News and updates from JHS Principal, Dr. Falcón

Sunday April 7, 2024

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

Please be advised that all after school activities have been canceled for tomorrow due to the solar eclipse. Like any other natural phenomena, viewing the eclipse involves certain inherent risks, dangers, and hazards.  The dim appearance of the Sun during an eclipse may give a false sense of safety.  It is important to understand that the Sun's rays can still cause irreversible eye damage, including severe irritation, retinal damage and burning if looked at for more than a few seconds. Therefore, we urge you to talk to your children about these dangers and emphasize the importance of using approved protective eyewear specifically designed for solar eclipse viewing. Standard sunglasses or other darkened lenses may not provide sufficient protection.

This past week students took their quarterly assessments to close out the 3rd quarter. Can you believe that the end of the 3rd quarter is this Friday, April 12th! Please make sure that your child is all caught up with their classwork, and if they missed a quarterly, students should speak with their teachers to see when those assessments can be made up. Please feel free to reach out to your child's teacher of record with any questions or concerns. 

Starting next on 4/9 & 4/10, all students in grades 6-8 are scheduled to take the ELA State Exam. The Math State Exam is scheduled for 5/6 & 5/7, and the Science State Exam (grade 8 only) is scheduled for 5/10/24. During the administration of both the ELA and Math assessments, not Science, the building will be operating on a truncated schedule. Students will report to period 1 in the morning and our testing block will run from approximately 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM. At 10:30 any student who has not completed the exam will be taken to a separate location to finish their test while the rest of the building will resume with their scheduled day. Additionally, any student who arrives late to school must be signed in prior to 10:45 AM (End of 4th period) in order to be eligible to play sports on the evening of the assessments. Please refer to the Parent Square post I sent on 4/3 for additional information. 

Recently, 6th Grade students were able to travel to the Long Island Aquarium to explore marine life. Students were able to navigate the different aquarium exhibits including the butterfly experience, the various underwater enclosures, the sea lion shows, the penguins, and more. Students were also able to participate in a lesson regarding shark ecology, and were able to explore the science and history of marine life on Long Island and other geographical locations. 

Additionally, our 7th Grade students traveled to the Cradle of Aviation Museum. Students were brought around for a guided tour through the history of flight, as well as exploring the science and technology of aeronautics on Long Island. Students enjoyed their guided tours, as well as an Imax presentation of space travel, the power of telescopes, and the wonders of the universe. Students enjoyed this lesson outside of the classroom, and were able to interact with some of the historical artifacts, interactive games, and demonstrations of the developing technologies through time.

WBJHS was fortunate to have Alisty Keneth of AJK Diversified to present to the 6th grade for our Erin’s law safety lesson regarding child safety, and more specifically the dangers of social media. Ms. Keneth is a BOCES honoree, and has a career in working with Nassau and Suffolk police departments, and the District Attorney’s offices in regards to Bias and Hate Crime units, and assisting victims. Ms. Alisty was able to deliver a presentation that warned about keeping yourself safe from strangers online, and protecting personal information that may make you vulnerable to predators. This presentation was tailored to the specific needs of the 6th-grade class, and representatives from the Crime Victims Center will be coming in to talk to the 7th and 8th graders later this month. 

Important Dates

• April 12 - End of the 3rd marking quarter

• April 15 - PTA Meeting @ WBJHS at 7:00 PM

• April 22 through 26 - Spring Recess #2

• May 2 - 8th grade spring concert at 7:00 PM

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

  Monday is a GOLD  day

Sunday March 10, 2024

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

I hope that this email finds you and your family healthy and in good spirts and that you were also able to enjoy the mid winter break a few weeks back. I realize that I have not written a Week in Review in a few weeks, but to be honest, there was not much to write as there was not much to report. I would rather that this correspondence serve as a meaningful means of communication with relevant information, as opposed to boring you. It's hard to believe that it is March already which only leaves us with a few months before we close out for the year. I have to be honest, I am certainly looking forward to the warmer weather as it slowly starts to approach along with the fun in the sun that come along with the spring and summer months. 

On Friday March 1st we closed out the month with another fun Friday playlist that was played throughout the building during passing time from one period to the other. The theme of the songs played were about love, both for yourself and others, to close out the month of February. This time I challenged the teachers to dance in the halls and encourage the students to do so as well. While I obviously could not be everywhere in the building at the same time, I did hear from both the teachers and students alike that there was a lot more dancing this time around. Music always brings out the best in people and it's moments like this that I feel continue to advance and cultivate the positive relationships that teachers have with students and vice versa. 

This past Tuesday we had our first, and what is probably our annual thanks to its success, Bingo Night that was hosted as free event from our dedicated PTA members. It was a fun night that certainly brought with it a lot of good energy and playful shouting from people in the cafeteria yelling BINGO. I'm all for a little friendly competition, and it was funny to see how people reacted either when they won or didn't. Moving forward, I invite you to come down and participate in events such as this. As I stated that night, it's important that we as a community find alternative ways to interact with each other in a capacity that does not involve academics. It's how we form a relationship, and most importantly, a partnership for the sake of working together to create the best experience for you and your child.

As a reminder, when dropping off your child please make sure to pull closely to the car in front of you, and let your child out once your car is parallel with the windows of the drop off area. There is no need for your child to be dropped off in front of the door as that practice will only delay the drop off procedure and cause your child to be late to class. I thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. 

This past Friday we kicked off our annual St. Baldrick's event. It was a great night that was enjoyed by many with games, activities, raffle baskets, and most importantly, the shaving of hair on heads. I was pleasantly surprised to see how many adults and students alike who volunteered to shave their heads for a good cause. I'm happy to announce that we raised just over 35 thousand dollars that will go directly towards research for childhood cancer. It's events such as this that bring communities together for a cause that is bigger than all of us. I would like to thank all of the staff volunteers who made this event possible for all members of the community to enjoy. I would like to thank all of the staff volunteers who made this event possible for all members of the community to enjoy. I would also like to thank all of the community members who contributed monetarily is whatever way they could. #WB Eagles

Curriculum Update:

Math

Our 6th graders just started working with variables in their expressions unit. The 7R students are learning about discount, tax and tip using percents while 7H students are working with 2 and 3 dimensional shapes to find the area and volume of irregular shapes. Our 8th graders are discovering the difference between congruence and similarity while performing transformations. In Algebra the students are solving quadratic functions algebraically after previously learning how to solve them graphically.  

Foreign Language

In Italian, the students are reading a Fashionblog and creating a presentation about what people are wearing by describing the color and style of clothing and accessories. 

Spanish classes are describing healthy meal choices and comparing prices of food on Latin American supermarket websites. 

Social Studies

6th graders have been learning about the five major world religions and circling back to the essential question, "Are world religions both similar and different?"

7th graders are working diligently on the American Revolution and getting ready to learn about the Declaration of Independence.

8th graders are finishing up their unit on WW1.  They are learning about long term causes, the spark as well as the role of the US entry into the war.  

Science 

The 6th grade is working on an investigation separating a mixture of three unknown substances. The students are writing their own procedure to separate and identify the three substances in their mixture.

The 7th grade finished the Human Body Systems Unit with the Frog Dissection Lab. Students used this hands-on experience to compare the anatomy of a frog to that of a human while observing how the structure of an organ relates to its function.

8th Grade Science is learning about the Universe.  Students created a scale model of the solar system and learned how to use the HR diagram of Stars. 

