Island Trees Memorial Middle School
The Home-School Connection
The Week Ahead
February 5, 2024
Hello Island Trees Memorial Middle School Families.
Please be sure to take a look at a few of our newest editions to our Home-School Connection newsletter:
- Selection on the Importance of Hope: Goals, Pathways & Agency
- 5th & 6th Grade Math Super Bowl Contest
- 7th & 8th Grade Math Lab Dates
- Accessing Grades & the Parent Portal
Content of Character Winter Challenge
As you will see below, our teachers, students, and staff continue to find ways to promote character and service. We hope you will help to promote and support the activities and service ideas that make up our Content of Character Winter Challenge. This five-week initiative leading to Winter Recess provides a focused period for us to rally around character development and to promote the habits that support positive behaviors and student growth. The Content of Character Winter Challenge calendar can be found below.
Please Share:
Finally, we appreciate all of the support you provide our school. With so much news to share with our families, we publish this newsletter every two weeks. We also routinely post to X (formerly Twitter @islandtreesmms) and communicate via Parent Square messages. To help communicate our school's goals and celebrate our students and staff, I ask that you share this newsletter with your friends and other families. Please feel free to post to social media and e-mail to others.
As always, thank you for all that you do to support our school and connect with us in so many meaningful ways.
Wishing all of you a great week! Please enjoy this week's newsletter.
Sincerely,
Mr. Keegan & Ms. Steele
Goals, Pathways, & Agency
As your principal, I watch with admiration how the students and staff of ITMMS have risen to the challenges of the school year. They have shown a commitment to one another, to our school, and to our community. As we just begun quarter 3 of our school year, and with a week off from school beginning on February 17th, I would ask that you work with your child during our upcoming break to make-up any assignment, projects, or school work that has not been completed and can still be submitted. This is an excellent opportunity for your child to show his/her dedication and commitment to go the extra mile to improve grades for the 3rd quarter.
Please know that our teachers use PowerSchool to post grades to an online grade book. As parents/guardians, you have access to these grades on the PowerSchool Parent Portal. If you are not a regular Parent Portal user, you may find the resources included below helpful.
Accessing Grades & the Parent Portal
To gain access to your child's report card, parents must log-into our parent portal.
The technology department has created two videos to help our parents:
1. The first video guides parents step by step to create a Parent Portal account - see below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYY3BfILSj8&t=10s
2. The second video shows parents the various Parent Portal features, including test grades, attendance, and report cards - see the video below:
If you have questions about logging into the portal, please contact John Rezek, 7:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. at 516-495-7730.
Please be reminded that the large majority of our teachers use Google Classroom as a platform for the posting of class assignments, resources, and notes. I would strongly encourage you to reach out to your child's teachers for access as a parent member of the classroom's group. You can also view all classroom resources, assignments, and messages by asking your child to walk you through each Google Classroom.
Finally, if you have questions about assignments not completed, your child's grades, or work that can be made up, please ask your child to see his/her teachers or contact each teacher directly.
Again, this upcoming break provides a great opportunity for your children to begin the 3rd quarter with great academic energy.
Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if I can be of any assistance.
Math Superstars Team Up Super Math Bowl Contest
Math Superstars Team - Up for Super Math Bowl l
During this week leading up to and the week after "the big game" next Sunday, all 5th and 6th grade students have the opportunity to sharpen their math skills while confirming that practice really pays off. For those who may sometimes need a bit of extra motivation and / or competition, a raffle with prizes has been created. Students who complete and submit their Superstar Math Bowl Challenge packets will be entered into a raffle for individual prizes as well as a chance for their grade level to win a super-surprise.
Real-world problem solving skills, strategies and even decision making are combined with Super Bowl- themed activities that include computation and expression with Roman numerals, economics, decimals, fractions and all math operations that we use and apply in our everyday lives.
There's no pressure- just the opportunity to shine, make mistakes, ask questions and have some fun with math while being part of our ITMMS team! The submission deadline has been extended until Friday 2/16 so we can better ensure success for all students as well as analyze and compare some cool stats from the big game! And of course, the best part of this challenge is that everyone wins! Enjoy the game!
