South Side gets a new principal

South Side High School students will be greeted by a familiar face when they return to class this September—only this time it will be in a different capacity.

Patrick Walsh, who served as South Side High’s assistant principal for the past four years, was named the new principal of the school last week, following a rigorous, month-long selection process.

Since joining the Rockville Centre schools in 2018, Walsh helped oversee the science department, coordinate the master schedule, and supervise all of the school’s different clubs and activities.

“I am excited to work in collaboration with students and faculty to create the best experience for our school,” Walsh said. “One of my goals is to celebrate and recognize all that makes us great, while also taking a look at providing innovative changes to open more opportunities for students.”

Less than 24 hours after the announcement, Walsh already started hosting seminars for the incoming senior class.

He started his career in academia as a math teacher in the East Meadow schools, after which he was promoted to the chairperson of the math department before he joined the Rockville Centre Union-Free School District.

As an assistant principal at South Side, he spearheaded the school’s Breakfast of Champions program, which he said was created to give teachers an opportunity to recognize students who would have otherwise fallen under the radar. It acknowledges these unsung student heroes for having shown qualities including responsibility, caring, fairness, respect, citizenship, and trustworthiness in the classroom.

He also applied for and won grant applications to support science research programs and helped revamp the election process for student government.

Superintendent Matthew Gaven said that all of these efforts were completed thanks to his unwavering commitment to placing the needs of students first.

“Walsh’s love for high school and our students is evident by his frequent attendance at after-school activities and community events,” Gaven said in a letter to families in the district.

Walsh was selected based on more than just his academic background. The district determined he was the most capable candidate to meet the high standards of excellence that they wish to uphold, while also meeting the changing demands of students and staff.

Gaven said that as part of the hiring process, he met with a focus group of different students to determine what they expect to see in their next school principal.

“The students were insightful and honest and their vision for a new leader matched my own,” Gaven said. “Our students expressed the need for the next principal to be highly visible, empathetic, and capable of making decisions.”

He said one student went so far as to say, “we need someone who can recognize the traditions that make South Side great, with someone who can innovate and come up with new programs or clubs to enhance our experiences.”

This process also involved the input of parents, teachers, faculty, and staff, who also felt these qualities were best displayed by Walsh.

“I am most looking forward to working as a team to do what is best for the students, to make sure they are challenged academically, meet social and emotional standards, and are prepared for the next phase of their life,” Walsh said.

He said that in his new role he looks to make the school a more collaborative place for the betterment of the kids and promises to work to provide positive outcomes for all their students.

The position was made available when his predecessor, John Murphy, was appointed assistant superintendent of Human Resources.

Now, since Walsh and Murphy have new titles and responsibilities, there is another vacancy in the district, which they are hoping to fill as soon as possible.

Gaven said that he is confident that they will find a great candidate to replace the former assistant principal as soon as possible. In the meantime, he said that he is confident Walsh will be able to live up to the expectations.

“I have full trust that Walsh will make an immediate and positive impact on our school system,” Gaven said in his letter.