Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

  Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:     Message for Parents – The Sounds of Spring Springtime is almost here! Along with the warmer weather, budding flowers, and songbirds come the joyful shouts of children at play. Parks and playgrounds across our community are alive with running, jumping, kicking, and throwing. According to the National Council of Youth Sports, more than 40 million boys and girls participate in organized sports across the country -- and here in Island Trees, hundreds of our children are part of youth leagues every season. Of course, schools help students grow academically and physically, but we could never provide the sheer variety of athletic opportunities available outside of school. Youth sports give children the chance to develop their skills, their health, and -- maybe most importantly -- their character. The physical benefits are well documented -- outdoor activity helps children build strong muscles and bones. But sports also teach valuable life lessons. One lesson that often goes unmentioned? Resilience. When you’re knocked down, bumped, pinned, or just plain exhausted, you learn to get back up and keep moving. Youth sports teach kids how to face adversity, develop grit, and build mental as well as physical toughness. Life isn’t always easy. All of us, at times, experience setbacks that leave us feeling beaten down. But the perseverance and self-discipline our children learn on the fields and courts today will help them bounce back stronger tomorrow. The sounds of children swinging, sliding, and competing on our playgrounds and ballfields are truly the sounds of spring. I encourage families to get involved in youth sports -- it’s a wonderful way for children to enjoy the fresh air, build healthy habits, and pick up lifelong lessons that will serve them well long after the games are over.   PTA Council - Parents Night Out   THE BLITZ FUNDRAISING EVENT      https://my.cheddarup.com/c/blitz-2026-presale-entry-tickets/items SEPTA Inclusion Spirit Week Daniel Fuentes Foundation Match Today - Thursday, March 12th  NYS Grades 3-8 Digital Assessments With the move of PSATs and SATs to a digital format, our elementary and middle school assessments have also transitioned to computer-based testing. This shift aligns with current educational trends and gives our students a chance to build digital test-taking skills early on. The upcoming grades 3-8 ELA and Mathematics tests offer Island Trees students a valuable opportunity to practice in a low-pressure digital environment. Unlike high-stakes exams like the SAT, PSAT, or AP tests, these assessments focus on learning and skill-building. By participating, our students gain a competitive edge, preparing them for future success in high school, college, and beyond.     Next Week’s Calendar   Monday, March 16 – MMS 7/8 Musical, MMS, 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 16 – HS College Planning for Juniors, ITHS, 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 16 – HS Badminton Begins Tuesday, March 17 – MMS 7/8 Musical, MMS, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 – St. Patrick’s Day☘️ -- Celebrate the day by watching  The Quiet Man ( 1952) with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Wednesday, March 18 – MMS 7/8 Musical, MMS, 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 – Board of Education Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19 – UPK Portal Closes Thursday, March 19 – Elementary Trimester Ends Friday, March 20 – Eid Al-Fitr – Schools Closed   Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844     Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/     Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead   Tuesday, March 24 – Tri-M Honor Society, ITHS, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 25 – Dollars for Scholars Application Deadline Thursday, March 26 – Administrators’ Safety Meeting, 10:00 a.m. Thursday, March 26 – Sparke Book Fair Thursday, March 26 – Sparke Family Reading Night, Sparke, 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 27 – ITHS Junior Prom, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.    

Thursday, Mar 12 2026

Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

  Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:   Island Trees Top 10 Plus (+) Students   To be honored as a member of the Island Trees Top 10 -- representing the highest-grade point averages in the high school -- you need to be an exceptional student.  Today, top students across Nassau County take a demanding schedule filled with Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and Island Trees is no exception. This academic landscape has changed significantly over the years. In my first year at Island Trees, the average Top 10 student completed about five AP courses before graduation. Today, that number has more than doubled -- our Top 10 students are now taking  10 or more AP classes during their high school careers.   At first glance, five additional courses may not seem like much. But these college-level classes come with a considerable workload -- typically requiring an extra hour or more of homework/study time each night compared to a regular class. For juniors and seniors who are taking four or five AP classes in a single year, the demands quickly add up to many extra hours each week just to keep pace.  And it’s not just the Top 10. Even students in the Top 25 today often have more rigorous academic schedules than the valedictorians of 15 years ago.   What’s more, these students are not just defined by academics. Many are active in music, athletics, clubs, and volunteer work. They are hardworking, focused, and driven. They already have big plans for the future -- and they are determined to succeed.   As parents, our role is to support and encourage them. But we must also keep a close eye on their emotional well-being. If the demands become too great, it’s important to help them find balance -- ensuring that their academic, extracurricular, and personal lives remain manageable. Our goal is not only academic success, but healthy, happy, well-rounded students.     🏆 Daniel A. Fuentes Foundation Remembrance Wrestling Match Island Trees Memorial Middle School vs. Wisdom Lane 📅 Thursday, March 12 🕓 4:45 p.m. 📍 MMS APR Gymnasium We invite our entire school community to come out and cheer on our Island Trees wrestlers at this special remembrance match honoring the legacy of Daniel A. Fuentes. Daniel was an Island Trees Varsity wrestler and a proud member of the Class of 2005. He was tragically killed in action in Iraq on April 6, 2007, while serving our country. This match serves as a tribute to his life, service, and enduring impact on the Island Trees community. The event also supports the important work of the Daniel A. Fuentes Foundation , which annually raises thousands of dollars to provide scholarships to Island Trees students in his memory. For more information on the Foundation:   https://www.spcdanielafuentes.com/ Please join us as we honor Daniel’s legacy, support a meaningful cause, and celebrate our student-athletes.   🎓 Support Island Trees Dollars for Scholars! 🎓 Celebrate your child’s big milestone with a personalized graduation or moving-up lawn sign while supporting a great cause! 🌟 ✔️ High-quality 18” x 24” all-weather signs  ✔️ Perfect for  Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle School & High School graduates  ✔️ Only $27 each  ✔️ All proceeds benefit  Island Trees Dollars for Scholars , providing scholarships for our seniors 📅 Order Deadline: March 11, 2026  📦 Pick-up in April       Board Policy Change - Section XIV – Public Conduct on School Property For the health and safety of our students, staff, and visitors, the district has updated this policy to address e-bikes and scooters, which are now capable of exceeding speeds of 30 mph. Students are not permitted to bring or operate these devices on school property at any time. Adults must walk these devices while on school grounds. Please see the changes below. Thank you. 17.  Riding e-bikes, e-scooters, or motorized bicycles, quads, or off-road recreational vehicles is prohibited for school-age children on school or district property at any time, including after-hours, weekends, and recess periods. 1 8.  Parents, adults, and visitors are prohibited from riding motorized bicycles (motor bikes), quads, or off-road recreational vehicles on school property. Parents, adults, and visitors who bring e-bikes or e-scooters onto school property must follow all local laws and walk these devices while on school grounds. These vehicles may not be parked or stored within 25 feet of any school building when the individual is on school business.   Max Dyckman - Merit-Scholarship Finalist! Cinderella – The Musical   We encourage our elementary families to bring their children to the show. The high school performed this production many years ago, and it was wonderful to see so many young students in attendance -- especially all the “Cinderellas” who dressed up to see the performance.     Next Week’s Calendar   Sunday, March 8 – Spring Ahead – change clocks.    Monday, March 9 – PTA Council, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 9 – Spring Athletics Begin Tuesday, March 10 – Elementary PTA, Sparke, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 – HS Sharing Decision-Making, HS, 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 – Board of Education Work Session, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 12 – Stokes Book Fair Thursday, March 12 – Stokes Family Reading Night, Stokes, 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 13 – Grades 5/6 Spring Social, MMS, 2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m. Saturday, March 14 – PI Day – While it is a different “PI”, celebrate with the other “pie”.      Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844     Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/     Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead   Monday, March 16 – MMS 7/8 Musical, MMS, 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 16 – HS College Planning for Juniors, ITHS, 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 16 – HS Badminton Begins Tuesday, March 17 – MMS 7/8 Musical, MMS, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 – MMS 7/8 Musical, MMS, 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 – Board of Education Meeting, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 19 – UPK Portal Closes Thursday, March 19 – Elementary Trimester Ends Friday, March 20 – Eid Al-Fitr – Schools Closed    