- Mr. Flynn
Promoting Success at Home and at School
As you visit the Parent Portal and review grades with your children, please be sure to review some of the Growth Mindset resources included below. The end of a quarter provides an excellent opportunity for students, teachers, and families to examine the differences between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. This discussion can also help to reboot a student who may feel as though he/she can never do well in a particular course.
If you have any additional ideas on how we might best support your child's progress, please do not hesitate to reach out to school leadership.
Growth Mindset for Parents
We Are...IT Video
Winter Wonderland Dance Video
By the Content of Our Character Winter Challenge
Inspired by the words and works of Dr. Martin Luther King, and understanding of adolescence as a critically important stage in human development, we have created a month-long character-centered calendar to help our students "practice" ways to grow the traits associated with high character. This five-week stretch leading to Winter Recess provides a focused period for us to rally around around character development and to promote the habits that support positive behaviors and student growth.
2nd Annual Friday Fun Night
Dear 7th and 8th Grade Parents,
We are excited to announce that on Friday, February 9th we will be holding our Second Annual Friday Fun Night for all 7th and 8th graders. This drop-off event will run from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Island Trees Memorial Middle School. Champions of health and wellness, Ms. Jaime Roche and Mrs. Vicki Firmbach have planned an amazing night for our 7th and 8th graders.
In conjunction with our MMS staff and our Athletes Helping Athletes, members of the Levittown Community Action Coalition and our Levittown YOUTH will be offering different activities for our students to participate in to promote fun and wellness.
Activities will include a YOUTH substance abuse prevention trivia challenge, volleyball, soccer, multicultural tie-dye activity, quiz bowl, canvas painting, minute to win it challenge, doubles badminton, cageball, and more!!! Prizes will be awarded to the winning teams, and raffles for prizes will be held throughout the evening.
Your children have been invited by Ms. Roche to register using a Google Form this week.
We are so very proud to offer this special event and hope to see all of our 7th and 8th graders there!
Black History Month
Math Support Resources
Helping Your Child with Math
Dear 5th & 6th Grade Families,
Our 5th and 6th grade math series (EnVision/Savvas) has recently come out with a new resource, Family Engagement. This gives parents the ability to see an overview of all lessons, ideas for math help at home, and offers a home activity suggestion. Parents can easily access the Visual Learning Videos and Take Another Look videos for each lesson.
Use the links below to access this great resource:
5th Grade
https://media.pk12ls.com/curriculum/math/family_engage/g05_welcome_en.html
6th Grade
https://media.pk12ls.com/curriculum/math/family_engage/g06_welcome_en.html
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or could use additional support.
Best,
Mr. Keegan
Math Lab in Grades 7 & 8
What's Happening in 5th Grade Math Workshop
What’s happening in Math Workshop: 1 game, 4 skills
We’re “on a roll”…..when it comes to fractions!
5th grade students paired up to roll the fraction dice in order to create addition and subtraction problems with fractions. The student with the greatest fraction(once simplified) and then compared, wins that round!
After warming up with only fractions, students were given a deck of whole number cards that were used to create mixed numbers.Students eagerly used white boards and expo markers to demonstrate and improve their skills in a fun and exciting activity.
Caught Being Kind in December
One Free Breakfast & One Free Lunch
From Dr. Murphy
Starting Tuesday, January 2, 2024
Dear Parents,
We would like to inform you of recent modifications to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) by the state and federal government, which now allows for free breakfast and lunch for all children. You may recall that during the pandemic, all schools were provided with free lunch. However, it's important to note that this provision applies only to schools that meet a specific threshold. Therefore, based on the new 25% threshold, Island Trees students do qualify for free breakfast and lunch.
The free lunch provided is part of the federal lunch program and covers basic meals, excluding specialty, a la carte items, and snacks. It is similar to the lunches that were offered during the pandemic. This change will be effective starting after the holiday recess, Tuesday, January 2, 2024. We understand that this information may be unexpected, and we appreciate your understanding as we navigate these changes.
The free breakfast and lunch initiative, a joint effort by state and federal government, is subject to an annual renewal. Its continuation beyond the current academic year is not guaranteed.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to Ms. Erica Carroll, School Lunch Manager, 516-520-2145, or ecarroll@islandtrees.org.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
No Place for Hate
Island Trees Spirit Wear - Support Our PTSA
Have Any Shopping Needs?
