Comsewogue School District

Last updated

Comsewogue School District
ComsewogueSchoolDistrictLogo.jpg
Location
Suffolk County , New York
United States
District information
TypePublic
GradesPK-12
Established1874 [1]
SuperintendentJennifer Quinn
Schools6
Students and staff
Students3,447 [2]
District mascotSpartans
Colors   Blue and Gold
Other information
District Offices290 Norwood Avenue Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 [3]
Website www.comsewogue.k12.ny.us

Brookhaven-Comsewogue Union Free School District (pronounced Kom-sah-wohg) serves students in parts of Port Jefferson Station, East Setauket, Terryville, Coram, Selden, Mount Sinai, and Port Jefferson on the North Shore of Long Island, in Brookhaven Town, Suffolk County, New York, United States. [4]

Contents

History

Early history

Comsewogue comes from a language used by the Setalcott or Setauket Native Americans who were native to the area. It means "place where paths come together." The district originally opened as the Terryville-Comsewogue School District in 1871. [5] In 1874, the first school in Terryville was opened on Terryville Road. [6] The district utilized a school known as both The Comsewogue School and The Terryville-Port Jefferson Station Union Free School, which had an auditorium and a classroom for every grade added in 1930. [7] Previously, the school used four classrooms for eight grades (first through eighth). [8] Schools in the district underwent a variety of names, including Terryville-Port Jefferson Station, Port Jefferson Station-Terryville, Comsewogue, and Port Jefferson Station-Comsewogue. [9] [10] [11] [12]

District Mascot

In 1971, Comsewogue High School was opened. Previously the district had had the Spartans as their mascot. Following the opening of the high school, the mascot became the Warriors. This was until 2025, when by order of New York State, they removed the Native American inspired mascot. They reverted back to the Spartans, decided by a process including students, teachers, and anyone somewhat related to Comsewogue. [5]

Restructuring of Elementary Schools

Prior to the 2012-2013 school year, the district restructured their elementary schools. Previously, the Boyle Road, Terryville Road, Clinton Avenue, and Norwood Avenue schools all served students K-5. This was changed to what is known as the "Princeton Plan." The Princeton Plan features a move from K-5 schools to separate schools grades K-2 and 3-5. Despite the failure of the budget featuring the Princeton Plan, the district still implemented the plan making Boyle Road and Terryville Road both 3-5 schools and Clinton Avenue and Norwood Avenue K-2 schools. [13] [14]

Recent history

Richard T. Brande retired as Superintendent after the 2005-06 school year and was replaced by deputy superintendent Shelley Saffer. [15] The deputy superintendent was former Comsewogue High School principal, Dr. Joseph Rella until 2010, when Shelley Saffer retired and Joseph Rella became Superintendent. [16] Both during and after their time as superintendent, Brande and Saffer were some of the highest earners among school employees in all of Long Island and even New York State. [16] [17] [18] [19] Former Comsewogue High School principal, Jennifer Reph, then became deputy superintendent. [20] [21] Rella retired in 2019, and passed away the following year. He was replaced by Jennifer Quinn, who is the current superintendent. [22]

Schools

The following is a table of all the schools in the Brookhaven-Comsewogue Union Free School District. [23]

School NameType of SchoolAddressGradesPrincipal
Comsewogue High School High School565 Bicycle Path

Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

9-12Michael Mosca, Ed.D.
John F. Kennedy Middle School Middle School200 Jayne Boulevard

Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

6-8Amanda Prinz, Ed.D.
Boyle Road Elementary School Intermediate School424 Boyle Road

Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

3-5Nicole Sooknanan, Ed.D.
Terryville Road Elementary School Intermediate School401 Terryville Road

Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

3-5Annemarie Sciove, Ed.D.
Clinton Avenue Elementary School Elementary School140 Clinton Avenue

Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

K-2Robert Pearl
Norwood Avenue Elementary School Elementary School290 Norwood Avenue

Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

K-2Nichole Makarius

Comsewogue Sports

Baseball - Suffolk County Champions (1970, 1973, and 1982), [24] State Champions (1982) [25]

Softball - State Champions (1985) [26]

Football- Rutgers/Suffolk County Champions (1990) [27] Suffolk County Champions (1990, 1994, and 1996) [28] Long Island Champions (1996) [25]

Adam Mariano - Wrestling State Champion (1988, 1989) [29] [30]

Men's Lacrosse State Champions (1998, 2002) [31]

Men's Soccer State Champions (2008, 2009) [32] [33] [34]

