The Berry Hill Buzz

Dear Berry Hill Families,

March has flown by, and we can hardly believe that we are now welcoming April! The arrival of spring has brought some cool, sunny days, allowing us to enjoy our wonderful school grounds during recess. As we hope to have even warmer weather, we still kindly ask that you send your children to school with jackets and sneakers each day to ensure they can play comfortably. For added convenience, please include your child's name in their jacket—this helps us return misplaced items to their rightful owners.

March has been a whirlwind of exciting events and memorable moments! Our students engaged in field trips, grade-level curriculum celebrations, assemblies, and wonderful visits from our high school friends. Among the highlights, our second graders had the opportunity to visit the Tilles Center to see a musical featuring two beloved literary characters, Frog and Toad. Additionally, our fourth graders were delighted by a visit from high school Peer Helpers, and our fifth graders brought their leadership skills to our second-grade classrooms as part of the Peers as Leaders program.

Throughout the month, our school emphasized the importance of dignity, and we are incredibly proud of our students for embracing kindness in their daily lives. Many of them earned "Cool to Be Kind" ice cubes as a testament to their thoughtful actions and kind words. We continue to act with integrity and understand that we do the right thing even when no one is watching.

Please keep scrolling through this newsletter for even more updates on the exciting events and activities taking place at our school. As always, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our parents for your unwavering support. Your involvement enriches our school community, and we absolutely love welcoming you into the building!

Wishing you a joyful and hopefully sunny start to April!

Here are some questions to ask your child about Berry Hill this month:

• What was your favorite song that Backtrack Vocals sang when they visited us?
• What did you learn from the book Invisible Scribble when we celebrated Dignity Day?
• What was your favorite discovery at our Science Fair?
• What have you been learning about in library? What book(s) have you enjoyed that Ms. Ortlieb has read to you?

Here are our "Wear It Wednesdays" for April. Students are invited to:

• 4/2: wear Syosset/Berry Hill Gear or Red for Autism Acceptance Month
• 4/9: wear your favorite pajamas.
• 4/23: wear a shirt with words for World Book Day.
• 4/30: wear spring colors.

Warm Regards,

Mrs. Wasserman

4/1: PTA Meeting @ 7:45 PM

4/2: Wear Syosset/Berry Hill Gear or Red for Autism Acceptance Month

4/2 & 4/3: Book Fair (See Schedule HERE.)

4/2: Ms. Sweeney's Class to Tilles Center

4/4: End of 3rd Marking Period

4/4: 2nd Grade Poetry Celebration

4/7: Syosset High School Peer Helpers visit Kindergarten

4/8 & 4/9: NYS ELA Exams Administered In Grades 3-5

4/8: Kindergarten to Seussical

4/9: Wear your favorite pajamas

4/10: Bus Drills today

4/14-4/18: School Closed, Spring Recess

4/23: Wear a shirt with words on it for World Book Day

4/23: School Play for students during the school day

4/23: BOE Meeting @ 8:00 PM @ South Woods

4/24: 4th Grade to Diary of a Wimpy Kid

4/24: Report Card Portal Opens

4/24: School Play @ 7 PM

4/29 & 4/30: NYS Math Exams Administered in Grades 3-5

4/30: Wear spring colors today

4/30: SEPTA Meeting @ Robbins Lane @ 7:45 PM

5/1 & 5/2: Spring Boutiques (schedule to come)

5/1: PTA Meeting at 7:45 PM

5/5 - 5/9: Teacher Appreciation Week

5/5: Incoming 6th Grade Parent Orientation @ 8:00 PM

First graders recently celebrated the culmination of their science unit, Skywatchers, by showcasing their newfound knowledge. Over the course of the unit, students explored a variety of fascinating topics, including the objects visible in both daytime and nighttime skies, how shadows reveal the Sun’s movement across the sky, the Earth’s rotation and revolution and their impact on the seasons, and the patterns in the Moon’s phases as it orbits the Earth. Our celebration was a true example of cross-curricular learning. The All Purpose Room was transformed into an Outer Space exhibit, complete with personalized NASA badges. The event kicked off with a performance of "Big Beautiful Planet," where students incorporated sign language while singing. Next, students worked with their parents to create a day and night diagram, demonstrating their understanding of the two. Using a range of materials, they brought their pre- designed plans to life. Following that, students focused on a second project highlighting the four seasons—a key aspect of the Skywatchers unit—where they examined the unique characteristics of each season. Families had the opportunity to capture memories at the Out of This World photo booth, and they also snapped pictures in front of the students’ artwork displayed in the Gallery of the Galaxy, which was created during their art class. It was an exciting and educational experience, celebrating both the students' learning and creativity!

