ITUFSD

ITUFSD

Monday, December 15, 2014

December 2014 Words of the Week

Since 2012, the Island Trees Memorial Middle School has been highlighting words every week that belong to an academic vocabulary list. These words are used repeatedly across subjects and are reinforced daily. Teachers use these academic vocabulary words in their lessons and activities in order to promote a better understanding.

The words of the week for December 2014 are as follows:

Arbitrary (adj): not based on reason or evidence.

Descend (v): to pass from a higher place or level to a lower one.


Ascend (v): to go up; to slope or lean upward.

November 2014 - Words of the Week

Since 2012, the Island Trees Memorial Middle School has been highlighting words every week that belong to an academic vocabulary list. These words are used repeatedly across subjects and are reinforced daily. Teachers use these academic vocabulary words in their lessons and activities in order to promote a better understanding.

The words of the week for November 2014 are as follows:

Collaborate (v): to work with another person or group, in order to produce, achieve, or create something.

Indicate (v): to be a sign or symptom; to point out.

Diverge (v): to split and move out in different directions from a single point.


Converge (v): to move toward one point and join together; to come together and meet.

David Wendt- Honored at Johns Hopkins CTY Ceremony




In mid-October, David Wendt, an 8th grade student at Island Trees Memorial Middle School, was honored at a national awards ceremony sponsored by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth.  The CTY honored David for his outstanding performance as a middle school student on the college SAT as part of the 2013-2014 CTY Talent Search.

According to the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, there were more than 33,470 second-through-eighth grade participants in the CTY Talent Search, which identifies and recognizes the academic capabilities of advanced students around the world. Students from 50 states and 67 countries participated in the 2013-2014 Talent Search.
Of the 16,459 seventh and eighth grade participants in the 2013-14 CTY Talent Search, only 960 U.S. and international middle school students scored high enough on their above-grade-level tests to be invited to the ceremony on the Johns Hopkins University campus.  Of the invited students, at least 85 students achieved a perfect score on the reading or math section of the test taken, including one student from Maryland who received 800 on both math and verbal sections of the SAT.  CTY's Study of Exceptional Talent (SET) also recognizes students under the age of 13 who achieve a score of 700 or higher on the SAT. There were 413 students who met SET's qualifications for the 2013-2014 academic year and were invited to the Grand Ceremony. 
We are proud that David was recognized by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth for earning a 710 score on the SAT.  What a wonderful accomplishment and the entire Island Trees Community are extremely proud of David's achievements!


Dr. Roger Bloom, Principal, Island Trees Memorial Middle School

Breakfast with Santa

 

By: Melissa Cunningham / 6th Grade


On December 13, 2014, there was Christmas music filling the halls of I.T.M.M.S. The event was Breakfast with Santa. The event started at 9:00am and hopefully the guests didn't eat breakfast  because there was an assortment of different foods and drinks! Bagels, muffins, brownies, hot chocolate, orange juice, and of-course water were on many tables for all to eat and drink! There was also a bunch of activities too! They had face painting (which the students leaders did- they were pros!), raffle tickets for raffling which Mr. Cava was in charge. The main event: sitting on Santa’s lap. Billy Fitzgerald was Santa Clause and Madison Tierney was Mrs. Clause. They both did an amazing job! Did you know, the student leaders decorated the room?  It really looked like a   professional decorator had been hired! Some of the guests included Mr. Burns and his very cute daughter, Mrs. Azar and her handsome son, and Mrs. Ramos with her adorable little girl.  At the end of Breakfast with Santa, a group photo was taken with everyone who had helped out.  I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped out and made that day amazing. I know everybody had a lot of fun and we look forward to another great time next year. 








7 & 8 Grade Choir Performs Retired Teacher Holiday Party




On Thursday, December 11, 2014, the seventh and eighth grade select choir, under the direction of Ms. Briana Delach, performed at the annual Retired Teachers of Island Trees Holiday Party.  Accompanied by Mr. J. Peter Hansen, the seventh and eighth grade chorus teacher, the students enthusiastically performed the following selections:

Winter Song, by Sara Bareilles and Ingrid Michaelson
The Only Exception, by Paramore
Pompeii, by Bastille
Winter Wonderland
Silent Night

The Retired Teachers of Island Trees thoroughly enjoyed the performance by the seventh and eighth grade select choir and gave them a rousing round of applause.  Thank you to Ms. Delach and Mr. Hansen for coordinating this performance, and to the students who so enthusiastically brightened the day of the Retired Teachers of Island Trees.



