A North Merrick Minute
An e-newsletter from the North Merrick Schools: Fall 2023
Message from the Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Cynthia Seniuk
Dear Parents, Faculty and Staff,
The 2023-24 school year is off to a running start! The Meet, Greet & a Treat events at the three schools were so well attended on August 31, and everyone was excited to see one another and get back to school in September.
North Merrick SEPTA held its Ice Cream Social, which was a sweet success. And the North Merrick PTAs once again hosted the districtwide Long Island Ducks Game in September and the Adventureland Trip this past weekend
Tomorrow. our staff and students have a festive day at the Halloween Parades and Fall Festivals, also special annual events in the North Merrick Schools!
Over the last couple of years, it has been our focus to construct new playgrounds at each of the district schools - and that mission is steadily underway! As previously reported, the Old Mill playground was installed last year, and now we are thrilled to share that the Fayette playground has been completed.
North Merrick surely is a great place to learn, work, and play!
North Merrick Families Participate in International Walk to School Day
Camp Family Bikes to School
HDF Students Chalk the Walk
OMR Star Map Hunters
NEW: Nights to Connect to "Disconnect"
On those nights, there is no assigned homework and no tests scheduled for the next day. Families are encouraged to connect with one another in activities they choose to do together.
As Dr. Seniuk points out: "We know that family connections play a pivotal role in shaping a person's character and values. Individuals who maintain close ties tend to experience lower levels of stress, improved mental health, and enhanced resilience. These qualities enable us to engage more effectively with the world around us, fostering empathy, compassion and a sense of community, and help us become our best selves."
The next Night to Connect is November 21. Keep sending your Night to Connect photos to Ms. Guidice so we can smile along with you!
Parent University Becomes Family Engagement Night!
In "After the Fall," based on the book by Dan Santat, families designed and built wall structures for Humpty Dumpty to safely sit upon. At other tables, they were engineers building a robot hand, devising Magna Tile mazes, or folding paper airplanes. Halloween and art played into the evening as well with Play doh monsters and Spooky Scratch Art bookmarks.
Kudos to teachers Maria Castle and Amanda Hocevar and all the faculty for always thinking of creative new ways to inspire learning!