Personal Best Parent Update
...from Donald F. Gately Ed.D., Principal, JMS
August 17, 2016 Volume II Number 1
Welcome to the 2016-17 School Year
Dear Middle School Parents and Students,
Welcome to the 2016-17 school year! In just a week and a half we will be back together learning at the happiest place on earth, Jericho Middle School. By Wednesday of next week, you will receive the number of the room to which you will report on the first day. The building will be open on Thursday (8/25) and Friday (8/26) until about 3pm if you want to take a walk around.
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you as part of our educational family to another school year. I hope everyone enjoyed the summer, got some rest and connected with family and friends!
We had an opportunity to visit Acadia National Park in Maine for a few days. As anyone who has been there, which I have discovered is everyone, will tell you, it's one of the most beautiful places in our country. This gave me the opportunity to discover the singular pleasures of hiking, something that I previously thought was simply a boring walk in the woods. I now know that it's actually an amazing walk in the woods sometimes punctuated by harrowing climbs up and down steep, rocky precipices in order to reach breathtaking views of the ocean. So, I've discovered a new passion. Had a great day with my oldest son biking around in New York City. The weather has been cooperative so we’ve spent lots of time in our pool. My wife Danielle began a new position as Assistant to the Superintendent for Instruction and Personnel in the East Williston school district. Juliet, our youngest, starts first grade in September. Olivia begins middle school. Nicholas enters high school and Patrick starts college. So there are many new beginnings for the adults and the children in our family.
At the beginning of the summer I attended the International Literacy Association conference. This was a highlight as I had opportunities to meet and hear from some of the most influential people in the world of literacy. My conviction was further confirmed that there is simply nothing more important we can do for kids than to develop their passion for reading.
I read some terrific books this summer. Purity, by Jonathan Franzen was a terrific novel about identity and relationships, not to mention student loan debt, which owes a great deal to the novels of Charles Dickens which I also love. The Mathews Men: Seven Brothers and the War against Hitler's U-boats by William Geroux is a fantastic historical account of U-boat attacks on American merchant marine ships during World War II. I had no idea that over 1500 ships were sunk off the coast of the United States during this war. Also read some terrific young adult titles: Jacqueline Woodson Brown Girl Dreaming is a memoir written in verse about an African-American girls experience growing up in Brooklyn and in the South. It won both the National Book Award and a Newberry Honor in 2015. All-American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, a novel about police brutality and racial relations was a timely and important read. It received the Coretta Scott King Award, which is given to outstanding novels about peace, brotherhood, and nonviolent social change.
Summer is a great time to catch up on professional reading as well. I read Visible Learning for Teachers by John Hattie. Reading this book transformed the way that I think about teaching and learning in the school environment. Right now I'm reading Hacking Leadership by Tony Sinanis and Joe Sanfillepo. It's terrific of course, but it is reminding me how much we are all going to miss Dr. Sinanis now that he has moved on from Jericho.
I'd love to hear about the books you read this summer. Why not e-mail me or add to the comments on my blog.
So the battery is recharged and I’m looking forward to the new school year. I’m sure you are too! I hope your summer has been fun and safe. I’d love to hear your stories; e-mail me your vacation photos.
Our faculty members have been very busy this summer. Mr. Wiener and I spent a great deal of time putting together classes and the master schedule so that every child has an appropriate educational program tailored to their needs. Many of the teachers spent the summer participating in professional development, writing curriculum and/or previewing instructional materials for use in our educational program. It has been a productive summer for our staff.
Mr. Mandracchia, our head custodian, and his staff have been working very hard to ensure that your children will start school in a building which is clean, attractive and which provides an atmosphere conducive for learning. Our clerical staff has also spent a great deal of time attending to the many tasks necessary for a smooth start to the school year. We are most grateful for all of their efforts.
The Middle School PTSA is an integral partner in our successful school program. Under the leadership of PTSA President, Christine Kasper, they generously provide support to our educational efforts in innumerable ways. Please join them this year and support their work. The first meeting of the PTSA is September 8th at 9:00 a.m. in the Middle School Library. We look forward to seeing you then.
We have placed many items of information for parents and students on our website. Please go to the middle school website and click on “Resources” → “Parent Resources” → “Important Information” to find the following items:
Chain of Communication with contact phone numbers
Communication and Information Key
Mission Statement Page 3
Supply lists: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade
Information about M.S. Report Card
As we enter the 2016-17 school year, the middle school staff and students will continue to examine everything we do with the goal of continually performing to the level of our “personal best”. Together we will strive to provide a rich educational environment that is inclusive of all learners and committed to meeting each child’s individual needs. Please accept my invitation to keep in touch. Call me with any ideas, questions or concerns you may have. My door is always open!
Sincerely,
DFG
Donald F. Gately, Ed.D.
Personal Best Parent Updates
Jericho Middle School
Email: dgately@jerichoschools.org
Website: Jerichoschools.org
Location: 99 Old Cedar Swamp Road, Jericho, NY, United States
Phone: (516) 203-2600
Twitter: @JerichoMS