Thursday, Mar 05 2026

Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

      Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:   3-8 ELA and Math Assessments Later this spring, students in grades 3–8 will take the New York State English Language Arts and Mathematics assessments. These exams measure how well students have mastered the knowledge, skills, and concepts outlined in the New York State Learning Standards. Parents can use the results to gauge their child’s progress compared to students across the state. While these are only one type of assessment, standardized tests can be a helpful tool to benchmark student growth. We strongly recommend parents use this information as one of several resources when working with their children and their school. As a parent, I have found these results to be very valuable in making informed decisions. With that said, these assessments also give students practice in test-taking skills -- something that will be important throughout their educational journey. While none of us particularly enjoy test-taking, it is a part of life, and developing these skills early is beneficial. It is important to note that the grades 3–8 assessments are not “high-stakes” tests. They are not tied to jobs (Civil Service), college admissions (SAT, ACT, AP), or professional exams (Bar, CPS, or other licensing board tests). Instead, they provide useful information about your child’s learning in elementary and middle school while also preparing test taking skills for the more rigorous assessments they will encounter in the future. “He’s going to UConn … and then the NBA.”   Don’t worry, Dr. Murphy -- he’ll be fine. Years ago, that’s what a board member in a former district once told me after we discussed concerns about her son beginning to struggle academically. She was 100% confident his basketball future would carry him all the way -- college to pro. The reality? A 5’10” guard. Average speed. Solid high school skills. A very good three-point shot. Talent? Yes. NBA trajectory? Very unlikely. Maybe a Division III opportunity -- but even that would take work, discipline, and growth. This is where education matter most. Our role is never to crush dreams -- but we do have a responsibility to wrap those dreams in reality. Here’s how we help students and families see the full picture: Honest feedback about current performance -- academically and athletically Multiple pathways to success, not just one narrow dream Strong academic foundations so doors stay open Long-term planning that outlasts high school highlight reels Dreams should be encouraged -- but they should also be supported by preparation, perspective, and options. And if that late growth spurt comes or skills explode? Today’s transfer portals and opportunities will still be there. Dream big - but plan smarter. Because the real win is opportunity. Cinderella – The Musical   We encourage our elementary families to bring their children to the show. The high school performed this production many years ago, and it was wonderful to see so many young students in attendance -- especially all the “Cinderellas” who dressed up to see the performance.   School Calendar As of today, the make-up days for inclement weather will be Wednesday, April 1, and Friday, May 22. School will be in session on both of these days. While winter may not be fully behind us, and the calendar could change in the event of another major storm or unexpected situation, we are staying optimistic that these will be the only adjustments needed. If any further changes to the calendar become necessary, we will share them with the school community. Thank you for your patience and understanding over the past week as we navigated the storm and these calendar adjustments.     SCOPE Child Care Programs – 2026-27 School Year – Updated Information          Next Week’s Calendar   Monday, March 2 – PTSA Meeting, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 – Dollars for Scholars Fundraiser, 7:00 p.m. – more information to follow Thursday, March 5 – Cinderella, Senior Citizen Performance, ITHS, 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 6 – Cinderella, ITHS, 7:00 p.m. Friday, March 6 – Interim Reports on the Portal  Saturday, March 7 – Cinderella, ITHS, 7:00 p.m. Sunday, March 8 – Spring Forward – Clocks Move Ahead      Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844     Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X:  https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/     Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead   Monday, March 9 – PTA Council, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Monday, March 9 – Spring Athletics Begin Tuesday, March 10 – Elementary PTA, Sparke, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 – HS Sharing Decision-Making, HS, 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 – Board of Education Work Session, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, March 12 – Stokes Book Fair Thursday, March 12 – Stokes Family Reading Night, Stokes, 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 13 – Grades 5/6 Spring Social, MMS, 2:45 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.                

