Dear ITMMS Families,

Allow me to once again thank you for your strong and dedicated support of our students, teachers, and school programs. Working alongside all of you, our students have and will continue to accomplish so many great things in our classrooms, on our stages and playing fields, and within our community.

With Interim Reports to be shared on the Parent Portal on December 15th, I would ask that you once again review the section outlined below, Grades & the Growth Mindset. This section highlights school-based interventions and supports available to your child--including Homework Club and Extra Help. This week I have added a few resources to this newsletter that speak to the concept of grit and how grit can be developed in our kids. You may find that grit and the growth mindset can help our students see that pathways exist for greater success in areas that they once thought were closed off to them.

Please also take a look at the many photos included in this week's newsletter. I believe these photos highlight the many academic, athletic, and artistic programs that promote the whole-child growth of our kids. Additionally, you will see the many ways our students and staff work to support those less fortunate in our community and beyond.

I do hope that you will encourage your children to take part in some of our wonderful co-curricular activities. These activities are designed to support the academic, social, and emotional growth of our students while promoting greater connectedness. Please note that our Clubs and Co-Curricular Activities Directory is posted here.

On behalf of Mrs. Steele and the entire Island Trees Memorial Middle School staff, I look with great excitement to the coming weeks and months and the opportunity to help your students grow in all ways.

Sincerely,

Mr. Keegan

Island Trees Memorial Middle School has partnered with the Hance Family Foundation over the past seven years to provide meaningful self-esteem programs for our students and staff. As an organization, the Hance Family Foundation partners with communities both locally and globally to provide an educational program that empowers our students to take on leadership roles, be confident in all aspects of their lives, and strengthen their personal relationships. These self-esteem programs were created in honor of Emma, Alyson and Katie Hance who tragically lost their lives at a very young age.

In an effort to give back to this wonderful organization that gives so much to the students of ITMMS, we are hosting a toy drive for the Hance Family Foundation. We have donation boxes placed in the main lobby of our school from now through December 15th. These toys will be given to children in need during the holiday season. We ask that you consider donating a new, unwrapped toy in honor of Emma, Alyson and Katie. You can send your child to school with your donation.

Your generosity is greatly appreciated.

Wishing you and your families a happy holiday season!

Hoping that we will see all of you at Saturday's Breakfast with Santa event.

Please join us on Thursday, December 21st as our students and staff once again wear their "best" holiday sweaters.

Though other dates have been shared regarding the ordering of photos, ITMMS families have until the end of the school year to order these photos.

As you know, Irving Simon has closed our access to the school photos platform using the old login protocol. We have sent to each of you a mailing that includes your child's school photo, your new customized login information, and directions on how to order photos. If you have any questions regarding the ordering of photos, please follow the instructions that will be included in this mailing. If you are unable to get into the Irving Simon platform, please feel free to call us at 520-2157.

Find all of your Island Trees Bulldogs spirit wear and school spirit apparel for youth, women, and men, all in one place with 1st Place Spiritwear. We have everything you need to represent your school both on and off-campus this school year. Our Island Trees apparel shop includes a variety of more than 150 different clothing options to choose from, with selections for current students, future students, parents, teachers, alumni, and fans, with new items being added regularly.

Let's spread some mathematical magic and excitement as we encourage our 5th and 6th grade students to participate in this year's 12 Days of Math Challenges. Each day, starting tomorrow 12/6, a mathematical challenge or "riddle of sort" will be posted in all 5th and 6th grade Math Workshop Google classrooms. This challenge will run for 12 school days leading up to our holiday break. Daily Challenge Problems will also be displayed in the 5th and 6th grade hallways at the ITMMS. Students of the 5th and 6th grade; of all skill levels and abilities, are encouraged to participate during school hours on each of the 12 days. Students who earn top scores for their grade level will be awarded fun prizes and will be recognized and honored at the culmination of this contest.

Thanks for your support.

