The IMS Connection

October reminded us of how important it is to be kind to one another and to make positive choices. Thanks to our IMS support team, led by our social workers and school counselors, for making this happen as a schoolwide initiative.

Once again, the Spooktacular has come and gone and we welcomed smiling faces from our elementary children. Thank you to Student Government for making this possible. Check out all the fun photos on our Instagram. Thanksgiving is on the way which means the unofficial start of the holiday season is upon us. Seems like just yesterday we were saying welcome back as we tried on our new sneakers and backpacks.

Once again, the CARE Club is working on our annual food drive. The donations will go directly to Islip’s food pantry. It is an opportunity for us to truly make a difference in our community by helping our neighbors in need. Non-perishable donations can be sent in with children to their Advisory.

For all of our veterans who are entering service, serve, have served, and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, we extend our gratitude. November is about gratefulness in IMS, and our learning community does not run short on this character trait. As we all reflect on what we have to be thankful for, we wish our entire middle school learning community an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

Remember to visit the PTA website as we welcome the Harlem Wizards to play against Islip's best November 26th.

Thank you again for your support. As always, feel free to contact me at tmartin@islipufsd.org.

Warm regards,

Dr. Timothy Martin

Principal

Islip Middle School

631-650-8505

IMS Families,

Well, we are in full swing. We’ve had our second spirit week in honor of Red Ribbon Week, “Good Choices Positive Voices.” We’ve had a visit in October from Cohen Children's Medical Center regarding bullying prevention and awareness. Cohens’ will return in November to push into health classes to educate students about the impact vaping has on overall health and the breakdown of myths vs facts in the world of vaping.

Our advisory theme for November is empathy, gratitude, & thankfulness. Staff and students are doing a wonderful job at creating a connection to their school as well as their community. Some activities will include our building bulletin board. In November, we remember to be grateful as IMS advisories cultivate thankfulness amongst students and staff.

The CARE Club is continuing their Donation Drive Advisory Contest until November 20th. Popular donations have been stuffing, cake mix, canned veggies, soups, gravy, juices, and coffee. Please feel free to send in a non-perishable contribution; it will go to good use and have a positive impact on someone’s celebration.

Wednesday, November 13th is World Kindness Day. IMS will recognize that day by vowing to act with kindness! Advisories will receive post-it notes and students will share a positive message which will be displayed throughout the school.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the BIG things.

-Robert Brault

Grateful for being a member of this school community. You are truly wonderful!!

Happy Thanksgiving,

Always enjoy,

Curt Juengerkes

Assistant Principal

Islip Middle School

cjuengerkes@islipufsd.org

631-850-8515

November: Empathy, Gratitude and Thankfulness

This month, we are focusing on empathy, gratitude, and thankfulness. When we put these behaviors into effect, we are reminded that although someone might seem different from us, they might be more similar than you can imagine. The amazing thing about empathy is that through using it, you gain the ability to bring the whole world together. With Thanksgiving on its way, we aim to focus on gratitude for all of the people that help us every day, or work behind the scenes in our life such as teachers, health care workers, family, and friends.

November is a month to be Grateful.

Renaissance is Grateful for YOU!! We had our first Renaissance Raffle of the year! This Raffle celebrated our 4th Quarter achievements from last year. The prizes were outstanding! ALL 6th grade students were invited to participate and check out what we have to offer. We also had our Trick or Treat Event for the ENTIRE Middle School! It was so much FUN! Every student was able to go through the IMS halls in costume collecting candy from staff members. This event gets better and better every year! We can't wait to continue to celebrate our IMS Achievements! Please check your planner for the Renaissance Guidelines. It's been an amazing start to this school year, keep it up!!

As always, LOOK GOOD! FEEL GOOD! DO GOOD!

October was an exciting time in the guidance department (but when is it not an exciting time in the guidance department?!) Counselors teamed up with IMS Student Government to host a New Entrant Breakfast for students just beginning their journeys here in Islip. We played games, took part in ice breaker activities, ate delicious bagels and cookies, and ultimately escaped the New Entrant Breakfast through a series of puzzles and brain teasers! One student even saying, “These puzzles were so fun!” It’s safe to say these new entrants really enjoyed their warm welcome! We are so excited to have each and every one of our new students!

This past month, sixth grade students registered for their student portal, just like the seventh and eighth graders did in the past. The student portal helps students to keep track of their assignments, grades, and attendance in real time! If your child needs assistance with their portal, or needs their password reset, please have them visit their counselor in the guidance office. For information on how to access and navigate the student portal, visit the IMS Counselor website!

In eighth grade, students had the opportunity to attend Islip High School’s annual college fair, which had over 80 colleges and universities! This event provided students with chances to engage directly with college representatives, ask questions, and gather information about their post-secondary options. Attending such events is a crucial step in the college planning process, allowing students to discover various programs and opportunities that align with their interests and goals. It's never too early to start thinking about the future, and we encourage all students to take advantage of these experiences in the future to help shape their educational journeys.

Student Government is excited to share the highlights from our annual Halloween Spooktacular on Friday, October 25th. This district-wide event brought together our elementary students for a night filled with thrills, chills, and plenty of fun! Our middle school students did a fantastic job running the event, which featured a variety of games, crafts, and of course, lots of candy! The laughter and joy echoed through the halls, making it a truly memorable evening for everyone involved. A special thank you goes out to the National Junior Honor Society and the Islip Public Library for their participation in helping to make this event a Spooktacular success.

Ms. LaBella’s 8th grade Italian class, in conjunction with Social Studies, will be learning about Italian Immigration through Ellis Island during the turn of the 19th century. Specifically, students will learn about the driving force behind the movement, the journey over the Atlantic Ocean, arriving at Ellis Island and what life was like after they settled, all from the Italians’ perspective. During this unit, students will create a presentation that will be displayed at Italian Fall Fest on November 18th. This unit will also culminate with the field trip on November 21st to Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty.

Ms. Guida's students have been studying various community places and the people who work in them. Recently, the class met with members of the Islip Fire Department. The firefighters discussed fire safety and different jobs within the department. After the presentation, the students had the opportunity to get up close to a fire truck and learn about the various tools used in emergency situations. "The students had a fantastic experience that truly fostered their connection to the community," said Ms. Guida. The school is grateful to the fire department members for taking the time to share their expertise and contributions to the local community.

1-Emergency Sheltering Drill, early dismissal (15 minutes before regular close of school)

4- MS PTA Meeting, 7pm, MS

5-Election Day, No School For Students

7- Blessings in a Backpack '80s Event

8- MS/HS Marking Period Ends

11-Veterans Day, District Closed

13- Picture Retakes

13- World Kindness Day

19- BOE Meeting, 7:30pm, CRES

27-29- Thanksgiving Recess, District Closed

*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 PM.

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

3- 7th & 8th Grade Winter Concert, 7pm, MS Auditorium

9- BOE Meeting, 7:30 pm, MS

10- 6th Grade Winter Concert, 7pm, MS Auditorium

13- MS/HS Progress Period Ends

16-18 Snow Dates for Winter Concerts

Dec. 23- Jan. 3- Winter Recess, School is Closed

*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 PM.

Website: islipufsd.org
Location: 211 Main Street, Islip, NY, United States
Phone: 631-650-8500
Facebook: facebook.com/IslipMS
Twitter: @IslipMS

Instagram: @IslipMS