2008

2009

Notable Alumni

References

  1. Comsewogue Hamlet Comprehensive Plan, Town of Brookhaven (2008) Archived 2011-07-20 at the Wayback Machine (formed as the "Terryville-Comsewogue School District", separated from Port Jefferson, in 1874)
  2. "BROOKHAVEN-COMSEWOGUE UFSD | NYSED Data Site". data.nysed.gov. Retrieved September 26, 2025.
  3. Moraitis, George. "Forevermore on Cedar Hill" (PDF). Cedar Hill Cemetery. Retrieved August 2, 2012.
  4. Geography Division (January 12, 2021). 2020 census - school district reference map: Suffolk County, NY (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 4 (PDF p. 5/6). Retrieved June 19, 2025. - Text list
  5. 1 2 Rutt, Samantha (August 2, 2024). "Comsewogue School District mascot to shift to the 'Spartan' ahead of the 2025-26 school year | TBR News Media" . Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  6. "First School of Terryville/Echo · Comsewogue Local History". localhistory.cplib.org. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  7. "The Comsewogue School · Comsewogue Local History". localhistory.cplib.org. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  8. "The Comsewogue School · Comsewogue Local History". localhistory.cplib.org. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  9. "Port Jefferson Station-Comsewogue Class of 1972 Banner · Comsewogue Local History". localhistory.cplib.org. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  10. "Terryville-Port Jefferson Station Class of 1929 Banner · Comsewogue Local History". localhistory.cplib.org. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  11. "Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Class of 1935 Banner · Comsewogue Local History". localhistory.cplib.org. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  12. "Comsewogue Class of 1964 Banner · Comsewogue Local History". localhistory.cplib.org. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  13. Cohen, Lon (July 23, 2012). "New Comsewogue Elementary School Start and Dismissal Times Posted". Port Jefferson, NY Patch. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  14. Cohen, Lon (May 25, 2012). "New Budget Proposes Shuffling Comsewogue Schools Under Princeton Plan". Port Jefferson, NY Patch. Retrieved September 25, 2025.
  15. "Top Recipients of Public Pensions in New York - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  16. 1 2 "Nine of 10 NY's highest-paid schools chiefs are from LI". Newsday. November 11, 2010. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  17. "A look at the highest paid school officials in New York State | ABC7 New York | abc7ny.com". ABC7 New York. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  18. "PR News | Shocker: Huge Teacher Retirement Pay on Long Island - Tue., Apr. 5, 2016". www.odwyerpr.com. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  19. "Top Recipients of Public Pensions in New York - Interactive Graphic - NYTimes.com". archive.nytimes.com. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  20. Cohen, Lon (December 19, 2012). "At Comsewogue Schools, Focus on Unity, Safety After Newtown". Port Jefferson, NY Patch. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  21. Sampson, Christine; src="https://patch.com/img/cdn/assets/layout/badges/verified-patch-staff.svg"/>, Patch Staff<img alt="Verified Patch Staff Badge" class="styles_Badge__PNwMX" (June 4, 2013). "Comsewogue Super: This Year 'Could Have Been a Mess"". Port Jefferson, NY Patch. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  22. Cohen, Lon (February 22, 2020). "Dr. Joseph Rella, beloved former Comsewogue superintendent, dies at 69". Greater Long Island. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  23. "Comsewogue School District". www.comsewogue.k12.ny.us. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  24. "Past... Suffolk County Baseball Championships (Larger schools)". TeamPages.com. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  25. 1 2 Mendlinger, Jake (November 22, 2024). "Comsewogue School District Inducts its 2024 Hall of Fame Class". Port Jefferson, NY Patch. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  26. "Past Champions - Softball". nysphsaa.org. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  27. joelando (February 8, 2018). "Cassese, Tom". Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  28. LaMonica, Mark. "Long Island high school football champions". Newsday. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  29. joelando (February 8, 2018). "Mariano, Adam". Suffolk Sports Hall of Fame. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  30. "Long Island Wrestling Association". longislandwrestling.com. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  31. "New York State boys lacrosse tournament champions". www.newyorksportswriters.org. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
  32. 1 2 Robert Leuner (November 20, 2008). "Warriors win first-ever New York State title". The Times Beacon Record. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013.("The Comsewogue Warriors boys' soccer team capped off a perfect season with the ultimate prize — a 4-0 blowout of Section I's Harrison High School to take the Class A New York State championship title.")
  33. 1 2 3 Robert Leuner (November 19, 1209). "Comsewogue wins county, LI championships". The Times Beacon Record. Archived from the original on June 30, 2013.("The Comsewogue Warriors won their second consecutive Class A Suffolk County soccer championship Thursday with a 2-0 shutout over second seeded East Hampton. Two days later they duplicated their effort with a 2-0 win over South Side for the Long Island championships and the shot to play in the New York State semifinals this weekend.")
  34. 1 2 3 Corey McLaughlin (November 12, 2009). "Vigorito, Magoulas give Comsewogue 'A' title". Newsday .
  35. Mosher, Julianne (April 16, 2020). "PJ Station's Clinton Kelly hosts 'Spring Baking Championship' for his second season". Greater Long Island. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  36. "Notable Long Island high school alumni". Newsday. June 12, 2019. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  37. "Kevin Cassese - Men's Lacrosse Coach". Lehigh University Athletics. Retrieved September 23, 2025.
  38. "A Long Island Family Grieves (Published 1979)". November 22, 1979. Retrieved September 23, 2025.