Mr. Flynn and Mrs. Clarke

As you know, the Parent Portal opened once again on November 17th so that you could review Quarter 1 grades and teacher comments. If concerns exist regarding your child's progress, please be sure to reach out directly to your child's teacher(s) and counselor.

Do You Know

Do you know that we have a homework club that meets 4x/week?

Do you know that all teachers provide extra help during the week?

Do you know that we have morning library on Monday, Tuesday, Thurs. & Fri. at 7:20 AM?

Do you know that we have an Academic Study Center for our students on Tues. and Fri. mornings?

Do you know our morning breakfast program starts each day at 7:30 AM.

If you have any additional ideas on how we might best support your child's progress, please do not hesitate to reach out to school leadership or your child's teachers.

I do hope you take some time to review the resources on grit. The middle school years provide so many opportunities for a students to be challenged and face obstacles. While making a sports team, achieving honor roll status, or winning a part in the school musical are achievements worthy of praise, so too is persevering in the face of challenges and obstacles.

Angela Duckworth is the world’s leading expert on “grit,” the much-hyped ingredient in personal success. As Duckworth defines it, grit is passion and sustained persistence applied toward long-term achievement, with no particular concern for rewards or recognition along the way. It combines resilience, ambition, and self-control in the pursuit of goals that take months, years, or even decades.

How can we work together to develop grittier students?

We thank Ms. Rosenking and our National Junior Honor Society, led by Ms. Chester and Mrs. Harouche, for organizing our schools efforts to support and promote Diabetes Awareness in our school and community.

Special thanks to the students, staff, and families that made Sports Night '23 such great fun on Friday night. We appreciate your great energy, enthusiasm, and commitment to this wonderful community experience.

We congratulate our Caught Being Kind honorees for the month of October. We thank these students for their small and large gestures for their commitment to our school and community.

Dear 5th & 6th Grade Families,

Our 5th and 6th grade math series (EnVision/Savvas) has recently come out with a new resource, Family Engagement. This gives parents the ability to see an overview of all lessons, ideas for math help at home, and offers a home activity suggestion. Parents can easily access the Visual Learning Videos and Take Another Look videos for each lesson.

Use the links below to access this great resource:

5th Grade

https://media.pk12ls.com/curriculum/math/family_engage/g05_welcome_en.html

6th Grade

https://media.pk12ls.com/curriculum/math/family_engage/g06_welcome_en.html

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or could use additional support.

Best,

Mr. Keegan

Dear 5th Grade Families,

Vicki Firmbach (HS health/PE teacher) and Jaime Roche ( MS health/PE/SEL teacher) are the Island Trees Program Coordinators for Athletes Helping Athletes. Athletes Helping Athletes (AHA) is an organization of helping professionals, professional athletes and high profile amateur athletes dedicated to promoting activities for young athletes that highlight the life lessons and skills inherent in sport so that they can experience the benefits and true value of athletic participation.
Through the Student Athlete Leadership Team (SALT), AHA trains and prepares high school student athlete leaders to address complex social issues within their communities. AHA’s mission is to inspire leadership through sport, while addressing social issues such as life skills, sportsmanship and civility, substance abuse prevention, violence prevention and physical activity.

Part of the application process for Athletes Helping Athletes is an interview element where our high school students will answer responses to various social issues. These interviews will take place in the health classroom on November 1st, 2nd, and 3rd during ninth period. The health students will have the opportunity to partake in a Q and A with our applicants.

Once our Athletes Helping Athletes members have been selected, they will attend three training sessions led by professional athletes and team leaders. During this time they will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to teach fifth graders about the positive elements and innumerable life lessons of the sports experience.

AHA Visitations with 5th Grade Students

Visit 1: Thursday, November 16th
Introductory Visit: This initial visit is dedicated to getting acquainted, having fun and establishing a theme about students’ involvement in athletics and other extracurricular activities.

Visit 2: Thursday, February 8th
Sportsmanship: Sportsmanship is a topic of great concern in sports. This visit is designed to help student athlete leaders highlight their positive behaviors within the context of the sports experience, in order to process issues of civility off the field.

