Hampton Bays Elementary School students were recently treated to a special assembly with the Ivalas Quartet. The group, comprised of two violinists, a violist and a cellist, performed for the students and spoke to them about the elements of music that generate moods and images. Students were encouraged to create stories in their mind as the quartet performed.

Date Added: 2/10/2026

The Hampton Bays Middle School Life Skills Academy will soon benefit from new flexible seating, made possible by a $900 TangerKids grant from Tanger Outlets. According to teacher Vicki Manzullo, who applied for the grant, the seating is designed to support students’ sensory needs by allowing movement during learning. This approach, she said, helps improve focus and self-regulation, which are key components in creating a supportive and effective learning environment.

Date Added: 2/9/2026

Hampton Bays Middle School students Sydney Blom, Jemeley Scarlett Mejia and Manuella Mafra Ribeiro have been named local winners in the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5350’s annual Patriot’s Pen essay contest.

Their impressive essays were written on the contest theme of “How are you showing patriotism and support for our country?”

The Hampton Bays School District extends its congratulations to the students for achieving honors in the contest.

Date Added: 2/6/2026

The Hampton Bays High School girls varsity winter track 4x200 meter relay team delivered a record-breaking performance at the Section XI Small School Championship on Jan. 31. They set a new school record with an impressive time of 1:54.82. Isabella Becerra, Madysen Frederiksen, Alejandra Montoya and Eleanor Ramsay’s run not only rewrote the school record books but also qualified them to compete at next week’s state qualifier meet. The district congratulates the athletes and wishes them well on their continued success.

Hampton Bays Elementary School celebrated the 99th birthday of their beloved teacher’s aide Sarah Cunliffe with cake and desserts on Jan. 31. Cunliffe was all smiles as she was greeted with birthday wishes from students and fellow staff members.

Cunliffe has worked at the school for the past 20 years and has said that her longevity has everything to do with being able to work with children every day.

Working with children has been a large part of Cunliffe’s life. She began her career at the age of 16 by assisting the nuns at Sacred Hearts Church in Southampton, the town where she grew up. Later in life, she became the director of religious education at St. Rosalie’s Church in Hampton Bays, a position she served in for 35 years. She fondly remembers teaching communion and confirmation classes to Lars Clemensen, Hampton Bays’ superintendent of schools. After retiring from her director’s position, Cunliffe said she needed to get back to work. She applied to Hampton Bays Elementary School and has been working there ever since, assisting in classrooms and in the cafeteria during lunch.

Cunliffe resides in Hampton Bays, where she raised her three children, Jackie, Joseph and Theresa.