Find all of your Island Trees Bulldogs spirit wear and school spirit apparel for youth, women, and men, all in one place with 1st Place Spiritwear. We have everything you need to represent your school both on and off-campus this school year. Our Island Trees apparel shop includes a variety of more than 150 different clothing options to choose from, with selections for current students, future students, parents, teachers, alumni, and fans, with new items being added regularly.
Reading Outside of School
Reading: Pursuing Passions & Interests
Research shows that by the end of 6th grade a student that reads 20 minutes each day will have read 3600 minutes in a school year which equals 1,800,000 words read (90th%). By the end of 6th grade a student that reads 5 minutes a day will have read 900 minutes in a school year, equally 282,000 words read (50th%). At the end of 6th grade a student who reads 1 minute each day will have read 180 minutes in a school year, equally 8,000 words read in a school year (10th%).
By the end of 6th grade, the student who read for 20 minutes a day will have read the equivalent of 60 whole school days. The student who read 5 minutes a day will have read only 12 school days.
Parenting & the Age of Social Media
Indoor Recess Notes
Indoor Recess When the Weather Does Not Cooperate
Dear Island Trees Memorial Middle School Families,
We hope this note finds you well and that the start of the school year has brought excitement and a rekindling of your child’s creative and collaborative skills. We know our 5th and 6th graders are especially excited about recess, and we have been working diligently to support and promote games and activities that are fun, physically active, and safe. It is our hope that your children have been enjoying the sunshine and fresh air on these beautiful days outside.
There will be times in the coming weeks and months when the weather will necessitate that we hold recess inside. We are asking parents to help students create a “Recess Bag” with small items from home that they can use individually during either indoor or outdoor recess. These items can be kept in a drawstring or Ziploc bag and will remain in school. Students are welcome to swap out or add items at any time. Below are some suggested items that students may want to bring to school:
A book to read
Art supplies (crayons, colored pencils, sketchbook)
Rainbow Loom
Friendship Bracelets
Lanyards
Legos
Play Doh
Sidewalk Chalk
Jax
Small Toys
Activity books such as mazes, word searches, look & finds, etc.
Magazines
Paddle ball with attached ball (outside)
Hacky Sack (outside)
Jump Ropes (outside)
These are only suggested items. Please do not send your child in with electronics or any items that are special or irreplaceable, as these items may get lost or broken. You can send in these recess bags whenever you are ready. As always, thank you for your continued support.
Sincerely,
Mr. Keegan & Mrs. Steele
Order Your 2023-2024 Yearbook
Growth Mindset Kit for Parents & Families
Grit as a Success Indicator
I do hope you take some time to review the resources on grit. The middle school years provide so many opportunities for a students to be challenged and face obstacles. While making a sports team, achieving honor roll status, or winning a part in the school musical are achievements worthy of praise, so too is persevering in the face of challenges and obstacles.
Angela Duckworth is the world’s leading expert on “grit,” the much-hyped ingredient in personal success. As Duckworth defines it, grit is passion and sustained persistence applied toward long-term achievement, with no particular concern for rewards or recognition along the way. It combines resilience, ambition, and self-control in the pursuit of goals that take months, years, or even decades.
How can we work together to develop grittier students?
We Are...IT Poster Contest Winners
Athletes Helping Athletes (For 5th Graders)
Dear 5th Grade Families,
Vicki Firmbach (HS health/PE teacher) and Jaime Roche ( MS health/PE/SEL teacher) are the Island Trees Program Coordinators for Athletes Helping Athletes. Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA) is an organization of helping professionals, professional athletes and high profile amateur athletes dedicated to promoting activities for young athletes that highlight the life lessons and skills inherent in sport so that they can experience the benefits and true value of athletic participation.
Through the Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), AHA trains and prepares high school student athlete leaders to address complex social issues within their communities. AHA’s mission is to inspire leadership through sport, while addressing social issues such as life skills, sportsmanship and civility, substance abuse prevention, violence prevention and physical activity.
Part of the application process for Athletes Helping Athletes is an interview element where our high school students will answer responses to various social issues. These interviews will take place in the health classroom on November 1st, 2nd, and 3rd during ninth period. The health students will have the opportunity to partake in a Q and A with our applicants.
Once our Athletes Helping Athletes members have been selected, they will attend three training sessions led by professional athletes and team leaders. During this time they will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to teach fifth graders about the positive elements and innumerable life lessons of the sports experience.