Visit 3: Thursday, April 4th
ATOD prevention: The most important health-related choices are made earlier than ever before. Visitation #3 is dedicated to helping elementary school students identify the real challenges in relation to alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, while highlighting successful refusal strategies.

If you have any questions about this program, or if you might like additional information, please be sure to reach out to Ms. Roche or me.

Have a great day!

Mr. Keegan

Please consider following us on X (formerly Twitter) @islandtreesmms. We use this site to share many great images and notes from our school's many classrooms and co-curricular programs. Please see below for just a small selection of our recent Twitter posts.

It is the mission of the School Library Media Center to ensure that students develop the skills necessary to become independent, capable, competent information users and lifelong learners. These skills include the ability to locate, access, evaluate, organize, integrate, use and communicate information and ideas from a wide variety of sources and formats. Instruction, therefore, integrates information skills into curriculum units rather than teaching them in isolation. Student-centered research projects are developed and coordinated through a cooperative effort with classroom teachers.

Please see below for some updates from our PTSA. Please consider joining the PTSA and supporting so many wonderful events and initiatives.

Here is the link to membership for PTSA:

https://itptsa.memberhub.com/store?limit=21&live=true

High School students must be a member for all the years you have attended to be eligible for the PTSA Scholarship given senior year.

8th grade PTSA gives an award at the end of the year. You must be a paid member in 8th grade.

PTSA Sponsored Events
Picture Day: September 19th and 20th

Homecoming is October 21st:

We will have a table at homecoming come down, we have sweatshirts, flannel pants, ornaments, T-Shirts and Magnets all to sell.

Attached is the website to order spirit wear clothing, the store is open all year.

https://1stplacespiritwear.com/schools/NY/Levittown/Island+Trees+Memorial+Middle+School?utm_source=customer-db&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=426

PTSA Banner Fundraiser

Show your school spirit and support this PTSA fundraiser!! $50 and Venmo available (@IslandTrees-PTSA)! We are still taking orders

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeArEiE_b51IWVfB0hPPeOZVn-lPyuN24Wo9mt9BJmZPQnDGQ/viewform

Please be sure to review the notes below as they relate to drop off and pick up at Island Trees Memorial Middle School in 2023-2024.

Bus Transportation

The Transportation Office will send home information regarding your child's bus stops and times. Typically, our buses arrive to our school between 7:55-8:05. This allows students to get to their lockers and then to their morning Advisory.

Walkers & Family Drop Off

• Students who walk to school and students who are dropped off at our school are expected to arrive between 7:50-8:05.
• Because the back of our school building is the location for bus drop offs, we encourage parents and guardians to use our school's front circle for drop off.
• If you are dropping off at our school's back door, please be advised that this door is not open for student drop-off before 7:50.
• When dropping off at our school's front circle, please be sure to move as far into the circle as possible so as to avoid a backup on Wantagh Avenue.
• When your child exits your car, please make sure that he/she exits on the sidewalk side of your car, and please ensure that doors on the driver's side do not open.
• To ensure the safety of our students, a crossing guard will be stationed at Straight Lane and Wantagh Avenue during arrival and dismissal times. All students who walk to and from school are expected to cross at this location. Please remind your child(ren) of this important responsibility.
  

Dismissal

Our last class ends at 2:34. Students are dismissed at this time for family pick up, to walk home, and to get to a bus. Because our buses receive students in the back of our school, families are strongly encouraged to pick up their children in the front of our school.

We hope you are all having a nice summer. We have spent considerable time over the past few years studying the issues that are associated with children carrying heavy backpacks. We have spoken with many of our students and families to learn about these concerns while exploring ways to best support our students.

With the ongoing success of our 1:1 Chromebook model, our teachers have collaborated to create supply lists that will limit the amount of binders and paper being carried by students this school year. By making this conscientious change in our supply lists, we believe the weight carried by our students throughout the school day will be significantly reduced.

