The IMS Connection

Welcome back to our Islip Middle School Family and Friends,

I hope this New Year is Healthy and Prosperous for all of our readers. In Islip Middle School, we are reminded the second semester will begin in just a few days. Students should be aware of their current achievements and grades. Viewing the Parent Portal and Gradebook is a great way to be informed on your child’s progress.

We begin this New Year with our New Islip Middle School Seal. You can see the seal in the upper right. What does it mean?

Purple and Gold - Our Islip Colors

Light House - Welcoming, established, safe, secure

RM Bridge - Connecting our schools, a bridge to the future

Light - Knowledge, learning, guiding, navigating, we are here to teach and help
Circle - There is no beginning or end, you will always be a member of Islip

With the new year, we are reminded of the changing temperature. Please know, when possible, we will make every effort to remain outside upon arrival, giving the students some room and space to socialize. We will also go outside during lunch recess. Please have your child dress accordingly each day, so they can be comfortable outside for the morning arrival and lunch recess. Coats and jackets are highly recommended for recess.

Each January we begin the budget and scheduling processes for the next school year. Parents should be on the lookout for important literature regarding the middle school and 9th grade high school courses. As in the past, we will not be accepting teacher or team requests. Such correspondence places students, parents, and teachers in precarious situations; however, we welcome a discussion about your child’s educational needs and any information that can help your child be successful at Islip Middle School. Please send any written correspondence directly to me. Letters are not retained from year to year, so any pertinent information/requests must be sent each year. This year’s deadline is Friday, January 24th.

As always, if you have a desire for a parent conference simply call our Guidance Office at 631-650-8550. We prefer to meet in person; however, we can meet via the internet or by phone.

We look forward to the year ahead and wish our Islip Middle School learning community the best of health in the New Year.

As always, feel free to contact me at tmartin@islipufsd.org.

Kind Regards,

Dr. Timothy Martin

Principal

631-650-8505

Happy New Year IMS Families,

As we spring into 2025 let us please salute and thank the IMS community for making 2024 an amazing year. Thank you!! We can only hope 2025 offers us wonderful opportunities, incredible experiences, and unforgettable moments. As we ask middle school students to reflect and consider some of their New Years’ resolutions… do better in school, appreciate loved ones, be more involved, were just some of the thought-provoking resolutions expressed by students. For us here at IMS, we look forward to working with each and every child in a way which supports them academically, socially, and emotionally. Islip Middle School is a special place. It is a place of caring, thoughtfulness, generosity, and hard work. It is a wonderful community filled with tremendous families, educators, and commerce.

At IMS, January advisory will focus on “New Beginnings” identifying strengths, as well as, areas of growth/potential. Activities will surround the idea of beginning with the end in mind. How do we develop mental strength? When confronted by challenges in life, we are measured by how we respond to those opportunities. Ultimately, these challenges are what defines us as a person.

The greatest, most decorated athlete of our time is quoted in sharing the following, “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”- Michael Jordan

2025 will come with its celebrations and compliments, but how do we respond to opportunities which are presented before us in the year to come.

“Ask the universe for an oak tree and it will send you an acorn." -Unknown

Wishing you nothing but peace and wellness for the New Year,

Curt Juengerkes

Assistant Principal

cjuengerkes@islipufsd.org

631-850-8515

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNINGS!! We are very proud of our IMS student's progress and accomplishments. The New Year brings new opportunities to grow academically and socially. It also brings New Renaissance Raffles! We are looking forward to celebrating all of the amazing things our IMS community is doing! Continue to do great things! Keep working hard and trying your best. Please check your planner for our Renaissance Guidelines. Start 2025 in a positive way! LOOK GOOD! FEEL GOOD! DO GOOD!!

We’d like to first start off by saying we hope everyone had a wonderful, safe, and merry holiday break! We are looking forward to seeing what 2025 has in store for Islip Middle School!