Earth Science is finishing up their study of weathering, erosion and deposition by learning how glaciers deposited Long Island and how erosion threatens the Montauk Point Lighthouse. 

Library

The WB JHS Library is celebrating Women's History Month with the Recognizing Women's Right to Vote exhibit from the New York State Heritage Collection. This exhibit highlights the Women's Suffrage Movement in New York State, connecting learning to next week's Civics Week. Our students have the opportunity to learn about the significant role women have played in shaping the United States and their ongoing contributions to our history, by interacting with primary source documents, photographs, and multimedia presentations. This experience deepens their understanding of the Women's Suffrage Movement and its impact on American history. 

Art

The 6th grade Art students under the direction of Ms. Alfano are culminating their research to reflect on the topic "What is Art" for their Art Journaling and Mind Mapping Unit, while Mrs. Tomeo's 6th grade students are working on applying their understanding of the Elements of Art- space, shape and line. 

7th grade students are demonstrating the illusion of depth in their two dimensional artwork. Ms. Alfano's 7th grade students are refining their  All About Me Drawing Collage projects with their application of overlapping and value to create depth and Mrs. DiPaola's 7th Grade students are applying their understanding of value and depth within their limear perspective projects. 

8th grade Art classes are finishing up their Color Theory Unit through applying their understanding of color and light, within their Creative Color Wheel Projects and acrylic color wheel projects. The Advanced 8th grade Studio Art students are applying their understanding of texture as they begin their realistic hair portraits.

Technology

7th grade classes are beginning a unit on Rocketry. Students will begin designing and building their own rockets in preparation for an upcoming launch. Students will witness all their hard work and dedication culminate as their rockets will take flight in the coming weeks. 

8th grade classes have been actively engaged in designing and building their own compressed air dragsters. Shortly, students will race their dragsters against each other, engaging in a competition. Also, STEM lessons will be incorporated as students will learn how to calculate dragster speeds in MPH.

FACS

7th grade classes have entered into the Food and Nutrition unit. The topic being covered is food safety. Students are currently learning what to do and not to do in the kitchen. Students are very excited that in just a few weeks they will be entering into the kitchens with their chef aprons on! 

8th grade classes have been using college and career readiness program NAVIANCE to complete an interest inventory self- assessment and a career cluster finder. The information  found in these assessments will be used to assist them in selecting a career to research, and will also help  them when choosing their classes and electives during the high school scheduling process.

Music

March is Music in Our Schools month - as a department, we are building a strong understanding of the value of music for every student.  Not only are they learning how to read notes, perform on their instruments, but they are building their love for it as well.  You will see performances taking place all throughout the district this month. Events such as SCMEA, Founders Day, and Acoustic Night. Additionally, all WB string players are gearing up for a unique, once in a lifetime kind of event.  They are being coached by a world famous musician and innovator Mark Wood. The Mark Wood experience gives our classical players the opportunity to break free from a traditional musical.   Colorful lights, full instrumentation, movements and more.  Performing hits such as High Hopes, Blinding Lights, Kashmir, Living on a Prayer, We Will Rock You, and more, our string players are ready to rock the JHS stage. 

ELA

In Language Arts, 6th grade students continue to hone their research skills as they create feature articles on a topic of their own choosing.  They were even treated to a virtual visit from the West Babylon Public Library on the importance of citations. In reading, 6th graders are engaged in their short story unit. 7th and 8th grade students are busy working on their novel units, practicing their comprehension skills!

Important Dates

• March 15 - Electrify  Your Strings Concert w/ Mark Wood @ JHS

• March 18 - PTA Meeting

• March 25 - JHS Sports begin

• March 28 - April 1 -Spring Recess

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

  Monday is a BLUE  day

Sunday February 11, 2024

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

PS I Love You Day was on Friday February 9th, and what a special day it was! The theme for this year was "Love Is Meant To Be Given." The students and staff alike dressed in purple to celebrate this special day which is meant to spread positivity and love. Each student was given a purple bracelet that said WBJHS Loves You. While some may look at this as taboo, we felt that it was important for each and every student to know that they truly are loved. Our teachers and staff are passionate and committed to ensuring that your child is met with the highest levels of success, both academically and emotionally. During homeroom students were shown this video which explains what PS I Love You Day is and how it originated. Throughout different parts of the day, students were encouraged to fill out a template which asked for them to write a letter to a friend, family member or staff member who made a difference in their life. Students were also given the option of writing a letter to someone who helped them get through a hard time, to a friend who is always by their side, or to tell someone how much they appreciate them. I encourage you to have a conversation with your child if you have not done so already about who, if anybody, they wrote to and what that message consisted of. It was a good day and one that I look forward to each year. I hope that it was an impactful day for your child as well. 

Student report cards were released last Wednesday 2/7. If you have not done so already, please log on to the Parent Portal to see your child's grade. This is a good time to have a conversation with your child about what they can continue doing moving forward as we advance through the year, or perhaps have a conversation with them about some small modifications they can make to achieve the levels of success that they want. 

Important Dates

• February 12 - PTA Meeting @ 7:00 PM at the JHS

• February 19-23 - Mid Winter Recess; School Closed

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

  Monday is a GOLD day

Sunday February 4, 2024

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

The last Friday of every month we call Fun Friday whereby we play music throughout the building over the PA as a way to boost moral and create a positive learning environment. With the help of our PTA volunteers, a theme is chosen each month based on what is current and applicable at the time. For example, this past December was the holiday season so naturally we played holiday songs. For January, the theme of new beginning/fresh start was selected which promotes skills in our students such as goal setting, perseverance, grit and endurance. The songs played had lyrics which reflected what we are trying to promote and ultimately have the students internalize here at WBJHS. It's always nice to see both adults and students alike dancing and bobbing to the music as the transitions to classes are happening. I have to admit, it is difficult to find a healthy balance of what the students want to listen to, yet hanging on to some of the old classics that us grown folks have heard many times before and certainly see the value in. I heard many of the students say things such as, "My mom likes this song" or "We play this song in our house." It's a good way for us to connect with the kids and have conversations with them about topics other than academics; all of which promote the relationships between all of us. I hope that you children are liking it thus far. 

Permission slips for field trips were sent out by Mr. Montemarano. Please make sure to refer to his Parent Square posts for any needed information. 

Parents please remind your child to bring their ID with them daily. Aside from the obvious of identifying students, IDs are also needed to sign into school, the bathrooms, and other parts of our building. It is now the 3rd quarter and students should have this down as part of their daily routine of also having their Chromebook charged. A student is assigned lunch detention for every 3Xs that they don't have their ID. I appreciate your help with this matter. 

Please make every effort to ensure that your child arrives to school on time. I understand that things happen here and there which causes you and your child to be late. Those instances are both expected and understandable. However, we are starting to notice a pattern of students who are consistently arriving late and / or missing school altogether. Please understand that we have an attendance policy that can be found here as it relates to student attendance and potential consequences. For me, the biggest consequence is the impact that it has on your child's learning. In short, they need to be here to learn, and every minute, day, or week has a significant impact. Take a look at this website and scroll down to the bottom of the page where it has a graph. You'll see how much time is lost in school over a period of time even though some may think that it's not that big of a deal. If there is support that you need in helping you get your child to school on time, please do not hesitate to reach out as we are here to help. 

2nd Quarter grades will be available on Wednesday at 3:00 PM. Please reach out to your child's teacher(s) with any questions or concerns. 

