_____________ ROCKVILLE CENTRE ____________
HERALD Walking for the Backyard
Honoring soccer club coach
Standing out as students
Page 3
Page 10
Page 19
Vol. 36 No. 23
JUNE 5 - 11, 2025
$1.00
RVC school leader headed to new chapter drew him to teaching — and ultimately led to a dynamic and influential career within RockAfter nearly three decades ville Centre. “The lifestyle and the work of service in the Rockville Centre school district, de puty very much appealed to me, superintendent John Murphy working with kids, dealing with literature,” he is preparing to said. “I fell in love close a chapter in with the profession his professional life when I was doing it, and open a new one more than before abroad. when I gravitated Mur phy be g an towards it.” his career in RockM u r p h y ville Centre in 1997 described his traas an English teachjectory not as a er at South Side series of promoHigh School. Since tions but as career then, he has held shifts, each groundnumerous roles in ed in the same founthe district, includdational principle: ing Inter national teaching and learnBaccalaureate cooring. dinator, assistant JoHN MURpHy One of the major principal and prin- Deputy pillars of his career cipal of South Side superintendent, was his work with High School, and Rockville Centre the IB diploma proassistant superin- school district g r a m , wh i c h h e tendent for human helped lead and resources. Last August, the Board of Education expand in the district. The IB appointed him deputy superin- program requires participating tendent, which will be his final students to complete six rigorous courses across at least five role before his retirement. subject areas, including EngPrior to entering the field of education, Murphy worked in lish, a world language, history, restaurant management. But a science, math and a sixth class shift in priorities and passions Continued on page 8
By KElSIE RADZISKI
kradziski@liherald.com
I
fell in love with the profession when I was doing it, more than before when I gravitated towards it.
Brian Ballweg/Herald
From left, annie Chimienti, Sienna Connolly and Charlotte Rathjen display the Cyclones’ county championship hardware after its historic victory May 28.
County title a first for South Side Cyclones defeat Wantagh, 14-8, for Nassau crown By ToNy BEllISSIMo tbellissimo@liherald.com
After heartbreaking semifinal playoff defeats in each of the past three seasons, including two by one goal, South Side’s girls’ lacrosse team wasn’t satisfied with just reaching the championship stage this spring. The top-seeded Cyclones made the most of their opportunity — and also program history — in a driving rainstorm May 28,
knocking off defending Nassau Class C champion Wantagh, 14-8, for their first-ever county title, at Adelphi University. “It’s what we’ve all been working towards and dreaming about,” senior Charlotte Rathjen said. “I can’t even put into words how amazing this feels. This means everything to all of us. We came into tonight so prepared and the score showed.” Sophomore Bobbie Creo exploded for five goals, Rathjen had three goals and two Continued on page 6