Thursday, Feb 26 2026

Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

  Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:     2026 Nassau BOCES Education Partner Award Recipient – Mrs. Elizabeth Roemer  We are pleased to share that Mrs. Elizabeth (Beth) Roemer, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction , has been selected as a  2026 Nassau BOCES Education Partner Award honoree . This prestigious recognition honors individuals who have made outstanding contributions to public education across Nassau County. Beth was recommended by Vicky Giouroukakis, Ph.D., Director of Graduate and Post-Graduate Education Programs at Molloy College, in recognition of her exemplary leadership, dedication to students, and lasting impact on the field of education. In addition to her work at Island Trees, Beth serves as an adjunct professor at Molloy, further extending her influence and commitment to educator preparation. This award is a fitting tribute to Beth’s   more than 30 years of exceptional service as a teacher and administrator. She is an outstanding educator whose career reflects excellence, integrity, and deep commitment to public education. We are proud to see her work recognized at this level and congratulate her on this well-deserved honor. The Nassau BOCES Education Partner Gala will be held on April 22, 2026.      Homework Environment Homework isn’t always easy for students - or for parents (maybe more important). But sometimes success comes down to keeping things simple. Growing up, my family had set of very simple routines that made a big difference. Homework always had a consistent time (right after dinner) and a consistent place (the kitchen or dining room table). No TV, no distractions -- just a clear expectation that this was homework/study time. The truth is that most kids need some supervision. A closed bedroom door can be too tempting for easily distracted students. When homework is done in a common space, parents can step in to provide support and guidance as well. Of course, every family’s routine will look different, especially with after-school activities in the mix. But children thrive on structure. Setting aside a regular time and place for homework -- and sticking to it -- helps build habits that lead to long-term success. At the end of the day, it comes down to consistency, clear expectations, and parents stepping in as parents.     Passing and Getting a High Score on an AP Exam Begins Now   February recess is the starting line for AP exam preparation.   A few hours each day during the February and April recess periods may determine whether or not your child experiences success in their AP classes.  Last year, we experienced our highest passing rates – our students worked hard and the results spoke for themselves.  In addition to home study, all Island Trees AP teachers hold weekly review sessions for their students – take note for your child.      Please touch base with your AP student and speak to them about their plan for taking their AP assessment.  Preparation is key.   A little progress each day adds up to BIG results.   The drive for “5’s” begins now!   Below are sample resources for your child: Free Review Services Quizlet -  https://quizlet.com/   Khanacademy - https://blog.khanacademy.org/khan-academy-is-the-official-practice-partner-for/ College Board - https://apstudents.collegeboard.org/    Free/Paid Service   Fiveable -  https://fiveable.me/   (excellent review videos and practice questions)   Paid Review Services   https://www.ultimatereviewpacket.com/    How to Get a 5 on an AP Exam https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IlG_NoNwaak   Sports Gambling - Newsday (attached) Discovery Camps District Electrician Job Opening   Island Trees is seeking to hire an  Electrician for a Maintainer position. The salary range for this position is $58,190 – $78,186 and includes public employee benefits, such as NYS ERS pension, health insurance, and other contractual benefits.   Individuals interested in transitioning to a public-sector position should submit their contact information and résumé to Ken McLean, Director of Facilities, at kmclean@islandtrees.org.   Thank you.       Next Week’s Calendar   Monday, February 16 – Presidents’ Day – School Closed Monday, February 16 – February 20 – School Closed for February Recess  Tuesday, February 17 – Lunar New Year      Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844    Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/       Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead Wednesday, February 25 – Battle of Classes, ITHS, 2:10 p.m. - Parents invited to attend.  Wednesday, February 25 – Board of Education, Karopczyc, 7:30 p.m. Thursday, February 26 – SEPTA Meeting, MMS, 7:00 p.m.                     