Important Dates

• February 12 - PTA Meeting @ 7:00 PM at the JHS

• February 19-23 - Mid Winter Recess; School Closed

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

  Monday is a GOLD day

Sunday January 28, 2024

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

I hope that this newsletter finds you and your family healthy and in good spirts! This past week our students finished up their summative assessments to close out the quarter. In the event your child did not take either a quarterly, midterm, or a final exam, please make sure to have them check in with their teacher as to when the assessment can be made up. The quarter ends this coming Tuesday on 1/30 and it is important that your child have the proper grade recorded in their teachers' Gradebook.

With regard to student drop off in the morning, please make sure that your child is ready to exit the vehicle once you go around the bend and your vehicle is parallel with the fire zone where I stand every morning. Once your vehicle is parallel with the fire zone, please have your child exit the car, walk towards and adjacent to the building where they can then enter. It is not necessary for you to drop your child off directly in front of the entrance into the building. While this is a luxury that many people want, it is simply not a sustainable nor and efficient practice as it relates to getting students to enter the building quickly so that they can eat breakfast if they choose, and get them to class on time. One change that we made last week was that we opened up an additional line in the cafeteria by shifting a few schedules around. The line to get food is now much faster, but we still have a little room for improvement in getting students to class quicker. Homeroom starts at 7:47 AM. Ideally if your child is in the building by 7:40 which puts them in the best position to be on time to class. I thank you in advance for your help with this matter.  

Over the last couple of months I have noticed that there are some students that don't have the best executive functioning skills. It is a skillset that is certainly not easy to attain, but has tremendous value once it's acquired; not just for their immediate benefits as a WBJHS student, but also as an adult. I often speak with students about some of the things that they need to be able to do in order to be met with success. Oftentimes, we tell students, "go home and study" or "go home and complete your assignments." While these statements are grounded with good intentions, they are a little presumptuous to a certain extent because we assume that this looks the same for every student and that every student knows how to execute these tasks. I found this article that I would like to share with you so that perhaps, if your child is struggling with executive functioning, you are in a position to help them, while also continuing to build a relationship with them. 

Curriculum Update:

Social Studies

The Civic Seal was introduced to all of the Social Studies classes this week.  Students watched an introductory video that explained the ways that students could earn a civic seal on their diploma.  A process which begins in 7th grade with the False Face Mask project.  In 6th grade, students learned about the two rival Greek city states, Athens and Sparta.  In 7th grade, students are learning about causes of the American Revolution.  In 8th, they began their Progressives unit. 

Art

All 6th, 7th and 8th grade Art students took their Final Exams this week to demonstrate their understanding of the concepts and vocabulary learned this quarter. All Art students are refining their artwork for presentation to prepare their works for the Art Show in May. They will culminate their learning early next week with the end of quarter 2, and see presentations with information on the art courses available for next year at the JHS or SHS. 

The Advanced 8th grade Studio Art students are in the beginning stages of their Chalk Pastel Animal projects in which they are applying their understanding of proportions through grid drawing, and chalk pastel techniques in their artworks. 

7th & 8th Grade Technology

With the quarter coming to an end this week, Technology classes have been concluding with a unit on Coding. Coding or computer programming is a sequence of instructions that computers follow to perform tasks. Students are learning the basics of coding while using critical thinking and problem solving skills. 

7th Grade FACS

As the marking period is coming to an end, 7th grade FACS students completed their final food lab by preparing a meal of homemade tacos and pico de gallo. The tacos were a big hit and very much enjoyed by the students!

8th Grade FACS

8th grade FACS classes are finishing up their stuffed bear sewing project. This project taught students basic sewing techniques that will serve as a very useful life skill. The completed project is also a souvenir from their Junior High School years and something to reflect upon.

Library 

This month, the WB JHS Library is showcasing a traveling exhibit from the New York State Heritage Collection. This exhibit focuses on historic immigration to New York State from 1650 to 1950. It provides a unique opportunity for students to learn about the immigrant experience, their journey, including entering through Ellis Island and the contributions they have made to New York State. 

World Languages 

8th graders in Spanish 1 are excited to learn about the capybaras of South America. We will discover all sorts of interesting facts about the large rodents.  

8th graders in Italian 1 will talk about fashion and clothing and discuss their fashion preferences and trends for each season.

Science

8th Grade science is learning about the phases of the moon and took part in an interactive demonstration of the moon phases. Earth Science is finishing up their unit on weather and  students are practicing how to interpret station models and using them to predict weather.  

7th grade science classes are working on Body Systems.  Their focus this week is tracing the flow of blood through the heart and showing how transport of nutrients and oxygen occur. 

6the grade students are learning about atoms, molecules, and compounds. Students are focusing on how to identify physical and chemical changes in matter. 

Important Dates

• January 30 - End of the 2nd Marking Period 

• February 19-23 - Mid Winter Recess; School Closed

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

  Monday is a BLUE day

Sunday January 21, 2024

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

On Tuesday 1/9 we had our second iReady diagnostic of the year which assessed our students' respective reading levels. I was very impressed by how seriously the students took the diagnostic and their aspirations to improve their score from the first administration. The iReady mascot Snargg even made another appearance and cheered our students on. It was quite funny to see the students' faces as he walked either in the classrooms or the cafeteria. I don't care how old you are, the mascot even brought out a smile on the faces of the adults in the building. Once all students have taken the assessment, we will post their scores on the Parent Portal for you to see. At quick glance, it appears that a significant majority of the students improved their score from the first assessment which puts each grade level in the position to earn a musical celebration during their lunch period. I would like to wait until the weather gets a little warmer for the students to truly enjoy this experience. More information to follow.

Also on January 9th, our 8th grade students were presented with information regarding the courses that are offered at the SHS which they are able to take next year. I sent out the course catalog that the students were given which has information regarding the courses. If you did not receive the information, please refer to my post from 1/11. If you have a question regarding your child's schedule for next year, please speak with your child's counselor. Schedules will be sent out tomorrow to parents / guardians of 8th grade students detailing when your appointment is with your child's counselor to discuss the options available to you and offer you the opportunity to ask questions. Our counselors Mrs. Gibbs and Ms. Jensen who is filling in for Mrs. Zemba are dedicated to ensuring that your child is prepared to continue to succeed once they leave the JHS. I'm saddened that I only have about 1/2 a year left with them, but I am happy for the continued growth that they are inevitably going to experience at the next level. SHS principal Mr. O'Leary sent out a Parent Square message inviting all 8th parents to meet with him and his team on Wednesday, January 24th at 7:00 PM. Please refer to his post for additional information. 

Tomorrow during homeroom students will participate in another Eagle Talk which will be held virtually over a Google Meet. I am happy to announce that during this Eagle Talk we will be informing all students about the upcoming field trips that Mr. Montemarano and the field trip committee have spent time planning. Information will be sent to all parents from Mr. Montemarano in the coming days regarding all of the specifics. The focus of the Eagle Talk will be to inform students of where they will be going, but also to explain to students that field trips are a privilege, and certainly not a right! We truly want each and every student to go as we see tremendous educational value in the trips that we plan. With that said, as some of you may know from last year, I hold a hard line when it comes to behavior and allowing students on trips if they have been suspended; either in or out of school. As a father first, and an educator second, I truly do understand that students, and kids for that matter make mistakes. They are expected to and we deal with them accordingly and always look to help students learn from them so that they don't make them again. With that said, mistakes can go from anywhere to low level offenses to high level offenses; the latter ones tend to result in a suspension. The way I see it, it is still a decision that a student makes, and in life, there are consequences for the decisions that we make. I say this because I believe in being proactive and informing you, my partner in this endeavor of educating your child and my student, on what is expected of them and the consequences of their actions if they choose to do anything that does not align with how you raised them, nor what we teach them and our BR3 motto. I implore you, please speak with your child about making good choices and simply treating others the way that they would expect to be treated. If they choose to make a decision that results in a suspension starting tomorrow up until the day of the trip, your child will not be permitted to go on the trip. I do this not only to help them learn, but also to preserve the educational experience for students who always behave and do the right thing. They too have a right to go on a trip and not have their experience ruined by a student who if they cannot behave in the building, chances are won't be able to behave on a trip. I understand that this decision of mine may not and has not been a popular one, but it is a decision nonetheless and one that I believe in for the reasons mentioned. Please feel free to contact me directly if you have any questions or comments. 