Please note that lockers will be assigned in the first weeks of school. Our teachers and staff will work with your children to ensure that they are supported and guided throughout this process.

Additionally, we ask that you remind your child(ren) that Chromebooks must be kept in the school-issued case when not in the classroom. This requirement will help to prevent damage to this learning device and promote hallway safety and efficient hallway movement.

We are asking parents/guardians to join in our efforts to ensure that student backpacks remain light, manageable, and safe. As always, we continue to encourage our students to use their lockers to help decrease the amount of items they carry during the school day. Additionally, we will have routine notebook and locker inventories, which will allow students the opportunity to clean out binders and backpacks.

Please feel free to contact the Main Office if you have any questions. We hope you all continue to have a great summer.

Sincerely,

Mr. Daniel Keegan

Principal

Ms. Steele and I had the chance to meet with each grade-level last Wednesday. During these 4 sessions, we had the opportunity to once again welcome our students back to school, and we used much of our time sharing some exciting events that will mark our school year. Some of these exciting events are the Halloween Social, trips to Boston and Washington DC, the Winter Wonderland Dance, school musicals, athletics, clubs, and academic competitions.

We also shared with our students our school's expectations for behavior and their positive interactions with one another. In reviewing our commitment to safety, respect, and responsibility in all areas of the school day, we shared with our students the slogan, WE Are...IT!

Last year, I was fortunate enough to visit State College, PA for a Penn State football game. Though the Penn State Nittany Lions lost to the Ohio State Buckeyes that weekend, it was an amazing experience and a lot of fun. While on campus, I purchased a hat as a souvenir as well as a t-shirt or two for my sons.

I have worn this hat multiple times over the past year, and I have become part of a what I first perceived as a strange ritual. What has struck me on these occasions is that when out walking my dog, kicking a soccer ball, or out shopping for groceries, I will often be greeted by a "stranger" who addresses me with the line, "We Are!" It took me a time or two to realize it, but what these individuals are saying to me is the first half of the message, "We Are...Penn State!" It is a statement that bonds, a tie that binds, and a quick affirmation that we share a common interest, fandom, or support for Penn State.

And in this spirit, may we also rally around the slogan, We Are...IT. May we recognize that our school community is made up of so many different individuals and families. We are made up of families that speak many different languages; families that come from many different parts of the state, country, and world; and families that have different beliefs and customs. May we also recognize that these differences strengthen us, and that our IT families are united in the belief that our schools serve to unify, educate, inspire, and promote a community-wide sense of pride and belonging. I see this pride and belonging each day in our classrooms, on our stages, and on the playing fields. I see it at Meet the Teacher Night, Parent-Teacher Conferences, and at morning drop-off. This pride that we all have in our school community is a great thing, and it is something that we must continue to cultivate and grow—together.

So, in this spirit, may we all stand up and say proudly, We Are...IT!

Please be reminded that our school's daily announcements are posted on our website. These announcements come from teachers, coaches, and club advisors. Please be sure to review these announcements by selecting the "Daily Bulletin" link on our school's website.

Did you know that our Daily Bulletin is also posted within the Parent Portal. Please take a look at this helpful resource.

Our teachers work hard to keep families connected to their classroom by posting homework to our website. These teacher websites and links will be updated shortly. Please be sure that your children are making the review of these sites a regular part of their day.

Our after-school Homework Club is offered to students in need of a quiet environment and organized scheduling. A certified middle school teacher on our staff will supervise and assist the students during this period under the following guidelines:

1. The Homework Club will take place Monday-Thursday after school from dismissal until 3:20.

2. Students must sign in and out each day they attend.

3. Parents/teachers may request students to attend on a daily, weekly, or full-time basis.

4. Students may attend on their own initiative.

5. Students must come with their work and all necessary supplies.

Homework Club will likely begin in just a few weeks. Please stay tuned for an announcement.

