District News

Students in Willow Road Elementary School’s Enrichment/Gifted Program became fledgling archaeologists as they participated in a simulation of an archaeological dig created by their Enrichment/Gifted teacher Karen Skolnick.

Student teams excavated stratified layers of a “dig box”, experiencing the tools that archaeologists use to uncover “ancient” artifacts. Students measured, mapped, described, and recorded their findings on locus sheets and site grid maps.

The simulated dig gave youngsters a hands-on opportunity to understand the role of archaeologists and the importance of keeping accurate records and preserving the context of historical evidence. Students were engaged in scientific reasoning, analysis and meaningful interpretation of the significance of the artifacts.

Four students from Wheeler Avenue School, under the direction of art teacher Monica Nedab, recently showcased their talents at the All-County Art Exhibit, an event sponsored by The Art Supervisors Association. The exhibition, which honored more than 1,250 kindergarten through twelfth-grade students, was hosted by Adelphi University and geared toward highlighting students who have demonstrated excellence in a wide variety of two-dimensional visual art forms, including drawing, painting, printmaking, computer graphics, and photography.

The artwork submitted by the Wheeler students was created following the theme “winter pictures using crayon and white tempera paint,” and was in line with the New York State Standards for Visual Arts.  

Congratulations to Julian Tineo (grade 3), Matthew Wong (grade 4), Hannah King (grade 5) and Erin Sullivan (grade 5), who are pictured here with their winning submissions!

Through the use of cutting-edge videoconferencing technology, second through fourth-grade classes at Wheeler Avenue Elementary School recently had the chance to connect with friends in another state.

Mrs. Corr’s second-grade students and the school’s third-grade classes paired up with Camden Children’s Garden in Camden, New Jersey to expand learning beyond the classroom.  The second grader’s lesson, entitled “Are You My Mother?”, provided the students with the opportunity, through reading and touching, to sort seeds into a variety of shapes and sizes, while the third graders learned about the life cycle of butterflies.

Additionally, Mrs. Gorman’s fourth-grade class videoconferenced with Smithsonian Institute of Art for a lesson entitled “Young America”, learning about the landscaping portraits of artists who depicted life in “young America.”

Picture this: You’re sitting at home when all of a sudden, there’s a blackout! You start to search for the flashlight but it’s nowhere to be found, and all you have are a couple of batteries. After a half hour you give up your search and accept the fact that you may be sitting in the dark for a little while, but wait! You just remembered that you know someone from Mrs. O’Sullivan’s third-grade class at James A. Dever Elementary School who recently took their knowledge of electricity one step further.

Through an interactive science lesson, Mrs. O’Sullivan’s students became more than just scientists, they became inventors as well! Taking the information they knew about light bulbs, conductors, simple circuits, and even switches, these bright young builders constructed their very own flashlights.

The students were amazed to watch as common household items, including paper towel tubes, some wires (or tinfoil), 2 batteries, and a light bulb, were easily converted into a fully operational flashlight!

James A. Dever students recently participated in the 2008 National PTA Reflections Project titled, “I can make a difference by…”.  Students in kindergarten through sixth grade entered original pieces in such categories as photography, visual arts, and literature.

Following the program’s theme, the students’ projects depicted ways in which they felt they could make a difference. Included in those areas were: “not wasting water”, “helping someone cross a busy street”, “ donating clothes” and “saving the rainforests”.

On Friday, February 15, 2008, the James A. Dever Elementary School participated in Hoops for Heart and Jump Rope for Heart, two programs sponsored by the American Heart Association. The kindergarten through third grade tested their jumping skills through their participation in Jump Rope for Heart, while the fourth through sixth grade tossed basketballs, aiming for a slam dunk for the Hoops for Heart program. 

The goal of the event was to raise awareness about heart disease and related illnesses, as well as to raise money for research, prevention and education programs. The event, which was a huge success, raised over $10,000. 

The entire Dever community participated and a great time was had by all.  

Have you ever put on a wool sweater one winter day, only to notice that your hair was sticking up?! We all know that this problem is caused by static electricity, but do you know how static electricity really works? If you are unsure, just ask Mrs. O Sullivan’s third graders at James A. Dever Elementary School, because after a scientific study on the subject, they are almost experts on the topic!