Last week we continued with our summative assessments (midterms and quarterlies) to close out the end of the quarter which ends on 1/30. This week we will continue with ELA, SS, and Art. If for any reason you have a concern with these assessments, please be sure to reach out to your child's teacher first in our chain of communication. Chances are there is information that can be given to you by them which will address any questions or concerns that you may have. Our teachers are very responsive to parent inquiries and always do what is best to support our students. 

I would be remiss if I did not express how proud I am of all of the students who participated in the production of Newsies the week before last. The talent that was displayed by all of our students was truly remarkable and indicative of what our students can do when they put their mind to any endeavor that they embark on. They practiced, they rehearsed, and it all came together quite nicely at the end. Go Eagles!

Important Dates

• January 23 - BOE Meeting (JHS will be presenting information regarding our Tech classes)

• January 30 - End of the 2nd Marking Period 

• February 19-23 - Mid Winter Recess; School Closed

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

  Monday is a GOLD day

Sunday January 7, 2024

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

I hope that this correspondence finds you and your family healthy and in good spirits and that your 2024 year is off to a phenomenal start! This past week the students settled in nicely from their long holiday break with a short 4 day week. It was nice to see all of their faces as they looked rejuvenated and ready to hit the ground running. 

On Tuesday January 9th all students in grades 6-8 will take their 2nd iReady diagnostic in ELA. This assessment does not count towards your child's grade and does not negatively impact them. This assessment is strictly used for providing us with information about what your child's strengths and weaknesses are as it relates to their respective reading levels so that we can provide them with the appropriate accommodations and supports as the year progresses. I am very curios and eagerly awaiting these results to see the extent to which your child's reading level has improved from the first administration. Similar to the first administration of the assessment, we will be operating on a truncated schedule where all periods will be shortened, aside from lunch, so that students can attend all their classes. During the first administration our iReady mascot  Snargg made a guest appearance to cheer the students on and motivate them to try their best. On Tuesday I've been told Plory who is Snargg's partner may make a guest appearance and visit the students in class similar to what Snargg did during the first administration. Tell your child to be on the lookout! As an incentive, grade levels that improve their reading levels will be rewarded with a musical celebration during their lunch period. Please speak with your child and encourage them to do their best and to take this assessment seriously. 

Attention 8th grade parents! The process of selecting courses for your child's 24-25 school year is starting, can you believe it! As such, also on January 9th we will be having counselors from the Senior High School visit us to speak with all 8th graders about the courses that are offered at the SHS. All 8th grade students will attend an assembly where they will get to meet the SHS counselors and hear information about the courses that are offered and the process by which their schedules are made. Students will have an opportunity to ask questions and familiarize themselves with both the process along with getting to know their counselors. At the end of the assembly, all students will be given a course catalogue to bring home that contains all of the information presented at the assembly. Please review this catalogue with your child as it will have useful information for you to discuss in collaboration with your child's counselor once the scheduling meetings start. Information regarding those meetings will be coming in the near future. Please reach out to your child's counselor if you have any questions or concerns. 

As a parent, I understand how expensive clothing is for your child. We have an abundance of clothing and other artifacts that can be found in our lost and found. If your child is missing clothing or other items such as cups, hats, lunch bags, footwear, etc, please have them report to the main office where our lost and found is located. In the event the items are not picked up by the end of next week, we will donate them. 

The students and staff in our drama club have been working hard and getting prepared for their drama production of NEWSIES. Please join us this Thursday and Friday starting at 7:00 PM for an evening that is guaranteed to entertain you and your family. I'm looking forward to seeing you there. 

I hope that you enjoy the rest of your Sunday afternoon. I was saddened that we don't have as much snow as was anticipated a few days back. I for one am a big fan of snow and was looking forward to going out there and enjoying it with my family and the dog! Oh well, even though what is falling now is not sticking, it's still nice to look at! 

Important Dates

• January 15 - Dr. Martin Luther King Day; School Closed

• January 30 - End of the 2nd Marking Period 

• February 19-23 - Mid Winter Recess; School Closed

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

  Monday is a BLUE day

Sunday December 17, 2023

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

The holiday season is upon us and I hope that you have been enjoying this very special time of the year spending some quality time with family and friends. As we get ready for the winter recess, I would like to take a quick moment to express my appreciation for the role that I have as principal of the JHS. The job of an educator is extremely rewarding and I sincerely believe that it is one of the most important jobs in society. As we bring the calendar year to a close, I think that it is important to reflect on the past in order to make measurable and attainable goals for the future. As we continue to progress through the year, I vow to continue to work collaboratively with students, staff, and the community to ensure that all students are achieving the highest levels of academic success and emotional happiness. Rest assured, your children are in good hands with the dedicated staff that we have working with us here at WBJHS. 

Last week I had the opportunity along with six very special 6th graders to present to the BOE regarding last year's Science Olympiad competition. The students were able to speak about their experience and how it helped them to develop the skills that will serve them in a meaningful way as they get older. They also spoke about their collaboration with students from the senior high school and how that partnership positively contributed to the experience. Congratulations to Sebastian Kent, Matthew Orrino, Christopher Palazzo, Thomas Eglin, Jaime Hansen, and Eduardo Quijano-Chapilliquen on a job well done with their presentation. 

On Thursday we had the opportunity to hear our students' musical talents in band, chorus, and orchestra. The students sounded amazing and truly made us proud. This week, music will be played in between periods by our talented students as a way to create a festive environment and give the ambiance of the holiday season. On Thursday, the PTA will provide us with another fun playlist to play over PA as a nice close to the week.  

I would like to extend a HUGE congrats to our JHS Cheerleading team for placing 1st in their last competition. Our students have been working extremely hard all year and are demonstrating that they are the quintessential example of how hard work and preparation leads to success when the opportunity arises. Great job girls! 

Tomorrow starts spirit week at WBJHS.  Aside from students being allowed to wear any hat all week long for their good behavior, the theme for each day are as follows:

• Monday - Pajama Day

• Tuesday - Candy Cane Day; Wear red, white, or green

• Wednesday - Dress like a snowman and wear as much white as possible

• Thursday - Wear your favorite holiday sweater or dress like your favorite holiday character

As a way to celebrate the holidays with students, along with continuing to collect food for our families in need during the holiday season, we will be having our first annual "gingerbread" house contest. Please refer to my Parent Square post from last week for more information. Houses are due by Wednesday in order to be entered into the competition. Happy building! 

Curriculum Update:

Social Studies

6th- Students are studying ancient Egypt and the mystery surrounding the death of King Tut. They researched a variety of theories and had to decide which they felt was true and support it with evidence.

7th- Students have been learning about the original 13 English colonies.  They explored how geography impacted their environment and culture.