AHA Visitations with 5th Grade Students
Visit 1: Thursday, November 16th
Introductory Visit: This initial visit is dedicated to getting acquainted, having fun and establishing a theme about students’ involvement in athletics and other extracurricular activities.
Visit 2: Thursday, February 8th
Sportsmanship: Sportsmanship is a topic of great concern in sports. This visit is designed to help student athlete leaders highlight their positive behaviors within the context of the sports experience, in order to process issues of civility off the field.
Visit 3: Thursday, April 4th
ATOD prevention: The most important health-related choices are made earlier than ever before. Visitation #3 is dedicated to helping elementary school students identify the real challenges in relation to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, while highlighting successful refusal strategies.
If you have any questions about this program, or if you might like additional information, please be sure to reach out to Ms. Roche or me.
Have a great day!
Mr. Keegan
Celebrations & Notes from Our Classrooms, Playing Fields, & Stages
Clubs & Co-Curricular Programs
Morning Library Has Begun
Library Media Center
It is the mission of the School Library Media Center to ensure that students develop the skills necessary to become independent, capable, competent information users and lifelong learners. These skills include the ability to locate, access, evaluate, organize, integrate, use and communicate information and ideas from a wide variety of sources and formats. Instruction, therefore, integrates information skills into curriculum units rather than teaching them in isolation. Student-centered research projects are developed and coordinated through a cooperative effort with classroom teachers.
Please Consider Joining Our PTSA
PTSA Information
Here is the link to membership for PTSA:
https://itptsa.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true
High School students must be a member for all the years you have attended to be eligible for the PTSA Scholarship given senior year.
8th grade PTSA gives an award at the end of the year. You must be a paid member in 8th grade.
PTSA Sponsored Events
Picture Day: September 19th and 20th
Homecoming is October 21st:
We will have a table at homecoming come down, we have sweatshirts, flannel pants, ornaments, T-Shirts and Magnets all to sell.
Attached is the website to order spirit wear clothing, the store is open all year.
PTSA Banner Fundraiser
Show your school spirit and support this PTSA fundraiser!! $50 and Venmo available (@IslandTrees-PTSA)! We are still taking orders
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeArEiE_b51IWVfB0hPPeOZVn-lPyuN24Wo9mt9BJmZPQnDGQ/viewform
ITMMS Bell Schedule
Arrival & Dismissal
Safe, Respectful & Responsible
Bus Transportation
The Transportation Office will send home information regarding your child's bus stops and times. Typically, our buses arrive to our school between 7:55-8:05. This allows students to get to their lockers and then to their morning Advisory.
Walkers & Family Drop Off
- Students who walk to school and students who are dropped off at our school are expected to arrive between 7:50-8:05.
- Because the back of our school building is the location for bus drop offs, we encourage parents and guardians to use our school's front circle for drop off.
- If you are dropping off at our school's back door, please be advised that this door is not open for student drop-off before 7:50.
- When dropping off at our school's front circle, please be sure to move as far into the circle as possible so as to avoid a backup on Wantagh Avenue.
- When your child exits your car, please make sure that he/she exits on the sidewalk side of your car, and please ensure that doors on the driver's side do not open.
- To ensure the safety of our students, a crossing guard will be stationed at Straight Lane and Wantagh Avenue during arrival and dismissal times. All students who walk to and from school are expected to cross at this location. Please remind your child(ren) of this important responsibility.
Dismissal
Our last class ends at 2:34. Students are dismissed at this time for family pick up, to walk home, and to get to a bus. Because our buses receive students in the back of our school, families are strongly encouraged to pick up their children in the front of our school.
Lockers & Backpacks
Backpack Safety & Lockers
We hope you are all having a nice summer. We have spent considerable time over the past few years studying the issues that are associated with children carrying heavy backpacks. We have spoken with many of our students and families to learn about these concerns while exploring ways to best support our students.
With the ongoing success of our 1:1 Chromebook model, our teachers have collaborated to create supply lists that will limit the amount of binders and paper being carried by students this school year. By making this conscientious change in our supply lists, we believe the weight carried by our students throughout the school day will be significantly reduced.
Please note that lockers will be assigned in the first weeks of school. Our teachers and staff will work with your children to ensure that they are supported and guided throughout this process.
Additionally, we ask that you remind your child(ren) that Chromebooks must be kept in the school-issued case when not in the classroom. This requirement will help to prevent damage to this learning device and promote hallway safety and efficient hallway movement.
We are asking parents/guardians to join in our efforts to ensure that student backpacks remain light, manageable, and safe. As always, we continue to encourage our students to use their lockers to help decrease the amount of items they carry during the school day. Additionally, we will have routine notebook and locker inventories, which will allow students the opportunity to clean out binders and backpacks.
Please feel free to contact the Main Office if you have any questions. We hope you all continue to have a great summer.
Sincerely,
Mr. Daniel Keegan
Principal
We Are...IT -- Our Message from Last Week
Ms. Steele and I had the chance to meet with each grade-level last Wednesday. During these 4 sessions, we had the opportunity to once again welcome our students back to school, and we used much of our time sharing some exciting events that will mark our school year. Some of these exciting events are the Halloween Social, trips to Boston and Washington DC, the Winter Wonderland Dance, school musicals, athletics, clubs, and academic competitions.
We also shared with our students our school's expectations for behavior and their positive interactions with one another. In reviewing our commitment to safety, respect, and responsibility in all areas of the school day, we shared with our students the slogan, WE Are...IT!
Last year, I was fortunate enough to visit State College, PA for a Penn State football game. Though the Penn State Nittany Lions lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes that weekend, it was an amazing experience and a lot of fun. While on campus, I purchased a hat as a souvenir as well as a t-shirt or two for my sons.
I have worn this hat multiple times over the past year, and I have become part of a what I first perceived as a strange ritual. What has struck me on these occasions is that when out walking my dog, kicking a soccer ball, or out shopping for groceries, I will often be greeted by a "stranger" who addresses me with the line, "We Are!" It took me a time or two to realize it, but what these individuals are saying to me is the first half of the message, "We Are...Penn State!" It is a statement that bonds, a tie that binds, and a quick affirmation that we share a common interest, fandom, or support for Penn State.
And in this spirit, may we also rally around the slogan, We Are...IT. May we recognize that our school community is made up of so many different individuals and families. We are made up of families that speak many different languages; families that come from many different parts of the state, country, and world; and families that have different beliefs and customs. May we also recognize that these differences strengthen us, and that our IT families are united in the belief that our schools serve to unify, educate, inspire, and promote a community-wide sense of pride and belonging. I see this pride and belonging each day in our classrooms, on our stages, and on the playing fields. I see it at Meet the Teacher Night, Parent-Teacher Conferences, and at morning drop-off. This pride that we all have in our school community is a great thing, and it is something that we must continue to cultivate and grow—together.
So, in this spirit, may we all stand up and say proudly, We Are...IT!
Communication & the Importance of Our School's Website
The Daily Bulletin
Did you know that our Daily Bulletin is also posted within the Parent Portal. Please take a look at this helpful resource.
Homework Online
Homework Support
Our after-school Homework Club is offered to students in need of a quiet environment and organized scheduling. A certified middle school teacher on our staff will supervise and assist the students during this period under the following guidelines:
The Homework Club will take place Monday-Thursday after school from dismissal until 3:20.
Students must sign in and out each day they attend.
Parents/teachers may request students to attend on a daily, weekly, or full-time basis.
Students may attend on their own initiative.
Students must come with their work and all necessary supplies.
Homework Club will likely begin in just a few weeks. Please stay tuned for an announcement.
The Use of Student Photos & Videos
Student Photos & Videos
Dear Island Trees Memorial Middle School Families,
Please note that during the course of the school year, photographs and video footage of students participating in school activities are taken for use in school district publications as well as in local and regional print, radio, television, the website and social media. At times, students are also identified by name when appropriate, which may accompany a photograph or video footage. Parental permission is assumed for all school related usage as stated above.
In the event that you wish to expressly withdraw permission, please forward a letter so indicating to my attention at the above address. You may also fax the letter to me at (516) 520-2168.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Daniel Keegan
Principal
Great Programs Built Into Our 5th & 6th Grade Schedule
SEL
Coding & STEAM
World Language
Advisory
Humanities Workshop
Math Workshop
Core Extension
Getting Off to a Great Start to the Year
GETTING A GOOD START
Organize
Getting a good start at the beginning of the school year is important. Start good habits right away. Before you go to bed, organize your books and supplies and get your clothes ready for the next day so that you are not rushed in the morning.
