The IMS Connection

Volume 15, Issue 10: June 2019

Islip Middle School June 2019 Finals and Regents Week Schedule

As I am writing this final note for this school year, the sun is shining and there isn’t a cloud in the sky. This is a wonderful reminder that the days of summer are upon us. I would like to congratulate our eighth grade students for a job well done. Good luck to you as you once again have the opportunity to set new goals as you begin your High School journey. To our returning students, we look forward to your leadership in the coming school year as we welcome our new sixth graders.

At this time, please review the information below in regard to the final exam schedule. Included are bus schedules that will be followed on those days. It is important to take note of the dates and times your child will need to be in attendance. The bus times and stops also vary. The information can also be found on the Middle School eBoard.

Finally, there continues to be a good deal of work going on in and around the Middle School. We look forward to a few more renovations to include our elevator and some other common area projects. If the work is completed and the building is safe for visitors, school visits will be limited to the latter part of August. We will send out a notice at that time. To receive text and email information, please ensure your digital parent contact information is up to date on the parent portal.

Have a safe and restful summer!

Kind regards,

Timothy P. Martin

tmartin@islipufsd.org

Renaissance Rave ~

Renaissance would like to congratulate everyone on their hard work and dedication throughout the School year. Enjoy your well-deserved summer break!

It’s hard to believe the end of the school year is upon us. June is a time for celebration and culmination. Students will be working hard throughout the month to review and prepare for final exams, as well as reflecting on the journey both behind and in front of them. Looking back through our Twitter page gives a glimpse at some of our greatest hits from the 2018-19 school year: field trips, events, awards, games, concerts, exciting lessons and projects, and so much more.

Although we’re coming to the end of the year, our efforts to enhance our school climate and culture for students, staff, and families will continue. Our final student survey of the year will be June 11th. Looking at the results of this survey and how students have responded to our efforts to work with them to make IMS a better place for all will help us prepare and guide our work for next year. For our staff, we have collaborated with the faculty to create focus areas for enhancing staff culture, and for our families, we continue to work on our main focus areas of communication, access, and involvement.

One of the hardest parts of the end of the year is saying goodbye to our 8th graders. Although we will miss you, we know you are in good hands and are always just a short walk away. To our incoming 6th grade students and parents, we welcome you and encourage you to get involved early and often. Buckle up for an amazing middle school experience!

Finally, it is with mixed feelings that I share with you that I will be leaving IMS to take a principal position in another district. I am tremendously grateful for all the support and opportunities the community has given me over my time in Islip. I will miss the staff, students, and community dearly, but I will always carry a little bit of that #islippride with me wherever I go. Thank you.

Advisory Theme of the Month:

Reflection...

We can all learn from our past experiences. Think about the many good things you have accomplished and share them with your children. If there are any events you could change, what would they be and how could you or others benefit from that reflective action?

Please click here to re-check the district calendar prior to an event to ensure you have the most up-to-date information.

4 7th Grade Field Day

4 BOE Meeting, 7:30 p.m., MS Library

4 Physicals for Fall Sports

5 EXCEL Awards Night, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., MS Auditorium

10 Fine & Performing Arts Awards, 7:00 p.m., MS Auditorium

15 NJHS Car Wash, 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., MS Front Parking Lot

17 4th Quarter Marking Period Ends

18 BOE Meeting, 7:30 p.m., MS Library

18-25 Finals/Regents Exams

25 8th Grade Moving Up Dance, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.

26 Last Day of School for Students, Early Dismissal 10:20 a.m.

*Unless otherwise noted, all Board of Education meetings will begin with an Executive Session at 6:45 PM. The public business meeting portion will begin at approximately 7:30 p.m..

SUMMER READING

SUMMER READING 2019

Students Entering Grades 6th - 8th

As you head to the beach this summer, don’t forget to pack your towel, your suntan lotion, your sunglasses – and your summer reading book. Why? Summer reading provides an excellent opportunity for students to stay connected to literature, to enhance literacy skills developed during the school year, and to gain knowledge. Plus, it’s fun! According to a variety of studies, students who read frequently not only improve comprehension and become better readers but also increase their vocabularies, strengthen their critical thinking skills, and improve their memories.

Here’s what I.M.S. students are expected to do:

Sign up for the 2019 Summer Reading Program @ New York Libraries. (You may sign up at any public library. Generally, the program runs from mid-June to mid-August.)

Read at least two books over the summer vacation. You can read any books that you like. If you need help finding an interesting book, speak with your teachers before school ends in June, talk to the librarians, and/or check out the recommended reading lists posted on the NY Summer Reading site: http://www.summerreadingnys.org/. You can also check out the book sites listed on the English Department Page on the Islip School District website.

Bring your Reading Certificate from the Public Library with you on the first day of school. Hand it to your English teacher.

Be prepared to discuss & write about the books you read when you return to school in September.

All information about summer reading can also be found at the following locations:

Islip School District website (www.islipufsd.org)
Middle School main office
High School main office (for 8th grade students entering 9th grade)
Reference desk at the Islip Public Library
Barnes & Noble in Bay Shore

Please Note:

Students entering 7 Honors, 8 Honors, & 9 Honors in the fall will receive a different summer reading assignment from their English teachers.

(This assignment will also be posted on the school website.)

Enjoy your summer. See you in September!

SUMMER READING: English Honors Program 2019

Since you are enrolled in an Honors Level Course next year, you are required to read specific books and complete the attached assignment. In June, you will be provided with the novels necessary to complete this task. (All books are expected to be returned in September to your English teacher.) Extra copies of this packet can be found on the Islip School District website & at the Islip Public Library.

Here’s what you are expected to do:

Students entering 7H:

Read The Misfits by James Howe and complete the graphic organizer provided; read a book-of-choice.

Students entering 8H:

Read Nothing But the Truth: A Documentary Novel by Avi and complete the graphic organizer provided; read a book-of-choice.

Students entering English 9H:

Read Discovering Genre: Short Story and write an essay.

You will be responsible for the completed packet when you arrive to class on the first day of school. Your annotations/answers will be needed to complete an in-class assignment upon your return.

Enjoy your summer. See you in September!