Dr. Roger Bloom, Principal, Island Trees Memorial Middle School

Terrific Kids 2014





Congratulations to the 2014-2015 ITMMS Terrific Kids
Memorial Middle School
On Tuesday, December 9, 2014, thirty-two students from Island Trees Memorial Middle School were honored as "Terrific Kids."  Sponsored by the Levittown Kiwanis Club, the Terrific Kids awards ceremony was held to celebrate the achievements of these students.  Nominated by their teachers, students were selected for displaying the characteristics of responsibility, citizenship, integrity, dedication, commitment, caring, and leadership.  For their achievements, each student was presented with a certificate and bumper sticker. 

Sarah Agosta
Nicholas Basile
Alyssa Brand
Kevin Butler
Hannah Cohen
Claire Cornell
Megan Cosgrove
Kayla Creighton
Megan Dufresne
Kathryn Ehrlinger
Erin Fietz
Angela Krogman
John Martinez
Suzana Maryam
Kashvi Mathur
Caroline Meyer
Mia Mirabella
Vincent Modica
William Morandi
Angelina Morici
Kathryn Mullin
Michael Rich
Emma Rochanakit
Jack Rochanakit
Lucas Santivasci
Mason Sarchie-Casamassima
Giordana Sassone
Kyle Sharkey
Devin Silverstein
Tara Sommerville
Madison Tierney
James Zub


Featured in the three pictures are the Terrific Kids award winners.  Congratulations to the 2014-2015 ITMMS Terrific Kids!




-        Dr. Roger Bloom, Principal, Island Trees Memorial Middle School

"Knicks Fall to Spurs, Lose 10 Straight"

The Knicks now become the second worst team in the NBA with their tenth straight loss, making them 4-20 now.

The Knicks failed to defeat the 2013-14 NBA Champions, the San Antonio Spurs, losing 109-95 . Plus, the Knicks were missing their star player for the game, Carmelo Anthony. So, what's so shocking about this loss? The spurs didn't have their top 4 players for the game! They were missing Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, Kawhi Leonard, and Tony Parker. Also, Patty Mills was nowhere to be seen in the game.

Are Knicks fans satisfied with this team's season? No way! Only 24 games into the season, and fans are giving up hope for the team's playoff contentions. You look at teams like the Charlotte Hornets (6-15), the Brooklyn Nets (8-12), the Oklahoma City Thunder (8-13), and the Los Angeles Lakers (5-16). You think "wow, they're decent. They'd look good in some February basketball". Then you see teams like the Philadelphia 76ers (2-18) and the Knicks. You know what you think? "EEK!!". Their basketball just looks horrendous. You don't need eyes to figure out that this just isn't working. 

"It's about a loser's mentality... It's not about the skill or the talent level." New York Knicks President Phil Jackson said on Monday (12/9/14) about the horrendous season

Is Phil Jackson's statement true? Find out as the season continues.


-Ian Silverstein, 6th Grade

Mrs. Hatz's Students Annotate Text AND Mean It!




Pictured above is Liam Schroeder, 6th grade student, annotating his text with skill.

During an ELA lesson involving a close reading of a pivotal chapter of The Lightning Thief, Mrs. Hatzopoulos asked her students to annotate along with an audio recording of the text. As they annotated, they were to focus in on the following: unfamiliar words, writing the 'gist' to track their thoughts, evidence of Percy's actions and thoughts as the emerging hero, and any questions that remained after the reading.
Annotating a text requires students to interact with a text in a critical way. Whether students add a comment, raise a question, or offer an explanation, they are in fact making the text their own as they move from comprehension to analysis. When Mrs. Hatz's students annotate text, they mean business!
Caption: Pictured above is Liam Schroeder, 6th grade student, annotating his text with skill.


Submitted by Elizabeth Roemer, Administrator for Educational Programs, Literacy, and Staff Development

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Greenkill 2014



Last week, the sixth grade went on a trip to Greenkill. It was a 4 day, 3 night trip. It was filled with tons of fun, outdoor activities. The people that went to Greenkill stayed in one of the six cabins. The cabins were Hemlock, Rocky Top, Kleinstuber, Laurel, Evergreen, and Tall Pines. They went hiking, had a campfire, made pretzels, walked across a rope bridge, went to an animal show, and explored the woods. Some of the teachers went too. Greenkill is a trip for all ages. If you like the outdoors, you should go! It is a time to meet new friends and to just have fun! I wish we can go again. It was a great experience!


-Alyssa Sandez, 6th grade