Box Out Bullying Assembly at William L. Buck

 (MAY 2023)—Valley Stream 24 Schools’ William L. Buck Elementary School recently participated in a Box Out Bullying assembly, sponsored by the PTA. Box Out Bullying is an organization that tours nationwide to educate students about bullying and being an upstander through dynamic live theatre and research-based bullying prevention.

“The Box Out Bullying assembly was a huge success. At Valley Stream 24 Schools we have a zero tolerance for bullying and incorporate numerous learning opportunities, such as the Box Out Bullying assembly, to teach our students the importance of kindness, respect, friendship, and compassion,   and pride ourselves in our students for having a unified understanding of kindness, friendship, and respect” said Johanne Gaddy, principal of William L. Buck Elementary School. 

Students utilized auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning cues during the assembly, all of which have been shown to promote enhanced learning retention and understanding. The assembly focused on promoting empathy and empowerment and equipped the students with the skills needed to identify bullying, both direct and indirect, and provided information and guidance regarding what to do when bullying, in any form, is identified.

 (MAY 2023)—Valley Stream 24’s Robert W. Carbonaro kindergarten and first-grade students recently went on their very first field trip to Bellmore Theatre to experience live theatre. They watched Frog and Toad learn the importance of being kind and creating meaningful friendships.

“Our kindergarten and first-grade students were thrilled to experience their first field trip and for many, it was their first time on a bus ride,” said Rosario Iacono, Principal of Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School.”

Field trips benefit students academically and socially. It allows teachers and students to get out of the classroom and create shared experiences. For students, field trips provide authenticity to the learning experience not possible in a classroom setting. 

 (MAY 2023)—Healthcare professionals from Northwell’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center recently visited Valley Stream 24 Schools with their Wellness on Wheels mobile van. The Wellness on Wheels program is an interactive and educational experience for students, educating them on the importance and value of exercise and making positive nutritional choices. The program goes further and provides insight into making positive life choices. 

“Nutrition education provides our students with information and skills that they will use throughout their lives. The Wellness on Wheels program complements our own classroom wellness curriculum while offering our students an immersive, hands-on experience that further highlights the importance of making  sound nutritional and lifestyle choices,” said Dr. Don Sturz, Superintendent of Valley Stream 24 Schools. 

Students worked in collaborative groups to have meaningful discussions about how nutrition is vital to their growing bodies and practiced fun ways to raise heart rates. Students also had the opportunity to plant their own vegetables and fruits to take home to replant and share with their families. 

 (MAY 2023)—Sixth-grade students from all three Valley Stream 24 Schools recently went on their annual overnight field trip to The Ashokan Center in Olivebridge, New York for an outdoor educational experience. Accompanying the students on the trip were Dr. Scott Comis, Principal of Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School, and Mr. Rosario Iacono, Principal of Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School.

“Field trips are an important part of the elementary school experience because they provide a fun and engaging opportunity for our students to learn outside of their classrooms,” said Dr. Don Sturz, Superintendent of Valley Stream 24 Schools. “Our students are able to make long-lasting memories as well as experience hands-on learning, real-world connections, socialization, and exposure to new experiences.” 

The sixth-grade students worked cooperatively during their outdoor adventures as well as other activities including preparing meals together. Students had the opportunity to learn about nature and how to respect the outdoor environment. The highlight of the trip was learning about wild birds of prey and other animals. 

 (MAY 2023)—Valley Stream 24’s proposed 2023-2024 budget continues the district’s efforts in creating a safe and supportive learning environment, maintains all current programs and services, and supports student achievement in academics, the arts, and in their social and emotional development. 

Valley Stream 24’s proposed 2023-2024 budget provides a well-rounded education that addresses the needs of the whole child. Programs included in the proposed 2023-2024 budget are:

• Integrated Co-Teaching Program
• Universal Pre-Kindergarten
• Full-Day Kindergarten
• Building and Grounds Improvement Projects
• Enhanced Security Initiatives
• Enrichment For All
• Robotics Program
• Spanish Program
• Challenge Program
• Parent Academics
• Outdoor Education Program
• Enhanced Reading and Mathematics Programs
• Innovative Instructional Technology
• Robust Social Media Platform
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiative
• Wellness CARE Initiative
• Art and Music Programs
• BOCES Summer School Program

The proposed budget also provides funding to support building and grounds improvement projects. While the expenditure budget represents an 8.95% increase, through careful fiscal planning, the use of reserves, and additional state aid, the tax levy increase has been limited to 1.25%.

On the May 16 ballot, there will be two propositions directly related to Valley Stream 24. Proposition 1 is the proposed 2023-2024 budget. Proposition 2 asks the community to approve the expenditure of up to $425,000 on capital improvements. Three additional propositions will appear on the ballot related to the Valley Stream Central High School District.  

For more information about the Valley Stream 24 2023-2024 proposed budget and what is happening in Valley Stream 24 Schools, please visit the District’s website at www.valleystreamschooldistrict24.org. 

All residents are encouraged to become informed and vote on Tuesday, May 16. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. To verify your polling location, please check https://nb.findmypollplace.com/valleystream24ufsd.        

 (MAY 2023)—Valley Stream 24 promotes and supports strong connections between parent and child to help ensure student academic success and emotional development. The District prioritizes family forums, which are designed to give Valley Stream 24 families the opportunity to have a better understanding and insight into their children’s education, providing them with tools and information to become more engaged with their children’s educational experience. 