8th- Students have been learning about Industrialization.  They learned about new inventions, big business leaders, and factory life during this time period as well as the need for labor laws.

Art

The 6th grade Art students are finalizing and refining their artwork for presentation. Ms. Alfano's students are refining their What is Art projects using micron pens to outline their artwork and add emphasis and contrast. Mrs. Tomeo's students are finalizing their prehistoric drawings. 

7th grade students are demonstrating the illusion of depth in their two dimensional artwork. Ms. Alfano's 7th grade students are demonstrating their understanding of overlapping to create depth in their projects; Mrs. Tomeo's and Ms. Fedorko's classes are applying their understanding of two point perspective into their artwork.

8th grade Art classes are learning about Color Theory and applying their understanding of these concepts into their own individual artwork. 

The Advanced 8th grade Studio Art students are working on their Animal Eyes to simulate texture using chalk pastels.

Math

The math classes have been working on error analysis activities to help students learn from the mistakes they have been making. We are also getting ready to start our after school AIS program when we get back from winter recess. Students will be receiving invitations from their classroom teacher. 

Science

Earth Science classes are learning about rocks and minerals while the 8R classes covered potential and kinetic energy. In 7th grade, the students learned all about viruses and bacteria. Lastly, the sixth grade science classes are learning about atoms and the periodic table.

Library

This week our students celebrated Computer Science Education Week and Hour of Code in the Library! The students were introduced to the fundamentals of coding through engaging activities. They also took a virtual field trip with Amazon Project STEM to an Amazon Fulfillment Center, where they learned how computer science and coding support the entire purchase to delivery process run smoothly. 

ENL

ENL 6 classes are reading about characters with moral dilemmas, including historical fiction texts.  Students are discussing how civil rights and segregation impacted history and characters in texts.  Entering/emerging ENL 7/8 classes are reading about ancient civilizations and examining the elements that contributed to Rome's success.  Transitioning/Expanding ENL 7/8 classes are reading I Am Malala and interpreting figurative language. Commanding level classes are reviewing themes and other key story elements in "The Gift of the Magi."

Music

Our 7th and 8th-grade band, chorus, and orchestra ensembles are diligently working towards the culmination of their efforts - the highly anticipated winter concerts. These concerts serve as the end assessment for our talented students who have dedicated their time and efforts since September to prepare for these performances.

Meanwhile, our students in 7-8 general music classes are venturing into the world of music production by delving into the intricacies of the newly acquired Soundtrap software. Specifically, they are learning the art of utilizing loops to craft compelling and concise musical compositions.

Technology

7th grade students have been learning to use Tinkercad on their chromebooks. Tinkercad is a CAD software that enables you to create 3D models and drawings. Tinkercad is also a great introduction to engineering. Who knows, maybe we'll have some future engineers!

8th grade classes have been actively engaged designing and creating their own model Magnetic Levitation vehicle. Magnetic Levitation is a high speed modern form of train transportation. Students are learning about magnetism and applying this knowledge to build and levitate their own trains.  

Family and Consumer Sciences

This week, 7th grade students are learning about the function of yeast in baking. They are very excited to be making the pizza dough and sauce from scratch. Students are very enthused and looking forward to eating their culinary creation shortly.

With the help of Naviance, and other career information sources, students in 8th grade have matched their interests and skills to possible career choices. They are now further researching their career choice and developing a Google slide presentation to be shared with the class.

Important Dates

• December 19 - 8th grade winter concert @ 7:00 PM 

• December 22- School Closed; First day of winter recess

• January 3 - PTA Meeting @ 7:00 PM

• January 11 - Drama Play @ 7:00 PM

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

  Monday is a BLUE day

Sunday December 3, 2023

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

I hope that your Thanksgiving was a good one and that you were able to spend some quality time with family and friends. Of the many things that I am thankful for in my personal life, professionally I am incredibly thankful and grateful for my job and the role that I have in working with staff, the community, and your child. The field of education is certainly not an easy one, but I do feel that it is one of the most important. I often speak with students about their aspirations for the future and my advice to them is simple: Identify what it is that you love to do, and figure out how to get paid for it - that should be your career. I am fortunate in that I absolutely love what I do and would make the same decisions all over again if given the option. As the saying goes, "If you love what you do, you'll never work a day in your life."

On Monday we had our first BR3 day. BR3 stand for Be Ready, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible. BR3 is our PBIS based framework to support students both behaviorally and academically. We have a behavior matrix that details the appropriate ways in which students should conduct themselves in different areas of the building such as in the cafeteria, hallways, bathrooms, bus, classroom, and events. The day began with an Eagle Talk that was given by me via a Google Meet to all students. Students then began each class period with a review/introduction to one of the 3Rs, along with an extension activity to reinforce its application. As I walked around the building I was pleased to see students engaged in meaningful and productive conversations led by teachers regarding the 3 Rs. With this approach we are being proactive with discipline and not making assumptions regarding what a student is expected to know behaviorally. In the field of education, we teach. When a student does not write or read well, we teach. When a student cannot compute math, we teach. When a student has difficulty making connections to abstract concepts, we teach. The same goes for behavior - we teach. Our job as educators is to set students up for success and this approach we feel is helping our students Be All They Can Be which is our motto here at the JHS. Please speak with your child about the 3Rs and gauge their understanding of its application not just in school, but also at home too.  

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently expanded access to the federal Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). CEP allows eligible schools participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to offer school meals at no charge to all students. Effective December 1, 2023, all students enrolled in all of our schools will receive meals at no cost to their household. Families that have a lunch account balance, are still responsible for that balance and should contact our school lunch director Margaret Dixon at 631-376-7752.  

Please remind your child to bring their ID with them daily. Students who have forgotten their ID will be assigned to lunch detention after repeat offenses. Also, please remind your child to bring their Chromebooks charged to school everyday. 

Please join us on Wednesday from 6-8 as our PTA will be hosing a Bingo night. This is a great way for you and your child to got involved in school events if you have not done so already. After all, who doesn't love a good game of Bingo! 

Important Dates

• December 14 - 7th Grade Winter Concert

• December 19 - 8th Grade Winter Concert

• December 22 - Conference Day; no school for students

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

  Monday is a BLUE day

Sunday November 5, 2023

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

It's been a few weeks since I last wrote a newsletter so I do apologize in advance for the length of this one. With that said, there were a lot of fun things that we did in the last few weeks that I hope your child told you a little bit about. Click here to see our Month in Review video. 

The week of the 16th was School Board Trustees Recognition Week. I would like to take a moment to thank the Board of Education for all of their volunteerism and hard work in ensuring that our schools are operating both effectively and efficiently to provide your child with a quality education and experience. On behalf of the entire JHS, we thank you! 

Red Ribbon week was on the week of the 23rd. During their lunch periods, students signed a pledge to stay away from drugs and follow the path that sets them up for success. Each day had a particular theme that we incorporated to make it a fun week, yet something that students can walk away with feeling empowered. Unfortunately, the children of today with the use of technology and social media, have an ease of access to drugs that can be detrimental to their lives. It's our collective responsibility to ensure that they understand the severity that drug use can have on their success and development. 

On 10/27 the JHS welcomed Disney author Jen Calonita. All sixth graders were able to attend an assembly where they were able to meet and interact with her as she described her work, and spoke  about her journey related to how she became an author. She was engaging and the students really seemed to connect with her. She signed many books for our students and also gave out signed bookmarks. Of the many things that your child can leave the JHS with, I sincerely hope that a love for reading is one of them. It is through reading that the world opens to for every person - students and adults alike. I would like to extend a huge thank you to our librarian Mrs. Statfeld for working with Jen on the logistics of her visit to us.

