As the vibrant colors of fall surround us and the holiday season approaches, November provides a wonderful opportunity to reflect on all that we have accomplished together and express gratitude for our school community. The past several weeks has been filled with exciting events, student achievements, and opportunities to connect, learn, and grow.

We were thrilled to welcome so many families and community members to our annual Student Government Spooktacular! It was a fantastic evening of trick-or-treating, games, and Halloween fun! A special thank you to our Student Government advisors and student volunteers, whose hard work, creativity, and enthusiasm made this event such a success. Events like these remind us of the importance of bringing our school community together.

We were also pleased to welcome School Resource Officer Fernandez, who presented important assemblies to our seventh and eighth graders focusing on social media safety and vaping awareness. These conversations provided valuable information to help our students make informed, responsible decisions. Officer Fernandez also spent time visiting with students during their lunch periods, answering questions and building positive connections. We appreciate his continued partnership and commitment to supporting our students.

Looking ahead, we are excited for our upcoming school production of Moana Jr.! Our talented students and dedicated staff have been working hard to prepare for what promises to be a wonderful performance. We hope you will join us on November 20th and 21st to support our student performers and celebrate their hard work.

As a reminder, all students are expected to carry their school ID cards with them at all times while in the building. Students use their IDs to scan into school each morning and into their classrooms for attendance. Students who forget their IDs three or more times within a one-month period will receive a lunch detention, with progressive consequences for repeated occurrences. Beyond serving as an important tool for school safety and accurate attendance, this expectation helps our students develop responsibility, accountability, and habits that will serve them well beyond middle school. Thank you for your partnership in reinforcing this important expectation at home.

Last year, our staff worked collaboratively to establish clear guidelines for the appropriate use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in our school. Classroom graphics provide students with guidance on when AI may be used for assignments, when teacher permission is required, and when work must be completed independently. Misuse of AI is addressed through our school's academic integrity expectations. Please take a moment to review the attached letter outlining our school's stance on responsible AI use. In the coming months, we also look forward to incorporating mini-lessons into our advisory periods to help students better understand how to use these emerging tools ethically, responsibly, and effectively.

Finally, as we enter this season of gratitude, I want to express my sincere appreciation for our students, families, faculty, and staff. Each of you contributes to making our middle school a special place where students feel supported, challenged, and connected. It is through our collective commitment to Welcoming, Connecting, and Learning that we continue to build a school community in which every student has the opportunity to thrive.

Wishing you and your families a wonderful November and a happy, healthy Thanksgiving!

Wishing a Good Day to our IMS Families,

 

Well, we are in full swing. We’ve had our second spirit week in honor of Red Ribbon Week, “Good Choices Positive Voices.” We’ve had a visit in October from the Suffolk County Police Department regarding bullying prevention and awareness, vaping as well as drug awareness and the impact vaping has on overall health and the breakdown of myths vs facts in the world of vaping.

Our advisory theme for November is empathy, gratitude, & thankfulness. Staff and students are doing a wonderful job at creating a connection to their school as well as their community. Some activities will include our building bulletin board. In November, we remember to be grateful as IMS advisories cultivate thankfulness amongst students and staff.

The CARE Club is continuing their Donation Drive Advisory Contest until November 20th. Popular donations have been stuffing, cake mix, canned veggies, soups, gravy, juices, and coffee. Please feel free to send in a non-perishable contribution; it will go to good use and have a positive impact on someone’s celebration.

Wednesday, November 13th is World Kindness Day. IMS will recognize that day by vowing to act with kindness! Advisories will participate in an activity which encourages students to share a positive message. These messages will be displayed on the bulletin board at four corners outside the counseling office.

Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the BIG things.

-Robert Brault

Grateful for being a member of this school community. You are truly wonderful!!

Curt Juengerkes

Assistant Principal

Islip Middle School

631-850-8515

Dear IMS Community:

As we welcome November, we want to congratulate all of our fall student-athletes on a fantastic season! We are proud of the hard work, dedication, and school spirit our students demonstrated throughout the season. 

We also had a wonderful time at our annual IMS Halloween Spooktacular! Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a fun and memorable event for our students and families.

There is plenty to look forward to this month at IMS! During Advisory, students will focus on the important themes of respect, kindness, and gratitude. These conversations and activities will give students opportunities to reflect on how their words and actions impact others and how each of us can help create a positive, welcoming school community.

We are also excited to kick off our early winter sports season and look forward to cheering on our Buccaneers! In addition, our students and staff have been working hard to prepare for the IMS Drama Club's upcoming presentation of Moana Jr. We can't wait to see their hard work and talents come to life on stage!

As always, thank you for your continued support and for being part of our IMS community. Let's make it another great month of welcoming, connecting, and learning!

Sincerely,

David Bodner

Dean of Students

Islip Middle School

The School Counseling Office was thrilled to welcome over 30 new students to our school community this year! Our New Entrant Breakfast provided a wonderful opportunity for students to meet new friends, build connections, and begin feeling at home in their new school environment. Students participated in collaborative games and icebreakers designed to encourage communication and teamwork. They also put their problem-solving skills to the test by working together to solve a series of puzzles and brainteasers in our very own “Escape the Room” challenge!

Our 6th graders recently participated in an activity introducing them to the student portal, an important tool for staying organized and taking ownership of their learning. All 6th-grade students now have access to the portal, just like our7th and 8th graders. The student portal is a valuable resource that allows students to monitor their assignments, grades, and attendance in real time. By checking the portal regularly, students can stay informed about their academic progress, keep track of upcoming work, and identify areas where they may need additional support. We encourage all students to make checking the portal a weekly habit to help them stay organized, build independence, and take an active role in their academic success.

If your child needs assistance with their portal, or needs their password reset, please have them visit their counselor in the guidance office.

Warmly,

Ms. Comiskey, Ms. Garren, and Ms. Sofia

During the month of October, Ms. Vilkas' Spanish Club students participated in a scavenger hunt to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! The students first learned about what Hispanic Heritage Month is and then went to different posters around the room to learn about some famous Hispanic Americans and their contributions to society.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us. You can reach out via the following: