
West Hempstead Weekly Update
April 24, 2023
Community Arts Day - May 7 from 12 PM-3 PM - See You There!
2023-2024 Budget
The Board of Education adopted the budget on Tuesday, April 18. The proposed spending plan for 2023-24 reflects a tax levy increase of 1.99%, which is below the allowable tax levy cap of 2.432%. This is within the tax cap for the 12th consecutive year.
Unlike New York City and other areas of the country, New York's locally elected Boards of Education are required to present a spending plan each year to the voters of their community. This year, the annual budget vote and trustee election will be held on Tuesday, May 16, from 7 a.m.- 9 p.m. at West Hempstead Secondary School in the North Gymnasium. To participate, you must be a registered voter. If you have questions about your current registration status or need further information about voting, call the District Clerk, Theresa Bryant, at 516-390-3107 during business hours. The last day to register to vote is Thursday, May 11.
Did you know that 104/112 districts in Suffolk County and 62/112 (6 districts proposed the same levy as us) districts in Nassau County are proposing a higher levy than ours? So that's approximately 3/4 of the districts on Long Island with a higher proposed levy than WH.
We are one community. We are one district. We serve each student in their best interest.
You will hear that there are 1,500 + students. You may also hear there are 1900 + students. Both are correct. One relates to State aid, and one is the number of district students we are responsible for.
Did you know that 18% of the budget leaves the district campus to support school-aged students in the WH community?
Did you know we run over 120 bus routes to over 100 schools?
Did you know transportation has doubled in 9 years and accounts for 11% of the budget?
If we include all the school-aged children in our district, did you know that the total number of students would almost double?
You will hear that our elementary test scores are not where they should be. I agree. No excuses; the work needs to continue. And we are doing that work.
Did you know that "numbers" in ELA and Math have stabilized (as per a comparison of the NWEA assessment Winter of 18-19 to this past Winter)?
Did you know our graduation rate has improved from 83% to 96% in just over a decade?
Did you know that 60% of our students graduated with an advanced regents diploma last year?
I leave you with these thoughts:
Did you know that we had one student who left a shelter in El Salvador in first grade and is now proficient in reading, writing, listening, and speaking in fourth grade?
Did you know that we have one student who is one of 74 to qualify for the NYS Mathletes Competition?
Did you know that we have one senior who has multiple acceptances to colleges and universities and will be the first person in her family to attend higher ed?
Did you know that we have one set of twins attending Yale on what basically amounts to a full scholarship?
We are one. And it takes all of us to become one.
Secondary School
Achievement Dinner
A beautiful night was had by all in attendance this past Wednesday. We congratulate the Top 25 students and our teacher and staff honorees.
Honorees
Chestnut Street - Angela Fenick
Cornwell Avenue - Howie Popkin
George Washington - Michele Lambraia
Grs. 7-8 - Amanda Marconi
Grs. 9-12 - Richie Robinson
Top 25 Students
Ohunayo Adewumi Allyson Arana-Romero Mekias Assefa Ashlee Boodoo Keyara Cooper Alexia Diakovasilis Lillian Fackelman Aaliyah Flowers Glenda Garcia
Gloria Guerrier (Valedictorian) Victoria Guerrier (Salutatorian) Parwinder Kaur
Sara Marini Samantha Mitchell Alisha Paracha Kayla Pendergast Mahib Rahman
Belinda Rodriguez Aidan Sargent Mouhammad Seck Faith Sheehan
Emma Shinsato Alexander Siegelson Pierrena Thifault Talyah Tucker
College Fair 2023
2023 WHHS College Fair
Adelphi University
CUNY Queensborough Community College
Curry College
Dominican University New York
Drew University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach
Florida Institute of Technology
Hempstead Works
Hofstra University
Iona University
Johnson & Wales University-Providence
Lafayette College
Lees-McRae College
Long Island University–Post
Mercy College
Merrimack College
Molloy University
Mount Saint Mary College
Nassau Community College
Nazareth College
Nova Southeastern University
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Main Campus
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
St. John's University-New York
St. Joseph's University - New York
SUNY Brockport
SUNY College at Geneseo
SUNY College at Plattsburgh
SUNY College of Technology at Delhi
The College of Saint Rose
U.S. Navy
University of Delaware
George Washington
Cornwell Ave
Chestnut & PreK
Play is an essential component of preschool as it serves as a critical tool for students to develop their cognitive, social, emotional, and physical skills. Through play, students learn to interact with others, explore their environment, develop their creativity and imagination, and make sense of the world around them. Play-based learning also helps students develop their language skills, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. Preschool teachers often use different play activities such as block-building, puzzles, pretend play, music, and art to promote these skills in their students.
Support services are critical in elementary schools to help ensure that all students receive the necessary support and resources to succeed academically, socially, and emotionally. These services can take various forms, including counseling, special education, speech, language, and reading. They can help students overcome academic challenges, manage their emotions, develop social skills, and cope with personal and family issues that may impact their learning. By providing these services, we can ensure that every student has an equal opportunity to succeed and reach their full potential. Support services can also help identify and address learning and developmental issues early on, preventing them from becoming more significant problems in the future. This can ultimately lead to better academic outcomes, increased student engagement and motivation, and improved overall well-being for students, teachers, and the school community.
Congratulations Mrs. Brohm - 2023 Education Partner Award Honoree
UPK Lottery Completed 1/11/23 - Seats Still Available - Registration is Underway
Kindergarten Registration is Underway!
Upcoming Events
4/28 - Class Night - 7 pm - SS
4/28 - Quarter 3 Ends - Reports sent home (K-6) & Visible on PowerSchool (7-12)
5/1 - AP Exams Begin
5/2 BOE Budget Hearing & Business Meeting - 7:30 pm - SS VCR
5/2 - 5/4 - 3-8 Matth Assessments (Make-ups 5/5-5/11)
5/5 June ACT Deadline
5/5 Spring Fling Grades 7 & 8
5/6 June SAT Registration Deadline
5/6 SAT Exam
About Us
Email: drehman@whufsd.com
Website: www.whufsd.com
Location: 252 Chestnut Street, West Hempstead, NY, USA
Phone: 516-390-3000
Facebook: www.facebook.com/WhufsdRams
Twitter: @WhufsdRams