East Woods School held its annual Gala on Friday, April 19, 2024 at Oheka Castle.  The theme this year was “Gatsby,” so many attendees sported snazzy fashion from the Roaring Twenties. Event photographer Anne Glynn greeted guests in the foyer and took their photos on the grand staircase. Parents, past parents, faculty/staff, alumni, and friends of the school mixed and mingled for cocktail hour, dinner, a live auction, dancing, and dessert. A large group of past parents attended, organized by Kristin Dennehy, Past Board Co-President of East Woods School and Oyster Bay resident.

Sandra Graham, Trustee, Cynthia Murray, Trustee, Perry Tehrani, parent, and Fern Senior, Board Co-President, co-chaired the event, which raised funds for the school to support special projects and operations. 

One takeaway from the event was a keepsake journal in which members of the East Woods community and friends of the school advertised their businesses and which featured highlights from the 2023-2024 school year so far.  The auction co-chairs harnessed the creativity, skills and connections of their auction committee to create an unforgettable event. 

In addition to a silent online auction and several live auction event, Peter Bahr,

the event auctioneer, presented several exciting paddle raise opportunities for guests to support special projects.  

One of these was a naming opportunity for the slide in the new pool, currently under construction for the school’s summer camp which opens July 1, 2024. A group of about a dozen guests collaborated to fund the slide and suggested naming it as a gift from “The Parents of East Woods School.” This is in keeping with East Woods School’s legacy of widespread generous parent involvement and support coupled with a complete lack of personal vanity, a hallmark of the school’s community.  

Huge thanks to our auction chairs, committee members, wonderful sponsors, Oheka Castle staff, the band, donors, and every single guest and silent auction bidder for a successful and unforgettable event.