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Principal’s Message

Dear Parents,                                                                                October 2012

It’s hard to believe that it’s mid-October already. For me, it seems that time moves faster each year as both my children grow and I get older. This year my older daughter started high school and my younger daughter is completing her last year of middle school. For my wife and me, it’s as if we blinked our eyes and magically two young women live with us. Incredible!

As parents, it’s critical that we always view our children’s educational experience through multiple lenses. First, we need to ensure that our kids are going to school feeling safe, respected, and cared for. Second, we need to know that our children are surrounded by a faculty and staff that will do whatever is necessary to help them learn and grow as young adolescents. Third, we want to see that our children are being challenged each day, pushed to think critically, expanding their knowledge, and seeing things from different perspectives and points of view. Finally, we want our children to smile, laugh, learn and feel that school is a very special place to be.

This year, as we meet the challenges of State and Federal initiatives and mandates, I assure you that your children (and mine) are in good hands. They are indeed surrounded by teachers who will inspire them and bring them to new levels of success and achievement. Within the new Common Core State Standards, our commitment to your children remains steadfast. We will continue to make learning creative, challenging, engaging, and fun by creating interdisciplinary learning experiences, reading higher-level texts, developing highly skilled writers, and designing assessments that are interesting and authentic.

As educators we will focus on bringing state-of-the-art technology to our classrooms. We will create challenging units of study that inspire our students to model the behavior of scientists, mathematicians, writers, poets, artists, and musicians. We will inspire our students to become creative problem solvers and global thinkers. We will foster an environment of kindness, care, respect, and honor for all.

As much as I want time to slow down, I have a sneaky feeling this year is going to be a quick one too! I want to thank you for your continued support of our school and its mission. Together, we will make a difference in the lives of our children and each other.

Best wishes,

Stephen Kimmel

Principal

Tourette Syndrome Association Visits Willets Road

 

On Wednesday, October 10th, representatives of the Tourette Syndrome Association (insert names) along with members of the TSA Youth Ambassador Program presented What is Tourette Syndrome to our 5th and 6th grade students and staff.  Youth Ambassadors, Jared and Tyler Bloch taught our students about this prevalent medical condition that affects many children and adults.  The program included a presentation of the facts, symptoms, and myths about TS.  Jared and Tyler also led the students through an activity that simulated what its like to live with TS.  One of our courageous Willets Road students also presented and answered questions about his experience with TS.  I am so proud of our students for their sense of interest in understanding TS and the compassion they expressed in helping people with this condition.

Willets Road Spark Leadership Team

The SPARK Leadership visited the Avalon assisted living facility in Westbury on June 6.  Our students sung songs, played music, did a craft project with the residents, and served delicious treats.  What a wonderful way for our students to develop their leadership skills, build self-confidence, and give back to our community.  We are so very proud of them!  Special thanks to Mr. Stander and Dr. Ozimkowski who advise the team.

Willets Road SPARK Leadership Team in Action!

This month the Spark Leadership Team’s 40 members (6^th & 7^th grade) are learning about the leadership quality of “Confidence”…and they are building their confidence by heading over to the North Side School to work with the Kindergarten students on a Social Emotional Learning Project.  Team members will be in the Kindergarten classes throughout the month of March and April to read and discuss various social & emotional topics that Kindergarten students often face.  The team is energized to make a difference!    

Nassau County Veterans of Foreign Wars Visit Willets Road

On Friday, January 20th members of the Nassau County Council of Veterans of Foreign Wars visited Willets Road to present 6th grade student Megan Kirschner with a certificate and award for her participation in the 2011 Veterans Day ceremony.  Megan memorized and read a poem paying tribute to our veterans.  The members of the chapter under the leadership of Commander Charles Boyd, visited Mr. Roaldsen's social studies class to present the award.  Mr. Kimmel shared with the students the mission of the Veterans of Foreign Wars organization and discussed the importance of recognizing the commitment and sacrifice that the men and woman of our Armed Forces make to protect our freedom and way of life as Americans.

It was an honor and privilege to have theses American Heroes visit our school.  Way to go Meagan!!!

Klezmer All Stars Visit Willets Road

The Willets Road School PTO Cultural Arts Program was proud to host renown klezmer music artist Frank London and his band the Klezmer All Stars on Friday, January 6th. Frank London and his band played a wonderful concert for our entire school community.  The performance also featured a lesson on how klezmer music is played on the typical musical instruments associated with this music genre.  We thank the director of our district cultural arts program Mr. Mark Meyers for bringing this amazing performance to our school.