Your Locker
At school your locker is your home away from home. It is provided for your books and clothing. You should keep your locker uncluttered and locked and keep your combination a secret. Lockers are not to be exchanged or shared with other students.
Be Friendly
Come to school each day with a positive attitude. Talk to people about their interests and they will ask you about yours. Make an effort to make new friends and work with a variety of classmates when you can.
Make Connections
Take advantage of the social activities that the middle school provides. Join clubs that are organized along the lines of your interests. Participate in school dances, field trips, Sports Night, and many other activities.
Bulldog Pride & Appropriate Dress for School
Bulldog Pride Guidelines
Each student’s appearance should reflect a positive image of our school and uphold the spirit of “Bulldog Pride”. Our school welcomes and appreciates the support of parents in upholding these guidelines.
In order to maintain a safe, orderly, and respectful learning environment all students are expected to adhere to the following dress code guidelines:
Students should NOT wear clothing which is unsafe, dangerous or a health hazard.
No outerwear of any kind shall be worn during the school day.
No clothing may contain offensive or obscene language, symbols, signs, or slogans.
No clothing may endorse violence, sex, gangs or illegal substances.
Attire may not be disruptive to the educational process.
If a student is in violation of the aforementioned guidelines he or she will be offered the opportunity to change clothing immediately or be referred to the Student Support Center. Parents/Guardians may be contacted to bring alternative attire to the school should it be required.
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.
ITMMS is a Nationally Designated School to Watch
A Note from National Forum
On behalf of the National Forum, I would like to offer you our heartfelt congratulations on being re-designated as a School to Watch school! What an exciting thing you have embarked upon and your recognition shows the world that your school is indeed advancing excellence in the middle-grades. We truly cannot thank you enough for your dedication to young adolescent students and strong programs, practices, and cultures that enable you to meet their needs and propel them further. You are making an impactful difference in their lives and we are grateful beyond words.
Again, we are so proud of you and your accomplishments on becoming a Schools to Watch school! Your students are so very fortunate to be part of your school and we are anxious to learn from you at the conference and through other interactions with your team. Thank you for being a leader in middle-grades education and for your strong dedication to young adolescents.
With admiration, appreciation, and respect,
Promoting Positive Behaviors & Safety at ITMMS
Growing a Reading Mindset
School Safety & Wellness Reminders
Please Review With Your Children
Important School Phone Numbers
Main Office: 520-2157
Student Support Center: 520-2169
Health Office: 520-2164
Special Education: 520-2175
Curriculum: 520-2185
Health & Athletics: 520-2173
Attendance Office: 520-2166
We are a Nut Aware School
Please refrain from sending your child to school with snacks containing nuts. Peanut butter and other nut-related items are not sold in our cafeteria. Nut-free sections are designated in the cafeteria. If you have concerns about your child’s allergies, please contact our nurse at 520-2164.
Nutrition
To foster good health amongst our students, the following guidelines have been established:
- Energy drinks and coffee drinks are not permitted
- No food or drinks in the hallways
- No use of snack machines until lunch periods
- Delivery of fast food/take out is prohibited during the school day
Hallway Passing
Your children are reminded that they are expected to move between classes efficiently and to be safe, respectful, and responsible. All students are expected to walk on the right-side of the hallway and to walk in a manner that is respectful of others. There is no acceptable excuse for pushing or making physical contact with another student. With many students moving through our hallways during passing, pushing, running, and other similar behaviors can create a health and safety concern.
Lockers
Lockers will be assigned during the first weeks of school. Please be sure to encourage your child to routinely use his/her locker during the school day. There is time between classes for students to get to lockers, and I believe with greater practice and consistency, our students will see that more routine use of the locker will lessen the weight of a backpack. Those with gym lockers (student-athletes included) must lock belongings in our school-issued lockers.
Headphones & Phones
This note speaks to the power of one voice. I ask that you join me in reminding your children to remove headphones/Airpods when arriving to school in the morning. Additionally, please be sure to remind your children that phones must be fully powered down while in school. We have had great success with our "Powered Down & Put Away" policy, and we ask for your support in this area.
