Island Trees Memorial Middle School
The Home-School Connection
November 20, 2017
Let me begin this week of Thanksgiving by thanking each of you for your support throughout this school year. Also, let me congratulate you on a very successful 1st Quarter. Our classrooms, hallways, stages, and playing fields have been marked by strong and engaging instruction and our students' commitment to taking chances and challenging themselves to do more than they ever thought possible.
November brings with it the Thanksgiving holiday and a reminder to think about the things we are most grateful for. Studies show that grateful living, becoming aware that every moment is a gift and taking the time to think about what we are grateful for each week, decreases stress, increases happiness and promotes positive thinking. As parents, be sure to take the time to do something for your own health & wellness?
- Take a moment at the start of your day to think about something you are grateful for.
- When the day gets busy and the stress levels rise, take a second to find the joy in your work, your hobbies, and the people who are most important to you.
- Express gratitude to someone else.
- Start a Gratitude Journal, just one entry a week will benefit overall health and outlook.
As parents, you are asked to do so much for others; be sure you take some time for yourselves.
"Healthy Schools, Healthy Community, & Healthy Kids"
In the last edition of the Home-School Connection newsletter, I paid significant attention to the concept of student connectedness to school as a preventive factor which can ward off dangerous and unhealthy behaviors. If you have not done so, please link to last week's newsletter and take a look at some of the resources shared with our families.
- Parent Engagement in Schools (CDC)
- Helping Your Child Feel Connected at School (USDHHS)
- Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child graphic
- Developmental Characteristics of Young Adolescents (AMLE)
- Pay Attention to Attendance
- Parenting a Middle Schooler (AMLE)
- The Health Dangers of Vaping (Full Section)
Please continue to encourage your child to seek out opportunities to connect with our school through clubs, sports, intramurals, service organizations, and the performing arts. If you feel as though your child is not as connected as you might like, please reach out to our counselors in the Student Support Center, Mrs. Steele, or me.
Thanks for your support. Happy Thanksgiving!
Parent-Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, Nov 21, 2017, 01:00 PM
Island Trees Memorial Middle School, Wantagh Avenue, Levittown, NY, United States
Grades & the Growth Mindset for Parents
Substance Abuse Awareness Forum - Presented by our PTSA
Island Trees for Puerto Rico
Madagascar Junior
Math Olympics in Mrs. Gonzalez's Classroom
Just as our nation salutes our country with the singing of our national anthem before each sporting event, so did Homebase 143 before the commencement of our first Mini Metric Olympics. The science class put their measurement skills to work after learning how to properly use science tools such as the beaker, metric ruler, and triple beam balance.
The Olympians took part in events such as the Paper Plate Discus, Pom-Pom Shot Put, Left-Handed Sponge Squeeze, Paper Straw Javelin, Right Handed Marble Grab, and even a Big Foot Contest. The winner of each event was the student whose predicted estimate was the closest to the actual measurement.
Congratulations to all Olympians for making it to the Olympics, and a big congratulations to Nicholas Derencin for being crowned this year’s overall gold medal Olympian.
Veterans Day in Mrs. Schneider's Classroom
Designing Cars & Exploring the Laws of Physics
Building Games in Mr. Norton's Technology Classroom
Stay Connected: Intramurals as a Means to Connect to Our School
No Place for Hate
With public displays of hate on the rise, it is more important than ever for schools to commit to programs that clearly define expectations in behavior for all members of the community. Whether you are a student, educator, or family member, you have a role to play in combating bias and bullying as a means to stop the escalation of hate.
Island Trees Memorial Middle School is excited to announce our partnership with the ADL's No Place for Hate Movement. No Place for Hate is a self-directed program helping all of the stakeholders take the lead on improving and maintaining school climate so all students can thrive. To be designated No Place for Hate, a school must complete the following:
- needs assessment
- formation of a No Place for Hate committee
- signing of the Resolution of Respect
- one A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE® Institute anti-bias or bullying prevention training program (optional in some regions)
- design and implementation of three school-wide anti-bias or bullying prevention activities
We look forward to your support and ideas as we work with our students and school community to promote respect, understanding, and positive interpersonal behaviors.
Read Every Day Initiative
Read Every Day Initiative
Island Trees Memorial Middle School requires all students to have a book of their choice with them at all times. Teachers often set aside 5-10 minutes of class time to silent reading in order to promote reading stamina and skill development.
We also have students read whenever there is any downtime in class. Most importantly, teachers very often to read with their students. This has really had an impact on students reading because they see our love as well. We have had kids make quick review posters for other classmates who might need an idea of a book to read.
A Long Walk to Water
When our students at Island Trees Memorial Middle School enter seventh grade English classes, they begin the year with a novel called A Long Walk to Water. It is the story of the journey of one of the Lost Boys of Sudan, Salva Dut. The Lost Boys are a group of young boys who were forced to flee their homes and country (on foot, through the African wilderness) as a result of civil war in their villages.
As an exciting addition to our curriculum this year, we are lucky enough to have a guest speaker, Sebastian Maroundit, also a Lost Boy of Sudan, come to speak to our seventh and eighth grade students. Sebastian has created an organization called Building Minds in South Sudan. Their mission is to rebuild schools in war-torn, poverty, and famine stricken South Sudan, as well as to promote gender equality in education. Because of the ongoing war in South Sudan, education has suffered greatly.
Take a look at the link below to see how our school will help rebuilds schools and promote gender equality in South Sudan.
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Email: dkeegan@islandtrees.org
Website: http://www.islandtrees.org/itms/index.htm
Location: 45 Wantagh Avenue, Levittown, NY
Phone: (516) 520-2157
Twitter: @Islandtreesmms