Branching Out
March 2022
Message from the Superintendent
Dear Floral Park-Bellerose School District Families and Staff,
Lady Bird Johnson
Where flowers bloom so does hope.
As we welcome Spring after what seems like a long winter, my wish for you is that you consider the above quote when you see the flowers blooming around you. Just as the rainbow symbolizes hope and renewal, so too do the flowers that return to us every Spring. What is so magical about flowers blooming is that they all at once show us how everything changes, but also return to us like clockwork. Our children are like flowers, growing and changing and blooming every day. At the FPBSD, we have weathered some fitful storms and made our way to Spring. We are filled with hope and joy for new learning opportunities and celebrations that traditionally bring us toward the close of the 2021-2022 school year.
Thankfully, we continue to have a low COVID positivity rate, especially after the February break. Our cafeterias are buzzing with normalcy, our classrooms are back to creative and cooperative seating, and our students are handling masks being optional with their usual respect, kindness and resilience. We are so proud to them! I look forward to celebrating with you all that our school community has accomplished together.
Giant Long Island Map
There was much excitement for the gym sized map of Long Island that showed up at the Floral Park-Bellerose School! This teaching tool was fashioned after National Geographic’s Giant Traveling Map program. Students enjoyed hands-on and feet-on activities to help them practice map reading skills and understand scale and geography concepts.
Team Building
Students at John Lewis Childs School worked with BOCES naturalists on team building activities. Each activity focused on cooperation, listening to others and problem-solving skills. Students loved participating, and they didn't want the session to end!
Climate Survey For Our Families
As many of you already know, we are excited to announce our participation in an initiative with the New York State Education Department to promote a healthy and positive school climate. School climate is the attitude or collective mood of the people in the school, particularly as it relates to their sense of communication, responsiveness, safety, and acceptance. Research has shown that when schools and districts focus on improving school climate, students are more likely to engage in the curriculum, develop positive relationships, and demonstrate positive behaviors.
Hearing from you directly will provide us with important perspectives as we work towards improving the climate for learning. We want to know, “What are we doing well and what can we do better to ensure a positive culture and climate in our district?”
Answers can include but not be limited to:
- educational programs
- social emotional learning
- responsiveness
- atmosphere
- safety
- building appearance
- teacher partnership
There is still plenty of time to complete the survey and you can come back as often as you would like to participate. In fact, we ask that you do come back to star some of the new ideas shared since you first participated. The ratings will help us understand the most important areas to focus on.
Quick Tips:
• This Exchange is confidential. Your thoughts will be shared with other participants, but not your identity.
• You will see and rate thoughts that others have shared. 5 stars = strongly agree, 1 star = strongly disagree.
• You do not need to rate all thoughts, though it's recommended to rate at least 20.
• Please be polite and respectful as you share and rate thoughts.
• If you see a thought that is rude, hurtful, or identifies a person or group, you can report it by clicking in the upper right corner of the thought.
Here is the link to take the survey.
https://tejoin.com/scroll/393397142
Please return often until March 23rd to rate new ideas. Thank you for collaborating with our District on this important initiative.
May 17th School Budget Vote Highlights -
* School Board Candidate Packets -This year two members of the Board of Education will be elected for three-year terms, commencing July 1, 2022 and expiring June 30, 2025, at our annual budget vote on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. In order to run for the Board of Education, you must be a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years of age, a qualified voter in the District, and have resided in the school district for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one year immediately before the election. Nominating petitions must be signed by at least 37 qualified voters of the District. Candidate packets are available to be picked up from the District Clerk. Mrs. Altobelli can be reached via email at: maltobelli@fpbsd.org or by telephone at (516)434-2736. The deadline to submit packets is 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 18, 2022.
* Budget Presentations -
* FPBS PTA Meeting - Tuesday, April 5th
* JLCS PTA Meeting - Wednesday, April 13th
* Town Hall by Administration - Wednesday, April 27th
* Floral Park Civic Associations - Thursday, April 28th
* Wednesday Mother's Club - Wednesday, May 4th
* FPMHS PTSA Meeting - Tuesday, May 10th
* Bellerose Terrace Civic Association - Wednesday, May 11
* Budget Adoption -The 2022-23 School Budget will be adopted by the Board of Education at the Monday, April 11th BOE meeting.
* Absentee Ballot Applications - Accepted beginning April 18, 2022
* Public Hearing - Monday, May 9th at 8:00 p.m.
* Voter Registration - Monday, May 9th from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Additional information related to the school budget vote can be located on the school district website, www.fpbsd.org.
Click the Business Tab and Budget Information 2022-23 link.
Upcoming Events
FPBSD Board of Education Workshop Meeting - March 24, 2022 at 7:00 p.m.
FPBSD Board of Education Regular Meeting - April 11, 2022 at 8:00 p.m.
Spring Recess - April 15-22