Superintendent's Corner
December 20, 2024
Dear Royal Family,
Port Jefferson experienced a great loss last week, with the passing of our student, Ash Patterson. Although this has been a difficult and emotional time for all of us, I'm profoundly proud of the way our school community came together. Through this incredible grief, I am filled with a sense of gratitude and pride for our village. Many individuals have commented on the love, patience, and support all of you have shown for each other, our staff, our students, and especially the Patterson Family.
The holiday season is an ideal time for reflection, to pause and consider the moments that have shaped the past year. We confronted challenges, faced them head-on, and emerged stronger together. We've shared countless positive moments with loved ones and friends, building cherished memories along the way. As we remember those we've lost, let us also hold onto the understanding that every moment we have is precious and worth treasuring.
It is a privilege to be part of the Port Jefferson School District. As the final days of December draw near, I am in awe of the incredible accomplishments our students have achieved throughout the first half of this school year. We have celebrated our scholars, our student athletes, our artists, our performers, our poets, our actors, and our musicians. Their determination and resilience are truly inspiring, and I have no doubt that the second half of this school year will bring even more achievements.
I extend my heartfelt gratitude to our staff, who come to work each day with a single, unwavering purpose: the education, safety, and well-being of our students. Each of them, regardless of their role, plays an integral part in making our district a special place to live and work.
With your own families, I hope you find some time to rest, reflect, and connect with your loved ones. I look forward to continuing our mission together as we head into the New Year.
Sincerely,
Jessica Schmettan
Superintendent
August 29, 2024
Dear Royal Families,
As we approach the beginning of a new school year, I wanted to take a moment to welcome back all of our students and their families. Our theme for our staff conference days this year was entitled, “Tomorrow is Going to be a Brighter Day,” with a focus on finding happiness. We have an incredible community of educators and staff, each of whom plays an invaluable role in the success of our District.
Our goal this year is to ensure all our residents find the value and joy in the Port Jefferson School District. As a result, we look forward to working with all of you to help children experience true happiness and a strong sense of belonging in our schools. We are ready to start this new school year with an optimistic, fresh start and know each of you will collectively help us towards a brighter future!
We are excited to announce that we have adopted a new form of school-to-home communication called Parent Square. This unified communications platform is designed to keep parents and guardians informed and encourage greater engagement and connection with our District. It provides a safe way for District administrators, school principals, teachers, staff, and parents to send and receive school, course, extracurricular, athletic, and grade-level information.
Detailed information about this platform will be sent through email next week. In addition to lunch, this year the District is serving breakfast at all three of our buildings. Students will have access to buy breakfast first thing in the morning at our Middle School and Elementary School, and during periods one and two at our High School. Cafeteria menus can be found on our website along with details about pricing.
Thank you to our clerical, facilities, technology, and administrative staff who have worked tirelessly this summer to prepare our buildings for opening day. Our efforts were derailed by the historic rainfall that hit our area. Our Middle School and High School suffered water damage. Fortunately, through the hard work of our grounds and custodial team along with a remediation company, our buildings will be clean and ready for students on the first day. We hope all of your families and homes are safe. If any student or family needs assistance after this traumatic event, please contact our building principal.
We are excited to see all of you on Tuesday, September 3. Wishing you a wonderful Labor Day weekend.
Sincerely,
Jessica Schmettan
Superintendent