Thursday, Feb 12 2026

Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

    Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:   Vapes  Years ago, schools across the country made tremendous progress in eliminating smoking from campuses through education, intervention, and expectations.  A team effort between parents and schools.   Unfortunately, the introduction of vaping reversed much of that progress. Vape devices produce vapor rather than smoke, making them far more difficult to detect, and the nicotine content in many products is extremely high -- creating addiction issues for students. This is not limited to any one group of students. We are seeing vaping across the board: academically strong students, athletes, and students who would not have fit the profile of “smokers” in years past. Many parents are shocked when they learn their child is involved because everything appears normal -- there is no lingering odor on clothing, and behavior at home may not raise red flags. Students often vape quickly in bathroom stalls. Even when staff enter the restrooms, it is neither appropriate nor realistic to monitor inside stalls. Students can exhale into their sleeves or clothing, leaving little to no visible trail. Some have become quite adept at masking use, which makes detection especially challenging -- though we do catch students and address these students with consequences and intervention strategies. Recently, an Island Trees parent shared with me several examples of how vape devices have evolved. What once resembled a cigarette or pipe now often looks like everyday items -- pens, USB drives, or small cosmetic tools -- allowing them to hide in plain sight. I strongly encourage parents to familiarize themselves with these devices so you know what to look for at home. Quite frankly, the degree to which these products are designed to be concealed raises serious concerns. An adult has little reason to need a device that disguises itself so effectively, yet these products are readily accessible to young people. We will continue to address vaping through education, supervision, and appropriate consequences, but school-based intervention alone cannot solve this issue. Your partnership is critical. Awareness of evolving devices and clear expectations can make a difference.   Other Vape Images – Shared by an Island Trees Parent   Vape highlighter  Nicotine Vapes  Marijuana Vapes  Less popular, older vapes  The Importance of Reading In this era of high-stakes testing, one truth remains the same: reading is the key to success. Simply put, the more children read, the more successful they will be in school and on assessments. The foundation for reading success is built through a strong partnership between school and home. Children learn by following the examples set by their teachers and parents. When they see us valuing and enjoying books, they are more likely to make reading an important part of their own lives. To make this happen, parents and teachers should model these practices and set the tone by reading with children. Reading experts strongly recommend that we continue reading to children even after they can read independently. In addition, children should be encouraged to read at least 15 minutes a day (or more) on their own. While state and national assessments can be demanding, the solution is often found in something simple: books.   Interesting Quote of the Day      Pico v. Island Trees – It Started 50 Years Ago This Month (February 1976)   When I tell people I work in Island Trees, I often get the same reaction:    “Oh… you work in the district that bans books.”🤔    It’s a strange feeling to be linked to a moment in history that happened when I was in 4th grade, and when a couple of our current Board of Education members weren’t even born. But that’s the reality of working in a place with real history -- and a Supreme Court case with our district’s name on it.   This month marks the 50th anniversary of the Island Trees Board of Education’s decision to remove several books from the school library, an action that ultimately led to the landmark case Pico v. Island Trees (1982). The challenge was brought by a group of students led by high schooler Stephen Pico, who believed their access to information had been restricted.   Most people couldn’t find Island Trees on a map -- mostly because you won’t find us labeled on one. We’re a district stitched together from parts of Levittown, Bethpage, and Seaford. Yet somehow, people across the country still know the name because of this case.   The Supreme Court’s ruling -- split as it was-- highlighted an important principle:     📓School boards cannot remove books simply because they disagree with the ideas they contain. In essence, the decision made clear that book removal cannot be driven solely by disagreement with a book’s viewpoints.   Today, Pico remains a defining case about intellectual freedom in schools and students’ access to diverse ideas.    For us in Island Trees, it’s a reminder that our small district has played a big role in shaping how schools across the country think about books, ideas, and the freedom to read.              Girls Bowling Team - County Champions! High School Musical - Advertise to Support the Show District Electrician Job Opening Island Trees is seeking to hire an  Electrician for a Maintainer position. The salary range for this position is $58,190 – $78,186 and includes public employee benefits, such as NYS ERS pension, health insurance, and other contractual benefits. Individuals interested in transitioning to a public-sector position should submit their contact information and résumé to Ken McLean, Director of Facilities, at kmclean@islandtrees.org. Thank you. Next Week’s Calendar Monday, February 9 – UPK Lottery Portal Opens Monday, February 9 – National Pizza Day🍕  Tuesday, February 10 – MMS 5/6 Talent Show, 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 – MMS 7/8 Talent Show, 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 – ITHS Shared Decision-Making Team, ITHS, 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 – Board of Education Work Session, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 12 – High School Talent Show, ITHA, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, February 12 – Sparke Family Math Night, Sparke, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day      Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844     Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/     Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead Monday, February 16 – Presidents’ Day – School Closed Monday, February 16 – February 20 – School Closed for February Recess     