Dear Island Trees Memorial Middle School Families,

Please note that during the course of the school year, photographs and video footage of students participating in school activities are taken for use in school district publications as well as in local and regional print, radio, television, the website and social media. At times, students are also identified by name when appropriate, which may accompany a photograph or video footage. Parental permission is assumed for all school related usage as stated above.

In the event that you wish to expressly withdraw permission, please forward a letter so indicating to my attention at the above address. You may also fax the letter to me at (516) 520-2168.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Sincerely,

Daniel Keegan

Principal

Our SEL program makes it possible for each of our 5th grade students to meet with a school counselor in a small-class setting every week. In 6th grade, our students continue the program with Ms. Roche, one our school's health teachers. Goals of this program include helping our students feel a stronger connection to our school, the exploration of topics most relevant to young adolescents, and the review of study skills, communication, and self-advocacy strategies which promote student success.

While we cannot firmly predict the future of jobs—nationally or globally, statistical projections and trends indicate that technical skills will be in high demand, with coding talents especially relevant and sought after. Island Trees Memorial Middle School now integrates a weekly Coding class for each of our 5th and 6th grade students. This Coding class engages our young learners and provides a practical and exciting addition to our school’s programs.

This course allows students to build the foundation which will support more intensive and rigorous language instruction in the coming years. As much research highlights the many benefits of early foreign language instruction, it is our goal to build mental flexibility, superiority in concept formation, and diversification of cognitive abilities.

Though we consistently make efforts to promote student connectedness to our school, we continue to design structures to meet this important need. At Island Trees Memorial Middle School, it is our goal to balance student health and wellness with academic and social and emotional growth. Our Advisory program is committed to improving interpersonal relationships and promoting cooperation in achieving student and school goals.

We are excited that all 5th and 6th grade students now have a Humanities Workshop class every week. This Humanities Workshop has been designed to address skills that support ELA and social studies. These skills include reading, writing, public speaking, and listening. This program promises to build upon student interest and topics that promote engagement.

In addition to our Humanities Workshop, all students in grades 5 & 6 participate in a Math Workshop class each week. This Math Workshop class builds upon classroom instruction and goals while reinforcing and clarifying challenging concepts and procedures. This weekly course focuses on math skills that require additional attention and practice.

A strong focus during Core Extension is the use of small-groups to promote peer-to-peer feedback. Additionally, with much research highlighting the importance of specific feedback, our teachers are committed to using the Core Extension period to conference with students and student groups and to provide feedback that supports student growth.

GETTING A GOOD START

Organize

Getting a good start at the beginning of the school year is important. Start good habits right away. Before you go to bed, organize your books and supplies and get your clothes ready for the next day so that you are not rushed in the morning.

Your Locker

At school your locker is your home away from home. It is provided for your books and clothing. You should keep your locker uncluttered and locked and keep your combination a secret. Lockers are not to be exchanged or shared with other students.

Be Friendly

Come to school each day with a positive attitude. Talk to people about their interests and they will ask you about yours. Make an effort to make new friends and work with a variety of classmates when you can.

Make Connections

Take advantage of the social activities that the middle school provides. Join clubs that are organized along the lines of your interests. Participate in school dances, field trips, Sports Night, and many other activities.

Each student’s appearance should reflect a positive image of our school and uphold the spirit of “Bulldog Pride”. Our school welcomes and appreciates the support of parents in upholding these guidelines.

In order to maintain a safe, orderly, and respectful learning environment all students are expected to adhere to the following dress code guidelines:

• Students should NOT wear clothing which is unsafe, dangerous or a health hazard.

• No outerwear of any kind shall be worn during the school day.

• No clothing may contain offensive or obscene language, symbols, signs, or slogans.

• No clothing may endorse violence, sex, gangs or illegal substances.

• Attire may not be disruptive to the educational process.

If a student is in violation of the aforementioned guidelines he or she will be offered the opportunity to change clothing immediately or be referred to the Student Support Center. Parents/Guardians may be contacted to bring alternative attire to the school should it be required.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter.