“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” ~ George R.R. Martin.

As a way to celebrate Halloween that was appropriate and festive, on 10/31 we played music throughout the building while the students transitioned to their classes. It was nice to see how music can still bring out the smiles and personalities in our students and staff. Of the songs played, I think that Thriller and the Adams Family theme song were the two biggest hits. We also had three winners for our first annual Pumpkin Carving contest. I would like to thank all that participated in the carvings, but also those who donated food to vote. 

On Thursday 11/2 our PTA hosted it's first basketball skills competition. It was a fun-filled night with students across all grade levels participating. At the end of the evening, the adults VS students portion of the event was nothing short of embarrassing as the Varsity girls' basketball team wiped the floor with the adults. As principals, Mr. O'Leary and I tried to enforce a "no running in school" rule for the team, but needless to say, they didn't listen. All good - the aches and pains endured are well worth it as we were able to raise money for future programs for our students. As always, I would like to thank our PTA and parent volunteers for all of their hard work for not just this event, but previous and subsequent ones - we cannot do this work without you! 

Curriculum Update:

7th Grade Technology:

Classes wrapped up the Rocketry unit after students have been working diligently, designing and building their own rockets in preparation for their launch. Students were able to witness all their hard work and dedication culminate as their rockets took flight on the football field.  

8th Grade Technology:

Classes have been actively engaged designing and building their own compressed air dragsters. Shortly, students will race their dragsters against each other engaging in a competition. STEM lessons have been incorporated as students were educated on how to calculate dragster speeds in MPH. They are extremely enthused, exciting times!

7th Grade FACS:

Classes have just concluded a unit on Kitchen Safety and sanitation with the emphasis on handling and using assorted utensils. They will be moving onto kitchen equipment next.

8th Grade FACS:

Classes have been actively engaged in a sewing unit. They are presently assembling and sewing a teddy bear using their newly acquired skill.

Science:

Sixth grades began studying the metric system. In 7th grade, the students presented their cell projects. The eighth graders completed a weather investigation. 

Math:

Our sixth graders have begun to learn about ratios and rates in math class while the seventh graders are learning how to simplify and write algebraic expressions. The 8th graders are learning how to graph linear equations while the algebra students are solving linear equations.  

Music:

Students in Mr. Heaton's 7th and 8th grade general music classes are finishing up their composition projects.  7th graders are writing words for a madrigal, and 8th graders are learning how to create 12-tone rows as a basis for 12 tone compositions (serial music). 

Art:

The 6th grade Art students under the direction of Ms. Alfano are culminating their research to reflect on the topic "What is Art" for their Art Journaling and Mind Mapping Unit, while Mrs. Tomeo's 6th grade students are working on their Zentangles as they apply their understanding of the Elements of Art- space, line, and color. 

7th grade students are demonstrating the illusion of depth in their two dimensional artwork. Ms. Alfano's 7th grade students are refining their All About Me Drawing Collage projects with their application of overlapping and value to create depth. Mrs. Tomeo's 7th Grade students are applying their understanding of value and depth within their individual still life drawings. 

8th grade Art classes are finishing up their Color Theory Unit through applying their understanding of color, light, and movement within their Impressionism Landscape artwork using oil pastels. 

The Advanced 8th grade Studio Art students are refining their Principles of Art project, in which they have created inspiring designs through visually defining and illustrating four Principles of Art in their artworks. 

Social Studies:

6th Grade- Students are learning about the Neolithic Revolution and focusing on the changes that occurred between the old stone age and new stone age.

7th Grade- Students are working on the Iroquois False Face Mask Cultural project with an emphasis placed on solving a world problem. This project earns 7th graders a credit toward the Civic Seal as it is the middle school capstone project.

8th Grade- Students are currently reconstructing the nation post Civil War as part of the unit on reconstruction.

Foreign Language:

This week in Spanish classes students were able to describe and react to the artwork of Frida Kahlo in Spanish!  They have also been reading and summarizing the short story, El mundo de Felipe.  

In Italian class students are expressing biographical information about themselves and others.  They are  now able to tell their name, origin, nationality, age, birthday, and both physical and personality descriptions.  

ELA: 

6th grade reading students have been in suspense reading, “Freak the Mighty” by Rodman Philbrick. This week the students found out a HUGE turning point in the story and couldn’t have been more excited for this discovery! They've enjoyed working collaboratively with their classmates and participating in group activities to dive deeper into the book and understand its meaning. 

Students in 7th grade English just wrapped up their unit on belonging. Students analyzed characters and how they react to settings, other characters, or conflicts. Students worked in groups analyzing character traits in the short stories they have read in class. Students in Ms. Moran’s class wrote about a positive person in their own lives. 

8th grade English students in Mrs. Limperatos' and Mrs. DiRocco’s 8th grade English classes participated in a “Gallery Walk” to review all of the suspenseful short stories they have been diligently working on this quarter. 

Students in Mrs. Cafarelli’s Advanced English classes eagerly completed a moral dilemma project where students got to create a “choose your own outcome" slideshow. 

6th grade ENL Entering/Emerging learned about nature, pollution, and protecting the environment.  Students went on a scavenger hunt to find items in nature outside the JHS.

Important Dates

• November 7th - Superintendent's Conference Day (School closed for students)

• November 9th - End of 1st marking period

• November 10th -Veterans Day (School closed)

• November 16th - Parent / Teacher Conferences

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

 Monday is a GOLD day

Sunday October 15, 2023

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

This week, as a result of an alignment with the Health curriculum, our 6th and 7th graders were presented with information regarding mental health. As you know, there are many things that can impact a student's mental health, and we at the JHS feel that it is of paramount importance to set our students up for success by preparing them with information and strategies to utilize in the event they do not feel well. The approach for 6th and 7th grade students was slightly different. 

The students in 6th grade were presented with information from their guidance counselor Mr. Sconone. He spoke about things such as growth mindset vs fixed mindset, learning from mistakes, the power of yet, and academic monitoring and socializing skills. He also showed them a SEL video on resiliency and how to overcome adversity. Lastly, he spoke about Individual Progress Report Meetings (IPR), where to find him and how to contact him if needed, and how to use the phone in the guidance office (it always amazes me how much traditional phones for us "old folks" is such a foreign concept for our students!). Feel free to reach out to your child's teacher or Mr. Sconone if you have any questions or concerns. 

The Long Island Crisis Center spoke to our 7th grade students. They conducted a “Lets Talk Mental Health” workshop where students learned the importance of treating your mental health the same way you would treat your physical health. The speaker, Courtney Katon-Donegal, discussed facts versus myths revolving mental health. Students engaged in meaningful discussions of the stigmas that stop people from getting help and explored ways to fight the stigma which include asking for help, talking to parents/guardians at home, talking to support staff in school, and utilizing community resources such as the Long Island Crisis Center. Lastly, students explored how they currently handle stress and possible indicators that may help them realize they are becoming too overwhelmed and how they can benefit from implementing healthy strategies for dealing with stress. The speaker reviewed basic coping skills to utilize including exercise, breathing exercises, diet/nutrition, muscle relaxation, writing/journaling, positive thoughts, and positive self talk. Overall students left with a powerful message; your mental health is a priority and you must speak up if something doesn't feel right.

