NYSMSA 2018 Long Island Institute

Once again educators from across Long Island came together to celebrate middle-level best practice.  We had 20 presentations across disciplines and it was another successful day.

NYSMSA Long Island Institute 2017

This year we honored the work of Dr. Walt Schartner, retiring Superintendent of Sayville Schools and a pioneer in the middle-level movement on Long Island.  Dr. Schartner has the honor of being the first school on Long Island designated as an Essential Elements School to Watch in 2006.  This years conference provided nearly 100 educators from across New York the opportunity to see Long Island's middle-level best practice in action with over 20 presentations.

Islip Middle School Tackles DNA Project in Collaboration with Cold Spring Harbor and BNL Lab

After taking a week-long course through Cold Spring Harbor over the summer, Mrs. Julia Johnson, EXCEL Coordinator at Islip Middle School, led her 7th & 8th grade students through an exploration of DNA Barcoding.  7th and 8th grade EXCEL Students are fortunate to have the help of Scientist/Naturalist Brett Curlew.  Students pulled DNA samples from Pardees Pond, located on IMS Campus, and have written full proposals for their work.

There are two groups of students (self-entitled "Pond Squad" and "Molecular Masters") and they are organizing their research using the EXCEL Wiki website. (http://juliacjohnson.pbworks.com/w/page/108766153/DNA%20Barcoding)  They are in the process of cataloging all of their specimens and identifying samples using dichotomous keys.  The process of extracting DNA will take a few months.

The students work will culminate in a presentation of their findings at the Open Space Stewardship Program Symposium at BNL later in the school year.  Stay tuned our final work!

Memorial Junior High School Hosts Character Education Forum

Memorial JHS in Valley Stream NY hosted a forum on character education that focused on how to evaluate the character education program in your school using the 11 Principles of Character framework which can be found on the character.org website.   The 11 Principles of Character serves as an excellent program reflection guide.  Also discussed was how to apply for a character education recognition award after the reflection process is completed.  At the conclusion of the forum school representatives shared some strategies on ways to infuse character education into your school and how they apply to each principle.  

Teaching for Tomorrow Conference

On Friday, May 27th the New York State Middle School Association hosted our 4th Annual Teaching for Tomorrow Middle Level Conference in collaboration with St. Joseph's College.  Over 100 educators from across Long Island attended to make the day a great success.  We had over 20 practitioner workshops celebrating middle-level best practice.  Dr. Ernest Morrell, Columbia University Professor in collaboration with Pearson Publishing was our keynote speaker. Dr. Morrell was introduced by Dr. Don Gately, SAANYS 2016 Middle School Principal of the Year who opened the morning with a powerful speech.  We are grateful to the member of the planning committee to include, Dr. Shawn Robertson, Dr. LaQuita Outlaw, Mr. Tom Murray, Dr. Don Gately, Mr. Stephen Kimmel, and Dr. Allison Glickman-Rogers.

Roslyn Middle School Demonstrates Social Equity

On February 12^th the Roslyn Middle School participated in No One Eats Alone Day, a Beyond Differences initiative.  We mixed things up in the cafeteria, sitting somewhere new, learning about others, and taking pride in our school.  No One Eats Alone Day is a national movement to end social isolation.  The best part - the students are in charge.  We recently visited all of our classrooms to introduce No One Eats Alone Day and enlist the help of our students. We were overwhelmed with the positive response. Over 70 students volunteered to help make this day a success.   At our initial planning meetings students created posters, wrote announcements, made decorations, and picked an activity to learn about others on the day of the event. 

We are so proud of all the work our students, faculty and community.  We know all students enjoyed and appreciated the company of the staff. 

You can learn more about No One Eats Alone Day on the Beyond Differences website, http://www.nooneeatsalone.org/welcome/. 

National Service Award for Roslyn Middle School Student

Cole Faller and Principal Craig Johanson

Roslyn Middle School seventh-grader Cole Faller was selected as New York's top Middle Level Youth Volunteer in the 2016 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.

Cole helped start an annual community-wide flag football event called "Go Long For Luke," that has raised nearly $50,000 over the past three years to support young people with autism. When Cole was in fourth grade, he participated as a mentor in an after-school program for kids with special needs, and became good friends with an autistic boy named Luke. "Luke has autism," Cole said at the time. "It's okay, autism is just a different way of thinking."

Cole teamed up with his twin brother, Jesse, Luke's twin sister, Sophie, and their parents to organize the event. The first year around 100 kids participated, raising several thousand dollars. The event grew the next year, and the New York Jets honored Jesse and Cole. The third annual "Go Long For Luke" took place in September and 147 kids participated. Hundreds of spectators showed up, and a DJ, photo booth, and carnival games provided additional entertainment. In total, the event raised over $25,000. Much of the money will be used to help establish group homes for young adults with autism who have aged out of the school system.

As a State Honoree, Cole will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, DC, where he will join the top two honorees from each of the other states and the District of Columbia for four days of national recognition events. During the trip, 10 students will be named America's top youth volunteers of 2016.

Cole also qualified for the President's Volunteer Service Award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country.  He will be receiving a President's Volunteer Service Award certificate and a letter from President Barack Obama.