Message from the Principal
Dear Families,
Welcome and welcome back to the Special Music School. We are delighted that you have chosen our school in your quest to provide a truly unique educational experience for your child. I believe the Special Music School is a place where children have the potential to achieve greatness in many ways. Our small learning community has the ability to provide a holistic academic program for every child. We have the innate ability to work with each student individually- crafting academic goals in each content area that go well beyond the standards-based education many other schools provide. Our faculty is dedicated to academic richness which is integrated, inquiry-based, and implements a truly accelerated curriculum.
We at the Special Music School approach a child’s learning not only in terms of academic achievement but also the importance of self-esteem as fundamental in our pursuit to provide a truly exceptional education. We are conscious of a young child’s need for play, to have choices, and to balance the curriculum between child-initiated and teacher–directed activities. We later value the more mature child’s need for expression and independence. We consider the child’s social growth as important in a school that fosters performers and is committed to high academic achievement. Above all, we value each child as being unique and valuable to our community.
This school would not be possible without the work of our predecessors – who had the vision to create a music school which believes that music instruction should never be an add-on; rather direct music instruction along with an equally rigorous academic curriculum is a powerful combination in a child’s development and growth in becoming exceptional.
Again, thank you and welcome (back) to the school. I look forward to watching and supporting your children grow and develop into young musicians, future authors and inquisitive learners. I look forward to our continued partnership.
Thank you,
Katie Banucci Smith, Principal
Academic Faculty & Staff
Kindergarten: Ms. Stephanie Cherubin stephanie@specialmusicschool.org
1st Grade: Ms. Brittany Magiera brittany@specialmusicschool.org
2nd Grade: Ms. Nicole Honrado nicole@specialmusicschool.org
3rd Grade: Ms. Susan Myung susan@specialmusicschool.org
4h Grade: Ms. Abby Rapoport abby@specialmusicschool.org
5th Grade: Ms. Kerri Hook kerri@specialmusicschool.org
Middle School Humanities: Ms. Shannon Potts SPotts@specialmusicschool.org
Middle School History: Ms. Claire Shweky cshweky@specialmusicschool.org
Middle School Science: Mr. Sam Rawson srawson@specialmusicschool.org
Middle School Math: Mr. George Tsugranes MrT@specialmusicschool.org
High School English: Mr. Noah Gordon ngordon@specialmusicschool.org
High School English: Mr. Nathan Bloom nblom@specialmusicschool.org
High School Social Studies: Ms. Abby Plump aplump@specialmusicschool.org
High School Social Studies: Mr. Ari Friedman afriedman@specialmusicschool.org
High School Science: Ms. Alison Farrell afarrellt@specialmusicschool.org
High School Science: Mr. Hemal Pathak hpathak@specialmusicschool.org
High School Math: Ms. Elli Simonen esimonen@specialmusicschool.org
High School Math: Mr. Jeff Reeder jreeder@specialmusicschool.org
High School Learning Specialist: Ms. Lauren Ryan lryan@specialmusicschool.org
High School Learning Specialist: Mr. Suraj Gopal
Spanish, Middle School & High School:
Physical Education: Mr. Sam Fox sfox@specialmusicschool.org
Visual Arts: Ms. Ireena Gurvich ireena@specialmusicschool.org
SMS Guidance/High School Counseling: Ms. Laura Hohm laura@specialmusicschool.org
ESL Library: Ms. Sarah Anderson sanderson@specialmusicschool.org
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Principal: Ms. Katherine Banucci-Smith katie@specialmusicschool.org
Assistant Principal: Ms. Kristen Palmieri kristen@specialmusicschool.org
Parent Coordinator: Ms. Lisa Stump lisa@specialmusicschool.org
Academic Business Manager: Ms. Nastassia Almonte nastassia@specialmusicschool.org
K-8 School Aid: Mr. Martin Nolan martin@specialmusicschool.org
K-8 School Aid: Ms. Sarah Rosario srosario@specialmusicschool.org
School Safety Officer: Officer Brown