Progress reports went out on Friday. Please refer to the Parent Portal to view your child's grades and report. If you need your password reset, please call the main office at (631) 376-7200. Your child's Google classroom is also a place that you can become familiar with if you're not already to oversee and support them. Need help navigating Google classroom? click here. 

I would like to thank the PTA and all students who participated in the popcorn fund raiser. The PTA was able to generate funds that will be allocated towards programs for our students. As a thank you for those who participated, a $5.00 gift card to Starbucks will be given to students who placed between 6th and 26th place for the competition. The top five sellers for the competition are as follows: 

1. Elijah Cedeno

2. Magnolia Brogan

3. Tyler Sullo

4. Cali Sciame

5. Hannah Potenti

Congratulations to all who participated and we thank you for your support for those who purchased!

We are inviting all students to join us, either as a spectator or a participant, at our WBJHS PTA sponsored basketball game. Please click on this link to sign up by 10/26/23. At the event there will be a merch table to purchase WB swag, concessions and raffles to win prizes such as a PS5, yeti cooler, and other fun prizes. We hope to see you there...

Important Dates

• October 17 - PTA Meeting @ JHS / Cafe B staring at 7:00 PM 

• November 2 - JHS Basketball Skills Competition @ SHS from 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM

• November 7 - Superintendent's Conference Day - NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS 

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

 Monday is a BLUE day

Monday October 9, 2023

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

At the September 29th BOE meeting, a motion to approve a donation on behalf of the Senator Owen J. Johnson Memorial Fund was unanimously approved by our dedicated Board of Education members.  As such, last week our students were able to experience a live museum in which they were able to hear information regarding American history and see some of the artifacts that are associated with those times. Many students today have never been to a museum and it was nice to be able to see them enjoy an educational experience in a different way - when they can't go to the museum, we bring the museum to them! They prefaced the visit with a discussion of American history in their Social Studies classes, and then followed up their visit with a reflective assignment. If you have not done so already, please use this live museum as a talking point with your child so that you can gain some insight into the museum as they experienced it. 

Tomorrow evening at the JHS from 7:00 -9:00 we will be having our first district-wide, multilingual app night where parents and guardians can come to learn about the two different platforms that are used to communicate information and grades; Parent Square and eSchool. Flyers were send home to students who speak languages other than English and a Parent Square message was also sent out. In the event you know someone who perhaps does not know about Parent Square, and is looking for guidance and support on how to get more involved, please notify them of this great event that will help them support their child. Together we can all make a difference! 

Be advised that, when we send out the announcements link, there are multiple pages on there that you can click through. In conversation with some parents, many didn't realize that there were multiple pages and that the email was not simply information on whether it was a gold/blue day. That link is for the announcements that we have and the information that the students receive such as when clubs are meeting, along with many of the other initiatives that we have going on at the JHS. Just and FYI in case you did not know.

Lastly, I realize that last week could have run smoother in terms of the early dismissal as a result of the shortage of bus drivers. We did meet, we debriefed, and found ways to make this much better moving forward shall the need arise again. In speaking with many parents late Friday, I understand what needs to be fixed and will work towards making things better so that it does not put you in a worried state of mind. I completely understand that your child is your most prized possession and I thank you for bringing your concerns to my attention. 

Important Dates

• October 10th - Sign Ups for Early Winter Sports

• October 10th - Multilingual Parent App night at JHS from 7:00 PM - 9:00PM

• October 12th - Guidance Evening Presentation in Eagle Hall @ 6:00 PM

• October 17th - PTA Meeting @ JHS / Cafe B staring at 7:00 PM 

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

 Tuesday is a BLUE day

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Sunday October 1, 2023

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

Despite the rainy weather and the cancelation of the Pep Rally yesterday, this past week was a good one for us here at WBJHS. We've had a few fire drills already and the students have demonstrated their ability to stay safe and orderly as we rehearse these useful drills. 

Last Friday was picture day. In the event your child did not have their picture taken, we will be sending out a makeup date in the next few weeks. Please be on the lookout for that correspondence. 

Please remind your child to bring their ID daily. IDs are needed to sign into the building and the bathrooms. We are starting to notice an increase in students leaving their ID at home. Be advised that students will be assigned a lunch detention after 3+ times of leaving their IDs home. 

I would like to invite you to participate in our first WBJHS Cornhole Tournament. You must fill out this form before 5:00 PM on Tuesday 10/3 to register for the event. 

As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words. While I can write about all of the happenings at the JHS, it is quite another thing to see it for yourself.  I am excited to announce our Eagles Month in Review video that can be found here. Moving forward, a video will be published monthly so that you can continue to see all of the wonderful things that are happening here at the JHS. I hope that you enjoy it. 

Curriculum:

Art

• Students in Mrs. Alfano's grade 6 Art Classes are working on an  "All About Me" visual drawing activity which focuses on SEL components, in order to express themselves through imagery. Mrs. Tomeo's 6th grade students were introduced to the Element of Line and are expressing themselves through variation of line within their Zentangle artwork. 

• Students in Mrs. Alfano's grade 7 Art classes worked on expressing their individual interests through their artwork, by using specific Elements of Art such as shape, line and space, and incorporating these into their artistic decision making process. Students in Mrs. Tomeo's classes are applying their understanding of space and perspective within their two point perspective drawings. 

• The Eighth grade art students in Mrs. Tomeo's art classes are applying their understanding of Color Theory to create color wheels using acrylic paint. Student's in Ms. Fedorko's class are applying their understanding of Color Schemes with preparations for their monochromatic paintings.

• The Studio in Art class, our advanced eighth grade full year course, is working on applying their understanding of the Elements and Principles of Art, (the foundations and guidelines of Art) into their individual artwork using Prismacolor pencils. 

ELA

• 6th grade reading has been kicking off their year diving into the novel, Freak the Mighty! The students and teachers are loving all of the rich meaningful conversations that they are sharing in their book talks. 

• 7th and 8th grade English classes are well underway into their first Common-lit units. Students are working on deepening their reading comprehension and writing skills. As always, students are encouraged to also find time to read an independent reading book whenever they can : )

Library

• When you walk into the WB JHS Library you will find students eagerly browsing the shelves filled with brand new titles to find the perfect independent reading book. All sixth grade students will be visiting the library for an orientation and introduction to all of the amazing resources available.

Technology

• 7th & 8th grade technology classes have concluded the course introduction which entailed: class expectations, shop safety, and measuring. The next phase is project work, where students will be applying their problem solving and engineering skills. 

Family and Consumer Sciences

• 7th grade FACS students are reflecting on their futures this week. Students are creating a visual representation of their long-term goals (dream goal project).

• 8th grade FACS students began working on their Career Research Project. Students are using research and information resources to obtain career knowledge that will be used to create a google slide presentation on the career of their choice.  

Important Dates

• October 4th - Cornhole Tournament 5:30 - 7:30 @JHS 

• October 10th - Sign Ups for Early Winter Sports

• October 12th - Guidance Evening Presentation in Eagle Hall from @ 6:00 PM

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

 Monday is a GOLD day

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Sunday September 24, 2023

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

Curriculum:

Social Studies

• 6th grade students reviewed oceans and continents and learned about primary and secondary sources.  7th grade students reviewed primary and secondary sources and engaged in dialogue regarding the landbridge theory vs. coastal theory. 8th grade students learned about the causes of the Civil War and the differences between the north and south.

Foreign Language

• The language students are excited to start speaking Spanish and Italian!  They can already introduce themselves, greet each other, and use some common classroom phrases.  