Thursday, Feb 05 2026

Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

  Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:     Online Gambling Concerns for Teens   Online gambling has become a growing concern among young men; due to the way these applications are designed to condition and entice users. Drawing from principles in psychology and neuroscience, many online gambling apps use gamification features - such as leveling systems, badges, and leaderboards - that mimic video games and appeal to young people.  In fact, many of these programs are engineered to provide instant gratification through rapid betting cycles, fast results, and quick opportunities to re-bet, which reduces self-control and encourages compulsive behavior.  As a result, online gambling is increasingly seen as a serious mental health and addiction issue for today’s youth.  See articles from  USA Today and Newsday below.   Rachel Hale USA TODAY Inside the high-stakes, high-risk world of sports betting and how it's gripping young men It was Game 5 in the Western Conference 2018 finals, and the Houston Rockets were looking to take the lead in a tied series with the Golden State Warriors . With just over a minute left in the game, Rockets guard Eric Gordon hit a clutch shot.  Rockets win, 98-94. When Gordon scored, the room erupted in Saul Malek's suburban Houston home. The win was exhilarating for the then 20-year-old, a lifelong Rockets fan, but it was also terrifying. He joined his twin brother and dad, leaping up from the couch and cheering. Unbeknownst to them, he was panicking. He had bet $1,500 on the  Warriors to win, and he now owed money he didn’t have to his bookie. It would be the first of many times he went into debt due to a sports gambling addiction that ruled his life for two years. At his lowest point, he recalls being down $25,000.“My life was centered around gambling. If I wasn't placing a bet, I was thinking of the next one,” Malek, now 27, says.  Following sports betting's legalization in 2018, 67% of all college students are betting on games, according to a 2023 study from the  NCAA . Gambling experts believe that number is likely even higher now, thanks to the prevalence of apps and a growing market that has captivated more young people. It’s a craze that has swept college campuses, and for some young people, it leads to complex, debilitating addictions. The problem, addiction experts say, is widely misunderstood. F or young men, sports and gambling are everywhere For  Malek , betting was always about invoking the same feeling he got taking part in his middle school fantasy baseball league. Even as a sixth grader, the rush of proving his superior sports instincts – he drafted Matt Wieters to lead his 2009 fantasy league – was exhilarating.  After he started losing money, he would block the bookie’s number and move on to a new online sports book. Rock bottom came at 1 a.m. in the winter of 2019 during a school night at Trinity University. He waited for his girlfriend to fall asleep and drove two hours to the Lucky Eagle Casino near the border with Mexico, where he intended to make back the money.  It only took 15 minutes for him to blow through the $400 in his pocket. On the ride home, he tried to convince himself he didn’t have a problem.  Before sports betting was legalized, Heather Eshleman, the prevention manager at the Maryland Center of Excellence on Problem Gambling, got roughly three requests a year from educators requesting presentations on sports betting addiction. Now, she gets three per month from high school teachers and college professors.  In the past three years, the toll-free number her organization runs has seen a spike in calls from 18- to 20-year-olds, and calls from 21- to 25-year-olds have tripled. Teenagers’ executive functioning, abstract thinking and decision-making skills continue to  develop through age 25. There’s a large deficit in young adults’ ability to deal with the highs and lows of gambling, according to Dr. Timothy Fong, the codirector of the UCLA Gambling Studies Program. “A (teenager's) brain doesn't have impulse control. It doesn't have the ability to recover from losses quickly,” Fong says. “It knows, I want money, I want excitement, I want things that my friends have. I want to prove that I'm super cool to my friends.” Teens and young adults who gamble also often inaccurately conflate success in gambling with skill, according to Fong. Philadelphia sports fan Rob Minnick, now 26 and in recovery, says it felt like a “no brainer” to make money betting on the games he was watching anyway with friends during high school. He was earning $8.38 an hour scooping ice cream, and the ability to win $100 on a parlay was “mind blowing.” “I had an understanding of the odds of the games, yet I felt very confident that I would be the exception to the rule,” says Minnick, who goes by Rob One Day At A Time (ODAAT) on his  YouTube channel , where he posts about his gambling recovery to 21,500 subscribers. Jose Mendoza of Kansas City, Missouri, turned to sports betting at 23 to cope with his father’s death, a habit he hid from his family. On nights when his mother couldn’t sleep from the weight of her grief, he would lay in bed to comfort her while she cried. She never knew that he was often placing parlays on his phone while she drifted off.“Of course I told my friends what I was winning, but they’re like, ‘Well how much did you put down, how much did you lose?’” Mendoza, who is now 28, says. “That’s always the kicker.” 'Everybody has a betting workbook in their hand at all times, 24/7' The 2018 Supreme Court ruling turned regulation of betting over to the states when it overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), which prevented most states from authorizing betting. Today, sports betting is  legal in 39 states and the District of Columbia. Then came the gambling platforms' pivot to sports betting – DraftKings, Fanatics, BetMGM and dozens like them, each with incentives for new customers. In the place of brick and mortar casinos and physical sportsbooks, anyone with a cell phone could bet, any time. Thirty three  states and the District of Columbia allow sports betting on mobile apps and websites. While in-person sports betting decreased in 2024, mobile sports betting increased by around 50% and generated around $10.4 billion in revenue, according to the  American Gaming Association . “For years, I would see patients who struggle with physically going to the casino, driving 90 minutes or an hour to go,” says Fong. “A lot of these folks I see now, they've never set foot inside a casino. The only casino they've known is on their phone.” Jordan, who started betting at 15 and asked that we withhold his last name because of the sensitive nature of his experience, says he thought sports betting was a habit he would grow out of. But when he went to a Division 1 college and joined Greek life, that addiction snowballed. Partying, alcohol and sports betting went hand-in-hand. He could bet on everything: the over/unders, props, who would hit the first home run. “It's unavoidable to hear other people talk about it,” Jordan, now 25 years old, says. “Everybody has a betting workbook in their hand at all times, 24/7," added his dad, Austin. Minnick says it's so ubiquitous with the male college experience that it’s the new binge drinking. Even if some young adults aren't talking about betting, they're bound to hear about it while watching major games thanks to ads and betting odds being  mentioned by announcers. “It has become so normalized that if you were experiencing a gambling problem and you are a young man, you essentially cannot watch sports,” says former gambling addict Sam DeMello, now 38. “I think that that is the biggest fear that keeps a lot of men from doing something about it.” Sports betting addiction faces stigma. Why? Chemically, a gambling addiction functions the same way as a substance addiction, but a lot of people incorrectly see it as a moral failing or lack of self control, according to Cait Huble, of the National Council on Problem Gambling.  That misconception was the hardest thing for Jordan’s dad, Austin, to understand. He and Jordan’s mother periodically bailed their son out of debt in high school. The conversation often went as follows: “Stop it. This is the last time. I don't want to talk about it anymore.” When the problem spiraled in college, they realized the issue ran deeper – and that they had enabled their son's addiction without realizing it by bailing him out of debt. “The perception is it’s 70-year-old guys who are horse betting, sitting in a (Gamblers Anonymous) meeting,” Austin says. “Sports betting, especially, has transcended this profile.” DeMello says advocates in the space need to work on meeting boys where they’re at. He founded Evive, a digital therapy app specific to gambling, to fill a gap in age and technology. Based out of Oregon, health authorities in Oregon, Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Virginia and Nevada have partnered with the app. “Every person addicted to gambling says, ‘If I hit the jackpot today, I make back all of the money that I lost over the last decade, and none of the harm is here,’” says DeMello. “To get somebody into abstinence, you have to kill that fantasy.” Malek says the lies he told his parents hurt them "more than any amount of money could." He started going to Gamblers Anonymous meetings in 2018, but it wasn't until July 2019 that he stopped gambling. Looking back, he wishes he had been more receptive to listening to recovered addicts. Malek says it's a "steady process of changing" that can't be done solely on willpower. "I was so dead set on thinking that I could just figure things out, that I was smarter than any sort of addiction or I could beat gambling," Malek says. "Thinking that I don't have all the answers has been more helpful than having the answers." For anyone looking to curb their sports betting, Eshleman recommends starting with methods of self-exclusion, such as placing time and deposit limits on sports betting apps. Self-exclusion widgets like Gamban, BetBlocker and GamBlock can block access to accounts for a set period. Minnick says young men can responsibly gamble, but should be conscious about their motivations. On his platform, he recommends that gamblers make sure they aren't just gambling out of habit. "If you don't have a reason anymore, that's an alarm bell," Minnick says. "There were plenty of times over the course of the six years I was gambling when had I stopped and honestly asked myself, 'why did you just do that?' I would have reached the conclusion a lot sooner that I had a problem." Young adults struggling with responsible gambling can text or call National Problem Gambling Helpline 24 hours a day at 800-GAMBLER or find a  Gamblers Anonymous meeting. Rachel Hale’s role covering Youth Mental Health at USA TODAY is supported by a partnership with Pivotal Ventures and Journalism Funding Partners. Funders do not provide editorial input. Reach her at  rhale@usatoday.com  and  @rachelleighhale  on X.     Plainview-Island Trees Hawks Club Hockey – Playoff Game     $5 ​entrance fee.  Plainview-Island Trees won their league, Conference Champions, and looking for student and community support as they head into the playoffs.   For more information about the local high school hockey organization, please visit this website link below:   https://www.islandershighschoolhockey.net/ Again, for students interested in high school club hockey, Sunday's playoff game provides insight to this fast-paced game.   IT-Levit Softball and Baseball Registration        Graduation/Moving Up Signs     Private School Transportation Request, Grades K-12, Due April 1st    Parents must submit private school transportation requests no later than April 1st. This deadline is particularly important for families of current 8th-grade students who may be considering a private high school placement for the 2026–2027 school year. We strongly recommend submitting a request even if you are only slightly considering a private school option at this time. Requests submitted after the April 1st deadline have historically been denied.     Next Week’s Calendar   Monday, February 2 – Groundhog Day – More Winter or Snow? Monday, February 2 – K-4 Parent Conferences (By Invitation), Early Dismissal, 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, February 4 – Senior Fashion Show Rehearsal, ITHS, 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, February 4- Elementary PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.  Thursday, February 5 – MMS Shared Decision-Making Team, MMS, 2:45 p.m. Thursday, February 5 – Senior Fashion Show, IHTS, 6:00 p.m. Friday, February 6 – MMS/HS Report Card Released on the Portal  Friday, February 6 – National Bubble Gum Day. What do your children like?  Bazooka, Dubble Bubble, Bubblicious, Bubble Yum….. Saturday, February 7 – Dollars for Scholars District Mailing, ITHS Cafeteria, 9:00 a.m. - noon     Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844     Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/     Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead   Monday, February 9 – UPK Lottery Portal Opens Tuesday, February 10 – MMS 5/6 Talent Show, 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 – MMS 7/8 Talent Show, 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 – ITHS Shared Decision-Making Team, ITHS, 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, February 11 – Board of Education Work Session, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 12 – High School Talent Show, ITHA, 2:30 p.m. Thursday, February 12 – Sparke Family Math Night, Sparke, 6:30 p.m. Saturday, February 14 – Valentine’s Day                

