flags and crafts describing what a hero means to them. Students also dressed in red, white and blue to honor the spirit of unity and patriotism.

Together, these activities gave students a meaningful way to honor the memory of Sept. 11 while also highlighting the importance of courage, service and unity − values that continue to guide and inspire the Garden City school community today.

Garden City Schools is proud to announce that nine exceptional students from Garden City High School have been selected as participants or alternates for the prestigious 2025 NYSSMA All-State Performing Ensembles. These talented musicians will represent the district at the annual event, taking place Dec. 4-7 in Rochester, highlighting their skills among the top performers across New York State.

Congratulations to the following students on this outstanding accomplishment:

Emily Pulver – Mixed Chorus

Sarah Phinney – Symphony Orchestra

Clara Archer – alternate, bass clarinet

Rebecca Chau – alternate, flute

Ava Chen – alternate, violin

Eton Lu – alternate, tuba

Grace Kumpel – alternate, violin

Elsie Ross – alternate, trumpet

Azra Zirhli – alternate, cello

Thousands of students auditioned last spring for the NYSSMA All-State Festival, making this an exceptional accomplishment for these Garden City musicians. Special thanks go to their ensemble teachers — Andrew Albani, Daniel DellaMonica, Alexandra Frazzetto, Stephen Mayo and James McCrann — for their dedication and guidance in preparing students for their auditions.

“Being selected to participate in NYSSMA's All-State ensembles is a tremendous honor that reflects not only exceptional musical talent, but also dedication, discipline and a deep love for the arts,” said Coordinator of Music and the Arts Ms. Akira Regan. “These students represent the very best of our state's young musicians, and we are incredibly proud of their achievement.”

The district wishes these students the best of luck as they prepare for their performances in December.

Garden City High School seniors Sarah Phinney and John Crouchley were named among the top 10 winners out of 1,372 entries and finalists in the Junior Scientists and Young Explorers Meta competition. JYEM is a global platform that invites high school and college students to submit original research across disciplines including the humanities, social sciences, engineering, life sciences and natural sciences.

The students were joined by GCHS junior Taylor Maguire, an International Science and Engineering Fair finalist who competed at the international fair in spring 2025 and was also recognized among the top finalists in this year’s JYEM.

For the 2025 competition, all three students submitted original research papers, essays and videos, earning recognition among 1,372 submissions worldwide. The JYEM editorial board conducted a rigorous triple-blind peer review to evaluate entries, ensuring the highest academic standards. ISEF honorees from across Long Island were among the top 10 winners, demonstrating the highly selective nature of the competition.

John’s research focused on air bearing technology, an innovative alternative to traditional ball and magnetic bearings. By using a cushion of pressurized air instead of physical contact, air bearings reduced friction, wear, vibration and energy use while increasing efficiency and lifespan. John is developing and testing a prototype to compare air bearings with conventional designs, with potential applications in wind turbines, flywheel energy storage and other high-performance systems.

Sarah’s project focused on strengthening crop resistance to the mosaic virus through protein modeling, using it to predict how mutations in DNA polymerase delta might affect viral replication. Her protein structure research was mentored by Garden City High School science teacher Dr. Meredith Foley.

“Last year, John and Sarah were 2025 NYSSEF round 2 finalists and Taylor was an ISEF finalist and first in her category at LISEF,” said Dr. Steven Gordon, science research teacher at GCHS. “Their selection as JYEM finalists confirms the consistent high quality of their work.”

The district is proud of John, Sarah and Taylor’s dedication and scientific achievements.

Garden City High School has been ranked No. 2 on Long Island, No. 16 in New York State and No. 147 nationally by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025 annual list of nearly 18,000 public high schools across the country, released on Aug. 19. These 2025 rankings reflect an improvement over the school’s already outstanding 2024 standings, placing Garden City High School among only 11 Long Island schools in the top 50 in New York State.

The 2025 “Best High Schools” edition evaluated schools based on college readiness, curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiencies and performance, underserved student success, and graduation rates. Garden City High School excelled across the board: 92% of students took at least one AP exam, 81% passed an AP exam, 99% are proficient in math and reading, 98% are proficient in science and the school has a 100% graduation rate, earning an outstanding overall score of 99.18 out of 100.

“This ranking affirms the sustained commitment to excellence that defines Garden City High School, reflecting the dedication of our staff, the talents of our students, the support of our community and our ever-striving push to keep getting better,” said Garden City High School Principal Mr. Kevin Steingruebner.

“I am so proud of our students, teachers and staff for their commitment to excellence,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha. “This recognition is a reflection of their hard work and the strong sense of community that makes Garden City a place where every student can grow and succeed.”

Two Garden City High School students — Tessa Frascogna and Xinxin (Tina) Tu — have been named among the 40 students recognized by the Long Island Arts Alliance for the 2026 school year. Each year, 20 students are honored as scholar artists and 20 as merit award winners for their exceptional achievements in the arts across five disciplines: visual arts, music, theater, dance and media arts.

The scholar artist awards celebrate high school seniors who demonstrate excellence in both academics and the arts. Recipients are nominated by their schools and will be featured monthly in Newsday, highlighting their outstanding accomplishments, creative journeys, academic pursuits and future goals.

Tessa earned recognition as a scholar artist in dance, while Tina was named a scholar artist in visual arts, celebrating their dedication and talent to the arts on Long Island. They will be honored at the 2026 Scholar Artist Awards Ceremony in spring of 2026.

The district is proud of Tessa and Tina’s hard work and outstanding contributions to the arts.

On Sept. 2, 2025, the Garden City School District welcomed students and staff back for the start of the new academic year. The return to school marked an exciting time with new opportunities for learning and growth. The start of this year brings several districtwide initiatives and significant facility improvements. Some highlights include the launch of the Lunch for Every Learner program, a new football field and bleachers at Garden City High School, an upgraded parking lot at Stewart School and air conditioning updates throughout the primary, elementary and middle schools.

“Our schools are filled with energy, creativity and a sense of community,” said Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kusum Sinha. “We’re proud to offer new programs, enhanced facilities and opportunities for every student to thrive. The 2025-2026 school year promises to be one of learning, achievement and success.”

The new football field is expected to be ready in the coming weeks, joining other exciting updates across the district. The Garden City community looks forward to a year filled with growth, engagement and success.