With the help of their teacher, the students learned about friction, atoms, and even how the electrons in an atom travel to form static electricity. Acting as scientists, the students used static to move cans, separate salt from pepper, and even make Styrofoam dance with their handmade static sticks. These third graders even discovered, through the use of balloons and static, that opposites attract and likes repel.

The second-grade students at James A. Dever Elementary School had a traveling field trip on Wednesday, March 12, 2008 when The Long Island Children’s Museum located in Garden City, NY, visited the school armed with materials for a “Build It” workshop. 

With the help of the presenters, the students learned about particular aspects of construction and architecture such as:  ‘How do buildings stay up?’ ‘What makes a structure stable?’ ‘The mathematic principles and physical forces behind keeping structures such as bridges, towers and geodesic domes together.’ Following the instructional lesson, the students had the chance to apply what they learned to construct a freestanding structure out of marshmallows and toothpicks. 

It was a fun-filled event for all!

After reading many different versions of The Gingerbread Man, Mrs. Francis’s first graders and Ms. Willis’s sixth graders worked together to write their own take on the familiar tale. After having their created works submitted, Willow Road Elementary School students Adam Amin and Thomas Tator were announced as the winners in the Sillybooks.net writing contest, a competition that receives submissions from all over the world. As a result of this accomplishment, the students’ story, Fruit Roll Up Boy, has been animated and placed on the Silly Books website http://www.sillybooks.net//books/Fruit-Roll-Boy/FruitRollUpBoy.html. Congratulations to both Adam and Thomas on this accomplishment!

Sixth-grade students at Wheeler Avenue Elementary School in the Valley Stream UFSD #13 learned about Ancient Greek theater in a whole new way when HV Puppets, a theater group, recently visited the school.

Learning from puppeteer and the program’s presenter, Lois Boshoevsky, the students learned about the myth of Orpheus and Euridice, the finer points of Greek theater, and even had the chance to construct masks for characters included in different myths. The construction of the masks not only enabled the students to learn about the roles of each character on a deeper level, but also educated them on each of the different myths.

As a special treat, towards this hands-on experience, the students learned how to properly participate in an Ancient Greek theatrical experience, and even tested their newfound skills by performing several myths.

This program was provided by Friends Of The Arts (FOTA), a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to enrich the cultural life on Long Island by providing world-class artists and captivating arts education programs for young adults.

In today's political climate, being King isn't as easy as it used to be. That is why the mighty Zeus, supreme ruler of the Greek gods and goddesses, has decided to retire to Florida to spend his golden years basking in the sun. Amidst this sudden decision arises the question of who will rule in his place. Will it be one of his brothers or sisters the Olympians? Perhaps one of the elder and more experienced Titans? Or maybe the Greek people are ready for a change and will elect a young nymph to revolutionize the system. 

As part of their social studies curriculum, sixth graders at Wheeler Avenue Elementary School have been busy over the past several weeks studying Ancient Rome and Ancient Greece. As a culminating project, students were asked to prepare a speech as well as create a costume, poster, and prop symbolizing the god or goddess of their choice. Before their teachers and peers, the students ‘transformed’ into the god or goddess they researched and presented a speech persuading the other gods, goddesses, and mortals to elect them to become the next head of the gods.

After a rigorous evaluation process, Wheeler Avenue Elementary School first grader Matthew Manza has been selected as a winner at the New York State level of the National PTA Reflections Contest. Matthew, who was previously selected as a district winner, will now have his photography submission judged at the national level in Washington, D.C.

During Valley Stream Union Free School District #13’s Board of Education appreciation ceremony last fall, each grade at Howell Road Elementary School ‘adopted’ a Board member and invited them to visit their classrooms periodically throughout the year. Recently, Board Trustee Bonnie Gorham visited with her adopted first grade students. During her visit, Mrs. Gorham read the book “Is There Really a Human Race?” by Jamie Lee Curtis, and donated a copy of the book to each of her adopted classrooms.

Water and how it is formed have been the topic of recent science lessons taking place in the third-grade classes at Howell Road Elementary School in the Valley Stream UFSD #13 as the grade level has been learning about the water cycle.  Through their studies, students have been learning about each phase of the cycle and conducting a variety of experiments, including closely observing the precipitation stage by utilizing magnifying glasses outdoors to examine the snowflakes falling. Pictured here, students are creating the Science 21 "water cycle model". They were amazed to find out that blue-dyed water evaporated, condensed, and fell back down CLEAR!  This lesson helped the students better understand how even though most of the earth's water is salty, the water that evaporates, condenses, and turns into rain, is not. 