Willets Road Blue Ribbon Celebration - November 22, 2011

Mr. Kimmel's Speech - Willets Road Blue Ribbon Celebration

November 22, 2011

Good morning.  Welcome to the Willets Road Blue Ribbon School Celebration.  Before we begin this morning’s program I would like to formally welcome our Superintendent of Schools Dr. Lorna Lewis, our Board of Education president, Mr. Mark Kamberg, vice president Mr. Bob Frier, and our Board trustees                Mr. Robert Fallarino, Mr. David Keefe, and Mrs. Barbara Sloane.  In attendance this morning we have a very special guest, New York State Department of Education Regent, Mr. Roger Tilles. On behalf of our District, I would like to thank you for finding time in your very busy schedule to join us this morning.  Also in attendance, we have Sandy Portnoy from Assembly woman Michelle Shimmel’s office, and State Senator Jack Martins.  Lastly I would like to welcome the administrative team of the East Williston School District and members of the Willets Road PTO Executive Board including co-presidents Gabrielle Karikas and Nancy Williams. 

At this time I ask you all to rise and turn your attention to our wind ensemble under the direction of Mr. Scott Hoefling and members of our chorus under the direction of Mrs. Karen Brandine for a performance of our National Anthem.

Last Monday and Tuesday, I had the privilege of attending the National Blue Ribbon Awards Ceremony in Washington D.C. with faculty representative Mr. Joseph Coladonato. Throughout this incredible event, I was at often times reflecting on the answers to the big questions that I believe all of the recipients were asking themselves.  First: What does the Blue Ribbon mean?  For the Willets Road School it means that we have been recognized as one of the very best schools in our nation.  There are 95,000 public schools in the United States and we were selected as one of 250 schools to receive the 2011 Blue Ribbon.  Since the Blue Ribbon Schools program was established in 1981, only 7000 schools have received this honored distinction out of 135,000 public and private schools.

The second question we asked ourselves was: “What have we accomplished to deserve this honor” Our school was recognized by the United States Department of Education as a school that maintains a very high level of academic and developmental achievement for every one of its students.  Over the past five years with the support of our Superintendent, Board of Education, PTO, and our incredible faculty and staff, we have implemented systemic changes to our instructional

programs that have truly made a remarkable difference in the learning outcomes of our students. The major changes include our shift to a 9 period day instructional day, self-selected acceleration in 7th grade mathematics, academic teaming, modified block scheduling, academic support workshops in ELA and Math, enrichment courses in the arts, humanities, and sciences, and expanded course opportunities for all students.  Additionally we have broadened our co-curricular club program to capture the interests and imagination of our students, and created SPARK as a means to foster our continued commitment the social/emotional welfare of our students and ourselves.

The final question we asked ourselves was “So now that you have achieved the distinction of being a Blue Ribbon school, where do you go from here?” The answer is quite simple.  The Blue Ribbon provides us with a sense of validation that we are among the very best and as such we have an obligation to our students and community to remain one of the top schools in our great nation.  We must continue in our pursuit of excellence by continuously challenging our students and ourselves.  We must continue to provide our students with a program that provides them with an academically rich environment that allows them to explore their interests and passions.  And we must continue to provide our staff with the support, resources, and encouragement that is so needed during these challenging times.

Lastly, as I sat among educators representing all 50 states at last week’s Blue Ribbon ceremony in Washington, I couldn’t help but think how fortunate we are to live in the greatest nation on earth.  I realized that the single most important element that binds us together as Americans is our system of education.  The goals are the same.  Prepare our students to be academically strong, independent, socially competent adults who are prepared to succeed in college, enter the workforce, contribute to our culture and society, and to cherish the freedom that we all have as Americans.

Before I close, I have a few more people to thank.  First, the world class faculty and staff of Willets Road. Please stand so that we may show our appreciation and gratitude.   Please know that you are among the very best in our nation.  Your tireless effort and commitment to the students of our community is extraordinary.  Next, on behalf of the Willets Road staff, I would like to thank the parents of our students and the Willets Road PTO for their endless support, kindness, and encouragement.  Lastly, we have 400 students thank. To all of us, you also represent the thousands of Blue Ribbon students who have made the

Willets Road School such a joyous place to learn, work, and grow.

Thank you!

At this time I would like to invite our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Lorna Lewis to officially receive the United States Department of Education Blue Ribbon Plaque awarded to the Willets Road School.