The Middle View

Greetings Garden City Family,

We're heading into the final stretch here at GCMS and what does that mean? It means the 3-8 ELA and Math assessments, our final NWEA check-ins, and we're starting to approach final exams, Regents exams, and the grade 8 FLACS exams for world language learners. Tests don't define any of us, but these are important moments, all the same, it is important that our students find ways to begin the preparation process sooner than later. To support this work, please consider taking advantage of our morning Math Lab and the Regents Review sessions. Please make sure that your child is connecting with his/her teacher for extra help, asking good questions, and self-advocating when something feels difficult. It's the final countdown; let's use this time well. I urge you to stay in contact with your child's teachers so that you have a clear picture of progress. We want our students to use this feedback well so that they, too, can reflect on the learning strategies they've employed this year to how well they've led to their desired outcomes. If you or your child need a "thought-partner" in making those connections or interpreting that feedback, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to help!

But it's not just work! We have fun things in front of us! Our spring sports season is in full swing and we have some incredible 8th grade events just around the corner. I'm so excited for what is to come! Finally, as we head into summer and you finalize your plans for your children, please do keep us in mind. The GC Summer Program has a great depth of offerings and there are a number of exciting opportunities for learners at all grade levels. In the coming days, we'll be sharing a catalog of options. Summer should be a blast, and we'd love to be a part of your planning!

Wishing you well and warm,

Matthew Samuelson

Principal

There are two sessions of the New York State Math Assessment this year. The assessment will continue to be untimed, better enabling students to demonstrate what they know and are able to do. We take a balanced approach with regard to the importance of this assessment. As we have shared, our 7th grade students will take the the math assessments on the computer-based platform that we piloted in January.

Parents often ask how they might best prepare their children for these exams. Since they cover a year of curriculum and learning, the best preparation relates to promoting students’ readiness to “show what they know.” This means a good night’s rest, a healthy breakfast, and lots of positive reinforcement. Students shouldn’t cram or stay up trying practice questions the night(s) before the tests. We know our students work hard, and will do the best they can—and that is all we can expect.

THE NEW YORK STATE GRADE 8 INTERMEDIATE LEVEL SCIENCE TEST

🧪Grade 8 Science Performance Test: Tuesday, May 23, 2023

🧪Grade 8 Science Written Test: Monday, June 6, 2022

Students enrolled in Science 8 will be taking the New York State Grade 8 Intermediate Level Science Test, which assesses the level of mastery students have achieved in science between grades 5 and 8. The test includes two parts taken over two different days. The Science Performance Test (Tuesday, May 23, 2023) will include a number of hands-on tasks to be completed at different stations.

The Science Written Test (Monday, June 5, 2023) will assess students’ content knowledge and application. It includes multiple choice, short answer questions, and extended written responses in which students will be asked to interpret charts, draw graphs and diagrams and apply their knowledge and skills to real-world situations. Students need to bring pens, pencils and a non-graphing calculator to the test. They have two hours to complete the test.

PHYSICAL SETTING: EARTH SCIENCE REGENTS EXAMINATION

🧪Earth Science Regents Performance Test: Thursday, June 1, 2023

🧪Earth Science Regents Written Test: Friday, June 16, 2023

Students enrolled in Earth Science will be taking the Earth Science Regents examination. The test has two parts that are administered on two separate dates:(Thursday, June 1, 2023) and the Written Test (Friday, June 16, 2023).

The Laboratory Performance Test includes a number of hands-on tasks to be completed at separate stations. The Written Test includes multiple-choice questions and constructed-response questions. Students should bring a non-graphing calculator, pens, pencils and a ruler to the test. Earth Science Reference Tables will be provided during the exam. Students will have three hours to complete the exam.

If a student misses the Laboratory Performance Part of the test (and we offer make-up dates), he or she will get zero points for this part of the test, but he/she will be allowed to take the Written Part. If a student misses the Written Part of the test (for any reason), he/she cannot get credit for the course. Missing the test as a result of an unexcused absence will negatively impact the student’s grade for the year. There is no make-up for the Written Part of the test in June. The final grade for the Earth Science Regents course as well as the grade for the Earth Science Regents examination are recorded on the high school transcript and are counted into the student’s grade point average (GPA), which is then provided to colleges.

Please note that students taking Algebra will report to Earth Science and Algebra review classes on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 and Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in lieu of taking the NYS Math exam. The schedule is as follows:

This year the Middle School will honor our 8th Grade Art Students with a permanent tile installation and art show!

Students have been very busy in Ms. Biondi and Mr. Wilkonski's art classes preparing for this show. Students painted a self-portrait on 16x20 canvas and a replica 12x12 tile was also created. The tiles will be permanently installed and unveiled during this art show. In addition to viewing a permanent installation, students and parents will embark on a gallery walk viewing all the artwork created by the 8th grade.

This beautiful display of 8th grade artwork will take place the evening of Monday, May 8, 2023 from

7-8 p.m. Entrance for the art show will be in the Middle School Gymnasium.

This has been a tremendous year for the 8th grade, and we are truly proud of all their hard work and creativity. We hope to see you on this wonderful evening!

Buses will depart for Adventureland at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Friday, May 12, 2023.

• Those attending the trip should report to school on time and go directly to their period 1 class.
• The park is open only for the 8th grade class. It is not open to the public or other school districts during the time we are there.

Students must wear the 8th grade class t-shirt that they are given. (T-shirts will be distributed in school the week of May 8.)

• Students who do not wear their t-shirt will not be able to attend.
  
