Last Tuesday night, parents came out in droves to witness an event that truly encapsulated the intelligence and tenacity of our student body. Never in the history of this school has a Science Fair captured the spirit of engineering, inquiry, and ingenuity. Our 6th grade students worked tirelessly to showcase the projects that they had worked on throughout the school year. Some of the projects were timely and were ripped right out of our own news headlines. One project had to do with the structure of bridges and how to build them stronger and more efficiently. Another project utilized Scratch, which is a coding program to create a digital model of how to shoot a basketball more efficiently. Finally, another favorite was a water filtration model that used charcoal to filtrate and clean water.

Students collected data and showed their findings to their parents and community members. Gone are the days of Power Points and printed trifolds. This Science Fair ushered in computer science and QR codes. Attached below is a quick video of the Science Fair exhibits. A big shout out to Mrs. Neri, Mrs. Dougherty, Mrs. Giovanelli, Ms. Epstein, Ms. Galgano and Mrs. Persaud. Great job!!

New York State Department of Education tests in grades 3-6 require students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in the areas of reading, writing, mathematics and science (5th grade only). Please note that the results of these assessments do not dictate your child’s promotional status. Our teachers have been working all year long to prepare our students with the skills and knowledge to feel comfortable in the testing environment. We encourage all students to participate in these assessments and to always try their best.

• Students who are absent on a testing day will be administered the exam the next day he/she is in attendance if within the testing window.

• Please make sure your child arrives at school on time (8:15 am). Any child arriving at school after the test has been distributed will not be admitted into the classroom to take the exam.

Although we encourage the participation of all students, we respect parents’ rights to make decisions in the best interest of their children. If you do choose to exclude your child from participating in the exam(s), a written notification with your signature must be sent to your child’s teacher prior to the first day of the exam.

As per the New York State Department of Education, students in grades 3, 4 & 6 will be administered the NYS ELA exams on April 11 and 12. The 5th grade students will take the computer-based ELA NYS Assessment on April 15 and 16. Our teachers have been preparing our children to be lifelong learners. This test is just one measure of their progress. Parents can play an important role in helping their children succeed in school and prepare for these tests.

Here are some things you can do:

• Be supportive. Make sure your child comes to school ready to learn, attends school regularly, and completes all homework assignments.

• Encourage good work habits. You can help your child learn good work habits at home which will translate into their schoolwork. Explain the importance of carefully following directions, avoiding careless errors, and checking work to make sure that it has been completed correctly.

• Present a positive attitude toward the tests. Let your child know that you have confidence in their abilities. Explain that some of the test questions may be difficult and that it does not matter if other students finish earlier. The test is NOT timed. Let your child know it is okay to proceed at their own pace.

• MOST OF ALL…Taking a test requires a student’s full attention, so your child should have a good night’s sleep before the test. Make sure your child has a healthy breakfast and a nutritious lunch. We are proud of our students and our parent’s commitment to education. Continue to support our students as we build self-sufficient learners.

The Global Leaders of Tomorrow held an anti-bullying assembly at all three schools within the district. Students from the Global Leaders of Tomorrow created slideshows with videos to highlight characteristics of kindness and being an upstander, while also warning students of the dangers of bullying. Students learned how to identify characteristics of bullying and even the root causes of it. More often than not, bullies are people who are going through their own emotional trauma. Seeking help may prevent bullying before it starts. Students also learned how to speak up against bullying by being kind toward one another and supporting friendships.

The Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Garcia-France and the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Ms. Jennifer Lewner, facilitated each assembly. The leaders asked questions in the audience and entertained responses. All in all it was a successful assembly and the upper grades really learned a lot about how to be caring and engaged individuals.

Throughout the month of March students participated in March Madness. During March Madness we emphasize healthy eating, exercising, and wellness. Students also participate in workouts in the morning with the principal and conversations about healthy snacks throughout the day. All of this is done in preparation for State Assessments that will be occurring this month. Healthy bodies means healthy minds. Students who ate right and exercised all week had a chance to win a raffle prize based on the color of the week. Everyone had a great time working out in the gym and exercising with their peers. See the video below.

Did you ever want to design your own playground? Perhaps a swing set, a rock wall, or maybe even a roundabout? The students in our enrichment class, who are second grade students, were given the opportunity to first draw their own playgrounds and then design them using materials. Look at the great structures that they created. Ms. Galgano, our Enrichment teacher, believes that if students can visualize it, they can materialize it. Our second grade students had fun showing off their new designs and building their dreams of becoming playground engineers. Well done everyone!

When I was in South Africa several years ago I visited the elementary and middle schools in the area of Cape Town. When asked, the students were able to recite the mission of their school. It was quite exhilarating to hear the students in unison recite what their mission is. As I reflected on this, I began to realize that being able to recite what a mission is and being able to live what a mission is are two different things. Here at Valley Stream District 30, we live our district mission every day. In case you don't know what it is, take a look at the picture below, read the Chronicle and then ask yourself if it is representative of our district mission. I'm sure you will come to the same conclusion that I did!

Students in our Kindergarten classrooms shared the tradition of Ramadan with their classmates. The children learned that Ramadan is a special time for Muslims to reflect, give thanks, and spend time with their families. Family and faith is represented in many different ways. Families gather to break fast together each evening (iftar). This is a time to share a meal, exchange stories, and connect with loved ones. Families also set aside time each day to read and reflect on the Quran with family members. Some families may choose to volunteer. Ramadan is an opportunity to volunteer as a family, whether it's at a local mosque or a community organization. This is a way to give back and to strengthen family bonds. During Ramadan families will attend nightly taraweeh prayers at the mosque or perform them at home with family members. The most important thing during Ramadan is to prioritize spending time with family and loved ones. Whether it's through prayer, volunteering, or simply sharing a meal together, there are many ways to connect with family members and strengthen family bonds.

This week, the second grade students are participating in Submerge Storytelling. It is a residency for students to appreciate literacy by becoming a part of the story. The students had to sign a contract before participating in this worthwhile venture. Finally, with anticipation at its peak, they were brought to Trevor's room. Students walked in and were surprised to see an entire classroom that was built into a child's bedroom. The creator of Submerged Storytelling, Cory Levine, is a licensed teacher who has worked with a range of students over his teaching career. It is his hope that Submerge Storytelling entertains children by letting their imagination run wild all while building text-to-self literary connections.

Currently, the students are fully submerged within this story which has intrigue, espionage and mystery. Let’s see how things unfold!

OTHER DISTRICT NEWSLETTERS

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