It was an exhilarating time for hundreds of Howell Road Elementary School students who recently attended the school’s Carnival on March 8, 2008.

The event, which was run by more than 40 parent and student volunteers, included numerous games, lots of prizes, and plenty to eat. Students had a wild and wacky time on the Swamper Stomper, bounced around in the Disney Bouncer, and played more than 20 fun games. Attendees tested their strength on the Test-O-Strength and learned how to milk a cow in the cow milking contest. After all the fun times, the students headed to the cafeteria to enjoy some yummy snacks, including pizza, popcorn, hot dogs, fruits and much more, to satisfy their hunger after all the activities.

As a result of their exceptional submissions to the 2007-2008 National PTA Reflections Program, the following Willow Road Elementary School students were selected as winners and will now advance to the next level of competition.  

Brianna LaRocca (Visual Arts)
Nicholas Scelfo (Visual Arts)
Kailyn Sarmiento (Photography)

Submissions to this year’s program were based on the theme “I can make a difference by...” Congratulations also to the following students who submitted projects to the competition:

Visual Arts      

Grades K-2       
1st Aiden Duggan      
2nd Anthony Franco      
3rd Nicholas Koches      
Grades 3-5 
1st Jessica Wade
2nd Luke Malone
3rd Veronica Lusterno
Honorable Mention Thomas Elbert
Honorable Mention Rebecca Schoenfeld

Special Education Grades K-2
1st Nicholas Scelfo
2nd Benjamin Rothenberg
3rd Amiro Mayo

Special Education Grades 3-5
1st Andrew Pisaniello
2nd Theodore Rothenberg
3rd Meena Noory
Honorable Mention Daniel McGee

Special Education Grade 6
1st Brianna LaRocca
2nd Richard Weiner
3rd Erick Flores
Honorable Mention  Bernadette Augello

Literature

Grades K-2
1st Laila Drosman

Grades 3-5
1st Michael Antonucci
2nd Sabrina Roy
3rd Michelle Cinnamo

Photography

Grades K-2
1st Ankit Singh

Grades 3-5
1st Cianna Sarmiento
2nd Kailyn Sarmiento

Students in Wheeler Avenue Elementary School’s Enrichment/Gifted Program recently became fledgling archaeologists when they participated in a simulation of an archaeological dig created by their Enrichment/Gifted teacher, Karen Skolnick.

Student teams excavated stratified layers of a “dig box”, utilizing the tools that archaeologists employ to uncover “ancient” artifacts. Students measured, mapped, described, and recorded their findings on sheets and site grid maps. The simulated dig gave the students a hands-on opportunity to understand the role of archaeologists and the importance of keeping accurate records and preserving the context of historical evidence. Students were engaged in scientific reasoning, analysis and meaningful interpretation of the significance of the artifacts.

Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, Patrick Henry and other famous Americans who lived during the time of the American Revolution recently came back to life at Wheeler Avenue School when the fourth-grade students in Mrs. Skolnick’s Enrichment/Gifted Program class prepared testimonials to show honor, admiration and gratitude to these amazing Americans who made important contributions to our nation.

In preparation for their projects, students researched biographies through primary and secondary sources and evaluated the achievements of individuals who helped create our country’s identity at the birth of America. After gathering evidence, students wrote speeches to persuade the audience of the significance of the contributions made by their “Amazing American”.

Willow Road Elementary School’s kindergarten students put their mathematical lessons into action recently and raised more than $1,400 for St. Jude’s Research Hospital, a facility that works to help the children of the world who are stricken with diseases. Some of the diseases St. Jude’s works to help include cancer, AIDS, Sickle Cell, as well as other catastrophic illnesses.

Kindergarten teacher Donna Rezek, along with her classroom aide Irina Lebedeva, coordinated Willow’s Math-A-Thon. 

During the February 26th Valley Stream Union Free School District #13 Board of Education meeting, Wheeler Avenue Elementary School Principal Christine Zerillo and students presented an overview of the district’s science curriculum. Before the public audience and members of district administration, the school’s Student Council officers explained what it means to be a “Wheeler student” and introduced other young scholars in grades 1-6 who presented grade-level projects.

First graders supplied their Accrostic for “STOMACHS,” detailing all they learned and proving that “the way to a first grader’s brain is through their stomachs”. Second graders showed silhouettes of their bodies that they produced after measuring themselves while third graders explained their project on electricity. Fourth graders presented their project on “Owl Pellets” and what they learned about the life and food chain of owls. Fifth graders spelled out their “Mystery Substance Experiment” results, while duplicating the experiment for the audience. Finally, sixth graders showed what they have learned about atoms, molecules, and protons.

Although homework time may not be every student’s favorite part of the day, it is a very important time because it provides an opportunity to review and practice skills learned in the classroom in order to ensure that concepts can be built upon the next day. It is noted that students who come to school prepared are more likely to be engaged in subsequent lessons, which result in growth both academically and in their self-esteem.

At Wheeler Avenue Elementary School in the Valley Stream Union Free School District #13, students and families recognize the value of completing nightly homework. Four years ago, Mrs. Stirrat, a special education teacher at Wheeler, recognized the need for some students to have support with homework completion, at which time the Wheeler Avenue Homework Club was started. 

Through the recommendation of their classroom teachers, two to three students from each of the school’s fourth, fifth-, and sixth-grade classes are currently participating in the club. The organization, which meets after school each Monday and Tuesday during the months of October to May, works to provide students with a structured environment within which to complete their homework. Additionally, a classroom teacher, either Mrs. Stirrat or Ms. Dorsi, and Valley Stream Central High School students whose goals are to become teachers, provide homework support. 

Wheeler Homework Club participants value the time and support that they receive with homework completion as they readily attend each session. The school is proud of the gains that each of the students has made and hopes that the skills and discipline that they have learned will be carried with them throughout the remainder of their school careers.

The Wheeler Avenue Elementary School’s School Spirit Committee has initiated a schoolwide campaign to highlight acts of kindness done by students both in and out of school. The campaign, which is called “One Hand Helps Another,” is based on the pay it forward philosophy, where one person’s good deed causes another person to do a good deed for someone else. The kickoff for the campaign was held on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, in an effort to reinforce the message of his dream and how it translates to acts of kindness. 

During the campaign, each Wheeler student will be asked to complete at least one pair of colorful helping hands to tell of the kind act done for themselves and the kind act he/she did for someone else in return. The One Hand Helps Another campaign will continue throughout the school year.  The pairs of hands will be linked together to decorate the school’s halls, showing how kindness is contagious at Wheeler!

On Friday, February 1, the Wheeler Avenue School faculty and staff proudly joined the American Heart Association and concerned healthcare providers, organizations, and celebrities across America in the Go Red for Women movement, to fight against heart disease, the #1 killer of women and men.

Everyone in the school, including students, wore red clothing to school to help spread the word about women and heart disease. The movement provides a chance for women to arm themselves with knowledge about this devastating disease and to raise funds that will help advance research and education efforts. Wheeler’s American Heart Association fundraising continued throughout the month of February, as Wheeler students prepared for the annual Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser.

As a kickoff for Wheeler Avenue Elementary School’s annual Parents as Reading Partners (PARP) program, students were treated to a special performance by award-winning singer songwriter Patricia Shih, accompanied by Stephen Fricker. 

During the performance Ms. Shih performed a variety of songs in her more than 250 song catalog that captivated the students and had them, and their teachers, on their  feet dancing and singing along.

Ms. Shih wrote her first song at age 12 and hasn’t stopped since. At the age of 15, she signed a recording and management contract with Unicorn Records of Washington, D.C. as half of a duo. This marked the start of her professional career, including her own PBS special, Patty Shih – Music from the Gallery. She starred for a year on Cablevision’s “Tell Me a Story”. Her songs have been recorded and performed by numerous other artists, have been published in national magazines, and have won awards and accolades. In 2004, Patricia was honored with a Woman of Distinction Award in New York.

Four third-grade classes at Wheeler Avenue Elementary School in the Valley Stream UFSD #13 recently celebrated BIO-Day.  For the program, the students read a book, researched and produced a report on a person of interest, and dressed up as that individual when presenting their report. 

As a part of the grade-level curriculum, the fourth-grade students at Wheeler Avenue Elementary School have been busy learning about our nation’s history through the study of Native Americans, primarily the Iroquois and Algonquin tribes.

The students stepped back in time and learned about what life was like for many Native Americans by creating projects in addition to reading about the Native Americans in their history books. Each student chose a topic that was covered during the study and made a model to represent the item.  Additionally, the students wrote the procedure of how they created their project.

At Wheeler Avenue Elementary School in the Valley Stream UFSD #13, five students were recently announced as being selected as winners at the county level of the PTA Reflections program competition and who will now advance to the New York State level of judging.

The Reflections program offers students in preschool through grade 12 with the opportunity to submit original artistic pieces to the program, which offers students the opportunity to create works of art for fun and recognition in four areas: literature, musical composition, photography and the visual arts. Submissions are initially judged by the school’s local PTA, with winners proceeding to the Nassau County PTA, then New York State PTA, and finally the National level for judging.

Congratulations to this year’s Wheeler Avenue district-level winners, who will now advance to the state level of judging:

Kelvin DeLeon – Film Production
Sarah Goldberg – Literature
Matthew Manza – Photography
Francesca Strojan – Literature
Ariana Tzunun – Dance Choreography

Wheeler Avenue Elementary School music students recently had a special chance to participate in a cello clinic led by Dr. James McWhorter. During his visit, Dr. McWhorter conducted two workshop sessions, one for beginning fourth-grade cellists and bass players, and the other for the advanced fifth and sixth graders.  

Mr. McWhorter is from Utah and teaches elementary school strings in addition to working for the Southwest Strings Company. He is a cellist who has also played at the White House as part of the President's Own.   After his instruction, Mr. McWhorter played a few selections for each class.

With the start of the New Year, the Physical Education classes at Howell Road Elementary School began a new and exciting unit.  

With their muscles warmed up and stretched, students worked on their tumbling and gymnastics skills. Throughout the program students were taught the safe way to perform tumbling stunts, including forward and backward rolls, balance activities, headstands, handstands, cartwheels, and pyramids, as well has had a chance to test their strength by climbing the ropes and playing on the cargo net.  

All of the students did a great job of following the safety rules set up in class and had fun trying some new ways to move their bodies.

Sixth-Grade Students Perform Greek Plays  

Dressed in full costume, talented sixth-grade students at Howell Road Elementary School recently showcased their outstanding acting abilities when they performed Greek plays. The result was a product that not only tied into the grade’s social studies curriculum, but also one that left all in attendance highly impressed.   

Students in Mrs. Chappell’s sixth-grade class at Howell Road Elementary School have been working cooperatively in “Traveling Centers” and guided reading groups during their class’s literacy block.   

After reading articles from “Time for Kids,” students worked to complete flow maps and, working in the writing center, draft responses to the novel “ Number the Stars.”   Additionally, during the literacy block students are able to complete projects in a number of other ‘centers’ within the room, including science and computers.

All of the students enjoy working together during reading every day.

Members of the Sign Language Program from Valley Stream Central High School visited the students at James A. Dever Elementary School to sing holiday songs, while they simultaneously signed the words in sign language to the students in the audience. Several of the school’s students who participate in the building’s afterschool sign language program also joined the group on stage and performed for our students and staff.

The students in Mrs. Galloway's third-grade class at James A. Dever Elementary School in the Valley Stream UFSD #13 have been studying world geography and all types of land and water forms as a part of their social studies curriculum.  They put the lessons they learned to the test by creating landform dictionaries, ‘traveling’ the Earth looking for plateaus, peninsulas, rivers, islands, and creating original landform maps, incorporating a theme and a lot of imagination. Their work was proudly shared with others and showcased for all to see.

James A. Dever Elementary School recently had a special cross-curriculum exhibit on display which highlighted artwork from students in grades K-6 that connected with and worked to enhance the district’s social studies curriculum. The artwork displayed included family collages, paintings about cultural holidays, Mexican Day of the Dead masks, Native American yarn weavings, Latin American artist inspired self-portraits, and Greek vase paintings.

On December 19^th, fourth graders from James A. Dever Elementary School participated in a Native American in-house field trip. The company “Journeys” visited the school to present a Native American Eastern Woodlands educational program.

The school gym was transformed into a Native American museum with real artifacts, clothing, games, and weapons. Throughout the program, the students even got the chance to walk through a longhouse equipped with animal skins and Native American tools, and had the opportunity to design and make their own clay pots. Additionally, the students sang Native American songs and danced Native American dances.  

The program was truly a terrific culmination to the grade’s study on Native Americans.