Thursday, Jan 29 2026

Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

  Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:   In the event of a school closing, a Parent Square message will be shared with staff and parents.   College Isn’t For Everyone   A few decades ago, schools began pushing “college for all,” insisting that no one could succeed in a technology-driven world without a degree. But the truth is simple: some students thrive -- and earn more -- in careers that don’t require college. I tell this to administrators and parents all the time. Today’s occupational education skills are in high demand. In fact, many of these careers offer higher earning potential than traditional college paths….. For example, Ford Motor Company recently announced thousands of unfilled mechanic positions at $120,000 salaries.  I know a young man who chose an occupational education track -- even though he was academically gifted. He followed his passion for hands-on work. Let’s just say: He may have skipped the textbooks, but his hands are now literally full of cash. And he’s happier than ever. It might not be the path parents picture, but for many students, it leads to fulfilling, secure, and high-paying careers. Passion matters. Purpose matters. And success has many lanes.   Newsday Article on Fan Behavior – Thursday, January 15th – Worth a Read    Parent's Night Out - Council of PTAs Event  pdf attached   Hempstead Turnpike Summer Repaving Project – Letter from New York State Department of Transportation (attached letter and a map – pdf)         Winterfest 2026 – Mark Your Calendars  (reminder)   IT-Levit Softball and Baseball Registration  (reminder)     Updated Flyer    Graduation/Moving Up Signs (reminder)     Private School Transportation Request, Grades K-12, Due April 1st (reminder)   Parents must submit private school transportation requests no later than April 1st. This deadline is particularly important for families of current 8th-grade students who may be considering a private high school placement for the 2026–2027 school year. We strongly recommend submitting a request even if you are only slightly considering a private school option at this time. Requests submitted after the April 1st deadline have historically been denied.     Daniel Fuentes Foundation - Orders Extended to Saturday, January 24, 2026 Next Week’s Calendar   Monday, January 26, Sparke Math Mania Begins – Friday, February 13, End Date  Monday, January 26 – National Green Juice Day – skip celebrating this day. ☹ See tomorrow’s…. Tuesday, January 27 – CPSE to CSE Transition Workshop for Parents, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 27 – National Chocolate Cake Day   – It was worth waiting a day. 😊 Thursday, January 29 – Stokes Family Game Night, Stokes, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 29 – MMS 8th Grade Broadway Trip, The Outsiders, estimated return from NYC, 6:30 p.m.     Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844     Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/     Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead   Monday, February 2 – Groundhog Day – More Winter or Spring Coming Soon? Monday, February 2 – K-4 Parent Conferences (By Invitation), Early Dismissal, 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, February 4 – Senior Fashion Show Rehearsal, ITHS, 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, February 4- Elementary PTA Meeting, 7:00 p.m.  Thursday, February 5 – MMS Shared Decision-Making Team, MMS, 2:45 p.m. Thursday, February 5 – Senior Fashion Show, IHTS, 6:00 p.m. Friday, February 6 – MMS/HS Report Card Released on the Portal  Saturday, February 7 – Dollars for Scholars District Mailing, ITHS Cafeteria, 9:00 a.m. - noon               