Smart Watches
As we continue to strengthen our Powered Down & Put Away program, we share with you that smart watches are not permitted to be worn during the school day. Any watch that allows for, or has the potential to allow for photography, texting, internet searches, and/or e-mail must be placed in a locker or backpack during the school day.
Social Media
How familiar are you with TikTok, Instagram, and SnapChat? Do you know who your children communicate with on these open social media platforms? Do your children go to YouTube the way you as a child may have gone to Nickelodeon, ESPN, or some other afternoon tv show?
As a father of twin fourteen year-olds, I have been forced to confront the powerful force that is social media. I would strongly encourage each of you to review the resources found under the following headings:
- Screenagers
- Social Media & Adolescents
I do believe these resources will help you (us) better understand the powerful pull of social media and technology while also providing ideas for families and parents to help children navigate the digital world.
Personal Items
Please do not bring personal items, money or jewelry of value to school. It is important for you to remember that the school cannot assume responsibility for the safekeeping of your personal items should they become lost or stolen. Cell phones are not necessary during the school day, and ITMMS is not responsible for loss or theft of phones, Airpods, watches, etc. No electronic equipment, aside from school-provided devices, are to be used during school. Recording and/or photographing staff and other students is strictly prohibited in school, on the bus, and at any school sponsored events.
Attendance Resources
Quick Reminder - Attendance Calls
Communication between home and school is crucial to so many areas, including attendance. I am writing to remind you that it is a parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to notify the school whenever your child is absent. Please call the Attendance Office (520-2166) each day that your child will not be attending school. Please also be reminded to send in notes from your doctor or dentist to confirm visits. Strong communication allows us to keep updated and timely records, and it also helps our teachers best assist students who will be missing classes.
Thank you for your support.
Let's Stay in Touch
The Daily Bulletin
https://sites.google.com/islandtrees.net/island-trees-memorial-middle-s/home
Smore
You (Our Kids) Deserve It
Powered Down & Put Away
Please join us as we make this expectation clear to your children from Day 1. As with other policies, it is important when working with adolescents to explain the "why" behind the policy. Please join me in clearly articulating our belief that our kids deserve it; that 6 1/2 hours of a day without a text tone, vibration, or push notification is healthy and will promote focus and their full presence. Our office phones will always welcome students needing to contact home, and if there is anything essential that must be communicated to our students, we will be sure to relay messages from home to our students.
Let's do this together!
Parenting & Middle School
Screenagers
Dignity for All Students Act
What is the Dignity for All Students Act?
The Dignity Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and took effect on July 1, 2012. "New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.
The Dignity Act also amended Section 801-a of New York State Education Law regarding instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity to include: an awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people, including but not limited to, different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity, and sexes." (NYSED.gov)
In each school, a Dignity For All Students (DASA) Coordinator is trained to handle human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (identity or expression) and sex. The DASA coordinators are available to assist families with any concerns.
Adolescents & the Responsible Use of Technology
Excerpt from Common Sense Media
The reality is that most kids start developing online relationships around the age of 8, usually through virtual worlds such as Club Penguin. By age 10, they've progressed to multiplayer games and sharing their digital creations and homemade videos on sites such as YouTube. By age 13, millions of kids have created accounts on social-networking sites such as Facebook. Here are the essential safety and responsibility guidelines for middle schoolers:
- Follow the rules. Many social sites have an age minimum of 13 for both legal and safety/privacy reasons. Encourage kids to stick with age-appropriate sites.
- Tell your kids to think before they post. Remind them that everything can be seen by a vast, invisible audience (otherwise known as friends-of-friends-of-friends). Each family will have different rules, but, for middle school kids, it's a good idea for parents to have access to what their kids are doing online, at least at first, to be sure that what's being posted is appropriate. Parents can help keep kids from doing something they'll regret later.
- Make sure kids set their privacy settings. Privacy settings aren't foolproof, but they can be helpful. Take the time to learn about default settings and how to change privacy settings on your kids' favorite sites, and teach your kids how to control their privacy.
- Kindness counts. Lots of sites have anonymous applications such as "bathroom walls" or "honesty boxes" that allow users to tell their friends what they think of them. Rule of thumb: If your kids wouldn't say it to someone's face, they shouldn't post it
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