“One of the four pillars of Valley Stream 24 is family engagement. We pride ourselves on our efforts to increase parent engagement by collaborating with families and school staff to keep improving this connection,” said Dr. Don Sturz, Superintendent of Valley Stream 24. “It’s always an inspiring and collaborative experience for families to participate in our family forums. We truly have a great community of families and staff that are excited to actively participate in our children’s lives.”

The students and staff at Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School’s family forum had a theme of culture and identity with a gala red-carpet evening. Students and staff walked the red carpet and expressed their pride while engaging with the audience in creative clothing, flags, and details about their heritage. This wonderful celebration was coordinated by the Brooklyn Avenue Equity Team in partnership with the PTA.

At William L. Buck Elementary School, the family forum format invited students and families to Tapas and Talks where students had the opportunity to make scrapbook pages to illustrate their culture and identity. The highlight of the night was the scavenger hunt where participants were encouraged to find others with similarities and differences. William L. Buck's families exchanged small plates of food and enjoyed a family dinner.

Family forum night at Robert W. Carbonaro Elementary School was a culture night. Families and students worked together to complete a flag to bring to school. They filled the flags with the languages they speak, colored in the flag, and drew or wrote the recipe for a national dish that best represented their culture. During the event, the students were asked to work with their families to create a template of a person that represented their culture with various materials.

 (MAY 2023)—Outside the classroom, students can show off their creative skills in various ways. Recently, sixth-grade Challenge students from Valley Stream School District 24 competed in the Olympics of Visual Arts. Students were tasked with creating solutions to problems through photography, sculpture, fashion, illustration, and architecture. This competition required students to conduct detailed research and allowed them to present their educational findings creatively.

“Giving our students the opportunity to increase their knowledge in subject areas they are passionate about and to also be recognized for their hard work and creative efforts enhances the educational process as well as drives their particular passions even further, ” said Dr. Don Sturz, Superintendent of Valley Stream 24. “Seeing our students take first place in various categories of the Olympics of Visual Arts is representative of the talent these students have and the dedication of our teachers. Great job students and a special thanks to Challenge teacher Risa Miller, as well as our art teachers Jessica Rosenthal, Nicole Barci, and Leighanne Jaronczyk for guiding our students.”

The Olympics of Visual Arts took place in Saratoga Springs and was judged by over 50 professional artists, architects, graphic designers, fashion designers, illustrators, sculptors, photographers, and visual arts educators. Students from Valley Stream School District 24 competed in five categories and were successful in each one. 

“Our Challenge students excelled in each of the five categories they competed in. Of special note is that our students competed at the middle school level against 7th and 8th graders from school districts representing every geographic region in the New York State” said Risa Miller, Valley Stream 24 Challenge teacher. “We are incredibly proud of our student’s hard work and commitment to their artistic and creative endeavors.”

Categories and Winners:

Illustration: Robert W. Cabanero students Sophia Campos and Aryandeep Singh - Silenced Memories
Visual Arts: Robert W. Cabanero students Gianna Hunt and Jasmine Persaud - Wild Thing
Photography: William L. Buck student Sarah Ramirez - Oblitus Home
Sculpture: William L. Buck students Benjamin Campoverde, Jacob Leo, and Eva Weiner - Let Me Shine
Architecture: Brooklyn Avenue students Adriyan De and Massimo Rodriguez - The Emmett Till Park for Tolerance and Unity

 (APRIL 2023)—Valley Stream 24’s William L. Buck Elementary School recently completed its third No Place for Hate activity, enabling the school to qualify for certification as a No Place for Hate school. No Place for Hate is a national program that supports schools in celebrating diversity, promoting respect for differences, and challenging bias and bullying.

“At William L. Buck we continue our efforts to maintain a school community where our students feel safe, respected, and included,” said Johanne Gaddy, Principal of William L. Buck Elementary School. “Our No Place for Hate committee is made up of a diverse team that cultivates student leadership and unity.”

As part of the No Place for Hate campaign, the school’s book of the month was Be You by Peter Reynolds. Students read the book during their Library Media Class, discussing the book and poetry. As part of this lesson plan, students had the opportunity to explore various aspects of their identity, including  their name, race, ethnicity, physical characteristics, interests, and more.

The Identity Parade was the highlight of the day.  Students in kindergarten to third grade wore the identity crowns they created while older grade students created a shield that represented their family. Everyone was encouraged to dress in any way that represented their identity and made them stand out. 

 (APRIL 2023)—In honor of National Autism Awareness Month, Valley Stream 24’s Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School students welcomed Luna, a special service dog from Therapy Dogs of Long Island.

“Autism Awareness Month is another great opportunity to highlight the importance of recognizing that everyone is different, and it is just those differences that make us all stronger, ” said Dr. Scott Comis, Principal of Brooklyn Avenue Elementary School. “At Brooklyn Avenue, we continue our efforts to celebrate, foster and embrace our unity in diversity.”

Luna is a specially trained dog to assist people with special needs. Luna’s trainer and handler, Ms. Lyons, demonstrated Luna’s skills while discussing with the students the importance of service dogs and their impact on those service dogs work with. In recognition of Autism Awareness Month, students read the story, My Brother Charlie by Holly Robinson Peete and Ryan Eliza Beete. This heartwarming story is based on Holly’s son who is autistic.