Thursday, Jan 22 2026

Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

  Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:   On-Line and Social Media Bullies At school, our cell phone restrictions have been working very well. Kudos to the students as they are more focused, more social, and more engaged in learning. Unfortunately, what isn’t working as well is what happens after school and on weekends -- the off-campus use of smartphones and social media. We continue to receive calls from parents and complaints from students about classmates taunting, teasing, or torturing one another online. Some of these posts or messages are connected to school, but many are simply kids being unkind to each other. It’s really troubling to see how hurtful some of this behavior has become. Even more concerning is how technology is evolving. We are now seeing situations where AI-generated voices or images are being used to disguise who is actually behind the bullying. In some cases, innocent students are being falsely accused and framed with AI voices and images.   In fact, we recently had a Levittown School District student doing this to an Island Trees middle schooler.  It’s incredibly deceptive, devious, and damaging.     Despite our assemblies, discussions, and reminders, some students continue to use technology irresponsibly -- and it’s the victims who suffer most. When the students responsible are finally identified, we often hear the same story:  “I was just joking….I was only kidding”.   It’s not funny.   Sometimes, we even parents echo these same sentiments, defending their child because they were just “kidding around.” But that’s part of the problem.  These “jokes” truly hurt other children.  Again, it’s not funny.  For the many parents who are reinforcing the right lessons at home -- thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!  Please continue to talk to your children about the responsible use of technology. The digital world is becoming more complex every day, and we need to work together to guide your children through it.   Thank you for your continued support in helping our students make good choices, both in and out of school.       Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day – January 19, 2026 – Schools Closed       Levit-IT Baseball and Softball Registration  Dollars for Scholars - Graduation/Moving-Up Lawn Signs Winterfest 2026 – Mark Your Calendars   PTA Information – Founder’s Day Dinner (reminder)     We Transportation – Bus Drivers Wanted (reminder)   This is a great opportunity for a retiree looking for part-time work. Please share with friends, relatives, and neighbors.     We Transportation is still looking for regular and substitute school bus drivers.   Please share this number,  516-349-8200 ext 1179 , if you know someone interested in driving a bus -- WE Transport provides free training.      Thank you.      SEPTA Paint Night! Thursday, March 5, 2026.
Doors Open at 6:15 PM,
6:30 - 8:30 PM
Pinot's Palette East Meadow
 2557 Hempstead Turnpike, East Meadow $40.00 per person Adults only event.  Contact Lori Wood for details at 516-702-7065. Flu Season Notice from New York State Department of Health (reminder)     Private School Transportation Request, Grades K-12, Due April 1st    Parents must submit private school transportation requests no later than April 1st. This deadline is particularly important for families of current 8th-grade students who may be considering a private high school placement for the 2026–2027 school year. We strongly recommend submitting a request even if you are only slightly considering a private school option at this time. Requests submitted after the April 1st deadline have historically been denied. The required form is attached. Thank you for your attention to this important deadline.     Next Week’s Calendar   Monday, January 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Schools Closed Tuesday, January 20 – MMS Winter II Sports Begins Tuesday, January 20 – Friday, January 23 – ITHS Midterms/Regents Exams  Wednesday, January 21 – Board of Education Meeting, Karopczyc, 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 23 - 7th & 8th Grade -  Fun Friday Night Event, MMS,  6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Friday, January 23 – ITHS/MMS Second Marking Period Ends Friday, January 23  - 🥧 National Pie Day - My favorite was Entenmann's pumpkin pie, but they no longer make them. 😢 Stop by the local bakery or even the supermarket to get a pie for the family on this day of celebration😋....and don't forget the whipped cream! 😄🥧 Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844     Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/     Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead   Monday, January 26, Sparke Math Mania Begins – Friday, February 13, End Date  Tuesday, January 27 – CPSE to CSE Transition Workshop for Parents, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 29 – Stokes Family Game Night, Stokes, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, January 29 – MMS 8th Grade Broadway Trip, The Outsiders, estimated return from NYC, 6:30 p.m.                 

Thursday, Jan 15 2026

Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

 Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:   Friday, January 9th is National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day!  👮‍♂️👮‍♀️ We’re grateful for the dedicated Nassau County police officers who keep our schools safe every single day. Equally important are our amazing school security aides, many of whom are retired law enforcement, who go above and beyond to protect and support our students. Take a moment today to thank an officer or school security guard for their commitment to keeping our kids safe and our communities strong! 💙     Middle School Team     Roving, Stokes, Sparke, and Tuck    High School Team    UPK Karopczyc, and Gallow Security Team   Tom McCormick, Security Supervisor       Girls Drawing Scientists  What happens when you ask a classroom of young girls to “draw a scientist”? Not long ago, the results were almost universal: they drew a man. Girls drew women just 1% of the time. Today, when that same prompt is given, more than half draw women in scientific roles. The belief that “people who look like me do this” has finally took root. And yet… this is only the first step. That’s why programs like the Beautiful Me -- Hance Family Foundation initiative matter so much. Beautiful Me builds the self-esteem and internal confidence young girls need to not only see themselves in these roles -- but to actually pursue   them. At Island Trees, our staff and school community have embraced this program because it strengthens the foundation for every future path our girls may choose. But the work is far from done. Women now attend and graduate from college at far higher rates than men, yet they remain underrepresented in engineering, computer science, science, and high-level leadership roles. How do we bridge the gap between potential and opportunity? Programs like  Beautiful Me — along with Girls Who Code, SWENext, the National Girls Collaborative Project, and TechBridge Girls -- are helping all girls get there. The next generation is ready. Our job as educators and parents is to continue to show them the way.     Quote of the Day…     Thespian Fundraiser- Today, Thursday, January 8th PTA Founder's Day Nominations and Information  Daniel Fuentes Foundation Winter Apparel   Next Week’s Calendar   Monday, January 12 – Dollars for Scholars Meeting, ITHS, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 13 – High School World Language Honor Society Inductions, ITHS, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 14 – Board of Education Work Session, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 15 – High School Orientation for Current 8th Graders, ITHS, 6:00 p.m.     Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844     Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/     Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead Monday, January 19 – Martin Luther King Jr. Day – Schools Closed Tuesday, January 20 – MMS Winter II Sports Begins Wednesday, January 21 – Board of Education Meeting, Karopczyc, 7:30 p.m. Friday, January 23 - 7th & 8th Grade -  Fun Friday Night Event, MMS,  6:30 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Friday, January 23 – ITHS/MMS Second Marking Period Ends                       

Thursday, Jan 08 2026

Messages and Calendar of Events & Activities - Week ...

