Phillips Avenue Elementary School

Tonya Gonzalez's fourth-graders at Phillips Avenue Elementary School received a shock when they came to school one day last week. Their classroom was filled with shipping boxes.

Students in the high school ceramics classes, the cooking club, the baking and pastry class and the photography club collaborate on the event, which raises funds for the Phillips Avenue Elementary School food pantry.

Students at Riley Avenue, Roanake and Phillips Avenue Schools took part in the Great Kindness Challange, a weeklong event geared toward teaching them how to show kindness to friends, family and others.

The Empty Bowls Project run by students and staff of Riverhead High School is a novel way to benefit the Phillips Avenue School food pantry. Come pick out a beautiful bowl handmade by ceramics class students and fill it with your choice of homemade soup made by members of the cooking club. After the event, the bowl is yours to keep. All funds raised will be donated to the food pantry.

Riverhead School District is adopting new curricula in two of the elementary schools to help students learn how to quiet their minds, relax, reduce stress, develop pro-social behaviors in order to be able to focus on their schoolwork.

The Academy Award-winning actress' educational foundation created a program in use at the local school. She stopped in because of a classroom teacher's tweet about it, according to a school staffer. Photo: Riverhead Central School District/Facebook

First-graders enrolled in a summer program for English as a New Language students had a visit from a local book illustrator who read them one of the books she has illustrated.

The group's message is important: “Speak up. Don’t be a bystander. Forgive others. Accept others for their differences. Include others. Seek help if you need it. We can make a difference.”

At least a dozen people questioned Superintendent Nancy Carney at last night's school board meeting about the district's plan to allow Roanoke Avenue and Phillips Avenue students the option to transfer to Aquebogue School.

The sound of gunshots triggered a precautionary lockdown at Phillips Avenue Elementary School this morning.