Though the schools are closed in July and August, there is a great deal of activity in the Roslyn Public Schools as we prepare for the opening of school in September.

The biggest task we face this summer is overseeing the construction that is going on in our buildings. Renovations at the Heights School are being completed as the building readies itself for pre-K, kindergarten and grade 1 this fall. At the Roslyn Middle School, the expansion and renovation project is in full swing. Residents passing by the middle school can easily see extensive construction activity accompanying the addition of a new gymnasium and classroom wing and other changes to the building.

At Roslyn High School, a brand new track, grandstand and tennis courts are being built. We know this has been an inconvenience for residents who use the track and courts regularly, and we do appreciate your patience as we create outstanding new athletic facilities for the future of our school community.

As always, hiring of new staff has also kept us very busy in Central Administration. We have successfully completed searches for a number of important administrative positions that have become vacant as a result of retirements and resignations. Dr. Edward Salina has already come on board as the district's director of K-12 Computer Technology. The high school will welcome David Gutmann as assistant principal, and Dr. Steven Cohen is the district's new Social Studies chairperson. In addition, Regina Colardi, a veteran educator in Roslyn, has been named as assistant principal at Heights.

During the last week in August, nearly 40 new administrators, teachers and paraprofessionals will participate in a week-long orientation program for new staff. A number of workshops and meetings have been planned especially for them to ensure that they are acclimated to their new surroundings and ready for the first day of school on Sept. 5.

Though most of these members of the professional staff are taking the place of staff who have recently retired or left the district for other reasons, some have been hired to help the district to maintain appropriate class sizes as we keep pace with continuously rising student enrollment. Registration of students who are new to our district is another activity that is ongoing through the summer.

Our summer enrichment and recreation program that ran throughout the month of July was again very successful this year. Several hundred students who are residents of the school district participated in the annual program, which took place at Harbor Hill School, and some two dozen high school students also worked with youngsters under the supervision of the teaching staff.

Residents will shortly be receiving copies of two publications which are produced annually, if they have not done so already. A special edition of Scope features the Roslyn High School graduation ceremony in June and contains the Superintendent's Annual Report, which highlights the outstanding achievements of 2000-01.

The Scope Calendar for 2001-02, which is much anticipated by parents, will also be mailed to every residence in August, as we look ahead to another very successful year in the Roslyn Public Schools.