Our annual Science Fair took place on Monday, March 24th. It was an exciting event that demonstrated creativity, curiosity, and scientific exploration. Students eagerly presented their projects, which spanned a variety of fascinating topics—from simple experiments displaying the principles of physics to innovative ideas addressing real-world problems. During the day, all students visited the science expo and we were thrilled to welcome our parents at our night time event. The Science Fair is not just about the projects; it’s a celebration of inquiry and discovery, as students gain confidence and pride in sharing their hard work with the community. Science fairs are where bright ideas truly "matter"—because mass and acceleration are just the beginning!

Our 4th grade curriculum celebration showcased our work in the Energy Works unit of science. This unit provided opportunities for students to manipulate materials while exploring concepts related to energy. Throughout the series of lessons, students studied different kinds of energy, the transfers and transformations that occur between them, and how energy is used in the world around them. Students learned about the two main types of energy—stored (potential) and motion (kinetic)—and participated in interactive demonstrations to draw comparisons between them. To understand the concept of energy transfers and transformations, students set up circuits. They also learned about waves as more than just a water-related topic by examining energy patterns and making connections to forms of communication, like Morse code. Nonrenewable and renewable energy sources were introduced and students explored the benefits and detriments of different types of alternative energy. Students created models of wind turbines and waterwheels and elaborated upon their functionalities. It was an electric celebration!

SEPTA is Syosset's Special Education PTA. SEPTA is proud to serve and represent every school in the Syosset Central School District. Membership is open to everyone. Please see the link attached here to join!

Breakfast and Lunch Menus- April

Berry Hill FAQs

District Calendar

The 5th graders in Berry Hill's Peers as Leaders club have been making a meaningful impact in our 2nd grade classrooms. During their recent visits, they read Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister, sparking thoughtful conversations about the importance of kindness and generosity. Our second graders were captivated by the story's message and participated in an activity where each student decorated a colorful scale for the Rainbow Fish, adding a personal touch by writing how they have shown kindness in our school community. This collaborative project not only brightened the classrooms but also reinforced the values of empathy and respect, creating a heartwarming connection between our 5th and 2nd graders.

Berry Hill 5th graders recently welcomed special visitors from a local assisted living community, creating an inspiring connection across generations. These seniors were greeted warmly by our own senior students—our enthusiastic 5th graders—who made them feel right at home. The visit included beautiful performances by our talented 5th grade orchestra and chorus students. The 5th graders eagerly engaged with their new friends, playing games and conducting interviews. Our students were fascinated to learn about what life was like when they were in school. Whether performing, interviewing, greeting new friends, or creating decorations, all of our students enjoyed being a part of this memorable experience! Thank you to our amazing PTA for making this event such a success!

Thank you to our PTA for arranging Backtrack Vocals, an incredible a cappella singing group, to our school! They captivated us with their energetic and creative vocal arrangements. During their visit, we learned about the different vocal ranges—soprano, alto, bass, and tenor—and even got hands-on experience learning how to beatbox. Without a doubt, the highlight of the day was watching our teachers give beatboxing a try!

Our 3rd graders embraced hands on learning during Enrichment. To enhance their classroom Forces and Motion Science unit, Ms. Sheridan had the students create magnetic mazes. Students worked in collaborative groups to come up with a theme and design a maze using only magnetic force to get from one end to another. The students persisted through challenges and used criteria to determine if they were successful.

Berry Hill Elementary School

Main Office: Mrs. Martinez and Mrs. Cohan

Website: www.syossetschools.org
Phone: (516) 364-5790