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Committed to Excellence

Welcome to Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School

301 Smith Avenue
Islip, NY 11751

School Hours: 8:50 a.m. – 2:50 p.m.


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Telephone Directory   
Main Office: (631) 650-8650
Fax: (631) 650-8658
Principal’s Office: (631) 650-8655
Health Office: (631) 650-8675
Attendance: (631) 650-8660

 


Sherwood Elementary Principal Briana James

Briana James, Principal

Principal's Message

Dear Sherwood Families,

Welcome to the 2024-2025 school year!

I hope your summer has been refreshing, and you have been able to spend some time relaxing and making memories with your loved ones. This summer, we enjoyed our first international family vacation - we went to Curaçao! The kids loved getting their passports and found it fascinating that people could speak so many languages! When the James children (Ainsley, 5, and Greyson, 8) were not at camp, we carved out time for early morning breakfasts on the beach, late night s'mores, and, of course, peach and strawberry picking out east.

As we begin our new school year, I am excited to maintain and strengthen the strong home-school partnerships we have created over the past few years; for we know that all of us working together in the best interest of our children is the greatest precursor to student success. Throughout the year, please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, concerns, or to learn more about the place where your child spends the majority of his or her time each day! The District will continue to use ParentSquare to communicate regularly, but I always encourage a personal phone call or email, as well.

As I have shared over the years, I am keenly aware of the faith you place in us each and every day as you send your children off to school. I promise to cherish, nurture, and safeguard each and every one of your children and to treat each with dignity and care. Please enjoy the remaining days of summer. I am very much looking forward to seeing you and your children on the first day of school and every day thereafter!

Very truly yours,

Briana D. James, Principal

photograph of Sherwood principal Briana James and her family in Curacao during the summer 2024 

The James Family - Summer 2024

 

An Exciting First Day of School in Islip

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Students walked into the Islip School District’s five schools – Islip High School, Islip Middle School, Commack Road Elementary School, Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School and Wing Elementary School – on a sunny Sept. 3, excited for the first day of school and ready to begin a new year of learning.  

“The first day of school is always a great reminder of why we do what we do,” Sherwood Principal Briana James said. “Seeing the excitement in everyone’s eyes was proof that together we can do great things, and that this year might just be our best yet.”

“We were thrilled to welcome students to a new school year at Islip High School,” Principal Dr. Lara Gonzalez said. “We’re off to a strong start already. With Spirit Week and homecoming only 10 days away, we have so much to look forward to during this back-to-school season.”

"We are excited to welcome students back to Commack Road for a new year and see them set their goals and work towards achieving them,” Principal Jackie Beckmann said. “Every student has the potential to succeed, and we are here to support and guide them each step of the way. Together, we will make this year one of growth, learning and accomplishment.”

“This morning's arrival at Islip Middle School was simply wonderful,” Principal Dr. Timothy Martin said. “The children’s smiles brought the sunshine in more ways than one. We are so grateful to kick off this year with such joyful children.”

“Today was another magical first day at Wing,” Wing Principal Catherine Glaser said. “There is always so much excitement and energy as we welcome back returning students and meet children who are new to our district. We are looking forward to learning and growing together throughout this school year.”

Date Added: 9/3/2024

Sherwood’s Boosterthon Project Leads to a Marvelous Outdoor Classroom

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Maud S. Sherwood Elementary School held a splendid ribbon cutting ceremony on June 24 for its stunning new outdoor classroom, the result of a three-year Boosterthon project spearheaded by the school’s PTA.

The project began in May 2022, when Sherwood PTA member Marisa Becker approached Principal Briana James with an idea for a Boosterthon fundraiser. Sherwood’s Shared Decision Making Committee, led by President Trisha Tramaglini, quickly began making long-range plans. From the beginning, one of the goals of the project was to create an outdoor classroom for students. In recent years, an increased appreciation for outdoor learning has come to the fore, both in educational aspects and in terms of the great value of purposeful play for children.