On behalf of the National Forum, I would like to offer you our heartfelt congratulations on being re-designated as a School to Watch school! What an exciting thing you have embarked upon and your recognition shows the world that your school is indeed advancing excellence in the middle-grades. We truly cannot thank you enough for your dedication to young adolescent students and strong programs, practices, and cultures that enable you to meet their needs and propel them further. You are making an impactful difference in their lives and we are grateful beyond words.

Again, we are so proud of you and your accomplishments on becoming a Schools to Watch school! Your students are so very fortunate to be part of your school and we are anxious to learn from you at the conference and through other interactions with your team. Thank you for being a leader in middle-grades education and for your strong dedication to young adolescents.

With admiration, appreciation, and respect,

Important School Phone Numbers

Main Office: 520-2157

Student Support Center: 520-2169

Health Office: 520-2164

Special Education: 520-2175

Curriculum: 520-2185

Health & Athletics: 520-2173

Attendance Office: 520-2166

We are a Nut Aware School

Please refrain from sending your child to school with snacks containing nuts. Peanut butter and other nut-related items are not sold in our cafeteria. Nut-free sections are designated in the cafeteria. If you have concerns about your child’s allergies, please contact our nurse at 520-2164.

Nutrition

To foster good health amongst our students, the following guidelines have been established:

• Energy drinks and coffee drinks are not permitted
• No food or drinks in the hallways
• No use of snack machines until lunch periods
• Delivery of fast food/take out is prohibited during the school day

Hallway Passing

Your children are reminded that they are expected to move between classes efficiently and to be safe, respectful, and responsible. All students are expected to walk on the right-side of the hallway and to walk in a manner that is respectful of others. There is no acceptable excuse for pushing or making physical contact with another student. With many students moving through our hallways during passing, pushing, running, and other similar behaviors can create a health and safety concern.

Lockers

Lockers will be assigned during the first weeks of school. Please be sure to encourage your child to routinely use his/her locker during the school day. There is time between classes for students to get to lockers, and I believe with greater practice and consistency, our students will see that more routine use of the locker will lessen the weight of a backpack. Those with gym lockers (student-athletes included) must lock belongings in our school-issued lockers.

Headphones & Phones

This note speaks to the power of one voice. I ask that you join me in reminding your children to remove headphones/Airpods when arriving to school in the morning. Additionally, please be sure to remind your children that phones must be fully powered down while in school. We have had great success with our "Powered Down & Put Away" policy, and we ask for your support in this area.

Smart Watches

As we continue to strengthen our Powered Down & Put Away program, we share with you that smart watches are not permitted to be worn during the school day. Any watch that allows for, or has the potential to allow for photography, texting, internet searches, and/or e-mail must be placed in a locker or backpack during the school day.

Social Media

How familiar are you with TikTok, Instagram, and SnapChat? Do you know who your children communicate with on these open social media platforms? Do your children go to YouTube the way you as a child may have gone to Nickelodeon, ESPN, or some other afternoon tv show?

As a father of twin fourteen year-olds, I have been forced to confront the powerful force that is social media. I would strongly encourage each of you to review the resources found under the following headings:

• Screenagers
• Social Media & Adolescents

I do believe these resources will help you (us) better understand the powerful pull of social media and technology while also providing ideas for families and parents to help children navigate the digital world.

Personal Items

Please do not bring personal items, money or jewelry of value to school. It is important for you to remember that the school cannot assume responsibility for the safekeeping of your personal items should they become lost or stolen. Cell phones are not necessary during the school day, and ITMMS is not responsible for loss or theft of phones, Airpods, watches, etc. No electronic equipment, aside from school-provided devices, are to be used during school. Recording and/or photographing staff and other students is strictly prohibited in school, on the bus, and at any school sponsored events.

Communication between home and school is crucial to so many areas, including attendance. I am writing to remind you that it is a parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to notify the school whenever your child is absent. Please call the Attendance Office (520-2166) each day that your child will not be attending school. Please also be reminded to send in notes from your doctor or dentist to confirm visits. Strong communication allows us to keep updated and timely records, and it also helps our teachers best assist students who will be missing classes.

Thank you for your support.

Though decisions regarding the use of social media should be made by families, it is important to know that adolescents are increasingly drawn to this medium. The Island Trees Memorial Middle School will make every effort to model the appropriate use of social media and support your children as they navigate the digital age. Though e-mail and phone calls are still welcome and useful, we will seek to leverage the power of technology to provide school-based updates in multiple formats. To this end and to keep the lines of communication open between home and school, we ask that you consider following ITMMS on the platforms below.

While social media streams and incessant texting and digital communications play an increasingly large role in the lives of our students, I ask for your support as we speak with one voice regarding phones in our school. From the moment a student enters our school building until the moment they exit our school, we will expect that all phones are "Powered Down and Put Away."

Please join us as we make this expectation clear to your children from Day 1. As with other policies, it is important when working with adolescents to explain the "why" behind the policy. Please join me in clearly articulating our belief that our kids deserve it; that 6 1/2 hours of a day without a text tone, vibration, or push notification is healthy and will promote focus and their full presence. Our office phones will always welcome students needing to contact home, and if there is anything essential that must be communicated to our students, we will be sure to relay messages from home to our students.

Let's do this together!

This section has been created to help parents and families better understand the needs and characteristics of young adolescents. The research and briefs shared below highlight the significant changes that our students are going through and the ways in which families and schools can best support our children.

The Dignity Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and took effect on July 1, 2012. "New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act seeks to provide the State’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment, and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function.

The Dignity Act also amended Section 801-a of New York State Education Law regarding instruction in civility, citizenship, and character education by expanding the concepts of tolerance, respect for others and dignity to include: an awareness and sensitivity in the relations of people, including but not limited to, different races, weights, national origins, ethnic groups, religions, religious practices, mental or physical abilities, sexual orientations, gender identity, and sexes." (NYSED.gov)

In each school, a Dignity For All Students (DASA) Coordinator is trained to handle human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender (identity or expression) and sex. The DASA coordinators are available to assist families with any concerns.

The reality is that most kids start developing online relationships around the age of 8, usually through virtual worlds such as Club Penguin. By age 10, they've progressed to multiplayer games and sharing their digital creations and homemade videos on sites such as YouTube. By age 13, millions of kids have created accounts on social-networking sites such as Facebook. Here are the essential safety and responsibility guidelines for middle schoolers:

• Follow the rules. Many social sites have an age minimum of 13 for both legal and safety/privacy reasons. Encourage kids to stick with age-appropriate sites.

• Tell your kids to think before they post. Remind them that everything can be seen by a vast, invisible audience (otherwise known as friends-of-friends-of-friends). Each family will have different rules, but, for middle school kids, it's a good idea for parents to have access to what their kids are doing online, at least at first, to be sure that what's being posted is appropriate. Parents can help keep kids from doing something they'll regret later.

• Make sure kids set their privacy settings. Privacy settings aren't foolproof, but they can be helpful. Take the time to learn about default settings and how to change privacy settings on your kids' favorite sites, and teach your kids how to control their privacy.

• Kindness counts. Lots of sites have anonymous applications such as "bathroom walls" or "honesty boxes" that allow users to tell their friends what they think of them. Rule of thumb: If your kids wouldn't say it to someone's face, they shouldn't post it

Contests and competitions will be shared with your children throughout the school-year as a means to challenge and extend learning. During the 2022-2023 school-year, our students participated in a great number of contests and competitions, including national competitions such as U.S. Army Education Fund's e-Cybermission Competition, National History Bee, and the Scripps Spelling Bee. Please keep your eyes out for contests and competitions which may suit your child.

Email: dkeegan@islandtrees.org
Website: https://itms.islandtrees.org/
Location: 45 Wantagh Avenue, Levittown, NY
Phone: (516) 520-2157
Twitter: @Islandtreesmms