Math

• The sixth graders have started the year off working with decimals and will be moving onto fractions shortly. In seventh grade students have been working on integer rules. The 8R math students are using their inverse operations to solve two step equations. 

Science:

• The sixth, seventh, and eighth grade science classes have begun the year with a review of the scientific method and the importance of safety in our science lab. 

Important Dates

• September 28th - 6th Grade Parent Welcome Night @7:oo pm in Eagle Hall of the JHS

• September 29th - Picture Day :o)

• October 12th - Evening Parent Workshop (Meet your child's counselor) @ 6:00 in Eagle Hall

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

 Tuesday is a GOLD day

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Sunday September 17, 2023

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

Tomorrow all students in grades 6-8 will take their iReady diagnostic for ELA. This assessment does not count towards your child's grade and does not negatively impact them. This assessment is strictly used for providing us with information about what your child's strengths and weaknesses are as it relates to their respective reading levels so that we can provide them with the appropriate accommodations and supports as the year progresses. Moving forward, there will be subsequent assessments that will gauge the extent to which progress is being made. We will be operating on a truncated schedule where all periods will be shortened so that students can attend all their classes. As reflective practitioners, we will make the necessary adjustments to ensure that your child is receiving the quality education that they deserve. The iReady mascot Snargg will also be present in the halls to motivate the students; be on the lookout - he may be at drop off too :o)

This year we implemented a new procedure whereby students are required to place their phone in a basket on a desk which is supervised by a staff member prior to them entering the bathroom. Last year we noticed that some students were leaving class to use their phones in the bathrooms, and in some instances, were found recording others. This procedure ensures that the bathrooms are being used for their intended purposes and adds an additional layer of personal protection and privacy. It also gets the students quickly back to class which is where they should be! In the event a student is found using a cell phone in the bathroom, the matter will be handled in accordance with our Code of Behavior which can be found by clicking here. Please speak with your child about this procedure so that we are all on the same page and are communicating the same expectations. I thank you for your support and understanding with the matter

On Friday we had our first building-wide virtual "Eagle Talk" during homeroom which happens periodically throughout the year. I generally use this time to address the building as a whole on an array of topics. They generally last about five minutes and they are a good way for me to disseminate information quickly. Friday's talk was a reminder to students about their ID's, the aforementioned cell phone procedure, and also information regarding the iReady diagnostic for tomorrow. I would encourage you to periodically ask your child about these talks as they are good conversation starters and also keep you in the loop on what is happening at the Junior High. 

Curriculum:

Social Studies

• 6th grade students reviewed oceans and continents and learned about primary and secondary sources.  7th grade students reviewed primary and secondary sources and engaged in dialogue regarding the landbridge theory vs. coastal theory. 8th grade students learned about the causes of the Civil War and the differences between the north and south.

Foreign Language

• The language students are excited to start speaking Spanish and Italian!  They can already introduce themselves, greet each other, and use some common classroom phrases.  

Math

• The sixth graders have started the year off working with decimals and will be moving onto fractions shortly. In seventh grade students have been working on integer rules. The 8R math students are using their inverse operations to solve two step equations. 

Science:

• The sixth, seventh, and eighth grade science classes have begun the year with a review of the scientific method and the importance of safety in our science lab. 

Important Dates

• September 18th - iReady Testing Day for all students grades 6-8

• September 18th - PTA Meeting @ 7:00 pm at the JHS

• September 28th - 6th Grade Parent Welcome Night @7:oo pm in Eagle Hall of the JHS

• September 29th - Picture Day :o)

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

 Monday is a BLUE day

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Monday September 11, 2023

Dear West Babylon Junior High School Community,

For those of you who don't know, The Eagles Week in Review is a newsletter that I send out anywhere from 2 to 4 times a month to update parents and guardians on events that happened throughout the week at the JHS, or to inform them of upcoming events along with some additional information. This year, in order to accommodate families who speak other languages, I will post directly to Parent Square. Additionally, I will keep a running log of all newsletters on my website that be found by clicking here. In the event you missed a newsletter one week, you can either refer to Parent Square to find an old post, or you can go the the JHS website which can be found here where you can click on the red link which will bring you directly to the website. From the feedback that I received last year, it's a good way for you to stay in the know of what the educational experience for your child is like. If your children are like mine, when you ask them how school was, they say, "Good!" without much substance. It is my hope that this communication will bring a little more context to "good" and perhaps give you talking prompts with your child to engage in a more in-depth conversation. I must admit, sometimes I do get a little long winded, so I apologize in advance. With that said, it is information that I do feel is useful and I hope that you feel the same. 

Unlike what my favorite football team the NY Giants experienced last night, the first week of school was a huge success! It was nice to see the students who returned rejuvenated and eager to start school. No matter how long I have been an educator, it truly still amazes me how much the kids grow over the summer. Our 8th graders have taken the helm as the leaders of the building, our 7th graders are more comfortable and know their way around the building, and our 6th graders are the new kids on the block. I can tell that it is going to be a GR8 year for all of them. 

This week we had two separate assemblies; 6th grade first, then followed by a combined 7th & 8th grade assembly. The message was short, sweet, to the point, and easy to remember. Here at the JHS, we demonstrate our ability to Be All You Can Be, which is our school motto by aligning it to our behavior matrix BR3 - Be Ready, Be Respectful, Be Responsible. The matrix can be found in your child's planner and I encourage you to read it over with them if you have not done so already. Students were very respectful during the assemblies and seemed receptive to the message. Click here to see a copy of the Power Point presentation used. 

Please be advised that large coffee, drinks, and sodas are not permitted in school. Additionally, food delivery services such as Doordash, Grubhub, etc. are also not permitted. Any delivery will be turned away and the money paid will be forfeited. 

When dropping off your child, please make sure to pull closely to the car in front of you, and let your child out once your car is parallel with the windows of the drop off area. There is no need for your child to be dropped off in front of the door as that practice will only delay the drop off procedure and cause your child to be late to class. I thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. 

If you think you would qualify for free or reduced lunch, please complete a free-reduced meal application and return it to the district as soon as possible. The free and reduced meal applications are available on our West Babylon Child Nutrition that can be found here. You can also email back the application to Lbaum@wbschools.org. 

Over the summer you should have received a rather large mailing with an abundance of information in it. If you have not done so already, I encourage you to please read through it as there is a lot of pertinent information on there. I realize that the contents are comprehensive, but we put it in there because it is valuable information for you to know. 

In closing, I would be remiss if I did not express the genuine sense of appreciation that I have to the Board Of Education, Superintendent Dr. Farrelly and the central office administration, and this community for emphasizing the importance of September 11th, 2001 and the commitment that was made to ensure that today is a day that will never be forgotten. It brings me tremendous pride to work in this community and to serve you and your child as one of its educational leaders; a job that I do not take lightly! As I was walking the halls on Friday morning while the announcements were being delivered, you could hear a pin drop as the students listened attentively to the message that was being conveyed by Mrs. Lynch regarding 9/11. Though the students at the JHS were not alive when the events of the tragic day happened, we made it a point to help them understand the impact that it had on all of us, on America, and the world. As Dr. Farrelly stated, today is a day of solemn reflection and remembrance as we truly honor all of those brave individuals who gave their lives to help others. 

Important Dates

• September 18th - PTA Meeting

• September 28th - 6th Grade Parent Welcome Night

• September 29th - Picture Day :o)

I hope that you had a good weekend. Please feel free to reach out to me, assistant principal Mr. Montemarano, or any member of the JHS team with any questions, comments, or concerns.  

 Tuesday is a BLUE day

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