“Our eyes were opened to the real benefits of learning outdoors and different ways that we could create interdisciplinary units outdoors, learning about the local climate and teaching concepts of interdependence using patterns found in science and nature,” James said. “We wanted to capitalize on our location, knowing we had a great outdoor space with the Seatuck Environmental Association right behind us. We’re on Long Island, by the water. We've got this beautiful space, let's take advantage of it and create an opportunity for kids.”  

The resulting first Boosterthon, led by Becker, PTA President Jenn Sanders and the entire PTA executive board, raised $12,000, a significant portion of which was later allocated to the outdoor classroom.

“During the months between our first and second fundraisers, it became clear that we would need a lot to safely create the outdoor space we had all been dreaming of,” James said.

With the strong support of the district’s central administration – Superintendent Dr. Dennis P. O’Hara; Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Michael Giacchetto and Assistant Superintendent for Business Michael Zeterberg – and Board of Education, Sherwood’s team continued to work on plans for the outdoor classroom. The area had to be measured, marked and checked for potential underground issues, and research on upgrading and installing security cameras was necessary.

The 2023 Boosterthon fundraiser proved even more successful, raising $18,632 and culminating in a community-building Fun Run activity, in which students ran, walked, hopped and danced around the school’s track as faculty, staff and parent volunteers helped the children record how far they ran. As a special reward to her students, James held “Pie the Principal” and “Dunk the Principal” events.

Last fall, ground was broken for the outdoor classroom site, aided by funding secured by New York State Assemblyman Jarrett Gandolfo. Security cameras were installed by the district’s technology department, led by Director of Network Operations James Prudente and Director of Facilities Andrew Scimeca, and the area was fenced off.

“At the time, it may not have appeared to be much, but our fence was huge, both financially and symbolically,” James said. “Once the fence was up, there was no going back, and no one wanted to.”

Using Boosterthon funds, grant money and donations, Sherwood next purchased needed materials, including collaborative chalkboard workstations, a large eight-by-four-foot outdoor chalkboard; a shed; materials necessary to build a garden bed for each grade, including rocks, soil and seeds; two root viewers; two magnifying stations; a little free library; and a weather station. The Shared Decision Making Committee purchased individual chalkboards for student use, Alec Brown of Alec's Affordable Arbor Services donated five sitting stumps, and Director of Fine and Performing Arts Michael Hershkowitz helped select large tubular chimes; samba drums; and a musical fence. Science & Technology Coordinator Dan Oggeri allocated grant money for the project, helped design the space and built the garden beds, ensuring they were ready in time for students to plant flowers in the beds during Sherwood’s Earth Day celebration in April. During the spring break, head custodian Will DeChirico singlehandedly built the space’s shed, which holds supplies including stools, magnifying glasses, Keva Planks, student lap desks and gardening tools.

In May 2024, Sherwood geared up for its third and biggest fundraiser, taking in a remarkable total of $20,000 in the third Boosterthon, leading to June’s ribbon cutting, where students and the community had a chance to freely explore the space.     

Integrating science, technology, art and math, the outdoor classroom fosters true learning experiences, and curriculum writing will ensure that teachers have clear objectives for student visits to the space. It is part of Sherwood’s steady progress over the last two years in building up its STEAM program, first with the addition of a STEAM teacher assistant, then a full-time STEAM teacher. Next year, Sherwood will begin a Lego robotics program. Future plans for the outdoor classroom include adding additional collaborative seating and a dedicated meeting area.

“Creating this outdoor classroom has been a huge undertaking, and I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together as a community.,” James said. “This new learning space opens up a world of exciting learning opportunities which foster curiosity, collaboration and creativity. Together, we have created something truly special for our school community, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude for every person who played a part in making this outdoor classroom a reality. It’s clear that our Sherwood family values our children’s future, and I’m honored and humbled to be a part of it. I can’t wait to see everyone laughing, learning and thriving in this new, beautiful space for years to come.”   

Date Added: 7/16/2024

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