Over the past month, our sixth-grade students engaged in a career exploration activity designed to raise awareness of various career paths. The lesson highlighted the importance of aligning personal interests, strengths, and values with potential career choices, encouraging students to reflect on how their passions and skills could shape their futures. To make the experience more interactive, students competed in a Pictionary game, decoding clues to identify professions like doctors, construction workers, and artists. This activity not only promoted teamwork and critical thinking but also provided a fun and memorable way to connect students with a wide range of career opportunities!

On the last day of break, our counselors hosted fun-filled "Minute to Win It" games with the students during recess. These games encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and perseverance, as students worked together to complete tasks under time pressure. Through these activities, students had the opportunity to practice healthy competition and good sportsmanship. It was a great way to end the day, filled with laughter and fun for all involved!

As we approach mid-point of the school year, your counselors would like to take this opportunity to remind you about the many academics supports we have in place for students! Here at Islip Middle School, we offer Homework Support Monday through Thursday after school until 3:15 in the Fire Island Dining Room. Homework help is a place where students can get assistance on their homework if their teacher is unavailable for extra help after school. Students can pick up a permission slip in the guidance office or print one off of the IMS Google Site. Additionally, our teachers offer extra help on a regular basis. We encourage students to take advantage of this extra support as needed.

In the upcoming weeks, please be on the lookout for correspondence from the Middle School regarding scheduling for next year. Sixth grade parents, be sure to keep an eye out for your child’s World Language choice for next year. Eighth grade parents, be sure to keep an ear out regarding a high school transition parent presentation in January and Islip High School Curriculum Night on March 25th. These events will allow you to learn more about the classes your child can take next year, different pathways to graduation, and other important information about high school. We encourage all parents of current eighth grade students to attend.

Team 8 Purple is embracing the joy of the holiday season this December! As part of their unit of study on immigration, 8th graders embarked on a field trip to the Statue of Liberty prior to Thanksgiving break. During their visit, students learned how previous generations of immigrants entered Ellis Island hopeful for a better future. As our students observed, the Statue of Liberty is so much more than a famous monument; she is a beacon of hope who welcomes all newcomers to our American shores. We are so thankful to Social Studies teachers, Mrs. Cabanas and Mr. Argenziano, for organizing such a wonderful trip. In Italian class, Ms. LaBella worked in conjunction with the social studies teachers to create a visual display of what immigration was like for Italian immigrants and their families. The displays were showcased at the Italian fall festival in November. Before students leave for winter break, they will also participate in an interdisciplinary Team Day on Friday, December 20th. Throughout the day, students will engage in a variety of festive activities and celebrate the most wonderful time of the year.

The fall semester was packed with exciting challenges, teamwork, and athleticism. Our students have been hard at work improving their skills, pushing their limits, and learning new sports along the way. From frisbee to hockey, and everything in between, it’s been an action-packed term!

Ultimate Frisbee

Students had a blast learning the fundamentals of Ultimate Frisbee! The sport combines elements of soccer, football, and basketball, and our students quickly grasped the importance of teamwork, communication, and strategy. After practicing their throwing, catching, and defensive skills, we ended the unit with a friendly competition where students put their skills to the test in fast-paced, action-packed games.

Frisbee Golf

In our Frisbee Golf unit, students practiced throwing frisbees through a series of designated "holes" set up around the field, aiming for targets while improving their accuracy and control. The competition was friendly, but the focus was on improving their technique and enjoying the outdoors.

Kan Jam Tournament

Our Kan Jam tournament was a huge hit! In this fun and fast-paced game, teams of two aimed to toss a frisbee through a large can, earning points for each successful throw. Congratulations to all participants, and special shout-out to our tournament champions!

Fitness Gram

The Fitness Gram assessments are designed to measure students’ fitness levels and track their progress over time. Students completed a variety of tests, including the pacer (progressive aerobic cardiovascular endurance run), planks, push-ups, and flexibility assessments. We are proud of how hard everyone worked to improve their strength, endurance, and overall fitness.

Soccer Unit

During our soccer unit, students learned the fundamentals of dribbling, passing, shooting, and defending. They also played modified games to practice their teamwork and strategy skills. Whether it was a competitive game or simply practicing their skills, students showed great sportsmanship and improvement.

