With the summer nearing an end, students are getting ready to start to 2005-2006 school year. The first day of school for Jericho students is Aug. 31. Syosset students will start on Sept. 6 and an update will be included in next week's Syosset-Jericho Tribune.

One major change that residents of Jericho will see this year is a switch to paperless communications. In an effort to reduce costs, district information will be available on-line at Jericho's website www.jerichoschools.org and emailed to those residents who register their email address.

The district calendar is available on-line as are the bus schedules. Parents are encouraged to call the individual school that their children attend and register their contact information. A bus schedule can be emailed to each parent after their information is registered.

Also, Jericho will also welcome three new administrators this school year.

Joseph Prisinzano will serve as the Jericho High School principal. He was the principal of Niagara-Wheatfield High School before coming to Jericho. Prisinzano's teaching experience focused on secondary mathematics and computer science.

Mark Pagano is the new Jericho High School assistant principal. His prior position was as a secondary associate principal at William Floyd High School. Pagano comes to Jericho with a strong background in secondary special education.

Dorothy Vann has been appointed as the K-12 Curriculum Associate for Special Education. Vann comes to Jericho from the Henry Viscardi School in Albertson where she most recently served as the principal of the Secondary Program for students in grades 7-12. Vann's teaching background centered on science and special education.

Superintendent Hank Grishman is excited for the upcoming school year. "District administration has been busy throughout the summer planning for the opening of schools," said Grishman. "We are pleased to welcome several outstanding new administrators and staff members to our school community. Our buildings and grounds staff has, as always, worked all summer preparing our facilities to open in exceptional condition. We look forward to a seamless opening day and an exciting school year."

Oyster Bay Town Supervisor John Venditto issued his annual advisory to drivers to be extra cautious once school is open.

"'School is Open - Drive Safely' is a slogan that has been around for a long time, but it always bears repeating as a new school year gets under way," Venditto stated. "The sort of youthful misjudgment children sometimes demonstrate ... walking and riding against traffic lights and signs or in undesignated areas, zig-zagging on bicycles, walking and riding out from between parked cars...is what we, as drivers, must be alert to. As a motorist, and someone who spends a lot of time on the road, I am especially cautious on neighborhood streets. I am inclined to decrease my speed below the posted limit and give extra wide clearance to children walking, riding or playing in the street.

"Another thing motorists should be alert to is signs. Many school crossing signs that were removed or turned up for the summer are in place again, so drivers will find themselves having to stop at unaccustomed locations. Signs or traffic lights may also have been installed at new locations, so we must all be particularly watchful," he said.

Venditto went on to say that parents should also remind children of their role in travel safety. "While crossing guards are posted at the busiest intersections, youngsters should be taught to look both ways before crossing any intersection and to cross only at the corner, unless there is a designated crossing elsewhere on the block," said the supervisor. "Those who ride bikes should be instructed to ride with the flow of traffic and to use hand signals when turning. Reflective clothing is a good idea for children who walk or ride home late in the day, particularly when daylight hours are shorter. All children should be admonished not to walk or ride home alone...there is safety in numbers."

Venditto noted that parents whose children walk to school might consider accompanying their younger children along the route they take to school before school opens. By doing this, parents can point out potential danger spots to the youngsters and give them instructions on how to handle or navigate these areas.

Another aspect of safety for school children concerns youngsters who come home to an empty house because both parents work. It is important that parents give them guidelines on home safety. Children should be instructed on how to answer the telephone and how to handle someone who comes to the door when they are alone in the house. They should also be taught how to deal with basic emergencies and whom to call.

"No one likes to think about a child being hurt," Venditto stated. "Let's make this school year one of the safest by being especially vigilant about our responsibilities as drivers and by teaching our youngsters the important lessons that will help ensure their safety en route to school and at home."

Mary Marks contributed to this story