IEYMS Castle News

Dear IEYMS Families,

The next few weeks will quickly turn into a memory as we move closer to the summer vacation. It is imperative that students remain focused on their studies, complete all assigned work, and continue to adhere to the expectations and rules of the New Rochelle Code of Conduct. Please be mindful that students must meet academic and behavioral expectations to participate in all end-of-the-year trips and activities.

The City School District of New Rochelle is proposing a $29 million capital project that focuses on safety and security at all 10 school buildings. Improvements were identified and prioritized by the Health and Safety Committee using the 2022 state-mandated Building Condition Survey to address aging infrastructure, school security, and educational programming. To learn more, VISIT OUR CAPITAL PROJECT PAGE AT WWW.NRED.ORG. Budget voting is Tuesday, May 16 from 7 am to 9 pm at all district voting locations.

April 1-April 30 was Autism Awareness Month. Ms. Rodriguez-Garay organized a Light It Up Blue Day to close out the month. Students and staff wore blue jeans, blue shirts, blue jackets, blue blazers, blue hats, and other blue items to show their support for Autism Awareness. At IEYMS, we are committed to creating and sustaining a welcoming, accepting, and affirming environment for all of our students. Recognition and celebratory events such as these allow us to teach others about the differences within us that make us special and wonderful individuals. Thank you, Ms. Rodriguez-Garay. Please continue reading below for more updates and events inside the Castle.

• As a reminder, please make sure that your child is clear about your expectations for what they can and cannot do after school. Now is a great time to reinforce the steps your child should take before they decide to change the agreed-upon after-school plan.

• The final examination schedule has not been released yet. We will share the schedule with you once it is finalized by the district.

• The food pantry will be held in the IEYMS Football Field Parking Lot on May 10 from 4-5PM. We kindly ask that participants do not block the sidewalk as it hinders the ability of our students to use the sidewalk during dismissal. Thank you kindly for your cooperation.

Upcoming Dates

May 5: Happy Cinco de Mayo

May 10: IEY Food Pantry

May 10-12: PTA Mother's Day Plant Sale

May 12: 8th Grade Cap and Gown Photos

May 12: Choir Music Festival Trip to Dorney Park

May 15: Poetry Out Loud Celebration

May 16: 8th Grade New Rochelle High School Visit

May 16: New Rochelle City School District Budget Voting

May 17-19: NYSESLAT for ENL Students Only

May 18-19: Lion King Jr. School Play

May 24-25: Spring Music Concerts

May 23-24: New York State Science Performance Assessment Grade 8 Only

May 31: 8th Grade Dance at VIP Country Club

The fabulous IEY PTA treated the staff to an appreciation breakfast. The scent of muffins, eggs, bacon, pancakes, coffee, pastries, French toast and other yummy goodies filled the air of the Castle on Friday, May 5, 2023. We thank the PTA for their partnership and dedication to the IEYMS community. They are truly a gift to our school, students, and staff. Congratulations to the staff members who won the raffle prizes.

Come out and join us on Thursday May 18th or Friday May 19th at 6PM as the IEY Knights Theatre Club presents their rendition of the classic Disney animated film, Lion King Junior. Tickets are now on sale for this years musical. Tickets can be purchased online by visiting the website our.show/ieymslionking. Tickets are $10 for adults and just $5 for students or children. You can purchase tickets in advance online and at the door on the night of the show.

"Over the last 40 years, the Nuyorican Poets Cafe has served as a home for groundbreaking works of poetry, music, theater and visual arts. Known as a multicultural and multi-arts institution, the Cafe gives voice to a diverse group of rising poets, actors, filmmakers and musicians." The Cafe champions the use of poetry, jazz, theater, hip-hop and spoken word as means of social empowerment and our students took the stage and presented powerful pieces of original poetry.

Last Thursday, April 27th, 32 of Isaac E. Young’s sixth, seventh, and eighth grade writers buzzed with excitement as they filed into the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. In celebration of Poetry Month, our Humanities chairperson, Dr. Beatrice Lopez organized a day trip for our students to attend a writing workshop at the legendary and historic Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City.

Upon arrival, students were greeted by program assistant and spoken word poet, Claudia “cap” Alvarez-Plaud, who first led a presentation on the cafe’s vibrant history. Students learned that the Nuyorican Poets Cafe was founded 50 years ago to empower underrepresented voices. Creative minds continue to perform poetry, music, and other forms of art on the cafe stage to express their identities and their truths.

After the presentation, students were given time to tour the cafe before engaging in a poetry writing workshop with the only rule being to “speak from your chest.” Guided by several writing prompts, our poets wrote feverishly line after line as jazz music filled the creative space. Poets were encouraged to explore their own identities as they developed poems entitled, “Where I’m From” as well as poems around the repeated line, “I am…”.

This inspiring trip culminated in an open mic where writers presented their poetry to the crowd of their peers. As the lights dimmed, Claudia invited nearly 20 of our poets who had boldly volunteered to perform their authentically written poems for the audience. The snaps were audible as our courageous first poet, sixth grader Brianna Guraj proudly shared her perspective of “What Life Is.” When asked afterward how she felt about being first to perform, Brianna responded, “It felt good to share my perspective about what I think about the world. I felt I could say what I needed to say on stage without being interrupted because it wasn’t a conversation; it was my poem, my time to shine.”

Students produced pieces that showcased their deepest emotions, thoughts, and incredibly powerful messages. They shared experiences about family and friendship, struggles around acceptance, and moments of growth and realization. 6th grade poet Jaylyn Alvarez expressed, “I realized as people started sharing their poems that we’ve all been in the same situation. It was nice because it could be hard to tell someone exactly how you’re feeling but if you put it in a poem, you can explain yourself differently.”