Pickleball Tournament

Our Pickleball tournament was a smash hit! This sport, a mix of tennis, badminton, and ping-pong, offered an exciting challenge. Students worked on their serves, volleys, and strategy as they competed in doubles and singles games. The event culminated with another class tournament. The tournament was filled with many upsets and bracket busters. Eventually, each class crowned a champion, and our tournament was a remarkable success.

Floor Hockey

In our floor hockey unit, students had a blast playing friendly but competitive games while working on dribbling, passing, shooting, and teamwork. They showed off some impressive skills and great sportsmanship as they took on different challenges. Every class was filled with the same energy you'd see at an NHL game.

Upcoming Events:
As we close out the year, we're excited to announce more opportunities for physical activity in the new year. Stay tuned for more details on upcoming sports and fitness challenges!

Reminder:
Remember to keep moving during the break! Whether it's walking, playing a game, or stretching, staying active is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

We are so proud of all our students for their participation, effort, and enthusiasm in these activities. Keep up the great work, and we look forward to more exciting activities in the months ahead!

Wishing you a healthy and active holiday season!

Sincerely,
The Physical Education Department

Happy New Year and welcome back from a well-deserved holiday break. Team 6 Orange has been working hard this year in all classes and we are very proud of their effort and dedication to their studies.

In science, we have been exploring 7 of the 11 systems of the human body and how it works. Students have learned about the importance of maintaining a healthy diet and exercising to keep their different organ systems strong. At the beginning of February, students will be taking a midterm in science. We will be reviewing in class, but ask that they look over their review notes at home, as well.

In social studies, we are excited to share the incredible journey our 6th-grade students are embarking on as they delve into the fascinating world of Ancient Mesopotamia! Over the past few weeks, our young scholars have immersed themselves in the rich history and culture of this ancient civilization, unlocking the history surrounding the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. From the awe-inspiring ziggurats to the intricate cuneiform, our students are learning about the remarkable achievements of the Mesopotamians.

In ELA, we will be finishing our Red Kayak Unit. Students learned to use text evidence in order to support their ideas about characters in the novel. They will use this skill to construct a literary essay based on the novel and its characters. Moving forward, we will be working on a joint project with social studies about Ancient Egypt.

In mathematics, we have been working on understanding proportional relationships. Students have learned about how to differentiate between unit rates to understand the best price of a product. We are currently also working on the relationship between percents, decimals and fractions. We will be finishing up this unit at the end of the calendar year! Please make sure students are practicing each night with their resources or on Deltamath!

In ENL (English as a New Language), we have been using Off2Class to improve our English Language skills. We use different modalities in the classroom including reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students love our index card speaking activity which motivates students to practice speaking English. As a department, we went on a trip to see A Christmas Carol in Port Jefferson, which helped enrich the students in different cultural norms of The United States! We look forward to Parent Teacher Conferences this month and Culture Night in March!

Just as a reminder, we ask parents and/or guardians to make sure their child has a full pencil case and an organized binder. Please check the Parent Portal frequently to see how your child is doing in class and if they owe any assignments. Active studying is more important now as we approach new concepts and students are expected to utilize the study skills reviewed in the first quarter. As always, we thank you so very much for your support and we look forward to a successful new year!

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

13- BOE Meeting, 7:30pm, HS Auditorium

20- Martin Luther King Jr. Day, District Closed

27- MS PTA Meeting, 7:00 pm

29- Lunar New Year, School is Closed

30- BOE Meeting, 7:30 pm, HS Auditorium

31- MS/HS Marking Period Ends

*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.

7- SEPTA Sweetheart Dance, 6pm, MS

10- BOE Meeting, 7:30pm, HS Auditorium

13- IAMP Talent Show, 7pm, MS

17-21- Schools Closed- Mid-Winter Recess

24- 100th Day of School

28- SEPTA Sweetheart Dance (snow date)

28- World Language Immersion Day, MS

*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