• Students who alter, cut, or try and re-design their t-shirt will not be able to attend.
  
• It is also recommended that students apply sunblock prior to arriving to school that day.
  

Lunch and snack are included with admission.

• Lunch: choice of chicken fingers, hamburger, hot dog, or pizza with French fries and drink
  
• Snack: choice of pretzel, popcorn or churro
  
• Only students with food sensitivities or allergies can bring their own lunch into the park.
  
• These students will leave their lunch with the school nurse who will be stationed at the main gate of the park.
  
• Students may bring additional money for extra snacks or drinks.
  

Cell phones are NOT allowed on the trip.

• Students must leave their cell phones in their school locker before boarding the bus.
  
• Any student who is caught with a cell phone on the bus or in the park will have to turn it in and face disciplinary action.
  

We will be boarding the buses and return to school in time for students to attend period 8.

Students are expected to attend periods 8 and 9 and then continue with their normal schedule for after-school activities.

Order your copy of the 2022-2023 Garden City Middle School Yearbook, Spearhead!

Registration is now open for the SCOPE Summer Enrichment 2023 program. SCOPE is also accepting high school volunteer counselors entering grades 9-12.

Register your child for the grade level he/she will be entering in September of 2023. Please be careful to enter all information correctly to receive updates and alerts. If a course or camp your child wants is full, try flip-flopping the weeks (instead of art week 1 and coding week 2, flip-flop them), or check back as SCOPE may open additional sections once courses fill.

If you have any questions call 631-360-0800 Ext 167 and ask for SCOPE or email dseid@scopeonline.us.

Our One School, One Book program continued this month with more lunchtime fun! Every Wednesday during lunch, our participating students came together to engage in fun and educational activities based on our book Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein. This month students were given the chance to exercise their creativity and envision a new design for the book cover. Then, students engaged in an exciting Escape Room activity where they had to crack challenging word and logic puzzles in a bid to escape.

On Wednesday, April 26, 2023, we celebrated the end of One School, One Book. Student went on a scavenger hunt, inspired by the book, Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library, in our own new library. They solved puzzles and riddles and used clues to find hidden keys. The students had the opportunity to explore the new library while working together to solve the challenges. Students who finished early designed their own bookmarks while others wrote book reviews. The event concluded with pizza and laughter in the cafeteria. It was a fun afternoon filled with adventure and excitement and a great way to wrap up our One School, One Book program!

Grade 8 social studies students participated in a field trip to the Holocaust Museum in Glen Cove. The students toured the museum and viewed photographs and objects from the time period. In addition, they heard from a second-generation Holocaust survivor. Students were then given an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session. Upon returning to school, students painted a reflection of something that resonated with them during the trip, perhaps a word, an idea, a feeling, or an image. Their realistic or abstract paintings also included a written explanation of their work.

Garden City Middle School and High School students in grades 6-12 competed in SPRACHFEST! held at Massapequa High School held on Saturday, March 25, 2023. Garden City students swept the competition! They competed in events such as quiz bowl, scrabble, MINT/STEM, a poster contest, a lip- sync contest, a T-shirt design contest, a baking contest, poetry and musical performances in German. Congratulations to Frau Rupes and to all of the Sprachfest participants on a job that was, in a word, Fantastisch!

On Saturday, May 6, 2023 the Eighth Grade Band and Late Night Jazz under the direction of Ms. Iovino will compete at the Music in the Parks festival held in Westfield, MA. After their morning performance for a panel of adjudicators, the bands will spend the rest of the day at Six Flags, New England. The festivities culminate with an awards ceremony held inside the Park. We wish all participants the best of luck!

The Miracle Club’s lollipop collection was a huge success! We collected over 40 thousand lollipops. Ms. Castoro's Homebase collected the most lollipops- 6,641! They will receive a Dunkin' party. Thank you to everyone for the generous donations!

Vincent Lodato, Cooper Bromberg, Gregory Buccella, Liam Hanrahan, and Willing Curley delivered the lollipops to The NYU Langone Health Cancer Center for Kids.

On March 30, 2023, The Italian Club welcomed the grandparents of grade 7 student, Antonella Falzone, who taught the students how to make fresh mozzarella and cheese. They showed the Club members the step-by-step process , while the students eagerly awaited to eat the finished product which was buonissimo!

South Asian American Women’s Alliance (SAAWA) seeks to encourage and promote leadership and innovation among students in STEM fields to help build tomorrow’s workforce among the community. This year' the 2022-2023 SAAWA Middle School Science Fair was held on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

Congratulations to the grade 7 and 8 Garden City Middle School teams who earned Honorable mentions.

🏅 Earth & Environmental Science Category:

• Ethan Lee and Nicholas Fiducioso

• Isabelle DeNoto, Sienna Brunetti and Colleen Irwin

The final PTA meeting of the school year will take place on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 7:30 p.m. at the Garden City Middle School. Please join us for important end-of-the-year information, the presentation of the 2023-24 Executive Committee Slate, and voting on the preliminary budget and a grant requested by the GCMS. More details on the two votes can be found here. Your attendance matters, and we look forward to seeing you there!

We will host the Middle School Staff Appreciation Luncheon on Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

If you ordered from the 2023 GC Spring Sportswear Sale, pick up will be on Saturday, June 3, 2023, at Garden City Middle School from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

Date: Wednesday, May 10, 2023

Time: 7:00 p.m. (and via Zoom)

Location: GCHS

Take advantage of these wonderful community service opportunities at the Garden City Public Library!