      Dear Island Trees School Community,   Please see the messages, as well as the calendar of events & activities below:       Big Paychecks Can’t Woo Enough Sailors for America’s Commercial Fleet   I recently read a Wall Street Journal article from November 29, 2025, called  “Big Paychecks Can’t Woo Enough Sailors for America’s Commercial Fleet.” It shared something interesting about career options that many families may not know much about.    While the average new college graduate earns about $68,000 a year, young people entering the commercial maritime field can start out making close to $200,000.    The article also noted that, even with these high salaries, there still aren’t enough people choosing this path. That surprised me -- and it’s a good reminder of how many great careers exist outside the typical office setting.    We are lucky to have schools like the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and SUNY Maritime right here in our area. SUNY Maritime, for example, accepts about 79% of applicants, which makes it a realistic option for many high school students. Graduates from these programs have strong job prospects and opportunities for exciting, meaningful work.    Of course, life at sea isn’t for everyone. It can be tough and requires a certain type of person. But for students who want something different -- more adventure, more hands-on work, or a career outside a cubicle -- this may be an option worth looking into. And the financial benefits, especially for young adults just starting out, are hard to ignore.    As always, our goal is to help students explore many different paths after high school so they can find what best fits their interests and goals. If you’d like to learn more about maritime programs or other career options, please contact our guidance department.            Highly potent cannabis products tied to risk of psychosis, schizophrenia, and addiction, study finds   By  Gabriela Galvin Published on 26/08/2025 - 7:00 GMT+2 Cannabis products today tend to be much stronger than the plant itself, raising concerns among researchers and policymakers about their health effects. Highly potent cannabis products could raise the risk of psychosis, schizophrenia, and addiction, a large new analysis has found. While cannabis is largely illegal in the European Union, an estimated 4.3 million people use it daily or nearly every day, whether they are smoking marijuana, eating edibles such as gummies, or vaping concentrates like hash oil. The common ingredient is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis that makes people feel “high”. But cannabis products tend to be much stronger than the plant itself. In 2023, the average THC concentration of cannabis resin was 23 per cent, compared with 11 per cent for herbal cannabis, according to the  European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA). Scientists and policymakers have long been concerned about the potential health effects of such strong drugs, prompting the US research team to assess the mental health risks tied to products with a THC concentration above 5 milligrams or 10 per cent per serving. Some of these products had labels such as “high-potency concentrate,” “shatter,” or “dab”. The researchers included data from 99 studies published between 1977 and 2023, which together spanned more than 220,000 people. The use of high-concentration THC was tied to psychosis  and schizophrenia , especially within 12 hours of use, which the researchers said was “concerning”. High-concentration THC was also tied to cannabis use disorder, according to the review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine journal. “There's a real warning” in the findings, said Dr Jonathan Samet, one of the study’s authors and a professor of epidemiology and environmental and occupational health at the Colorado School of Public Health. “We really need to be carefully watching what the consequences of these products are,” Samet told Euronews Health. The findings were mixed for more common mental health issues. Some studies suggested that high-concentration THC had benefits for anxiety and depression, while others identified  negative effects . But the benefits were largely seen among people with other health issues, such as cancer or neurologic disorders. People who use cannabis frequently and over a longer period of time are more likely to experience health problems, according to the EUDA. Cannabis use can cause or worsen respiratory issues, dependence, and psychotic symptoms, the agency said. The researchers said the latest findings are in line with prior studies indicating high-concentration THC raises the risk of mental health problems, but that the evidence is not conclusive enough to give clear guidance to patients. Even so, Samet said the findings could be used to shape regulations on THC and cannabis products, particularly in the United States where they are more widely and legally available. “There's not a simple solution” when it comes to potency, he said, because people can simply take more of the drug to achieve the dose they want regardless of legal limits. Doctors and consumers should also be made aware of the risks, particularly for people with underlying mental health concerns, Samet added. “People who say, ‘Well, I’m using THC, what about it?’ … need to know that there are risks,” he said.     Baseball Clinics   (reminder)       Softball Clinics  (reminder)     Next Week’s Calendar   Monday, January 5 – PTA Council Meeting, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 7 – ITHS Shared Decision-Making Team, ITHS, 2:15 p.m. Wednesday, January 7 – Elementary PTA, Sparke, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 8 – MMS Shared Decision-Making Team, MMS, 2:45 p.m. Friday, January 9 – Grades 7/8 Winter Wonderland Dance, MMS, 6:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Saturday, January 10 – Ted Petersen Wresting Tournament, MMS     Athletics Game Schedule Link https://www.islandtrees.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=415372&type=d&termREC_ID=&pREC_ID=767844     Island Trees Home Page – Parent Square Link and Pop-Up https://islandtrees.org/     Island Trees Social Media Sites   Twitter/X - Sparke School @SparkeShines https://twitter.com/SparkeShines   Twitter/X - Stokes School @WeRStokes   Twitter/X - MMS https://twitter.com/IslandtreesMMS   Twitter/X – Special Education IT_SpecialEd   Island Trees High School Twitter/X:  https://twitter.com/islandtreeshs Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/IslandtreesHS/   Instagram – Athletics islandtreesathletics   Island Trees Curriculum and Instruction Instagram: islandtreeslearns https://www.instagram.com/islandtreeslearns/     Two-Week Calendar Look Ahead Monday, January 12 – Dollars for Scholars Meeting, ITHS, 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 13 – High School World Language Honor Society Inductions, ITHS, 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, January 14 – Board of Education Work Session, Karopczyc, 7:00 p.m. Thursday, January 15 – High School Orientation for Current 8th Graders, ITHS, 6:00 p.m.                            

Friday, Jan 02 2026