A particularly beautiful moment was when one student shared the mic as an emotional support buddy for another. In doing so, two voices were heard spreading a unified message, "This is my place, my home."

At the conclusion of the event, several students offered their reflections. Seventh grader Bryan Pena said, “It was so nice to see others’ skills and what they bring to the table. I could now take how people use words and tone to enhance my own poetry skills.” Uriel Ajche in seventh grade expressed, “I felt like I could free my mind.” Lastly, eighth grader Ryan Birmingham shared enthusiastically, “It was fun to see how each person interpreted each prompt. Everyone was really supportive. It is the best possible place for people who enjoy art and writing and I’m hoping to go back when I’m older!”

You might want to think about getting these students autographs now because they are going to be stars! After the overwhelmingly positive feedback from our young poets, we’re hopeful that this will become an annual event! Thank you Ms. Delancey, Mr. Rodriguez-Garay, and Mr. Heyward for chaperoning this amazing opportunity for students.

As part of a unit on Ecology, Science 8 students in Mrs. Reeds periods 6 and 7 classes engaged in learning about ways in which humans can have either a positive or negative impact on the environment around them, and were asked to create a plan to counteract the negative human activities. As the students explored different human activities, categorizing them as “positive” or “negative”, they commented that they noticed several of these activities going on in the neighborhoods around them.

"Some of the things that stood out to the 8th graders were pollution, urban expansion, trash production, and invasive species, states Mrs. Reed. As a next step, students worked individually or in pairs to design an “Ecological Safe Space” that would help support species that have been negatively impacted by these human activities. Students evaluated their park proposals by highlighting the harmful effects that they were able to counteract with their designs. Several of the creative features of their parks included birdhouses to encourage native species to nest in the area, pollinator gardens, water features, walking paths for human enjoyment of the natural world, plus biodiverse plantings including flowers, fruit-bearing trees, and community gardens.

The biggest takeaway from this project is that with thoughtfulness and creativity, it is possible to counteract negative human activities.

Students and staff at Isaac E. Young Middle School joined the rest of the world in the celebration of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary this spring. The day spotlighted two of the five tenets of hip hop culture: fashion and break dancing. The other three tenets of hip hop include: MC-ing (rap/poetry), graffiti art, and knowledge (self-love and social connections).

Throughout the building many in the IEYMS school community highlighted the day by wearing their best outfits that included Air Jordans, adidas track suits, and vintage oversized jewelry. The outfits were worn to recognize hip hop pioneers. The highlight of the day came when students were treated to the acrobatic performances of the break dance group, Emphasis Entertainment. Not only did students watch the highly acclaimed dance troupe, whose dance portfolio includes performances at Lincoln Center, but students also got the opportunity to go on stage to showcase their own dance moves.

The breadth of hip hop culture has its roots in the African diaspora as it is a recognition and celebration of inclusion, and a platform for social awareness. This was evident in the prize choices some students made during raffle drawings held as part of the anniversary celebration. Students earned raffle tickets in their classes for demonstrated class citizenship. Stephanie L., a seventh grader with Guatemalan roots, choose a graphic t-shirt that read “Black is Beautiful” because she liked its positive message. Eighth grader, Gabriela G. chose a Puerto Rican national baseball cap as a prize, but then gifted it to one of the IEY teachers Mr. Segarra, to show her respect for the teacher’s cultural roots, and dedication as an educator.

The celebratory day was curated by teacher Calvin Heyward, and made possible by a grant from the non-profit group, H.I.P_H.O.P_B.E.A.T.S.

IEYMS 8th Grade Visit to New Rochelle High School

On May 16, 2023, 8th grade students from IEYMS will tour New Rochelle High School. Permission letters were given out on April 27. Every student must submit a signed permission slip in order to participate in the visit to New Rochelle High School.

The IEYMS Moving Up Ceremony

The 8th grade moving up ceremony is scheduled for June 21 at 8:30 and will be held at New Rochelle High School. Rehearsal for the ceremony is tentatively scheduled for June 16. More information will be available in the coming weeks.

8th Grade Prom tickets are on sale for $65.00

See the flyer below. Permission slips and payment instructions were given to each student and is posted in the grade 8 Google Classroom. Slips are also available in the main office and at the security desk.

8th Grade Holiday Hills tickets are on sale for $100

Permission slips and payment instructions were given to each student and is posted in the grade 8 Google Classroom. Slips are also available in the main office and at the security desk. Seating is limited.

Rising Grade 9 High School Presentation

Click the link below to watch the New Rochelle Rising Grade 9 Family presentation. If you were unable to attend the Zoom meeting in March, please watch the video for valuable insight into all that New Rochelle High School offers. Language translations are available. https://nrhs.nred.org/o/nrhs/article/1039076

NRHS Algebra Summer Academy

New Rochelle High School is offering the opportunity for rising grade 9 students to participate in the Algebra Summer Academy. Students will work with NRHS Algebra 1 teachers on specific tasks designed to strengthen math understanding. This class will assist students in preparing for Algebra in the fall. The class is open to all students who will enroll at NRHS as 9th graders in the fall. Please click on the blue link below for more information and registration. You must register to participate.

Algebra I Summer Institute

Algebra I Summer Institute (Spanish)

New Rochelle High School Summer Bridge Program

Current grade 8 students who fail ELA or Mathematics will be enrolled in the NRHS Summer Bridge Program during July. Students will take ELA for the first two weeks for 3 hours per day and MATH for the second two weeks for 3 hours per day. Breaks will be scheduled in between for students to learn about the high school and get to know the building. More information will be shared with families who are eligible to attend.

New Rochelle High School Huguenot Academy

The Huguenot Academy is accepting appointments for visits. Please read the flyer below to learn more about HA and how you can schedule your tour. HA has open spots for rising grade 9 students.